Just Me (You & Me 1)

Chapter One

Katherine

AWAKENED BY HER OWN gasps, Katherine struggled to catch her breath as her manicured finger nails dug into the cotton sheets. The new king size bed was larger than what she was used to, but was one of the few splurges she’d afforded herself to kick start her new life. Everything was new, and as her heart rate began to settle, she glanced around the room that still felt foreign.

Reaching to the nightstand, she tapped the screen on her smart phone to see it was four o’clock in the morning, four hours before she was to begin her shift at the bakery. Her nerves were already buzzing, the uncomfortable feeling of new beginnings swirling in her belly.

Glancing at the brown cardboard boxes that littered her bedroom, Katherine was pushing the horrible thoughts that woke her deep into her subconscious. The darkness always seemed to follow, casting a shower over every day, but this time was going to be different.

San Francisco was the fourth city she had moved to since leaving her husband Tim two years ago. Things had gotten too bad for any other option, she had to leave so that’s what she did. Unfortunately, Tim didn’t give up easily, making normalcy a thing of the past for her.

Suddenly, she flipped the covers across her body, revealing her bare legs in the coolness of the apartment. The stark furniture made the night wind even chillier than usual. On the balls of her feet, she crept across the room, peeking through the white wooden blinds onto the bare street below.

She’d thought she heard a strange sound, but upon further inspection decided she was just being paranoid as usual. It was still surreal, to finally have her own place after so many months of hopping from one short term rental to the next, constantly looking over her shoulder.

Hoping to avoid the disappointment of failure, Katherine had been sure to set no expectations for this new stint. When she landed a job, effectively restarting her life, she thought this might be the fresh start she needed.

Satisfied with the safety of her new condo, and sure she wouldn’t be able to fall back to sleep, Katherine ruffled through a box that sat half opened in the middle of the room.

It was filled with pictures, many torn in half to remove the memory of Tim. Her husband had turned out to be someone she would have never married had she known. It was all like a bad dream now, one that constantly chased her, torturing her with the memories of the past.

Unable to work due to his controlling ways, Katherine had spent most of her time locked away in their mansion, cut off from the world. It took over a year for her to even notice that gradually, she had cut all of her friends out of her life.

He had a way of making his control feel like love, until thing escalated to a level of danger Katherine couldn’t stomach. The thoughts still haunted her, and she shook her head as she dug through another box, this one filled with toiletries.

Making her way across the bedroom, she entered the bathroom which had been a major selling point for her when she toured the condo. There were few things Katherine enjoyed more than a long, hot bath. The oval lagoon tub was all she needed to see before she was ready to sign her name on the dotted line and move in her things.

The moving man was shocked to learn that she only had four bags and six boxes to move, but to Katherine it was more than she was used to having. Living on the run meant parting with things quickly and frequently.

As she lined her cosmetics up along the bathroom sink, Katherine got a glimpse of herself in the mirror, and noticed a sparkle in her eye she hadn’t seen in many weeks. Despite her wish to avoid setting expectations, she felt good about building a life in San Francisco.

Thankfully, she had been smart enough to set money aside during her marriage, so Katherine could afford to live comfortably without a job. Her new gig at the bakery was about more than money, it was her way to meet new people and try new things.

When she finished organizing her toiletries, Katherine decided on a bath, slipping off her silk nightgown as the waterfall faucet gushed warm water against the porcelain bathtub. Grabbing two bottles from the countertop, she sprinkled lavender Epsom salt in the water before pouring in a capful of creamy bubble bath.

As she sank down into the water, Katherine allowed the frustration of waking up too early to slide off her shoulders. It was much better that she slowly transitioned into the day, because she knew it would be a difficult one.

Change, and dealing with it, was not one of her strong points. She tended to crawl into her shell after being controlled so meticulously by her husband. Freedom was scary at times, but Katherine was determined to return to the happy and carefree girl she was just a few short years ago.

Wetting the thick cotton of her wash cloth, she pressed it against her neck, feeling the tension. She was stressed, after spending three weeks searching for a place to live. Real estate was rare and extremely expensive in northern California, so she was lucky to even get the one-bedroom apartment, although she wanted more space.

More than an extra bedroom, Katherine wanted a place of her own. It didn’t matter if it was a one room shack, she needed a place to call home. Restarting her life was going to be hard, that much she knew, but establishing a routine without a safe space felt impossible.

With her long hair hanging down her back, she glanced around the white bathroom, imagining ways that she could make it feel more like a home. The modern finishes left it feeling like a showroom without any personal touches.

After washing her hair, bathing, and exfoliating, Katherine walked through her new place wrapped in a bath towel. She was going to relax as she prepared for her day at the bakery. Without much of a social life, she didn’t have much else on her schedule, so her day tended to revolve around her job.

It was actually her favorite café, right at the end of her block, perfect for the morning coffee or evening dessert. When she went in one morning to see a sign in the window seeking a new barista, she thought it too good to be true.

But within a week, she had finished her paperwork and began her training. It was exciting to be learning new things and meeting her co-workers. Her trainer was really nice, Katherine had met her briefly when she had gone through orientation.

The owner was Italian, and he taught lessons on his high-end desserts after you had mastered the barista station. Katherine was eager to make the best lattes and cappuccinos she could, hoping they would garner his attention, and encourage him to share more with her.

Walking into her large closet, she dug through one box, selecting a pair of light blue denim jeans. Next, she found a t-shirt. Few occasions demanded attire more fancy than her regular uniform, and she was grateful to learn it was perfectly fine for the bakery. She’d have an apron on to cover her outfit, anyway.

Looking herself over in the mirror, Katherine thought she looked good, after finally gaining back some of the weight she lost in the months leading up to and after leaving her husband. She had gotten rail thin, a shell of herself. Now, her curves were finally coming back and she liked the sight.

Pulling her hair up into a ponytail, she looked over the stack of make-up she had unpacked, carefully considering applying a little mascara. Afraid it might draw extra attention she wasn’t looking for, Katherine decided against it and instead spread a moisturizer onto her face.

Again, she found herself at her window, checking to see if anyone was waiting downstairs. But there was no one, and she appeared to be safe. For a quick moment, she debated going for a walk since she still had time to spare before her work shift began. But it was too dark, and she knew that until the sun came up, there was no way she would feel safe alone.

Instead, she made her way to her small eat-in kitchen. She had ordered a few things online, and unpacked the coffee maker first. Almost mechanically, she set it next to the refrigerator. Tim always liked the coffee maker next to the refrigerator so that he could easily get his cream, but Katherine had never agreed.

As if it had just occurred to her that she no longer had to do things his way, Katherine quickly moved the coffee maker to the other side of the kitchen, just below the window. Eager to finish setting up, she moved to another box and pulled out her favorite mugs, unwrapping the newspaper covering each one.

Last, she retrieved the stand, carefully hanging each mug as a small smile crept across her face. This was the first place that would be set up to her desires, and the thought made her happy.

Slowly, she made her way around the room, opening one box after the next before finding the perfect place to store each item in her kitchen. When Katherine finally finished, she moved to the living room, where she unpacked one box before it was time to go.

It was great that the bakery was just down the street, because she hadn’t gotten a car, too intimidated to drive the steep hills of San Francisco. Taking her time to admire the brightly colored row houses, Katherine took a deep breath, feeling at home for the first time in a long time.

With a pep in her step, she made it to A Slice of Sicily, the neon light shining brightly in the window. The aromas from the bakery poured from the corner, making the corners of Katherine’s lips curl upward with satisfaction. She loved the place already and was excited see what she would learn today.