“Most valuable. The only one I’ve gotten so far.”
“Kasey, before I forget, give me your bill. I’ll write you a check.”
Kasey produced a piece of paper from her clipboard as they relaxed in the living room.
Connie looked it over quickly. “No wonder you need an accountant. It looks like you put the tax in the space intended for labor cost.”
“No, that’s what I meant to charge you. Don’t forget, you fed me a wonderful dinner.”
“No, Kasey. I’m not letting you work all day for ten dollars.”
“Listen, don’t argue with me. It wasn’t hard to do, and I enjoy your company. Besides, I was hoping maybe you’d teach me to play the guitar.”
“Are you sure that’s a fair trade?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” Kasey answered with a smile.
“All right, then we start right now,” she said, marching into the bedroom. “Kasey?” she called from the other room.
“Yeah?”
“Have I told you how beautiful this closet is?”
Kasey laughed. “About a dozen times.”
The sound of the doorbell was unexpected. “Kasey, would you answer it? I’ll be right out.”
A pseudo-intellect, handsome even without his three-piece suit, stood on the other side of the door. His eyes made a brazen assessment of Kasey from her head to her feet, before he rudely pushed past her. “Where’s Connie?” he asked.
Before she could answer, Connie emerged from the bedroom with guitar and chord books in hand. “I’m busy, Greg. What are you doing here?”
“I’ll be out of town all next week. I told you I wanted to see you before I left.”
“Maybe I should get going,” offered Kasey.
“Not unless you want to miss lesson one. It begins in ten minutes.” The look on Connie’s face was clear—Don’t you dare leave!
“I’ll just pick up some of my things, then.” She disappeared into the bedroom before she realized how it might look.
In direct spite of Greg’s stereotypical view of women in the trades, Connie dragged him into the bedroom and introduced him. “As long as you’re here, come and see the closet. Kasey did a beautiful job.”
He surveyed the freshly painted creation with all its pullouts, shelves, and rods. Then he surveyed its creator as she gathered her tools from the floor. “That paint smell is awful potent.”
“Keep the door closed and the window open, and it should be fine tomorrow,” Kasey explained. “Connie, have you seen my studfinder?”
“What does it look like?”
“At first glance, I wouldn’t think you’d need one.” Greg offered a cocky grin while he made his assessment of Kasey’s legs and backside as obvious as possible.
Kasey made no acknowledgment of the remark. “It’s a little gray ... never mind, here it is.” She bent quickly and retrieved it from the floor by Greg’s foot.
His arrogance continued. “That close to me, shouldn’t it have been going off or something?”
Kasey turned and met his cockiness with an icy blue glare. “It must not have been turned on.”
The comment stopped him midbreath. He could do nothing more than shoot silent poison darts at Kasey’s head while she gathered the rest of her things.
Connie stifled a laugh, but couldn’t keep from smiling. “I don’t even mind leaving this mess until tomorrow night,” she managed.
“You can’t sleep here tonight. Get some things together and spend the night at my place,” he directed.
Connie bristled past him. “I’m sleeping on my own couch, and you’re going home.”
They entered the living room, where Greg tried once more. “I said I wanted to see you before I left.”
“So, you saw me.”
With one last dart, shot directly between Kasey’s eyes, Greg conceded. Behind him, the door slammed into its frame hard enough to shake the dust off everything stored in the attic. Kasey merely raised her eyebrows and smiled to herself, while Connie locked the door after him.
“I must say, Ms. Hollander, you do know how to handle your men. I thought I was going to lose it with the studfinder comeback.”
“Your men. And you’re not so bad yourself. ‘So, you saw me.’” Kasey burst into laughter and collapsed onto the couch.
The sound was contagious, sending Connie into a fit of therapeutic laughter that pressed her back hard against the arm of the couch. It was a wonderful feeling. She wasn’t upset or anxious or angry. Only relieved. And it felt good. Sometime during the lightness of the moment her legs found Kasey’s lap, and with the laughter turning to giggles, Kasey’s hand draped itself naturally over the silky smooth skin.
