Satin Sheets and Strawberries (10 page)

Kelli fought the guilty flush sweeping up her cheeks. He had every right to be upset. If the situation was reversed, she’d be demanding answers too. "Please, Logan, you’re hurting my hand."

Logan instantly released her hand. His "sorry" was drowned out by the entrance of Ruth and the doctor.

Ruth became distressed when she spotted Logan standing in the middle of her doctor’s office.

"I’m sorry, Ruth," said Kelli, "but you have to tell him. He has a right to know." She saw tears pool behind Ruth’s thick glasses and gently kissed her cheek. "Dr. Young will be here to answer Logan’s questions, so you won’t have to go into detail."

Ruth released Kelli’s hands. "Where are you going?"

"I’ll be in the waiting room. There’s a magazine with a really interesting article on the breast-feeding of the woolly spider monkey."

A tentative smile curved Ruth’s mouth as she watched Kelli beat a hasty exit, closing the door behind her. Ruth squared her shoulders and faced her nephew. "She really knows how to make an exit," she said.

Kelli had glanced through five magazines and bitten three fingernails down to the skin by the time she heard Logan’s deep voice in the hall. When she saw Ruth’s beaming face, Kelli released the breath she’d been holding and hurried toward her. "Everything’s okay?" "Wonderful, child." Ruth gave Logan an affectionate glance. "He took it quite well. In fact, I’m relieved he finally knows." Ruth kissed Kelli’s cheek.

"I told you so," Kelli whispered. She watched Logan confer with the receptionist. Charts and payment schedules were being pulled from folders and spread over the desk.

Logan frowned at the growing mound of paperwork. For eight years the amount that Medicare didn’t cover on each visit had accumulated into a substantial debt. He picked up the latest record and studied it. Not only had someone paid the small amount for each visit for the last six months, but they were trying to hack away at the larger chunk. He raised an eyebrow. He glanced over at Kelli, the only thing that had changed in Ruth’s life in the past six months. She was standing next to his aunt, grinning. She was dressed in black stretch pants and a trademark oversized red sweater with a black question mark knitted into the front. White sneakers with red polka-dotted shoelaces completed her outfit. Her red beaded earrings swung against her neck as she turned and reached for Ruth’s coat.

"Why don’t you two wait for me out front," said Logan.

Kelli held the coat as Ruth slipped her arms into the sleeves. She hesitated. She really should settle the bill with the doctor, she knew, but since Logan had a death grip on it, she’d wait until next month. "Sure," she said.

Logan waited until the door closed behind them. The receptionist’s eyes widened as he reached in his back pocket, pulled out his checkbook, and wrote a check for the entire balance. "I would appreciate it if you could mail me a copy of everything here," he said.

"Yes, sir. Should I mail it to Kelli’s address?" He nodded.

She handed him a small card. "This is Ruth’s next appointment."

Logan glanced at the card and placed it in his wallet. "Thank you."

He had turned to go when the woman stopped him. "Mr. Sinclair?"

"Yes?"

"These are Ruth’s prescriptions. Kelli usually takes them."

Logan took the slips and managed a smile. "I’ll take them. Thanks again." Then he rejoined his aunt and Kelli outside. "Well, ladies, since it’s almost noon, how about I treat you both to lunch?"

Kelli noticed the prescriptions in his hands and grimaced. "I’m sorry, Logan, but I’ve got a million errands to run. Why don’t you treat your aunt? She hasn’t eaten out lately." Kelli started to step toward the walk, when she suddenly stopped and held out her hand. "Since I’m headed back into town, I’ll get those filled for Ruth."

Logan casually placed them in his pants pocket. "That’s okay. I have a couple things to pick up anyway. Ruth, could you show me where the pharmacy is?"

"Mercy yes, I’ve lived in these parts for the past forty years. I’m sure I could still find Sanderson’s." Ruth turned to Kelli. "Are you sure you can’t join us?"

Kelli knew defeat when it was staring her in the face. Logan was determined to get Ruth’s medication. With any luck, he’d pay the bill without asking any questions. "Not today. Ruth. You and Logan have a real nice time and catch up on some gossip."

She was almost inside her car when Logan stopped her with a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Kelli, please join us."

