"Early for what?" Darla flounced into the front hall wearing red stiletto heels and a silver mini-skirt.
"Mom! You can’t wear that to the concert."
"Concert? Oh, is that tonight? I can’t make it, honey. I made other plans."
Chelsea’s face fell. "You promised you’d come."
"Well, I forgot. So sue me. Carcia’s turning thirty and we’re all going down to The Bait House to celebrate. I told her I’d be there. I can’t just not show up."
Katherine glared at Darla. "You can party with your friends any time," she said evenly. "Your daughter’s concert is special."
"So is turning thirty for the first time. I must have turned thirty four or five times before moving up to the next number." Darla laughed, but no else one joined in. "Oh, come on, it’s no big deal. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of concerts coming up. I’ll come to the next one."
"Darla," Katherine began, but Chelsea stopped her.
"Never mind, Aunt Kathy. It doesn’t matter if she doesn't come. Let’s just go."
Darla looked haughtily at Katherine. "See? It’s no big deal. Chelsea understands. I’ll see you all later, maybe," she told the group and strutted out. Katherine wanted to kick her butt. Instead, she told everyone to hop in the van and they took off for the middle school.
The concert was lovely, in spite of Darla’s absence, or maybe because of it. Chelsea played her solo, a country folk tune, and received a nice round of applause. When she stepped off stage after the concert, Marcia gushed over her and Denise also complemented her emphatically. Both women were used to filling in the holes that Darla so often left empty.
Everyone began leaving the auditorium and the two kids headed up the aisle with the elder Richards. As Denise turned to follow, she was bumped into.
"Oh, I’m sorry!" Denise said automatically, and her eyes lifted to a familiar face. She blushed deep red. "Dr. Harris. I...I didn’t see you."
"Actually, it was my fault. I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going." He smiled at her. "You look nice tonight, Denise."
"Thank you." Denise fingered the gold chain at her neck, staring up at the tall, dark haired man in front of her.
"Hi, Gary. How are you tonight?" Katherine spoke up from behind Denise.
"Just fine, thank you. Is your son in the orchestra, Katherine?"
"No, Denise’s niece is. We came to hear her play her solo."
"You two know each other?" Denise stared from one to the other, surprised at their familiarity.
"Sure. Gary is on the school board. How long has it been, Gary? Two years now?"
"About that."
Denise looked confused. "I didn’t know you had children."
Gary laughed warmly. "I don’t. But I am interested in the education system here."
"Oh." Denise continued twisting her necklace.
"My niece was in the concert tonight, too," he told them. "She was the blonde in the green dress."
Both women nodded.
"Well, I guess I’d better be going. See you around the hospital, Denise. Bye, Katherine." Katherine said goodbye while Denise continued to silently stare at him as he made his way up the aisle. Slowly, they followed.
"So, Dr. Harris thought you looked nice tonight, huh?" Katherine teased from behind her.
"Oh, stop."
"Good-looking, single, and a doctor to-boot. He'd be a great catch, don’t you think?"
"Kathy," Denise said in a warning tone.
"Denise, you’re blushing."
"And you sound just like Darla."
"Ouch. Sorry. I was only teasing." Katherine followed Denise the rest of the way out of the building. When they got outside, she noted that the Richards and the kids were already by the car. "This way," she told Denise. But Denise wasn’t looking toward the car. Her eyes were watching Dr. Harris as he got into his car.
Chapter Four
"Hurry up, kids. Your breakfast is ready," Katherine called out from the kitchen. As she walked back to the sink to wash dishes, she heard steps coming down the back stairs.
"Chelsea. I didn’t know you were up in your mom’s room. Your breakfast is ready, come sit down."
Chelsea sat as Katherine poured her orange juice. She was frowning at her oatmeal.
"What’s the matter, dear? Don’t you like oatmeal?"
"No, the oatmeal’s okay. It’s my mom."
Katherine raised a brow. Maybe they'd had a fight about her not going to the concert. She waited silently for Chelsea to continue.
"I went upstairs to get my sweater that she borrowed, and she's really sick. She’s throwing up and looks awful."
