by Chris Chegri
Their gazes connected, and they collapsed into such loud laughter it silenced the noisy macaw where he sat on his perch, head cocked to one side in bewilderment. Between snorts and giggles, Kelly hiccupped, and Steve choked into his napkin.
When at last she stopped, he switched plates with her. “Here. You eat the flounder. I’ll eat the Mahi Mahi.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I don’t think my stomach can survive another hiccup. My ribs hurt. ”
They fell apart again, holding their sides and stuffing their napkins in their mouths, ignoring the stares from the other tables. Time seemed to stop for the moment.
They survived dinner, made it through dessert, and relaxed over another glass of wine. Kelly’s thoughts flashed back to Ken’s reaction to her hiccups. It had embarrassed him, and he’d accused her of doing it on purpose. He was such a jerk.
Kelly and Steve stuck to small talk—safe and comfortable for Kelly. The wine and laughter magically dispelled any discomfort she was feeling, and she was at peace for the first time in days. The breeze off the ocean cooled, and a brilliant three-quarter moon rose over the ocean. It was late. The other diners had finished and left the restaurant, and Kelly and Steve had the patio to themselves.
She listed toward him, having drunk too much wine. “You’re a lot of fun, Steve McCarthy.” She couldn’t feel her face but knew she was grinning like an idiot. She bubbled with happiness inside, something new for Kelly.
“Me? You’re the one who started all the laughing. I didn’t do anything.” He met her halfway and brushed his lips feather soft across her mouth. “You taste like wine, sweet wine.”
He kissed her again, softly—barely a kiss.
Enjoying the feel of his lips, she pushed back all her old fears and gave in to the impulse. She leaned toward him to return the kiss, lips parted.
At the same moment, the macaw let out a loud hick-up, and croaked, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
They froze, and then crumpled into hysterical laughter.
Chapter Eleven
It was one harmless, little kiss, she told herself for the hundredth time. No tongue, no trembling, no heavy breathing, just one harmless, little kiss.
“Mommy, Mommy!” Lacy’s voice broke the mantra haunting Kelly for the past four days.
She glanced around and spotted Lacy zigzagging through a row of chairs surrounding the baggage carousels at the San Francisco airport. Kelly pushed past the passengers awaiting luggage and hurried to intercept her daughter.
Her heart melting with joy, Kelly whisked Lacy up into her arms. “I missed you, pumpkin.”
“I missed you too, Mommy.”
Kelly gave her a tight squeeze.
“Watch out for Skunk!” Lacy peered around her mother’s embrace at the rat, whose head protruded from the six-year-old’s pocket.
Kelly lowered her daughter to the floor. “What is Skunk doing here? Honey, rats aren’t allowed in the airport.”
Lacy frowned. “He missed you, too.”
Jill Wagner, barely five feet tall with her shoes on, edged up beside them, draping a familiar arm over Kelly’s shoulder. “Hey, stranger, careful with the kid. I’m watching her for a friend.”
Kelly lowered her gaze a few inches to Jill’s eye level. Playing along, Kelly grinned, “You watching the rat, too?”
Jill shrugged. “The kid’s hopeless. Mi casa, her casa.”
“Seriously, thanks for keeping the two of them for me. Lacy looks great, but you look haggard. What’s she been doing to you?”
“It’s not her fault. She’s been the perfect model of childhood.”
Kelly lifted one eyebrow. “Sounds like a cover-up story.”
“No. I got a wicked cold Wednesday and feel only slightly better than post mortem.”
Kelly took Lacy’s hand. “Then let’s get you home, and you can go to bed.” They merged with the crowd and headed toward the baggage claim area. “I’m really going to miss you Jill. Sure I can’t talk you into Daytona Beach?”
“It depends on how much I miss you and your shrimp.” She tussled Lacy’s hair. “Keep talking beach, though. I’m listening.”
They headed, arm in arm, for the parking garage.
At eight-thirty that evening, Jill came downstairs to help with the packing.
“Enter at your own risk,” Kelly warned.
Jill closed the door and headed straight for a box of tissues on the cluttered kitchen counter. “God, I hope I never have to move.”
