Overboard
- 4 years ago
- 14
- 0
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. Always cracking wise over something or other, but still, there's a layer underneath the patter that lets the serious side show through now and then. Kay, or was it Laurel, says it's a defense mechanism. I can understand that, from what George has told me. Gotta be able to let the bad stuff drain away, and these ladies see way too much bad stuff all the time. If they kept it bottled up inside, they'd be forgetting what side they're on.
Anyway we headed over to Hector's church, and our two protectors tagged along. They're off the clock, and don't have to do this, but I got the sense that they feel like they've got some new friends, real ones, and they're hungry for that kind of friendship. My Kaitlyn does affect people that way!
Got to the address that Hector had given me, and found a converted strip mall store front, with a neat, hand-lettered, sign over the door, that said "Iglesia". Simple and to the point, I guess. Except Richelle read it aloud and quipped, "Julio lives here?"
Suzy punched her, and said, "Not Iglesias, smartass, Iglesia! It's Spanish for church!" Then she put her hand over her mouth and said, "Ooops! Didn't mean to cuss right here."
Richelle saw her cross herself and wisecracked, "I thought you were Jewish!" Got a swat in return.
I shook my head and knocked on the door while they were whispering at each other, and we heard Hector call to us, "Over here, amigo. That door is too heavy for some of our older people, so we use this little one on the side. Come in! Come in!"
I saw he was dressed in the same kind of rough work clothes we had first seen him wearing, paint-spattered jeans and a tee shirt. Didn't really look like a pastor, more like a fisherman. Or maybe a carpenter. Then I thought, what better work clothes to outfit a man of God? I grinned inside at the thought, and felt humbled to have the privilege of knowing this man.
I introduced the girls as they filed past me through the door, then I followed Hector into his little church. It was a simple place, with an old keyboard, a railing with a cloth hanging from it that separated a group of folding chairs from the little pulpit in the front. A very well-worn piano sat to one side of the pulpit, and a young boy sat there, obviously practicing a music lesson. The piano didn't sound tooo bad, but...
Hector asked if he was finished for the evening, and the boy thanked him and left. He looked up at us and smiled, "Diego's family cannot afford a piano at home, so he comes here to practice. He may be our pianist someday!"
The place was spotless, everything pleasing to the eye except for the obviously hand-made cross behind the pulpit. Surely they could have afforded something more attractive than that, for the front of their church!
Hector saw me looking at it, and must have read my thoughts, because he said, "Everyone feels that way when they first see it, mi amigo." When I looked at him with the obvious question in my eyes, he simply smiled and said, "It reminds us of the great love that accepted being hung on something that ugly, just for us."
I was speechless. Never thought of it quite like that, and I guess the girls hadn't either, because they were far quieter, more subdued, than I'd seen them, up to now.
"But we are here to speak of wedding plans, yes?" Hector looked at Kay, and she blushed again and nodded. He looked at me and I just smiled, then he said, "Señorita Kaitlyn? Would you come with me over here into my study?" She followed him, and they sat at a small table in a little room off the sanctuary. Didn't close the door, so that we could see them, and I guess that made Richelle and Suzy happy, because I saw them relax a little. They are really into their jobs! Or perhaps in this case, their friendships.
I saw Kaitlyn smiling and nodding as he talked to her for a few minutes, and then she spoke back to him. Then he did something I thought was strange at first, but it made me realize how much he cared. He reached out his hand, and Kaitlyn took it, and they bowed their heads, just for a moment, and then they were coming out again to join us, and her eyes were shining.
He beckoned for me to follow him then, and I did. It was almost surreal, as this young man, about my age or even a few years younger, spoke to me about commitment and sacrifice, and 'til death do us part. He asked me a few questions about those things, and what I thought they were. I answered as best I could, and he must have been satisfied with my responses. He beckoned for Kaitlyn to come in and sit beside me. Then he reached out for both our hands, and spoke some simple words of prayer for "This young couple who have come to ask Your blessing on their desire to join together," and that was it. He seemed a lot like the Baptists back home, but like he was more comfortable, maybe more genuine, in it.
But I knew that it wasn't simply the end of an interview, as much as it was a very good beginning for a life together. I said that to Kay, later, and she smiled and said she'd got that same feeling.
We rejoined the rest of the girls, and Hector said, "One of the ladies of the church has made us some cookies, and there is punch, and coffee or tea as well. Would you like to join me in the fellowship room and we'll discuss the rest of what we need to do for the wedding?" We followed him, and were met by an older woman who smiled and asked what we would like to drink. We stated our preferences, and sat around the table.
Kaitlyn looked around and asked, "Will your wife be joining us? I'd hoped to get some ideas from the ladies, on the reception and all."
Hector smiled and said, "If I had a wife, I would hope she would be pleased to join us, but alas, I have never found one who would put up with a poor preacher. Someday, perhaps," and he smiled again. Kay showed her discomfort at having asked an embarrassing question, but he just smiled, and said, "No, Señorita Kay, do not worry. It is a question I am often asked, and I always say it is in the Lord's time." I saw that Renee looked up, interest showing in her eyes, at his answer. Richelle and Suzy shifted in their seats as if they were getting a little uncomfortable, but Renee was just sitting there, riveted by every word Hector was saying. Hmmm.
He continued, "Now, I had hoped our pianist could be with us, but she went to call on another of our people who is ill, and she stayed to prepare supper for them. She did say that she is very familiar with most of the customary wedding music, and is comfortable with most other music as well. I can vouch for her in that, and add that she plays a pretty mean Billy Joel, too!" He smiled again, "Even Scott Joplin! And if you do decide to hold a small reception here, we can do it right in this room. We have done this before, and even have extra outlets there in the corner if you wish to engage a disk jockey for dancing. The only thing we ask is that you refrain from smoking, and from alcoholic beverages."
