Chapter Twelve

October 14, 1963 was a Monday. It was mostly rainy, a bit cooler than the usual Savannah weather, and for the most part an unremarkable day in the annals of history. But it was Kathy’s first day at her new job working as part of the secretarial pool for the management and billing office at the department store, and as such, it was a day she’d never forget. This time, however, the day was going down in her personal history book as a positive mark. At least, she hoped so.

The last few months had been challenging on a level she’d never expected. She’d continued seeing Dr. Milton and was still seeing her, though only once a week now. Together, they’d worked through layer upon layer of grief and anger and emotions Kathy couldn’t even begin to name, getting down to the bare bones of who Kathy was and what she wanted her life to be.

She still wasn’t exactly sure what that was, but she figured getting a job like a normal person was a good place to start. When Roy had mentioned the part-time position, working four days a week in the offices at the department store, she only hesitated a moment before expressing her interest. With his help, she’d easily secured the job, and now here she was, having her first full day.

“Your duties will include filling in for or helping anyone who needs you,” Mrs. Barnum, her supervisor, explained. “For right now, I have you shadowing Dana in billing. If she runs out of work for you, she’ll send you over to Carol in marketing. Any questions?”

“No, ma’am.”

By the time the day ended and Kathy was on the bus home, she was exhausted. She’d learned so much today that her head was spinning, but it had felt so good to be useful, to be necessary to a process, and to know she was earning her keep. It was worth the effort. Finally, after all these years, she was making her own way in the world.

True, she was still living at home with Eliza, but it was a situation that suited them both perfectly well. Neither was ready to be on her own now or anytime in the foreseeable future.

A couple of weeks after she started work, she was sent over to Roy’s office to fill in for his secretary, who’d called in sick.

“You’re familiar with the phone system by now,” he said as he greeted her that morning. “I don’t anticipate it being a very busy day, though I do have several letters that will need typing. Lorna keeps templates in a folder in a drawer under the typewriter. Her father’s quite elderly and tends to have spells from time to time, so she’s prepared a playbook of sorts for her substitutes.”

“Okay. I’ll familiarize myself with it.” When he beamed at her, she tilted her head quizzically. “What?”

“I’m just proud of you, that’s all.”

Kathy smiled and shook her head. “Get on with you.”

He winked and patted her shoulder. “I’ll be in my office. Oh, Charles will probably be stopping by around lunchtime. We have some paperwork to go over. You know, he asks about you every time I see him.”

She didn’t know what to think about that, and she frowned as she sat and uncovered the typewriter. “I can’t imagine why.”

“Can’t you?” Roy chuckled and went into his office. “I can think of a reason or two.”

“You don’t… no. No,” she said to herself. “He can’t mean… of course not. That’s ridiculous.” The idea that Charles would be interested in her was too wild to even contemplate.

When he came in a few hours later, she smiled at him with awkward politeness, Roy’s comments echoing in her mind. It was the first time she’d seen Charles since that day on the beach, and she was at a loss for words.

He stopped short when he saw her. “Kathy! Hello. I didn’t expect to see you today. How are you?”

“I’m well. And you?”

“Staying busy. How’re you liking the job?” He wasn’t quite smiling, but his look definitely held warmth.

Kathy shrugged. “I stay busy. I’m enjoying it, really. I’ll let Roy know you’re here.” She didn’t give him a chance to protest before she walked to Roy’s door and knocked, easing it open. “Charles is here.”

“Show him in, show him in! Thanks, Kathy.”

As Charles passed her, he smiled at her, and she noticed for the first time how much the expression transformed him from being somewhat ordinary into someone who was surprisingly appealing. The realization shook her as much as the shiver of awareness she felt. He was the first man she’d looked at in years and felt anything for more than platonically.

“I’m not ready for that,” she whispered as she sat back down. Her heart was pounding, her palms were slick, and she felt a little sick to her stomach. “No, I’m definitely not ready for that.”

Determined to shove the awareness to the back of her mind and leave it there, she picked up the stack of correspondence Roy had left for her a little while earlier and started typing for all she was worth. If there was one thing she’d learned about herself in recent months, it was that she could do just about anything if she put her mind to it, including distance herself from emotional threats.

Thinking about the warm smile Charles had given her and her own reaction, she sighed. “You, sir, are definitely an emotional threat. And I’m sorry, but we just can’t have that.”