by Lucie Ulrich
“Was?” both parents said in unison.
“Yes. The note I dropped off at his place wasn’t simply a thank-you note. I told him it was probably best if we didn’t spend so much time together, and to leave the apartment as is.”
“Good girl.” Her father pinched her cheek. “Time and separation will tell.”
“Yeah, but separation from which one?”
“Exactly.” He winked. “I’m ready for dessert. How about you two?”
Sarah had barely touched her dinner, and dessert, even her mother’s amazing chocolate chip cheesecake, didn’t sound appealing. “Thanks, but I’m going to head home.” She kissed each of her folks. “Dinner was great, Mom. I’m sorry the night didn’t go as planned.”
“Don’t give it another thought. Nothing that’s happening is in any way a surprise to God. He’ll show you the way.” Her mother handed her a plastic storage container with a couple of slices of cheesecake. “I bet you’ll want some later.”
“Thanks.” Sarah accepted the offering with a smile. “You’re probably right.”
“What do you mean? I’m always right.”
It wasn’t far from the truth, which only served to confuse Sarah all the more. She had absolutely no clue what the future held.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Sarah’s long-awaited phone call from Logan came as she left the house for work the following Tuesday morning. She answered on her way out the door. “Hi.”
“Hi, sweetheart. I’ve missed talking to you.”
“Really?”
He said nothing, which unnerved her, as did her own anger. She didn’t want to say anything to cause a further rift. She attempted a calming breath. “It’s been a long time. You must be busy.”
“It’s been crazy around here.” He paused. “Which is not a good excuse for not calling before now. I needed to think things through before we spoke again.”
Sarah unlocked her car and slid behind the wheel. “Hold on while I start the car and sync the phone so I can talk hands-free.”
“Where are you going?”
“Hold on.” She set the phone on the dash until it registered the connection had gone through. “I’m on my way to work.” She backed out of her parking space.
“Oh. I thought I called early enough, but I guess not. I can call later, if you like?”
“No, Logan, we need to talk now.”
“You sound upset.”
“Do you honestly not know why?”
It took several long seconds before Logan spoke again. “I know our last conversation wasn’t the best, but surely you’re over that by now.”
Sarah stuck to the neighborhood roads. Taking the quicker, but busier streets didn’t seem wise at the moment. She needed to be able to focus on her driving as well as their conversation. “Maybe you should ask your mother.” She squeezed her eyes shut for a brief moment. Way to go, Sarah.
“Let’s not go there again.”
The frustration in Logan’s voice mirrored hers, but she tamped down the rising anger. Ignoring the issue wouldn’t make it go away, nor would arguing. “I disagree, Logan. There is exactly where we need to go.”
“If that will make you happy, and get us past this bump in the road, then fine.”
She stopped at a stop sign and took a deep, calming breath. “It’s isn’t a matter of making me happy. It’s a matter of priority.”
“What are you talking about?”
Surely the man wasn’t that dense. “Do you, or do you not, make it a point to speak to your mother once a week?”
“As of a month ago, yes.”
The quickness of his reply stunned her. She waited for a car to cross in front of her before making a left turn. “And you call me how often?”
“As often as I can.”
“I’m not sure what to say to that.”
“Listen to me, sweetheart. I love you and we have the rest of our lives to be together. I didn’t set out to call Mom weekly, but I could tell how stressed out she was, so I made it a point to let her know I was okay. I’m never on the line more than a few minutes.”
Sarah gripped the wheel so tight, her knuckles turned white. “And you don’t think I need to know you’re okay?”
“Sure, but I figured Mom would let you know.”
“Well, guess what, Logan? Mom didn’t let me know. I only found out about your calls last night.” Tears blurred Sarah’s vision. She blinked them away and attempted to keep her cool. “How do you suppose that made me feel?”
“Babe, you’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
Keeping her cool was becoming more difficult by the second. “I don’t think I am. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure it says in Genesis that a man is to leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife. Which would be me, in case you’ve forgotten.” She took a left, then a right, drawing closer to the school.
The only sound Sarah heard was a bit of crackling over the phone line. She chose not to speak again until Logan did.
“Point taken, babe,” he finally said. “I apologize for not being more thoughtful, and will do my best to rectify the situation.” He yawned. “Sorry, we worked well into the night last night, and much of the last eight hours. I’m starving, and about ready to crash and burn for a while. I hope you don’t mind.”
Sarah pulled into a parking space. Though not the most heartwarming apology, she’d stood her ground, and gotten her point across. “Just as well, I’m in the school parking lot, and need to get my day started anyway. When can I expect to hear from you again?”
“Let’s plan every Friday between four and five in the afternoon your time. If you don’t hear from me then, I promise it’ll be as soon afterward as possible. Does that work for you?”
It worked, but why had there been a need to fight for it? Knowing they still had a lot of time apart, Sarah took the high road—again. “That would be wonderful.” She reached for her purse on the passenger seat. “I love you, Logan.”
The line went dead before he could respond. Sarah didn’t believe he’d hung up on her, since this wasn’t the first bad connection they’d experienced. Still, her heart ached.
