“You take care, Mom, and I’ll speak with you again Friday. Bye.”
“Bye, honey, and congratulations on the movie part.”
“Movie part?” Christopher echoed after she hung up the phone.
“Katie’s a model and aspiring actress. She’s done several magazine and TV commercials. She just landed a small role in a CBS movieof-the-week that’s being filmed in July. I’m so proud of her. She’s done well on her own, but I’ve missed her terribly in the seven months she’s been gone.”
Christopher finished loading the dishwasher and turned it on. “How did she get into modeling and acting?” He leaned against the counter and observed Kirstin as she remained in the doorway.
“She took local classes and did shows at malls and stores. One of the TV stations hired her to do a few commercials for them. A scout from Los Angeles was in town, saw them, and tracked her down. He signed her up before he left, then called within a week with several auditions. She got the jobs and things have been rolling ever since.”
“That was good luck and great timing. We can all use plenty of both. What about your other children? What do they do?”
“Sandi and her husband have lived overseas for a year, with two to go. Cliff is an oil expert; foreign companies pay handsomely for men with his knowledge. It was an excellent opportunity to earn a small fortune for three years’ work, so he accepted. It seems like a good experience for them, and they love it, but I miss them and my grandson; he’s eighteen months old. Of course, he’ll return before he’s too old to be a stranger to his grandmother.”
“Your son?” he prompted when she didn’t continue.
“Steve’s a banker in Denver. He and Louise have twin boys almost two years old. They’re expecting their third child in six months. He transferred from a local bank in early February.”
“So there was no family or any ties left in Augusta to hold you there?”
Ties? As in sweetheart? “None. As I told you yesterday, my parents are dead. What about your daughter?” What about your wife?
Christopher noticed how her expression and voice appeared strained as she spoke of her son; he suspected there was a problem there. It also seemed odd that while traveling across the country she didn’t visit him. “Peggy’s twenty-four. She and Phil live in Oregon, as I told you. Been there three years and have no plans to move. He’s in the lumber business and she’s in environmental work. They don’t have any kids yet.”
“Those two careers sound as if they could conflict on occasion if they aren’t careful.”
“That’s how they met, butting heads over a project. But they love each other too much to let anything or anyone come between them.”
“That’s smart; love is too rare and special to spoil with selfish demands.” Shut up, woman, or you’ll sound ridiculous.
“You’re right. But too many people don’t realize that truth in this day of two-career families,” he added -with a frown. “You were lucky you didn’t have to reject a transfer because your husband had a career in Augusta. It’s obvious you love research and working for Medico.”
“I do.” Kirstin wondered if that was one of Christopher’s problems, a wife who wouldn’t move here because she had a career elsewhere. Could she ever give up research to live in the secluded high plains of New Mexico? Did he resent liberated women and want only a housewife at his side? Maybe he had the same ideas and needs as David Lowrey. Maybe he believed a woman’s place was at home, with or without children. Maybe he was still trying to get back an estranged and stubborn wife, or was looking for a comfortable replacement, one he could dominate?
Following a short silence, Christopher asked, “Where did your parents come up with the name Kirstin? It’s unusual and pretty.”
“Thanks. My father’s middle name was Curtis and my mother’s, Christine. If they had used their first names, I’d be called Jimmary.”
He chuckled as she laughed. He enjoyed the mellow and genuine tone of the sound. He liked her smile and admirable character traits. He liked her appearance, it was normal to be first attracted to someone’s good looks and sunny personality. She was attractive and slim, and had a super figure, especially for a woman of forty-five who’d given birth to three children. The few wrinkles on her face were barely visible tiny crow’s-feet ‘ near the eyes and shallow creases from nose to mouth. Her complexion was smooth and radiant. She was educated, well mannered; the men she’d dated must have been impressed by her and must have enjoyed her company and conversation as much as he did.
He wanted to get to know her, to get better acquainted with the special woman he perceived her to be. He was relieved she hadn’t questioned his behavior this morning. He didn’t want to explain yet and risk sounding like a bitter and pathetic coward who’d exiled himself here to hide from the truth and pain. When and if they got closer, he’d confide in her. “You should be careful when you play with your grandchildren; they can eat up your blood sugar fast at that active age. And make certain they aren’t sick when you’re around them because you can’t risk exposing yourself to illness; it’s rougher on diabetics. You could lose all the progress you’ve made and even wind up on insulin.”
“I know. I kept them at Christmas, New Year’s, and in February during their move. To be honest, they wore me out. They can be a handful. ‘Terrible Two’s, it’s called, and the twins have it bad right now. I hope to be in control before I keep them again.”
“Just make certain you keep glucose tablets in your pocket and stay alert for sudden and rapid lows. Do you want me to call Steve and explain?”
“No,” she replied in a hurry and blushed in guilt. “Actually, my son doesn’t know about my condition. He was so busy with the move and new job that I didn’t want to worry him. I’ll tell him later. I’m not being irresponsible, Christopher; he recently had a physical for the transfer so I know he hasn’t inherited my condition. Medico doesn’t know about it, either. I hope you won’t have to tell them before I can prove myself there and explain.” She trusted him with a few of her secrets with the hope he would do the same with her. “Is that wrong of me, Christopher, to wait just a short time before risking problems there?”
