More

by Heidi Marshall

  “I think we should go to the park. It’s the perfect night for a swing set.”

  ~~~~~

  “Higher, Mommy, higher!” Kate’s little legs pumped with all of their might as she tried to achieve the maximum height and speed possible on the swing set in the park near her house.

  “Any higher and you’re going to swing right over the top,” said Olivia, who was pushing her daughter on the swing.

  “Can that really happen?” asked Kate, her eyes widening.

  “Oh, sure. But I think it makes you go cross-eyed, so you better not try it.”

  She lessened her effort, but only ever so slightly. She definitely didn’t want to go cross-eyed, but she also didn’t want her mother to know that she was afraid.

  Olivia smiled, knowing exactly what her daughter was doing, though she would never let on. Kate had always had a wonderful balance of bravery and responsibility, which Olivia admired. She wasn’t afraid to try new things and take risks, but she wasn’t a foolish girl. Olivia knew those qualities would serve her well later on in life.

  “What’s for dinner, Mommy?”

  “I think I’m going to make some homemade pasta. Would you like to help? I think eight years old is plenty old enough to get started learning how to cook, don’t you?”

  “Yes!” said Kate enthusiastically, jumping off her swing. “I want to help!”

  “Well all right then. The Henry ladies are in for a night of domesticity.”

  “Of what?”

  Olivia kissed her daughter on the forehead. “Of learning how to be a good wife.”

  They walked towards the family minivan and Kate buckled herself into the front seat. She hoped that she would get to wear an apron while they cooked. As Olivia pulled the car out of the parking lot, Kate peered out the window at a couple sitting at a picnic table. The man had his hand high up on the woman’s leg and they were kissing. Kate wrinkled her nose at such a gross display of affection, but her expression changed to horror as the couple separated just enough for Kate to see their faces. The man sitting there at the picnic table kissing that woman was her father.

  ~~~~~

  Kate and Darren walked barefoot through the park towards the swing set. They sat down on the swings facing opposite directions so they could see each other.

  “Okay Kate Henry, tell the truth. How many dresses did you try on tonight before choosing this one?”

  “Actually, only one other. It was between this and a nun’s habit that I had left over from Halloween. It was a tough decision, but this dress barely beat the habit. Although I did toy with the idea of putting it on over this dress just to scare you when you came to the door.”

  “That would have been epic. I’m actually disappointed you didn’t do that.”

  “Maybe next time,” she replied with a grin.

  “So…you’re saying there should be a next time?” he asked cautiously.

  She hadn’t even really considered that question before she had made her comment about there being a next time. Maybe she should have thought it through a little more before blurting that out. Stalling for time, she asked, “Do you think there should be a next time?”

  Darren grabbed the chain of Kate’s swing and pulled her closer to him so that they were facing each other. “Well, why shouldn’t there be?”

  Suddenly very aware how close she was to Darren, Kate spoke softly. “I can’t think of a single reason.”

  “I can only think of one thing right now,” he said.

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  “This.”

  He pulled her even closer and planted his lips on her own in a very deliberate kiss.

  Chapter 12

  “Come on,” Amy hissed from her seat next to Kate in church the next morning. “I need details!”

  “Shh, the service is about to start,” said Kate, enjoying how much this withholding of information was torturing Amy. Darren walked onto the stage and took his place behind the keyboard. Kate smiled as she watched Darren in his element. He had a wonderful presence on stage, and had developed such a great way of leading the congregation into worship without being too showy or self-gratifying. It was such a blessing to be able to see a friend living out something that was so obviously his calling.

  “Fine, be that way,” said Amy. “I’ll get it out of you eventually. I always do.”

  Kate knew her friend was right, but she knew she could keep the torture up for a little while longer.

  After the service was over and the pastor had given the benediction, people got up and started to file out of the church. As she tried to stand, Amy pulled her back down by her wrist. “Uh-uh. Spill it. Now.”

