Chapter 22
Should she phone and tell Dan not to bother coming Thursday evening? That she’d already decided everything was fine and the trip was a go? Kate thought about that after she’d spoken with her mother on Monday night. Then again, he’d said he’d be out of town for a few days. She didn’t want to leave a message with his housekeeper.
Actually, she wanted to tell him in person. With that decision made, she whipped up a chocolate mousse recipe Wednesday evening using a chilled can of coconut milk, cacao powder, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Using a hand-held mixer she slowly whipped the coconut milk and then added the other ingredients using a higher speed. Blending until smooth, she poured the finished mixture into two parfait glasses and refrigerated them overnight. She’d add berries and some cashew cream at the last minute. She had promised him this dessert a while ago.
When she opened the door on Thursday evening, she noted Dan’s serious expression and the dark circles under his eyes. Had he spent some sleepless nights? Or was it simply overwork? “C’mon in,” she said in a cheerful tone. She’d dressed carefully in a long denim skirt and a frilly white blouse. Knowing he liked her hair loose, she’d brushed it out until it hung in shiny waves around her shoulders.
His eyes made a quick survey of her as he walked inside. “Looks like you’re on your way out to dinner.”
“Absolutely not,” she replied quickly. “I was waiting for you. I’m trying on several outfits to see which would be suitable for our evenings in Colorado.”
Coming closer he said, “Are you sure? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable with our arrangements.”
She put a hand on his shoulder and looked directly into his dark blue eyes. “I’m very satisfied with our plans. I had a brief conversation with my mother Monday evening to let her know I was making this trip with you and the boys. I also had to pick up some of my ski clothes stored at my parents’ house. She’s accepted my decision.”
He let out a tired sigh. “Good. I’m pleased that problem’s out of the way.” Drawing her close he gave her a long kiss. Raising his head he said, “This has been one difficult, tiring week. I’m glad it’s over.”
“I’m sorry you were worried. I wanted to phone you Tuesday but knew you were out of town. Anyway, I prepared one of your favorite desserts.” Reaching for his hand she drew him into the kitchen area and opened the refrigerator. “Chocolate mousse,” she announced, taking the dessert out and placing it on the counter. “It just needs a dollop of cashew cream and some raspberries.”
He smiled but the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Looks like you know the way to my heart. Anything chocolate is sure to put me in a good mood. This looks delicious.”
Kate let out a relieved sigh. The chocolate mousse worked. “Let’s have them in the living room.” She put the two parfait glasses on a tray to bring to the coffee table.
Dan settled on the sofa and stretched out his long legs. “You’ll have to tell me how you handled your mother’s concerns.”
Sitting next to him she handed him one of the parfait glasses and a spoon. “First taste this and tell me what you think.”
Sampling the mousse he closed his eyes with a sigh of pure pleasure. “Fantastic. This has a marvelous texture. And the cream and berries are a wonderful touch.”
Kate started in on her portion with a satisfied expression. “I simply told her I was satisfied with the travel plans and, since it was my life, I’ll live it the way I wanted to.” She glanced at him briefly to see his reaction.
Dan ate the mousse with a thoughtful expression. Putting the parfait glass on the coffee table, he sat back. “Marvelous.” Then turning to her he said solemnly, “The part that bothered me the most is that you thought me an irresponsible parent, that I’d paraded numerous women in and out of our home when my son was there, or took different women on trips with Ethan along.“ Giving her a pointed look he continued, “I’d never behave like that with or without my son around. If you don’t know by now I’m a one-woman man, I don’t know how else to explain that fact.”
Kate could see he was hurt and her heart contracted. Putting a hand on his arm she said, “Please forgive me. I allowed my mother’s old-fashioned attitude and protective nature to plant suspicion in my head. Sleeping on the matter would probably have cleared things up. Instead I phoned you and spilled out all her fears onto you, which was the wrong thing to do.” Looking directly at him she added, “Dan, I do believe you’re an honorable man and an excellent father, too. Ethan is fortunate to have you in his life.” What more could she say? Turning away she murmured, almost to herself, “Guess I still have trust issues. Sometimes I don’t have confidence in my own feelings when it comes to relationships, especially with men.”
A long silence ensued as Dan grappled with her words. “Kate, it does take time to build a good relationship. I guess I have to be patient and hope one day you’ll completely trust me. Without that bond between us, we won’t have the kind of partnership I think we both want.” Giving her a few moments to digest his words, he continued in a lighter tone, “Let’s concentrate on our trip.”
After Dan left that evening Kate sat for several long minutes, thinking about his sober comments on the issue of trust. Why was it so difficult to give him the benefit of the doubt when her mother had sowed those seeds of suspicion in her mind? Was it her inexperience with men? She’d been so young when she’d succeeded in catching Jared’s attention, she’d never really dated anyone else. In the intervening years after their divorce, she’d never permitted herself to venture into any relationships with men. That’s what made it so hard for her to understand Reid’s feelings toward her. She’d only wanted a platonic, brotherly tie to him and he wanted much more.