“I understand, Kirstin, and I can’t disagree. I won’t report you. Any defect, no matter how small, can ruin a brilliant career. Some people don’t seem to comprehend that certain disabilities can be controlled. Just make sure you watch yourself carefully. A lab accident would expose you fast; then, they’d lose trust and confidence in you.”
“Thanks, Christopher, and I’ll handle the matter as soon as possible.”
“Is the need for secrecy the reason you didn’t visit the grandkids?”
She was surprised he asked such a personal question, since he was being evasive himself. “Yes, and it’s a good thing I wasn’t babysitting the twins when this trouble came up.” She wouldn’t reveal that not keeping them had caused another kind of trouble with Steve.
“You’re right. But don’t worry; we’ll have you in top shape before you leave. By the time you see them again, you’ll be prepared for any emergency.”
“Are you eager to have grandchildren?” she asked to take the focus off her to learn his opinions on women.
“Yep, but Peggy isn’t being cooperative. She loves her job and freedom too much. Phil wants her to quit and get pregnant, but she— “ A car horn blew again. “Company,” he remarked. “Be back in a minute.” He headed for the front door.
Kirstin went to the den window and peeked outside to see if the visitor might be the woman who had called yesterday. It was Captain John Two Fists. The Indian officer bordered on being ruggedly handsome, his long black hair secured in a pony tail at the nape of his neck. Though nearing fifty, his dark skin had few wrinkles and creases. As she watched the two men, she observed their easy rapport. They smiled, chatted, and laughed as they leaned negligently against the officer’s patrol car.
Car! She hadn’t checked on it this morning. After her host returned, she would rem
ind him they should do so. The extent of damage and length of repairs would determine how long she stayed after her diabetic situation was handled. She allowed her gaze to wander over Christopher Harrison’s face and body. She knew what her friend Elaine would say about this situation—go after him!
She hadn’t learned the truth with her earlier ploy of grandchildren; he had answered amidst chuckles, as if teasing. I like your sense of humor and charm, Doc, and your integrity. You haven’t made a pass yet. Maybe you won’t, and maybe that’s best for both of us.
Kirstin rushed to the sofa when she saw Christopher returning and turned on the television with the remote control. She glanced up when he halted in the doorway.
“John came by to see how you’re doing. He said to say hello for him. He checked on your car before driving out. Parts have to be ordered. Your catalytic converter is shot. One fender, door, and your hood are crumpled. The right sideview mirror and parking light are broken. The bumper’s a mess. One tire was lost, and you bent a rim. Along with a few other things.”
“My heavens! All that by going off the road?”
“Afraid so. It was a rough drop-off with lots of obstacles. You struck them all hard and fast when you gunned the gas pedal.”
“But this Joe Bob Bridges you mentioned can fix everything?”
“Yes, but he has another vehicle to finish before he can get to yours. Should take a week or less to get it back. Joe Bob said it’ll cost about eighteen to twenty-three hundred dollars.” When her blue gaze widened even more, he explained, “Parts’ for a Nissan LE Fastback don’t come cheap, and you have plenty to be replaced or repaired.” He saw her frown in dismay. “There’s such a large span in the estimate because he won’t know the total labor charge until he’s finished. He told John that some parts slide in easy and quick and others can give trouble. Once he gets started, “he’ll know if there’s any hidden trouble he missed. That okay with you?”
Kirstin was shocked to learn how bad her accident had been. She was lucky she hadn’t been injured badly. Seat belts work, thank God.
Christopher misread her thoughtful silence. “If you’d like to get a second opinion and estimate, there’s no problem, Kirstin. If you plan to use your insurance, they might require two or more estimates.”
“No, that’s fine. I hope you thanked Captain Two Fists for me.”
“I did. You can trust Joe Bob, Kirstin.”
“I’ll accept your word on his honesty and abilities.”
“My guest room doesn’t have any reservations waiting so you can stay as long as it takes to get your car back.” He intentionally did not add, unless you’d prefer to move to a hotel. He didn’t want to put that. idea into her head or make her think he was suggesting she leave once she was well.
“I don’t want to put you out for such a long time, Christopher.”
“It’s no bother, and I can observe you and treat you better here.”
“Then I’ll stay if you say it’s all right.”
“It is, Kirstin. Do you want me to phone Joe Bob and tell him to order the parts, or do you want to contact your insurance company first?”
“I’ll try to pay it out-of-pocket. I’ve already filed against my insurance twice in the last year; another claim might ruin me.”
“You’ve had two other wrecks in this car? For the same reason?”
“Heavens, no. I let Steve borrow it and he had a mishap. Then, I let his wife use it and she had one. Both were minor accidents and no one was injured. Since I didn’t have any strikes against me and they both did, I took the blame to keep their insurance from rising.”
