Page 14 of Trophy

On Thursday night of that week, Allison was sitting on her couch, searching through classes on the website of the local community college and trying to feel excited about them.

She didn’t particularly want to take Geography or American Literature I.

But if she was going to get a degree, she knew she needed to, and she felt a little guilty that she’d fought so hard to take college classes while she was married and the year waiting for a divorce, only to be so reluctant now that she was completely free.

Staring at the web page, she was hit with the bleak realization that she was never going to get her little jewelry shop in Charlotte.

It was going to take her a while to finish college. Then she’d have to find a better job where she could earn a lot more money than she was making now. Then she’d have to save money like crazy, and even then she might not be able to make it work.

She was an idiot. A silly fool. For dreaming that it could ever happen without Arthur paying the bills. She’d clung to the fantasy like a little girl because it was the only concrete thing she could visualize as making her happy.

But now all she had was a crappy job and a mostly empty house and a bunch of boring college classes in her future. Telling herself to take it one step at a time didn’t really help when she could no longer imagine herself in a life she really wanted.

She needed to do something, though, or all her effort and emotional turmoil would have been for nothing. Finishing college was the obvious first step, as Vicki kept reminding her.

Community college classes were cheap. And since she was earning so little, she would probably qualify for some sort of grant that would reduce the tuition even further.

She’d determined that it really wouldn’t take that much money out of her savings to start up classes again.

Vicki was right. She needed to get going on them again.

Even if she couldn’t see how she could ever have her little jewelry shop, she couldn’t get stalled merely because she couldn’t have everything she wanted.

Feeling kind of blah and exhausted, she filled out an online application and submitted it before she could change her mind.

Then she requested her transcripts from the larger state school she’d enrolled in back in Charlotte.

Then she put down her laptop and her glass of cheap red wine.

At least she only had one more day of work this week. Then she’d have two days coming up to spend how she liked.

When she heard raised voices outside, she stood up—wincing because her feet hurt—and went to peek through the blinds. It was just dusk, and there was enough light for her to see across the street to Rob’s house.

There was a sporty little red car in his driveway.

Maybe he had a date.

The thought made her slightly sick, although she knew she had no grounds to feel that way. That scene with Dee in Dora’s earlier that week should have turned her off from him. He obviously had a very complicated personal life, and it wasn’t really something she wanted to get involved with.

But she kept seeing his face when Dee was throwing her fit. He’d been concerned about Allison—about whether she was upset by the melodrama—but he’d also been really troubled and frustrated.

He’d looked helpless. It was the only time in the month and a half she’d known him when she’d ever seen him look helpless. He was always so strong and capable and solid. But at that moment he’d looked… just as human as she was.

She couldn’t stop thinking about it. It made her want to help him, take care of him.

Not that she’d be any good at taking care of men. She’d had no practice at all. Arthur had never wanted or allowed it, and she’d never really felt the inclination anyway.

Looking out at the street in the dim light of the nearly set sun, she wondered what it would be like to take care of Rob when he needed it.

She heard the voices again. The main one was female, and it was screeching loudly. That gave Allison a clue, so she wasn’t surprised when she looked closer and saw Dee’s brassy blond hair and slim figure on Rob’s front walk.

He was out there too. They must have stepped off his porch because they were now visible. He wore a T-shirt and a pair of sweats that made Allison think he hadn’t been planning on going out tonight.

Dee must have shown up uninvited. After what had happened on Monday, there was no way Rob would have invited her over for a cozy evening.

Allison was too far away to see Rob’s expression or hear any of the words they were saying. Rob must be really upset about this. It was almost as public as the scene Dee had made at Dora’s.

Allison felt bad for him and worried and incredibly annoyed with Dee. What was wrong with the woman, anyway? Why wouldn’t she just leave him alone?

Allison wanted to do something but knew there was nothing to do. If she went over there, she would cause more problems and Rob would be even more embarrassed. So she kept watching—getting more and more upset by the fight as it continued for almost ten minutes.