Katherine nodded her head in understanding. "She’ll be okay, dear. She probably had too much to drink last night, that’s all." And she deserves being sick after what she did to Chelsea.
By the time both kids were ready and heading out the door, Katherine could see that Chelsea was still worried. She patted her on the back. "Don’t worry about your mom, dear. I’ll check on her in a little bit, okay?"
Chelsea brightened. "Thanks, Aunt Kathy." She hurried out behind Chris to the bus stop.
Katherine watched her go, thinking how lucky Darla was that Chelsea still cared about her after all the crap she’d pulled on her.
"I’m late again." Denise rushed into the kitchen and began rummaging through the cabinets. "Geez, do you know where my coffee mug is? The one I use in the car."
Katherine reached up into the cabinet behind her, pulled out the mug, and handed it to Denise. "You look nice this morning. New dress?"
Denise looked down at herself. "Yes, it is. Do you think it’s too dressy for work?"
"No, it looks very pretty. Here, let me pour the coffee for you so you don’t spill on it." She took the mug from Denise and began filling it. "Something special going on today?"
"Why does something special have to happen for me to wear a new dress?" Denise snapped back.
"Whoa, I was only asking." She handed the full mug back to Denise.
Denise winced. "I’m sorry, Kathy. I’m just late. See you tonight." She was out the door in seconds.
"Weird," Katherine said to the empty room.
***
When the dishes were finished and the kitchen was cleaned up, Katherine decided to check on Darla before heading up to her office. As she climbed the stairs, she realized that in the three months they had all lived together, she'd never once been in Darla’s room.
Softly, she knocked on the door. "Darla, can I come in? Chelsea said you weren’t feeling well." All she heard was a grunt. Katherine opened the door slowly and peered into the room. "Darla, are you okay?"
Darla was sitting in the middle of her bed, puking into one of Katherine’s Tupperware bowls.
"Ah, geez." Katherine waved her hand in front of her nose trying to brush away the stench coming from the room. "You need a window opened." She headed across the room, opened the blinds, and lifted the window a crack.
"No, don’t. I’m too cold already," Darla sputtered before throwing up again.
Katherine crossed her arms and stared disapprovingly at Darla in her thin nightie and lying on red, satin sheets. "Well, if you’d put on something decent to sleep in, you wouldn’t be so cold."
"Just leave me alone. Let me die in peace," Darla said pitifully.
"Sorry, I can't. I promised Chelsea I’d take care of you. Believe it or not, she was actually worried about you after what you pulled on her last night."
Darla groaned again.
"What? Too much to drink at your friend’s party?" Katherine asked, disgusted.
"No, I didn’t drink anything at all. I haven’t for a couple of nights because I haven’t felt very good." Darla slumped over the bowl again, but nothing would come up.
Katherine studied her a moment, her disgust slowly turning to concern. She stepped over to the bed and felt Darla’s sweaty forehead. "You’re burning up. Here, let me get you a cold washcloth." She went into the bathroom, noticing the hot pi
nk and black towels and the clear shower curtain. Only Darla would have a see-through shower curtain, she thought.
"Here." She handed Darla the folded washcloth to place on her forehead. "Are you done throwing up for now?" Darla nodded. Katherine went back into the bathroom and washed out the bowl, then brought it back to her. "Do you have any clean sheets?"
"You don’t have to change my bed."
"Yes, I do. You can’t rest in those soaked sheets. Where are they?"
Darla weakly raised her hand and pointed to her dresser. "Top drawer, on the right."
Katherine walked across the room and rummaged through the drawer. "All you have in here are satin sheets."
"I like satin sheets."
"Well, not when you’re sick. Cotton ones will feel better. I’ll be right back." Katherine ran downstairs and got some of her own sheets, took a roll of large-sized Baggies from the kitchen drawer, and headed back up to Darla’s room.
"Here," Katherine said, looking around, her eyes resting on the hideous leopard thing. "Let’s move you over to the chaise lounge so I can change the bed."
Darla moaned as Katherine moved her, then threw up again in the bowl. She was as pale as the white sheets Katherine put on her bed. After the bed was made, Katherine rummaged through Darla’s dresser until she found an old T-shirt and flannel pajama pants. She helped Darla into them, then back into bed.
