A Touch of Passion (boxed set romance bundle)

by Uvi Poznansky

  “Something smells good,” she said.

  “Dinner was delicious,” Betsy Agin said. “I outdid myself this year if I do say so. I might have another bite with you.”

  Preparing plates stacked with goodness, the women sat across the small kitchen table from each other.

  “So, any more thoughts about your adventure tomorrow?” Betsy asked, trying not to live vicariously through her daughter. “I keep thinking how different it is now with the internet.”

  “I can’t think of anything else. It’s probably unrealistic to think a woman can find a mate for her husband.”

  “Oh, don’t be too sure about that. I just have a feeling about it. I’m sorry about the circumstances, though.”

  “Yes, me too. I really like her. I’ve never known anyone who was dying. It’s scary to think I might be around when it happens.”

  “How would that unfold?” Betsy asked, concerned.

  “Well, if our friendship develops, I’d want to be helpful during that time. I can’t even believe we’re talking about something so sad.”

  “Yes, sorry. Eat up! This stuffing is fabulous.”

  ❋

  Thanksgiving dinner at the Jones house long over, Harley’s sisters and Maryanne headed for home, while a football game on in the living room monopolized the TV. The men shouted for their team, while Bea sat in a recliner quilting, the older girls sprawled on the floor, rooting for the opposing team. It was not going to be pretty at the end of the game.

  Harley, Tina and Devon lay in bed, watching a Disney movie. Soon, Devon fell asleep. Harley took the opportunity to ask Tina about Albie.

  “Are you getting serious?”

  “We really aren’t, Mom,” Tina answered. “He’s kissed me, but that’s it. Anyway, I don’t feel ready to have an intense relationship with any guy, let alone Albie.”

  Hiding her relief, Harley wanted her to continue talking about it, but she’d stopped, pensive. “You’ll know when it’s the right guy. I mean, you’ve already proven that.”

  “Mom, right now all I want is for you to get better,” she said, biting her lip. “I don’t even want to think about dating or guys. It’s meaningless.” Harley hid her smile, patting Tina’s hand.

  “You won’t always feel that way, I promise you. Someday you’ll meet the right man and want it to be as intense as it can be.”

  “Did you feel that way about Dad?” she asked.

  “Oh, my yes. It was intense. I saw him and I wanted to have his babies.”

  Tina burst out laughing. “Mom, is this something I need to hear?”

  “How much do you want to know about us?” Harley asked, watching her intently.

  “I guess all of it,” she said, understanding she might soon lose the chance to hear her mother’s side of their romance.

  Harley wanted her girls to know everything there was to know about her before she died, but maybe the story of how she and Jason got together was better saved for the journal. Harley decided to tell her about the journals she was writing for each girl.

  “Mom, that’s so nice of you. You can write down all your memories about Dad for me. But anything you want to tell me now I’ll listen, as long as it isn’t too personal.”

  “Okay, I promise to keep it clean,” Harley said, laughing. “So should I start now?”

  Tina nodded her head, watching her mother speak. It felt odd to think of her parents separate from the family; it was like hearing a story about strangers.

  “We met at work. I think that’s why not going to work has been so strange for me. It was part of my relationship with your dad. Anyway, he’d already worked there for a few years when I transferred to the recovery room. I’ll never forget the first time I saw him.”

  “Dad’s so handsome,” Tina said.

  “Everyone told me to check him out when he brought his patient in. I was standing at the bedside taking care of my patient when he came in. ‘Harley, there’s Jason.’ I looked up and just as I did, he looked at me, caught my eye and smiled.” The memory made Harley smile.

  “Later he told me everyone back in the OR told him to check me out. We were in the break room having coffee later in the day and he asked me out. I was worried he was a player. You know, maybe he’d already dated everyone else. But the other nurses in recovery assured me that few of the nurses were single, and those that were pined away for him but he never asked them on a date.”

  “Where’d you go on your first date?” Tina asked.

