Rick stared at the paperwork spread across his oak desk. Seemed no end to his responsibilities. He didn’t especially enjoy working on a Saturday, but he’d been swamped with paperwork since the wedding a couple weeks ago. He didn’t mind too much. Work energized him. In fact, he looked forward to it each day. His chair squeaked as he scrunched into the soft leather and leaned back.
Yet things seemed different somehow. He couldn’t understand it. He liked his job; it was going well. Why did he feel unsettled?
Konni Strong’s image intruded his thoughts, surprising him. More and more, her face seemed to pop up like an energetic kindergartner. The short dark hair, delicate features, thick lashes that fringed eyes the color of rich, brown leather. Eyes that held a hint of sadness. A look that made him want to shelter her, hold her tight, and tell her everything would be right with her world. He shook himself. How could he make a promise like that? With his upbringing, what did he know about taking care of a woman? He didn’t trust himself.
That’s why all these years he had dabbled only in surface relationships. No tangles. No worries. Still, he couldn’t deny his loneliness. He blew out a sigh. He decided he needed some good companionship. As they say, “All work, no play…” He thought a little longer. Konni didn’t seem interested in a serious relationship. Maybe he’d attend her church in the morning and invite her out to dinner. No harm in that. He stretched long and hard in his seat. That’s what he’d do.
With his decision made, he bent back over the papers and set to work.
The next morning, Konni got a call from Rick, asking about church service times. She gave him the information, hung up the phone, and stared at it a full moment. Since she hadn’t talked to him in two weeks, she’d figured he had decided against coming to Hope Village. Well, she didn’t have time to think about it now. She needed to get ready. Rummaging through her dresser drawer, she pulled out a packet of black panty hose.
With her fingers wrapped around the ends of the package, she yanked off the tape. When she shook the nylons free, her jaw dropped. “I’d have to be Malibu Barbie to wear these things!” she said out loud. She blew out a gust of air and made a gesture of rolling up her sleeves.
With the tip of her tongue poking slightly through the right side of her mouth, she worked the feet between her fingers until she could gracefully slip her toes in. Gradually, she inched the material up her legs. Once she reached her knees, the delicate fabric fought back. “Come on, work with me here,” she said between grunts and labored breathing.
She paused a moment to catch her breath. Like a rubber band, the hosiery snapped tight against her thighs, cutting off circulation. Her pulse throbbed through her leg veins with the steady rhythm of marching soldiers. She figured that couldn’t be good, so she fell onto the bed and declared war.
Yanking, twisting, and basically squirming her way across the scattered bed covers, Konni worked with determination to pour her legs into the panty hose, come what may. Perspiration beaded her forehead, but still she persisted. Harder and harder, she tugged like a woman on a mission. With victory just in sight, she gave a final thrust that catapulted her body across the family cat. Trixie’s meow would have won an Oscar for special effects in a horror movie. Konni screamed. Her thumbnail ripped through the material as her legs tangled with the cat, the covers, and the control tops.
Things were not pretty.
Emily’s footsteps pattered from the hallway to the bedroom door. “You okay?”
Konni gasped for air and stared in disbelief at the white pad of her thumb that poked through the ragged hole in the hose. She didn’t know whether to cry or create a finger puppet. She made a face at her daughter. Emily covered her mouth to stifle a chuckle.
“I’m fine,” Konni said in a huff, trying to stand, “but I’m not so sure about Trixie.”
This time they both laughed.
When had she put on the extra pounds? Had she really let herself go after Eric’s death? She hadn’t thought so, but now, her eyes opened to the truth.
Though it took some doing, Konni pulled herself free from the covers and the nylons. With renewed determination, she decided she would start a diet and exercise program.
After her morning doughnut.
“Do you think he’ll come today?” Emily asked while examining her fingernails, as if only partially interested in Konni’s response.
Konni played along. “Who, dear?”
Emily looked up at her with a start. “Rick Hamilton, that’s who.”
Konni feigned surprise. “I’m sure I don’t know what his plans are.”
Emily stared at her.
“Okay, he just called. He’ll be there this morning.”
Emily was more excited than she let on. “That’s nice,” she finally commented before heading back to her room.
Though Emily had loved her father, she made it clear time and again she wanted Konni to move on with her life. No doubt before going off to college, Emily wanted her mother’s happiness intact.
What Emily didn’t understand was that Konni didn’t need a man to be happy.
Konni sighed. She was a bit curious as to why Rick hadn’t called or come to church before now. At the wedding, he had seemed anxious to get to know her. Maybe he had met someone else. Not that it mattered. She meant it on the day of Eric’s funeral when she vowed to never remarry. Though others had told her she needed to get on with her life, she didn’t care. Eric Strong was the only man for her.
Past, present, and future.
Tired from the long week, and restless for reasons she couldn’t explain, Konni punched her pillow into position for the umpteenth time. Rick’s presence at church the previous Sunday had done little to calm her inner turmoil. Once she finally got comfortable, the phone rang. Grating her frazzled nerves, she almost fell off the bed. “Okay, so I’m a little edgy,” she said to Trixie, as the feline walked by, appearing as though she couldn’t care less about Konni’s problems. “Hello?”
Rick Hamilton’s deep voice greeted her on the other end of the line. “Hi, Konni. Hope I didn’t wake you.”
She shot straight up in bed. Her heart leapt to her throat. “Uh, no.” From where she sat, she could see herself in the dresser mirror. She worked her fingers through her hair to straighten it.
