Take the Cake

by Sandra Wright

  “Babycake,” he greeted her, gathering Kate into a sweaty hug despite her attempt to cringe out of the way. He looked past her to see Michael hesitating at the threshold and extended a calloused hand. “And you must be the Michael I keep hearing about. I’m—”

  “Paul,” Michael supplied, shaking the proffered hand with a broad grin. “Otherwise known as Brother Bear, right?”

  Paul’s eyebrows went up at that, and he looked down at the still squirming Kate. “You’ve brought him up to speed on the basics, I see.” He released Kate, giving her a gentle shove back toward Michael, a grin nearly splitting his face in two as she wiped her face with both hands.

  “Oh, God,” she declared in a disgusted voice. “Bear, that was too gross for a Sunday morning.” She plucked at her T-shirt and fluffed at her hair, feeling as if she had been doused in sweat. Paul chuckled in response.

  “Ah, c’mon, just having fun,” he said, reaching out to ruffle her hair as she ducked out of the way.

  “Hey, Kate,” Tom called, having put down the pipe and wiped himself down with a towel. “C’mere and give me some sugar.” He held out his arms and frowned when Kate hesitated before stepping forward for a quick hug. He stared at Michael and made a move to hold on to Kate for longer, but she wriggled out of his arms and stepped back toward the door where Michael was standing.

  “Tom,” she said, “I’d like you to meet Michael.” She met Michael’s eyes, silently pleading for understanding. Cursing inwardly, she realized that although she had told Michael about Tom, she hadn’t told him that Tom was still very much a fixture in her life.

  After a brief pause, Michael stepped forward to shake Tom’s hand. “Tom, Kate’s told me about you. It’s a pleasure.”

  “I’m sure,” Tom murmured, blatantly assessing and then dropping Michael’s hand and turning back toward the pipes as if he had lost all interest in the exchange. “Come on, Paul. I don’t have all day to get this done.”

  “It’s looking really good,” Kate said after an awkward pause, stepping forward to have a closer look. The wall Paul had chosen had a wooden lintel that ran the length of the space about three feet off the floor. It would make a perfect ‘rest’ for the magazines, once the pipes were bolted in to hold them flat against the wall. “You’re doing a great job, guys.”

  “You know what would really help us get this done quicker though, right?” Paul shot his sister a pleading look. Kate sighed and looked at her watch, and then at Michael.

  “Is that all you ever think with, your stomach?”

  “I’m sure he makes the occasional exception,” Tom replied in a dry tone, earning a snort from Paul.

  “If I’m going to do any baking, it’s going to have to be something quick,” Kate warned, and then turned to Michael with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry. I—”

  “No need for that,” Michael broke in smoothly. “Look at the work these guys are doing; they’re going to need rewarding.” He took her by the hands to gently tug her toward him and gave her a soft kiss. “I can see that you’ve got some catching up to do. How about I leave you guys to it, and I’ll see you later.”

  “Are you sure?” Kate shot a sidelong look at Tom who was making a show of ignoring them.

  “I’m sure,” Michael repeated, kissing her again. “Call me, okay?” He smiled at her, and then waved to Paul. “Great to meet you guys. We’ll catch up again soon.”

  “You know it,” Paul called. “Tom? Michael’s leaving.”

  Tom turned his head slightly and grunted, making Paul sigh loudly as Michael looked taken aback. “Ignore the bitch, Michael,” Paul said. “It was nice meeting you.”

  “Likewise,” Michael said, looking uncertain as he glanced at Tom’s back. He turned to Kate and offered her a genuine smile. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Will do.” She smiled. Following him to the door, she stopped him for another kiss before watching him walk away. Turning back into the store, she pointed a stern finger at Tom. “Mind telling me what all that was about?”

  “What?” Tom didn’t meet her eyes, choosing instead to focus his unnecessary attention on the work Paul was going.

  “Don’t give me that,” Kate replied. She could hear the waspish tone in her voice but was unable to stop it.

