by Judith Keim
Cam left to pick up the pizza, and Sukie allowed Chloe to tug her upstairs to her bedroom.
“See?” Chloe pointed to a white Jenny Lind double bed, covered with a pink frilly spread. “It’s my new bed. I’m a big girl. Daddy said so.”
Sukie studied the room, charmed by the painted pink walls and the little white rocker in the corner of the room. Cam had done a wonderful job. There was no doubt in her mind that he’d do anything for his little girl. Sukie sat on Chloe’s bed and leafed through a picture book with her, enjoying her bright little mind.
Cam found them in Chloe’s room. The tender look he gave Sukie filled her with joy. He held out his hand. “Dinner’s ready. Let’s go downstairs.”
Sukie took his hand, loving the way his strong fingers clasped hers, as if it was an every-day occurrence. Chloe looked from Sukie to Cam and grinned.
Chloe’s chatter during dinner was offset by silent, lingering looks between Sukie and Cam. There was so much Sukie wanted to say, to hear. After he finished the last piece of pizza, Cam rose and took her hand.
“Let me drive you home. It’s dark and I don’t want you to walk alone.”
Sukie nodded. Her emotions were still spinning from the passionate kisses they’d shared, the special connection they seemed to have.
She helped Cam get Chloe settled in her car seat, and climbed into the SUV. Cam slid behind the wheel, giving her an opportunity to study his profile. Strong chin, straight nose, classic features.
“Is this your house, Miss Sukie?” Chloe asked when they came to a stop in Sukie’s driveway. “Can I come inside?”
Sukie glanced at Cam and turned back to Chloe. “Maybe some other time, honey. We’ll see.”
“Say goodnight to Miss Sukie,” said Cam.
Chloe dutifully complied with a high-pitched, “’Night”.
Sukie opened the car door and got out. “Thanks...for a nice afternoon and evening.”
Cam’s eyes bored into hers, his interest still evident. “I really enjoyed it, Sukie.”
“Me, too,” she said softly.
Unspoken words hovered in the air between them. Sukie waited for Cam to say something, anything, to let her know she hadn’t made a fool of herself.
Cam smiled. “See you at class tomorrow night.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
BETSY
Betsy drove past Sukie’s house on her way to work Monday morning. She hadn’t called her over the weekend as intended. Friday afternoon, Karen McAvoy had phoned. After learning Karen’s carpets had been cleaned and wouldn’t be completely dry for a day or two, Betsy had invited her to spend the weekend at her house.
Betsy smiled at the memory of their wonderful weekend. They’d been like two old sorority sisters, teasing each other as they’d challenged each other on their long walks. Watching old movies on television, they’d cried together. And cooking in the kitchen, they were a real team. Betsy couldn’t remember when she’d had so much fun.
Betsy slowed behind a school bus and wrinkled her nose at the smell of exhaust. Seeing happy faces in the bus’s windows, her thoughts turned to her grandchildren. It hadn’t gone well when she’d told Sarah she was too busy to babysit them. When Sarah had realized she’d have to cancel her plans, she became nasty, claiming Betsy should have told her she wouldn’t be available, that babysitters were impossible to find at the last minute.
Even now, the memory of Sarah’s mean sniping made Betsy grip the steering wheel so tightly her hands hurt. In the past, she’d willingly given up what she preferred to do in order to make Richie’s family happy. But things were about to change.
Betsy drove into MacTel’s parking lot, turned off the engine and took several deep breaths in an effort to push aside her frustration. Working at MacTel was one thing Betsy wouldn’t change. She loved her job.
Inside the building, Betsy walked over to her desk, mentally gearing up for a busy day. Setting down her purse, she caught a glimpse of Carol Ann’s face and hurried over to her. “My God! What happened, shug?” A huge purplish welt next to Carol Ann’s right eye showed through the light makeup Carol Ann usually wore.
“Follow me,” Carol Ann whispered. She led Betsy to the privacy of the ladies room.