  “We stayed in the city. There was a photography exhibit at a gallery in Chestnut Hill. We took the train up from Thirtieth Street Station. We both lived in town at the time, I lived right by the hospital with Aunt Melissa, and Dad lived by the art museum.”

  “Was it love at first sight?” Tina asked, giggling.

  “Almost,” Harley said. “I never thought of myself as attracting a real handsome guy, so that took some getting used to.”

  “Why? You’re gorgeous, Mom,” Tina said emphatically.

  “Do you think so?” Harley teased, rubbing her hand over her cap covered head.

  “Yes, I do. What kind of men did you date before Dad?”

  Harley could see her self-deprecating attitude was not good for Tina. She needed to lay off the Cinderella/Handsome Prince story about her first dates with Jason. Was it even true? Or had she conjured up the story to build his ego?

  “Just regular guys,” Harley answered. “I didn’t date that much. But I never went out with anyone as handsome as Jason. There aren’t that many around.”

  “No, there really isn’t,” Tina said, leaning against Harley. “I’m lucky to have such good looking parents. So how was the date?”

  “It was good. We took the train up to Chestnut Hill and walked around, it was early fall and there were a lot of tourists and sightseers. The fall is my favorite time of year and it was special being with him during that time. We went to the apple orchard for cider for our second date, and to flea markets in Lancaster. By Christmas, we knew we wanted to get married as soon as we could swing it.

  “Everyone at work came to our wedding. They felt responsible for introducing us,” Harley said.

  All of her friends were nurses from work. She could clear up the Tiffany question with a quick call to Joan, but pride held her back. Asking would reveal that she had doubts about Jason, and her loyalty to him wouldn’t allow that sort of slight. Talking with Kathy Agin was already filling some of the void missing her work friends had left.

  “Do you miss going to work?”

  “No, I love being home,” Harley said emphatically. “But I miss my friends. We never saw each other that often outside of work because we’re all busy with our lives. It was nice seeing them everyday. That’s what I miss. I’m so happy I get to be home with you girls.”

  “Mom, we’re in school all day. It’s never been a problem for us having you work.” Harley hugged her.

  “Thank you, Tina. That means a lot. Working mothers always feel guilty,” she said. “By the way, I have new a friend coming to visit tomorrow. We’re going to knit together if you want to join us.” Tina was an avid knitter already.

  “Okay, we’ll see.” She scooted to the edge of the bed. “I’m going to see if that game is over yet. It’s time for a snack.”

  Getting out of bed, Harley covered Devon up, as the final touchdown sent the living room group into a frenzy, the perfect ending to Thanksgiving Day.

  Black Friday morning, Harley woke up with a case of nerves. Meeting Kathy Agin and her daughter, Laura would make the plan of finding a wife and mother for her family real. She took as much time preparing as if she were going on a special date with Jason. Watching Jason dress out of the corner of her eye, she was relieved when he chose decent clothing for his fishing trip, not wanting him to look like a homeless man the first time Kathy met him.

  The older girls would look fine in their casual clothes. She dressed Devon spiffily, her hair in two pigtails, perfect socks and new sneakers. “You l
ook just like a princess today!”

  Aware Devon might question Laura’s appearance if she was obviously different, Harley found the courage to ask Kathy about it and she put her fears to rest. “We have a rote narrative about Downs if anyone asks. Trust me, little Devon’s questions at age six are preferable to having to explain it to nosey adults.”

  Forcing breakfast down with Fran hovering at her back, it took all of Harley’s strength not to keep looking at the clock on the wall. Insisting she’d wash up from breakfast, the task took the rest of the time before Kathy was due to arrive at ten. Finally, she heard the car on the gravel.

  Driving slowly on the shoulder of the parkway, Kathy came to the sign for the campground. Nerves getting the best of her, she’d considered calling Harley and canceling at the last minute. If she concentrated on meeting Harley to knit and not the ulterior reason, she calmed down. Coming to the end of the gravel path, she saw the trees Harley described, towering oaks, a huge willow, and pine trees surrounding a colonial blue-sided cottage, typical for these shore town campgrounds. It looked newer; Harley had said the family had the same spot for years, so it probably replaced a lineage of vacation trailers. Tarnished galvanized washtubs on either side of the driveway held small pine trees, such a welcoming touch.

