Until the Stars Fall From the Sky Read online

  Kiera is one of the most tactile people I have ever known. I watch as her body sways to match the arc of each stroke. As I work to untangle one unusually stubborn knot, I brush my fingertips across her collarbone and down her arm. A trail of goose bumps mark my path and her nipples harden. Kiera shivers as she utters in a hoarse whisper, “I guess we better eat the pie before the ice cream melts. I think you’ve earned it, PC.”

  I quickly finish plaiting her hair into a simple French braid so that her ponytail falls like a rope down the center of her spine. As I get to the end, I ask her, “Do you have a hairband for this?”

  She seems startled, as she reaches up to feel what I’ve done. “Will my scrunchie work? How did you do that so fast? It would have taken me hours, and I’d have still gotten it crooked.”

  I shrug as I answer, “I don’t know. I’ve been doing this since before I could tie my shoes. It’s like breathing to me. I don’t even think about it. I find that aspect of it relaxing. There are no life-and-death consequences arising from the way that I choose to braid someone’s hair, and if they don’t like it, I just do it again.” I slide the scrunchie from her wrist and pause to kiss the delicate skin at her pulse point.

  After I finish securing her ponytail, I sit down at the kitchen table to devour the peach pie. “Peach pie is one of my absolute favorites,” I say with open admiration. “My grandma used to make it for my grandpa all the time.”

  Curiously, Kiera blushes slightly as she replies, “Well, I hope mine measures up to your grandma’s pie.” Kiera cautiously sets some in front of me and watches for my reaction.

  As I take a bite, I can’t hold back a moan of pleasure that escapes my lips, “Oh wow! This is delicious,” I praise effusively. My grandmother would have been very proud of you. You must use brown sugar in your recipe too.”

  Kiera’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise as she inquires, “How did you know that? I also put a vanilla bean in with the tapioca starch when I’m thickening it.”

  I grinned at her as I winked. “Did I forget to tell you that I used to cook with my grandma all the time?” I reply with my tongue firmly in my cheek.

  Kiera grins back with a look of pure mischievousness, “Oh, did I forget to tell you? Guests that know how to cook are in charge of breakfast.”

  Chapter 16: Kiera

  I think this falls in the ‘be careful what you wish for territory’. Jeff is here. I mean really here. Like flesh and blood here, not in my imagination or dreams but feet from me here. As I just clumsily reminded everyone, he’s staying the night. For all of my talk of boldness and being bad, I really have no idea what I’m doing. Most of the time, I don’t really miss having a mom because my dad and I have such a unique relationship. However, I can see how a mom’s perspective might be helpful here.

  The only female I can remember having around was Starla. She was a hard as nails trucker that frequently rode convoy with my dad, but because of her choice of wardrobe everyone called her Daisy — as in Daisy Dukes. When I was in junior high school, she taught me how to put on makeup and do my hair. As long as I stopped a few notches short of her ideal, she actually taught me some solid techniques. Nonetheless, Daisy isn’t here either, so I’m on my own.

  Jeff said he wouldn’t pressure me to do anything that I don’t want to do. The challenge is figuring out where the line is. I know when he is kissing me and touching me. I’m tempted to say “The hell with boundaries, let's get this show on the road.” But, I know if I don’t stay true to who I am; our relationship is going to suffer.

  I feel like the world’s biggest tease. First, I invite him over to stay. Next, I practically hump him in the hot tub. If that wasn’t enough, I had a little mini orgasm while he was brushing my hair. He is not a stupid man. He knows what effect he has on me. Most of the time I don’t even want to fight the forces of nature, but I also want to stay true to my values. So, now what?

  “Pip, are you okay in there?” Jeff calls when I fail to emerge from the bathroom within a reasonable timeframe, “Do you need help?”

  “No,” I reply self-consciously, “I’m just pondering the great mysteries of the universe.”

  Jeff simply asks, “Am I in your universe as you see it?”

  “Yes, of course you are,” I hasten to reassure him.

  “For now, that’s all I need to know,” Jeff responds.

