Chapter 13
“You were lying to me all that time?” Reid’s tone was angry and his expression dark as he glared at Kate. “I knew something was going on with you but I couldn’t figure it out.”
“I was not lying to you,” she exclaimed. “Not mentioning something doesn’t mean an untruth. I’d just met someone unexpectedly at a mall presentation and we started getting together. I’m not sure where this relationship is going but I didn’t think it was fair to you to keep it a secret.” He was being unreasonable. She shouldn’t have bothered meeting him.
“I don’t care one way or another,” he replied coldly. His eyes, usually warm and pleasant, had a contemptuous, indifferent look. He climbed into his car and beat a hasty retreat from the parking area.
Kate could tell he was hurt. But what could she do? The best thing was to wait it out and hope he found someone else soon. Taking Laura’s advice to come clean with Reid may not have been such a great idea. With a heavy heart she drove away. Ordinarily she’d head to the park near her home for a run. But today she needed something else. Since she always kept a gym bag in the van, she decided to work out at the Y and take a relaxing swim. Yes, that would be the best way to lift her sagging spirits.
The phone rang as she was preparing a grated beet, carrot, and apple salad with toasted walnuts and a creamy vegetable soup for dinner. Laura Frazer was at the other end.
“Hi Kate. I wanted to check and see how things worked out with Reid. I saw the two of you talking in the parking lot after school but I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“There’s not much to say. He’s angry and I think hurt too. I’m not sure whether letting him know I’m seeing someone was such a good idea.” She had to be honest.
There was a brief silence. “You did the right thing, Kate. He’ll get over it. At least everything’s out in the open. It may be difficult for him to adjust, but at least he knows where he stands.”
Heaving a heavy sigh, Kate thought about her words. “Maybe you’re right but it’s not easy to see someone suffering. Reid’s very sensitive. I just hope I didn’t cause any long-lasting injury to his self-esteem. He’s a good-looking, intelligent, and caring person. He’ll make some woman a wonderful mate.”
“Just not you, though. Right?” Laura remarked.
“Yeah, he doesn’t turn me on for some strange reason. I feel more like an older sister to him.”
She laughed. “Reid isn’t interested in a sister. He has strong romantic feelings for you. I could see it in his expression every time he looked at you. Didn’t you realize he was falling for you?”
Kate thought about Laura’s insight. “On a few occasions I noticed something in his eyes that suggested he wanted more than friendship. But since I wasn’t willing to go there, I brushed it aside. I thought we had enough interest in training together to keep him occupied without getting entangled in anything more complicated. Now I see I was wrong. I should’ve nipped those feelings in the bud at the first opportunity.”
“In hindsight we always seem to know what to do,” Laura replied. “Don’t lose sleep over it. I’m sure things will straighten out in time.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Changing the subject, since you are seeing someone new, how about dinner out sometime for the four of us? I’d love to meet this guy and I’m sure Tony would too.”
Kate inhaled sharply. She was not ready to make her relationship with Dan public. “Maybe in a while,” she said slowly. “This is still a very new situation and I don’t want to rush things. I hope you understand.”
“Oh sure, I understand,” Laura said. “Just give me a few days’ notice when you feel more comfortable about the relationship and we’ll arrange something. Maybe we could meet at my place for drinks first and then choose someplace fun to dine. Tony loves Chinese food and there’s a new place we want to try.”
Kate could tell Laura was eager to get together. “Okay, that sounds like a good idea. We can talk about it at lunch tomorrow.” She could always check with Dan and see how he felt.
Kate was just about to sit down to eat when the phone rang again. “Damn,” she muttered to herself. She was tempted to let it ring. Noting the caller ID was Greg, she picked up. “Hi, Greg. What’s doing?” She could always reheat the soup and the salad could wait.
“Nothing much. Sunday was fun, wasn’t it?”
Kate was sure he had something on his mind. “Yeah, it was good to see everyone.” She waited for more information.
“Well, the reason I called was pure curiosity. Patty had to take Alison and Taylor to the pediatrician this afternoon. Elaine was there with her brood and they started chatting. Elaine mentioned something interesting which I wanted to check out with you.”
He paused and in the brief silence that ensued Kate’s heart thudded like a trip hammer and her imagination went wild. She almost knew what he was going to say.
“Jared and Elaine went to dinner at a new place called Sand Dunes, or something like that. They saw you there with a man who you introduced to them as Dan Brookhouse, a business acquaintance. I was just wondering about this because I know you did a presentation for the Brookhouse restaurant and they’re the ones who are arranging the birthday bash for Mom. Was this strictly a business meeting or is there something more to the story?”
She didn’t want to lie to him. But she knew he’d tell Patty whatever she told him and then it would be passed on to Stacy and her parents. Kate wasn’t ready for any of this to happen. “We did have some business matters to discuss,” she finally said. “At the same time we’ve become good friends. If anything more happens, you’ll be the first to know.” It was a partial truth at least. Life was getting more complicated by the minute.
