Never Too Late

by T. R. McClure

  Glancing up as they entered a grove of tall eucalyptus, Kat froze as her breath caught in her throat. The shiny wax-like leaves of the eucalyptus trailed toward the ground. As she watched spellbound, the leaves fluttered, as if a breeze moved through the grove. But instead of leaves, the movement was caused by the fluttering of thousands of orange and black butterflies. Her gaze still fixed on the apparition before her, Kat allowed Alex to lead her to a nearby bench.

  “Just wait a minute.” Alex put his arm across the back of the bench and looked into the trees. “As the sun warms them, the butterflies become more active and begin to mate.”

  Comfortable on the wooden bench, Kat leaned into the shelter of Alex’s arm and listened to the wind rustling through the leaves. Occasionally, a pair of orange and black Monarchs would flutter by and land on a nearby plant. The sun burst from behind a cloud and the resulting warmth was as if a blanket covered the two.

  Kat studied Alex’s strong profile bathed in the golden rays of the afternoon sunlight. His eyes shone as he followed the increasing activity of the thousands and thousands of Monarchs. Suddenly, an entire side of one tree took flight and swirled around them.

  Kat pressed closer to Alex as the Monarchs swooped around and over them, the flapping of the iridescent wings giving the air an orange tint. “Ach Du lieber, Alex. It’s a kaleidoscope of color,” she breathed. “Alex, it’s beautiful.”

  Alex, his gaze on her rapturous face, agreed. “Beautiful.”

  Katerina’s eyes met his. Around them the trees came to life, as the Monarchs, warmed by the afternoon sun, took flight.

  The warm sun, the quiet, the fluttering of thousands of butterflies—Kat was aware of all of this, but her gaze couldn’t leave Alex’s face. He tightened his arms around her and she leaned into his embrace, her heart pounding.

  “Thank you, Alex.” She pressed her palm to his cheek. This man was becoming more than an adventure, more than a fun way to spend six months. The thought thrilled her, part joy and part fear.

  “I hoped you would be pleased, Katerina.” Alex lowered his head.

  Kat’s breath caught in her throat. “Wait.” She pressed her fingers to his warm lips, just inches from hers. “There’s a butterfly on your shoulder.”

  A large, orange butterfly, distinct black and white dots lining the undulating wings, perched on Alex’s shirt. Suddenly taking flight, the butterfly disappeared among the hundreds of others.

  Letting out her breath in a long sigh, Kat glanced back at Alex. When their gazes met, she stroked his cheek, the late day whiskers rough against her hand. “I guess he found the right girl,” she murmured.

  Dark eyes gleaming, Alex leaned forward. “I guess he did.”

  Chapter Seven

  Sneakers discarded on the rug and jacket tossed on the chair, Katerina sat cross-legged on her bed. She pressed her hand to her lips, feeling once again the pressure of Alex’s warm mouth as he kissed her in the eucalyptus grove, the touch of his work-roughened hands. The whisper of thousands of tiny wings, the illusion of moving sunlight reflecting gold rays off the translucent wings of the butterflies… Magical, simply magical… She breathed deeply and pressed a hand to her chest.

  This couldn’t be happening, thousands of miles from home, in California, of all places on Earth. She flopped back on the lavender-scented pillow and finally admitted to the truth she had been avoiding for weeks. She was in serious trouble. She was in… When a knock sounded on the door, she jumped.

  “Hey, Kat—” Wendy breezed into the room and came to a stop at the foot of the bed, her hands propped on her hips, “—why, you’re not even dressed, girl.” She strode over to the closet and flung open the door. “Where’s the dress we bought on Saturday?” She disappeared into the closet only to appear moments later, swinging a red dress in the air. “I found it. Valentine’s Day, red dress, blond hair…what could be more perfect? You’ll knock my brother-in-law off his feet.”

  Katerina lifted her head off the pillow. “Did anyone ever tell you…?” Before she could finish her sentence, Wendy had disappeared.

