by Lyn Denison
“No, thanks. Tea’s fine.” Jess laughed softly. “And far safer. If I’m falling asleep in my chair already then who knows what might happen if I get into the wine.”
“Hmmm,” Kat murmured noncommittally, wishing she could make some witty comment about the bed not being far away. She picked up her tea and sandwich and sat down opposite Jess.
As they ate their snack Jess kept Kat entertained with amusing stories about the people at the business lunch. Kat wished she could freeze time, have Jess here with her forever. Jess of the sexy voice, the expressive eyes, the so-enticing body.
“That was as delicious as it smelled,” Jess said, wiping her hands on her paper towel.
“Basic, but fills a spot,” Kat agreed.
“Oh, I’m into basic. Mark and Lucas are cooking freaks and sometimes they go a bit overboard. The kids even grumble and say they just want soup and toast.”
“You and Mark seem to get on pretty well,” Kat heard herself say before she realized she was going to say it. “You said you’d been divorced for six years, didn’t you?” she added hurriedly.
“Yes. We stuck it out for a couple of years, trying to make it work.”
Kat watched Jess’s face, trying to decide if there was any residual pain or distress in her expression, but she didn’t seem to be anything more than regretful. She couldn’t even begin to guess at the reason why Jess and Mark’s marriage might fail. They were an attractive, easygoing couple who seemed to have it all. A successful business. Two great kids. “What happened?”
A fleeting expression of pain crossed Jess’s face, then Kat was contrite.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry,” she began.
Jess shook her head. “That’s okay. It just happened.” She sighed.
“Look, Jess. I really am sorry. I didn’t mean to stir up old wounds.” Kat made herself laugh softly. “Just tell me to mind my own business.”
“No. I wouldn’t do that. I don’t really mind, and a lot of it’s out there in the public domain, so to speak.”
“Yes, but if it upsets you to talk about it—”
“It’s okay, Kat. Honestly. It’s just a long, long story.”
“I’m a good listener if you want to talk,” Kat said.
Chapter Five
Jess’s blue eyes met Kat’s, and that same ripple of awareness hit Kat somewhere in the vicinity of her heart. All that was in her that was vulnerable began to go on safety alert. She knew in that infinitesimal second that she was falling for Jess, and she needed to build some fairly sturdy defenses against what would very probably only cause her pain. She knew she should put a stop to this, make some excuse that she was tired and send Jess on her way before she got any more involved with her. But, of course, Kat didn’t.
“Our history, Mark’s and mine,” Jess was saying, “goes back over twenty years. Lucas’s, too,” she added softly.
Kat raised her eyebrows.
“We were just kids,” Jess said with a wry smile. “We lived in the same street. Mark and I, that is. Lucas didn’t move in until later. Mark lived next door. He was an only child and there was just my sister, Jen, who’s three years older than me, and me. It was the same old story. We grew up together. Mark and I went to school together. Lucas didn’t move into the street until Mark and I were about nine or so.”
“Lucas is your cousin, right?”
Jess nodded. “His mother and mine are twins.”
“That would account for why you look so much alike. You could be brother and sister,” Kat remarked.
“People have always thought so.” Jess laughed. “But I’m always reminding Lucas he’s my little brother as he’s eight months younger than me.” She sobered. “But our lives couldn’t have been more different. You see, my parents have always had a happy marriage. They’ve been married for nearly forty years and care about each other, whereas Lucas’s parents, well,” Jess wrinkled her nose. “Lucas’s parents’ marriage was pretty rocky right from the start, according to my mother. She said she always suspected all wasn’t well with her sister’s marriage, but she didn’t know how bad it was until they moved into a rented house in our street when Lucas was eight.” Jess shook her head, and a strand of fair hair fell over her forehead. She absently brushed it back behind her ear, frowning at her memories. “What were your parents like?” she asked Kat and Kat grimaced.
“Not cruel but far from kind,” she said as lightly as she could.