  I wash my hands and splash water on my face. It’s time to face the music. I leave the bathroom with a look of chagrin on my face. I look over to the couch to see that Jeff has set some heart shaped candles, snacks and a few movies on a tray. My heart melts a bit when I notice that it’s actual Boy Scout Caramel Corn. I quirk an eyebrow at him and grin. “Clever. You get bonus points for thinking outside the box.” I hold up the extremely rare bottles of root beer. “Ooh, more bonus points,” I praise.

  Now I’m even more curious to see his movie selection as it is becoming clear he has put a ton of thought into it. I laugh helplessly as I consider my choices--While You Were Sleeping, Sweet Home Alabama and The Lucky One. “You’ve made it impossible for me to choose. I love them all! I haven’t actually seen The Lucky One. I read the book though,” I explain as I examine the cover of each one as if I am going to divine some deeper life meaning from my choice.

  Jeff stills my hands, “Pip, it’s fine.” We’ve got a lifetime to watch ‘em,” he expounds softly. “I bought them for us. Just pick the one you want tonight, babe.”

  “You bought them?” I ask, incredulous. “Just because I mentioned that they were my favorites?”

  “Well, yes,” Jeff answers matter-of-factly, as if there were never a question, “why wouldn’t I? After I move, I want you to be able to come over and feel comfortable. So, I figured having familiar things around will help.”

  “What?” I exclaim, “You’re moving? Why?”

  “My apartment is on the second floor and that won’t work for you,” he justifies. “So, Ty and I are going to sublet each other’s apartments until we can switch leases. I’m just waiting for my criminal background check to clear.”

  “What?” I half screech as I throw my hands up in the air “Jeff, you just met me a month ago. Now, you are just going to up and move?” I shake my head in disbelief.

  “First, it’s no big deal,” he explains, “Ty is my best friend and we are really just swapping places. Secondly, I know this is hard to believe because of what just happened, but I really do mean until the stars fall from the sky.”

  I struggle to catch my breath as I absorb the full impact of what he is saying. Tears well in the corner of my eyes. I start to wipe them away with the back of my hand, but Jeff beat me there, wiping them away with the pads of his thumbs. “Does this mean you’ve decided?” I ask, my voice soft and shaking with trepidation.

  Jeff situates himself so that he is looking directly in my eyes with searing intensity as he declares, “Yes, Pip. It does mean I’ve decided. I’m in. For better or worse, I’m in. All the way.”

  Until that moment, I don’t think I realize how much I had invested in his decision. I collapse back onto the couch cushions, tears of relief streaming down my face.

  A look of panic crosses Jeff’s face. “Oh Pip, please don’t cry. You were right. I was stupid over stuff that wasn’t even real. It’s time I live my life for me on my terms and you are the most important part of those terms for me. Please say you’ll give me a lifetime to show you I mean it.”

  I’m stunned into silence. I don’t really know what to think. Maybe this is another one of those situations where I’ve completely misconstrued everything and I just don’t realize it. What if he meant something else entirely? What if he didn’t? Geez-O-Pete! Hesitantly, I ask, “Did you mean to say all that? Because, sometimes I say stuff that I really mean to keep private. This could very well be li — “

  My words are cut off as Jeff slants his mouth over mine for a deep, plundering kiss. “Pip,” he states in a deep voice, “It may not have been planned to the ‘nth degree and
professionally choreographed, but the sentiments are real. If you wanted to get on a plane to Vegas tonight, I’d be helping you pack.”

  I try to remember all of the reasons it would be a terrible, awful, no-good plan. Surprisingly, my list is really short. It would kill my dad not to give me away and the Girlfriend Posse would disown me if they weren’t my maid of honors. “The idea actually has some merit, let’s not take it out of the rotation,” I respond.

  “Was that an almost yes?” Jeff queries.

  “Yes, I’m giving you a quasi-yes to your quasi-proposal. If you want me to upgrade my answer, you’re going to have to upgrade the question, PC,” I answer, giving him an exaggerated kiss on his lips.

  “Do you have any doubt I plan to do just that, complete with bells and whistles? I am, after all, the quintessential Boy Scout,” Jeff responds. His words are light and flirtatious, but his tone leaves no question that he intends to follow through.