  “I’ll second that,” Paul commented, picking up his hammer drill. “You were a complete prick.”

  “What is this, ‘pick on me’ day?” Tom said, shrugging off Paul’s criticism.

  “Only when you deserve it,” Paul replied, lining up the drill carefully with the mark he’d made on the wall and getting back to work.

  Tom muttered to himself as he angrily snatched up a gym towel from Paul’s bag and wiped himself down before pulling on his shirt. Paul stopped drilling and turned around with a resigned look on his face.

  “Listen, if you’re going to be like that, why don’t you take your attitude elsewhere,” he suggested. He pointed at Kate. “And you should go with him. You guys need to have a talk.” Kate and Tom looked at each other and then back at Paul. “Go on,” Paul said, shooing them despite the fact he was still holding the drill. “Get out of here and be nice.”

  “But what about—” Kate began.

  “It’s cool. I can finish up here myself,” Paul said. “You guys have got some talking to do.”

  “Paul, man, listen,” Tom began awkwardly, stopping when Paul waved him off.

  “Tell your story walkin’,” Paul said in an even tone as he turned back to the job at hand.

  Tom looked at Kate who shrugged. “Guess we’ve been told.” She offered him a wry smile. “So how about it, Tom? Shall we go get a coffee?”

  He looked at his watch. “Screw that, it’s after noon. I’m up for something stronger.”

  Paul watched them go. “About time,” he muttered. He didn’t envy the conversation they had ahead of them, but these things had to be done. He turned back to the wall and began to drill.

  ~~~

  Michael closed the door behind him and tossed his keys onto the kitchen counter. He was home sooner than he’d planned, and quite alone. After only just discovering the history between Tom and Kate, he hadn’t expected to meet the man in question on the same day. Even more of a surprise had been the naked hostility Tom had shown when he had realized who Michael was.

  Kate had looked uncomfortable, and Paul seemed decidedly unimpressed by Tom’s behavior, going so far as to call him out on it when Michael was leaving. Michael hadn’t liked the look of concern on Kate’s face when he had decided to leave them to it, but he could tell from Tom’s behavior that there was a whole subtext to that relationship which needed to be addressed. He had spoken to Kate with as much reassurance as he could muster, and he had caught an eye flicker from Paul that indicated the big man understood his actions. He hoped so. It was good to know he had Paul in his corner. He stopped by his desk, frowning as the thought occurred to him. Was there going to be a battle for Kate’s affections? He hoped not.

  ~~~

  Kate was aware of the war between her head and her heart as she walked along the street with Tom, who was now trying to make light of the situation. He whispered outrageous fashion police comments in her ear as they passed people who met with his disapproval, and he draped his arm around her shoulders with the ease of long familiarity. She shrugged it off, and then sighed when he gave her a hurt look and let him take her hand instead. She knew this conversation with Tom had been brewing for some time now, but all she wanted to do was run in the other direction. The direction that she knew Michael had taken.

  Tom led her across town to one of his favorite bars. It was very hip and stylish, and at this time of day the music was kept to a tolerable level. Kate nodded and made the right responses as Tom beamed and saw that they were ushered to a secluded table. Kate took a seat and looked at some of the more fashionably dressed clientele. She felt frumpy and underdressed in her old jeans and comfortable fitted tee. She didn’t realize how refreshing she looked: her cheeks f
lushed from the outdoor air, and her hair held back from her face with her sunglasses, which she had rammed up onto the top of her head. Compared to some of the more conscientious consumers in the bar, she looked completely and unselfconsciously natural.

  Kate may not have noticed the attention she was getting, but Tom did. He slid his chair closer to hers to denote a subtle ownership, but not so close that any welcome male attention toward himself would be deterred. Once their drink orders had been taken and delivered, Tom leaned back in his chair and gave Kate a long stare.

  “So, what’s the problem, Kate?”

  “I was hoping you could tell me,” Kate answered. “What was all that back there?”

  “What was what?”

  “You know what I’m talking about. That was the first time you met Michael and you totally froze him out.”