  Thirty minutes later, Kat descended the stairs to the entry, her fingers gripping the banister tightly. Through the open doors of the dining room, she saw a handful of people chatting as Mila Marino passed a tray of hors d’oeuvres. Kat inhaled deeply as her eyes swept the room. The breath caught in her chest when her gaze landed on Alex, dressed in black pants and a white, pullover sweater that accentuated his olive skin and wavy, black hair, serving as host at the front door.

  He looked up and gave her a wink that sent shivers down her spine. Oh yes, she was in serious trouble. The smile he wore as he walked toward her drew her like a lighthouse beacon. She floated down the stairs and grasped Alex’s outstretched hand. The admiration on his face warmed her from the inside out.

  “You look beautiful, Kat,” he whispered.

  She stood on the bottom step, eye to eye with Alex. “I wanted to thank you for—”

  “Kat, you look smashing.” Colleen, with husband Matt in tow, interrupted them. Colleen, dressed in a royal blue boat-neck dress, wrapped an arm around Alex’s waist. “Point us toward your best wine, Alex. I’ve been all over the world, but yours is the best.” She kissed him on the cheek.

  Alex squeezed Kat’s hand as he answered his friend. “Flattery will get you everywhere, Colleen. Follow me.” He winked at Kat and whispered, “I will see you later, my dear.”

  At the interruption, Kat stifled a groan. She had hoped for a few minutes alone with Alex to thank him for the Monarch experience. Instead, Alex was pulled back and forth helping his mother with the guests.

  Later must be much later, Kat thought ruefully two hours later. Standing in the doorway to the dining room, she surveyed the crowd circling the table laden with food. Her perusal of the brightly dressed college faculty slid past Alex’s father, who had an arm around the shoulders of a young, dark-haired man, then slid back for a better look.

  The visitor, dressed in a dark blue sport coat and white shirt open at the collar, looked remarkably like Alex and Tony. So that’s the middle son, the elusive Douglas Marino. Like her sister, also a middle child, he had found his niche and excelled, yet managed to stay behind the scenes.

  Frank held the bottle of her family’s Riesling in his hand from the shipment Kat had received just that day. At her request, her brother had packed and shipped the two bottles quickly. Would wonders never cease?

  Just as she started toward the pair, Helga Walls beckoned from the glass-enclosed walkway, which led to the tasting room, where the rest of the partiers had gathered. She caught sight of Alex, deep in conversation with an older man, a professor in the business agriculture department. Not wanting to interrupt him, she headed toward Helga.

  Alex spotted his mother disappearing through the swinging door into the kitchen and, wanting to see if she needed help, excused himself from the academic. Matt had been right about their department wanting local businesspeople to speak to the freshman classes. The professor had been doing his best to convince Alex to schedule a time. He entered the kitchen just in time to hear Mila ask the bartender to bring up more wine.

  “I’ll get it, Mom.” Particular about the vintage of wine they opened and served, Alex preferred strangers stay out of his wine cellar.

  “I heard Wendy say they’re opening door prizes soon, honey.” Wearing a long, plum-colored dress, Mila patted his cheek.

  “I don’t need to be there. Go on out and tend to your guests, and I’ll bring up the wine. How many bottles?”

  With a final pat, his mother smiled her thanks. “Three should do it.” She disappeared through the swinging door.

  Alex wandered down the stairs to the wine cellar. Searching the vast storage area, he finally found the variety he wanted. The merlot seemed to be popular with the Almond Valley College group. He climbed the steps and found the kitchen empty. After wiping the bottles, he stuck them under his arm and entered an empty dining room. Assuming everyone had a
djourned to the tasting room, Alex proceeded down the walkway, puzzled at the sudden silence. Entering the room, he set the bottles on the bar and looked around.

  Katerina sat on the window seat. A small rectangular box lay open on her lap. A thong decorated with hearts dangled from her limp hands as she stared at the gift, the corners of her mouth turned down.

  Alex’s heart sank as he suddenly realized what had happened. His multi-tasking sister-in-law had gotten the cards and gift boxes mixed up.

  Kat’s gaze lifted from the piece of silk in her hands and, across the length of the room, met his.