Kay looked at me with a big smile on her face, then back at him and said, "That will be no problem at all, Pastor, not at all! We really don't want anything special, just a few friends, our families, and perhaps cookies and punch." She looked at the girls, then back at me, and asked, "Am I forgetting anything?"
I told her I didn't think she had forgotten a thing, and looked around at the other girls for reassurance, and saw that Renee was still just sitting there with her eyes locked onto Hector, as if she wanted to memorize everything about him! "No," I repeated, not wanting to draw any attention to the poor girl, "I think you've covered just about everything." I turned back to Hector and said, "I think that'll do it, then, unless you have any further questions for us."
Then I said, "Wait! We haven't said anything about renting the hall or a stipend or anything for the folks who will be helping. Is there a usual amount?"
He smiled again, and said, "No, my friend, we do this in a spirit of love, and we are provided for. There is no need to pay anyone here. If you wish to help some of the more unfortunate ones in the church, or outside of the church, for that matter, it is up to you. But we place no responsibility on you for that. And should you wish to join us for services on a Sunday or two, you will find a genuine welcome here." I nodded, and we shook hands again, and we left it at that.
As we left the church, our two cops went out first, and I saw Kaitlyn give him a hug and heard her say "Thank you, Pastor," and the other two girls shook his hand, one of those handshakes lasting noticeably longer than the other. And Kay and I both saw something in the way that Hector and Renee looked at each other. Not a look of passion, you understand, but a look as if something had started here, that was bigger than them, perhaps a germ of an idea that needed further exploration. Then she smiled and turned towards the car, and I shook his hand and thanked him again, and he seemed for just a second, to have lost his train of thought. Double Hmmmm!
Richelle and Suzy split for their place, while the four of us went the opposite direction, to drop Renee off at her place. Waited until she got inside the door, and her dad came out and waved at us, then we headed for home. By this time we were all tired, so we showered and headed for bed. I could hear the girls laughing as they recapped the highlights of their day, then I closed my eyes for a second, and it was morning.
Kay again:
I'm scared! This has to all be a very nice dream, and at any second I'm gonna wake up from it and find myself someplace I really don't wanna be. But then I pinch myself and nope, I'm not asleep, and Rob is really real, and he loves me! I looked over at Laurel, and she's awake too, and we got up and started getting ready to do the school thing all over again. Today and tomorrow are the only class days remaining, then review, finals, and graduation! And then we have a date at a little church down by the waterfront! That reminds me -- I've gotta call home today, and let Mom and Dad in on the details.
Laurel saw me smiling and said, "It looks like you haven't changed your mind since last night, there, girl."
"Nope, not a chance. I'm good to go."
She smiled and said, "Just seeing you like this makes me realize that I was looking for the wrong things, and almost found them. And hearing that pastor last night made me realize there's hope for me, too." Then she grinned, "If I can survive Suzy and Richelle, that is!"
We finished getting ready for school, then went out to the kitchen to find Rob already up, dressed, and flipping pancakes. Bacon was in the oven, and the coffee was just ready, in the old-fashioned percolator that Rob rescued from a garage sale. He said, "It was like brand new, but the people who had it didn't know how to use it, so I bought it for a quarter and brought it home. Makes great coffee!"
Laurel took in all this activity, grinned at me, looked at Rob, and said, "I could get used to this. Are you sure you guys don't need a second wife? It's accepted in some rather advanced societies even today!" Rob suddenly found a need to concentrate on the flame under the griddle, ducked a little lower than he probably needed to, in order to see the burner, and left me to field that one. Subject "needed changed right quick", as my dad would say.
"I think we'll try getting along with just the two of us for, say, the first fifty or sixty years, then get back to you on that idea if we need to. I'll keep you in my address book, just in case."
She pouted, then giggled, and carted a platter of pancakes to the table, and said, "Just as long as I'm first on the list!"
Poor Rob's head was way down between his shoulders by that time, as if he was ducking grenades! He said, "Laurel, sweetie, if there was a list, you'd be the only one on it!" Then he looked over at me and said, "Well, maybe along with Richelle or Suzy," and he put both hands over his head and ducked! Poor Laurel choked on her coffee.
I never batted an eye, and joined in the fun. "You forgot Renee and Krista, you horn dog!" Poor thing missed the pancake he was flipping, and it fell into the burner, and he scorched all the hair off the back of his hand, trying to save it. Laurel sputtered into her coffee mug.
"Speaking of Renee," said Laurel, wiping coffee off her chin as she deftly changed the subject, "is she meeting her brother at the airport this afternoon, or didn't she say?" I was chewing on a bite of pancake (good!), so I just shrugged my shoulders, and she continued. "God, I can't believe it hit me so hard when she told us his name. Wasn't expecting that one, not at all. Felt bad about rainin' on her parade; thought I'd ruined her good news. But she came in and said she was sorry she made me cry!" A kind of shadow passed over her face, then she brightened again. "Dunno why all of a sudden everybody's so damn nice to me, but I like it." Thought she was gonna cloud up again, but she just wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, took a bite of her pancake, and said, "Mmmmmm! Good! And real maple syrup too. Where'd you get that, Rob?"
"Business trip to New York." He looked at me and said, "Same one where I had that good corned beef hash. Only I had to have it shipped down here, 'cause the TSA regulations wouldn't allow me to carry it on the plane. And speaking of that hash, we gotta try making that soon."
"Nope," I said, "what if I don't like it? Then you won't wanna marry me."
He looked at me and I melted when he said "Babe, there will never be a second when I won't wanna marry you!" And I could see in his eyes that he was completely serious. Did I say before that he's got beautiful, soft, grey eyes?
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...
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,...
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,...
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...