“Okay, I’ll go along with that. And you know I’d love to see you dating again. It’s been over ten years since you and Jared split. You’re too young to live the single life. Just brotherly advice, if you know what I mean.”
He was sweet to care and she knew he had her interests at heart. “Thanks Greg. I do appreciate your good intentions. Actually, I’ve been enjoying the single life so much I wonder if I’ll ever settle down.”
“Don’t say that. Okay, I know it’s your life but I think if you met the right man, it’d be a different story. Anyway, just wanted to talk to you. Take care and we’ll be in touch soon.”
After the call ended Kate stood for several long moments feeling as if she were caught in a spider’s web. The more she tried to maneuver and skirt the issue of dating Dan, the more tangled up she became. Was it worth the struggle? Dan had no problem introducing her to his parents and Ethan. Why was she flailing about like this?
Annoyed at herself, she poured the now-cold soup back into the pot and warmed it. Nibbling at a toasted walnut on top of her salad, she reviewed the last two phone conversations. There was really no harm in asking Dan if he’d like to double-date with Laura and Tony. And what if Patty did tell Stacy the story of Elaine and Jared seeing her at dinner with a male friend? Stacy would probably accuse her of lying to everyone. Why did that bother her? She should’ve ignored her sister’s nastiness all these years instead of taking things so seriously.
Easier said than done, Kate sighed, as she took her soup back to the table and started in on her dinner. Was there anything she could do that would lessen the tension between herself and her younger sister? She thought about that for several long minutes as she continued munching on her salad and sipping her soup. Stacy had no reason to be jealous of her. She had a good marriage to Jack, a blossoming career in copyright law and a delightful two-year-old son. What was her problem?
The more Kate thought about this situation, the more confused she became. She tried to recall her growing-up years with Stacy. When had it all started? She’d been three when Stacy was born. Had she resented her Mom spending time with the n
ew baby? Kate thought hard about that and decided this was not the issue. She’d been enamored of her older brother, Greg, and had followed him around. Maybe if she’d paid more attention to her younger sister from the beginning, things would’ve worked between them.
By this time Kate’s head was beginning to pound. Time to forget the whole problem and do something relaxing. Picking up a stack of home furnishing magazines, she stretched out on a comfortable lounge on her lanai and began leafing through them. Planning the décor for Dan’s living room was fun. The furniture they’d seen at the mall would work well for his space. He’d need some unusual artwork for the walls and maybe one hand-crafted object, such as a coffee or end table that would stand out. There were several talented local artists to provide such pieces. She looked forward to visiting their studios to check things out.
~ ~ ~
During lunch on Tuesday, Kate and Laura talked about double dating. “Let me run this idea past Dan and I’ll let you know what he thinks,” Kate said as she spread walnut paté on a cracker. “I’ll be seeing him this weekend.”
“Ah, so his first name is Dan. How did you meet?” Laura inquired.
“At a presentation I was giving at one of the malls,” she replied, not sure just how much to reveal. Then again, what did she have to hide?
Laura nodded sagely as she bit into a thick cheese sandwich. “Was it an instant attraction? I mean, did you know right away that sparks were flying?”
“You could say that.” Kate’s cheeks flushed recalling her body’s reaction to Dan.
“I can tell it must’ve been a major revelation.” Laura smiled at her friend. “The same thing happened to me when I met Tony. He was a groomsman at my cousin Scott’s wedding. After staring at me during the church service, he asked Scott to introduce him and the rest is history. Not that I’m in a hurry to get married again. I’m having a great time without the responsibility of a husband. Of course, I may change my mind. We’ll see.”
“Changing the subject, I’m not looking forward to our faculty meeting later,” Kate commented. The once-a-month meeting was held directly after the school day ended.
“Because Reid will be there?”
Kate nodded. “Things are still too raw between us. I’m going to sit as far away from him as possible.”
“I’m sure he feels the same way,” Laura said.
“Welcome everyone.” Dave Thorpe, Principal of Briarwood Elementary School, opened the faculty meeting. “I’m pleased to see everyone.” He glanced around the large conference room with a pleasant smile. “I’m going to dispense with our usual format because we have a special matter to discuss.”
Seated next to Laura, Kate turned to her friend with a quizzical expression. In a low tone, she whispered, “I wonder what this is about.”
“No idea,” Laura muttered looking puzzled.
The principal continued with his opening remarks. “We have two dozen families with children attending our school who are homeless. This is a state-wide problem, as I’m sure you all realize from recent stories in the local paper. One of the ways we’ve been helping children who qualify is by serving free breakfasts and lunches as well as healthy snacks during afterschool sessions. However, we can do more to help these families.” He paused to look around the room.
“Did you know there were so many in our school?” Kate asked Laura in a low tone.
She nodded, her expression grim. “Unfortunately. I wonder what he’s getting at.”