In the corner of the room, half hidden by the growing clutter of boxes, ballerinas in flowing pastel gauze pirouetted across the television screen on public television. The soothing music calmed Kelly when her surroundings were cluttered and chaotic.
Everything from the kitchen cabinets had been packed, and the resulting dozen or so half-filled boxes made the simple task of crossing the living room a challenge for even an Olympic hurdler.
“It’s even worse than I’d imagined.” Jill shook her head in mock horror. She glanced around. “Where’s the kiddo?”
“She’s already asleep. I think the mess got to her.” Kelly stopped what she was doing and rested her hands on her hips. “Do you think I’ll have all this packed in time for the movers?”
“Sure. I’m here to help. We’ll have it done by tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait till this nightmare is over.”
“Well, let’s get to it.” Jill grabbed a box.
“If you feel as lousy as you look, you probably ought to go to bed.”
“If I needed a mother, I’d go home. Hey, guess who came by looking for you Tuesday?”
Wearing a roll of tape like a bracelet, Kelly locked her gaze on Jill. “I give up.”
“Ken.”
Kelly stopped packing and stiffened. “My Ken?”
“That would be the one.”
Her mood soured. “You’re kidding? He came here?”
Jill’s features hardened.
“What did he want? Jeez, I hope Lacy didn’t see him. I don’t want her upset.”
“Lacy was downstairs playing with Melissa. She wasn’t even around. Good thing, because he was fighting mad about you taking him back to court.”
Kelly clenched her jaw to control her anger. When she spoke, her tone was cool. “What did the bum say?”
“He threatened to countersue, claiming you didn’t need his money and were harassing him. He asked where you were.”
Kelly’s fingers tightened around the roll of tape she held. “Did you tell him we were moving?”
“No. I thought you should be the one to tell him. He came in for a cup of coffee.”
“You let the enemy in?” she shouted, her jaw twitching with anger.
With a startled expression, Jill backed up and almost fell over a box. “I didn’t invite him in,” her voice trembled. “He…he just sort of walked in. I was hoping maybe I could help, Kelly.”
“Help? Are you kidding?” She was so mad she wanted to spit—until she noticed Jill’s intimidation. In all the years they’d known each other, Kelly had never raised her voice at Jill. Wilting, she realized she sounded like a maniac.
“God, I’m sorry, Jill. I know it’s not your fault.” Her mind raced, and she squeezed back tears.
“It’s okay, Kel. Take it easy. I don’t want you having a heart attack.”
“Right. Sorry. But how dare he approach my best friend. It’s just like him to try to come between us. I can’t believe he had the nerve to show up here. I haven’t seen his face in two years.”
“He calmed down after a few minutes, and we talked sensibly about it like two adults. He acted as if he knew nothing about it. As if he’d been blind-sided.”
Kelly simmered. This whole thing with Ken had her riding a roller coaster of emotions.
“I tried to talk to him,” Kelly said, “but he wouldn’t listen. I called him one day, you sat right beside me, Jill. Don’t you remember? He kept telling me the same thing he told you. When
I told him it was his responsibility to help support Lacy—because he helped make her—he almost came unglued. I’m sure you’re no stranger to the male martyr routine.”
Jill rolled her eyes. “Intimately familiar. Remember the married guy at the office who kept asking me out, always crying about how horrible his wife treated him?”
“I do.” Kelly gave her head a shake. “I also remember you dated him for two months.”
Jill gave a sheepish shrug.
Kelly had never understood how Jill could even consider going out with a married man. She’d accepted Jill’s decision but never condoned it. Women needed to stick together, not stab each other in the back. Besides, Kelly figured any man who cheated on his first wife more than likely would cheat on his second wife, and third, and so on.
“Oh well, water under the bridge.” Jill clapped her hands together, and her voice took on a soothing edge. “You’re a great mom. I hope I do half as well if I ever have a kid.”
Kelly met Jill’s gaze. “Thanks. Promise me, Jill, if Ken Pearson ever shows up here again, you’ll tell him to get lost. I never dreamed he’d drag you into this.”
