Christmas All Around Us ; The Perfect Time for Love ; Playing for Keeps

by Carla Kincaid

  "And you liked things better that way?" Dr. Turner asked. "You liked being the good kid?"

  Joy shrugged her shoulders. "I never really thought about it until now," she admitted. "Until I had to come home because of my injury. That's when everything fell apart."

  Dr. Turner's eyebrow crinkled ever so slightly. "Things fell apart because you got hurt playing softball?"

  Joy twisted in her seat but didn't answer the question. Something about this conversation was making her very agitated.

  "Joy, who do you usually talk to about the things that bother you?" Dr. Turner asked.

  Joy went through a mental list of the people in her life but didn't really come up with any names. "I guess I don't really talk to anyone," she said softly. "I just kind of work things out on my own."

  Dr. Turner uncrossed her legs and leaned forward. When she spoke there was a tenderness in her voice that Joy hadn't noticed before. "Most people depend on friends and family -- you know intimate relationships -- to help them cope with life's difficulties."

  Kate's bright smile flashed through Joy's face. Joy certainly felt better when she talked to Kate. Maybe a relationship was something that could help her sort all of this out.

  "Of course, I wouldn't recommend substituting one addiction for another," Dr. Turner continued. "It would have to be a stable, healthy relationship, not something that just popped up out of the blue."

  That last sentence made Joy avert her eyes. You couldn't get much more out of the blue than how Kate appeared in Joy's life.

  "You're confusing me, Dr. Turner. First, you say that most people use relationships to help them stay balanced in life, then you say relationships are just like other addictions. Which is it?"

  "I'm just suggesting that the relationships you really need to focus on are those that helped shape the person you are today. The ones from your formative years like the relationship with your sibling and your parents."

  Joy's day had gone from happy and hopeful back to the same emptiness she'd been feeling before she left Richmond. Part of what Dr. Turner said made sense but Joy didn't want to give up the feeling of freedom she'd experienced after spending only a short time with Kate. Maybe the doctor was wrong. After all, she said, most people, not all people. Maybe Joy's interaction with Kate was the exception to the norm? Maybe if she just kept exploring what the two of them had together, it would help Joy make her way out of the mental mess she was in. Joy decided she was willing to take the risk, even if it meant keeping her feelings for Kate a secret from Dr. Turner.

  Chapter 9

  Kate buzzed around the kitchen at Glenmore humming to herself as she chopped up the last ingredients for the soup she planned to serve for lunch.

  "You're in an awfully good mood today," Elaine said as she stirred the batter for some cornbread. "What gives?"

  Kate glanced quickly at her co-worker and then put her focus back on the vegetables she was chopping. "Nothing in particular," she said trying to keep her voice casual. "I guess I'm just in a good mood."

  "Hmmm," Elaine said. She stopped stirring the cornbread and pointed the batter covered spoon in Kate's direction. "You'd tell me if that lottery ticket we went in on last week won, right?"

  Kate let out a loud guffaw. "Trust me. If it had anything to do with money, you'd be the first to know. In fact," Kate said as she glanced up at the clock. "I need to get this soup on the stove so I can run over to the bank before lunchtime." She let out a long sigh and some of her cheeriness flew out of her body as well. "I've got to see if I can get a car loan. There's no way we can make it without a vehicle once the summer is over."

  "I wouldn't think you'd have any trouble getting a loan -- given your association with the bank."

  Kate's shoulders dropped slightly. Elaine was right. She knew she probably wouldn't have to jump through as many hoops as most people because the bank was owned by Sam's family but she tried not to utilize that connection too often. It wasn't always a good thing to get too close to his side of the family.

  Kate kept Dana as protected as she could from the judgmental eyes of the Kensingtons. For the most part that wasn't too difficult. Sam was the youngest in the family and had a history of messing up from early on. Fathering Dana was seen more as the unfortunate result of boys being boys. But if there was ever an occasion where Dana was to appear publicly Sam would show up with an appropriate garment in the right size -- purchased by his mother. Since everyone in town knew that Dana was Sam's daughter the only thing the Kensington family worried about was that Dana not appear to be neglected. That would reflect poorly on them.

  Kate tossed the vegetables and a few more spices into the soup pot and put it on the stove.

  "I'll be back before this is ready," she announced to Elaine.

