“Hello? Kate? Waffles?” said Amy with a sly smile.
She looked up. “Oh. Right. Sure. Waffles. Let’s make some waffles.”
“Ben, why don’t you go…go…take a shower!” said Brooke. “Let the womenfolk make breakfast for all of you men.” It was a poorly veiled attempt to get Ben to leave the room so the girls could get the scoop from Kate.
Ben complied and headed off to his room. When he was safely out of earshot, before the other girls could speak, Kate took a deep breath and said quickly, “Okay-don’t-even-ask-me-what-is-happening-because-I-have-no-idea-and-I-don’t-know-what-I’m-thinking-and-I’m-not-sure-what-this-means-and…” She trailed off to nothingness.
“AND?” squealed the girls.
“And…he thinks I’m amazing,” she said. Her whole face lit up. Even her eyes had a joy in them that hadn’t been there for a long time.
Amy and Brooke started talking a mile a minute, trying to analyze what this all meant and arguing over who knew first that Kate and Ben would hit is off. Kate just smiled and stirred the waffle batter, remembering how good it felt to be in Ben’s arms.
Chapter 15
The friends had breakfast out on the patio, since it was turning into another lovely day that was just begging to be enjoyed. Ben and Kate secretly held hands under the table as everyone ate and laughed. Amy started the perfect man/perfect woman game, which always left them in tears.
“Perfect man, but every time you ask him what time it is, he lies,” said Amy.
“Perfect woman, but she has feet for hands and hands for feet,” offered Rick.
“Perfect woman, but she wears burlap from head to toe every Tuesday and Thursday,” said Darren.
“Okay, perfect man, but he has this weird compulsion to wear tap shoes and dance when he walks up and down the stairs at your house,” chimed in Kate.
“So what does he do when his tap shoes are upstairs and he’s downstairs?” asked Darren.
She considered the valid question and said, “Well…obviously, he owns multiple pairs. He keeps them in baskets at the top and bottom of the stairs.”
At this suggestion, the group burst out in laughter. Since no one could top it, they began to clean up from breakfast and get ready for a day at the beach.
The group stepped out onto the beach armed with towels, chairs, and a cooler of drinks. Kate was wearing her wide brimmed hat and had lathered up with SPF 70. (“You will not attack me today!” she yelled up at the sun, shaking her fist.) They stopped at a spot halfway between the house and the shore and set up camp. Rick and Ben took off with a frisbee, Amy and Brooke went down to the ocean to put their feet in the water (and undoubtedly gossip about Kate and Ben), and Kate plopped down on a chair beside Darren, who had opened up the latest legal thriller bestseller that he brought to read.
“Darren? Can…can I talk to you?” said Kate.
“Sure. What’s up?” replied Darren, still focused on his book.
“Um…well…so, I don’t know exactly how to say this, but…I mean…”
Darren could sense that this was a conversation that needed his full attention. He put down his book and turned his chair to face his friend. “Talk to me, Kate Henry. What’s going on?”
“Well, you see, I think there’s something happening between…between me and your brother.”
Darren stared at her for a moment, but his expression did not change. “Oh really? You just met yesterday and all of a sudden something is happening between you? Wait, I get it. The two of you teamed up and are playing a prank on me. Nice try, but I’m not that stupid.” Darren smiled and picked up his book again.
“Darren?” said Kate.
Darren looked up and saw from the look in her eyes that this was no prank.
“I’m being serious,” she said.
“Okay…wow. So…wow.” said Darren, speechless.
“I know.”
“Start from the beginning. How did this happen?”
Kate began to describe to him how Ben had found her phone number and lured her out of bed that morning with the promise of coffee and how they had walked on the beach. She didn’t go into too much detail, but told Darren just enough to fill him in on the events that had transpired. When she had finished, Darren had a big goofy grin on his face.
