Same Old Truths (29 page)

“Too soon?” Ed asked with chuckle.

“How much for this chess set?”

“Do you know where I can find any more of these plates?”

“Hey, Herb. Look at this clock. Wouldn’t it go great with my lemon tea pot?”

Kay looked over and saw things were getting busy at the table. She looked back at Ed with pleading eyes. “Please. Can you hang back for just a minute?” she asked.

Kay was able to quickly dispense with all but one indecisive customer. The woman was trying to pick out a pair of earrings for her god-daughter’s birthday. As the woman took turns holding up the earrings to her lobe while looking in the mirror Virginia had provided, Kay would look over at Ed, smile sheepishly and shrug. She could tell his patience was beginning to wane.

“How old is your god-daughter?” Mariah, tired of watching the never-ending earring rotation, jumped up to help.

The woman cocked her head and looked at Mariah. Kay thought she was going to admonish her for interrupting. “She’s about your age.”

“I don’t think she’d like any of those earrings you’re looking at. They’re more for grown-ups, like you.” Mariah said.

“So what do you think I should get her?”

“Does she play video games?” Mariah asked.

“I think so,” the woman said.

Mariah gave the woman a big smile and directed her to a box filled with donated, used video games.

“They’re real expensive if you buy them new. It takes me a long time to save up just to buy one. But when I buy used ones, I can get more.”

The woman was impressed with Mariah’s salesmanship and asked her to help her pick out the best games. While the two sifted through the box, Kay edged back over to finish up with Ed.

“I need an answer to my question, Ed. Do you still feel I’m a valued employee?”

Now it was Ed’s turn to be embarrassed. It took him several uncomfortable moments to respond. “That’s just it, Kay. I think I was beginning to value you a little too much. It hit me that morning I saw you through the window at the coffee shop. You looked so beautiful and you had the sweetest, most inviting expression on your face.”

Once again, she felt those little sparkles of delight bursting from her heart.

“But I don’t understand, Ed. When you came to talk to me you were so warm and friendly. I got to work on Monday and you’d turned cold and stony. And you’ve been that way ever since.”

Ed sighed. “I know. I’m sorry. That’s what happens when I go into self-protection mode. I was already in over my head when I realized you were getting back with your husband. I didn’t think it was right for me to get in the way of your reconciliation. I had to find a way to put a rein on my feelings. I was keeping my distance, waiting for them to go away until I could resume a normal working relationship with you.”

Kay was stunned. “Getting back with my hus…? What in the world gave you the idea I was getting back with my EX-husband?”

Ed looked down. “You should have seen yourself that morning. I’d never seen you so strong, so self-assured. You were positively glowing. Then when your hus…ex-husband came to the table acting so annoyed and proprietary, I knew I had walked into the middle of something important. I guess you could call it a “guy thing.”

Kay shook her head and laughed. “Yeah…a guy thing. That’s exactly what Dave called it when he said he could tell you were interested in me. But I just sloughed it off as Dave being his usual a-hole self.”

“Well, Dave read the situation correctly.” Ed said.

“You didn’t,” Kay snapped.

Ed was taken aback by Kay’s sharp tone.

“I’m not reconciling with Dave. I was just there to work out a few left-over legal details. To tell you the truth I was mortified when I saw you.”

Ed winced at Kay’s comment.

“That didn’t come out right. What I mean is I was embarrassed for you to see me with Dave. And I certainly didn’t want to introduce him to you.”

“For god sake, why not? Were you worried I might embarrass you or something? Ed said.

“Absolutely not! It was quite the other way around. I was afraid you’d judge me on my foolish choice of a husband.” Kay replied.

As if he already knew Kay’s answer to his next question, a self-satisfied smile crossed Ed lips. “Why in the world would you care what I thought? After all, I’m just the guy you work for.”

Kay’s heart sped up. She felt completely exposed. But since Ed had made his confession, she thought she might as well come clean too.

“Well, if you must know, you’re not the only person here who’s been having certain feelings.”

Ed’s smile grew wider.