  When Kate first walked into the doors of the bank she scanned the floor for any sight of the Kensington family member she least wanted to see. She wasn't surprised that Sam didn't seem to be anywhere around. She knew that his position as the Assistant Bank Manager was more about the title than any real usefulness he provided to the family business. Sam spent most of his time racing three-wheelers and hanging out at the gun range with his friends.

  Kate slipped into the chair in front of one of the bank associate's desks.

  "How can I help you today, Kate?" a woman named Wendy asked her.

  "I need to apply for a business loan," Kate said trying to sound more confident than she felt.

  She knew Warner Landscaping didn't have a whole lot of collateral but it was worth a try.

  "My dad needs a new pickup truck," Kate explained further.

  "Okay. Lets' just see what we need here." Wendy's fingers flew over her computer keyboard as she asked Kate for the information needed to process her loan application.

  Kate's nerves were on edge as she spoke. As much as she didn't like the thought of a car loan she knew it was the wisest choice. Even if she did have the cash to get a new transmission for the old truck she knew that would only be a temporary fix. No, it was time to make room for something new! Even if it did come with a monthly payment.

  A moment later the printer next to Wendy's desk spit out two ominous pieces of paper. Wendy awkwardly tapped the end of an embossed bank pen against her lips as if the motion were keeping the wrong words from spilling out.

  "You don't seem to have the proper collateral to get a loan -- without some assistance," she said. "You could apply for a bank credit card if you think the amount you need is less than $2500."

  That would be enough to get the old truck fixed but nowhere near enough to purchase even a decent used one.

  "I'm pretty sure I'm going to need more than that," Kate said with a sigh.

  "You could take out a line of credit against the equity in your home," Wendy suggested. "Is your mortgage with us? I can check and see how much equity you have available."

  Kate's shoulders dropped. "No, we took out an equity line of credit two years ago when we had to put a new roof on the house."

  Wendy tapped the pen against her lips again. Then she glanced over her shoulder toward one of the glass-walled offices at the far side of the bank.

  "We do have a new small business product," she said.

  Kate's hopes lifted slightly.

  "But I can't approve those. You'd have to talk to the Bank Manager."

  Kate's heart sank back to her stomach.

  "Sorry," Wendy mouthed silently.

  Kate gave Wendy a weak smile and nodded her head giving the bank employee permission to do what she had to do. Wendy picked up the phone on her desk and called the necessary extension.

  "Yes, Mr. Kensington, I have a customer at my desk who's interested in our new business loan product." She glanced up at Kate as if she was making sure Kate hadn't run out of the room. "Yes, Sir. I'll send her in."

  Wendy hung up the phone. "He can see you now."

  Kate got up from the desk, squared her shoulders and headed to the office with Brad Kensington's name etched on the name
plate outside the door.

  "Well, hello there, Katherine," the elder Kensington brother said irritatingly using Kate's full name. "How are you doing today?"

  "I'm fine, Brad," Kate replied playing along with the bank executives polite game.

  She knew good and well Brad Kensington merely tolerated her because of Dana. In fact, it was Brad who put the idea in Sam's head all those years ago that Dana might not even be his child.

  "So, you need to explore loan opportunities," he said scrolling through the information Wendy had obviously emailed him.

  "Yes. My father needs a new truck for his business."

  "Oh. Is Warner Landscaping still in operation?" he asked smugly. "I thought that new larger firm had scooped up most of the business in town."

  Kate clenched her teeth so she didn't scream or bite Brad's head off.

  "No worries," he said before she even responded to his snide comment. "Let me just see what I can do for you. After all, we are family." Brad's lips curled back from his teeth in what he would probably describe as a smile but it actually looked like he was in pain or had eaten a bad meal.

  A moment later his printer spit out a piece of paper which he handed to Kate.

  "Just take this home and have your father sign it. It will take about two days to process the loan and cut you a check."

  Kate blinked with surprise. "That's it?" she said amazed that Brad hadn't required her to roll up her sleeve and give blood.

  'That's it." His lips curled back again.

  "Thanks," Kate said as she quickly got up from her chair. If Brad was being human enough to make this easy for her she wasn't going to waste either of their time by making small talk.

  "You're quite welcome. Tell my niece I said hello," were the last words Kate heard before the glass office door clicked shut behind her.

  Kate let out a sigh -- grateful and surprised that the bank trip had gone so smoothly. She passed Wendy's desk -- giving the woman an appreciative nod -- and was just about to exit the bank when someone stepped in front of her.

  "I hear you're sending Dana to that softball camp in Florida," Sam said. The arch in his eyebrow silently announced his objection.