“One of our active PTA parents, Marie Fucillo, came up with an idea to raise funds for these families. She suggested a Game Night on a weekday evening in mid-May for parents and children. This would include games of chance, athletic competitions, art and music happenings and much more. Several local restaurants have been approached and agreed to take a booth to serve their specialties. The money raised by purchases and participation in all the events will go to the Homeless Fund. These funds would provide food for homeless children during spring break and the summer months. Now this is where you come in.” He looked around the large room once more. “I need your help to make this event a successful one. The PTA can’t do this alone.”
Kate could sense the tension in the room as many of the teachers reacted to Dave Thorpe’s words. “I wonder what he wants from us,” she whispered to Laura.
“What do you think? Our time and effort,” Laura muttered. “This should’ve been proposed at the beginning of the school year, not at this point.”
“It is a worthy cause though,” Kate countered. She wondered how she could contribute to the event. The thought of children going hungry when she had plenty to eat struck a deep chord within. She’d sent checks to the Food Bank and other charities but doing something like this made it much more personal. Had anyone approached Dan to participate? She’d have to find out.
By the time the faculty meeting ended, committees were formed to tackle all aspects of Game Night. The art and music teachers would work together to plan activities for children and adults. The physical education instructor, Mark Werner, was paired with Reid. The two men would be in charge of the athletic games. Kate was asked to plan a gardening activity. Other teachers were grouped into committees for games of chance, setup, cleanup, and various other tasks.
“This is a huge undertaking,” Laura said to Kate as they left the meeting. “We’ll be busy with this project for the next ten weeks. It’s a good cause, but I wish our esteemed principal could’ve planned better. I still have to prepare an art exhibition for the end of May. That means selecting and matting artwork for every grade, making labels and hanging the show.” She shook her head with a tired expression. “We don’t get extra pay for these things. We’re supposed to donate our time and effort for the good of the school.”
Kate understood Laura’s frustration. At least the other schools she worked at didn’t demand any extra time from her. She’d plan something simple for her participation in Briarwood’s fundraising effort such as planting seedlings in paper cups. The children could decorate the cups beforehand and put labels with the names of the plants on them. Another idea could be to make miniature gardens for small creatures to inhabit.
“We’ll just have to do the best we can,” Kate told Laura as they left the building. “Thank goodness I don’t have to work with Reid.” Just as she said this she noticed Dave Thorpe headed her way. A stocky man in his early fifties, he was out of breath by the time he neared them.
“Kate, wait up a minute.” Dave came closer and said, “I know you’re a triathlon competitor. Would you mind lending a hand to Mark and Reid while they plan the activities for this project? From past experience I’ve found a woman’s input can be valuable. We don’t need activities that are difficult, if you know what I mean. I want even kindergarten children to participate. I think Mark and Reid will plan more challenging events than would be necessary.” He waited for her response.
Just what she needed. Kate tried for a calm demeanor as she faced Jim, but her heartbeat increased and her throat felt tight. Speaking slowly she said, “I’m not sure this is a good idea. Reid and I have decided not to train together, for personal reasons. I don’t think he’d want me involved.”
“Ah, I see,” Dave replied. “However, I’m sure the two of you can put aside any differences for a good cause. I’ll talk to Reid and Mark. I’m positive they’ll listen to me and agree. Be in touch with you soon.” With a cheerful wave of his hand and a smile, he went on his way.
Looking at Kate’s baleful expression, Laura started to laugh. “You know the old saying, don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched? Well, you spoke too soon. Now what are you going to do?”
Grated Beet, Carrot, and Apple Salad
1¾ cup peeled and grated beets
¾ cup peeled and grated carrots
1¾ cups peeled and grated apples
&nb
sp; 2-4 tablespoons lime or lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
Fresh walnuts for topping
Mix together beets, carrots and, peeled and grated apples. Toss with lime or lemon juice and fresh ginger. Optional – top with toasted walnuts.
Chapter 14
What was she going to do about Dave Thorpe’s proposal? Kate’s mood was gloomy as she drove away from Briarwood Elementary. No way could she see herself working alongside Reid developing athletic contests for the fundraising event. Hopefully Reid would persuade the principal this idea wasn’t effective.
Determined to put the whole issue out of her mind, Kate drove to the park near her home. She’d run for an hour or so. Training on her own was turning out to be more relaxing than she could’ve imagined. She was the one to decide whether to bicycle, run, or swim each day and for how long.
As she ran she thought about the types of gardening activities she could offer at the fundraiser besides planting. This would be a good opportunity to explain the necessary nutrients that contributed to healthy soil. The children could mix everything together before they planted. She’d provide handouts for each participant on how to be a successful gardener.
Running briskly around the small lake in the park, Kate had a sudden vision of a greenhouse installed at the event. Wouldn’t it be fun to have her gardening activities held inside such a structure? Maybe the local greenhouse distributor would participate. It would be good publicity for the company. By the time she reached home, her mood was much calmer. Somehow the situation with Reid would resolve itself.
The Sweet Touch Page 13