In A Perfect World

:::::Here's the next chapter, I'm still working on getting the 'good stuff' to stand alone!::: Rate & review please!!


"Well, I've got one ticklish spot……." Grant let his sentence trail off as the screaming in the back of his brain reached the front, and at full volume no less. He whirled around in the chair to stare at ‘Cassie’. The movement was so fast it caught Kerry off guard; all she could do was stand there, frozen in place by…..yes, frozen in place by what? Fear? Hope? Longing? Whatever part of her brain that was functioning was being spun around like a carousel on overload. She didn’t know what she was feeling, she didn’t know what was going to happen next and she sure as hell DID NOT know what she was going to do about any of it!

Grant was staring at ‘Cassie’, one eyebrow arched, questioning. He continued to watch her askance as he rose from the chair. “Oooooo- kay” he began. “I think we need to talk a bit, and it would be a talk better had in private if you don’t mind.” His voice was calm, the inflection behind it steady and business like, not at all like he felt, but if it came across as it sounded, all’s the better. He averted his eyes from Kerry and busied himself collecting the reservation books and all they had scattered across the table.

Kerry was, herself, not feeling especially calm, but knew some sort of response was called for. She didn’t know how she should sound so she settled for something as neutral as she could manage, “Ok Grant, where exactly would you like to have this ‘talk’?” >That didn’t sound too bad< Kerry thought. >Little tinge of wonder, little tinge of question and hopefully a whole lot of nothing he can read in to!!<

Kerry reached for, and held open the beach bag for Grant to drop all the books inside. “I think maybe a nice quiet walk back to your-“ he stopped short, “aahhh” he stammered, “ your sister’s place would be a good start.”

“What about the four-wheeler?” the inquiry was spit out of Kerry’s mouth before she realized she had even thought the question and when she realized she had said it, she instantly knew it sounded ridiculous.

“I’ll radio one of the guys to come and get it, it’s only fair, if they don’t know about the pool yet, they should be told. It’s dang hot out here!” Grant swung the bag full of business ware over his shoulder and swept the air with his right arm in an ‘after you’ type gesture. Kerry paused at the chaise to collect her sandals, wrap, towel, and other stuff. And in another ‘ladies first, after you’ move they walked out the gate.


The walk back to the house was made in practically total silence. Neither one spoke, and both could tell that the other was in some kind of deep thought.

Grant tried to analyze things …..>OK, this should be simple, simple logic. Number one, Kerry has a twin sister, right? Right. #2) her twin’s name is Cassie, right; #3) Kerry went out of town for a funeral, #4) Cassie stayed here because of the show. Ok, going good so far. But….< Grant paused in his train of thought as another train came up on the far horizon, >but…who’s funeral did Kerry go to?? If it was a family member wouldn’t Cassie have gone too?? They’re sisters; even if it was only a friend wouldn’t they both have gone?? < Logic was beginning to fail him and Grant raised his hand to rub at his temples.

This movement did not go unnoticed to Kerry. >What the heck must he be thinking?? Looks like whatever it is, it’s giving him a headache. This is NOT going like I planned it!! HA! HA! Who’s kidding who?? I never had a plan!! I expected to get busted outta this masquerade hours ago!! I CANNOT believe there’s no one that’s not swallowing this!! Aw crap!!<

They had arrived at the house. Kerry dumped the bag of pool stuff as Grant did the same with the park records. She was absolutely speechless, and was waiting for him to do or say something.

“Ok,” he began as he also started to pace around the living room, rubbing his hands together, not really speaking to anyone specifically. “I was trying to be polite, and maybe even a little coy. I know about sisters and I’ve heard about twins……” he paused to think. “…. It’s probably a foregone conclusion to assume you already know. I mean, why shouldn’t you know?? You’re sisters. Don’t sisters tell each other everything? Of course they do. And, I mean, for pity’s sake, your twins!! You probably felt it for all I know!”

Kerry watched Grant circle the room. He was almost to the point of babbling; ok maybe he was already babbling and was just approaching incoherent babbling. She had settled herself on one of the breakfast bar stools with her back to the kitchen. She felt like she was watching a tennis match, back and forth, back and forth. While she was making this analogy, Grant babbled on.

“Yes, yes of course, sisters and twins! It’s so simple; I don’t know why I didn’t see it before! She didn’t even have to tell you, it’s the twin thing! You just knew like she knew, because it was happening to her, so it was happening to you too!” Seemingly pleased by his ability to “sort out” what was going on, Grant paused in his pacing, looked up at Kerry and his face broke into a huge smile.

>Like a proud 3 year old that just figured out Lincoln logs< Kerry thought to herself. >What the heck have I done?? Was Grant some kind of mentally unbalanced that I didn’t know about?? Has my little act pushed him over the edge?? Well, here goes nothin’< “Grant, honey, why don’t you sit down on the couch there and I’ll bring us both some lemonade and we’ll keep on talking, Ok?” She spoke clearly and maybe a little louder than necessary, keeping her face calm and smiling slightly so as not to alarm him. Taking him by the arm she led him to the couch and sat him down. “Now I’ll be right back with the lemonade, ok hon? You sit right here and relax. You said it yourself; it’s dang hot out there!”

As Kerry turned to head to the kitchen, she couldn’t see the cock-eyed smile that broke out over Grant’s face.