  This was a conversation that was going to take longer than Kate wanted to give Sam right now but she didn't really have a reason not to talk to him -- other than the fact that the man irritated the crap out of her.

  Sam motioned toward an empty office and the two of them stepped inside. "I didn't say anything about it before," he continued. "Because I didn't think it would be an issue since the trip is a little costly."

  Translation, I know you're broke and knew I wasn't going to give you the money, so I figured that meant Dana wasn't going to go on the trip.

  "My dad and I worked it out," Kate said trying to keep her voice low since only a glass door separated them from the rest of the bank. "We think it's a good opportunity for Dana to see what it really takes to have a career in softball."

  "A career," Sam snorted. "In softball? Don't be ridiculous, Kate. Those girls barely make enough money to feed themselves."

  "Those women," Kate corrected. She could object to Sam demeaningly calling female professional athletes girls but she couldn't exactly object to his point about their pay. Kate had done a little reading about the financial prospects of the game for women and it seemed unless you were a superstar -- like Joy -- or moved out of the country, things could be pretty bleak.

  "It's a little soon to be talking about career moves," Kate said. "But it's possible that softball could at least pay for Dana's college education if she gets a scholarship."

  "I can pay her college tuition to any school in the country," Sam said sharply. "She doesn't have to swing a bat in order to get a good education."

  Kate felt her fingers curl into fists.

  "I know you can afford to pay her tuition but I want Dana to be happy and that's not just about money!" Kate said sharply.

  Sam leaned back on his heels. "No, it's not just about money, but you have to admit -- money does make things easier."

  Kate wanted to slap the smug look off of his face. She hated how he threw his money around when it was convenient and withheld it whenever he objected to something Kate wanted to provide for their daughter.

  "Sam, I don't have time to discuss this right now. I have to get back to work."

  Sam tilted his head as if he was trying to decide whether or not he was finished with his part of the conversation.

  "I guess we can talk about this later," he acquiesced. " In the meantime, please make sure Dana looks presentable for the event on Friday." Sam reached into his back pocket and pulled out a leather wallet that probably cost more than Kate had in her bank account. He pulled out several bills. "In case Dana needs to get her hair done, or something," he said placing the bills on the vacant desk. Then he turned and walked out of the office.

  It took everything Kate had not to pick up the abandoned stapler sitting next to the stack of money and throw it at the back of Sam's head.

  ***

  The afternoon sun was still beating down on her shoulders as Kate walked home from the senior center. Elaine had some errands to run and Kate didn't want to wait until she was finished to get home. If she was honest with herself, she wanted to get home to see what Joy was up to. Kate was enjoying the company of her new house guest -- even if it did also create some emotional turmoil for her.

  The heat caused Kate's shirt to stick to her body and she could already feel the heel of her foot becoming tender as she walked over the unpaved part of the road. Kate stopped for a moment and leaned against a large boulder. She took off her shoe and shook the little bits of gravel that had collected in it to the ground. Kate was still bent over lacing up her shoe when she heard someone in an approaching car whistle at her. She stood up and spun around so fast she almost made herself dizzy. In her mind, she was prepared to face down an irritating cat -caller but as the car came into focus she realized the person laughing from the passenger's seat wasn't a stranger.

  "Hi, Mom!" Dana said still giggling.

  The wind had blown most of Dana's hair out of her loose ponytail and it now frizzed around her smiling face.

  "Very funny, young lady," Kate said with a raised eyebrow but she could hardly stifle her own laughter.

  Her daughter's joke -- and seeing Joy in the driver's seat -- melted away the irritation that still clung to her after her run-in with Sam.

  "I started not to stop," Joy said. "You don't have a good track record with accepting roadside assistance."

  "I guess I'm never going to live that down," she said with a shrug. "But this time I actually need help. I got a rock in my shoe and my foot is killing me." Kate looked inside the small car. "But I'm not sure if there's even room for me in there," she said.

  "There's plenty room!" Dana said as she scurried into the small space behind the front seats.

  The space was so tiny, Kate hadn't even realized there was a seat back there.

  "Are you sure you can breathe?" she asked half joking and half concerned about her daughter's safety. "Is there a seatbelt back there?"

  Joy reached over and touched Kate's leg. "Don't worry momma bear. I'll get you and your cub home safely."

  Kate didn't know if it was Joy's touch or her voice but whatever it was sent chills through her body.

  "Alright then, driver. Let's go."