“You know, I wondered if this would happen!” he exclaimed. “When I realized that the two of you would both be on this trip together, I knew you would become fast friends. Of course, I didn’t think you’d get this friendly this fast,” Kate smacked him on the back of the head, “but I’m so excited! I think it would be so great if you got together.”
“This isn’t…weird for you, right? I mean, I know we’ve been great ever since The Great Two Day Romance of Darren and Kate, but you’d tell me if this wasn’t okay. Wouldn’t you?”
“I absolutely would tell you. And I’m being totally serious. I love the idea of you and Ben together, and it’s not weird for me at all.”
“Okay, I’m glad to hear that. Because I would walk away from this if it was going to jeopardize our friendship. Seriously.”
“Well I should hope so! I expect you to care about my feelings above all else,” he said with a wink.
“I do have a question for you actually,” said Kate. “You know how cautious I’ve been since everything that happened with Ian. Now, from what I can tell, your brother is a great guy, but I don’t want to be naïve. I just met him yesterday and I barely know him. He’s obviously very charming, so I want to know if you think he’s being sincere, or if he’s just looking for a weekend fling?”
Darren replied, “Ben hasn’t had a girlfriend for the past couple of years, and I don’t hear him talk about girls very often. I think he’s been really focusing on his work. Now I know he’s a charming guy, but Kate, you need to know that Ben is one of the best guys I know. I mean that. You know how much I care about you, and I wouldn’t tell you that if I didn’t believe that his actions and words are sincere.
“You deserve to be happy,” Darren continued, putting his hand on top of Kate’s, “and there’s nothing I’d rather see than you and Ben get together. I think you’re perfect for each other.”
She was overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions. With such a resounding endorsement from Darren, whom she trusted with her life, what did she have to be afraid of? Maybe she would actually be able to open herself up to another man. Maybe he was a good enough man to take the gift of her heart and be gentle with it. But this was ridiculous. She had just met him less than 24 hours ago! Kate laughed and shook her head for letting her thoughts get ahead of her, and was brought back to reality when Darren spoke.
“You know, there is one big thing to consider, though,” he said with a serious tone and a straight face. “My brother Ben is a major slob. I know how much you like things neat and tidy, so that’s something you’re going to need to work through before you start making wedding plans.”
Kate scooped up a handful of ice from the nearby cooler and felt completely satisfied upon hearing the screech Darren let out when that handful of ice was suddenly down the back of his shirt. Darren grabbed his own handful to retaliate, but as Kate curled up into a little ball to try to protect herself from the impending attack, Darren laughed, let the ice slip through his fingers, and said, “You see? We were meant to be brother and sister.”
~~~~~
“Jacob, what are you still doing here? Didn’t I tell you not to work on Friday nights? You should be out having fun.”
Jacob wiped the sweat from his brow and continued to tend to the vegetable patch that he was bent over. “I think growing vegetables is fun, Mrs. Henry.”
“Well so do I, but I’m a fifty-four-year-old woman. How old are you?”
“Thirty-one.”
“Thirty-one. A thirty-one-year-old single man who would rather spend time with vegetables than try and find a wife. You’re not normal.”
Jacob chuckled at Olivia’s bluntness. “That’s very true. I’m almost done here
. I won’t spend my entire Friday night with vegetables, I promise.”
“Oh? So you have big plans later? A hot date, perhaps?”
“Nope, sorry to disappoint. I’ll probably grill up some dinner and play some chess with my dad.”
“Have you ever grilled squash before?”
“No ma’am, can’t say that I have.”
“Come inside. Let me give you a recipe for grilled squash that is to die for. Go ahead and pick a couple to take with you,” she said, pointing to the bed of yellow squash that had just ripened just enough for picking earlier in the week.
Jacob followed Olivia inside the house and poured himself a tall glass of lemonade as she dug through a pile of recipe cards. “Aha, I found it!” she said. She copied down the recipe and handed it to Jacob. “The seasoning makes all the difference. You let me know how you and your dad like it.”
