Blame it on the Stars (The Blame Game) (4 page)

“
Steve,” she interrupted.

“
Hmm?”

“
You talk too much.” She pressed her lips on his, and their kiss was passionate and lingering.

Several minutes later he pulled away for the last time.
“I’d really better go.”

“
Thanks again, for tonight.”

“
My pleasure.” He kissed the back of her hand, and disappeared in the darkness.

Catlin watched out her window as his car drove off, and hugged herself tightly. Images of Steve ran through her mind as she washed her face, brushed her teeth, and climbed into bed.
It didn’t take her long to fall into a deep, dreamy sleep.

Chapter Three

Catlin woke early on Sunday, in the best mood she thought she’d ever been in. She forced herself to wait until eleven a.m. to call Jetta, so as not to wake her.

“
Hey,
I’ve
been up,” Jetta told her. “We just got home from church, in fact. I didn’t see you there.”

“
You’re right, you didn’t. I’m doing my worshipping at home this weekend,” Catlin smarted off to her.

“
As usual,” Jetta smirked. “But I did see someone else there.”

“
You probably saw lots of someone else’s there.”

“
True, but only one person who told me he had a wonderful time with you last night.”

“
Ooh!” Catlin squealed. “Did he say wonderful?”

“
From his mouth to God’s ear. We were in church, after all.”

Catlin sighed and snuggled back against her sofa.

“
So,” Jetta continued. “Inquiring minds want to know. Did you have a ‘wonderful’ time as well?”

Catlin thought about it.
“Yeah, I did. It started off a little weird. He obviously wasn’t impressed by my house. But once we got through a few hoops, everything was fine.”

“
Yeah, well, babe, if you could see where he lives, you’d understand his reticence about getting comfy at your place.”

“
How do you know where he lives?”

Jetta laughed.
“I know everything. Haven’t you figured that out yet? I looked it up on the school computer and Jimmy and I drove by last night. Holy shit, girl, it’s a mansion.”

“
Oh.” Catlin had never stopped to think about where he lived. She looked around her tiny, cluttered home. “No wonder,” she said to herself.

Jetta laughed.
“So, I want to hear...how did your evening end up?”

Just then, Catlin
’s phone beeped. “Saved by call waiting. I’ll talk to you later!”

“
Hey!” Jetta protested.

Catlin punched her telephone
‘flash’ button and said, “Hello.”

“
Good morning,” Steve said softly.

Catlin could almost see the smile on his
handsome face. “Well, hello. I was just thinking about you.”

“
Good thoughts, I hope.”

“
Very
good thoughts. I had such a nice time last night.”

“
Funny,” he replied “I was just saying that same thing to Jetta and Jim Craft. We ran into them at church.”

“
Oh, really?” Catlin acted surprised. “That’s nice.”

“
I looked around for you, but I guess you weren’t there.”

“
Nope, I was right here, thinking about you.”

“
Oh. Well, I think they have a later mass this afternoon.”

“
Steve,” she interrupted him.

“
Yes?”

“
Even my own father knew better than to keep tabs on whether or not I went to church.”

“
Sorry. Guess I’m still sticking my foot in my mouth, even the next day.”

“
Not a problem,” she told him. “Just getting some of the sticky points out of the way, up front.”

He laughed.
“Well, I called to let you know what a nice evening I had.”

“
It’s a long time until next Saturday,” she pouted.

He thought about that.
“The kids and I have a lot to do around the house today. We’re still trying to get settled in, you know. But sometimes on Sunday nights, we go out for ice cream.”

“
I like ice cream,” she said softly.

He laughed
.

Catlin’s good mood spilled over into the next day. She didn’t see Jetta until their second hour planning time. Catlin was popping open her Dr. Pepper when Jetta came into the lounge and Catlin could tell she’d been crying. “Hey, what’s wrong?” She moved to put her arm around Jetta’s shoulder.

Jetta shook her head
“It’s nothing, really.”

“
Nothing?” Catlin grabbed a tissue from the box on the table and dabbed at Jetta’s face. “This doesn’t look like nothing.”

Jetta shrugged.
“I started my period. We’re not pregnant.”

“
Oh honey, I’m so sorry.” Catlin hugged her, and Jetta broke down again.

“
It’s just so damned unfair! Some girls get pregnant in the back seat of a car the first time they do it. Why am I having so much trouble?”

Catlin gulped, not wanting to go there.
She just held Jetta, and rubbed her back as she cried. “You just need to give it more time. Remember, the fun is in the trying! Once you have a kid, it’s nothing but work.”

Jetta had to laugh at that, and she grabbed another tissue and pulled herself together.

“It’s all going to work out. I know it is.” Catlin nodded firmly.

Jetta
dabbed her eyes one last time. “You’re a good friend, you know that?”

Catlin
nudged her shoulder. “Yeah, I know.”

She was dozing off on her sofa that night when the phone rang. “Yeah, hello.” Catlin grabbed it up.

“
Did I wake you?” Steve asked softly.

“
Oh, hi! No, I’m grading papers.”

“
On the sofa, right? With a fire in the fireplace?”

“
You got me. And it is so boring, I
was
dozing off. How’s your trip going?”

“
Talk about boring. Western Kansas, sheesh! I worked until nine, just so I didn’t have to spend so much time alone in my hotel room.”

