Overboard
- 4 years ago
- 17
- 0
Rob, again:
Breakfast was great! Krista did a fantastic job with the huevos rancheros, and now Kay is bugging her for the recipe and a tutorial. They get to sniping at each other and Harland just sits there savoring his second cup of coffee and shakes his head. "See what I have to put up with, every time they're together?" And his smile belies any negative meaning one might attach to that statement. This man loves his family, and rightfully so. And they certainly adore him!
We finished, and the girls cleaned up while I showered and changed, and I checked my email while I waited. Nothing big happening back in Stressville (yeah, that's the way I'd been thinking about it lately) so I updated my status and location, and signed off the website. My website, actually; hadn't found one that suited my fancy, so I built one for myself. Kay thought it was cool, but I suspected she had some improvement in mind already.
Kay used her laptop to check in with her advisor, too. No real surprises there, as she had notified them as to what was going on, and where she could be reached. They made the usual "Do what you have to do" noises, said there was no problem, she was still on track, and that was that.
Harland had insisted that we drive his big Suburban when we went to get Belinda. "Longer wheelbase rides better on these gravel roads," he said. So Kay grabbed the keys off a rack full of them, and we headed out the door. He saw me looking at the collection of keys, "We used to leave 'em in the vehicles, but we're starting to get some folks wanderin' through who'd rather be drivin' than walkin'. Not so many as the neighbors down the road, but the neighbors don't have Julius and Caesar either."
So with Kay driving, and Krista in the back, we headed to town. It was still early enough in the spring that the mornings were cool, but the high sky promised more sun to warm things up later on. Krista pointed out the sights (mostly dry scrub) and talked about how that "global warming" had left snowdrifts "Clear up to there!"
We pulled out onto the blacktop, and things smoothed out a little. "About 45 minutes from here," said Kaitlyn. Funny how down here we measure things in minutes, and not miles. [PtC1] She fired up the CD player, and Boston Pops started playing. I liked it. She smiled, and said "One of Dad's favorites! This is a collection of Leroy Anderson's stuff that they did as a tribute to him. It's got Mom and Dad's favorite song – Forgotten Dreams - on it. It'll be on in a couple of minutes."
"Pretty song," I said, "he wrote Sleigh Ride, too, and a bunch of others."
"And that Typewriter Song too," laughed Krista. "That one is so cool!" Then she grimaced, "But I played it for the kids in music class, and they acted like they were gagging on it. Yet they love that rap and hard rock stuff. Dad says it sounds like somebody kickin' a garbage can full of busted bottles down the cellar stairs, and cussin' at it all the way." Kay and I both cracked up. 'Course there's not too many cellars down this way, but we get the picture.
"My folks' favorite song is Stardust. They love the Big Band music. I go home and hear Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman 24/7, and I still never get tired of it."
Kay looked over and smiled at me. "Another thing we've got in common, sir! I did a term paper on 'Music of the 40s and 50s' and I loved it!"
"Well I still like Celtic music best," said Krista, "like that CD we played last night."
"I think there's one coming up next in the player," said Kay, "should be time to hear it before we get to the hospital."
The rest of the trip went smoothly, with several changes in topics of conversation, and I was pleased that the three of us were able to keep it at a good pace, regardless of topic. And sure enough, there was a Dougie MacLean album in there. Love that stuff too!
We talked about books for a while. All three of us were apparently very well read, and not held hostage to what some still call the "vast wasteland" of TV. I said that, and Krista spoke up. "It's worse than a wasteland, Rob. A wasteland just is there, empty and lifeless. Seems like these morons on TV actually come out after your mind, and try to trap folks into their own particular version of reality."
I Looked at Kay and said, "Out of the mouths of babes."
She giggled, "Sis, did you hear that? He called you a babe!"
"Yeah. I wish," she mock-pouted, "but then you'd get all upset and pissy, and reach over and smack him, and take your eyes off your driving, and you wouldn't see that steer in the road until we hollered, and you'd swerve at the last second, and we'd hit a tree and all get killed, and you know how Dad hates all that paperwork!"
By the time she was finished, Kay and I were laughing so hard that she almost did miss the exit to the hospital! "Woops! Almost there. Couple more turns and stop signs, and hopefully, no steers!" Cracked up again.