“I know how lucky Jen and I were to have the parents we did, and Mark was the same with his parents,” Jess said sincerely. “Poor Lucas. His father was diabolically hard on him. I know my parents were horrified about the way he treated Lucas, but Lucas’s father’s excuse was that he was ‘making a man of the boy’ whatever that means,” Jess finished bitterly. “Lucas’s father would go out drinking then he’d come home and start to verbally abuse my aunt before starting on Lucas. Lucas practically lived at our place to escape it all.”
“It must have been difficult for you all,” Kat said.
“The three of us, Mark, Lucas and I were great friends. We did everything together. Mark was taller than Lucas and me and no one dared to tease or bully us.” She smiled.
“A bit of protection never goes astray,” Kat agreed. “As a school teacher I know kids can be cruel.”
Jess nodded. “Not to us with Mark around. Lucas used to call him Sir Mark of Lancelot, protector of all small and wimpy ones.” She laughed. “Which was okay with the kids at school, but Mark wanted to carry it on with Lucas’s father, who was a big, broad guy. Mark nearly got himself into trouble there. We were about thirteen or fourteen and there was this really memorable day.” She glanced at Kat. “You know those days when it seems like everything happens at once?”
Kat nodded.
“This particular day started out with us having our first argument. Well, Mark and Lucas did. Over me, can you believe?”
Kat could, but she made no comment.
“I mean, I’d always just been one of the boys, so to speak, and they ended up arguing about who was going to marry me. My mother sent both boys home and me to my room whereupon I got the next stage of the birds and the bees lecture.” Jess chuckled. “I was mortified. And then Mum suggested that perhaps I shouldn’t see so much of Mark and Lucas.”
“As soon as I could get away I went over to Mark’s in search of them. Lucas had gone home, but I gave Mark a huge lecture of my own, ending with the fact that I wasn’t going to marry either of them.”
“That’s telling them,” Kat said.
“Exactly. Poor Mark really copped it. And then Lucas came back. We knew something was wrong with him as soon as we saw him. He looked like he’d been crying and his left eye was all swollen and bruised. It seemed when he went home his father had started in on him again and for the first time Lucas had answered him back. And his father hit him. I’ve never seen Mark so angry. He took off down the road with every intention of punching Lucas’s father back.”
“Wow! Sir Mark of Lancelot to the rescue. He didn’t, though, did he?” Kat asked.
“Not for want of trying. Lucas went after Mark, and I ran and got Mark’s father. It was lucky that by the time Mark got to Lucas’s house Lucas’s father had gone off in search of more beer so he wasn’t there. Lucas’s mother was at work so Mark’s father herded us back to his place. My parents were called over and we had more lectures. But,” Jess held up her finger, “I did get to tell Lucas I wasn’t marrying him either.”
“Poor Lucas. A marriage refusal on top of everything. That was quite a day.”
Jess nodded. “Then, when Lucas was fifteen, my aunt met another man and she left Lucas’s father. Not before time, that’s for sure. Anyway, Lucas went to Melbourne with his mother and her boyfriend.”
“And Lucas’s father stayed?”
“For a time. Then he moved to a boarding house. He was killed in an accident at work when Lucas was nineteen. My aunt then married her longtime boyfriend, and Lucas came ba
ck to Brisbane to go to University. He boarded with us, and the three of us took up where we left off.”
“And you married Mark.”
“Mark and I had continued to go around together, and everyone just surmised we were an item.” Jess shrugged. “I suppose we were an item, but I think it was just, well, habit I guess. And not long after Lucas came back Mark proposed and I accepted. It seemed the right thing to do. Our parents were happy, but they wanted us to wait a couple of years, thought we were too young. Mark had been through his carpentry apprenticeship and was working with his father. We could afford to get married so we did. He was twenty-one and I was six months younger. We had Miranda and Caleb, I finished my degree and Mark buried himself in the business.”
“And it should have been happily ever after, hmmm?” Kat said softly and Jess nodded.
“Admitting to each other we’d made a mistake getting married was the right thing for both of us. It was somewhat—” Jess smiled ruefully—“traumatic for all—” She paused, slid a quick glance at Kat, and continued, “For both of us. But Mark and I had always been great friends, and after an initial readjustment we went back to being just that, good friends.”