  An autumn tableau greeted her as she pulled next to an SUV; on a wide covered porch, various sized pumpkins and gourds arranged with precision, large, colorful kale plants, and huge pots of chrysanthemums in yellow, white and magenta stacked on both sides of the steps made a beautiful display.

  A sign that a family with children resided there; a construction paper pilgrim and Indian, taped to the front door with a gaudy cardboard sign which spelled out Happy Thanksgiving.

  “Oh, here’s my friend, Kathy,” Harley said calmly observing from the window, as if her heart wasn’t ready to pop out of her chest. Bea came up beside her and they watched together.

  Surprised at Kathy’s fresh scrubbed look, Harley was pleased. Tall, slender and thankfully, flat-chested, Kathy Agin had long, thin pale straw colored hair pulled into a ponytail, a smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose that gave her a youthful appearance, and not a smidgen of makeup. The little girl didn’t look anything like her mother, short and chubby; she had thick, curly black hair and olive skin. It was clear she was excited, stopping to look at the pumpkins, skipping alongside her mother to the door. Harley opened up to greet her before she had a chance to knock.

  “Kathy?” she asked, having to look up at her to make eye contact, suddenly self-conscious of her cap-covered bald head.

  “Yes! Harley?” she asked, stepping forward with her hand outstretched. Harley took her hand and pumped it, relieved.

  “Come in! We’re ready to knit,” Harley said, stepping aside. “My little girl Devon is excited to meet you, Laura.”

  Little Laura, suddenly shy, smiled, but clung to Kathy’s hand. “She’s talked of nothing else but meeting Devon,” Kathy said.

  Hearing her name, Devon came out into the family room to meet the newcomers and immediately took Laura under her wing, not commenting on her distinctive eyes.

  “My Barbie dolls are here in the corner,” she said. “We can play if you want.” Laura followed Devon to the other side of the room where they would immerse themselves in make believe for the next two hours.

  “This is my sister-in-law, Bea,” Harley said introducing the women. “She’s joining the knitting group.”

  “I’ll quilt while you knit,” Bea replied.

  It felt strained and unnatural for a minute while Bea took Kathy and Laura’s coats and hung them up. Kathy launched right in, breaking the ice. “I brought my afghan. With the holiday I haven’t had much chance to work on it so this is good.” She pulled a beautiful lacy project out of her bag. “It’s all yarn overs and knit-two-togethers. You’ll see. What are you working on?”

  The women shared their projects while they settled into the family room on the large sofa. Harley put her feet up while she knit, the women making small talk, getting to know one another. It wasn’t a time to share intimacies because Fran was in and out of the room, checking on Harley and bringing refreshments to the women while keeping Michael out of Devon and Laura’s hair.

  Curiosity got the best of the older girls and soon they came out from their bedrooms to meet Kathy. Harley realized she was holding her breath as each of her daughters stepped forward to shake hands. Bea’s girls came, too and Harley was worried Kathy would lose track of who was who, becoming overwhelmed at the number of teen girls.

  “The brunettes are my girls,” Bea said, clarifying. “The red head, raven haired and blond are Harley and Jason’s.”

  “Okay, gotcha,” Kathy said, laughing. “That’ll make it easier to keep track of.”

  Time flew by and at noon, Kathy looked at her watch. “I better head back to my mother’s house. I have to work tonight.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry you have to leave already,” Harley said. In a whisper, “I was hoping Jason would return from the fishing trip.”

  “Harl, I hear the truck,” Bea said, going to the window as Joe’s pickup truck towing the fishing boat pulled into the yard. “Yep, here they are, probably smelling like bait and fish.”

  Harley kept one eye on Kathy, watching her reaction. Her pale skin was flushed and she was trying not to fidget, wanting to jump up off the couch and run to the window to look out.