  Tom took a long sip of his wine, and made a show of setting his glass back on the table, taking his time before answering. “I don’t like him.”

  “You just met him,” Kate protested.

  Tom shrugged. “It was enough to get a general impression.”

  “Well, tough. You’re going to have to get used to him because he’s going to be around for a while,” Kate said, taking too big a mouthful of her own wine and choking slightly. She wasn’t used to trying to be forceful, but the false courage provided by the wine seemed to be working. It also gave her something to do with her hands.

  Kate put her glass down and put her head in her hands. “Tom, what the hell are we doing?”

  “About what?”

  Kate gave him a hard look, unable to tell if he was being deliberately obtuse, or had no idea what sort of an impact he was having.

  “We started out as one thing, and now we’re something completely different.”

  “Not so different,” Tom pointed out. “We’ve always been friends, after all.”

  “True,” Kate agreed, “but sex wasn’t always part of the equation.”

  “It isn’t now either,” he argued.

  “This is also true,” Kate said, “and look where it’s gotten us.” She took a sip of wine and tried to think. “I bet our families never saw this coming.” She remembered Jack and Gwen laughing with Tom’s father over pictures of the two of them throughout childhood.

  “Are we really in that much of a mess?” Tom rested his folded arms on the table and leaned across to Kate. “Be honest.”

  “Sometimes I think no,” Kate said slowly, “but today, I’d have to say a definite yes.” She gave him a wry smile to try to soften the blow. “It’s hard enough staying friends with someone you’ve got a sexual past with, let alone having the goalposts moved so comprehensively.”

  “I guess,” Tom said, staring at the tabletop as he mulled over Kate’s words.

  “C’mon, Tom,” Kate said in a coaxing tone, “you’ve got to admit that coming out was a bombshell for everyone involved.”

  “I know it was a bombshell.” Thomas reached out to take one of her hands. “But what could I do? I had to follow my heart.”

  “I know.” Kate scrubbed her face with her free hand. “It was a bombshell, all right. I think I’m still carrying some of the shrapnel.” Thomas’s worried expression deepened, and Kate sighed. “God, none of this is coming out right.”

  “Coming out seems to be a recurring issue with us,” Thomas deadpanned, getting a weak laugh from Kate.

  “I just …” Kate tried to speak again and stopped. “Tom, you know I love you, but things are different now. We’re different now.”

  He stared unhappily into his glass. “I know.”

  Kate reached over and covered his hand with hers. “And Michael’s different. Surely you can see that.”

  “I guess,” he replied, then looked up with a challenging stare. “Do you love him?

  “I, ah …” Kate was taken aback by his interrogatory tone. “I think I do.”

  “And have you told him?”

  “Not yet,” Kate replied, sipping at her wine. Maybe they needed to get something to eat; she could feel the wine going straight to her head.

  “So you can say it to me, but not to him,” Tom said with just a hint of satisfaction.

  “I wasn’t aware that it was a competition between the two of you,” Kate chided.

  “Well, I was here first,” Thomas added.

  “And now you’re suddenly twelve years old,” Kate said, exasperation creeping into her voice now. “You’ve got to cut this out. You do it every time.”

  “Do what?” Tom was all innocence.

  “Every time a new guy arrives on my horizon, and I’m not saying that’s a regular occurrence,” Kate added, holding up an admonishing hand as Tom opened his mouth to interrupt. “You check them out, announce that they’re no good, and start crowing as soon as they’re gone.”

  “Well, they’re not. I’ve known you long enough to know what’s good for you, Kate. We all do,” Tom said, finishing his wine and signaling for another.

  “No, I don’t think you do,” Kate said, her fingers whitening on her glass stem. The conversation was heading in a direction she didn’t like, and she felt her stomach twist with anxiety.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Tom, we’ve got a long history and it’s seen some pretty big changes over the years, but enough’s enough. You’ve got to let me move on.”

  “What do you mean?” Tom replied. Now it was his turn to look worried.

