by T. L. Haddix
“Roy and Nancy have the little ones, and Mama and Sarah stopped next door at the baby boutique,” Kathy said. “They should be along any minute. What about you? I take it you’re meeting someone as well?”
“My mother, my sister, and her husband. I’ll admit curiosity has me wishing I could stand them up. How are you liking Georgia, Mr. Campbell?”
Owen grinned. “Please, Mr. Campbell was my father. We like it well enough for brief visits, especially this time of year.”
Kathy laughed. “You’ll be here for a month. You’d better like it well enough.”
“It’s a working vacation. I’m a writer,” Owen explained somewhat modestly, “so we’re renting a small cottage close to Eliza and Kathy. I’ll admit making the trip with two six-month-old babies and an almost-three-year-old who’s curious about everything was a bit of a challenge. I’m not eager to make the journey home. We might need the whole month to recuperate.”
Eliza and a pretty, dark-haired woman who bore a strong resemblance both to Eliza and Kathy walked up.
Eliza smiled and gave him a hug. “Charles! What a pleasant surprise. Are you joining us?”
He held out her chair. “I’m afraid not. I’m meeting my family.” He nodded at the brunette. “You must be Sarah. I’m Charles Kelly.”
To his surprise, she eyed him with speculation, holding the hand he held out with a firm grip. “Charles from the beach?”
He hesitated. “Yes, I suppose I am.”
A sunny smile spread across her face, and she squeezed his hand tightly with both of hers. “Oh, I’m so glad to get to meet you! Mama sings your praises.”
Feeling pleased and mischievous, he sent a little grin toward Kathy. “But not your sister?”
Kathy sighed and pursed her lips. “You’re persistent, Mr. Kelly.”
“Absolutely, Ms. Browning.”
Sarah looked from him to Kathy as she sat down on Owen’s other side. “Well, well. Isn’t this interesting? Are you sure you can’t join us?”
“She’ll grill you if you do,” Kathy said. “Fair warning.”
“Oh, Charles, there you are!” A soft feminine voice reached his ears a moment before he felt a light touch on his arm. “See, Evelyn, I told you he’d be joining us this morning.”
“Yes, you did, Mother.” Evelyn’s eyes were full of satisfaction as she took in Kathy’s group.
“Mrs. Tinsdale, sir, Evelyn.” He nodded at the three of them, heart sinking as he realized he had, in fact, been set up again.
“We’ve all been looking forward to spending some time with you,” Evelyn said, “since our last visit was cut short.”
Holding on to his temper by a thread, Charles tightened the grip he had on the menu. “I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m not joining my family today. I was on my way to say hello, but I’m dining with some friends and their out-of-town visitors. We have a lot of catching up to do.” He gestured to Kathy’s group.
Mrs. Tinsdale raised her brows as she looked over the family dismissively. “Friends, you say? I don’t recognize any of them.”
“With respect, ma’am, I believe we’re holding up traffic. If you wouldn’t mind giving my regards to my family?” Without waiting for her response, Charles took the vacant chair beside Kathy. He glowered at Evelyn and her mother, silently daring them to contradict him.
“Of course we will,” Mr. Tinsdale said, cheerfully oblivious. “Come along, ladies. Don’t want to miss our brunch, do we?”
They went, but it was with such obvious reluctance and resentment Charles felt embarrassed for them. Embarrassed and furious. His sister was lucky she was pregnant, as otherwise she’d be catching a piece of his mind the next time he talked to her. If he couldn’t contain his temper, she still might hear a few choice words.
“Careful or you’ll break something with that look,” Kathy said in a low voice, pulling his attention back to the table.
With a sigh, Charles shook his head. “I’m so sorry about that, folks. My mother gets ideas, and she’s like a freight train… well. I guess you’re stuck with me. I do apologize.”
Sarah propped her chin on her hand and studied him. “No need. I’m even more intrigued now. What kinds of ideas?”
