Fat Fridays (11 page)

“Sukie?”  Cam’s brow creased at her silence. “I can’t promise you anything... anything at all...but I hope we can get to know each other a whole lot better.”

She nodded, so confused by her emotions she couldn’t bring herself to comment.

“We don’t want to do anything to hurt Chloe,” he continued. “So we have to be careful.”

“I agree. She’s never really had a mommy, but she shouldn’t think it’s me. Not like this.”

“You’re beautiful when you’re so earnest, you know.” Cam leaned over and kissed her again, tugging a little on her lips with his teeth. 

Sukie kissed him back, like a hungry kitten lapping up fresh cream. The feel of him, the taste of him, the smell of him lit her senses.

“Daddy?” 

Chloe’s childish voice, calling from the family room, sent them reeling away from each other. Sukie straightened her sweater, pulling it back down, overwhelmed by the unbridled passion between them. Images of Elizabeth and Rob flashed in her mind. They’d be mortified if they knew what their mother was doing in the front hallway with a man somewhere between their ages and hers.

Shaken, Sukie followed Cam into the family room.

Chloe’s eyes brightened at the sight of her. “Miss Sukie! You’re still here!”

She smiled. “For a little while. But I’ll have to go home right after supper.”

“She’s going to stay with you while I go get your favorite food.” Cam lifted Chloe from the couch and gave her a playful squeeze.

A grin crossed Chloe’s face. “Pizza?”

Cam laughed. “Yep, favoritest food for my favoritest girl.”

Sukie watched them together, knowing he spoke the truth. Chloe was his favorite girl and always would be. That realization helped tamp down the desire that had enthralled her. They each had commitments and a life that wouldn’t be receptive to a wild, passionate affair.

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.”

B
etsy 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.

S
ukie 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.