We pulled into the hospital parking lot, and Kaitlyn drove around to a spot near the patient pickup area and parked. An attendant came over to make sure we were actually there to get someone, okayed our choice of spots, and we went on in to the hospital. Typical. Typical hospital smell, hospital lights, hospital squeaky-shoes-on-the-floor, typical hosp ... I really don't hate hospitals, you understand, they're just not listed among my favorite places to be. We made it onto the elevator, and Krista pushed the button. "She's on three," she said as the door closed, and we felt the typical hospital elevator lurch, as it started up.
We got off at "Floor Three... (ding) ... Going Down," and yeah, I got the typical hospital bump in the butt as the doors closed. We turned and went around the corner toward Belinda's room. The hallway was bright and cheery, smiling nurses, a polite orderly saying "Excuse me," as he wheeled a patient toward the elevator we'd just got off. Nice, calm, relaxing.
Krista went in first, and said "Hi Mom! Here to take you home! Kaitlyn's here, and we brought a guest." I looked as we entered, and saw a smiling, blonde-haired pixie sitting in the chair by the bed. She stood up when we went in, and I got a good look at her. Tiny! Couldn't have been five feet tall, maybe 90 pounds. And I couldn't help picturing her standing next to that comparative giant she had married. Beautiful face, beautiful smile, beautiful clear blue eyes, and I could see the girls in her face, both of 'em. She welcomed the three of us in a soft, but lively voice; and she was obviously delighted to see us.
Wait.
See us?
I stopped dead in my tracks, just as Kay froze and gasped, as it dawned on her there was something she hadn't told me. I saw the same expression of horror on Krista's face as she came to the same realization at the same time as her big sister.
Belinda Sanderson was blind! Those beautiful, clear blue eyes were totally sightless!
It seemed an eternity before my mind unstuck, and I was able to think. Fortunately I was able to hide my surprise, and Kay just clung to my hand. "Mom, this is Rob ... Rob Lister. He came along to make sure I got here okay."
Then this beautiful woman reached out to me, and I took her hand. "Well, hello there, Rob Lister! I'm pleased to make your acquaintance! Thanks for watching out for Kay" she smiled, "she certainly does need it sometimes!"
I smiled too, as she, with surprising firmness, gripped my hand. "I'm so happy to meet you. Kaitlyn has told me so much about you!"
She must have sensed my initial surprise and hesitance, must have heard Kay's gasp of realization. "But I'll guess she didn't tell you everything now, did she? That's okay, we're so used to it that it's second nature, and sometimes folks come unprepared to deal with it. I'm sorry for the surprise; sometimes we forget. But it's okay, and I guess I can deal with it better than others."
As she spoke she held my hand in a firm, soft grip, then said "Come closer, Rob, so I can get to know you." I did, and she reached up, and her touch was as if butterflies had flown near, and they caressed my face. Such a gentle, knowing touch! I don't know how to explain it, but there was calmness and warmth, innocence and love in that touch, and suddenly I knew how Harland had become enthralled.
Kay's thoughts:
Oh no! I never gave it a thought! I hadn't told Rob about Mom! He'll hate me now. O God, what'm I gonna do? It's been so good so far, and we fit so well, even Kris and Dad. I mean...
I felt that first look in his eyes clear down into the pit of my stomach, a look as if I'd somehow betrayed him. And I knew he'd hate me for not telling him. But then that look changed – I think he recovered from his surprise, and Mom talked to him, to all of us, really, reminded me and Krista again that not everyone reacts in the same way to what has become natural to all of us. I mean, I've never known my mom any different than she is now. And I've never heard her complain about anything – it's just natural to her. And to us.
Then she 'looked' at Rob.
Really, I shouldn't be surprised. I've seen this before. People are flustered, don't know what to say, then she just touches their face, and somehow it's all right. I can see it in his eyes – he's okay. He cares, but he's not gonna let it become more important to him than it is to Mom. So I said the first thing that came to mind.
"Watch out for the bump on the side of his forehead, Mom, it's probably still tender."
"I thought maybe it was; he winced when I touched it. Forget to duck, Rob?"