  Kate knew that it would be several minutes before Darren had packed up his gear and was ready to leave, so she acquiesced. Pulling her legs up under her, she turned towards Amy. “Well, we actually had a really good time. I mean, it’s me and Darren. Of course we had fun! We went to The Woods, and he wore a tie and brought me flowers, and after dinner we just hung out in the park like a couple of kids. Great conversation, lots of laughs, and overall fantastic date.”

  “Yes!” exclaimed Amy, giving her a high five. “That’s what I like to hear.”

  “I’m so glad you approve.”

  “I know. But Kate, you didn’t volunteer the most important detail.”

  “Oh, right. We had apple crisp for dessert, and it was delicious.”

  “Don’t start with me. Did he kiss you?”

  Kate raised an eyebrow, but before she had a chance to answer, Darren sauntered up the aisle. “Well hello, ladies. Did you enjoy the service?”

  “Of course we did,” said Kate. “I loved your song choices today.”

  “Thanks! I’m glad. So…are either of you hungry? Should we all go get lunch?”

  Amy looked at Darren and then back at Kate. “You know, I’m going to have to pass. Rick stayed home this morning with the boys because Todd’s got a little cold, so I should really get back and take care of them. You two go, though. Have fun.”

  “Kate? You up for some lunch?”

  “Of course,” she replied. “I’ll talk to you later, Amy. I hope Todd feels better soon.”

  “Thanks!” Amy gathered her purse and turned to walk towards the church entrance. “Have a great Sunday, you crazy kids.”

  Kate waved goodbye and looked up cautiously at Darren. “Hi.”

  “Hi,” he said with a hint of awkwardness. “Well…lunch? You want me to drive?”

  “Sure. Sounds good. Let’s go.”

  They walked out of the church in silence and still not a word was spoken as they got into the car and Darren began to drive. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, both began to speak at the exact same time.

  “Look, Darren, I think we need to talk about last night…“

  “Kate, you know, I’ve been thinking a lot about last night…“

  They both laughed and the awkwardness that had been hanging in the air was replaced with a familiar feeling of familiarity.

  “I guess we both have things to say,” said Darren, pulling the car over to the side of the road and turning it off. “Do you want to go first?”

  “Sure. Well, first of all, I really did have a great time last night. That was one of the most natural and easy dates I’ve ever been on.”

  “Are you calling me easy?”

  “Are you going to interrupt me every five seconds?”

  “Please continue.”

  “Okay. After you dropped me off at home last night I couldn’t sleep. I just had so much on my mind.”

  “Please tell me you didn’t buy a new kitchen gadget from a late night infomercial.”

  “Darren, I’m warning you!”

  “Sorry. I can’t help it. I’m genetically predisposed to make these types of comments.”

  “Don’t I know it. So I was tossing and turning and going over the date in my mind, and I kept coming back to the same thing. I couldn’t stop thinking about our kiss at the p
ark. That kiss was so…so…”

  “Wrong in every possible way?”

  “Yes!! Did you feel that way too?”

  Darren let out a great sigh of relief. “I did. I absolutely did. And I can’t tell you how glad I am to know you feel the same way.”

  “There was just nothing there! I felt like I was kissing a cousin or a brother or something!”

  “I know! And I’m an excellent kisser if I do say so myself, so that wasn’t the problem. I just think we have no romantic chemistry.”

  “It’s weird,” she said. “I kept trying to make it work in my mind. I mean, in theory we’re kind of perfect for each other. We’re such good friends, we crack each other up, and we’re both ridiculously attractive.”

  “And humble,” volunteered Darren.

  “Right, and humble. It just seems like we’d be a good match. But for whatever reason, we are so, so not.”

  “Well, at least we gave it a shot. Now we’ll never wonder if there could have been something there.”

  “You know, I was really worried that this was going to be a hard conversation and one of us was going to end up being hurt.”