“I just didn’t think it was a good idea to do anything about them. I mean, we’ve got the whole work situation, and I’ve been trying to work through these things with Dave.”

Ed turned to Kay and gently grasped her upper arm. The strong but gentle feel of Ed’s fingers wrapped around Kay’s arm made her want to offer him the other one. She met his penetrating gaze and she felt her knees turn to liquid.

“As Rhett said to Scarlett when she, at long-last, declared her love, “It seems we’ve been at cross-purposes, doesn’t it?” he said.

“
Ed Salinger, please report to the registration desk. Ed Salinger, please report to the registration desk
,” the PA system blared across the garden grounds.

Ed dropped Kay’s arm and he gave her an apologetic shrug. He reached down for the bag with the churn still on the ground. “I’m in for it now. Should have been there ages ago.” He rushed off to answer the summons.

In her exhilarated mood, Kay felt compelled to finish the climactic scene, so she called after him, “Ed…if you leave, where shall I go, what shall I do?”

Ed threw his head back and laughed, not missing a hurried step. In typical Ed-fashion, he called over his shoulder, “Frankly, my dear, we’ll have to talk about it some other time.”

Kay stood there watching him go, thrilled, but not completely sure what had just happened between them. All she knew was the wait for “some other time” was going to be a long one. And she would relish every agonizing moment.

20

Opa!

Kay strained to see out her car windshield, cursing herself for not replacing the corroded wiper blades when she’d had the chance. T
he relentless, Monday morning downpour didn’t help her dispirited mood. Saturday’s exhilaration over her encounter with Ed had given way to worry and doubt. The more she thought about the prospect of starting something romantic with him the more she realized the complications involved would surely spell trouble. But then again, if she spurned him, things at work might become even more awkward than they’d already been.

With any luck, they would compare notes and come to the agreement the whole thing is just entirely too foolhardy. Kay let out a sigh of relief, remembering Ed had a funeral service at 9:00 am. She wouldn’t have to face him for another couple of hours.

But it wasn’t just the Ed situation that had Kay feeling downhearted. Taking Mariah back to Dave’s the previous evening had turned out to be harder than she’d anticipated.
Not just because Mariah was so delightful to have around, and Kay missed her terribly when she was gone, but because there were things happening in Mariah’s summer world which were out of Kay’s control. Once Mariah was swallowed up behind Dave’s quickly opened and shut front door, she was out of Kay’s maternal protective sphere. The little girl would be left to cope with the likes of Sandy’s questionable behavior and Alicia Resnick’s potential bullying. But Kay had to remind herself Mariah was growing up and would, undoubtedly, be exposed to much worse.

Fortunately, by the time Kay got to the mortuary, the clouds were clearing and in their place was a sunlit, sparkling fresh blue sky. Kay could feel her spirits lifting as well, and she decided to enter the mortuary through the front door so she could greet Ruth and maybe engage her in a friendly chat.

Kay still hadn’t gotten used to Ruth’s new chic appearance. She was startled by the vision of fashionable loveliness sitting in the chair once taken up by a drab, matronly presence. A bright ivory print, silk wrap dress hugged and flattered Ruth’s still-trim figure and her hair and makeup were done to perfection. But it wasn’t her stylish beauty that commanded attention. It was an aura of satisfied contentment that seemed to fill the entire space of the front office. Kay couldn’t help but smile.

“You look happy this morning. Good weekend?” Ruth asked.

“I was just going to say the same thing about you,” Kay said. “Nice dress by the way.”

Ruth looked down at herself as if she’d forgotten what she’d worn that morning. “Thank you, Dear,” Ruth said with a smile and a rosy blush. “I found it at this great little dress shop over on Dellyne. They have such pretty things and their prices are reasonable.”

“I’ll have to check it out,” Kay said, wishing she had the courage to ask Ruth about her makeover.

With Ed and Uncle Owen out on a service and Leo running death certificates, Kay and Ruth felt comfortable having a little catch-up visit. Kay fetched coffee for the two of them and then sat across from Ruth, eager to hear any and everything about the latest goings on in and around the mortuary.