"No," he said with a grin, "just tripped over my own big feet. It's getting better now. Long story."
Mom still had her fingers on the side of Rob's face, and said, "It must be a good story, if you can smile about it when it still hurts!"
I said "It happened on the day after we met, Mom, he slipped on the boat and hit his head. Knocked himself right out, and I had to lower the sail, and Hector helped us out, and..."
"Slow down, Kaitlyn!" Mom was smiling now too, "we've got a long ride home, and it sounds as if this is going to be a long enough story to get us most of the way back! Besides, the people here are very nice, but they can't compete with your daddy, and he's a couple of hours down the road."
So we got her checked out, and that polite orderly wheeled her out to the car – got a kiss on the cheek as a "thank you". After admonishing us to "Be good to this nice lady", he watched us pull out of the pickup lot, then waved and went back to his work. I think I know what he was feeling; I've had people tell me that somehow a room gets a little darker when Mom leaves it. I know what they mean!
Back to Rob
On the way home Krista drove, and I rode shotgun, mainly because Belinda (she insisted I call her that) wanted to sit in the back with Kay, and hold her hand as she heard the story. Kept reaching up and touching me too, just for the sake of contact, I guess. I could see she was squeezing Kay's hand, and her smile faded as she heard what had happened, and then her reaction was much like Harland's had been. She reached forward again and touched the side of my face, and said, "Thank you, Rob Lister. I know you wouldn't hear of anything to do with repayment, so I'll not speak further of that, but know that we're forever in your debt, and you're forever in our heart." And it struck me that she said "heart". Singular. And it was plain to see that to Belinda and her Harland it meant just that. They shared one heart, and that was it. I knew then that Kay and I had a very big commitment to live up to.
It was more than three months since he had lost Veronica. Three months of turmoil. First the grieving, then, a month ago, the revelation of her affair with someone in her office. What was his name? Collingwood ... Collingworth? He had come to understand why the police were interested in him. He would have motive if he knew of her affair. It put an end to his inward grieving. Veronica's parents were distraught, of course. Losing their eldest daughter had been very traumatic and they had yet...
He woke with a start the next morning. He gradually became aware that someone was ringing the doorbell. He raised his head and saw that it was barely seven o'clock. Who the hell was at his door at this time on a Saturday morning? He struggled out of bed, pulling on a pair of jeans over his briefs while moving barefoot down the stairs to the front door. He opened the door to find Connie standing there, fully dressed for sailing, and showing a bright smile. "What the hell are you doing here...
Sunrise was near five-thirty on Sunday, and the light in the cabin woke Tom shortly thereafter. He lay in his bunk, knowing he wouldn't go back to sleep. Wearing just a t-shirt and his briefs, he grabbed some fresh underwear from his bag and moved to the forward head, beginning his morning ritual. This head was the only one with a shower, so he quickly used the facilities, shaved, and showered, knowing Connie wouldn't be much longer in her bunk. When he exited the tiny facility, Connie was...
The Lady motored into Nanaimo harbour just before five that Sunday afternoon. In the three-plus hours since Tom's mental surrender to her, they had talked about inconsequential things. Tom wanted to talk to her about the things he wasn't sure of. What were her likes and dislikes? He thought he knew, but he wasn't positive. There was so much more to know about someone who was dedicated to capturing him for a lifetime. Connie had backed off after her final declaration. She had pushed him to...
Connie stood behind Tom, her arms wrapped around his waist as he guided the Lady across the gulf, heading toward the entrance to Howe Sound. The wind was brisk, and had shifted more to the west, helping make the passage quicker than they expected. The traffic was light, typical for a Monday morning. Not everyone had the luxury of playing hooky that day. She thought back to last night and earlier that morning and to the beginning of their "affair," as she thought of it. It had caught her by...
I was sitting in the cockpit, having been there for a couple of hours already, music playing softly from the cockpit speakers and enjoying my morning coffee when Kay came up out of the cabin. She still had on the pajama bottoms and my tee shirt, her hair was mussed but not wildly, she looked pretty good. "Good morning, how did you sleep?" I asked her. "A lot better and a lot longer than I thought I would. I figured the nap I took yesterday, after you rescued me, would have kept me up last...