  He opened his mouth to explain but never got the chance.

  Katerina quickly shoved the thong back in the box and smiled tightly.

  Earl Landauer’s distinctive voice broke the silence, “Now that’s what I call a Valentine’s Day gift,” and laughed loudly, which brought forth chuckles from the rest of the crowd and conversation quickly resumed.

  Mitch Collins, a professor of leisure studies and at one time Wendy’s mentor, leaned against the bar, his gaze flicking from Kat to Alex and back again. A young woman next to him gripped his free arm tightly.

  Absently, Alex wondered how old the girl was.

  “Man, I’ve done some wild things in my life but I would never give a girl a thong at an office party. What the heck were you thinking?” Mitch shook his long, gray pony tail and turned back to the bartender. “I’ll have another…and you better give him a double.” He jerked his thumb toward Alex.

  “But I didn’t—” Alex lifted a finger to get Katerina’s attention.

  She had already turned her back. After she set the box on the table, she practically ran from the room.

  Headed for the kitchen, Alex pushed through the swinging door, hoping to catch Kat before escaping to her room. He ran into Wendy, her face an uncharacteristic shade of red, coming through the door into the hallway. “I’m so sorry. I must have mixed up the cards. I’m sorry, Alex. I was going to give her the thong tonight, after some wine. I thought she’d get a kick out of it. Even I wouldn’t give lingerie to someone at a faculty party!”

  “Not only did you mix up the gifts, you put my name on the card. What were you thinking?” Breathing deeply, Alex clenched his fists and pushed through into the hallway before he said something to Wendy he couldn’t take back. Ever since Tony had come home with a wife and baby, Alex’s childhood home had seemed to shrink in size. His quiet lifestyle had been disrupted.

  Her high-pitched voice followed him down the hall. “Really!” she protested. “I wouldn’t!”

  Heart pounding with dread, Alex ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time, hoping to catch Kat in her room. After a brief knock, he eased open the door, only to find the room empty. Running back downstairs, he checked the den. Except for the Golden Retriever sound asleep in front of the fire, the den, too, was empty. Alex finally found Kat sitting under the orange tree in the garden. “Kat, it’s not what you think.”

  “And what do I think?” She sprung to her feet, her mouth drawn into a straight line. “I think you are making fun of the naïve German girl. I think you will all get a good laugh at my expense.”

  Shock coursing through his mind at Kat’s assumptions, Alex grasped her arms. “How can you even think such things?”

  Katerina pulled away. “Don’t you understand? I can’t afford to look foolish.”

  Alex stared at her rigid posture, his thoughts racing at Kat’s concern. “What difference does it make? You work on computers.”

  Katerina slowly turned, her lower lip caught between her teeth. “No, I don’t.”

  His thoughts whirling in confusion, Alex stepped back. “You’re a computer person.” He struggled to understand why Kat was so angry but came up with nothing.

  “Where did you get that idea? I’m a professor. I represent Moselle University. What if they hear about this? You Americans…”

  Alex felt like he’d been kicked in the gut and his hand reflexively went to his stomach. “You’re a professor?”

  “What did you think I was doing here?” Eyes blazing, Kat propped her hands on her hips.

  Alex thought back to their first evening, when the family had sat in the living room drinking grappa. He had asked Kat what she did and before she could answer, Wendy interrupted. “I guess you never answered my question. Wendy asked you to help with the computer. I thought you were just a computer geek.”

  “Well, thanks a lot. A geek. I’ve been called worse.” She threw her hands in the air and turned away.

  He reached for her arm and tugged her around to face him. “Katerina, I didn’t mean it that way. I didn’t realize you had such an important position at the college. Believe me, if I had I never would have—” His stomach churning, Alex stared into the dark sky, trying to sort his thoughts. Kat was a professor. Kat was Doctor Bauer.

  “Never would have what?” She propped her hands on her hips again and thrust out her chin.

  Alex’s heart pounded as he took a deep breath. “Think about it, Kat. I have a high school diploma and you…you have what… eight years of college?”

  “So? You have three.”