Owen groaned. “Look out, Charles, you’ve done it now.” But the smile he sent his wife was full of affection, not condemnation, and everyone laughed.
Eliza patted his hand. “Regardless of what brought you to our table, we’re glad you’re here. Now, what looks good?” She opened her menu.
As they discussed food, Charles stole a glance at Kathy. When she looked up and caught him watching her, she smiled and winked. He smiled back, most of his irritation with his family fading. The matchmaking was annoying, but as he’d ended up where he most wanted to be, he could hardly complain.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kathy knew it was coming. Sure enough, as soon as they’d gotten home and changed into comfortable clothes—having already picked the babies up from Roy and Nancy’s—Sarah pulled Kathy into the backyard and pounced.
“Spill it. What’s going on between you two?”
With a groan, Kathy sat on the rocking glider she and Eliza had placed under a shade tree. “I don’t know. I don’t,” she insisted at Sarah’s skeptical look. “He’s… we… oh, I don’t know.” She buried her face in her hands, laughing. “Help.”
Sarah sat beside her. “Talk to me.”
Kathy did. She told her everything, starting with the day on the beach when Charles had saved her. “And then the day before yesterday, I took him a cake like the one I made for all of us only a little smaller. Do you think that was too forward?”
Her sister was smiling—grinning really. She threw her arms around Kathy and squeezed. “Oh, no. I think it was perfect. Oh, Kathy, you like him.”
“Yes, I do. And I’m so scared. There are so many reasons I should stay away from him.”
Sarah sat back, pulling her hair over one shoulder to play with a strand while she looked back at the house, thinking. “Maybe, but he didn’t seem daunted. And you can’t say he doesn’t have an idea of what he’d be getting into. I know Mama likes him, and from what I saw, he’s very nice. He certainly didn’t have to pay for our meals.”
Kathy scowled. “I know that. The stubborn man…” She snorted. “His sister was funny.”
“That she was,” Sarah said with a laugh. “She diffused his temper fast enough. I’ll bet they’re a hoot whenever they’re together.”
Daphne had come over a couple of minutes after the Tinsdales had gone, her face full of apology. “I didn’t know,” she said before Charles could speak. “I swear to you I didn’t know. Don’t you dare blame me. If you brought your own dates to these things, she wouldn’t do this.”
Charles’s face turned ten shades of red as he scowled at his sister while the rest of them snickered. “Daph, if you weren’t out to here with that baby…”
She rolled her eyes and waved, not the least perturbed by his threat. “I know, I know. You’d chase me through the yard and pull my pigtails. Hi, I’m Daphne, this one’s mean baby sister.” She shook everyone’s hands with a winsome smile. Once the introductions were made, her eyes lit on Kathy with curiosity. “So how do you know my brother? Or are you complete strangers and he crashed your brunch to get out of having to sit with us?”
“Daph…” Charles’s voice was weary with the fatigue only dealing with a persistent sibling could produce.
“Don’t ‘Daph’ me. It’s a legitimate question. I couldn’t blame you if you had.” She gave him a quick hug. “Never mind. I’ll find out later. I’d best get back, or Mother will come over here. It was nice to meet you all.” And then she was gone as fast as she’d arrived.
Kathy didn’t bother hiding her amusement. “She really is a handful, isn’t she?”
“You don’
t know the half of it.”
His statement had been so heartfelt, she couldn’t keep from laughing.
“His mother sounds like a nightmare,” Kathy told Sarah now. “He’s from old money, and you know how some people are. Shoot, the Tinsdales were looking down on us.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “And I’d like to know why. We were dressed just as nicely as they were. It’s not like we had broccoli hanging out of our teeth or were barefoot.”
“It’s a very insular society in some ways, old Savannah. In a lot of ways, really. Things are changing, but there are still very strict societal class lines, and I’m afraid we broke them today.” Kathy worried the thin bracelet on her left wrist. “If his mother catches wind of this—this flirtation we’ve been having, I guess you’d say she’ll put a stop to it very fast.”