I once again made the trip to Kay's apartment and this time I arrived right at six. When I reached her door she opened it before I could even knock. Was she anxious? "Hi there," she started, "I was looking out of the window when you drove up. I told you I would be ready this time. Am I dressed alright?" she asked, stepping back from the door. She was wearing a pair of form fitting jeans, they weren't too tight but they made her look good. She also had on a pull over sweater instead of...
Thursday morning I started the day following my usual routine. Things were progressing in the expected fashion and I stayed occupied with my work. What was unusual though was the constant smile on my face as I loosely planned out the evening in front of me. Unlike last week I didn't have any emergency calls and it suited me and my plans very well. I didn't want to be forced to call Kay and cancel this evening. I needed to make things move along as I knew I only had Sue for another week. My...
Friday morning I started work and when Sue came in I sat down for a cup of coffee with her. "I think I have found someone to take over from you." She quickly jumped in, "Really? You found someone since Tuesday?" "Yes I did. Do you remember me telling you about the young lady I rescued the weekend I was out on my boat?" "You said something about her getting drugged and jumping off the boat she was on?" "That's the one. She has housing problems and is in desperate need of either a...
I got back home from Colorado early Thursday afternoon. I finished the actual work late Wednesday and spent Thursday morning giving the CTO my sales pitch. It was looking good for a new client keeping me on retainer but not confirmed yet. There was going to have to be some discussions with the company's CEO and more of his staff but I thought it likely they would put me under contract; it was just a matter of when. Thursday afternoon I spent checking on all my other clients. While I was...
Saturday morning I woke up and after taking my shower I put on some knock around clothes, cargo shorts and a tee-shirt. I went to the kitchen to make some coffee and figure out what I was going to have for my breakfast. Sue had done a good job, as she always did, before she left and the refrigerator had some nice fresh fruit and cheeses. I pulled a few things out and sat down to eat while I planned my day. Besides mowing the lawn and cleaning the pool area I had to do something about the...
I thought I'd gone too far now, because she put down her fork and leaned back away from the little dinette table. But she looked at me rather intently for a few seconds, then smiled and said "Classical music and a silver tongue? Maybe I would have been safer on the party barge with Todd!" I must have winced at that, because she grinned and said "Gotcha!" Then she blushed and said "Maybe it's still the roofie talking, but I've never felt this safe with any man, except my Dad." My...
Okay – you gotta understand that certain bodily functions still function, no matter what the circumstances are, and now was no exception. When things got too intense I pulled back and mumbled something about checking on the anchor lines, and making sure the riding lights were turned on. Actually, she was pulling back and mumbling too – I caught something about "cleaning up in here, and then come up and help if you need it." Actually, the kind of help I needed right then wasn't the kind...
Sunday mornings I laze around in bed until I feel the need to get up. I like to watch the Sunday morning news magazines and talking head shows on TV before I get going for the day. The cats usually join me if they aren't already on the bed when I wake and turn the TV on. I find it both relaxing and informative; it's also a chance for me to think, to let my mind wander. After helping Kay get her desk where she wanted it in her room I had called it quits for the day so I still had to sweep...
Things remained a little stiff for a while, No, get your mind out of the gutter! I don't mean that! I mean there was still just a hint of tension for a while, but as it turned out, we were both trying to analyze what had just happened, and happily, were both coming up with results on the positive side of the scale. But neither of us knew that for certain yet, and we were both walking on eggshells, afraid to drop the other shoe, on pins and needles, and all those other metaphors that cry...
She hauled off and punched me! And I just sat there and smiled. "I was just kidding!" she protested weakly. Then her eyes got really big, and she lit up the whole bay with her blush! I kissed her. "Mostly, anyway," her protest got weaker. I kissed her again, and she kissed me back. "A little?" she actually squeaked, and she raised up her eyes and looked into mine. "No, I guess I wasn't kidding at all – I was hoping." "So was I, little girl, so was I" And the world went away,...
It started as a typical Monday morning. It was about nine-thirty and drinking my second cup of coffee when Kay stuck her head in the door. "Morning Rob." "Morning Kay, was it a good night?" "It was okay, nothing spectacular, about average for a Sunday night." "So no world class parties last night at the restaurant I guess." "Nope, not there or anywhere else that I'm aware of. On a different subject; I told you I was going to do laundry today but I don't know where my mind was....