  His lack of a college degree had never really bothered him…until now. The woman standing in front of him was highly educated and spoke three languages that he was aware of. For all he knew, she spoke more. “Three…and eight. I don’t fit in your life.”

  “If you wanted to, you could have finished college. But admit the truth, you didn’t want to.” Kat took a deep breath before continuing. “Classes and studying aren’t exciting enough, are they, Alex Marino? You live in the moment, with no thought for the future.”

  Alex stepped back, aghast at Kat’s sudden attack but also uncomfortably surprised she could read him so well. “What are you talking about?”

  Kat threw out her arms to encompass the gardens and small orchard. “What do you call this? This is a thesis in progress. I think you like being a martyr.”

  “I like being a martyr?” Alex couldn’t believe his ears. A slow burn replaced the churning in his stomach. He leaned forward until his face was inches from hers and matched her posture, thrust-out chin and all. “Are you kidding? Look who’s calling who a martyr. You’re afraid to leave home because your family might need you. Never mind that they’re adults and have their own lives. Isn’t your brother married? Isn’t your sister well-established in the church? You ever think maybe they don’t want you interfering in their lives?”

  As Kat’s eyes darkened, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Neither of them is dependable!”

  “You mean not as dependable as you. Nobody’s as dependable as you, Professor Bauer.” He threw his hands in the air and talked to the full moon. “I can only stay six months. My father needs me.” He shot her a look. “The last I heard both your father and brother are able-bodied men.”

  “You…you…you know what I think about your theory?” She let loose a right hook that connected with his shoulder.

  “Ouch!” At the unexpected shot of pain, Alex grabbed his arm and backed up a step. For the first time since they had met, the sedate fräulein was losing her cool.

  Her face bright red, Kat held out clenched fists.

  When she went for a left hook, Alex slapped his fingers around her wrist just before she connected. “Kat, I told you I was sorry, but aren’t you overreacting just a little bit about this thing, I mean thong? I’m the one who should be upset. I didn’t know you were a professor.”

  “You should be upset? Are you kidding?” Her breath coming in short gasps, Kat backed away. “You drive me crazy.” She spun and would have disappeared into the dark if Alex hadn’t retained his hold on her arm and pulled her back into his embrace.

  She gripped his biceps so tightly Alex feared for his circulation. They stared at each other, both breathing as if at the end of a long race.

  Kat pressed her lips together. “I’m not angry about the thong…well, maybe a little bit.”

  Hoping again
st hope, Alex peered into her still-red face. “Well, you could have fooled me.” He cupped her face between his hands. “What’s going on with you, Kat? And what the heck just happened there?”

  “I’m…” Kat tried to look away but Alex held her gaze. “I’m…”

  “Tell me. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

  Kat leaned her forehead on his chest.

  Alex wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. He could barely hear her muffled words.

  “I—I have feelings for you and it scares me, and it makes me angry, because I purposely planned to avoid this very thing. I told you I promised to return home in six months. You don’t understand. I—I can’t leave my heart here.”

  His arms still wrapped around her, Alex stroked her tense back, his chin resting on her head, the pain in his chest real. “Sometimes you can’t plan these things, Kat.” He pulled away and lifted her chin with his finger until he could look into her sparkling blue eyes. “Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it. We still have four months.”

  She pressed her lips against his and leaned her body against him so forcefully that Alex’s damaged knee gave out and he fell heavily onto the bench, bringing Kat into his lap. He hugged her close. “I guess you do have feelings for me.”

  Kat leaned her head on his shoulder. “Why did I find you in California? Why couldn’t I have found you in Germany, or Italy, or France? No, you’re a vintner an entire continent away from my home.”

  “I knew it. You speak French, don’t you?” Alex groaned.

  Kat pulled away and stared into his face. “What?”

  “Let me get this straight.” Pushing the fluent in four languages issue from his mind, Alex took a deep breath. “So, are you mad because you have feelings for me…or because I’m from California? Because the way I see it, babe, neither of those things is my fault.” As he watched her face, he was rewarded with a small smile.