“
I’m sorry you’re all alone in your hotel room.”

He laughed
. “Actually, it sounds like it makes you happy.”

“
Yes, as a matter of fact, it does. May I remind you, I am also alone?”

“
Well, I just called to hear your voice before I turn in. Think I could call you tomorrow night?”

“
I think I’m already looking forward to it.”

“
I’ll talk to you tomorrow, then.”

“
Goodnight.” Catlin hung up the phone and hugged her knees to her chest.

Steve phoned Catlin every night, and their conversations grew longer each time.
They found comfort in the distance, and talked not only about their days, but about their lives in general. By Thursday night, after a two hour talk she finally said, “I’m falling asleep. I’ve got to go.”

“
I’ll be home tomorrow, but I have meetings all afternoon and then I really want to spend some time with the kids. Can we plan on Saturday night?”

“
I am
so
planning on Saturday night, like you wouldn’t believe.”

He laughed
.

S
he continued, “Can I cook you dinner? Do you like lasagna?”

“
I do, but I’d be happy to take you out.”

“
Why don’t we stay
in
? It’ll be more…cozy,” she said seductively.

“
I’m there. If you’re sure you’re ready for cozy, that is.”

She chuckled again
. “Oh, I’m ready. Way past ready.”

He snorted.
“I could be home in a few hours if I thought you’d still be awake.”

Catlin laughed at that.
“Saturday will be here before we know it. It’s just that anticipation thing, again.”

“
Don’t I know it?” He sighed, and said, “Okay. You name the time.”

“
Six-thirty?

“
Six-thirty it is. Can I bring anything?”

“
Just your gorgeous self. I’ll take care of everything else.”

“
I bet you will. I’ll see you Saturday.”

“
Goodnight,” Catlin said dreamily into the phone, then hung up. For the eighth night in a row, she fell asleep thinking about Steve.

Catlin looked around her house on Saturday evening. She had a fire in the fireplace, candles burning on every table, and the house actually looked pretty good. The lasagna was almost done, and she had a bottle of wine breathing. She gave everything a quick once over, then went to change her clothes. She slipped into a pair of black jeans, and a tight black and white striped sweater. Before she got a chance to decide what to do with her hair, her doorbell rang. She looked at the clock, six-ten.

She answered the door to a hand waving roses in her face.

“Ooh.” She took them “Is this a forgive-you-’cause-you’re-early bribe?”

Steve stepped in the door.
“Did it work?”

She smiled at him.
“Yes. Come in.”

He followed her in and shut the door.
“I’m sorry to be so early. Dana needed a ride to a friend’s house, and they were leaving at six-fifteen to go to a movie.”

“
No biggie.” Catlin reached for a vase. “I
was
going to do something with this mop of hair, but I guess you get to take me as I am.”

Steve came up behind her, brushed the hair away, and kissed the nape of her neck.
“Don’t change a hair for me.”

Catlin squirmed away to put water in the vase.
She arranged the dozen roses, and murmured, “Hmm, I wonder what the significance of the number twelve is?”

He moved
behind her again, and reached for her hands, pulling her around to face him. “Twelve signifies a very special evening ahead for us.”

“
I didn’t thank you for the flowers,” she said softly.

“
You also didn’t give me a proper greeting after being gone for five days.” He pulled her close.

“
I’m scared, again,” she whispered.

“
Nothing to be scared of tonight.” He kissed her temple, then her cheek.

“
I’m scared that once I start ‘greeting’ you, I won’t be able to stop!”

He laughed and she kissed him long and hard.
The timer on the oven went off, and they separated. “The proverbial ‘saved by the bell’!” She went to the kitchen to get the lasagna out.

Steve followed her.
“That smells great.”

“
Thanks.” She arranged some things on the table. “It needs to set up for twenty minutes or so. I hope you’re not too hungry.”

“
I am very hungry.” He approached her.

S
he backed up. “Have a cracker.” She grabbed a box off the counter and thrust it at him.

Steve put the crackers back on the counter.
“Don’t want a cracker.”

“
How about some wine?” she suggested.

Steve relented.
“Okay, wine I’ll take. You having any?” He reached for the bottle and glasses on the table.

“
Half a glass, maybe. I want to keep my wits about me.”

H
e grinned at that, and poured the wine. He handed a glass to her.

“
A toast?” They raised their glasses. “To…possibilities.”

She
nodded, and they sipped the wine.

“
Music?” She walked to the compact disc player, and pushed a button. Billy Joel began singing.

Steve wrinkled up his face
.

She gave him a look, and pushed the button to the next c.d.
“Bruce Springsteen?” she asked, and Steve nodded.

“
Okay, but I’m hitting shuffle on this disc changer. If Billy shows up later you may have to deal with it.”

“
I think I can handle that.” He looked around the room. “It looks different in here. What did you do? It looks good.”

“
Just tidied up a bit. Moved this and that. Trying to make it look bigger.”

He took a drink.
“Good luck with that.”

“
More
open
, I mean. I know it’s not a mansion, but it’s not really that terrible, is it?”

“
It’s fine! It’s not terrible at all. Anyway, who needs a mansion?” Steve shrugged.

She laughed
. “Evidently you do. I hear your place is palatial.”

“
Who told you that? They are full of crap.”

She shook her head.
“Never mind who told me. But I don’t think Jetta would like being told she’s full of crap.”