Parking next to a familiar face.

As Spencer went to pick up the bag of groceries he’d just bought, he felt a sudden crunching in his shoulder as the bones clicked together awkwardly. Wincing in pain, he had to drop the shopping bags back down for a moment as he rotated his arm around until the pain went away. It was the same clicking type movement he’d felt out on the lake the other day just getting worse. Spencer made his mind up to see someone about it as soon as he could.

Switching the groceries to his other arm, it was this decision that perhaps made Spencer take note of a flyer on the community notice board by the exit of the store. Remedial Sports Massage it read with the contact number listed as Jessica Wolfe, Carter High’s own Gym Teacher and Amy’s softball coach. Using his hopefully not too injured arm, Spencer tore off one of the individual strips of paper at the bottom of the advert containing Jessica’s name and her cell number. He’d send her a message or perhaps call when she was done with school for the day.

From the grocers Spencer returned home to put the shopping away. He found he liked the way the new rental BMW drove. It was a bit lower than his previous SUV, hugging the roads tighter but still not being too bumpy on the unsealed drive to his house. Inside Spencer forego any sort of exercise; hiking or canoeing; instead choosing to have a long and soothing soak in one of the upstairs bathtubs. His own ensuite having just the shower.

Later that afternoon at the school as Spencer was pulling up to wait to pick up Amy, the only available space to park was in behind Darcie Collins old car. Spencer would have preferred to park somewhere else and avoid Darcie for now but there were no other spots available. He would have to get out and talk to her at last.

Darcie’s eyes were covered by a dark pair of oversized sunglasses so Spencer couldn’t see where exactly she was looking, but by the inclination of her head, Mrs Collins first looked at the badge of the unfamiliar car as it pulled up and then at Spencer as he stepped out of the vehicle. A look of not-quite-surprise mostly hidden on her face by the glasses.

As Spencer came over to her Darcie was the first to speak, “new car already?”

“It’s a rental while the insurer deals with the other,” he told her simply.

“How are you feeling?” she then asked. Still concerned for his well-being as someone she considered a very close if somewhat strained friend.

“My shoulders a bit banged up,” he said giving it a quick rotate to feel the click still. “How about you?”

In response Darcie slid the glasses down off her nose exposing what she’d been trying to hide. The little butterfly Band-Aids on her forehead where visible without the shades but it was what was below that. The cut had bruised with the vast majority of it seeping down into Darcie’s eye socket. The whole upper cavity deep purple and darkly shadowed underneath still.

“Oh Jesus!” Spencer can’t help but let out before he gives uncontrolled laugh he quickly stifles.

“Yeah, yeah! Laugh it up wise-arse!” Darcie says suppressing her own smirk as she puts her glasses back in place.

“Sorry. I couldn’t help it. That looks really bad,” Spencer said commensurably.

“Tony thinks it funny as fuck too. Said was I was meant to get poked in the pussy, not in the eye.”

At the mention of their aborted affair the conversation draws to an abrupt stop. Neither knowing what to say after that. They are saved from too much unwanted silence by the arrival of their kids then, Amy and Kimberly carrying their oversized school bags on their backs.

“Hey Mom,” Kimberly says first to Darcie as she greets her with a hug.

“Cool car Dad,” Amy says having been in school when Spencer picked it up.

The two families were about to say their goodbyes and head off separately when Kimberly told some news that would affect both groups. “Coach says she’s organised a preseason practise match for us next week in Cherryville. Did you want to come and watch?”

Darcie looked to Spencer for support or was it back up; he wondered; as she answered her daughter, “ahhh I think Mr Askren and I have both had enough of Cherryville for the time being. How about your Dad goes and watches instead?”

“Oh yeah, because of the accident. I can’t believe you shot that deer,” Kimberly said as they were getting into the car.

Amy turning to look at her father giving him a questioning look at hearing that. Spencer giving her a waved sign that they’ll talk about it later as they too got into their car. On the way back home Spencer explaining that he’d lied about the deer the other night as he didn’t know how his dinner guests would feel about it. Amy accepting his corrected answer this second time.

Back home Amy made a start on her homework to get it out of the way before dinner while Spencer went to his home office to make a call to Jessica Wolfe. The teacher answering after only two rings.

“Miss Jessica Wolfe speaking,” Spencer heard the lively younger women speak.

“Hi Jessica. It’s Spencer Askren. Amy’s Dad,” he began.

“Oh, hi Spencer. Are you calling about the practise game? Are you coming to support us girls?” Jessica was bubble and enthusiastic when she spoke of her young charges.

“Nooo,” Spencer said tenderly, “I had a bit of a car accident coming back from Cherryville last week and would kind of like to avoid the place for now.”

“Oh dear! I hope your alright,” Jessica said concerned.

“I’m fine honestly but I might have done something to my shoulder. It making a sort of clicking sound and hurting. I was wondering about your remedial massages.”

“Of course. I can help you with that. When would be a good time for you?”

Spencer quickly thinks over his schedule for the next few days. He’s seeing his former partner tomorrow, Tuesday, about who-knows-what and he’d really like to see Danielle again soon.