Ruth reported an uneventful weekend. Ed had charged her with phone duty since he was busy with the fund-raising flea market.

“There were only two death calls and Owen took care of them both,” Ruth said. But then she leaned forward and lowered her voice to add something indelicate to the end of her account. “Adelaide came to see me last week.” She widened her eyes at Kay and nodded to indicate Kay should know what she meant.

“Oh, no. Is she ok?” Kay said.

Ruth pressed her lips together in a strained grimace. “She definitely knows something is going on with Owen. But at this point it’s only suspicion. She said he’s lost twenty pounds and is considering getting a face lift. I know she was feeling me out to see if I knew anything.”

“You must have really felt backed into a corner. What did you say?” Kay said.

“It wasn’t what I said. It was
how
I said it. I was tripping all over myself to reassure her he was just doing a little, mid-life self-improvement.” Ruth reached for the back of her head in search of her long-gone bun and self-consciously chuckled. “I told her even I had made a few changes. You know…just to keep from getting bored.”

Kay knew it was more than boredom behind Ruth’s updated image, but she still didn’t feel comfortable delving further.

Ruth grimaced again and shook her head. “I know she saw right through me. If I was truly a good friend, I’d have told her she’d do well to keep her eyes and ears open. But that would’ve just invited more questions, and I’m a terrible liar.”

Kay reached over and patted Ruth’s hand. “Don’t beat yourself up. You were in a no-win situation.”

Kay’s heart went out to Aunt Adelaide. She knew all too well what it was like to be in Adelaide’s shoes, pressing for answers from people who knew the truth but were reluctant to inflict more pain…or be a snitch.

“Take it from me, Ruth. Women say they want to know, but they really don’t, Kay said. “The truth is, they
already
know and are desperate for someone - something to prove them wrong. I think you did Adelaide a kindness.”

“I sure didn’t feel kind.” Ruth replied. “But that’s not even the worst of it. You’re not going to believe this, but while we were talking, Dot Dash unexpectedly showed up with a batch of okra. I was afraid she was going to ask me to page Owen; I snatched the container from her hand, mumbled something like we were very busy and dismissed her with a curt “thank you.” Adelaide just stood there looking at me as if I’d lost my mind.”

Kay gave Ruth a wry smile. “That doesn’t surprise me. It just tells me Adelaide is almost ready to learn the truth. The Fates are putting things in motion so all Adelaide’s questions will be answered. That’s when she’s really going to need your friendship.

Ruth smiled at Kay but there was sadness in her eyes. “You’re speaking from experience, aren’t you?”

Kay smiled back at Ruth, happy to be having another heart-to-heart with her friend. But she didn’t want to talk about her past. There were things going on in her present that were more worthy of discussion.

Kay gestured toward Ruth with her coffee mug. “I’m going to get a warm up. How ‘bout you?”

Ruth shook her head and Kay headed for the coffee pot in the break room. She was looking in the refrigerator for a piece of fruit when she heard the phone ring. She hoped it was a death call she’d have to go on, thereby avoiding Ed for a little while longer. She walked back to Ruth’s office expecting to be greeted with the pick up information; instead, Ruth handed her a Call Back message from Judith Kline.

Kay’s heart beat faster, but this time from excitement rather than fear. She couldn’t believe she was actually looking forward to hearing what her lawyer had to say. The only thing that gave her slight pause was the prospect of going back to mediation.

But if that’s what has to happen, so be it.

Kay wasn’t in any hurry to return the call. She and Ruth had a few more minutes before they’d have to get serious about their day. Without going into too much gory detail, Kay casually filled Ruth in on what had been going on between her and Dave. She smoothly segued to the subject of Ed by telling Ruth about the comical head butting incident as a lead-in to the story of their quasi-romantic moment. But Kay just couldn’t work up the courage. Anyway, she could tell Ruth’s interest was beginning to wane; she kept trying to steal a glances at her wrist watch.