Sighing at this last thought, Kate realized she needed more time with Dan before she could begin to form those strong bonds of trust that bound people together. The trip to Colorado would give them plenty of opportunities to forge those intimate links. At least she hoped so.
~ ~ ~
The rest of the week flew by quickly. Ethan’s birthday party, according to Dan when he phoned Kate Saturday evening, was a great success. “Now we can focus on us,” he told her.
Kate wanted to know some of the details. “How was the magician? Did that work out?”
“He did a fabulous job. The best thing was involving Ethan in some of his tricks, which made my son feel very capable. Even my parents enjoyed the magic show. And all the children attending had a magic trick in their gift bag to take home and practice with, so that worked out well, too. We kept the menu simple – mac and cheese and hamburgers. Also I made sure there were salads on the table.” He didn’t mention the ornate birthday cake and ice cream for dessert. But what good was a birthday party without those things?
Knowing the next few days would be busy before their trip, Dan opted for a relaxing swim in his pool and a quiet dinner on Saturday night. Holding Kate in his arms in his big bed was enough of a treat. He didn’t need anything else to enjoy their time together. On Sunday he took her horseback riding at the same place he and his son rode. He could tell she enjoyed the experience immensely.
Before they parted Kate asked Dan if there was a luggage limit. “I have one large carry-on plus a garment bag and a small insulated bag.” Not knowing the food shopping options, she’d pack staples like nuts, dried fruit, and her homemade crackers.
He waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry about it. There’ll be plenty of room. Remember we can always purchase or rent whatever you need. For example, Ethan has ice skates but I’d rather rent them each time we skate than bring his along.”
Kate grew nostalgic. “I haven’t skated in years. That will be such fun. I’ll bring my own skiing clothes because they’re comfortable.”
“That makes sense. The hotel I’ve chosen is close to stores so we can shop for whatever we
need. There’s a full kitchen as I know you’ll want to have some of our meals at the condo.” Giving her a goodbye kiss, he added, “I’ll pick you up Friday evening around six, if that’s okay with you. We can have dinner at my place.”
She was looking forward to a whole week of time with him. What a treat!
~ ~ ~
“We’re going skiing,” Ethan cried when he saw Kate Friday evening. “Can you ski? I’m going to take more lessons so I can go down the big mountains. Oliver’s coming, too. My grandpa’s bringing him to the plane tomorrow. Do you want to see my new backpack? It’s filled almost to the top.” He tugged at her hand.
“Later, Ethan,” Dan said. “Dinner’s almost ready. Let Kate relax a minute.” He shook his head with a tired sigh.
“It’s okay. I’ll just take a quick glance and then come back to help you,” Kate suggested.
He gave her a relieved look. “Fine. I’ll put everything on the table. Eileen left salads and an eggplant dish that just needs to be heated.”
Later that evening after Ethan had been persuaded to go to bed early, Dan and Kate had some quiet time together. “I’ll need a few things from my carry-on,” she mentioned. They’d left her luggage, except for the food items, in the back of his Lexus.
He sent her a speculative look. “Such as a nightgown and toothbrush?” When she nodded, he said, “I’ll loan you a tee shirt, if you need something to sleep in, which I doubt, and I have extra toothbrushes.” He laughed as she blushed.
“I’d feel more comfortable in my pajamas, especially with Ethan here.”
“So you wear pajamas. I would’ve thought a short nightgown.”
He wasn’t making any effort to retrieve her carry on, she noted, feeling a bit frustrated. “Dan, if you’re too lazy to get my things from the car, give me the key and I’ll find the stuff I need.” She rose from the couch in his den, ready to act on her decision.
He pulled her back down. “You can wear one of my pajamas, if you insist. Probably just the top part would fit. And the offer of the toothbrush is still on. How about it?”
With his blue eyes twinkling in merriment, she couldn’t refuse him. “If you insist . . .”
“Kate, I’m not insisting. Just suggesting.” He caught her up in his arms and placed her on his lap. “That’s better,” he crooned in a low tone. “I like you close.”
Leaning against his broad chest, she couldn’t help agreeing. This was just where she wanted to be. “I can’t promise to stay awake too long. I stayed up late last night finishing packing and I’ve been on the go all day.”
“So have I,” he retorted. Then seeing her surprised expression he added, “I’m tired too. We’ll call it a night in a few minutes. I just needed this peaceful time with you.” He let out a contented sigh. “I look forward to these special times.”
The last thing Kate remembered before falling asleep in Dan’s arms later that night was asking a question. “Dan, what time does our plane leave tomorrow?”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “It won’t leave without us.” Then he laughed softly.
Not completely understanding his cryptic answer, she curled closer and fell asleep.
~ ~ ~
On the drive to the airport the next morning, Ethan kept up a constant chatter. “What time will we get to Colorado? Can I go skiing later today? Can I? Maybe I can try ice skating, too. Can I, Dad? Are we having lunch on the plane? I hope they have pizza.”
Kate settled back for a few moments to look out the window while Dan considered which question to answer. “Let’s wait until we get there and then we can decide what we’ll do first. I can’t promise anything now. As far as lunch, I’m not sure about pizza but we can probably get a sandwich for you. Let’s see what’s on the menu.”
