“I wish you’d lighten up on your work schedule, at least for the last few weekends before the competition,” he muttered before climbing into his vehicle and driving off.
Pleased he hadn’t pursued the matter, Kate drove out of the parking area and headed home. But his words haunted her. If she continued seeing Dan, she should break her training routine with Reid. It wasn’t fair to him. Without her in his life, he could find other female companionship.
On Monday evening Kate caught up with everything she’d neglected over the busy weekend. Piles of laundry, emails, and phone calls all needed attention. She usually spoke to her mom once during the week and on the weekend. Since she’d had little time for a long talk, she called her after dinner.
“Hi, Mom. Are you in the middle of a good show? If so, I’ll call back.” Her mother was hooked on old movies and hated to be interrupted in the middle.
“No, you’ve caught me at a good time. One of my favorites, Casablanca, goes on at eight.”
Kate laughed. “You must’ve seen that one at least a dozen times. You love Ingrid Bergman but you probably know the dialogue by heart.”
Her mom heaved a long sigh. “You’re right, I almost know what they’re going to say next. But the love scenes are marvelous. I mean, here they are, two people so deeply in love, and they have to separate. I always cry during that last farewell.”
“Oh Mom, you are so sentimental. I’ll bet dad teases you about those movies. I know he loves mysteries and thrillers. How do you compromise when you choose a movie to watch together?” She’d always wondered about that.
“That’s easy. We take turns and if he absolutely can’t stand the one I want and I feel the same way about his choice, well then we do have more than one television and we simply watch on our own.”
“That makes sense,” Kate remarked. They chatted a while longer and then the call ended. Her parents’ marriage was a good one and she often envied the easy way they communicated. Of course there were times they’d raise their voices and disagree, but they always found a way to sort things out. Why hadn’t she managed that with Jared? Pressing her lips together, a familiar sense of failure enveloped her. Maybe the secret to a good marriage was the ability to fight in a constructive way, something they’d never mastered.
The minute that thought popped into her head an image of Dan flashed through her mind. She smiled at the memory of his laughter when she stated her I do not date message. He had a quirky kind of humor which smoothed out difficult situations. He was fun to be with and a good listener, too. Even though they’d only known each other a short time, she was comfortable with him. More than anything she missed the feel of his arms holding her close and the husky, intimate tone of his voice. She couldn’t wait to see him again. Heated sensations flowed through her, tinting her face scarlet. Shocked at her body’s quick reaction, she pushed those thoughts aside and took out her yoga mat. Concentrating on stretching was a much more sensible activity.
~ ~ ~
On Wednesday afternoon after finishing her run with Reid, Kate hurried home to shower and change. She’d promised to meet him at the new Thai restaurant at six. As she prepared for the encounter, she tried to figure out what to say. Not wanting to hurt his feelings, she’d have to be very diplomatic. Should she hint at the possibility she was becoming involved with someone else? After several moments of thought, she decided that wouldn’t be wise. Her relationship with Dan was new and could disappear in a millisecond. Better to stick to her busy life and hectic work schedule as excuses not to see him as much as he wanted.
Kate was leaving for the restaurant when she heard a knock at the door. Had Reid decided to pick her up for their dinner out? She hurried and opened the door to find her sister, Stacy.
“Well, I finally found you at home,” Stacy declared. “You’re impossible to reach by phone and you never return my messages.” She started to walk inside until Kate held up a hand.
“I’m just leaving the house to meet someone at a restaurant on Main Street at six. Sorry I haven’t been in touch, but things have been hectic.” If her sister had a problem with that, it was too bad. Stacy had no right barging in whenever she felt like it. A familiar spurt of anger hit her.
Stopping short, Stacy stared at her. “You have a date? I thought you didn’t go out with anyone. At least that’s what you’ve been telling us for so long, I actually believed it.”
Annoyed, Kate sent Stacy a pointed look. “It’s not a date. I’m meeting Reid McAllister, the young man I train with for triathlon competitions. We’re going over strategies for the upcoming competition.” It was a partial truth anyway.
Narrowing her eyes Stacy muttered something under her breath. “You’ve practically divorced yourself from the family, you know. Mom’s pretty upset you don’t bother coming over on weekends. Greg and I’ve been filling in but you need to spend time there once in a while.”
Stacy could be a pain. Kate kept her expression neutral but she was boiling inside. “I’ve never heard a word from mom about any of this. You must have a vivid imagination. Anyway, I’ve no time to hash this out with you. I’ll be in touch.” She brushed past her sister. “I need to leave right now or I’ll be late.” She was tired of her sister’s unfounded complaints and negativity. If there was a problem she’d work it out with her mom.
Driving away Kate reflected on her relationship with her younger sister. She’d wanted to be close to Stacy when they were growing up but her sister pushed her away. After a while Kate hadn’t bothered trying any more. Thinking about the family dynamics she realized they’d been competing for attention—from Greg, their adored older brother, and from their mother. It was a deeply entrenched, lifelong habit and Kate didn’t think it would ever change. Saddened by this last thought, she tried to shift her focus to the upcoming encounter with Reid.