“I promise.” She blew her nose again. “Oh, yeah. Ken wasn’t happy about his visitation rights either,” she added between blows.
“Visitation rights?” Kelly’s voice cracked, but she was too tired to keep up the anger. “He’s had visitation rights all along and hasn’t seen her in over four years. I think he forfeited those rights when he quit seeing her. He doesn’t care about visitation rights. He’s just trying to make me look bad to you. Honestly, Jill, Lacy wouldn’t know her father if he walked through the door right now.”
Kelly tucked two crystal candlesticks in the box and closed the flaps. “I’ve got more important things to worry about. I can’t waste any more of my energy on Ken Pearson,” she said and meant it—at least for now.
Jill pulled a clean tissue from the box under her arm, pressed it to her reddened nose. “I’ll help you tar and feather him if he causes any more trouble.” Behind dark circles, her eyes twinkled with mischief.
Kelly found it impossible not to laugh at Jill—one of the reasons she had been drawn to Jill Wagner for friendship when her own life seemed to have fallen apart. She rushed over and hugged her best friend. “I’m going to miss you, girlfriend.”
It suddenly hit her, an icy wave of emptiness. She’d taken a job three thousand miles away, never considering what her losses would be until this moment. She and Jill had grown close over the past few years, and now Kelly realized how much she’d counted on her for her wit, friendship, and approval. Jill would always be there when Kelly needed her—the greatest thing about best friends.
Jill resisted Kelly’s embrace. “Hey, stop being mushy.” She pulled another tissue from the box and pressed it to her nose. “You’ll make me cry.” Her reddened eyes offered proof of the little rest she’d gotten since the onset of her cold.
“Right. If your nose is running, it’s because you’re diseased, not sentimental!”
Kelly resumed her packing, strapping the top of the box with several strips of tape. She pushed it aside and crossed into the kitchen.
“I’ll make you a cup of hot tea. I haven’t packed that yet.” She cleared a space for them to sit at the end of the cluttered breakfast bar.
Jill sat down and propped her stuffed-up head on one hand while Kelly set the teakettle to boil. She pulled a package of fruit tarts from the freezer and popped them into the oven.
“So tell me, Kel. How’s Florida? How’s the job? Scary, great, what?”
“A bit lower keyed than the Chronicle. I think I’m going to like it. I’ll have more time for Lacy. My boss seems a little gruff, but I think he’s full of hot air.” She set the oven timer. “You won’t believe what happened on my flight out.”
She described in detail the terrible flight, her charming seat companion, the luggage mix-up and swap.
Jill shook her head. “It could only happen to you, Kel. So what’s with the man?”
“He’s a cryogenic physicist. An expert on cold temperatures in space. He also dabbles in real estate and helped me find a house for us, but I’m getting ahead of myself.” She leaned against the counter.
“I was awful to him when we met to swap luggage. I’d missed the appointment with my boss. It was my first day. I was upset and rude, so he told me off.”
Jill’s eyebrows lifted.
“He said the temperature on the peninsula would drop with me living in Florida.”
Jill suppressed a chuckle.
“I was so embarrassed, I just about begged him to forgive me.” She grinned, recalling the moment. “He accepted my humble apology and gave me a second chance.”
“I suppose if anyone can handle your icy moods, a cryogenicist can. He must not have suffered too much frostbite.”
“I guess his thermostat is tougher than most.”
“And…?” Jill coaxed her.
“I don’t know. He told me to call him when I get back. He’s gorgeous, which scares me to death, but he’s so thoughtful and kind and…” She paused, picturing their dinner at Mackey’s. “We laugh a lot together. He’s easy to be with, but…I don’t know…my life is okay the way it is. I probably shouldn’t complicate it. You know what I mean?”
She wasn’t ready to tell Jill about their dinner together, much less that he’d called her twice before she left. The kiss—top secret for now.
The teapot whistled. She filled two cups with boiling water and handed one to Jill.
Jill stirred some sugar in and sneezed. “If I were you, I’d make up some reason and call him when you get back.”