“Really? You think she has that much pull over him?”
Kathy moved her shoulder. “Most Southern mamas carry a lot of weight with their children. Can you imagine if she found out where I come from? What my story is?”
Sarah’s eyes narrowed. “There’s not a damned blessed thing wrong with where you come from, Kathleen Browning, and you’d better not be thinking there is.”
Kathy looked at her with resignation. “You know what I mean. Sarah, I’m poor white trash compared to him. It would be an absolute scandal if we started dating and word got out about my past.”
Sarah pushed a lock of Kathy’s hair back off her forehead. “Sweetie, if he’s the kind of man who’d let that come between you, he’s not worth worrying over.”
“So you don’t think I should be concerned about the possibility of all that coming to light?”
Her sister’s mouth tightened. “No, I think you’re right to be concerned. I just hope it won’t be a problem. I’d like to see you win for once.”
“So would I,” Kathy admitted ruefully. “I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, about what it might be like to be with someone who wasn’t like Randall or Clay.” She’d hoped when Sarah came that they’d get to have certain discussions, but she hadn’t expected them to happen so quickly. Her heart pounded as she realized the time had come. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“It’s a private question,” Kathy hedged.
Bemused, Sarah tilted her head. “Ask me anything.”
Kathy drew in a deep breath. “Do you like sex?”
For several seconds, Sarah stared at her, her face blooming with a deep red blush. “Um… Well.”
Then Sarah snickered. Before long, the snicker was a full laugh, and she and Kathy were holding on to each other, struggling to stay upright on the swing they were laughing so hard.
“I didn’t th-think it was that st-strange a question,” Kathy sputtered when she could catch her breath.
Sarah waved her hands in front of her eyes then swiped her damp cheeks. “It wasn’t. Oh, I’m sorry. I just wasn’t expecting you to ask that. For some reason, I keep picturing that time when we were teenagers when Mama sat us down and made us put condoms on bananas as practice.” Once her fit of giggles had died down, she sighed and spoke quietly. “To answer your question, yes. I very much enjoy sex. Did you… not?”
Kathy shook her head. “Not particularly. It was okay, but it was more something for the man.”
Sarah clasped Kathy’s hand. “Sweetie, if it’s the right man, it’s absolutely breathtaking. Although I think, from what I’ve heard from friends, sometimes even the right man has to be guided. True intimacy is something you learn together.”
Kathy was struggling hard to fight her amused mortification. “I take it Owen didn’t need any guidance?”
It was Sarah’s turn to cover her face. “Oh, sweet Lord, I can’t believe we’re talking about this. No, he didn’t.”
“So that book he gave you that Sunday at dinner really was The Kama Sutra?”
Sarah’s laughter rang out in the backyard. “No, that was one of his own books that hadn’t been released yet! I told you that.”
Now that some of her unease had faded, Kathy was enjoying teasing her sister. “But you knew what it was.”
“Charles isn’t the only one with a handful for a sister, I see,” Sarah said, nudging Kathy’s shoulder with her own. “I knew what it was because one of my girlfriends at college gave it to me. And yes, it’s something that has practical applications if you’re so inclined. That’s all I’m going to say about that.” She shot Kathy a look. “If you have any other questions, I advise you to ask Charles.”
Kathy pinched Sarah’s ear lightly, something that she’d always hated. “Maybe you’re not the good girl I thought you were, Sarah Jane.”
Sarah grinned as she ducked away. “Oh, you can put money on that.” She straightened as Owen stepped out onto the porch, Emma in his arms. “I’ll bet she’s fussy. I think she’s starting to teethe.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said as he came up to them and handed the baby over, “but she wants you. Daddy’s not good enough.” He handed her a thick, cold plastic ring. “Ben’s still asleep.”
“He won’t be for long,” Sarah said, settling Emma against her shoulder with a kiss. “He does his best to keep up with her in everything.”