She hurried to the entrance of the Thai Lotus restaurant. Reid was already inside seated at a table near the front. He stood when she entered and waved her over.
“Sorry I’m late,” Kate murmured sliding onto a chair opposite his. “My sister paid me an unexpected visit as I was leaving.” Appraising his neatly ironed blue shirt and new-looking khaki pants, she thought with a pang that he must’ve dressed to impress her. Which was a shame. “I hope you weren’t waiting long.” Glancing about she remarked, “This is a charming little place. It should do well in this area.”
“It’s had good reviews in the local paper and I know they have several items you can eat. It’s not easy to pick a place where they have the kind of food you like,” he said, picking up the menu.
That was considerate of him, she thought. Reid was a good-looking young man. He should be dating one of the pretty young teachers at the school where he taught science. The fact that everyone there considered them a couple since they spent so much time together wasn’t good.
“What do you want to order?” Reid asked glancing up from the menu.
Kate hadn’t focused on food choices yet. “Give me a minute,” she said making a concerted effort to concentrate. Between the tension with her sister and the unpleasant task of separating herself from Reid, her stomach was in a knot. “I’ll have a cup of miso soup and an order of veggie rolls.” She put down the menu.
“Is that all you want? What about a main dish? They serve brown rice instead of white and I’m sure they can steam some veggies for you,’ he said with a frown.
“I’d prefer to eat light,” Kate replied firmly.
He shrugged. “As you wish.”
At least he wasn’t pressuring her, Kate thought. Trying for a light tone, she said, “Besides the triathlon competition during spring break, are you planning any trips? Some of the teachers are heading to exotic locales, like Chile and Morocco.”
Reid stared at her. “That’s not my idea of the ideal vacation. I’d rather spend more time training t
han trekking about seeing ancient sites or eating way too much food. I’m investigating a camp this summer with great facilities for sports training. If you’re interested I’ll send you the link to their site.”
“I don’t mind taking a look,” she answered cautiously. “Usually I spend summers working on new recipes. This summer I’m determined to finish that cookbook I’m working on. I promised the editor I’d have it ready by mid-August.”
“I forgot about the book,” Reid muttered, looking annoyed.
For some reason his attitude bothered Kate. It reminded her of Jared’s condescension whenever she’d tried investigating careers for herself. “I’m really enjoying this project,” she affirmed in a definite tone of voice. “Besides experimenting with recipes, I’m trying to do the photography of the dishes myself. Laura Frazer is helping with the layout and cover art. If my photos don’t make it, she’ll help with those too. She’s a great designer, you know.”
A young waitress arrived to take their order. After she left, Reid said, “You have too many irons in the fire, Kate. Between your presentations, demos, teaching, and this book, it’s a wonder you can still keep in shape. You really ought to cut back, trim something from your schedule and spend more time with friends.” He sent her a pointed stare and seemed about to say something more but caught himself.
She’d waited for this opening. Taking a long, indrawn breath, she said, “Reid, I really think you need to find someone else besides me to do things with. I can’t fulfill your needs and it’s causing a strain between us. You’re a great guy and I don’t want to see you wasting your time with me. Our aims in life are different, except for triathlon training. I don’t think that’s enough to base a relationship on.” She couldn’t put it any plainer than that.
The silence that followed her words was palpable. “Sorry you feel that way,” he finally said with a hurt look. “I won’t bother you anymore. In fact, maybe we ought to train on our own from here on in.”
The waitress brought their selections to the table and Reid dug into his food as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks. He didn’t make eye contact with her and the silence that ensued was not pleasant.
Kate managed to finish her soup and take a few bites of her veggie rolls. A heavy melancholy enveloped her as she took in what he’d suggested. She’d miss their outings. She’d enjoyed the light-hearted bantering while they ran or cycled together. This was for the best but she couldn’t help feeling disheartened.
On the drive back home Kate reviewed the difficult hour she’d spent with Reid. She’d wanted to end things on a friendly note but it hadn’t worked out that way. He’d left the restaurant in a somber mood and there were no future plans to train together. From now on she’d do her runs and cycling by herself. They’d been training for the past three years and it wouldn’t be easy to go solo. She’d miss the easy camaraderie of those earlier times. How had they gone from uncomplicated friendship to this tension-filled relationship? Shaking her head in sorrow, she could find no simple answers.
Sleep eluded her that night. Tossing and turning, Kate tried to come to terms with the fact that she hadn’t salvaged the best part of her friendship with Reid. He probably felt rejected and was too hurt to make any compromises. Right now it was unclear if they would ever overcome their differences.
Had her very recent involvement with Dan contributed to the termination of her friendship with Reid? Perhaps he sensed she was preoccupied with another man. She couldn’t be sure but it nagged at her. At four in the morning she finally managed to kick both men out of her mind and fall into a fitful sleep.