"I feel like I’m in the hospital," Darla complained. But then a rush of vomit quieted her.
Katherine washed out the bowl again and placed one of the Baggies in it as a liner. "Here. Now when you throw up, all you have to do is pull out the Baggie and put a new one in. It’s easier."
Darla gave her a wan smile. "Where did you ever learn such a thing?"
Katherine shrugged. "I don’t know. I’ve always done this for Chris." She turned on the television that sat on the dresser and gave the remote to Darla. "Just relax a while. You probably have some sort of flu. Do you need anything right now?"
Darla shook her head.
Katherine rewet the washcloth and placed it on her forehead, then picked up the dirty sheets and headed for the door. "I’ll come back and check on you later. Holler if you need me. I’ll be in my office. Say, we have some Seven-Up in the fridge, do you want one?"
Darla shook her head, a small smirk on her lips. "You’re such a mom," she told Katherine.
Katherine stared at her, puzzled. "You’re a mom, too," she said softly.
"No, I gave birth. That doesn’t make me a mom. Not like you."
A look passed between the two women like none they had ever shared before. For a split second, Katherine felt a slight connection. "Well, you rest. I’ll check on you later." She turned and left the room, a funny, unexplainable feeling inside her.
***
That evening, Denise poked her head into Katherine’s office. "Hi. Are you busy?"
"No, not really." Katherine pushed back from her desk. "Earl wants me to expand on the story about the new roof for the high school gym. What’s there to expand? HIGH SCHOOL GYM GETS NEW ROOF. End of story. Now, that’s an in-depth piece."
"He’s still not giving you any of the good stuff?"
Katherine shook her head and sighed. "Never mind. Is Darla feeling any better?"
"She seems to be. She was complaining about how you made her use hospital sheets and dress like a geek, and how you forced chicken soup down her this afternoon. Chelsea’s up there now, playing cards with her."
"Good. If she’s complaining, she must feel better."
"Thanks for helping her. I know she’ll never thank you herself."
Katherine looked thoughtful. "You know, I think she did, in her own way." She saw the confused expression on Denise’s face and simply smiled and changed the subject. "So, what's up with you?"
Denise bit her lip. "I have a favor to ask. Our hospital Christmas party is coming up on the eighteenth, and it’s my turn to host the get-together for our group before the party. Do you mind if we have it here? It'll only be about eight people."
"That’s not a problem. This is your house, too." Katherine shot her a sly smile. "Will Gary be coming?"
Denise blushed. "Actually, I was thinking of inviting him."
"Really?" Katherine was shocked. Denise never invited a man anywhere.
"Well, he does come to the ward every day, and the doctors don’t have a get-together," Denise said defensively. "I just thought it would be polite to invite him." She reached for her chain, but finding it missing, she fidgeted with her watch instead.
Katherine smiled at her nervousness. "I think inviting Gary is a great idea. This will be fun. We can make some hors d'oeuvres, maybe a spiked punch. Hey, does your mom still have that punch recipe from your cousin’s wedding reception? We could use that." Katherine was excited for Denise. She knew this was much more than a get-together of coworkers. This was finally Denise's chance to get to know Gary. Katherine also loved planning parties. It was her second favorite thing to do besides writing. "And we could get our tree this weekend so the house will be decorated in time for the party."
Denise nodded. She looked thoughtful though, not excited.
"This will be fun, don’t you think?" Katherine asked, wondering at her friend's quiet reaction.
Denise nodded again, but her eyes were filled with doubt. "What about Darla?"
"What about her?"
"You know how she ruins everything. What if she hears about the party and shows up?"
"Oh." Katherine understood completely. It would be disastrous if Darla was there. Katherine was determined that Darla wouldn’t show up. "We just won’t let that happen. She usually goes out on Saturday nights, anyway. If she doesn’t go out, we’ll have your mom invite her over. Maybe she'll even let the kids spend the night there, too."
The worried frown on Denise’s face slowly disappeared. "You always know what to do. I knew I could count on you."
