Until Never

By Kennedy Shaw

Cashier Trainer Keva Taylor never thought she’d see the end of her twenty year marriage. True, it was over at the altar, but still.  She’d thought she’d never get her twenty-year-old daughter to attend college.  She’d thought she’d never have to say goodbye to her boss. And she’d never thought she’d find love at work of all places. On each count she was wrong.  Dead wrong.

After her divorce is final, Keva doesn’t have time to wallow in her new single status long. Her boss is found dead in the store’s freezer, and mysterious warehouse orders keep appearing.  The now new store manager is at a loss and needs her help.  As she begins to dig into the mystery of the orders, she learns about the boss she didn’t know.  She also believes that her boss was murdered.

Newly divorced Scott Collins thought the move from Culver City, California to Shamrock Springs is the just the opportunity he was looking for.  But since landing in the small affluent town, his new job as a manager trainee has been one surprise after another.  Now with his boss dead and little guidance, he has to turn to Keva for help. 

Keva’s knowledge of store procedures puzzles Scott, but one look into her brown eyes, the last thing on his mind is business.   Scott finds himself doing just about anything to spend time with her including offering to drive her to her exercise class.

Scott soon opens up a whole new world to Keva.  She finds herself anxiously awaiting the next time they’re alone.  Keva loves the attention Scott is showing. But does she dare trust her instincts when passion starts to invade her thought process?  

Keva is determined to prove that her good friend was murdered, but the police wouldn’t give her the time of day and dismiss her thoughts of murder.  It was up to her to prove that someone ended her boss’s life early and she was just the woman to do it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Perry-Shaw Publications
• Release date: Feb 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507025673

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Finally, it was going to be a good day.

Keva Taylor woke up extra early that morning.  She sat up in her king-sized bed and sighed. Yesterday, she faced her no good, now ex-husband in divorced court.  At least that twenty-year disaster was finally over.  She was a single woman again. 

But this morning was not about her.  Her oldest child, Tameka, had finally decided to attend college, but not without Keva’s nagging for the last two years.  Today is a new day, she told herself as she walked inside the bathroom and closing the door.  She disrobed and looked at her nude body.  I still look pretty good, she said.  Luckily, she had a tall, slender frame her older sister hated her for and which hid her forty years well. 

After her shower, she dressed in jeans and a form-fitting blouse. She went down the hall to her daughter’s room and opened the door.  Just as she did, Tammy’s alarm clock beeped.  Keva couldn’t help smiling at her daughter as she reached for the alarm clock to shut it off, no doubt.  Tammy, time to get up.  We have to be at the college by ten.

Tammy turned over on her side.  Just five more minutes Mama.  Promise, she mumbled, pulling the down comforter over her head.

Yeah, right.  Get your butt up right now or you’ll still be in the bed at ten.  She laughed as her daughter finally sat up and stared at her.  Her shoulder length hair pointed in different directions, a result of her sleeping like a wild woman. 

Tammy stood, yawning.  Her too thin frame encased in a T-shirt and boxer shorts.  All right.  She raised her hand in a scout’s honor salute.  I swear I will not get back in bed.

Keva nodded.  How many times have I told you to sleep in lady-like pajamas?  Not a ratty T-shirt and boxer shorts that I don’t want to know where they came from.  Supposed our house caught on fire and you have to be rescued?

Mom, all the kids wear these.  She pulled at the waistband of the boxer shorts, giving her mother the hint of a mischievous smile.  I bought them at the store. I didn’t snag them from a guy.

Keva raised her hand in a stop motion.  My newly divorced ears don’t need to know such details.  In honor of my new marital status and you going to college, I’ll make your favorite breakfast.

Tammy smiled.  Thanks, Mom.  You know I can’t resist your pancakes.

Keva knew that too.  At least her thin daughter would eat a good breakfast today.  Well, you’re going to need those extra carbs to get through college orientation.