She exited the car and swung her purse over her shoulder. At least Friday was only three days away.
****
Whistling while he worked, Kevin loaded the cabinet doors into the back of his SUV. With Antonio’s permission, he’d had glass inserted into the two upper cabinets that flanked the stove.
Pippa pulled into his driveway and parked next to him. She pushed her door open and slid out. “Thanks for asking me to be your co-conspirator.”
“Wouldn’t be half as much fun without you.” He shut the hatch. “I only wish I hadn’t asked Sarah to choose the knobs and pulls. Nothing would please me more than having the job finished when she moves in.”
“Then let’s do it.”
“But what if she brings all the hardware?”
“What if she does? She can always take them back.”
“True, but—”
“No buts. I know how much you want to do this, and how much Sarah will appreciate it. I promise it isn’t a problem.”
“In that case, let’s head to the hardware store.”
After choosing simple brushed nickel knobs and pulls, Kevin paid for his purchases and drove to the apartment.
Antonio let him in. “I put the light in the dining room, but is still in the box. I no good with electricity.”
“No problem,” Kevin said. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Grazie.”
Pippa started in on the drawers while Kevin hung the cabinet doors. In less than a half hour, the kitchen was complete. He moved the step ladder aside and looked around the room. “That went faster than expected.”
“It looks wonderful, Kev. You did a great job with the paint. It’s unique and really fits with the age of the building. So much nicer than my standard pre-fab cabinets. Sarah is going to love it.”
The thought
of Sarah loving anything he did for her pleased him. He tried to convince himself there were no ulterior motives to his actions, but saw no point in keeping up the façade. He wanted her to love his work, and he wanted her to love him. “I hope you’re right.”
“Trust me.” She gathered all the small plastic bags the knobs had come in. “She’s also going to think of you every time she walks into this room.” Pippa stuffed the trash into the hardware store bag. “Which is exactly what you’re hoping for.”
Laughing, he carried the ladder into the dining room. “You know me too well.”
“I also know Sarah.” She followed him into the dining area and sat on the window ledge. “She’s loyal to a fault. As much as I’d love to see the two of you together, something major would have to happen before she’d give up on Logan.”
His heart pinched, and he prayed he wasn’t setting himself up for major heartbreak, while holding on to the words Sarah had written to him. “She’s made that pretty clear in her own way.” He opened the box and pulled out a drum-shaped cork fixture.
“And you’re okay with that?”
“I already told you I’m not out to ruin her relationship.” He climbed the ladder to check the wiring. “I’ve even decided to switch my week with another guy and visit my sister a week early.”
“You won’t be here to help her move in?”
“Nope.” Kevin climbed down. “I don’t want to put temptation in her way.” He went to the breaker box in the kitchen and switched off the power to the whole place. Since there was no lighting in either the living or dining rooms, it was better to play it safe. He returned to the dining room just as the apartment door opened.
Sarah stopped and clutched her chest. “What are the two of you doing here?”
“I could ask the same.” Pippa hurried over and hugged Sarah, who never took her eyes off Kevin.
“I was in the mood for a drive, so I figured I’d come down and see if the cabinet from Mom’s attic would fit.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“Because I’ll only be here a short time.” She stepped back. “So what’s your excuse for being in my apartment?” Again, her eyes were trained on Kevin.
He pointed to the fixture with a grin. “I told Antonio I’d hang this for him. Didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“You didn’t frighten me. More like took me by surprise.”
Pippa pulled her inside. “Now that she’s here, we might as well show her.”
“Show me what?”
“The kitchen’s done.” Pippa clapped her hands and did a little dance.
Sarah frowned. “What do you mean, done?”
“Kevin finished everything.”
“He did?” She turned her attention Kevin’s way. “You did?”
He shrugged, pretending to be calm, while his heart beat a like a rock star’s drum solo. “With everything else finished, I didn’t want you to move in with ugly kitchen cabinets.”
If Kevin wasn’t mistaken, a wisp of a smile softened Sarah’s features. She walked past him toward the kitchen, and stopped halfway into the dining room. “Glass in the doors.” She turned to him. “Your idea?”
“Yes. I hope you don’t mind.”
She spun around and walked into the kitchen, running her hands over the glass. “How could I mind? I’ve always wanted glass fronts, but most apartments don’t come with that detail.”
Pippa nudged him and whispered, “Told you.”
“And the knobs.” Sarah pulled one of the cabinets open. “They’re perfect. Exactly what I would have chosen.”
“You can thank Kevin for that,” Pippa said.
“Thank you, Kevin.”
She didn’t turn around, and if Kevin wasn’t mistaken, he detected a slight catch in her voice. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her. Instead, he motioned for Pippa to go to her while he went back to hanging the fixture.
****
Sarah pinched her eyes shut. Despite her pushing him away, Kevin finished the job he’d started. While she appreciated the gesture, he was making things harder for her, intended or not.
“What are you really doing here?” Pippa closed the cabinet.