Kay's turn: I'm not sure just what I feel right now. I do know that Rob and I got a little bit ahead of ourselves, and things almost got out of hand. But Rob ('cause he's older? – don't tell him I said that!) was so sweet and considerate, and he understood what was bothering me even before I did! We agreed to pull back a little, and try to get away from the first impression (first infatuation?) that we had both got hammered with. So, we're gonna spend the night here on the boat, in...
Okay, I could have let her sleep. She was gorgeous, even with that little trace of drool (don't tell her I told you) out of one corner of her mouth. But we had to start heading back, and it did look like there might be a bit of a contrary wind later on. Had lots of fuel for the little diesel, but that would have defeated the purpose of coming out here for the quiet. So I woke her as gently as I knew how. "Avast, me sleeping beauty! Rise and shine! Anchors aweigh! Getting underway in ten...
Kay's turn: Rob was gone when I got up this morning, just as he said he would be. I didn't hear him leave but that's okay, I really didn't have anything to tell him other than to have a good trip. He's a nice guy and I'm beginning to more than like him. I've got to get moving, there is a lot to do this morning and I think I'll start with the registration nonsense. I'd like to get to school and get started before there is too much craziness on campus with new students. It's nice...
Kay must have done something right, 'cause here's Rob again! Shhhh! His head hurts! What the? Owwww! Kay? Kay? It's dark! What happened? How did you get the engine started? Heeey! I can't see very good!" "It's okay, Rob, we're okay for now. You bumped your head. The ambulance is going to meet us at the marina, and Hector says we should be there in a few minutes." I tried to sit up, and laid right back down again – "Owww! Who's Hector, and where did he come from? Where are we?...
I slept in this morning, yesterday was a long day for me. I don't really like to travel out and back on the same day and I normally would have stayed over in San Fran. It was Kay's first time here alone though and I wasn't sure if she would be comfortable about it. I need to talk with her today and feel her out to make sure there won't be any problems in the future when I do have to be gone over night or even longer. It was entertaining last night playing cards and talking with Kay. She...
Rob's turn: At least my eyes were working again! The first doc who examined me said he was sure it had been merely a temporary thing – he called it "hysterical blindness", and said it was a result of the blow to my head. But he still wanted me to be sent down for an MRI, to rule out any permanent damage. So they wheeled me down the corridor and around a couple of corners, and left me outside a door with a sign that said "MRI testing in progress – no entry." I could read it! I hoped they...
"I don't know how that went Kay, but it didn't sound too bad from what I heard of the conversation." "It didn't go badly but it didn't go well either. The best thing I can say about it is there wasn't an absolute and immediately negative reaction. Mom's not happy; if she was she'd have let me know that. Since she didn't say anything about the arrangement I know it's bothering her but not how much, yet. Dad on the other hand is really bothered by it. He wants to think about it and...
Kay again: O my! I thought Rob was gonna go ballistic over that frying pan thing; for a minute I thought I'd gone too far! But I couldn't resist – Dad has one, and he's very particular about who gets to use it, and even more so about who gets to clean it. No soap, and definitely no scrubbing! Won't even let Mom wash it! That reminds me, I have to call home and let them know how I'm doing. Couple months ago I forgot to check in with them for a few days, and they almost called out the...
"Daddy? Oh my God, what are you doing here?" Kay was clearly shocked. "Kaitlyn, you know I don't like you taking the Lord's name in vain. Your mother and I may not be regular church goers but it doesn't mean we don't believe in the Lord and I think you should respect that belief even if you don't believe in Him." She stepped over to him and they gave each other a hug. It was evident though they were holding back some. They separated and looked at each other. "I never said I...
So we're halfway into the six hour trip, and Kay just called to update Leeza and Donna. They weren't at the apartment when we made a quick stop for her to pack a travel bag, and she thought she'd better call to explain the note she'd left them. She'd been a little apprehensive about my having to drive, but I'd convinced her that I'm perfectly okay, and that I was coming with her. Once we got on the road and headed northeast she relaxed, and we were able to talk. Seems funny to be...