The last thing I need is a reason. Kelly lowered her gaze to her teacup, considering Jill’s advice.
Jill sipped her tea. “He sounds like a good guy, and besides, he’s dreamy, right? You deserve a nice guy. So does Lacy.”
Kelly had backed herself into a corner and wished she had a candy cigarette to chew on. “Guys don’t come with guarantees. You know how I feel, Jill.” She parroted excuses she’d used in the past. “I don’t think I’m ready for a relationship with a cold expert, much less a real estate agent.” She was sorry she had mentioned Steve. “Why do we always end up talking about men?”
Jill leaned forward, forcing Kelly to meet her eye-to-eye. Kelly stared back, exhausted and dreading any further confrontation, knowing Jill would nail her point home whether Kelly wanted to listen or not.
“You’re chicken, Kelly. You’re interested in this man. You’re just plain scared.” Jill leaned back in her chair, frustration souring her pixie-like features.
“Here we go again,” Kelly grumbled. “I’m not scared. I’m content and can’t see making waves.”
“Sure you are. A few weeks ago you were talking about your life feeling stagnant. The only thing content to live in stagnancy is a tadpole, my friend. Wake up before the metamorphosis occurs and it’s too late. There aren’t many princes left who are willing to kiss a toad.”
“Cute.” Kelly remembered the conversation. “You were the one who told me to get a dog. It was safer. Make up your mind. Do I need a dog or a date?”
“It was a joke. I’d been stood up the night before. Now I’m serious. This man sounds interesting, and you won’t even give him a chance.”
She’d given him a chance, but she wasn’t ready to admit it to Jill, just in case she was wrong.
“It’s the same old story, Kel. Your dad deserted you. Ken left. But I’m pretty sure Robby didn’t check out on you because he wanted to. You could trust Robby, and you did, proving all men aren’t undependable rats. Why do you keep suffering over your past, when you’ve got a great future ahead of you?”
Look who’s talking. “I never said all men were rats. Undependable, maybe. And for the record, Robby wasn’t so dependable either, or he wouldn’t have been driving like a maniac and gotten himself killed. I’m sure there are good men out there, but neither one of us has found one yet, and
right now I’m not up to wading through the slime to find the good ones.”
Jill’s patience evaporated. “You’re a fool, Kelly Pearson. Robby was good and dependable. He never let you down. But you let him down everyday by refusing to forgive him for dying. Do you think he was thrilled about it? He was twenty-two. He had an entire lifetime to live.” Jill’s jaw snapped shut.
A hot band clamped around Kelly’s heart. “You’re cruel, Jill.” Her eyes brimmed over with tears.
Jill handed her a tissue. “I shouldn’t have said that, but you make me crazy. I just want you to wake up, take a chance, and be happy. I love you.”
“I know,” Kelly said from behind the tissue. “I love you, too.
Jill slumped over her teacup. “Remember the hunk who asked you out in October?”
Kelly nodded. She remembered too well. He’d triggered all the red flags.
“Getting involved scared you to death. You were so cool, he never called you again.”
“I wasn’t cool, just cautious,” she lied. “Cheri at the office went out with him later and told me he was an octopus. It turned out he wasn’t such a nice guy. You think anyone with muscles between his shoulders is a nice guy.”
“True.” Jill grinned, more a leer. “I do love a man with muscles, but your idea of asserting your independence can be downright chilling to a warm-blooded male. I feel sorry for this guy. You’ve probably scared him off already.”
“I don’t think Steve McCarthy is the kind you can scare off. I think if he’s really interested, he’ll hang in there. I just have to figure out if I’m interested. I admit I enjoyed his company. He was very low pressure, business-like but friendly.
“Still,” she hesitated, switching gears faster than a Daytona 500 racecar. “I hope he doesn’t call me. I’m just not ready for a relationship now.” The words sounded false, even to her. “What with the move, the new job—”
Jill cut her off. “You need to make up your mind. At this rate, you’ll never be ready. And I think there’s something important you’re overlooking. Lacy is six, and regardless of your hang-ups, she deserves to have a father.”