When morning came Kate struggled to compose herself for the busy day ahead. A cool shower helped as did a blended veggie drink. The thought that cheered her most was the expected phone call from Dan that evening. At the same time it terrified her to realize she was relying on a man again for her happiness. Where had all her strong resolutions for an independent life gone? Not knowing the answer to that loaded question, she tried to concentrate on the present moment. Taking it one day at a time was the best answer.
Deciding to continue her exercise routine, Kate cycled by herself after school on Thursday. She missed Reid’s company. That was to be expected, she reasoned. Three years of near-constant involvement with another person wasn’t easy to forget. In time she’d become accustomed to this new routine, she assured herself. And it would be much better for Reid, too. That last thought perked up her mood. Before long she’d see him dating one of those cute young teachers who were always ogling him.
Determined not to sit by the phone and wait for Dan’s call, Kate spent time in her greenhouse placing seedlings into larger pots. She loved doing this task. The peaceful atmosphere and the earthy smells were calming. Then she prepared a light dinner of raw zucchini noodles with a basil cream sauce plus a sliced tomato and mozzarella salad. Taking it out on a tray to the greenhouse she remembered her recent lunch there with Dan. Smiling at the memory she wondered about his proposition to vacation in Colorado. Was this a good idea?
While she was pondering this provocative question her cell phone rang. It was Dan. Her heart beat faster at the sound of his voice.
“I decided to phone you before heading home,” he explained. “Once I’m through the front door my time is taken up with Ethan.”
“It’s good to hear from you. How were the openings of your new restaurants?”
“Great. Everything went smoothly and we had good crowds on opening night at both places. Now I’m eager to be home. How did the week go for you?”
Kate inhaled sharply. No point in telling Dan about her breakup with Reid. He’d never met the guy and wouldn’t understand the situation. “Pretty good,” she replied keeping her tone neutral. “I cycled for almost two hours this afternoon, a really good workout.”
“You’d better get that run in tomorrow before I pick you up,” he said with a laugh. “I thought we’d try a casual place specializing in soups and salads. I happen to know the owner and he’ll take good care of us. How does six-thirty sound? Is it too early?”
Pleased that she’d see him the next night she said, “No, that’s fine. I’ll start my run early. I assume its casual dress?”
“Absolutely. The place is on the beach so shorts are fine. Since you look great in a bathing suit, that’s okay too. With a cover up, of course,” he added in a teasing tone.
“I’ll wear shorts,” she hastened to reply.
“Fine. Save the suit for Saturday night at my pool.”
“Are you booking me for the weekend? How do you know I don’t have plans?”
There was a brief silence. “Do you?” he asked cautiously.
Now it was her turn to laugh. “Of course not. I don’t date, remember?”
“Ah,” he sounded relieved. “I forgot that important piece of information. I can give you a fast course in management strategy while soaking in my hot tub. Or better yet, a look at the financial prospects for startups this coming year while we float about in my pool. We’ve lots of choices.” Then he laughed at the absurdity of his suggestions.
She joined in the merriment. Talking to Dan lifted her spirits. And she did want to swim in his wonderful pool. “Will your son be with your parents?” She wondered if he was neglecting his son to spend time with her.
“I’ll be with Ethan during the day on Saturday and they’ll take him for the night. We can discuss details tomorrow evening. I’m looking forward to seeing you, Kate. I’ve missed you.”
Her throat constricted at his words. “I’ve missed you, too,” she confessed.
Raw Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles)
with Basil Cream Sauce
2 cups fresh basil leaves
1 cup whole cashews (lightly toasted in 300* oven)
2 garlic cloves (or sub garlic powder)
¾ cup veggie broth
; 1 teaspoon lime juice
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ cup grated parmesan (optional)
You can make your own zoodles using a spiralizer, mandolin, or vegetable peeler, or you can buy them ready made at the supermarket. Use them raw or cook for one to two minutes. Top with a basil cream sauce. Use blender or food processor to mix everything together and pour over zoodles.
Chapter 10
Shortly after Dan’s call, the phone rang again. Laura Frazer was on the other end. “Kate, hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“Of course not. What’s up?” Kate felt a strange prickling shoot up her spine. Was it a premonition of bad news?
“It’s about Reid. Did you two have a falling-out or something? He’s been in a foul mood all day. I tried to talk to him about our upcoming collaboration for the science fair and he almost bit my head off.”
Kate’s heart sank and her stomach coiled into a tight knot. “We decided not to train together. He wants more of my time than I can give. I’m hoping he’ll start noticing some of the young teachers who are much more suitable. Gina Marks would love to go out with him.” Kate paused and sighed. “I’m sorry he’s in a bad mood over this.”
“I thought something like that happened,” Laura said. “Can’t you still be friends? I mean, you’ve been so close these last several years. And you do make the cutest couple.”
Before she could stop herself, Kate exclaimed, “That just won’t work. I have no romantic feelings toward Reid and I’ve recently met someone else.” She stopped short, embarrassed by her confession.
“Ah, now I get the picture. I sensed something different about you the other day but you wouldn’t own up. Who is he? Do I know him? No wonder Reid’s upset.”
The Sweet Touch Page 9