“It sounds like you’ve got an enviable relationship.”
Jess nodded. “It works for us. And I’m truly grateful for that. I think, I hope, it’s been easier on the kids.” She looked across at Kat. “I’m sorry. I’ve been waffling on about me, me, and more me and I haven’t asked about you.”
“Not much to tell really. Boring in fact.”
“I somehow doubt that.” She leaned across and tapped Kat on the knee. “So what’s the Kat Oldfield story?”
Kat’s knee tingled where Jess had touched her, and a spiral of desire skittered about inside her.
“Come on, Kat,” Jess encouraged with a smile. “I have to warn you I’m not leaving until you give me at least a potted version of your life.”
So that’s how Kat could hold her captive. If only it would work. “Well, let’s see. I was born about six streets from here. My father worked in a bank. My mother in retail. I have one sister, Beth, who’s much older than me. I’m a school teacher and I’m using the summer holidays to renovate this place.” Kat raised her hands and let them fall. “That’s about it.”
“That’s all.”
“I warned you I was boring.”
“Rubbish,” Jess exclaimed. “Have you been married yourself?” she asked easily. “Or is that too personal?”
“No. I— No. Not exactly.”
“Not exactly?” Jess repeated, giving Kat a questioning look.
Kat could have bitten her tongue. What had possessed her to give Jess such a lead-in. She tried to laugh, but it came out a little forced. “Sounds weird put that way, doesn’t it?” She said as lightly as she could, telling herself to hurry and mend her conversational fences. “I meant I’ve been in two long-ish relationships but,” she shrugged, “neither worked out.”
“I’m sorry. That’s hard.” Jess looked sympathetic, and Kat felt an almost overwhelming urge to place a so soft kiss on Jess’s incredible lips. “Life can be a real pain sometimes.”
“That it can.”
“So you’re not in a relationship now?” Jess persisted.
“No, not at the moment.”
“How long have you been on your own?”
“Six months or so.”
“Ah,” Jess murmured. “It’s pretty new then.”
“Quite honestly, we should have called it quits years before we did. That would have been the most sensible thing to do.” And they would have had it not been for Meggie, Kat wanted to add.
“And saved a lot of stress, no doubt.” Jess gave a wry smile. “But when it comes to relationships, who’s sensible?”
“That about covers it.”
“So what caused your breakup?”
“Same old, same old. Another woman.” Kat felt on more stable ground with that comment. “What about you?”
Jess looked down at her hands. “Oh, no other woman. As I said we both just decided we didn’t want to be married anymore. It was all quite amicable.”
“And have you met anyone else since your divorce?” Kat was amazed at herself. It wasn’t usual for her to be so, well, so much like Em. Em would be proud of her.
“No, I haven’t.” Jess paused. “Not really. No one special. Life can be a bit hectic for that, what with work and the kids.”
“I guess so. And the good ones aren’t exactly thick on the ground, are they?”
“No. Definitely not.” Jess smiled again. “My mother keeps telling us—Mark, Lucas and me—that she’s sure someone special will come along for the three of us. Mum’s a little bit in denial. She took Mark’s and my breakup pretty hard, and I think she still holds out a glimmer of hope we’ll get back together again, even though we’ve explained we won’t be. She’s coming around to it all little by little.”
“What about Mark’s parents?”
“Initially I think they were devastated, but they’re very accepting and they love the kids. Mark and I are really grateful our parents have been so tolerant.”
“What about Lucas? Isn’t he seeing someone?” Kat put in and Jess looked at her quickly and away again.
“Lucas doesn’t talk about that sort of thing much.”
“Ah.” Kat nodded. “The quiet type. I keep telling Em there’s nothing wrong with that when she accuses me of being the same. Nobody gets to be shy and retiring when Em’s around so you’d best warn Lucas on the off-chance they cross paths.”
“I’ll do that.” Jess gave a smile. “And somehow I got that impression when I met Em.” She paused again. “I take it you’ve known Em a long time?”
“Yes, since we were kids. And Em’s always been the same. She’d be a valuable asset to ASIO or any other government body seeking information.”