  “I totally agree,” said Darren. “But I’ve gotta say, this is the best quasi-breakup I’ve ever experienced.”

  “We rule.”

  “We totally do.”

  “Can we go to lunch now?”

  “Have you ever known me to say no to food?”

  Darren started the car and began to drive again. After a minute, he shot a sideways glance at Kate. “This isn’t going to be weird, right?”

  “No,” said Kate with a grateful smile. “It’s not going to be weird at all. I think we completely understand each other, and I think this will only make our friendship stronger and more authentic.”

  “Kate Henry, you are something else.”

  “So I’m told.” She rested her head on Darren’s shoulder as they drove off in relief and contentment.

  ~~~~~

  “Come on, please. I never ask you for anything.”

  “That’s ridiculous, Amy. You ask me for things all the time. Daily, in fact,” said Kate.

  “Well, you always say yes, so why would I stop asking?”

  “Excellent point. Fine, okay, I’ll do it. But you owe me one.”

  “Yeah, sure, no problem. You ever need a kidney; I’m your girl.”

  “Um…thank you?”

  “So Parker needs to be at the soccer field by 1:15, so I’ll drop him off at your house around 12:45. Rick will be at swimming lessons with Todd, so you can call him if anything comes up.”

  “I can’t believe I’m taking your child to his soccer game so you can go have a spa day. I’m the best person I know.”

  “Brooke and I have been planning this day for months!”

  “I’m still offended that you didn’t invite me.”

  “Hello, we booked this when you were still in your Ian phase, remember? There’s no way you would have taken an entire Saturday afternoon for a spa day with the girls when you could have been spending it with Ian.”

  “Fine. You’re forgiven. But I’m still the best person I know.”

  “Who’s arguing? I’ll see you soon.”

  Kate shook her head as she hung up the phone. I’m such a pushover, she thought. But she really didn’t mind. She had planned to do some laundry and grocery shopping that afternoon, but those chores could wait. Spending time with Parker was something to which she just couldn’t say no.

  Amy dropped Parker off at Kate’s as promised, and Kate made sure he made it to his soccer game on time. “Go kick some butt!” she yelled after him as he ran out onto the field. Parker was on the small size for his age and had never been particularly athletic, but he enjoyed any sort of team sport so much that his excess of heart made up for his lack of skill.

  Kate settled into the collapsible chair that she had lugged with her from the car. She pulled a bottle of water and a cooking magazine out of her purse, but made sure to look up every so often to wave at Parker and to cheer on his team.

  “Which one is yours?”

  She hadn’t noticed that a woman with curly blonde hair who looked about in her mid-thirties had set up a chair near Kate’s.

  “Which one? Oh, well I’m here with that one. Number four,” Kate replied, pointing at Parker, who was running furiously to try and catch up with the ball, but was being outrun but several taller boys.

  “Cute kid,” the woman said. “Mine’s Andy. The goalie. I love him to pieces, but he has been getting on my last nerve recently. I think he’s just at that age when he likes to be in charge and doesn’t like to be told what to do.”

  “Do any of us ever really grow into liking being told what to do?” asked Kate with a chuckle, enjoying the casual way this stranger had struck up a conversation.

  “Well, no. But eventually we grow up and have no one to stop us from eating too much dessert or staying up too late at night. It really is a vicious cycle; this life. By the time you’re able to do the things you enjoy, you don’t enjoy them anymore because you’re too old. I mean, I would kill for an ice cream sandwich right now. But then I would want to kill myself next time I go bathing suit shopping. See? Vicious.”

  “It’s an absolute tragedy, if you ask me.” She put down her magazine and stuck out her hand. “My name is Kate.”

  “Janie. Nice to meet you, Kate.” They women both cheered as Andy blocked a shot attempted by the rival team. “So number four is your son? He’s adorable. What’s his name?”