“And John watches over them both.” Owen rested his hand on Emma’s head, then he touched Sarah’s cheek, his smile soft. “I’ll let you two get back to it.”
“He’s such a good father,” Kathy said as he went back inside. “He really helps you with them. And he’s a good husband too, unless I’m crazy.”
Sarah nodded. “The best.” She brushed her fingers over Emma’s soft curls. “He adores all three of the babies, but this one has his heart. I knew she would.”
Kathy touched Emma’s hand, her heart melting when the little girl clenched her fingers around two of Kathy’s. “Do you think you’ll have more, or is this it?”
“Mmm, too soon to tell. But I’d like more kids. I’d like a houseful, and I never thought I’d say that.”
“I’m not surprised. I figured you’d take to being a mother.” Kathy felt her sister’s shock. “You always had that air about you. Sarah… I’m glad your babies don’t look like mine. I’m glad they’re a mix of you and Owen. I don’t want to miss out on seeing them grow up, and it might have been too hard if they’d…”
Sarah held out her hand, and Kathy took it.
“I understand. I feel the same way.”
For a long while, they sat under the tree, slowly rocking as Emma quieted.
“I’m not sure I’m ready to be with anyone in any meaningful way,” Kathy said at last. “But the more I get to know Charles, the more curious I am. The more attractive I find him. I’m afraid I want to be with him, but I don’t necessarily want to marry him. I don’t know what to do about that.”
Sarah sighed. “Well, don’t take this as me saying you should run out and seduce the man and damn the consequences, but maybe you should run out and seduce the man and damn the consequences. If the opportunity arises, of course.”
Kathy stared at her sister, stunned. “What?”
“You’re both adults. Not to put too fine a point on it, but if he truly doesn’t want children, there’s no need for you to rush into anything like marriage. You can take your time and enjoy the ride, so to speak.” Her cheeks turned pink as Kathy snickered. “You know what I mean.”
“Whatever happened to not giving away the milk for free?” Kathy retorted. The adage was something their father had been fond of saying.
“Well, there’s no need to buy a whole pig just to get a little sausage either,” Sarah returned. “Not that all men are pigs, but it’s better to find out beforehand.”
“Sarah! Oh, my God!” Kathy dissolved into laughter. “Where in the world did you hear that? Oh, good grief!”
Sarah shook her head. “Look, don’t take this the wron
g way, okay? But if you think Charles is special, if you really like him, don’t worry about what the rest of the world thinks. Worry about yourself first and him second. Not his mother, not our mother, no one else. And maybe that means you don’t even kiss the man, or maybe you end up in bed rolling around like wildcats.” When Kathy sent her an incredulous look, Sarah shrugged. “That has its place. Don’t knock it. My point is have fun.”
Kathy frowned. “You’re the third person to tell me that. I can’t understand why you aren’t condemning me for even considering having an affair.”
“If you were saying you wanted to go out and pick up strangers in bars, I’d be very concerned about you. But I don’t see a thing wrong with you wanting to get to know Charles, even intimately. I could be wrong, but from what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard, he’s a good person. You couldn’t be with a safer person to spread your wings.”
“And you think I should?”
Sarah hugged her. “My sweet sister, I think you should do whatever you need to do in order to fly again. You deserve to be happy, and that’s all I want for you. If he makes you happy, don’t let anyone hold you back.”
Kathy returned the hug. “I’m not sure I’ve ever flown.”
However, she had to admit she wanted to try, wanted to be free with a fierceness that surprised her. Knowing she had Sarah’s support lifted a weight off her shoulders she’d not been aware of carrying.
Truly, she didn’t expect her flirtation with Charles to turn into anything serious, even intimacy. There were just too many obstacles between them that she couldn’t imagine overcoming. But maybe they could mean something to each other and share a part of their lives for a while. Time would tell, and suddenly Kathy was eager to see what would happen next.
Chapter Twenty-Three