“Have I mentioned how obnoxious I think guys are?”
Connie grinned.
“Once or twice.”
Connie chuckled again and pulled her foot up in an attempt to tickle Kasey’s side with her toes. “No, you don’t,” Kasey said as she grabbed her foot. “I thought you were going to teach me to play the guitar.”
“I am,” Connie said, bolting upright and picking it up off the floor.
“You feel pretty good about things, don’t you?”
“Like the first giddy steps of freedom after years in prison.”
“That good, eh? Well, I’m really glad you’re happy. Now show me how to play that thing.”
Connie sat close behind Kasey’s left shoulder, demonstrating the finger positions for the chords as Kasey strummed. As she leaned into Kasey’s body to reach the neck of the guitar, the warm, flushed feeling creeping through her puzzled Connie. It had been a long time since she’d been nervous enough to perspire this badly. Her valedictorian speech, maybe. No, waiting with her sister Cathy for the results of her breast biopsy. Silly to feel that way now, she thought.
Kasey mimicked the chords. Connie repositioned her fingers when she forgot. She learned quickly and before long was able to go through the basic chords from A to G on her own. The first time she made it all the way through without a mistake, she turned with a smile, almost bumping noses with Connie, and asked, “What d’ya think. Is there hope?”
Warm, spearmint breath accompanied deep blue reflections from Kasey’s eyes and shot a sudden, sharp twinge right through the middle of Connie’s chest. Her pulse quickened. The feeling, so unexpected, caught her off guard. She hesitated before answering softly. “I, uh ... I think you’re doing great.” Connie watched the smile disappear from Kasey’s face and considered that there may be something wrong.
“You’re an excellent teacher,” Kasey said, pulling her eyes away. “But I never seem to be able to get out of here at a decent hour.” She stood, breaking their physical contact, and quickly picked up the things she’d placed by the door.
“Don’t forget we’re running tomorrow,” reminded Connie.
“I thought maybe you’d forget. Not so, I see.”
“Did you change your mind?” Connie’s pulse continued its race despite her attempts to slow it with deep, slow breaths.
“I’m just kidding. What time does the torture begin?”
“About five forty-five?” smiled Connie.
“I’ll be ready. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Six
The front door stood wide open, and Kasey’s truck was in the drive. Connie checked her watch before walking in, then hesitated just inside the door and looked around. There was no sign of Kasey. She wondered if she should go farther, or call out her name. But two steps into the hallway and before she could decide, she was almost trampled by a short stocky woman coming heavily down the stairs and charging around the corner.
“Oops, I’m sorry,” Connie apologized, suddenly staring into glaring eyes only inches from her own.
Void of a smile, the woman returned bluntly, “Something I can do for you?”
Connie’s uneasiness increased as the woman boldly considered her spandex running shorts. “I was supposed to meet Kasey. We were going to run.”
“I’d say she
’s a little busy for that right now,” she spat.
“Could you tell her I’ll wait outside for a little while?”
The woman foraged in a box and grabbed a tool. “Sure, I don’t have anything better to do.”
Connie headed quickly out the front door, wondering if it might be better just to leave and trying to remember the last time she had been treated so rudely. She hadn’t expected anything like this, not from someone she didn’t even know. And she didn’t like being made to feel like an intruder when she wasn’t. Unless Kasey had changed her mind.
She paced slowly between the porch and her car. Five minutes passed. Ten. She could manage only short periods on the step before returning to the car, each time tempted to get in and leave. Being this indecisive was unusual and annoying. She leaned against the sunwarmed fender, alternately bouncing her knees back and forth. She couldn’t make herself leave.
Finally, Kasey appeared in the doorway with the other woman. Connie could make out only part of the conversation.
The woman slammed her hand against the old wooden porch column. “Dammit, Kasey! This is stupid, really stupid! You never seem to learn, do you?”