After checking to make sure no one else was in the room, Carol Ann leaned against a sink. Facing Betsy with an embarrassed sigh, she said, “It was John.” A blush painted Carol Ann’s cheeks as she explained how he’d pushed her against the car and maybe, probably, accidentally hit her.
Maybe? Accidentally? Unh, unh. Betsy didn’t think so.
“This is nothing like Lynn, but still...” Carol Ann said.
Betsy debated what to say. Carol Ann was so...so... naïve about some things. For a young woman her age, Carol Ann sure didn’t know much about how other people operated. And it was no wonder. Carol Ann was stuck inside that house with parents who treated her as if she were twelve.
Carol Ann dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “I thought he might be the one to save me.”
Seeing the heartbroken look on Carol Ann’s face, Betsy filled with sympathy. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out, Carol Ann. I really am.”
Carol Ann blew her nose. “Do you think I should stop dating? I don’t want to. Not really.”
“Then, don’t.” Betsy took a deep breath. She wanted to tell Carol Ann that no one else could save her from making such silly mistakes, that she should go ahead and have fun. Betsy tried to think of a saying that would fit the occasion, but she couldn’t remember any. So she made one up.
“You can’t catch the brass ring if you’re not on the merry-go-round.” Betsy winked at Carol Ann. “Somewhere there’s a perfect match for you.”
Carol Ann sniffled. “You really think so?”
Though she knew it didn’t always work out that way, Betsy nodded.
Carol Ann threw her arms around her. “Thanks, Betsy. I needed to hear that. I hope you’re right.”
Aware how badly Carol Ann wanted to find love, Betsy hoped so too. Who could blame her? Everyone needed love in their life.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
SUKIE
Sukie pushed aside thoughts of her sexy weekend encounter with Cam and hurried inside the library. She had just enough time to review a report on the children’s activities program she was proposing to the Library Board. As she glanced over the pages, her stomach fluttered nervously. It was an ambitious program, and she needed their support.
Moments later she walked into the conference room, papers in hand. A group of people had gathered around a coffee pot on a side table and were chatting together. Julie emerged from the group to greet her. She took Sukie’s hand and led her over to the others for introductions.
Simon Prescott, the chairman of the board, was semi-retired from Citizen’s Fidelity and Trust, the largest private bank in town.
“I pride myself on being one of the first people to get behind the public library,” he told her.
Julie nodded. “Simon was instrumental in getting the library funded. He’s the real reason behind our being able to construct this new building.”
Simon launched into the county politics involved in that project. “Yessir,” he ended, “our town may be small, our county still growing, but there’s enough politicking going on here to keep one very busy, indeed.” His blue eyes twinkled below a wreath of snow-white hair on an otherwise bald head, reminding Sukie of a modern day St. Nick.
A tall, thin woman breezed into the room, attracting everyone’s attention.
“Sorry I’m late,” she said, tossing a notebook onto the table with a loud whomp. “I’ve had one important meeting after another.” She turned and frowned at Sukie.
A shiver skittered across Sukie’s shoulder. The woman’s narrow face and small dark eyes reminded her of watercolor drawings of a weasel she’d recently seen in a picture book. She shook off her imaginings and scolded herself for being so judgmental.
Julie took Sukie’s arm. “Come meet Edythe Aynsley.” Under her
breath, Julie murmured, “Be careful.”
Sukie allowed herself to be led over to where Edythe stood, surrounded by a number of board members. Edythe directed her gaze to Sukie and away, devoting her attention to a young woman talking earnestly to her.
Waiting for Edythe to turn to them, Sukie shifted from one foot to the other. She wondered why the delay. It was obvious she and Julie wanted to speak to her. After what seemed an extraordinary amount of time, Edythe turned to them, and Julie made the introduction.
Edythe narrowed her eyes at Sukie. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something. You wrote on your application that you’d taken some library science courses, but when I checked your college records there was no note of that.”