Without turning around, she cursed her lack of luck. Two minutes more and she would have made her exit without Logan seeing the tears about to fall. She had failed. The more she tried to balance Henry’s and Ruth’s Social Security and meager pension checks with the accumulating medical expenses, the further behind she got. She suspected Logan had just settled Dr. Young’s account. But there was also an outstanding balance at Sanderson’s Pharmacy. Not to mention the balance still owed to the dentist and optometrist. Both sets of dentures and Ruth’s glasses had been lost in the fire, and their charming cousin Edwin hadn’t seen the need to have them replaced. Kelli regretted not having enough money to help them more.

She quickly put on her sunglasses and shook her head. "I’m sorry, Logan, but not today. I have a million things to do before Fairyland opens next month. You and Ruth enjoy yourselves."

Logan frowned as he watched Kelli climb in her ancient Chevy and start the engine. "Thank you for letting me know about Ruth," he said. "It explains a lot."

Kelli couldn’t trust her voice, so she nodded and dropped the gearshift into reverse. She had to get out of there, fast. Tears were slowly making their way down her cheek as she turned away from Logan.

"Tonight, after dinner, I would like to talk to you, if it’s convenient?" Kelli’s "Fine" was muffled as she pulled the door shut and backed up.

Logan stood in the middle of the street and watched as Kelli backed her car into a driveway three doors down, jammed it into drive, and took off in the opposite direction.

"Is something wrong, Logan?"

He smiled reassuringly at his aunt. "No, nothing’s wrong. Kelli just had a lot to do." He slowed his steps to match his aunt’s and lovingly placed her in the front seat of his rental car. As he rounded the front of his car, he looked in the direction Kelli had taken. Why had she purposely reversed halfway down the block when she could have driven straight forward? And why hadn’t she looked at him?

#

Kelli dried her tears. She was a fool and she knew it. She had done it royally this time. She’d fallen in love with Logan. With a frustrated oath, Kelli punched the steering wheel, then she blew her nose in the last tissue. She had driven two miles out of town before her tears forced her to pull over. When had she fallen in love? Kelli wanted to know the exact moment it happened. She leaned her head back against the vinyl seat, closed her eyes, and thought. When a woman fell in love for the first time in her life, she expected certain things. There should be a sign: blazing fireworks, a two-hundred-piece orchestra playing Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Something.

Right now, all she had was a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She took off her glasses and looked into the mirror. Mascara was streaked down her cheeks and her eyes were red and swollen. She could add looking like a demented raccoon to her "falling in love" signs.

#

Late, late, late. Kelli parked her car next to the school’s pickup truck in Fairyland’s parking lot and rushed out of the car. Mr. Weedle, the school’s carpentry teacher, was a stickler for punctuality, and she was already late. She ran to the theater, out of breath by the time she arrived. A group of husky teens was busy ripping out rotted benches while Henry and Mr. Weedle were sitting on the stage pleasantly discussing which type of bait was best for catching trout.Kelli was shocked. Here she had broken the speed limit to make this meeting, and Mr. Weedle was chatting with Henry as if they were long-lost buddies. She took a deep calming breath and walked over to them. "Hello, Mr. Weedle. I’m sorry I’m late."

"No problem, girl." He didn’t notice Kelli’s grimace at being called "girl." "Henry here has been filling me in on what has to be done. It’s about time you got some real help around here."

Kelli ignored the sarcastic remark, just as she’d been doing for the past five years. She smiled pleasantly. "Henry’s in charge of the grounds. He’ll show you where there are some logs that would make nice benches."

"We’ve already seen them, girl."

Kelli closed her eyes and counted to ten. "Well then, if you need me, I’ll be in my workshop."

She was about to walk away when Henry asked, "How did it go?"

A flush of pink crept up her cheeks. "I’m sorry, Henry, my mind was elsewhere. Everything went great. Logan took Ruth to lunch and the doctor said she is as fit as a fiddle."

"How did Logan take it?"

"Amazingly well. I’m afraid I chickened out and stayed in the waiting room while the doctor explained everything. He seemed calm when he came out and Ruth was smiling." Kelli smiled at the older gentleman. The man owned a piece of her heart. "I’ll go fix some lunch, come in as soon as you have things straightened out here."