Kasey’s explanation was calm and inaudible. She started across the yard, but turned once more toward the porch. “Troy’s nailing up the drywall for you,” she said. “I won’t be gone long.”
“As soon as I’m done muddin’, I’m going home. I mean it, Kasey,” the woman yelled to her back. “I’m not hangin’ around waiting for you.”
Kasey approached with long, deliberate strides and a stubborn stare that Connie couldn’t break. “Kasey, if this isn’t a good time, I’ll go home and run. I didn’t mean to make this a problem.”
“It’s not a problem. Did you stretch yet?”
Connie shook her head and automatically pulled her heel to her buttock to put her quadriceps on stretch.
“I’m sorry you had to wait. I’m more sorry you had to run into Sharon first.”
“I got the distinct impression I shouldn’t be here.”
Kasey shook her head. “C’mon, let’s get going.” She reached over as the two began to jog and grasped Connie’s forearm. “Take it easy on me now.”
“Okay, cupcake. Instead of distance, we’ll go as far as we can in fifteen minutes, then start back. How’s that?”
“I hope you’re good at rescue carries.”
Their pace was a moderate jog. Kasey wisely asked the questions and Connie did most of the talking. Down through the rural neighborhood they jogged as kids played, dogs barked, and the working class came home. The smells of cooking dinners tantalized them as they passed. “Fried chicken,” Connie guessed, passing the driveway of a little white house.
Kasey continued the game as they passed a house with a big smoking grill in the side yard. “Steak?”
“Mmm,” murmured Connie, veering to the right and heading straight for the grill.
Kasey smiled, quickened her pace, and caught up. When she took her by the arm, Connie stretched it out teasingly. Kasey ended up holding her hand and pulling her toward the street as they laughed. “Maybe this isn’t such a good place to run,” teased Connie.
Kasey quickly released her hand. “Have you been keeping track of the time?”
Connie made a quick glance at her watch. “Yep, it’s time to turn around.”
“Uh-huh, I thought so. We went over fifteen minutes.” She tried to look serious as she gave Connie a nudge with her shoulder.
“Okay, we’ll jog ten more minutes and walk the rest of the way to cool down.”
“Sure.” She held out her hand. “The watch.”
Connie removed the watch and handed it to her. “You’re in charge, sarge.”
It was a quieter return trip, with both women finding it more beneficial to breathe than to talk. For Connie, running was therapy, bringing fresh oxygen to the blood and enriching the brain. Running was a stimulation that fought off depression and created the endorphin high that she had grown to rely upon. A healthy high. She was addicted to it and fast becoming addicted to another high—the one she got from Kasey Hollander. She was happy right now, truly happy. Greg was in Chicago, and her new friend was running beside her.
The fact that Kasey’s schedule was so tight, and that she had had to make some sort of sacrifice in order to run with her today, held a lot of significance. She was here not because she craved the ache in her lungs from sucking insufficient air and not because of the health benefits from pushing leg muscles until they burned from exhaustion. She was here to fulfill a need they both obviously felt, that of friendship. And she was willing to make sacrifices for it. No one had been willing to do that for Connie since Susie Fisher had “borrowed” her mother’s car to rescue her from a date with horny Howie Hamilton. It would have cost Susie a month’s grounding if she’d been caught. The empty place she’d left had been there so long Connie’d forgotten about it.
She looked over at the woman running next to her. How had she become so important so fast? “How you doing?”
“Did you notice?” Kasey hesitated for a breath. “I pushed it five more minutes.”
“Let’s walk.”
Kasey raised her arms and clasped her hands behind her neck. Perspiration pooled in the hollow of her throat and glistened with each deep breath.
“You really did well, Kasey.”
“Thanks, but I wanna lie down in the worse way.”
“Not yet. Blood’ll accumulate in your heart. Keep it circulating. “
They walked for the next few minutes, breathing deeply, until Kasey spotted a grassy area on the edge of a playground. She took one step into the grass, foundered onto her back, and folded her arms over her eyes.