Tammy nodded, walking toward the door.  Don’t I know it.  I had nightmares about it last night.  I kept thinking somehow something crazy would happen at orientation.  Are you sure you’re okay going with me? The divorce was only finalized yesterday.

Yes, baby.  I’m fine.  The divorce wasn’t a surprise.  Your father wanted to act single, so I granted his wish.

He’s going to be sorry, Tammy said.  I can’t say I’m sorry about the divorce.  I think it’s the best thing for everyone.

Keva stared at her daughter.  For years, she’d worried how her two children would react to the divorce, but it seemed Kenneth Taylor’s misdeeds had already prepared them for his departure.

***

Mom, you’re awful quiet.  Tammy glanced at her mother as they headed to Fort Worth University in Tammy’s car.  You’re not worrying about Daddy, are you? Please don’t take him back.  You deserve so much more.  He was such a waste of space.

Tameka Taylor! Don’t talk about your father like that.  He was a different man when I married him. Lie.  He’s had a rough few years.  Another lie. Keva defended Kenneth out of habit, not really feeling the strength of her convictions. 

Mom, I know you love him, or did. Once.  I understand, I guess. You were young and got pregnant. I would just like to see you happy.  I only see you smile when I visit you at the store or when it’s just you, me and Trey.  You should be happy all the time.  You’re only forty and you still look great.  People are always asking me if we’re sisters.

She grinned.  People were always asking her the same thing as well.  She didn’t dare admit that to her daughter.  The divorce didn’t worry her. Dating after ending her twenty-year marriage, worried her. Don’t worry, baby.  I ‘m not taking Kenneth back.  Been there, done that.  Not going back.

That’s my momma, Tammy said.  I know it makes me sound like a bad daughter, but I’m glad you finally divorced him.  I didn’t like the fact that he was parading women around in your car while you were working to support us all.

You knew about that too? 

Tammy’s soft laughter held no humor. Of course, I know.  Shamrock Springs is a small town and everyone knows he’s an alcoholic and can’t hold a job.  Everybody knows everybody’s business.

I’m sorry, Tam.

Mom, there’s nothing to be sorry for.  Those were things Daddy did, not you.  I just want more for you. Ever since I can remember it’s been you taking care of us, making sure we had food, shelter, and clothing. When we have a problem, we come to you, not Daddy.

Keva knew that.  Kenneth had given up somewhere along the way.  Or either he just wanted to be like his no-account friends, which thanks to the judge, was granted to him yesterday. 

Mom? 

Sorry, baby, drifted off, Keva admitted.

We’re here, Tammy announced as she parked on the Fort Worth University parking lot.  Well, here we are.  The educational superhighway."  Tammy giggled, getting out of the car.

Keva grabbed her purse and struggled out as well.  Gazing at the large college campus, she was reminded of an ill thought decision over twenty years ago. She had completed two years of college by the time she’d met Kenneth.  One drink and her whole world changed. You can’t go back, she whispered. 

But you can go forward, Tammy hinted quietly, standing next to her mother, hugging her.  You can always go forward.  You just have to take the first step, the rest will be easy.

Keva hugged her daughter in return.  Yes, I can.  But this is your day.  Come on, freshman orientation awaits.

They walked to the brightly marked room.  Keva expected to see a lot of acne-faced young men and women, but there were also some people her age, some in between, and, to her surprise, some older as well.  See, you worried for nothing, she whispered to Tammy as they took their seats. 

I’m still glad you came with me.  Tammy smiled at her mother.

Keva took a deep breath as she listened to the speaker. The young man recited all the great things about the college: the diversified curriculum, co-ed dorms, cafeteria, and the list seemed to go on forever.  Thank goodness, Tammy lived at home, she thought.   She flipped through the schedule of classes as Tammy filled out her parking permit. You should take this aerobic class, it will add muscle, she hinted to her model-thin daughter.

