More (15 page)

~~~~~

Kate and Darren walked barefoot through the park towards the swing set. They sat down on the swings facing opposite directions so they could see each other.

“Okay Kate Henry, tell the truth. How many dresses did you try on tonight before choosing this one?”

“Actually, only one other. It was between this and a nun’s habit that I had left over from Halloween. It was a tough decision, but this dress barely beat the habit. Although I did toy with the idea of putting it on over this dress just to scare you when you came to the door.”

“That would have been
epic
. I’m actually disappointed you didn’t do that.”

“Maybe next time,” she replied with a grin.

“So…you’re saying there should be a next time?” he asked cautiously.

She hadn’t even really considered that question before she had made her comment about there being a next time. Maybe she should have thought it through a little more before blurting that out. Stalling for time, she asked, “Do you think there should be a next time?”

Darren grabbed the chain of Kate’s swing and pulled her closer to him so that they were facing each other. “Well, why shouldn’t there be?”

Suddenly very aware how close she was to Darren, Kate spoke softly. “I can’t think of a single reason.”

“I can only think of one thing right now,” he said.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“This.”

He pulled her even closer and planted his lips on her own in a very deliberate kiss.

“Come on,” Amy hissed from her seat next to Kate in church the next morning. “I need details!”

“Shh, the service is about to start,” said Kate, enjoying how much this withholding of information was torturing Amy. Darren walked onto the stage and took his place behind the keyboard. Kate smiled as she watched Darren in his element. He had a wonderful presence on stage, and had developed such a great way of leading the congregation into worship without being too showy or self-gratifying. It was such a blessing to be able to see a friend living out something that was so obviously his calling.

“Fine, be that way,” said Amy. “I’ll get it out of you eventually. I always do.”

Kate knew her friend was right, but she knew she could keep the torture up for a little while longer.

After the service was over and the pastor had given the benediction, people got up and started to file out of the church. As she tried to stand, Amy pulled her back down by her wrist. “Uh-uh. Spill it. Now.”

Kate knew that it would be several minutes before Darren had packed up his gear and was ready to leave, so she acquiesced. Pulling her legs up under her, she turned towards Amy. “Well, we actually had a really good time. I mean, it’s me and Darren. Of course we had fun! We went to The Woods, and he wore a tie and brought me flowers, and after dinner we just hung out in the park like a couple of kids. Great conversation, lots of laughs, and overall fantastic date.”

“Yes!” exclaimed Amy, giving her a high five. “That’s what I like to hear.”

“I’m so glad you approve.”

“I know. But Kate, you didn’t volunteer the most important detail.”

“Oh, right. We had apple crisp for dessert, and it was delicious.”

“Don’t start with me. Did he kiss you?”

Kate raised an eyebrow, but before she had a chance to answer, Darren sauntered up the aisle. “Well hello, ladies. Did you enjoy the service?”

“Of course we did,” said Kate. “I loved your song choices today.”

“Thanks! I’m glad. So…are either of you hungry? Should we all go get lunch?”

Amy looked at Darren and then back at Kate. “You know, I’m going to have to pass. Rick stayed home this morning with the boys because Todd’s got a little cold, so I should really get back and take care of them. You two go, though. Have fun.”

“Kate? You up for some lunch?”

“Of course,” she replied. “I’ll talk to you later, Amy. I hope Todd feels better soon.”

“Thanks!” Amy gathered her purse and turned to walk towards the church entrance. “Have a great Sunday, you crazy kids.”

Kate waved goodbye and looked up cautiously at Darren. “Hi.”

“Hi,” he said with a hint of awkwardness. “Well…lunch? You want me to drive?”

“Sure. Sounds good. Let’s go.”

They walked out of the church in silence and still not a word was spoken as they got into the car and Darren began to drive. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, both began to speak at the exact same time.

“Look, Darren, I think we need to talk about last night…“

“Kate, you know, I’ve been thinking a lot about last night…“

They both laughed and the awkwardness that had been hanging in the air was replaced with a familiar feeling of familiarity.

“I guess we both have things to say,” said Darren, pulling the car over to the side of the road and turning it off. “Do you want to go first?”

“Sure. Well, first of all, I really did have a great time last night. That was one of the most natural and easy dates I’ve ever been on.”

“Are you calling me easy?”

“Are you going to interrupt me every five seconds?”

“Please continue.”

“Okay. After you dropped me off at home last night I couldn’t sleep. I just had so much on my mind.”

“Please tell me you didn’t buy a new kitchen gadget from a late night infomercial.”

“Darren, I’m warning you!”

“Sorry. I can’t help it. I’m genetically predisposed to make these types of comments.”

“Don’t I know it. So I was tossing and turning and going over the date in my mind, and I kept coming back to the same thing. I couldn’t stop thinking about our kiss at the park. That kiss was so…so…”

“Wrong in every possible way?”

“Yes!! Did you feel that way too?”

Darren let out a great sigh of relief. “I did. I absolutely did. And I can’t tell you how glad I am to know you feel the same way.”

“There was just nothing there! I felt like I was kissing a cousin or a brother or something!”

“I know! And I’m an excellent kisser if I do say so myself, so that wasn’t the problem. I just think we have no romantic chemistry.”

“It’s weird,” she said. “I kept trying to make it work in my mind. I mean, in theory we’re kind of perfect for each other. We’re such good friends, we crack each other up, and we’re both ridiculously attractive.”

“And humble,” volunteered Darren.

“Right, and humble. It just seems like we’d be a good match. But for whatever reason, we are so, so not.”

“Well, at least we gave it a shot. Now we’ll never wonder if there could have been something there.”

“You know, I was really worried that this was going to be a hard conversation and one of us was going to end up being hurt.”

“I totally agree,” said Darren. “But I’ve gotta say, this is the best quasi-breakup I’ve ever experienced.”

“We rule.”

“We totally do.”

“Can we go to lunch now?”

“Have you ever known me to say no to food?”

Darren started the car and began to drive again. After a minute, he shot a sideways glance at Kate. “This isn’t going to be weird, right?”

“No,” said Kate with a grateful smile. “It’s not going to be weird at all. I think we completely understand each other, and I think this will only make our friendship stronger and more authentic.”

“Kate Henry, you are something else.”

“So I’m told.” She rested her head on Darren’s shoulder as they drove off in relief and contentment.

