Authors: Nancy Hopper
“
Thanks, Jim.” she replied. “I think I owe you an apology. I haven’t always been very nice to you.”
He shrugged. “I haven’t always been such a nice guy, myself. I used to have a real bad drug habit. Thanks to Gary and a few others, I got out of it. But you know, I was wondering if ... ”
“
Hello, you two.” Gary broke in. “Having a good time?”
Jim tensed and sighed, looking up at him. “Real nice, Pastor. But you’ve got lousy timing.”
“
Do I?” Gary asked innocently. “So you’ve noticed that my Natasha is a special lady, have you?” he asked without rancor.
“
You could say that.” Jim answered uncertainly.
Gary smiled and touched Tasha’s chin gently, before he moved away.
“
Jim, I can’t see you anymore.” she explained apologetically. “I ... I’ve found someone that I’m very serious about.”
Jim’s disappointment was very evident. “So who’s the lucky guy? Anyone I know?” he growled.
“
Please, don't ask. Jim, you'll find out soon enough. I’m really counting on you to keep my secret.”
Jim shrugged in disgust and looked away. “Yeah. Sure.” he said despondently.
Tasha smiled her thanks, and got up to find Gary. She found him talking to a beautiful woman that Tasha remembered seeing, her first Sunday at the church.
Her smile froze on her face. She’d been overcome with feelings of bitter jealousy the first time she’d seen this woman put her arms around Gary and hug him, and it had only increased when the woman’s toddler daughter had pulled on his pant leg and been cuddled against Gary’s broad chest. Her name was Marietta. Tasha didn’t like her one bit.
“
Tasha, I was hoping to introduce you two.” Gary greeted her. “This is Marietta Day. Marietta, Tasha Charles.”
“
Tasha, nice to meet you.” Marietta said warmly. “Gary was just telling me about you.”
Tasha smiled brightly. “Uh, oh.” she said worriedly.
“
No, no. He was very complimentary.” she reassured Tasha. “I think you’ve made quite a conquest, actually. Or is it the other way around?” Marietta speculated.
“
Perhaps both.” Gary admitted, smiling. “You’re too perceptive for your own good, Marietta.”
“
Well, you just keep your distance, Pastor.” she ordered lightly. She patted Gary’s shoulder familiarly, and smiled. “This girl is too good-looking to take lightly.”
Gary and Tasha exchanged surprised glances. Marietta hadn’t believed him, and they both thought she’d taken pretty great license.
Gary looked away quickly. “If you two will excuse me, Joe wanted to speak to me.” he said.
“
Bye, Gary.” Marietta said breezily, unaware of the undercurrent. “So, Tasha, you’re Deb’s friend?”
“
Yes. I’ve known her for many years, actually.”
Marietta sighed, looking sweetly impish. “We love the whole family. I know everyone would love to see Gary stay here, but unfortunately his heart is still in Alaska. When I get married, I’m going to miss this place. But I know there’s a real work to be done up North.”
“
Oh. You’re getting married?” Tasha asked politely.
“
Yes, this Sunday. Perhaps you’ll be there?” Marietta asked.
“
Yes, I should be. Congratulations.” Tasha wished her.
“
Thanks. He’s the best man God ever made. I’m very lucky.” Marietta said happily.
“
Well, I wish you the best.” Tasha said quickly. “What was that you were saying about Alaska?” she asked carefully.
“
Yes, I’m surprised Gary hasn’t mentioned it to you. He’s been up in Alaska, starting a new church. He loves it there. He only came here for a season, to recuperate from his surgery.
"We’re going back to be with him when he goes, but I’m glad we could get married here, first. But I’m kind of leery; Alaska sounds so primitive. I guess it’s natural to have a little fear. It’s exciting, and I know Gary wouldn’t take us into any situation that he was worried about. I trust him. And my little girl, Dodi, is simply nuts about Gary, as well. So, I suspect we’ll all be having a grand time together in Juneau.”
Tasha smiled woodenly. Marietta’s words had crushed her heart. Gary in Alaska? And this woman was going, too? Getting married first? What was that all about? And how could he have overlooked telling her something so vitally important? Something didn’t add up.
“
Excuse me, please.” she said quietly, and looked around for Gary. She could barely make him out, by the fireside. Her knees shook as she walked over to where he was talking to a man she didn’t know.
“
... It can’t be helped, Joe.” she heard him say impatiently. She halted, unsure whether to interrupt. He sounded somewhat upset. She could relate. “I don’t have any choice at this point, I promised Marietta I’d marry her at one o‘clock.” he said distinctly.
Tasha felt the lash of his words throughout every part of her body. She backed away numbly. “No.” she whispered. “Oh, no. It can’t be.”
It had to be a joke. Gary was going to marry Marietta and take her with him to Alaska. They had both said so. And Gary had told her he needed to wait until Sunday to announce their engagement for a very good reason – once he’d married Marietta, there would be no need. No wonder he hadn’t mentioned anything to
her
about Alaska! She obviously wasn’t going along!
Anger flooded Tasha’s mind as she remembered Gary’s smooth plea to postpone announcing their engagement. What had he been hoping for? A quick romp before taking off for Alaska? Gosh, if he knew he was going to leave soon, why not? Surely he thought Tasha would give in, if he’d promised to marry her. What a fool she’d been! She turned on her heel and stalked away from the group on the beach.