  Kate set her glass aside and ran her fingers through her hair, lifting it off the back of her neck before rubbing her face. She felt terrible. Now that it was finally happening, she was becoming aware that this was a conversation that had been building up for years.

  “Tom,” Kate began in what she hoped was a gentle voice, “what I’m trying to say is that it feels like you’ve had me all to yourself for a long time. That might work for you, but it doesn’t work for me. It’s like you get the best of both worlds: you’re dating and having a great time, plus there’s our friendship. Why can’t I have that too?”

  “You do. You’ve dated other guys,” Tom protested.

  “And have I had your support every step of the way?” Kate sipped her wine again, watching him carefully. Tom was silent. “You know you’re in my heart, but you just can’t have all of it anymore.”

  Tom mumbled something unintelligible into his wine glass.

  “Sorry, what was that? I don’t speak Merlot,” Kate prompted, earning a sheepish look from Tom.

  “I said I don’t see why we can’t share.”

  “Oh, I think Michael can share. It’s you I have my doubts about after this afternoon’s effort,” Kate said.

  The pair of them sat staring at each other before Tom broke the silence with a loud sigh.

  “Fine,” he said. “If that’s what it takes.”

  “I can’t make you do what you don’t want to, but if you’re going to cause problems, Tom, then I think it’s time you let me go.”

  “Oh, you did not just say that,” Tom said, his face flushing with a combination of anger and shock.

  “I did,” Kate said, feeling the struggle of the conversation take its toll as her cheeks began to flush.

  “Is this because I hurt you when I came out?” Tom said, his eyes narrowing. “It’s taken you a while, Kate, but if this is payback then—”

  “God, no,” Kate protested. “C’mon, give me some credit. I’m trying to say that if you want relationships and our friendship, then you have to extend me the same courtesy.”

  “But I have,” Tom replied, slouching back in his chair.

  “C’mon, Tom, have you really?” Kate kept her tone as even as she could, but all she wanted to do at this point was curl up, go to sleep and wake up when it was all over.

  Tom was silent while he considered her words. “Maybe not, but I have talked you out of a few bad shoe choices,” Tom allowed at last, startling a laugh out of both of them.

  “True, and I’ll always need help in that department.” Kate smi
led. “At least until they come out with a pair of Converse that go with a cocktail dress.” She laughed again as Tom gave a theatrical shudder and made the sign of the cross to ward off fashion evil. They looked at each other and began laughing again, although the hilarity was out of proportion to the joke.

  “So,” Kate ventured once their laughter had begun to subside, “are we good?”

  “We’ll see,” Tom sighed. “I guess so. It’s just going to be hard, you know?” Tom stared unhappily into his wine. “I’ve gotten so used to having you all to myself, I figured that whatever happened it’d always be you and me.”

  “You know I’ll always be here,” Kate said, reaching over to pat his hand, and was surprised when Tom took her hand in a fierce grip.

  “I’ll share, but I’m not happy about it. Still, if he can prove that he’s good enough, then I’ll go along with it.” Tom delivered this pronouncement with an air of martyrdom, giving Kate an arch look as she smiled into her glass. “Going by the look on your face, you seem to think he’s worth it.”

  “He is.” Kate nodded, the knot in her stomach loosening now that the conversation was taking a friendly turn.

  “Hmm, well, prejudice aside, given he’s taking you away from me,” Tom mused, “I have to say that he’s gorgeous—that hair, those eyes.” Tom’s eyes took on a wicked glint as he continued, “high and tight in the back too.”

  “Tom.” Kate laughed at this, and Tom grinned at the look of embarrassment and delight on her face.

  “Speaking of taking away, though,” Tom mused, “how come he bailed earlier?”

  “You were a total bitch queen for a start,” Kate said bluntly. “Who’d want to stick around for that?”

  “True,” Tom said with a reminiscent smile. “I was in fine form.”

  “I don’t know that you should be patting yourself on the back for that little display. Paul was looking pretty pissed at you too.”