Sarah kept her voice low. “I can’t talk about it with Kevin around.”
“Then let’s go where we can talk.” She tugged Sarah through the kitchen door and onto the fire escape. She closed the door and leaned against it. “So?”
The tears Sarah held back earlier now flowed freely. She pressed her hands on the rail and looked out at the park. “I finally heard from Logan the other day. Our conversation was a bit tense, but ended on a positive note. I confronted him about calling his mother regularly and not me, and he seemed to understand my feelings.” She turned around, wiped the tears, and took a calming breath. “He promised to call every Friday after I got off work, and if not, as soon as possible after that.”
“And he didn’t call.”
Sarah nodded. “I’m probably reading way too much into this, but he promised, and I so wanted to talk to him again.”
“In all fairness, he did say as soon as possible. Maybe that hasn’t happened yet.”
“That’s what I keep telling myself.” Sarah forced a smile, feeling the need to lighten the mood. “Honestly, I just needed to get away for a few hours and think about my immediate future plans instead of the long-term ones.”
Pippa returned her smile. “You need any help carrying up the cabinet?”
“Definitely. I don’t know what I was thinking, bringing that thing here on my own.”
“Then, let’s go get it.” Pippa grabbed Sarah’s hand, but stopped before opening the door. “Promise me something?”
“What?”
“Don’t read more into Logan’s or Kevin’s actions than necessary. I know how you tend to overthink things.”
Sarah twisted her mouth. “Seriously?”
“Okay, I guess you can read a little into Kevin’s motives, but we’ve talked a few times, and he plans to honor your request. It’s hard for him not to finish something he starts, and he really wanted you to have a nice kitchen.”
“I’m scared, Pippa.”
“Of Kevin?”
“Yes, and you know why.” She turned the ring on her finger, remembering the conversation they’d had about it. If Logan weren’t in the picture, she’d be all about getting to know Kevin better. Heat singed her cheeks. Her thoughts were wrong on so many levels. “I enjoy his friendship so much, and I’m going to miss it terribly.”
“You could still be friends.”
“I don’t think we can, at least not now. I’m too conflicted.”
Pippa gave Sarah a long hug. “You have time on your side. Take it from day to day, and see how things progress.” Pippa released her hold. “I’m here for you whenever you need me.”
“I know. Thanks.”
“Guess we’d better get back inside before Kevin wonders what happened to us.”
The sight of Kevin on the step ladder with his form-fitting T-shirt and well-muscled arms wasn’t making Sarah’s decision to stay away any easier. She lowered her gaze. “The fixture looks great. Thanks for putting it up.”
“No problem.” He made a final adjustment and stepped down. “Antonio did a good job with his selection. Don’t you think? I love how the cork sort of mimics the texture of the brick.”
Sarah glanced up a second time. “It’s perfect.” She dared look at him. “And so are the cabinets, and the shelves, and everything else you did. I can’t thank you enough.”
“You just did.” He folded the ladder and leaned against the wall. “Why don’t you give me your car keys, and I’ll bring up the cabinet for you?”
“No need. It’s at the bottom of the stairs.”
“In that case, I’ll be right back.” He dashed off before Sarah could protest.
Sarah hurried after him and called down. “Do you need any help? It’s heavier than it looks.”
Sizing up t
he piece, he chuckled. “Two people would definitely make it easier.”
She came down and took hold of the legs, allowing Kevin to go first.
Kevin walked backwards, holding on to the trim at the top. “How on earth did you expect to get this thing up all these stairs by yourself?”
“I figured Antonio or one of his employees wouldn’t mind giving me a hand.”
“I’m impressed you got it this far on your own.”
“Apparently you know very little about schoolteachers. I’ve moved more than my fair share of cabinets and book cases. I can pretty much walk them wherever they need to go.”
“Good for you.”
After a bit of maneuvering, they were able to get it through the bathroom door and into place. Kevin gave it a final adjustment and stood back. “Another inch and it wouldn’t have fit.” He opened the etched glass door and inspected the inside. “This is a great piece. I’d say early nineteen hundreds.”
“Sounds about right. It belonged to my great-grandparents and was passed down to Mom shortly after she married. It wasn’t her style, but she couldn’t bring herself to get rid of it, so it’s been in the attic gathering dust.”
He looked over his shoulder. “Lucky for you.”
“Lucky indeed.” Sarah stepped into the bedroom. “And now that I know it fits, guess I should be on my way.”
“No,” Pippa said. “At least not until we have lunch. In fact, I think you should stay the weekend.”
“I can’t. I don’t have any clothes, and I promised to get Dad’s SUV back to him before nightfall.”
“Well, that stinks. I could help with the clothes, but there’s nothing I can do about the truck. We can at least have lunch, right?”
Seeing as she’d run into the two people she’d tried to avoid, there wasn’t a reason not to stay. “I’d like that.”
Kevin turned out the bathroom light. “I’ll just gather my stuff and be on my way. Sarah, you’ll have to drop Pippa off at my place so she can get her car.”
“No problem.”
“See you tomorrow, Pip.”