~~~~~

“Come on, please. I never ask you for anything.”

“That’s ridiculous, Amy. You ask me for things all the time. Daily, in fact,” said Kate.

“Well, you always say yes, so why would I stop asking?”

“Excellent point. Fine, okay, I’ll do it. But you owe me one.”

“Yeah, sure, no problem. You ever need a kidney; I’m your girl.”

“Um…thank you?”

“So Parker needs to be at the soccer field by 1:15, so I’ll drop him off at your house around 12:45. Rick will be at swimming lessons with Todd, so you can call him if anything comes up.”

“I can’t believe I’m taking your child to his soccer game so you can go have a spa day. I’m the best person I know.”

“Brooke and I have been planning this day for months!”

“I’m still offended that you didn’t invite me.”

“Hello, we booked this when you were still in your Ian phase, remember? There’s no way you would have taken an entire Saturday afternoon for a spa day with the girls when you could have been spending it with Ian.”

“Fine. You’re forgiven. But I’m still the best person I know.”

“Who’s arguing? I’ll see you soon.”

Kate shook her head as she hung up the phone
. I’m such a pushover
, she thought. But she really didn’t mind. She had planned to do some laundry and grocery shopping that afternoon, but those chores could wait. Spending time with Parker was something to which she just couldn’t say no.

Amy dropped Parker off at Kate’s as promised, and Kate made sure he made it to his soccer game on time. “Go kick some butt!” she yelled after him as he ran out onto the field. Parker was on the small size for his age and had never been particularly athletic, but he enjoyed any sort of team sport so much that his excess of heart made up for his lack of skill.

Kate settled into the collapsible chair that she had lugged with her from the car. She pulled a bottle of water and a cooking magazine out of her purse, but made sure to look up every so often to wave at Parker and to cheer on his team.

“Which one is yours?”

She hadn’t noticed that a woman with curly blonde hair who looked about in her mid-thirties had set up a chair near Kate’s.

“Which one? Oh, well I’m here with that one. Number four,” Kate replied, pointing at Parker, who was running furiously to try and catch up with the ball, but was being outrun but several taller boys.

“Cute kid,” the woman said. “Mine’s Andy. The goalie. I love him to pieces, but he has been getting on my last nerve recently. I think he’s just at that age when he likes to be in charge and doesn’t like to be told what to do.”

“Do any of us ever really grow into liking being told what to do?” asked Kate with a chuckle, enjoying the casual way this stranger had struck up a conversation.

“Well, no. But eventually we grow up and have no one to stop us from eating too much dessert or staying up too late at night. It really is a vicious cycle; this life. By the time you’re able to do the things you enjoy, you don’t enjoy them anymore because you’re too old. I mean, I would kill for an ice cream sandwich right now. But then I would want to kill myself next time I go bathing suit shopping. See? Vicious.”