“Thank you.” Jacob took a long sip from his glass of lemonade. “It’s not that I don’t ever want to get married, you know.”
“Oh?” asked Olivia nonchalantly, because she knew that seeming too interested wasn’t the right way to encourage Jacob to open up. She had learned a lot about the young man over the months that he had been working for her, little by little.
“Of course I want a wife and a family. But I just don’t know if it’s in the cards for me. Maybe I’m too picky, but it just seems like there are no good and honest women out there. Everyone woman whom I’ve met recently just seems so shallow. I don’t know, somehow I would just rather be alone than be with someone who is less than amazing.”
“Good for you for not wanting to settle,” said Olivia. “Keep the faith, son. She’s out there for you.”
Jacob put his empty glass in the sink. “Thanks for the lemonade. And the recipe. And the squash. You know, I can’t remember a time when I’ve left your house empty handed.”
“That’s the way I like it.”
“I’ll be seeing you.” Jacob walked out the back door and got into his truck, dropping his handful of yellow squash on the seat next to him. I don’t know, he thought. Maybe I’m just better off alone.
~~~~~
As the men finished up the dishes from a late dinner as their punishment for being on the losing team the previous night, the woman sat around the table over tall cold glasses of sweet tea. When the last dish was dried and put away, Rick came over to the table and grabbed his wife’s hand.
“Let’s go to bed, babe,” said Rick.
Amy hopped up from her seat and said, with a wink, “Yes, sir!” The couple walked off and Brooke got up from her seat and said, “I’m a little tired myself. I think I’ll go read in bed.” Darren, realizing that he was alone in the room with Ben and Kate, started to back away toward his room. “Yeah…reading. I am also going to do the reading…I mean…read…my book. I’m going to read my book!”
Ben and Kate found themselves alone in the main room of the house. It was so quiet; the only sounds they could hear were the waves lightly crashing against the shore and the breeze tickling the wind chimes on the patio. Kate and Ben both stared out the french doors leading out to the patio at the beach, neither one daring to speak first.
Still gazing out the window, Ben broke the silence. “Should we watch a movie?”
“Sure,” she replied.
“You pick the movie,” said Ben. “I’ll go and get us some water.” He returned from the kitchen with two tall glasses of water and sat down in the middle of the couch. Once Kate had started the movie, he motioned for her to come and sit next to him. She took her spot on the couch next to him and he immediately put his arm around her. They sat there staring at the TV for at least an hour, while Kate leaned against his body and Ben caressed her arm and played with her hair. Ben leaned forward and took a big gulp from his glass of water and picked up the remote to turn down the volume on the television. “So, I heard you had a little conversation with Darren today,” he said casually.
Kate’s heart jumped in her chest but she tried to remain calm on the outside. She didn’t want Ben to see that she was embarrassed.
“Yes… yes I did.”
“I can’t believe you don’t trust me!” exclaimed Ben. “Do you think I’m not being sincere?”
She sighed and thought about what she wanted to say. She was determined to be honest with Ben. Her hesitation in telling Ian how she was feeling was part of what led to the disaster that ended their friendship. Taking in a deep breath, she turned on the couch to face him and sat cross-legged. “Ben, you’ve got to understand something. I just met you yesterday. Yesterday! I don’t trust some people that I’ve known for years, and now all of a sudden you’re in my life and I don’t know exactly how to handle it. Look, this isn’t something I normally do. I’ve never met someone who I liked so quickly and who liked me back and decided to actually do something about it. It’s all very sudden.”
Ben looked confused. “What are you saying? Are you saying this is too fast?”
“No, Ben. It’s perfect. I think that’s why it’s so scary. It’s…it’s like a dream. I’m afraid I’ll wake up from this weekend and you’ll be a distant memory.”
“That’s not going to happen,” said Ben, looking insulted.
“But don’t you see? How am I supposed to know that? That’s exactly why I talked to your brother. I wanted to find out what kind of person you are. I give my heart away too quickly, and I need to protect myself.”