  The men’s voices got louder as they worked their way to the house. Excitement building, Kathy gripped the edge of the couch. Joe came through first, handsome and older; she assumed this was the dad. Then a shorter man, it must be the brother Dave, a character with wild curly hair, laughing at a joke Jason had told.

  Finally, Jason walked through the door. Harley just smiled. There he was, in all his fabulousness. Curious, he looked right at Kathy and smiled at her, confusing her for a moment. Had Harley told Jason she was going to visit? Or was he always so welcoming? She thought back through their conversations about Jason and Harley had said he was friendly but not outgoing.

  The situation awkward, of which Jason was unaware, Harley felt like she was going to pass out, anxiety intense. He’d made eye contact with Kathy and then turned to his wife, bending down to kiss her.

  “How’s my girl?” he asked. “I know, I smell like fish.”

  “Does that mean we’re having fish for dinner?” Bea asked.

  “It does. I need volunteers to clean,” Dave said, watching his brother kiss Harley, so hugging Bea.

  “You know I don’t do fish,” Bea said.

  “Jason, this is my knitting friend, Kathy,” Harley said at last. Jason reached over to take her hand.

  “Hi, knitting friend, Kathy. Nice to meet you. I hope this means some of that stash is going to get used up.” He blanched right away, paranoid about everything that came out of his mouth.

  “Everyone’s getting an afghan for Christmas,” Harley answered, not offended at all.

  “You’d better work fast then,” he said. “Christmas is four weeks away.”

  “Don’t remind me,” Bea said, walking to the back of the house to enlist the girls for fish cleaning.

  “I clean fish,” Kathy said. “As a matter of fact, I used to work at Levy’s Fish Market.”

  “No way!” Dave exclaimed. “Well let’s go then.”

  “I might have to call in sick to work tonight,” Kathy said softly, winking at Harley. “Do you mind keeping an eye on Laura while I help out?”

  Harley smiled uncertainly, not sure that she wanted her to hang around all afternoon. Dave and Jason went back outside, followed by Kathy and the girls as Bea and Harley watched.

  “I don’t think I can handle this,” Harley said, sorry she’d ever started it. “Is she going to swoop in and take over?”

  “You don’t have to worry about her. She’s too homespun, with the plaid shirt and the jeans and cowboy boots,” Bea said objectionably. “Not Jason’s type.”

  “I expected someo
ne more glamorous because she works at the casino,” Harley said.

  “I don’t see her with Jason at all,” Bea confessed, surprising Harley.

  “Why not? I’m already picturing their children.”

  “Forget it. And look, she’s focusing all of her attention on the girls and ignoring the men.”

  It was true, Kathy was showing Tina how to hold the fish from the tail, running the scaler down its length, then washing the fish off and handing it off to Dave to fillet. Observing the interaction between the stranger and her daughters, Harley reminded herself why she invited Kathy; she was trying to find a substitute mother for her girls.

  After twenty minutes, they came back inside, chattering happily. The girls said goodbye to Kathy, returning to their individual pursuits.

  “I better really leave this time,” Kathy said. “I smell like fish now.” The women laughed, Harley relieved again. “Come on, Laura. We need to get back to Gran’s house so I can get ready for work.”

  The next minutes were spent coaxing a very reluctant Laura to leave the splendor of new dolls and a new friend, the women promising her she could come back again the next time the family was at Sea Isle.

  “We’ll talk again soon,” Harley said. “Goodbye, Laura. It was very nice to meet you.” Awkwardly, the women leaned in to hug.

  “Your girls are very cute,” Kathy said. “Thank you for having me.”

  Not wanting to drag out the goodbyes, Harley and Bea stayed inside and watched Kathy stop at the fish-cleaning table to speak briefly to the men, buckle Laura into her car seat, get in and drive away. Harley watched the car disappear past the other cottages with a strange mixture of relief and sadness.

  “So, how do you feel?” Bea asked, watching Harley closely. “It’s not as easy as you thought it was going to be, is it?”