  ~*~

  Why is my phone buzzing at the butt crack of dawn? Oh soufflé! I forgot. I’m on call. I dig my phone out of my pocket and realize I’m still curled up on Jeff’s chest. “This is Kiera. Can I help you?” I hear sniffles on the other end of the line. The hair on the back of my neck starts to stand on end.

  “Miss Kiera?” I hear a weak voice say, “Did you really mean it when you said you’d be my friend no matter what?”

  My heart shoots to my throat. “Yes, Mindy, I’ll always be your friend. How can I help?” I ask as calmly as I can because I know that if Mindy took the unusual step of reaching out, her situation must be very dire.

  “Miss Kiera, I had to go. I runned away. But, the TB lied. They said I could ride the bus anywhere I wanted for a dollar. So, I saved two whole dollars and tooked Becca wiff me. But, then, they wouldn’t let us on the bus. It wasn’t fair! I had my two dollars. This other guy said he woul’ take us. I figured it would be fine, ‘cause he had a kid’s seat. Miss Kiera, it was so yucky! He tried to kiss me! So, Becca and me runned again. Well, I runned; I had to carry Becca ‘cause she’s jus’ little,” Mindy finished explaining as she ran out of breath.

  “Mindy, it sounds like you’re doing a great job keeping everybody safe. Where are you now?”

  “I’m at the 7-11 by the big water fountain,” she says, “I’m sleepy and I can’t understand the formula can.”

  “Formula can?” I ask in complete shock, “Why do you need formula? How old is Becca?”

  “Becca’s three months old. Nana says that she was my mama’s dirty little secret because she is a whore. Nana was gonna burn Becca with a cigarette so that everyone would know,” Mindy explains.

  Oh my God! I need to throw up. “Mindy, sweetheart? Is the clerk there with you?” I ask. I hear rustling on the other end of the phone.

  “Hello? I’m Margret Ann, but you can call me Marge,” she says.

  “Hi Marge, I’m Kiera Ashley from Juvenile Services. I am a trauma counselor,” I answer.

  “Oh good,” she replies, relief evident in her voice. “These lil’ angels are sure gonna need it.”

  “Can you please keep them still and occupied until I can get to them?” I request, in my most professional voice, “The girls can eat, but it would be best if the older one doesn’t touch anything until the CSI folks examine her hands. Just keep a tab, and I’ll pay it when I get there.”

  “No need Mrs. Ashley. This one’s on the house. I think I may have the creep on surveillance too,” she replies helpfully.

  “Great! Please don’t touch anything you don’t need to, talk to folks or post on social media,” I advise.

  I can tell by the way she drew in her breath that my advice about social media might have come too late.

  As I hang up the phone, I start to tremble, and sobs wrack my body. I grab the popcorn container as I start to heave. Jeff gathers me up and holds my hair out of the way. “What’s wrong? How can I help? Tell me what you need me to do,” Jeff demands.

  “You can’t ‘do’ anything. I’m not even allowed to tell you what’s going on. We have to pretend nothing happened here tonight on so many levels,” I cry.

  Jeff pulls me into a tight embrace as he practically growls, “Screw my job. You are far more valuable to me than any job. I can get another job. I can’t find another you. What do you need me to do first?”

  I swallow hard as I answer, “I need you to check to see if I have enough gas in the van while I shower and get dressed.”

  As I get ready, I contemplate braiding my hair but decide that Jeff can do it a thousand times better, so I shrug and leave it down.

  Jeff comes in from outside wiping his hands on a degreasing rag, “Kiera, the hand controls just work like levers, correct?” he asks.

  I look up from my iPhone where I’m trying to build an interdisciplinary intervention team at 4:30 in the morning, “Yeah, why?” I ask, puzzled.

  Jeff looks uncomfortable as he explains, “I have sucky news, and then I have suckier news.”

  I wheel over to him and hand him my brush. “I need it completely up please.” I request, as patiently as I can under the circumstances. “I put three hair bands on the handle of the brush if you need them. Lay the bad news on me. God knows, it really can’t get much worse.” However, I do know it can get so much worse. It is what is so paralyzing about this case. “If we missed this much the first time, do I routinely miss stuff?” I ask, feeling helpless and defeated.