Eventually Dee headed for her car, but Rob was right behind her. He was trying to take the keys away, which must mean Dee was drunk. This thought was confirmed when, with great difficulty, Rob herded Dee into the passenger seat of his truck and then backed it out of the drive.

Poor Rob. What a way to spend the evening.

Allison told herself the issue was settled now, so there was no sense in hovering near the window anymore. She put away her wine glass and straightened up the kitchen and living room, although they hadn’t been that messy.

She thought about going to bed, but it was barely after nine. She was tired but also kind of wired, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. She would have called Vicki, but her friend was going to the symphony tonight.

Allison turned on her front door light and grabbed her broom, stepping outside to sweep her front stoop and the short walk to the driveway. It needed to be done occasionally. It didn’t have anything to do with being outside to see when Rob got home.

The concrete was eventually spotless, and Rob still hadn’t returned. With a sigh, Allison gave up and went back inside.

She was closing and locking the front door when she heard a car on the street outside. She peeked back out the blinds to see Rob’s truck returning.

She waited for him to get out, but he didn’t.

He just sat in his car for a really long time.

There didn’t appear to be anyone in the passenger seat, so maybe he was just on his phone or something. But why was he just sitting like that? He should go back inside and get comfortable.

She kept watching, getting more and more worried for no reason that made any sense. She knew something was wrong with him.

Eventually her concern overcame any hesitancy she normally would have felt.

Rob had never invited her over to his house, but she was just going up the driveway to check on him.

She was wearing cropped yoga pants and a pink tunic top that always slid off one of her shoulders.

She slipped her feet into her favorite silver flip-flops and walked across the street.

Rob still hadn’t gotten out of his truck. His head was tilted back and his eyes were closed, and he looked terrible, like he could barely move.

She knocked on the door of the truck.

He jerked visibly and opened his eyes, visibly shocked as he reached over to open the door. “What are you doing here?”

“Sorry,” she said, feeling silly now that she was here. “I just saw… saw what happened earlier, and then I saw you sitting out here. I was… I was worried.” She dropped her eyes, hoping he wasn’t going to tell her she was being stupid or send her away.

His voice softened slightly. “I’m okay. Nothing for you to worry about.”

“You seem like something is wrong.”

He looked like he was going to say something, but then he gave a little shake of his head. What he said was clearly not what he’d been about to say. “I’m just tired.”

“Then you should go inside and take it easy.”

“I am.” He slid out of the truck and straightened up, putting on a smile that didn’t ring quite true to Allison. “I hope your evening didn’t get interrupted by all the noise out here.”

She smiled back, since he obviously wanted to get back to normal interaction between them. “Not really. I was just signing up to take college classes.”

“Oh yeah? What classes are you going to take?”

He looked better, either from her presence or from thinking about something else. Allison decided she wasn’t going to leave him yet. She didn’t want him to go inside and stew about whatever had upset him. “I’ll tell you about them if you invite me in. I’m on my feet all day, you know.”

“Of course you are. You can come—” He broke off, as if he’d just remembered something.

She pretended she hadn’t noticed the interruption and walked up his front steps. He had no choice but to come too and unlock his door.

She realized why he was reluctant as soon as she walked inside.

The place was a mess. The door opened into a pleasant great room with good hardwood furniture and big windows.

But there were newspapers and mail and empty glasses on every surface, and the floor was covered with shoes, socks, tools, and what appeared to be the contents of an entire junk drawer.

She could see into the connecting kitchen, and it was just as messy.

She was absolutely positive that this was what he hadn’t wanted her to see.

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you never clean up a little?”

He gave her a rueful look. “Only when I have to. Sorry. I know it’s a little…”

“It’s a lot.” She giggled again. “I don’t understand. The outside of your house is perfect.”

“I like yard work. I hate housework.” He pushed a hand through his thick hair, clearly torn between amusement and embarrassment. “We can go over to your place if you’d rather.”