Why don’t you take an exercise class with me?  It’ll be fun.  Great for some mother-daughter bonding, she teased.  Tammy took the schedule from her mother.  Look.  There’s a class at five-thirty.

She looked at the class her daughter referred to.  Tammy, I don’t think I can do that.  What about your job at the mall? 

My boss is all for me going to college and said whatever I needed to do was fine.  I can pick you up from work and we’ll come to class.  It’s only twice a week. Keva couldn’t say no, especially since Tammy was going to school at her insistence.  All right.  What else are you taking?  Don’t overload yourself your first semester.  She didn’t want Tammy getting overwhelmed the first semester.

I’m not.  I’m taking twelve hours, a regulation college class load.  You know, Mom, I probably could qualify for a grant or something.  You don’t have to pay out of your pocket.

I want to.  I can’t believe you talked me into taking an aerobics class.

***

The next morning, Keva walked into Grizwald Burke’s corner office of Graystone Gourmet Grocery Store.  A mug of steaming hot coffee in her right hand, and paperwork for the new cashiers in her left.  She sat down in the only vacant chair, placing her favorite coffee container on his already cluttered desk. 

Good morning, Grizzy. Why are you looking so pissed?  I’m the one who has a child in college now.  She grinned proudly, two years of nagging paid off.  Even her gruff boss couldn’t sour her mood.  My, don’t we look like we painted the town green, she said sarcastically.

His rough voice answered her finally.  Keva, I believe the term is red.  I know we’re living in the town of Leprechauns, but the term is painting the town red. I just got a shitty e-mail from the head office.

Oh, is that all?  I thought one of your girlfriends promised to leave her husband again.  One of the women you hired as a cashier last week, without a background check, failed her drug test.  She had a cocktail of drugs in her system, too many to mention, according to the lab.  She laughed at his mock startled expression.  His dark blue eyes lightened with laughter. 

I figured she would fail it.  She smelled awful at the interview.  Usually the assistants interviewed applicants unless Grizzy knew he had a sure chance of getting laid.

Grizzy finger-combed his few remaining blond strands out of his face.  Our store has been picked to have another manager trainee follow me around for the next six months.

Keva sighed.  How young is this one?  The last one didn’t make it two months and we’re one of the easier training stores.

Actually, this guy is over forty.  He used to work for one of the larger grocery stores in California.  Ralph’s, Ricardo’s, or something like that.  Anyway, Scott Collins will be here Monday.  And I’m changing your schedule. 

His lips curved upward in a broad, wide grin that meant he was up to no good.  She argued, knowing it was a lost cause, but still she wanted her opinion known.  You can’t.  I just signed up for a class with my daughter on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Don’t worry, Super Mom, Grizzy drawled.  I’m scheduling you late on Friday nights.  I’ll need someone to keep me company while I’m babysitting. I decided it should be you.  You don’t have anything else going on do you?  He leaned toward her, still wearing that awful smile.  The divorce was just finalized, surely you’re not dating already.

Keva looked at him.  She wished she could throw something at him to wipe that smug grin off his face.  But he knew every inch of her life for the last twenty years.  He was not only her boss, he was her sounding board, and he had convinced her it was time to divorce Kenneth. No, Grizzy, I’m not dating.  Yet.

Good.  Since I’m interrupting your schedule, tell Tammy and Trey, I’ll bring you home on Friday nights.

Keva sat in her tiny office, preparing for the day, wondering if it was a good day to start trainees. Three women and one man.  Luckily, they were all mature employees so Keva wouldn’t have to contend with after school activities when making their schedules.

She prepared the new hire folders and the paperwork for orientation.  Graystone didn’t have a uniform policy per se. Only that the clothes had to be clean and professional looking.  The corporate office asked her to stress the professional part.  She hated that part of her job as cashier trainer.

