Page 7 of Taking The Shot

“Keith?” Constance said before she realized it, turning to look at the stranger. “You are right – life does suck sometimes, doesn’t it?”

“Very much so,” he agreed quietly.

They stood there looking at each other, almost like each was afraid of what the other would say in those moments, completely confused on how to take the next step… and finally he spoke.

“Can I get your number – you know – in case you ever want to talk about how bad things suck sometimes?”

“Oh my gosh…” Paige muttered, slapping her forehead, causing Keith to look at the child and smirked wryly in awareness.

“You know, I think I might like that,” Constance replied quietly, pulling a pen off her the apron that boldly proclaimed she was with the food pantry. “Do you have a piece of paper?”

“You can text me,” Keith began. “Or I can text you?”

“No cell phone,” Constance said, shaking her head. “Life sucks, remember? You could call the house phone after six p.m. or leave a message. I have an answering machine.”

His frown deepened as he looked at her before nodding. She rattled off her number and saw him start to open his mouth before he closed it again.

“What?” she smiled. “Don’t be shy now – you’ve already gotten more out of me than most, and that should be an honor.”

“It’s nothing,” Keith said and looked away – and for some reason, Constance felt like the man was floundering in his own private hell, and she hated that for him. She put her hand out, touching his arm, only to see his look of surprise as he turned back to her.

“You know, it might suck now… but honestly, life can be beautiful if you give it a chance. If you are stuck in the middle of a storm cloud,keep going. It can’t rain forever – can it?” She said softly, meeting his eyes, and then smiled. “Or at least I keep telling myself that because I remember all that sunshine and those rainbows from long ago.”

“No, I suppose not,” he murmured, his eyes warming slightly as he nodded. “It was very nice to meet you.”

“You too – and I hope you call sometime.”

“I might.”

“Well, I might answer,” she replied softly, her smile widening as his own touched his lips. “I just might answer, Keith.”

3

BOUCHER

Keith’s handswere shaking like a toddler’s as he dialed the number, feeling anxiety and dread pool in his stomach. Between the call from his agent, the talking to he received again from his coach, and the impending meeting that was coming in less than a week – the pressure was on, and he felt like he was drowning.

“Hello?”

He closed his eyes, feeling something weird wash over him at the simple word spoken into the telephone that almost felt like a caress to his soul.

“Hey Constance. It’s Keith…”

“Oh, I was hoping you would call,” he heard her say, and it was followed by a nervous little chuckle that made him smile, grateful that she couldn’t see him right now. No, he was parked on the sofa, in sweatpants and tube socks, and had on a ratty T-shirt with a bleach spot on it, and his hair was a mess because it didn’t matter – nothing did – because he had no one…

“You were?”

“Yeah, I know it sounds weird, but it was nice to talk to someone who doesn’t want to play Barbie, My Little Pony, or isn’t getting upset because her socks are bothering her byexisting,” she continued – and this time they both chuckled softly, giving him an iota of courage to say what was coming next.

“I don’t suppose you’d like to meet for coffee or dinner sometime – would you?” and braced himself at her intake of breath, followed by a heavy sigh. “If not, it’s okay, but I thought maybe we could talk some more or…”

“I honestly would love to,” Constance began and paused almost like she was wondering how much she should or could say. “But I don’t have the money for a sitter right now and it would be so much easier on me if you came over for coffee or if we met for dinner at my place. Does that make sense? I mean, I know it sounds crazy because we are strangers, but dating as a mom isn’t something I’ve ever done and…”

“I’ve never dated a mom,” he interrupted gently, smiling. “And it makes perfect sense.”

“Oh phew… I mean, I was wondering if it was weird.”

“Isn’t life weird sometimes?”

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