“Okay,” Connie conceded, settling beside her. “How long has it been since you’ve done this?”
“Too long. Three years.”
“You do amaze me.” She reached over and placed two fingers on Kasey’s neck, causing her to jump about six inches off the ground.
The reaction startled Connie. She pulled her hand back quickly. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to check your pulse.”
“Afraid I’m gonna die on ya?” Kasey offered with a sheepish grin. “Go ahead and check.”
Connie placed two fingers on Kasey’s neck and picked up her wrist so she could see the watch. “Pretty good recovery,” she said, resisting the temptation to gently fluff the hairs, dark with perspiration, lying limply on Kasey’s forehead. “Do you feel okay?”
“Uh-huh. I guess we’d better get back.” With Sharon’s threat fresh in her mind, Connie rose quickly and offered a hand up. Kasey took it, letting her pull her up while she exaggerated the weight. Connie offered a gentle laugh and squeezed her hand. “Thanks for running with me.”
“I have to admit I almost enjoyed myself.”
Just over an hour had passed since they’d left the house, yet both the car and truck were still in the drive. “Is she still here?” asked Connie.
“Yeah, her bark is worse than her bite.”
“I’ll bet you ran with me instead of eating, didn’t you?”
“I worked through while Sharon and Troy ate. I’ll get something later.”
“I’ll go get you something so you won’t have to waste any more time. Don’t argue with me. I’ll be back in a little while.”
Kasey admired the svelte figure collapsing neatly into the driver’s seat. There didn’t seem to be much sense in objecting. “I’ll be upstairs. Just come on up.”
Upstairs, Kasey checked out the room they’d been working in all day. “Beautiful job, Sharon,” she said, looking at the freshly mudded walls. “You are by far my top mudder.” She shot a quick wink at Troy.
“I’m your only mudder, and don’t you forget it,” Sharon snapped, finishing a corner seam.
“No chance of that,” Kasey replied, massaging the thick muscles of Sharon’s shoulders. She had known Sharon for she couldn’t even remember how many years. And in spite of her gruf
f exterior and quick temper, she loved her. Getting upset would only compound the problem. Eventually, Sharon was going to have to get to know Connie. Besides, she was just a friend to do things with, things Sharon didn’t like to do anyway. “Hey, why don’t you call it quits for tonight. I’ll finish nailing the drywall. Then tomorrow, while you’re mudding, I’ll help Dad with the wiring in the kitchen.”
“Then that’s it, except for painting, right?” asked Troy.
Kasey nodded. “We’re right on schedule.”
“Okay, I guess I will clean up and head for home,” Sharon relented. She scraped the remaining drywall compound into the bucket and closed the lid. Kasey gathered the tools and began cleaning them while Sharon washed up.
After a few awkward moments of silence, Sharon abruptly looked up from the sink. “Jesus Christ, Kasey! What the hell are you doing?”
“Nothing, Sharon. I did nothing but go running.”
“Remember who you’re talking to here? You can lie and keep secrets from the rest of the world—” she swept her arm outward “—but not from me, Kasey.” She tapped her fingers sharply against her thick chest. Her eyes bored seriously into Kasey’s. “Not from me.”
“She’s straight, Sharon.”
“Yeah, exactly. So was Cindy.”
Kasey tilted her head back and looked at the ceiling. Sharon’s repair job over the sink was perfect.
“Have you told her you’re gay?”
Kasey’s gaze returned, but she made no reply.
“You haven’t, have you. Why not?”
Still no response.
“Tell her right now, Kasey. Tell her and let’s get this thing over with, one way or the other.”
“When I’m ready, Sharon. When I’m damn good and ready.” She turned to walk away but changed her mind. “Why do you have to get so worked up over nothing?”
Sharon wadded the towel and threw it into the corner of the counter. Briskly she pushed past Kasey. “You know why,” she muttered as she left.
Marianne K. Martin - Love in the Balance Page 3