After the visit by Kay's father things settled down for Kay and me. We got into a routine; I did my work and traveled when necessary. Kay gave up her Mondays at the restaurant but retained her weekends there. Her income did indeed go down, just as she thought it would once school opened. Her studies seemed to be going well, she found the speed of my internet connection made her work at home easier than she was used to. We played cards in the evenings at least twice a week and we kept...
I was getting ready for bed, thankful that I was still in one piece. Not sure what I'd been expecting, but Kaitlyn's dad was, as Yogi said in those cartoons, "Bigger than the average bear", and he had simply and sincerely thanked me for rescuing her, and had even seemed to be accepting of my being there with her on more than a "just friends" basis. When I first saw him I was sure it would be the end of me, and that my last conscious thought would be something having to do with the...
After Junior went home, Kay went back to school and I went back to work. Things were going smoothly again for both of us. When I asked later in the week Kay told me Todd was no longer bothering her, apparently he was scared off by Junior. Kay was happy again and was concentrating on her studies while I concentrated on my business. There was a down side to this though; Kay hadn't gotten in bed with me again. As much as she tempted me, and I restrained myself from doing anything, I still...
The Thanksgiving meal was amazing! The only time I think I ever saw more food on a table was at the Golden Corral buffet restaurant and that was on the serving line. We sat down to the meal and everyone was nicely dressed. We could have stepped into any restaurant and not looked out of place. Thank goodness Kay had warned me in advance. The three farmers didn't look comfortable in coats and ties but the ladies looked nice in their dresses. They were both even wearing pearl necklaces, Janice...
The airport was a zoo with everyone returning from the holiday weekend. It was tough getting through the terminal and seemed to take forever to get our bags off the luggage carousel. Thank goodness for the car service, the driver was one of the guys who regularly took care of me and I also took care of him because of the good service he gave me. He got our two cases into the trunk and then took us home quickly and quietly. We still weren't talking much. The cats demanded attention just as...
We did make it back in time for Kay's class, so I dropped her off at her place so she could pick up all her stuff and drive to school in her own car. I went back home, had some daylight left, so I washed the car. Wasn't too bad, just dusty, so it didn't take long. Had time to do a walk around the building, to make sure all was in order. Yeah, forgot to tell Kay I owned a half of the place, so I keep up the maintenance end of things. It was part of that little inheritance from my...
Kay's turn: Rob called back, and we talked about our appointment to see Hector. I was okay with next Tuesday, so we called it a plan. This weekend, though, we're going to drive up to see his family. He said I have nothing to worry about, but I'm nervous already. "Why, sweetie? They'll love you, I promise!" he said, "And they're so excited that you're coming that Mom will have the best china laid out, and she'll make Dad wear a tie! And he doesn't do that for just anybody. Even...
While Kay spoke with her family, I had been outside picking up in the back yard and pool area. There really wasn't that much to do but I wanted to give her privacy when she told her parents my background. I didn't think there would be a problem but I wasn't sure. It could become awkward. I didn't go in until Kay called me for dinner. When I did I found the table already set with everything we should need. I still went back to the kitchen to get a bottle of wine to go with Kay's...
"Rob, I'm so scared, and so sorry." Laurel was crying as we drove toward the hospital. "I got tangled up with Todd, and I don't know how to get out of it." She just sat there holding her backpack on her lap, looking out at traffic. The cops had checked out her bag, as they had done with everyone in their group, and hers was clean. Mitch had noted that all she had in front of her on her table was a coke – no beer, nothing alcoholic. At first he'd been suspicious of her, because she'd...
Was just puttering along at about six miles an hour when the party barge passed me, and a blonde mermaid with a parrot jumped off, and a Mexican preacher hit me with a spar, and I got attacked by a coyote but an old guy with a cannon said "Make my day", then a guy in a toga barked at me, and I hit a horse and hurt my hand and all through it there was this weird ringing noise, and... Phone! Woah! Wake up, Rob! I groaned over and picked it up just as it stopped ringing. Didn't recognize...