She reached for her coffee cup and realized she’d left her coffee cup in Grizzy’s office.  After locking her door, she walked to his office.  As she noticed the closed door, she glanced at her watch.  It was after nine, he was probably having the managers’ morning meeting, since it was Thursday.  Or it could be one of his many lady friends.  Shouts came from behind the office door, then the voices were muffled or hushed.  Finally, a reward for her efforts.

What do you mean it’s over? Grizzy blurted.  I’ve done everything humanly possible for you and now you want out.  I won’t have it.  That is not an option!

Mumbled voices again.  Damn it! She was just about to take a step closer to the door when a masculine voice coughed, startling her. 

Keva, should you really be eavesdropping?  Kenyon Hardy, the assistant manager asked. 

Keva turned and faced him, determined not to let him see her sweat.  I’m not eavesdropping, Kenyon.  I was just about to knock on Grizzy’s door, but I can wait.  He sounds busy.  She walked past the tall dark-skinned black man, leaving him standing alone by Grizzy’s door. 

Kenyon was the youngest assistant manager in the fifty-year history of the Graystone and was one of the few African-Americans in a management position.  He was very proud of the fact and reminded Keva every chance he got.  Don’t you have new people coming in today?

Yes, four mature adults.  No teenagers, sorry.  With the feeling of a minor victory, she walked to the receiving clerk’s desk.

Constance O’Reilly laughed as Keva approached her.  I see Mr. Personality is here early.

Keva laughed as well.  Kenyon was her second least favorite person, next to Kenneth.  Yes, unfortunately.  At least I won’t have to deal with his insolence on Fridays.  Grizzy changed my work schedule.

Connie nodded in agreement. Her hair shook in a cascade of red fire around her shoulders.  Yes, I saw the schedule when I was in his office this morning.  You can still help me with this backlog of invoices, right?  I don’t know why they order so much, but we must be selling it all, ‘cause by Monday all this, she waved her chubby hand at the crowded back room, is gone.

Keva also glanced around the crowded backroom of the small grocery store.  The backroom was the width of the store, pallets of groceries were stacked in every available space.  Even parked in front of the fire exits—a definite no-no.  Normally, a small grocery store would never have this many extra groceries especially so close to inventory.  What’s really weird is that another truck is scheduled for delivery tonight.  Where are the stockers going to put it all?

Connie shrugged her shoulders.  Who knows?  Maybe one of the regulars is having a dinner party.

If Mrs. Cannon, one of the stores’ best customers, was giving one of her extravagant parties that could easily account for a couple of extra pallets of groceries.  You’re probably right.  I can help you once I get the new hires ready for orientation.  I can probably input some invoices for you.

Connie hugged Keva, almost crushing her in the process.  Bless you, Keva.  I can’t understand why I have so many invoices still sitting on my desk.

It was a combination of things, Keva thought: unstable home life, increased workload, and those thirty cigarette breaks Connie took during the course of an eight-hour day.  Keva riffled through the piles of invoices.  It doesn’t look like it’s getting any smaller either.

Connie shrugged her shoulders.  Hey, how about lunch?  We probably both need to get out of the store today.

I can’t.  Tammy is meeting me at the shop across the street for lunch.  She watched her friend with growing alarm.  Connie, is something wrong?

Connie’s green eyes instantly watered.  It’s Josh.  He’s in trouble again.  He got arrested yesterday.

Keva sighed.  Josh, Connie’s only son, was constantly in trouble and the source of Connie’s misery.  Maybe that was why she and Connie were such good friends-misery loves company.  Do you want me to loan you the bail money?  Keva had done so on more than one occasion in the last few months.

No, I told him he had to sit it out this time.  This is his third arrest in six months.  Of course, Grizzy informed me yesterday at lunchtime in front of everyone.  I could have killed him!  He deserves those two dollar floozies he runs around with!

Keva knew that Connie really didn’t feel that way about Grizzy. But he had a way of getting under your skin without any effort.  She consoled her friend as Connie had done for her so many times in the past.  Look, why don’t we talk after dinner away from here?