Katherine clapped her hands together excitedly. "Hey, let’s go downstairs and look through some cookbooks. We have a party to plan."
***
Saturday was damp and brisk, but everyone in the household, except Darla, piled into the van to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. Once home, they set up the six foot blue spruce in the corner of the living room. Katherine lit the fireplace while Denise and the kids hauled in boxes of decorations from the garage. They even put on a Burl Ives Christmas CD for inspiration.
Chelsea yelled up the back stairs. "Mom! Come down here. We’re decorating the tree."
Darla grumbled all the way down the stairs and into the living room. She was pale, and bundled up in sweats, wool socks, and a heavy afghan. "It’s freezing in here. Can’t you turn up the heat?"
"Sit by the fire," Katherine suggested, not letting Darla's nasty mood ruin her own. "It’s warm there."
"Do you want some hot chocolate?" Denise asked. "The kids just made it."
"No." Darla plopped down on the sofa and snuggled in deep.
"Mom, don’t you want to help decorate?"
Darla coughed. A thick, low rumble vibrated inside her chest. "No," she said between waves of coughing. "I just want to lie here. I’m so cold."
Denise watched her, worry spreading over her face. "Maybe you should go to the doctor on Monday. You sound awful."
"So, I look awful, too. Stop fussing over me and decorate your stupid tree." Darla coughed again from the strain of talking. Everyone decided to leave her alone and do what she said.
Katherine strung the lights, Chelsea and Chris hung the ornaments, and Denise hung the stockings and twined garland on the staircase railing. They sang "Holly Jolly Christmas" along with Burl, drank hot chocolate, and had a fabulous time as Darla coughed and complained, bundled up on the sofa.
Chapter Five
The day of the eighteenth, Denise flew around the house in a tizzy. She had to get her hair done, finish the food for the party, and make sure the room was sparkling clean. Unable to stand Denise’s nervousness any longer, Kat
herine finally told her to go to her hair appointment, and she finished as much as she could while Denise was out of the house.
Denise returned two hours later with her long auburn hair swept back in a thick, French braid, a few stray tendrils framing her heart-shaped face. Everything was ready. The living room was polished and gleaming, and the table was set with their best silverware and china. The aroma from the simmering crock pots in the kitchen was mouth-watering, and the vegetable platters lay waiting, crisp and fresh, in the refrigerator.
Even the children were gone. Marcia had come by earlier to pick them up and take them shopping and to a movie.
Denise gazed around in wide-eyed wonder. She smiled appreciatively at her friend. "Thanks, Katherine."
Katherine grinned back, knowing how important this night was to Denise and happy to be a part of it. "No thanks necessary. I enjoyed doing it. I want this night to be perfect for you."
Denise bit her lip. "Everything is perfect. Too perfect. What about Darla?"
"Don’t worry about her. She’s already out with her friends from the studio. They're going shopping all day and hitting the bars tonight."
A relieved sigh escaped Denise.
"No more worrying," Katherine said. "Just go upstairs and dress. I’ll take care of everything."
Denise did what she was told, her face flushed with excitement.
The first guests arrived at five. Katherine greeted them at the door, taking their coats and offering refreshments. Three couples were in the living room enjoying the festive atmosphere, the soft sounds of Kenny G., and the appetizers by the time Denise made her entrance.
"Wow, you look fabulous." Katherine stared in awe at Denise in her emerald green, satin strapless dress. The color warmed her olive complexion and turned her blue eyes a lovely shade of green. The sight of her nearly knocked Katherine over.
"Do you think it’s too much?" Denise whispered, self-consciously. She was completely unaware of her own beauty.
"No. It’s absolutely perfect."
The other guests echoed Katherine’s complement as Denise entered the living room. This was a different Denise. Without her glasses and high-necked collars, she looked stunning and sophisticated. Denise not only looked glamorous, but Katherine could tell she felt it, too. She knew it had taken every ounce of courage Denise had to wear this dress, but it was worth the reaction she received from her friends. She looked like a princess in a fairy tale, and Katherine hoped Denise's appearance would be appreciated by one special guest in particular.
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