Henry frowned as he watched Kelli head slowly toward the parking lot. Something was wrong. He noticed how she bristled when George Weedle called her "girl," but there was something more. He knew she’d told him the truth about the appointment. Kelli would never lie, especially about Ruth’s health. So why were her shoulders slightly slumped? And why was the spring missing from her step? He turned toward George. "If you can manage on your own, I think I’ll go get lunch." Then he headed toward the house behind the young woman who had become so important to him.

#

"I’m telling you, son, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear she was sulking."

Logan glared at his uncle. "Why are you two assuming I have anything to do with it?"

Ruth ran nervous fingers over her apron. "We didn’t say you did, Logan. It’s just that Kelli’s acting strange."

"How?"

"She doesn’t sparkle."

Privately Logan agreed with his aunt’s assessment, but he’d eat spinach before admitting it. "Maybe it’s a full moon, or maybe the planets are misaligned. Lord, the woman believes in fairies—there is no telling what’s upsetting her."

Henry pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down. "She was fine this morning when she left with Ruth. When she came back for the meeting with George, she was upset."

Ruth checked on the chicken roasting in the oven then sat down next to Henry. "She was fine at the doctor’s." She thought for a moment longer. "Until she turned down your invitation to lunch."

"Are you trying to tell me I upset her by inviting her to lunch?"

"Of course not, son. It just seems funny that she turned you down and then hurried on home after saying she had errands to run." Logan took a deep breath. "So what would you two like me to do about it? Avoid asking her to lunch?"

"No," said Ruth, "we want you to be especially nice to her. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes, so go out to her workshop and get her."

Logan stood up and scowled at his relatives. He muttered a few choice words under his breath as he walked out of the kitchen and headed for the workshop. This was not his day.

He’d nearly gone into shock earlier when the doctor explained about his aunt’s heart. When he learned that she’d been under the doctor’s supervision for the past eight years, he’d felt guilt pressing on his chest. Eight years! Where in the hell had he been during that time? In some godforsaken country working on his tan.

He jammed his hands deeper into the pockets of his jeans and marched up to the warped door of Kelli’s shop. He forced himself to relax. The person who’d shouldered his responsibilities, had been Kelli. Sweet, beautiful, kissable Kelli. When he returned from lunch with Ruth, he had seen her in the shop painting the last of the statues. Henry was right, the sparkle was gone. Her eyes had held an "I lost my puppy" look.

Determined to be witty, cheery, and totally charming, Logan threw open the door. "Kelli, how would you like to see my shorts? They have cute little bunnies all over them."

#

Kelli made herself concentrate on the plate of food in front of her. She could feel Ruth’s and Henry’s curious glances, but every time she looked up she saw only Logan. He was sitting across from her innocently eating his dinner, as if the scene in her shop had never happened. At his grand entrance, Kelli had spun around and dropped her paintbrush. He had swaggered into the room with his chest puffed out and white teeth flashing. She had taken one look at his strut and burst out laughing. All the way back to the house she begged for a peek while he pretended to be offended by her mirth.

"Aunt Ruth, you really outdid yourself tonight," Logan said. "The chicken is delicious." A spark of mischief gleamed in his eyes as he looked at Kelli. "Kelli, would you please pass the carrots, I have this uncontrollable craving for some."

Kelli bit her lower lip to prevent a giggle from escaping. She picked up the small relish tray, and passed it.

Logan wiggled his nose in thanks.

She choked on a laugh. Ruth and Henry were still giving her strange looks. First they had been as careful around her as if they were walking on eggshells, now they looked ready to commit her to the funny farm.

Logan was the only one enjoying himself.

Well, Kelli decided, two can play this game. She slipped her sneaker off under the table and rubbed her foot on Logan’s calf. "Some more peas, Ruth?" Kelli asked innocently.

Logan felt her toes massage his leg, reaching higher and higher. He gulped, and dropped the forkful of stuffing that was halfway to his mouth.

Ruth looked at him, concerned. "Logan, are you all right? You look a little pale."

Logan glared at Kelli, but her head was bent down, as she continued to eat her dinner. He moved his leg away from her. "I’m fine, Ruth."

Kelli looked up, her eyes sparkling. "I don’t know, Logan. You do look a little furry around the edges." Henry and Ruth exchanged curious glances as a tide of red swept up Logan’s cheek. With a shrug of their shoulders they finished their meal and retreated into the living room, leaving the kitchen to the odd couple.