  Kate hesitated for just a moment. Sure, it would have been easy to explain that she was just doing his mother a favor by bringing him to the game. People got babysitters all the time; Janie would definitely understand that. But when she said the word babysitter, she always thought of a 14-year-old girl who makes seven dollars an hour playing Candy Land and making friendship bracelets. Kate was a grown woman, for crying out loud! But somehow it was hard to explain her relationship with Rick and Amy’s kids with other people. She wasn’t just some random person; she truly was part of the family. She didn’t need another person being sympathetic after finding out she was a glorified babysitter in her late twenties with no real family of her own, and no prospects for one either. Even still, she was surprised to hear the words come out of her mouth.

  “My son’s name is Parker. And I so hear you about the whole control thing. Parker can be a bit bossy with his younger brother Todd. Todd hasn’t really gotten to the point yet where he pushes back, but once he does…well, that will be an interesting day.”

  “It’s just so hard to be a mom sometimes. I’ve got five of my own, you know.”

  “Five??”

  “I know. I don’t look a day over twenty-one. That’s what you’re thinking, right?” Janie replied in a joking tone.

  “I was thinking more like seventeen. But five, really? Wow. That’s impressive.”

  “I know. We started young, and we have one set of twins, and before I knew it I had a small army of children living in my house. Some mornings I wake up and have to remind myself that this is really my life. Apparently I grew up and learned how to be responsible for five little lives, although I don’t remember when that happened.”

  “Well, I’m impressed. Really. Sounds like you were just designed to be a mom.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that. But you just roll with what life gives you, you know? You step up to the plate and do what you have to do. And you know what the best part is? It’s totally worth it. Every time one of my kids tells me they love me, I know that my life has meaning and that I’m a part of something important.”

  Kate’s heart plummeted upon hearing Janie’s words. She had struggled for so long with the idea that her life had no meaning until she had someone to share it with and someone to take care of. Surrounded by parents and children on the soccer field that day, she had never felt more alone in her life.

  Chapter 13

  “Look, Kate, we’re not going to take no for an a
nswer. I already spoke to Grandma Meredith, and she said you can have the whole weekend off. Now start packing! Oh, and also, do you think you can make your chicken salad that I love so much tonight? The one with the grapes and pecans? I thought we could eat outside on the patio and…”

  Kate cut Amy off before she could jabber on any further. “Say no to what? What am I packing for? Whose patio are we eating chicken salad on?”

  “We’re going to Rick’s parents’ vacation house in Virginia Beach for the weekend! My parents are watching the kids, Darren and Brooke are coming, and it’s going to be so fun!” said Amy. Kate could tell from the sound of dresser drawers opening and closing that Amy was in her bedroom, undoubtedly with clean clothes strewn all over the bed, trying to decide what to pack.

  “You said you spoke to Meredith? Wow, you’ve really thought this through.” Kate heard grunts and laughed at the thought of Amy half under her bed trying to reach the mate of her favorite pair of flip flops.

  “So it’s all settled then. We’ll swing by and pick you up at 11.”

  “Yeah, why not? I could use a weekend away,” said Kate, suddenly excited about the idea of lying on the beach and listening to the surf crash against the shore.

  “Great! Don’t forget sunscreen. I’d rather you be pasty than die of skin cancer,” said Amy.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Oh, I almost forgot – Darren’s brother Ben is coming with us too,” said Amy, who was now apparently pulling her rolling suitcase down the hardwood stairs in her house.

  “What? I thought he lived up north somewhere,” said Kate, trying to remember the conversation she had once with Darren about his younger brother. He was a…what had Darren said? Dentist? Environmentalist?

  “He does. Up in DC. Apparently he’s been in Raleigh for a couple of days at some sort of journalism…” (Journalist! Not even close, Kate thought.) “conference and he was planning on spending the weekend here with Darren. Darren wouldn’t agree to come with us unless I invited his brother along, so I did. The more the merrier, right?” said Amy.