He wanted to ask why Steve hadn’t paid out-of-pocket himself for those other two claims, but didn’t. “John says she’s a beauty, a sporty red model. A Fastback is a lotta power and speed to control, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but I didn’t exactly choose it. When Sandi and Cliff left America, they coaxed me into taking their car. It was only a few months old, and mine was giving me trouble. I loved it. I sold my mini-van and jumped on their offer. The Aztec red color and its sleek design were what stole my heart. Steve calls it my ‘extravagant and foolish sports car,’ but I don’t care and I’m keeping it.” Damn, Kirstin, why not just expose the entire mess between you and Steve! “It’s fun to drive.”
He caught her slip. “And gets you lots of male attention,” he teased.
“That isn’t why I wanted it. It gives a feeling of free—Why don’t you call Joe Bob now before we forget?”
He also let her second slip pass as if he hadn’t noticed either one. “Will do, ma’am. Then I’m heading into town with Frank on business.”
“Ask if he needs a deposit. I can send him a check with you.”
“Will do,” he responded again. He wondered if paying cash would be a strain on her finances. Probably not or she wouldn’t have taken on such a pricey car, even if it did sound as if she’d needed the spirit booster for enjoying “free—”dom …
After he completed the call, Christopher left with his foreman.
Kirstin made herself comfortable in the den, reading magazines and watching television. She hoped it would take many days for the car repairs. Was it wicked to feel delighted by this romantic setup? There had been so little love and romance, not to mention good sex, in her marriage. Was it wanton to have the desire to experience a heaping taste of all of those things? She was getting older every day and life could be snatched away in the blink of an eye; she didn’t want to miss any chance for joy and enrichment. The excitement and anticipation of a romantic interlude made her feel younger and more alive, desirable. Yet she couldn’t just jump into bed with him. She had to get to know him and get closer to him before she could do anything like that. But time was short and this opportunity would vanish soon. What to do, she fretted, if the occasion presented itself?
She gave in to the urge to phone her best friend in Augusta. “Elaine, it’s me. I was hoping to catch you at home before you went to work.”
“I start at MCG next week. It sounds like a terrific job. Lordy, I miss Medico. You’re fortunate you could up and move with them. Are you there yet?”
“No, I’m in New Mexico.” Kirstin explained what had happened to Elaine.
“You lucky woman. Single and gorgeous, wealthy and charming, too. What a delicious find! Why not enjoy a fling? What better chance to have a passionate and uncomplicated affair? Let him sweep you off your feet for a while.”
“I couldn’t.”
“Why not? There’s nothing wrong with a little fun and romance. The flame might not be burning right now, but the pilot light’s still on. He’s nice and sexy, isn’t he?”
“Yes, but …”
“I thought so; I can hear it in your voice. Go for it, Kirstin; your ego can use a boost. You deserve to do something wild and wicked, and this might be your perfect chance.”
“I can’t believe you’re encouraging me to sleep with a near stranger.”
“Time is limited, old girl, and so is this opportunity. Once you reach San Diego, you’ll have to protect the old reputation. Have some real fun and romance for heaven’s sake! Days alone with a gorgeous doctor … He sounds like my kind of man. If you’re chicken, send him my way. Just kidding! Put those going-away gifts to good use while you’re there; I would.”
“Stop teasing me, Elaine. This is serious. I never expected to find a dreamy man along the road, and there isn’t enough time to see how compatible we are. I’ve never been so confused in my life.”
“What’s the problem, silly; jump his bones every chance you get.”
“That’s easy for you to say, my liberated friend. You’ve been divorced and dating for years. I’m new at this. Heavens, how things have changed since my high school and college days.”
“Just take the leap, Kirstin. Don’t think, just do it. You’ll be glad. Nothing makes a woman feel more confident and desirable than good loving from a good man. It’s not as if you’re married, and you weren’t happy when you w
ere. Right?”
Happily married? “I thought so in the beginning; I tried to keep that illusion alive for the kids’ and my parents’ sakes. For mine, too, so I wouldn’t realize how miserable I really was. If divorce ever entered my mind, it was as an unconscious thought. I believed a marriage involving children shouldn’t be dissolved simply because of … ‘diminished desire,’ as it’s called. For me to rip apart my family and home would have required something drastic such as an extramarital affair, or clear-cut abuse. If David was ever unfaithful, he took that secret to his grave.” Others, too. “He was never physically mean, Elaine. He just made me his emotional prisoner; he did it so cunningly that I failed to understand my situation.”
“That happens to us women more than we realize or care to admit.”
“I confess I allowed it to happen and refused to deal with it because of the children and my parents. I really believed I loved David when we got married. But after I quit work and had our third child, which turned out to be an unplanned blessing, he just took over my life. I lived with him, bore his children, and buried him. I lived under his thumb, and Kirstin Darnell ceased to exist. The odd thing is that David’s image seems to get dimmer each week, as if it’s a vanishing mirage. Sometimes, it’s as if he never existed, as if my current life is the only reality. Does that sound crazy? Am I going off the deep end?”
Taking Chances Page 8