She went into the house long enough to scoop up her purse and keys. She met Deb in the hallway, and nearly mowed her down.
“
Tasha! What are you doing? Whatever is the matter?” she asked worriedly.
“
I’m leaving. Thanks for everything, Deb. It’s been a great summer.” Tasha said bitterly.
“
What? Where are you ... ”
“
As far from
Alaska
as possible! Tell Gary to have himself a lovely wedding and an even better trip!” she snapped.
The Corvette purred to life immediately. Tasha spun it around, and left rubber all the way out to the highway. They heard it clearly from the beach.
At four in the morning, Tasha pulled off the road, and cried her eyes out. She couldn’t believe it. How gullible could she have been? Gary must have planned very carefully though, to keep her in the dark about his coming marriage. But it all made sense.
He had been insistent that she tell no one – not even his family. Tasha had never known the kind of pain she was experiencing now, and she was no stranger to betrayal. She didn’t think she’d ever get over this one.
By five, she was back on the road, and at eight she was crossing into Idaho. Her father’s summer lodge was in the lovely, remote mountains of central Idaho. She arrived at noon, wishing she could die.
She unlocked the front door and walked in, her dusty, bare feet padding quietly down the cool, stone hallway to her room. The mirrored walls mocked her swimsuit and tangled mop of hair. She couldn’t have cared less.
She entered her room, and stopped short to stare at a young girl – in her bedroom -- slipping into
her
terry robe.
“
Excuse me?” she said coldly. “Who are you, and how did you get into my room?”
The girl looked up with a startled, wild stare. She had nothing on, under Tasha’s robe. “I ... Brent said ...” the girl stuttered.
“
Brent?” Tasha challenged tersely. “You mean, my father, Brent?”
“
Tasha?” Her father’s incredulous face peered through the door. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“
I got tired of Oregon. Who is she, and why is she helping herself to my things?” Tasha shot back.
“
It was a spur of the moment thing. I didn’t think you’d
mind
.” Brent hinted very broadly. “Candy, wait in my room, please.” her father instructed the girl quietly.
“
Oh, my God. This is disgusting! Have you really sunk so low? She can’t be more than fifteen!” Tasha snapped without thinking.
Brent Charles slapped his daughter’s face so hard, she wondered if she still had teeth. She hit the floor with a slap, and her head bounced off the hardwood floor with a crack.
“
My love life is none of your damn business!” he reminded her angrily.
“
Oh, forgive me.” she gasped in outrage. “Though I really don’t care about your sex life, this time I really thought perhaps you were baby-sitting. How dare you? My room, my clothes? How dare you make my things available to your little whore?”
Tasha found herself in the corner, in a pool of blood. Her nose and eye sockets were throbbing, Her lips and the end of her nose were screaming with pain. She put her hand to her nose and held it gingerly. Her head was throbbing in time with the sharper facial pain.
“
Get out, you bitch.” he snarled. “Better yet, give me your house keys. You can take your car, because I want you as far away from me as you can get.” he snapped. “No more money, no more clothes, no more free ride, no more allowance. You are disinherited! How does that grab you, Miss holier than thou?”
“
That suits me fine.” she agreed wearily. “May I have time to pack a few changes of clothes, and a toothbrush?”
“
Be my guest.” he agreed angrily.
Tasha crawled to her closet, and pulled out some luggage. Brent dropped her ‘Vette keys on her bed, and slammed the door on his way out.
She put what she could in the suitcases she had, and filled the vanity case with toiletries. Then she carried them to the car, dripping blood all the way. She wouldn’t make two trips. It was definitely time to go.
She pulled out of the yard, and brushed away the blood and tears to help her vision. She wasn’t seeing real well, as it was. She drove one hundred miles southeast before she stopped at a gas station.
“
Ma’am?” the attendant asked incredulously. ”Are you all right?”
“
Dandy. Where’s your restroom, please?” she asked tiredly.
“
Around the corner. Can I ... call anyone for you, or anything?” he asked worriedly.
Tasha smiled at the young kid as best she could. “Honey, it’s okay. There’s no one who cares. It’s just a little bloody nose. I’ll be okay in awhile. Just fill the tank, and forget you ever saw me. That’s the best you can do for me.”
Tasha locked herself in the fetid-smelling restroom, and let sobs come at last. “Oh, God. Oh, my God.” she cried. She slid against the wall and squatted, hugging her knees tightly to her chest.
She knew she couldn’t stay long, or the attendant would call the cops. She got up, dabbled at her puffy, bruised face with cold water and scratchy paper towels, and hurried back to her car. She worked for a couple of minutes pulling the tangles out of her hair, and did an inventory of her purse.
She had six thousand dollars cash in the strong box under the seat; her Visa, her Mastercard, and her gas cards. She’d be fine until she found a job. She doubted that her father would think to cancel her cards, until he got the next bill. She put on some light lipstick and blush, and was on her way again.
A week later, Tasha had a job. It didn’t pay much, but she found that she was breaking even. She was staying in a modest hotel; she couldn’t bring herself to look for a place of her own yet.
She had to sell clothes. Low-class, cheaply made clothes. It was a job, but it galled her to see people paying for flashy junk with their hard-earned money. Still, she helped them with fashion ideas, and that was fun.