Same Old Truths (21 page)

She quickly deleted the fantasy from her mind.

What am I thinking? Salinger’s is the last place Sandy would bring Dave.

Kay reread Dave’s email, shaking her head at his pathetic attempt to disarm her with
cliché
funeral humor. She was especially insulted by the characterization of his nervy request as a “little proposition.”

She wasted no time drafting an answer, but scheduled its delivery for three hours later. If she hit the Reply button now, he was sure to read something into her quick response and she didn’t want to give him any undue encouragement.

I hate playing these stupid games.

DATE: April 18th, 11:47 a.m.

TO: [email protected]

FROM: Kay_Manning

SUBJECT: Re:Hi!

Your “little proposition” is too important to discuss through email or on the phone. I would like to arrange a face to face meeting. How’s 10, Saturday morning at Percolatt
é
on Sixth St.?

There are a few things I need to know before I decide to help you with your financial arrangements. Now, if it was funeral arrangements… Ha ha.

No need to reply if you plan on being there.

Kay

Kay decided she wasn’t going to reinforce his weaselly modus operandi by allowing him to deal with her via safe, remote methods of communication. The issue really was too important. Even more important was being able to keep a cool head so she could make certain she’d covered all her bases before giving him her decision.

By the end of the day, she hadn’t received a response, so she relaxed and turned her attention to finishing her work day and going home.

* * *

Dave was already seated at a table when Kay walked into the coffee shop. She noted, then dismissed her heart’s usual skip-a-beat thing, having finally resigned herself to the fact Dave would probably always have that effect on her.

…s
omething chemical beyond my control.

Kay took Dave’s early arrival as a good omen. She knew the “waitee” usually establishes the advantage over the “waitor.” If he was, at all, nervous, she was about to sharpen his pins and needles with a self-assured stride and a stunning picture of beauty in her slim-fitted white jeans, white and navy striped tee, casual navy blazer, and a sassy splash of color from her red ballet flats. The first four tiny buttons on the tee’s v-neckline were strategically opened to project just the right amount of flirty boobitude.

Her goal, as always, was to remind him of the stark difference between her and Sandy.

Heads turned as Kay gracefully serpentined between tables making her way to Dave’s chosen location at the far corner at the back of the coffee shop.

Probably doesn’t want anyone he knows to see us together.

He jumped up when he saw Kay and hurried to pull out a chair for her. Kay tried not to let any smugness show as she watched him struggle to keep his eyes off her chest.

Always know your audience.

“You must have gotten here early,” Kay said, looking at her watch as she scooted closer to the table.
10:00 straight up.
“I hope you haven’t been waiting too long.”

“Nah. I had a few things to take care of at the office this morning and I finished sooner than I expected,” he said.

“Has someone taken your order yet?” Kay asked, looking around the room for an available server.

“Actually, you have to place your order at the counter. Tell me what you want and I’ll get it for you.”

I want you tell me you’re sorry for all the dirty, rotten things you’ve done to me and that you’re ready to be my friend and a reliable dad to Cory and Mariah. Good luck getting that at the counter.

“Oh. Thanks. Let me see.“ Kay squinted to read the chalk board menu behind the counter. All the selections were written in difficult-to-read pastel colored chalk. “Just get me a medium regular coffee with a splash of half and half.” There wasn’t anything on that board that was worth straining her eyes for.

Kay pulled her wallet from her purse but Dave waved her off. “No. I’ve got it. I’ll be right back.”

Dave was being gracious now, but Kay knew that was likely to change once she told him what she had come to say. At any rate, it was fun watching him trip over himself to get in her good graces.

It wasn’t long before he was back with a tray carrying two cups of steaming coffee along with a cheese Danish and thick slice of banana bread. “I didn’t have time to eat before I left the house. I know you like banana bread, but if you don’t want it, I’ll eat it.”

Dave seemed to be pulling out all the stops and it was working…sort of. Kay couldn’t help but be flattered by the fact he’d remembered her fondness for banana bread. But she had to take his gesture with a grain of salt since he was, after all, the king of ulterior motives.

“How sweet,” Kay said insincerely. “Looks half - I mean, fresh-baked.” She cut a brown, moist corner with her fork, put it in her mouth, and smiled at Dave as she chewed.

Dave ignored her cattiness and dug into his own pastry with gusto.

They both sat there eating and sipping - neither one having much to say in the way of polite chit chat. So Kay decided to lead the charge with a statement sure to provoke and embarrass her coffee-mate.

“I bet you’ve caught a lot of shit from Sandy over all these meetings with me.”

His face instantly turned red, followed by a classic denial. “Sandy knows settling these issues is just as important for our family as they are for yours.”

Does he hear himself when he’s talking?

“See,” Kay said, stabbing the air in front of Dave with her fork. “Right there. That’s part of the problem. You’ve allowed Sandy to classify the girls as
my
family and not yours. Maybe if you claimed them these money issues wouldn’t be such a big deal. I mean, I’m sure you don’t have to cut deals with Sandy every time she needs something for Little Dave.”

“Yeah, but you…”

“But me, nothing. This has been your trip from the beginning. The girls and I were never consulted. We just got caught under your wheels, dragging us along as you made your hasty get-away. Now, I can understand you cutting me loose, but I’m not going to let you do it to the girls.”

Inside, Kay was quite riled up; outside, she was the picture of calm.

Dave shook his head. “Ever the drama queen.”

Kay leaned forward, looked directly into his eyes. “I callz ‘em as I seez ‘em.”

She wasn’t trying to be funny, but Dave laughed.
I think he’s starting to show cracks around the edges.

Kay had fired the first shot across the bow and was satisfied she’d set the tone for the rest of the conversation. Not surprisingly, Dave responded by calling a time out. “I’m going for a warm-up. How ‘bout you?”