At the sharpness of her words, Sukie stepped back. “I believe I wrote I’d audited some library courses, not taken them.” Sukie knew that was exactly how she’d written it.
“No one’s accused you of lying, but when there is a discrepancy, one wonders, doesn’t one? After all, it’s a privilege to work at this library.” She turned to Julie. “Isn’t that true?”
Julie nodded. “Yes, of course. I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding. We’re very lucky to have Sukie working here, degree or not.”
A young man walked up to them. Edythe turned to him, dismissing Sukie and Julie without a backward glance. Sukie had the awful feeling she’d made an enemy of Edythe and she didn’t know why.
Like most board meetings, this one seemed endless. No one made a comment on any subject without Edythe adding to it. The longer Sukie waited to make her short presentation, the more nervous she became. When she was finally called upon, Sukie handed out copies of the plan for her spring programs to Julie and all twelve members of the board. Conscious of all eyes on her, she took a deep breath.
“The Nighty-Night series began this past Saturday. It was attended by twelve excited toddlers, dressed in their pajamas, and eager to hear several good story books. The feedback I received from the parents was extremely positive. I’m very excited about it.”
“I was wondering...” Edythe began, and Sukie wasn’t the only person who let out a sigh. “Do you think health issues are involved in encouraging children to come to the library dressed for bed?”
Before Sukie could respond, Julie spoke. “In my opinion, children dressed in pajamas for the nighttime program are usually cleaner than in their play clothes, if that’s your point.”
Edythe glared at Julie. “Another thing we need to consider carefully is this idea of turning the library into a...a...pillow place. It isn’t seemly. Instead of sitting at tables, the children are sprawled everywhere!”
“Yes, but what are they doing?” Sukie said, unwilling to let this woman destroy what she’d worked so hard to establish. “They’re reading. That’s what’s happening.”
“True enough,” interjected Simon, “and that’s the important thing here. Doesn’t everyone agree?”
A few members of the board nodded; some looked away, obviously uncomfortable at being forced to go against Edythe. A heavy silence hung in the room.
A knock at the door dispelled the quiet.
Julie rose to her feet. “This must be our last speaker.” She opened the door, and Cam walked into the room.
Sukie’s heartbeat pranced, then, broke into a gallop when he looked at her and grinned. Heads turned her way, and Sukie read questions in their curious glances. Feeling hot all over, she took a sip from the bottle of water she’d brought into the room.
“Well,” said Julie with a bright smile, “it seems that Cameron knows some of you. Let me introduce him to the rest. Cameron Taylor is the teacher of the computer courses we’re offering this spring. He’s working as an independent consultant for MacTel. We’re very lucky to have him. Cam, why don’t you tell the group just exactly what you’re doing and how successful you’ve been.”
Cam began his presentation.
Sukie studied him. He was dressed in khaki slacks, an open-necked, cream-colored golf shirt and a navy blazer, all of which did nothing to hide his masculine outline. Reliving the feel of his body against hers, a shiver of delight swept through her. She looked up to find Edythe staring at her.
At the end of Cam’s talk, Julie rose. “Cam’s right. We need more computers. We can use them for the genealogy group that meets here on a regular basis as well as for our patrons looking up information.”
A vote was taken to purchase three new computers and the meeting was dismissed.
As Sukie was gathering her papers Cam appeared at her side.
“How are you doing?” His voice was low and melodious.
“Uh, just fine,” she mumbled, aware Edythe was heading their way.
Edythe held out her hand to Cam. “Cameron, I’m pleased you’ve taken such an interest in the library. We need young men like you to help us old matrons out. Don’t we, Sukie?” Her smile was venomous.
Speechless, Sukie stared at her.
Edythe straightened her shoulders and moved away, calling to another board member to wait for her.
“I think she froze you with that look of hers,” Cam whispered.
Sukie nodded, alarmed by Edythe’s hostility towards her.
Julie hurried over to them. “What happened with Edythe? She looked ready to strike out at someone. Edythe Aynsley is someone to watch, Sukie. She can be very destructive. I suspect she might be a little jealous of you. I just hope she doesn’t ruin your chances here.”