Whoops! Kay just brought our conversation to a dead stop. My parents looked at each other and then looked at me to see if I was going to answer Kay's question. "Did I ask something I shouldn't have? Rob?" Kay had a puzzled look on her face as she, too, looked at me. "Kay, we don't have a Christmas dinner, per se. As Jews, we don't celebrate Christmas; December twenty-fifth is just another day for us. It's the same for almost all the homes in this community, that's why no one has...
We drove Laurel to her apartment, where she packed enough for a weekend stay. We'd get the rest of her things later. Her roommates didn't say much, more or less just stayed out of her way. Both had guilty looks, as if they'd been in on what had been done to her, or at least known about it and had not stood up for her, and were now ashamed of it. She didn't bother explaining to them just what she had planned for the near future. Then, even though Laurel had given her statement to the...
Life went on, Kay with her work at the restaurant on the weekends and her classes during the week. She didn't see or hear anything from Todd, nor did she hear anything about him. If only it would stay that way. My life continued, too, with my work at home and every other week or so a trip out of town to one client or another. The new client in Wyoming was more demanding of my time and after my initial setup visit with them I had to return twice, in what was an unusually short period of...
"Rob! What?" Kay grabbed my arm as George bent to pick up my phone. Hope it survives my dropping it! I looked at her and said the first thing that popped into my mind. "Gotta figure out something else for a honeymoon trip, babe." She just looked at me, not really comprehending what I was saying. "I mean, Nocturne's gone. That was Gary on the phone. Somebody just blew up our boat." Kay and Laurel both gasped in shock. "Nooooooo!" moaned Kay, and Laurel sagged against the Escape....
"Ummmmm ... Errrr ... Wha-?" "Please, Rob," Kaitlyn's voice was shaky, "can we just cuddle with you? We just want to be close to you tonight." I turned on the bedside light, and saw that Laurel was there too, snuggled up against Kay, and she was nodding her head. "Well," said Kay, "I do, and I don't want to leave Laurel all by herself, so..." "Just sleeping, Rob," said Laurel, "No fooling around. Definitely no fooling around!" Kay was shaking her head in...
That was about as deep as the conversation could get at dinner, in the kitchen. It was a good thing that's where we were instead of more romantic surroundings, like the Italian restaurant the night before. Who knows what else we might have said or done? Was I ready to go further? I had better figure that out, and soon. I need to know what I'm doing with Kay, or rather what I want to do. Lord help me! After dinner we went back to the great room, Kay wanted to play more with her new phone. I...
Kaitlyn returned my call a few minutes later, and said she had been in a conference with her Faculty Advisor. It was nothing special, just something all of them had to do before graduation. She said she didn't have any more classes today, so she and Suzy were just hanging out in the student center, waiting for Laurel and Richelle to show up. I said, "So, I hear Suzy is a pretty good note taker. You two getting along okay?" I didn't think I put any special inflection into the question,...
Back to Rob: Well, turned out that the pasta was a good choice. I was able to stretch it, and they all liked it. Even got requests for tutorials on making it! So dinner went well. Kay calls it "dinner", so I guess I gotta get used to calling it that, myself. But back home we always used to call it "supper", and "dinner" was on Sundays and holidays. Old fashioned, I guess. I think everyone enjoyed the chatter over the meal, too. But those two "note takers" really take the cake....
In the morning after breakfast Kay went to school and I went to work. In my office, I went through my regular routine and made sure everything was alright with the client systems I had on constant monitoring. After making sure there were no problems I went on to the next step of business. I started calling clients that were one offs, clients that didn't have me on retainer. I periodically called them and tried to sell myself, to convert them to long term clients with my constant monitoring....
We watched the red pickup rumble out of the lot and head south. Kay said it sounded angry. It did, at that, and I wondered if Jake had built the engine as well. I looked at Kay, and said, "So what's your preference for supper?" She turned to Suzy and Richelle and asked for their druthers, and they both said the choice was up to us. So we locked up and headed for The Crab Shack. It's a dumpy-looking place, and that makes it one of the prime reasons for the phrase "Looks are deceiving"....
I sat there scratching my head, with all consonants and no vowels. And the fact that sweet Kaitlyn was rubbing her foot up and down my leg, under the table, didn't help my concentration, not at all. Richelle just sat back with a grin, as Kay and Suzy made yet another trip to the dictionary, to verify a word she'd played. I hadn't yet forayed into that arena, mostly because I didn't want to admit not knowing some of the words she'd used. "C'mon, Rob! You're not gonna let her get away...