“Nah. I’m good.”

Kay sat gazing out one of the coffee shop’s big picture windows taking in the intoxicating beauty of the late-April morning. Passersby’s steps seemed to be buoyed along by the lightness of the soft, warming season. A young couple kissing as they waited for a green light at the cross walk had captured her attention. She was lost in the sweetness of the moment when a loud tap on the window woke her out of her reverie. She turned to see Ed, looking smokin’ hot in his tennis whites, grinning at her from the other side of the glass. He was saying something to her, but Kay pointed to her ear and shook her head. Ed gestured toward the entrance and headed in that direction.

He’s coming in. Oh no. I’m going to have to introduce him to Dave.

“Well, fancy meeting you here,” Ed said as he briskly strode over to her table. “I didn’t know you were a Percolatter,” pronouncing it like the coffee brewing appliance.

“Yeah. I probably seem like more of a slow dripper,” Kay said.

“Huh? Oh right. Cute,” Ed said. He helped himself to Dave’s chair before Kay had a chance to extend a courteous invitation. “You look too pretty to be sitting here by yourself,” Ed said, smiling as he took in Kay’s vision of loveliness.

Kay wasn’t used to being the recipient of Ed’s legendary charm. His compliment made her blush and giggle, as if the rest of her buttons had suddenly popped open.

Two seconds later Dave was back glowering at the handsome stranger occupying his chair and making his ex-wife laugh.

Oh, please, oh please. Don’t let Dave embarrass me.

Ed jumped up. “Oh. Excuse me. Is this your seat?”

With some awkward back-stepping and criss-crossing, the two men switched positions. Dave reclaimed his seat with an air of self-importance, like he had rightly ousted a pretender to his throne.

“Ed, this is Cory and Mariah’s dad, Dave Noland,” Kay said, unable to introduce Dave with the words “ex-husband.”

Ed’s eyes flew open wide and was first to extend his hand. “Ed Salinger. Good to meet you.”

Begrudgingly, Dave took Ed’s hand, gave it a cursory single pump. “Oh. Right. We spoke on the phone the other day. Somehow I pictured you much older.”

Ed let out a good-natured laugh. “Yeah. I get that a lot. I’m the junior.”

“Sorry?” Dave said, clearly oblivious to the meaning behind Ed’s explanation.

“Oh, nothing. I better let you two get back to your coffee. I’m gonna be late for my set. See you Monday, Kay. Nice meeting you, Don.”

“Dave,” Dave corrected. But Ed didn’t hear him. In typical Ed fashion, he hurried to the counter to get his coffee, shaking his head and muttering to himself.

Kay wanted to laugh at Ed’s deliberate insult. He had a stellar reputation for never forgetting a name or a face so she couldn’t understand why he felt the need to dis Dave. It was out of character for the man who was a stickler for holding to the principals of the Dale Carnegie How To Win Friends and Influence People program, of which he was a proud graduate. Nevertheless, she was disappointed to see him go.

“What a jerk,” Dave sneered. “You know he’s got a thing for you, don’t you?”

Little sparkles of delight tickled Kay’s insides at Dave’s cynical observation. But she quickly dismissed the idea when she remembered Dave’s history during their marriage of accusing any male crossing her path as “having a thing for her,” and referring to them as either a “jerk,” “joker” or “clown.” As tempting as it was, she knew better than to entertain feelings for her boss. She let out a derisive snort.

“No really. Trust me. It’s a guy thing.”

“Whatever,” Kay said, sounding just like Cory. “Are we ready to get down to business?”

With a look of hope and dread on his face, Dave nodded.

Kay inhaled deeply. “So here’s the deal. I’m going to do the talking and I want you to sit there and listen without interrupting. It’s important I get through this because I may never get the chance again. Agreed?”

“Agreed,” Dave said.

Dave shifted uncomfortably in his seat waiting for Kay to begin. The cold, hard stare she was giving him seemed to last an eternity.

“First of all, I want to say that in light of all your previous failed arrangements with me - marital, parental, financial and otherwise, I think you have a lot of balls asking me for, yet, another pass for your unacceptable behavior.”

Kay could tell he was fighting an impulse to look away, but somehow, managed to hold her unrelenting gaze.

“You have proved to be cruel,dishonest,unreliable and untrustworthy. Not exactly the most desirable traits to bring to the table when making the type of proposal you’ve presented me with.”

“I know you thought I was stupid and gullible last September when I jumped at your original offer without giving it the due diligence it demanded. But I did it for a reason, Dave. After seven years I thought we had an opportunity to build a new relationship based on our old friendship.” Then her voice got quiet. “You see, even though I’d accepted the end of our marriage, I just couldn’t wrap my brain around never being friends again - that the only role you’d play in my life would be adversarial. Up until the time you met Sandy, we were pretty good friends, don’t you think?”

Dave looked blankly at Kay. She felt slighted by his non-response, but pushed on.

“Knowing me like you do, I believe you took advantage of my unresolved feelings.”

Dave started to object, but Kay put up her hand.

“Come on now, Dave. Give me credit for knowing
you
like I do.”

“It’s taken me awhile, but I’ve finally realized my hope for any new alliance with you just isn’t going to happen. Sandy will never allow it and, let’s face it, you’re just not that into it either.

Kay had been resisting these thoughts for some time, and giving voice to them only underscored their difficult truth.

“You asked me to think about it and I did. In fact, it was all I could do. For days, now, I’ve wracked my brain and searched my soul and the only conclusion I could come to was I’ve earned the right to be selfish.“

Dave crossed his arms across his chest and finally took his chance to look away. Kay waited for a moment said, “Dave? Dave, are you listening?”

He looked back at her like a sullen teenager, and quietly said, “yes,” then looked away again.