“Want to play a game while we’re in the car?” Kate asked Ethan. She could see how restless he was, strapped into the booster car seat.
“Okay. What kind of game?”
“We can start with the letter ‘A’ and see if we can find a word on a sign that starts with it. Once we find one, we can look for a ‘B.’”
Ethan peered out the window. “I see one,” he shouted. “But I can’t tell what the word is.” He pointed to a large billboard with an automobile pictured.
“Good. That says Alamo. It’s the name of a car rental business. Now let’s see if we can find a ‘B.’” The game kept Ethan busy for the entire ride to the airport. Kate could see Dan visibly relaxing as he drove. She noticed the airport was a small one, not the usual commercial ones. “Is this where the plane takes off?”
Dan nodded. “The business keeps a few planes for travel. I use it whenever I need to get somewhere quickly.”
No wonder he wasn’t worried about what time the plane left, Kate thought. He had his own private plane. This would be a new experience. Did he have his own pilot too? “Do you fly the plane?” He certainly was capable of doing almost anything.
“Not today. I do have a pilot’s license but I’m usually too busy to take on that responsibility. I see my dad’s car parked outside the hanger. Oliver must be talking to the pilot. He wants to fly planes someday.”
“Me too,” Ethan piped up. “Can I dad? Can I fly a plane one day?”
“I don’t see why not. You just have to get a little older.” Dan pulled up next to his father’s white station wagon.
It was another half hour before the small plane took off. There was plenty of room for their luggage, Kate noted, plus a small kitchen at the rear for snacks and lunch. Dan sat up front with Jack Whitman, the experienced pilot he usually employed. Kate sat near the two boys who were busy looking at Oliver’s new iPhone. Relaxing against the comfortable leather seat, she gazed out the window at white puffy clouds and patches of clear cerulean sky, feeling an unaccustomed sense of adventure. The last flight she’d taken seemed ages ago. A family wedding in Arizona over a long weekend was hardly something she’d yearned for. It was an obligation rather than a vacation.
Dan joined her later when it was safe to walk about. “Nice view up here,” he said sitting next to her, taking her hand in his.” Enjoying the ride?”
“Love it. I’ve never flown in a private plane before. It’s pretty cozy.”
“We’ll be there before you know it. As we get closer to Colorado, you’ll see some spectacular snow-capped mountains.”
It was good to get a change of scenery, she thought. Although she loved the beaches on the Gulf coast, a week of mountains and snow would be great. Especially with someone like Dan to keep her company.
The pilot brought the airplane to a smooth landing at the small Aspen/Pitkin County airport. “We’re just minutes from our hotel,” Dan told Kate as they gathered luggage and children to depart. “A driver will pick us up.”
Talk about custom service, Kate thought, as she followed Dan. She held Ethan’s hand while he and the pilot carried the luggage out to a waiting SUV. Dan shook hands with his pilot and then they were off.
“Do you always travel this way?” Kate asked Dan as the car sped from the airport onto a mountainous road heading to the hotel.
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Whenever necessary. Mostly I like to drive places but long distance travel is easier this way.” He smiled at her. “This gives us more time for fun things like skiing, although we’ll probably try the slopes tomorrow. I thought after we get settled we can explore the town of Aspen and maybe try ice skating. There’s a great skating rink near the downtown area.”
“Great. I’m ready to exercise. Sitting for several hours makes me antsy. The boys did well during the trip. You were wise to bring Oliver along. He and Ethan kept themselves busy most of the time.”
“When Ethan started getting bored I knew it was time for lunch,” Dan said. “After that we only had another half hour and he managed that pretty wel
l.”
Before long they were at the hotel in downtown Aspen. Snow-capped mountain ranges surrounded the area giving the town a magical feel, Kate thought. The interior of the hotel was luxurious. When she saw the two-bedroom condo with its welcoming fireplace and large scenic balcony, she was pleasantly surprised. This vacation must be a very expensive one. After years of working two jobs and budgeting just to pay the rent and buy food while married to Jared, this was a welcome change. During the eight years she worked and attended college, life had not been easy. But she’d been determined to do it on her own. Her parents had helped when she finally finished her education and had a teaching position. They’d given her the money for a down payment on her home.
“We’ve done the same for Gregg and Stacy,” her dad told her. “Now that you are earning enough money to support a home, we want to do the same for you.”
She’d been very grateful for their assistance. They’d also been generous on her thirtieth birthday and insisted on paying for her ski trip to Switzerland. Yes, she appreciated all they’d done for her.
“Dan, this is beautiful,” Kate said to him in a low tone as the boys put their luggage in their room. “I didn’t think everything would be so . . . so amazing.” She studied the fully- equipped kitchen and the leather sofas arranged around the fireplace. “I’ve never vacationed in a place like this before.”
He pulled her close for a long moment. “I’m glad you like it, Kate. You deserve the very best. Let’s leave the luggage for later, except for warm jackets, hats and gloves, and go out on the town. I know the boys and I are ready for a spin on the ice.”
The Sweet Touch Page 22