Page 32 of First Date: Divorce (Wyoming Marriage Association #1)

SUNDAY

K.D. hadn’t seen Eric since he got out of bed to go for an early run.

Melody had scheduled double-length individual sessions with each of them, with K.D.’s first.

Their preparation under Pauline’s tutelage gave K.D. everything she needed as Melody led her through details about her relationship with Eric — her supposed-relationship with Eric.

Then the counselor’s questions turned in a direction K.D. knew better and liked less.

“Tell me more about your mother.”

“What was it like when you were growing up?”

“How did you feel about her dating when you were younger?”

“What did you think when she married your stepfather— Okay, Mark?”

“How do you view their relationship?”

What if your mother loves him? What if their marriage gives them both what they want. Isn’t that what a marriage should be?

She shook her head at Eric’s voice in her head.

“He restricts everything she does. Her wardrobe, her makeup, her hair.”

“You say she wasn’t like that when you were growing up?”

“Not at all. She emphasized looking good. Worked hard at it. Saved whatever money she could to buy clothes, have her hair done, her nails, things like that.”

“You didn’t care for that sort of thing? Makeup and clothes?”

“I was never into the girly things. I wanted to be able to take care of myself.”

Melody tipped her head. “Didn’t your mother take care of herself and you?”

“Yes. But she never liked it. She’d say she couldn’t wait until she could…”

“What? What did she say, K.D.?”

She couldn’t wait until she became the wife of a man who loved her as she was, and then she could stop trying so hard.

That’s what her mother said while she eked out pennies to pay for the clothes she believed she needed, dieted to stay thin, applied makeup so carefully. All to try to find a man to love her as she was .

“What?” K.D. echoed, buying time.

“Your mother couldn’t wait until she could what?”

“Sorry. I, uh, lost track of what I was saying.”

Melody gave her a close look, but let it pass. “How do you think your mother’s relationship has affected your marriage?”

“It hasn’t affected it at all.”

Melody looked at her for a long moment, then turned her questions back to the supposed relationship between K.D. and Eric.

*

K.D. had a long conversation with Izzy in the hot tub. Hearing a little too much about closet trysts for her taste.

Izzy also said that for the week-long program they had group sessions for women only and men only.

“Even with a counselor there, it’s less formal.

You can let your hair down more. It makes it easier to share stories, advice, and lessons learned, you know.

Though I like the informal moments like this the best.”

It might also be a great time to pick up information that would be valuable to Gail Bledsoe.

Izzy went on to talk at length about her marriage. About the good years, the bad years, and the years that swung from good to bad and back.

K.D. wedged in a few questions to draw out what Izzy knew of the background on employees.

The older woman had only good things to say about the people and the place.

“First time we came, we learned the average couple waits six years after the going gets tough before seeing a counselor or therapist. By that time, habits are dug in deep. You two are smart to act sooner than that.

“Coming to a place like this is cheaper than regular therapy or a resort vacation, much less both.” She winked. “And Orion does like those closets. Guess your Eric does, too. Speaking of your Eric, here he comes.”

K.D. turned her head and her first thought was that she’d been right thinking Eric’s pajama bottoms covered him more than a swimsuit would. Now she had the proof.

Well, maybe not her first thought.

“Time for me to get out of this hot tub,” Izzy said. “Have a hot date with Orion.”

Now she knew Eric’s back was as muscled as his chest, as he offered Izzy a hand and she accepted with a twinkling look up into his face. “We still have a few minutes before lunch. Are you going to join your wife?”

That innocent question prickled a jolt through K.D.

“Not right now,” he said easily.

With Izzy on her way, he stretched flat on a nearby chaise with his eyes closed.

K.D. hadn’t factored in strong sunlight affecting what she could see during her swimsuit vs. pajamas calculations.

Which meant he’d see her more clearly, too.

If he joined her in the hot tub…

She climbed out with as little commotion as she could, but in the moment before she wrapped the towel around her, his eyes slitted open.

“Mrs. Cavendish?” he asked.

“Yes.” This swimsuit was one of the purchases K.D. resisted. Now she was glad she’d gotten it.

Only because it turned out she needed the suit.

“I knew I liked that woman.” Eric’s eyes closed again.

To her chagrin, K.D. found she had softer thoughts about the woman, too.

*

At their post-lunch counseling session, Melody greeted them with the news that they shouldn’t sit down.

“It’s time for Eric’s pick of activities. You’re going horseback riding. We have a van that will take you there and bring you back after a cookout dinner, so I won’t see you again until tonight.”

“Riding?” K.D. repeated. Seeing an opportunity to make a point about their pseudo-relationship, she added to him, “You picked riding? You think you’ve become some kind of cowboy by moving to Wyoming?”

“What makes a cowboy? Tell me and I’ll let you know,” he shot back.

“Being able to shoot, ride, rope, drink, dance.”

“I can’t rope.”

She eyed him, concentrating on not asking about shooting, her first instinct. “But you can ride now?”

Was that why his butt … No, she wasn’t thinking about his butt.

“I’ve learned a lot of things since I moved here.”

“Let’s explore that more later, Eric,” Melody said. “But right now, you’re both going riding.”