Kay's turn: Rob was acting a little tense when we got home from school, but I thought it was just from stress from his work, on top of everything that's been happening. We got home and got something cold to drink, and George was there with Rob, just sitting at the table. He acted like he was uncomfortable, but said it was just his arthritis kicking up. We'd been chattering all the way home, excited about being done with college, and I even heard the occasional squeal from Suzy and...
The insurance check deposited without a hold on it, and I moved it into a separate account that I'd already had set up and designated for the boat. I smiled as I thought back to the day I had opened it. I had stopped in at the bank to make a deposit, and the new teller remarked at the name I'd given the account, and asked if I was a fan of Talia Wagner. I looked up at him and saw that he was smiling, and cracked back, "She's okay, for the daughter of a Nightcrawler and a Witch." I could...
Wednesday morning was not a typical morning for us; it started in the kitchen with us kissing again. It wasn't the toe curler our kiss was the night before but it was still a good one. Kay and I managed to keep Janice from making breakfast, and this, too, was a change, since she had come in for the extended weekend. She grumbled but I promised to take us out for breakfast instead. We didn't leave until she had her suit-cases packed and everything ready to go. It was a late afternoon flight...
I felt funny about leaving George there by himself after what he'd just told us, but I watched the girls get into Kay's car, and followed them out of the coffee shop lot. We had no other stops to make, so she took the direct route back to our place. I could see that they weren't chatting and laughing as usual; both were staring straight ahead, apparently lost in their own thoughts. For that matter, I was, too, trying to wrap my head around what George had just told us. The boat was one...
"Have you thought about things since last night, Kay?" "Some, but I still have a lot of thinking to do." "Are you at a point where we can start talking?" "Yes, and I have two or three things I want to start with, if they're okay with you." "Shoot." "I think the first things we should talk about are marriage, children, getting to where we can have children and jobs. Are those okay with you?" "Not surprisingly, they're all near the top of my list, too. I want to marry you....
Same carload going back up the highway, but a totally different topic of conversation! Kay was squeezing my hand as she rhapsodized about Laurel and Jake's performance, and the two in the back seat were just as excited as she was. I concentrated on following the taillights of the red pickup in front of us. He wasn't speeding by any means, but the fog rolling in off the gulf was limiting visibility, and I didn't want any surprises. "Rob?" Kay shifted position as she spoke, "Rob? Can we...
I was mentally going over my to do list for the day as I pulled into the lot, so the presence of the little 4x4 in one of the guest spots didn't register until our apartment door opened, and I was greeted with a hug and a "Hi Rob! I decided to come down earlier than we'd planned, just in case that big sister of mine had forgotten something! Mom and Dad are still waiting until tomorrow, like we'd planned, but you're stuck with me for an extra day. Hope that's okay!" Krista! "Okay?...
We were about to head for the hospital when I remembered. "Jake! He hasn't heard yet about what happened. Gotta see if I can get to him before he hears it from someone else!" Our girls had been loaded into ambulances, and they were all on the way to the hospital, to undergo all the routine things that follow accidents, and things that weren't accidents at all. Belinda and Laurel were primary on the triage list, Laurel having been shot and wounded, and Belinda with a concussion. Those two...
The alarm went off jarring me out of a comfortable dream. No, wait, it wasn't a dream, I really had taken Kay away for the weekend and moved us up to a fully intimate relationship; that memory brought a smile to my face. I pulled Kay over to me, after she turned off the blasted noise maker, to give her a big hug and start the day with a steamy kiss. It was still earlier than I was used to or wanted it to be. "Mmmm, this is good. I didn't think you'd set the alarm for some early morning...
Kaitlyn's turn: Okay. I can do this. Graduation day! Not easy waking up this morning. We stayed up too late last night, talking, playing Yahtzee, eating popcorn, and letting the excitement just drain out. I still can't believe what happened yesterday! It's all just so much like a dream. Some parts were like a nightmare, but other parts were good. The good parts? Mom can see! She laughs and says that now I have to stand up straight and walk with good posture, like she tried to show me...