“Jealous of me? Why?”
“For a lot of reasons, Sukie,” Cam said. The “you-are-so-hot” look he gave her made her believe he might be right. Any woman alive would want a man to gaze at her like that.
###
After all the board members had left and things were quiet in the library, Julie came over to Sukie’s desk. “Sukie? Can we talk?”
Sukie nodded, and braced herself for bad news.
Julie pulled up one of the kid-sized chairs. Her body folded upon itself, knees on chest, as she took a seat, but there was nothing childish about her worried expression or her troubled sigh.
“I’m sorry to have to even bring this up, but I just got a call from Edythe. She noticed the attention Cam was giving you and wanted me to warn you that as the children’s librarian you have a special obligation to behave in a seemly way. Those were her words, not mine.”
Sukie felt her body sag. “Why is she doing this to me?”
Julie looked off into space and began to play with the thin silver bracelets on her left wrist. Their tinkling sounds broke the ominous silence between them.
“Edythe hasn’t been happy for a long time. She married a man much older than herself, thinking, I suspect, that her days would be happy because Arthur Aynsley was a very wealthy man. It didn’t turn out that way. He left her for another woman. An older one. All of Atlanta was aghast at the news. Edythe moved to what they called their country home up here in the northern suburbs and has become our voice of society, if you can call it that. She’s a bitter, angry woman.”
“And obviously hates me,” Sukie added, wishing she’d never met the woman.
Julie gave her a thoughtful look. “So, do you and Cam have something going?”
Sukie stared at Julie with confusion, wondering what to say.
Julie waved her hand in dismissal. “Don’t answer that. It’s none of my business. But you know what a small town this is. Even though we’re growing by leaps and bounds, it stays a small town in many ways. It pays to be careful.”
After Julie left her, Sukie’s mind raced. She and Cam hadn’t even gone out yet and it was already causing all sorts of trouble for her because of the age difference. She’d thought that kind of thinking had long since disappeared. It was the twenty-first century, for God’s sake!
Drained of all energy, Sukie drove home from work, still upset by the day’s events. She was a private person, used to successfully fulfilling every task, but she had the uneasy feeling that she’d have to fight for both her privacy and respect
.
At home Sukie poured herself a glass of red wine and took a seat at the kitchen table, trying for perspective as she reflected on the day. For a moment she wondered if she should cancel computer classes with Cam, then reminded herself of the bigger picture. She needed training. And the way things were going at the library, she’d better prepare for a different job. Edythe Aynsley was a formidable woman. Her maliciousness was already at work.
Sukie checked voice mail and listened to a message from Mr. Prescott’s bank. Ted, it seemed, had not paid the mortgage as promised. Furious, Sukie called him at the office. He answered with a crisp hello.
“Ted? It’s Sukie. I received a phone call from the bank regarding the mortgage payment. Haven’t you paid it yet?”
“Sukie, we’re going to have to rethink our agreement,” Ted said in an irritating tone he’d used on their children when they were especially rambunctious. “With a baby coming, I’ve got new family responsibilities.” His tone was smug.
Sukie gritted her teeth. “But you and I agreed...”
“That was before I knew about the baby. Emmy Lou says we can’t stay in the condo, that it isn’t big enough. I was thinking maybe we could make a trade...you know, even though we’d agreed to something different...”
“A trade? This house for your condo? You’ve got to be kidding!” Sukie realized he wasn’t kidding at all; he was that dense. “Pay the mortgage, Ted, or I’ll see you back in court.”
Rocked to the core, Sukie slammed down the phone. It had taken a much shorter time for Ted to back out of what he’d promised her than she’d thought. She’d fight him on it, of course. She had to. This house was hers in every sense of the word. She was the one who had cared for it, nurtured her family inside it and now needed the familiarity of it to make the other transitions in her life more tolerable as she worked to become an independent woman able to survive on her own.