Connie nodded. Tell Tammy I’ll take you home tonight.  She looked Keva up and down.  How does it feel to be divorced?

Wonderful.  Like a giant weight has been lifted. 

***

Scott Collins walked through his new home, kicking boxes aside that were in his way.  He’d been in Shamrock Springs a week and nothing was going as planned.  He’d hoped the move from Culver City, California, to this small affluent town would save his shamble of a marriage.  His wife saved him the trouble and elected to stay in California with her lover.  Scott had been relieved and came to Texas alone.

The good thing about moving to Texas was the profit he made when the house sold. With the divorce, his wife was only interested in the savings, not the house. Scott agreed to surrender all the savings to her.  Carla had wanted the quickest, cleanest, split possible, even though with California being a community property state, she was entitled to so much more. In California, realty was as costly as plastic surgery, but in this small Texas town, he was able to get a bigger house.  The million and half dollar home they sold in California, which had two bedrooms and one bath, netted him a four-bedroom two-story house with a pool in Shamrock Springs. 

Scott walked to the box marked clothes and opened it.  No shirts.  He opened another box, and found the shirts he was looking for.  He still had a few days before he needed to report to work.  He grabbed shirts, jeans, and dress pants, and decided it was time to get acquainted with his new town and find the cleaners.

***

At lunchtime, Keva walked across the street to the Patty Cakes’ Sandwich Shoppe.  The quaint shop was always busy at this hour of the day.  Today was no different.  She searched the crowd for her daughter.  Finally, she noticed her painfully thin daughter nibbling on a salad in the corner of the restaurant.  That girl needs to start eating something besides that bird food, Keva thought as she walked to the table.  Hi, have you been waiting long?

No, Mom.  I just sat down.  I even got your lunch. She pointed to the tray that held all her mother’s favorites:  a ham and cheese sub, a bag of plain potato chips, banana pudding, and a large glass of tea.

Keva smiled as she sat down.  Thanks, baby.  I really appreciate it.  I had visions of you ordering me a salad.  She pointed to her daughter’s tray.

I know you think this is not enough food.  But I’m not hungry.

After the morning she had, the last thing Keva wanted was a discussion about Tammy’s eating habits, or lack thereof.  Thin ran in their family, but Tammy was nearly six feet tall, two inches taller than Keva, and barely weighed a hundred pounds.  I just want you to be healthy.

Tammy’s brown eyes stared at her mother.  Okay. What’s wrong?  I know you, this is your favorite argument— me not eating.

She considered Tammy not only her daughter, but her friend as well.  Especially since the minute Tam hit eighteen, she began confiding in her mother about all things sexual.  Keva was glad they could talk openly about sex.  She didn’t want Tammy making the same mistakes she did.

Mom?

Oh, sorry.  A lot is going on at work.  We’re getting a new manager trainee and Grizzy changed my Friday schedule, so now I won’t get off until ten.

Okay, that works out great.  I normally get off at nine-thirty and will come get you.  I still can’t believe you gave Daddy the car.

It wasn’t me anymore.  After he’d lost his last job a few years prior, Keva let him take her car to look a job, which he was not.  He was out chasing women and riding them around in her car!

Keva’s eyes glanced at the man eating alone at the next table.  The blond hared man seemed intent on enjoying his sandwich, not listening to their conversation.  Grizzy said he’d bring me home.

No way, Tammy said.  I thought Friday night was his big date night.

Sometimes.  He promised.  Keva watched the man at the next table with a growing interest.  She considered herself very observant of people.  Shamrock Springs was small enough and affluent enough that she knew most of the people, or at least their maids.  This man was a stranger in town.  Was he the new trainee?  He was dressed very casual and was dining alone.  If he was new in town, where was the wife?  In her observation of the quiet man, she noticed the tan line on his left hand indicating a wedding ring had been