  “Babe, we can only work on the facts we have at the time. You have the best emotional sense of anyone I’ve ever met and you never know when God is working through you. There might be some grand plan you can’t see. Next time you’ll do better because you’ll know what to spot,” I hug her in a loose embrace. “I hate to keep piling it on, but your sucky news is that it appears your alternator is out. The suckier news is that I didn’t bring Ty’s truck, so you have to ride in my rust bucket.” I explain.

  “Oh, is that all? Here for a minute, I thought it might be something serious,” I declare, rolling my eyes. “I’ve got far bigger things to worry about right now.”

  Chapter 17: Jeff

  I glance over at Kiera as I drive down the highway. She is hunched over her iPhone, texting like a fiend. Her bottom lip is red and chapped from where she has been chewing it. She has lines of tension around her eyes. I don’t really know what we’re about to encounter precisely, but I have heard enough rumors around the office to know it’s going to be grim. “Pip, I know you can’t tell me much, but can you tell me her first name, so I don’t scare her?” I ask softly, reaching out to interlace my fingers with her hand that she has finally placed on the seat.

  “I don’t think I can do that without breaking confidentiality,” she answers woodenly. “I guess I could arrange for you guys to meet. If she chooses to share her identity on her own then that’s great. Geez, what a mess,” Kiera whispers as she leans her head back and rubs her temples.

  I bring her hand to my lips and drop a tender kiss on her knuckles as I assure her, “Kiera, whatever we find today, I have your back. We’ll work through it together. We’ve got this.”

  “I hope so, Jeff,” she replies, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye and straightening her spine as if gathering strength for the day, “Sadly, I’m about to introduce you to a whole new level of ugly. You may never have another day of truly sound sleep in your life. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  I squeeze her hand because I can’t gather her up into a lover’s embrace. “Yes, I’m sure, Pip. Let’s go slay some dragons and rescue us some princesses,” I state with much more confidence than I feel.

  I thought I was ready; I really did. Even though it’s still early on a weekday morning, the scene at the store is chaotic. The first thing that catches my attention is the high-pitched screams of the infant. I recognize that cry. My nephew cried like this for months because he had colic. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a blur of blond curls launch herself at Kiera. I start to protect her, but Kiera holds up her hand to stop me


  “Miss Kiera!” the little girl shrieks in delight, “you really, really came. Jus’ like you said you would.” The disheveled creature climbs up into Kiera’s lap and sits sideways with her feet hanging over the tires of the chair. “I thoughted it was gonna take forever,” she finishes glumly.

  Kiera chuckles as she replies. “I am sorry that it took me a bit to get here. I live a little ways away and then my silly van wouldn’t start. So, I had to get a ride from my friend. Of course, I came. You’re part of the Girlfriend Posse now, remember? We never leave a friend behind.”

  Suddenly, the little girl’s eyes widen in horror as she regards Kiera’s face and her eyes welled up with tears. She touches Kiera’s face softly and looks at her with pity and despair as she tearfully asks, “Miss Kiera, what happened to all of your Barbie hair? Did your Nana cut it all off because you were bad?”

  Kiera’s hands flew to her head as she raced to undo the tight braid I had placed there just over an hour ago. When she has the ends free, she tickles the little girl’s face with them and gently explains, “See, Mindy? My hair is just fine. My friend, Jeff, just fixed it all fancy for me today.”

  “I ruined you fancy hair. Are you still gonna be my friend?” Mindy exclaims, sounding distressed.

  “Oh sweetheart, it’s okay. Jeff can fix it right now. No problem.” Kiera gives Mindy a light squeeze and waves me over. I stand behind Kiera and fix her braid. It’s not as neat as I could have done if I had started from scratch, but it will do given the circumstances.

  Mindy is watching me with rapt attention. “I want fancy hair too,” she declares. “Miss Kiera gave me a Barbie hair brush and mirror for my birff-day. But, I can’t do the ‘ubberband to make a ponytail like Barbie ‘cause my hand is hurt.”