“COME ON, HON. Aunt Valerie’s here. It’s time to go.”
“Aw, Mom, just let me save the game, okay?”
Kate sighed. “If it takes longer than five minutes, Drew, I’m turning it off myself.”
“Deal.”
Shaking her head, she returned to the kitchen. “That kid is going to go crazy not being able to play video games when he goes away with William’s parents.” She pulled out a chair and sat at the dinette.
Her younger sister Valerie’s green eyes sparkled with mirth as she waved her concerns away. “Oh, he’ll be fine.”
“That’s easy for you to say. Your daughter is only six.”
“And Lisa already gives me headaches. Wait until Alex starts dating. Then you’ll really lose sleep.”
Kate groaned and put her head in her hands. “Don’t remind me. I found out he has a wild crush on Jaime Marsh, but when I tried to talk to him about girls and sex, he made a gagging sound and hid in his room.”
“You could ask Logan or Rob to talk to him. The other night at the diner, they were talking about how—”
“All of you went out to dinner?” A lump formed in Kate’s throat. That all her siblings went out and didn’t think to invite her hurt.
Valerie’s color faded. “Oh, well, we were going to ask you to come, but Mom said you’d—”
“Feel like a fifth wheel?”
“More like a seventh wheel.”
“Well, maybe Mom should shut up and butt out.” Kate jumped up from the table. She gathered her cell phone and keys as she blinked away the burning in her eyes. She probably wouldn’t have gone anyway, since she was on such a tight budget, but they still could’ve asked.
Valerie laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry. If I had thought for a second—but Mom made so much sense.”
Kate let out a slow breath. “It’s not your fault. Mom has this vision of how a young widow should act. I’m supposed to sit at home with my children and not go out or have any fun. I can’t go to any parties by myself because, God forbid, I might speak to a married man. His wife might think I’m trying to flirt with him.”
She gasped. “She doesn’t think that.”
“Want to bet?” Kate dumped the items into her purse. “There are a lot of unflattering stereotypes about women in my situation, and Mom is terrified I’ll become one of them.”
Valerie smirked. “I can so picture you as a cougar. Just to piss her off.”
“Yeah, like I’m that disgusting.”
“Hey, don’t knock it. Imagine what a hot young stud would do for your ego. Not to mention your pus—”
“Thanks, Val. I get it.”
She grinned and turned away. “I’ll get the kids.”
They piled into Valerie’s red Durango and headed for The Ocean Front Diner. The parking lot was only half-full, which was a good sign that they’d made it after the beach crowd. Kate didn’t eat out much, and when she did, she wanted to enjoy herself and not spend most of the time waiting for a table.
“Table for five?”
Valerie gaped at the tall blonde, her emerald-green eyes reflecting delight. “Dianna! What are you doing here? You can’t tell me your cake business is slow.”
“This time of year? Are you kidding me?” She gathered five menus and then spoke over her shoulder as she led them to a booth. “I’ve been so busy with weddings and graduations I consider helping Shirley out my down time”
Kate slid into the corner and took a menu. “I didn’t get a chance to ask you the other day. How’s Sean’s pub doing this summer?”
Anyone who lived in Seashore Cove knew Sean Donavon and Dianna Sheldon had been best friends since the cradle. Born on the same day, in the same hospital, at the same time, their parents had formed a bond that trickled down to their children.
“Good.” She pulled a notepad and pen from her pocket. “He has a new girlfriend. Yvette. She’s taller than me, curvy, and gorgeous.”
“And you? How did your date go the other night?”
“Let’s just say I’m still single.”
Valerie flipped her menu open. “Have you met your single new neighbor? He’s a doctor, and I hear he’s very handsome.”
Dianna tapped the tip of her finger against her chin. “A handsome doctor? And right across the street, too.” Placing a hand over her mouth, she let out a pathetic cough. “Goodness, I think I may be getting sick.”
“He’s a pediatrician.” Kate was shocked by the edge in her voice. Why should she care if Jake got together with Dianna? She was a lot of fun and would be good for him.
Dianna was about to respond when a tall, redheaded man threw his arm around her shoulder and squeezed. “Hey, cuz, is it okay if Trish and I grab a table in the corner?”
“Sure, Joshua. You finished with your book yet?”
Kate leaned forward, eager to hear the answer to Dianna’s question. Joshua Sheldon, along with his writing partner, Austin McKenna, were her favorite authors, and she counted the days until their next installment. They wrote the most frightening thrillers and always made the Bestseller Lists.
“We’re getting there. Austin is obsessed as usual.”
With a wave of his hand, Joshua joined his wife while Dianna finished taking their order and then left to fetch their drinks.
When dinner arrived, they said grace, then dug into their meal.
Drew shoveled fries into his mouth. Valerie playfully swatted the back of his head. “Chew!”
He grinned and moved his jaw in a painfully slow motion. She laughed.
Kate chuckled along with them. Her family. She scanned the dining room and caught the eyes of several locals. They smiled and waved with genuine affection.
She didn’t have William with her anymore. She didn’t have a lover or someone to hold her while she fell asleep, but at least she had this. Friends. Family. People who truly cared about her.
For now.
After dessert and coffee, Valerie drove them home. With her hand on the door handle, Kate turned to her sister. “Thank you for treating us to dinner.”
“No, thank you for letting me for a change. I really enjoyed the company tonight.”
Kate hugged her, then hopped from the vehicle. When her sister drove off, she and the boys entered the house. Kate hated being a charity case, but had to admit it was a nice to not have to cook and clean tonight. All she wanted was to go up to her room and relax.
After bidding her sons goodnight with a stern warning not to stay up too late, she headed to her bedroom and attempted to watch TV for a while, but nothing caught her interest. The home and garden stations only made her realize how much work needed to be done on her house and how much money it would cost. Few of them offered inexpensive decorating ideas.
Around eleven, she finally gave up and was about to turn off her lights when moonlight hitting her eyes alerted her that the blinds were still open. With a grunt of annoyance, she leapt from the bed and reached for the stem.
Light illuminated Jake’s room. A few seconds later, it went dark.
Kate stared into the night, her mind racing. He was so near, sleeping only a few hundred yards away. For some reason, that made her feel closer to him, more familiar.
If she were honest with herself, she’d have to admit she really liked him. He was funny, loved to laugh, so friggin’ smart, and—okay, she’d admit it—hot. If not for her constant fear of doing or saying something inappropriate, she would want him as a friend.
Somehow, she was going to find a way to make that happen, and hopefully, the silly lustful thoughts would disappear when he entered ‘The Friend Zone.’
With that reassuring thought in mind, she twisted the blinds closed.