The Space Between by Nikki Mathis Thompson Page A

property. The old posts were a bitch to get out of the ground. It took twice as long as we thought it would, but you know it’s always like that when Dad does a project.”
    “Yes, that is true. Remember when he replaced the wood floor in the den? Wasn’t that supposed to take a week?”
    “Yep, and it ended up taking three. But he loves it—it’s his idea of bonding…So, what’d I miss?”
    Georgia filled him in on the girls, then mentioned her snubbed side dish. He marched over to the table and grabbed a fork. He took a large bite and said, rather loudly and with his mouth full, how good the salad was.  
    “Have you tried this?” he’d asked loudly,   to no one in particular. “Damn, my wife can cook.”
    “Nate Bristol!”
    “Sorry, Bette,” he called out to his mother-in-law, not sounding a bit sorry.
    Georgia teetered between mortification and amusement. The man had no shame.
    “You’re crazy, ya know that?” she said, finally pulling him to the side.
    He put his hands on her hips and grinned—it was a cocky, crooked grin.  
    “Crazy, for you, baby.” He kissed her on the tip of her nose. “I’m gonna catch up with the boys over there by the smoker and do manly things.”
    “Oh, please don’t leave me. I haven’t seen you all day and there’s only so many conversations I can have about the new pastor’s wife and her wardrobe choices. Oh, and who has the best recipe using a can of mushroom soup. I’m bored to tears.”  
    She pleaded with her eyes and made sure to pout her lips.
    “Awe, baby, come on. Don’t give me that look. I’ll see you soon. I’m just gonna pop over for a bit. We have to go over the details of our quail huntin’ trip next weekend.”
    “Next weekend? You didn’t tell me about that.”
    “I didn’t? Huh, thought I did. Anyway, Wayne’s got a new cabin and we’re all gonna break it in next weekend. Ya mind?” His blue eyes softened, the way they always did when he wanted her to say yes.  
    And he did it again—put her on the spot. She had two choices. Say no and be the bad guy, or lie through her teeth and say, “Sure, I don’t mind.”  
    Choice number two, like always.“Thanks, baby.” He kissed her cheek and patted her behind. He must have given them a thumbs up because cheers erupted as he joined the guys.
    She sighed and turned away. The next part was automatic and routine—put a smile on. Smile on the outside…but on the inside, the inside was whatever she wanted to be.   Thoughts, wishes, hopes, fears. They were the only things she had that was hers and hers alone. She hoarded them greedily. Kept them under lock and key. Not that Nate ever asked, or even imagined she might have anything going on other than the front she presented. Wasn’t it obvious, though?  
    Men were notoriously obtuse when it came to a woman’s complex emotions. Whether the male sex was truly in the dark, or played at it flawlessly, would most likely remain a mystery.  
    Either way, it drove her insane. She was baffled that she wanted to kiss him one minute, and kick him the next.  

    Her vision blurred as the bustling activity around her whirled as if it were water spinning on the edges of a drain. Music…Eating…Laughter…Warm embraces…Kids stealing sweets…Men bragging…Women gossiping.
    Georgia stood amidst it all, feeling detached.  
    How could she feel so alone with so much life going on around her—to feel invisible despite being surrounded by others? She’d give anything to lose the uneasy feeling just beneath her skin. It crawled and itched. Kept her up at night. Uncertainty, not of what tomorrow would bring, but what she wanted from it.  
    Complacency is a festering thing—a parasite that lulls you into a sense of peace, but under the surface it’s sucking at your soul. Slow. Gradual. The peace, an illusion.  
    You think you’re floating, but in reality, your head is being held under water.

~Chapter Seven~

    “Thanks for no-showing at the