Ben nodded and looked at the floor.
“But…” Kate continued, “… I feel like I can trust you. Darren had nothing but wonderful things to say about you. And I don’t know how to describe it, but I just feel like you’re a good and decent person. That’s why I’m here with you now. And I don’t do this. I don’t meet men one day and wind up cuddling on the couch with them the day after. It’s just not me. So please understand that this means something to me.”
Ben looked deep into her eyes. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Kate,” he said. “Look, you’re not the only one who’s scared. I may seem confident on the outside, but I’ve been hurt badly by women in the past and I have a hard time believing in anyone. Women will send me all these signals and allow me to get close to them, but as soon as I say that I want anything more, they tell me they just want to be friends. Women can be so manipulative and cruel.”
“Ben. Listen to me. I am not one of those women. I’ve learned that being honest and straightforward is the best way to live. There is nothing I want more in this world than to be a support and a companion to that one special man who’s out there for me. I have no desire to be one of those women you’re talking about. I know what I want, and when I find the person I want and can believe in, you better believe that I’ll never leave his side.”
Ben ran his fingers through her hair and looked deep into her eyes. “I can’t believe that a person like you exists.”
He took her face in his hands and kissed her gently. It had been so long since she had felt the warmth of a truly passionate kiss, and the simple fact that she trusted this man made the kiss better than any kiss she remembered. She let go of all of her fear and her worries and allowed herself to get lost in the moment.
Chapter 16
Kate awoke before the sun came up. She looked up and saw Ben, fast asleep. They had both fallen asleep on opposite ends of the couch. Not wanting to be seen by the others, she gingerly lifted herself off of the couch and tried not to disturb Ben. “I’m going to go back to my room,” she whispered when he stirred slightly. “Keep sleeping.” She kissed him on the forehead and stared at his peaceful face for a moment before tiptoeing off down the hall.
As she slipped into the bed that she and Brooke were sharing for the weekend, she heard Brooke grunt from a half-asleep stupor.
“Kate? Is that you? What time is it?”
“Shh, it’s me,” Kate replied. “It’s almost five o’clock. Go back to sleep.”
“Almost five…five in the morning?” said Brooke, slowly gaining consciousness
and becoming more coherent.
“Yes,” said Kate.
“Have you been with Ben this whole time?” Brooke hissed.
“Well, yes,” she said sheepishly. “It was perfectly innocent!” Her tone turned indignant when she saw the look on Brooke’s face.
“Uh huh. Come on. Details.”
Kate proceeded to tell Brooke about what had just transpired. She told Brooke how they talked about both being scared, how they seemed to find a mutual trust in each other, and of course, about the incredible kiss. “It didn’t go any further than kissing, though. You know I’m not like that,” Kate said. “It was so amazing, Brooke. We stayed up until three just talking and cuddling. I didn’t want to fall asleep because I didn’t want the night to ever end.” Kate looked up at the ceiling with a love struck expression on her face.
Brooke covered her face with a pillow and let out a girly squeal. “This is so amazing! It’s so romantic! I can’t believe this is happening to you!”
“Neither can I,” said Kate with a happy sigh. “Neither can I.” And with a crooked smile on her face, she pulled the covers over her and went to sleep.
~~~~~
After enjoying a late brunch that morning, the group of friends packed up the car and started driving back towards reality. Kate wished she could stay at the beach house forever. The seating arrangement was a little different in the car on the trip home than it was just two short days ago. Kate and Ben sat in the back seat holding hands, both fast asleep within minutes of leaving the beach house.
“So what do we think about the backseat twitterpation?” said Amy, turning around in her seat to face Brooke and Darren.
“Shhh!” hissed Brooke. “They’re going to hear us talking about them.”
“Honey, they are dead asleep,” said Amy. “Here, watch. Yo, Kate! Ben! I’ll give you a billion dollars if you wake up.”
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