Jess laughed, and the warm, husky sound flowed over Kat like warm sunshine on a hot summer’s day. She pulled herself together. “But where were we?” she asked quickly. “Oh, yes. Lucas. He’s very-nice looking, isn’t he? It’s a wonder he’s not fighting off hordes of women.”
“Yes, he is pretty good looking.” Jess’s fingers fiddled with the collar of her shirt, the lapels of her jacket.
“There’s a strong family resemblance between you and Lucas,” Kat continued, wondering what had unsettled Jess. “Probably because your mothers were twins.”
“Probably. Let’s see. You said Lucas was good looking and that we looked alike.” Jess pulled a face. “So I’ll take that as a compliment then?”
“Absolutely,” Kat agreed, wishing she could tell Jess just how attractive she thought she was. “It goes without saying that you must also be fighting off”—she paused and felt herself color slightly—“the hordes.”
Jess held up her hands. “I assure you, I’m not. And apart from that, I’m afraid I don’t need those complications.”
Kat’s heart sank. Strike two. Not a lesbian and not interested. Oh well, what had Kat expected? Soaring violin music, white doves, fluffy white clouds and a fairy-tale happy ending? Not likely. But it would have been so very nice, said that vulnerable part of herself she’d tried to tuck away deep inside her.
Kat’s mobile rang and they both started. Kat excused herself and crossed to the breakfast bar.
“It’s me,” said a forlorn little voice, and Kat smiled across at Jess, mouthing that it was Meggie. “Meggie, how are you?”
“Oh, okay, I guess.”
“Oh. Just okay you guess?”
“Mum’s taking me over to Gran’s tomorrow for the rest of the week, and I’d rather be with you.”
“You like staying with your grandparents and they’d be upset if you didn’t. You know how much your Gran looks forward to the school holidays so you can stay with them,” Kat reminded her.
“I know. But it’s Caleb’s birthday and Miranda wants me to come to the party and it’s on Saturday. Can you come and get me and bring me over for
it, Kat?” Meggie pleaded. “Mum’s going to be working.”
Kat raised her eyebrows at Jess. “And does Miranda’s mother know Miranda’s invited you?”
Jess reached for her bag and held up an envelope. “Sorry. Forgot,” she mouthed.
“Yes, of course, Kat. Miranda asked her first. Miranda and I have the same rules.”
“I’m pleased about that,” Kat said dryly. “What’s your mother think about this?”
“Well.” Meggie paused and sighed. “I kind of haven’t told her yet. I thought you might sort of ring her and ask her if I can go.”
“Meggs!”
“I’m sorry, Kat. But you know how Mum is. I was going to ask her last night when she got home from work, but she was really distracted. I think she might have had a fight with Tori.” Meggie paused again. “She’ll be home in half an hour.”
“Meggie, we’ll have to talk about all this next time I see you.” Obviously Meggie was clued into playing her best cards with Kat and her mother so Kat decided she’d have to set some boundaries.
“Does that mean you aren’t going to talk to Mum?” Meggie said disappointedly.
“No. I will talk to her. Jess is here now and she has the invitation.”
“Oh. Great.” Meggie’s voice was full of smiles. “That’s all right then. I’ll go, Kat, so you can talk to Jess. She can tell you all about Caleb’s party. She’s really nice. I like her a lot. Don’t you?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Okay. ’Bye, Kat. Love you.”
“Me too, you,” Kat said and hung up.
“I meant to give you this when I arrived.” Jess handed Kat the party invitation as Kat rejoined her.
The envelope had Kat and Meggie on the front in what was obviously Miranda’s writing.
“Caleb wanted you and Meggie to come, but I’ll understand if kids birthday parties aren’t your thing,” Jess said. “It will no doubt be mega-noisy and full on.”
“No. That’s okay. I teach eight-year-olds so I’m used to mega-noisy and full on. I can help out if you need me to.”
“Heaven forbid.” Jess laughed. “Unless you absolutely have to play Pin the Tail on the Donkey, you and I are going to enjoy ourselves. Mark and Lucas will be doing the hard work. I’m just the food person.”