“Good. I’m not trying to stalk you or anything, but Emily gave me your number and said I should call you.” He paused a second, then added, “We didn’t really have a chance to talk last week at church.”
“I know. I’m sorry about that. What with the Sunday school promotion and all, there was a lot going on.”
“Not a problem. Those things happen.” He cleared his throat. “I was wondering…well, I didn’t know if you might want to go to dinner on Friday night. Nothing real fancy. Steak and potatoes restaurant. Are you game?”
Her mind screamed no, but her voice said, “Yeah, why not?” before her good sense could stop her. After all, shouldn’t she offer Christian kindness and friendship? Though the feeling there was more to it than that gnawed at her.
“Great. I’ve been so bored around here. I mean, I have coworkers but no real friendships, you know?”
She smiled. “Yes, I understand.”
“Thanks, Konni. I’ll look forward to it.”
“Me, too.”
She gave him her address; they chatted a little longer and finally said their good-byes. Konni could hardly get through the conversation as she tried to think of a way to move and leave no forwarding address for her daughter….
The next evening, Konni clicked off the TV and dabbed at her eyes.
“Why do you watch Little House on the Prairie? You know it always makes you cry,” Emily said from her recliner before biting into an apple.
“I know.” Konni grabbed a tissue and blew her nose.
“So, what’s going on?”
Konni sat on the couch with her feet propped on the coffee table. An empty popcorn bowl perched in her lap, she shoved the last kernel in her mouth and looked up. “Nothing. Why?” She brushed the crumbs from her pajama top.
“Well, it’s just that you only eat like that when you’re nervous.”
“Eat like what?”
“Well, you know, kind of fast and furious. Last meal kind of thing.” Emily’s words held no disrespect, just bald truth.
Konni resisted the urge to whack Emily up the side of the head with the bowl. Visions of fighting with her panty hose surfaced. She gave an inner wince. “I’m fine.”
“Come on, Mom. Something is going on. I know you. Can’t you tell me what it is?”
Konni scratched her neck. Uh-oh, the rash was back. She felt like a dog with fleas. Emily saw her scratching and threw her an I-caught-you look. Why did Konni feel like the kid here instead of the mom? She hated this role reversal thing. Wasn’t it too early for that? She took a deep breath. “All right, I don’t want you to make a big deal out of this—”
“Are you sick?” Emily’s worried eyes searched her mother’s.
“Oh, no, honey, nothing like that.”
Emily visibly relaxed. Poor kid. Last thing she needed was to deal with another blow like that in her young life.
Konni licked her lips. “It’s really nothing. I’m just, well…” If only Emily would quit looking like she was hanging on her every word. Konni swallowed. “Well, I don’t know why I’m stammering like a child. I’m just going to dinner with Rick Hamilton on Friday night, that’s all.”
“What?” Emily let out a scream and jumped off her chair. She ran to the couch. “Mom, that’s fantastic!” Emily hugged her fiercely.
“Now, you see. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you.”
“Why?” Emily pulled back, surprised.
“Because it’s not a big deal, and I don’t want you to make it into something it’s not.”
“Mom, it’s a huge deal! You are going on a date! I’m so proud of you.” Another hug.
“No, it’s not a date. We’re friends, period.”
Emily nodded, giving her mother a patronizing smile.
“You stop that this minute, Emily Marie.”
“Okay, okay, so it’s not a date.” Emily parroted what Konni wanted to hear. “Where you going?”
“Roy’s Steakhouse.”
Emily nodded. “Nice. Nice.”
Konni stuffed a pillow in Emily’s lap. “Glad you approve.”
“What are you wearing?”
Konni thought a moment. She started to chew on her thumbnail. “I don’t know.”
“Mom, stop chewing your nails.” Emily was off and running. “Oh, Mom, you could put your sign up at the store that you’re closing early and get your nails done.”
Konni raised her chin. “Absolutely not.” She felt downright offended at the suggestion. After all, she wasn’t changing her routine for anyone, certainly not a man with whom she had no intention whatsoever of getting involved.
Emily raised her hand. “Okay, okay, just a suggestion.” She tapped the eraser end of a pencil against her forehead. After a moment, her eyes lit up. “I know! You look great in that red pantsuit.”
“Oh, Em, you know how I hate that thing.”
“You hate it because men stop and take notice. Aunt Cheryl knew what she was doing when she bought it for your birthday. You look awesome in that suit, Mom.”
“You and my sister are conspiring against me.”
“Your red shoes with the gold buttons look great with it.”
Konni chewed off her next nail. “I don’t know. Might be too fancy.”
Emily brushed the comment aside. “No, no, it’s casual-classy. Perfect to wear there. I’ve got some polish that will look good on your nails.” Before Konni could comment, Emily ran to her room and came back with a bottle of cherry nail polish.
“I’ll look like a tomato in all that red.”
“You’ll look gorgeous. I’ll just put this on and you can see if you like it.” Emily placed a board on her lap and pulled her mom’s hand to her. Quickly, before Konni could chew off any more nails, Emily opened the polish and began to apply it to Konni’s fingernails.
“Oh, Emily.” Konni hated all the primping, but she knew her daughter enjoyed every minute of it.
Once Emily finished the job, Konni had to admit her nails did look nice. Besides, they matched the rash on her hands.
“Now, if they chip at all, just touch them up with this,” Emily said as she replaced the cap and screwed it tightly closed.
Konni blew out a long sigh.
“Mom, everything will be fine. You’ll see.”
Konni nodded. “He’s just a friend. You remember that.” She waggled a red fingernail under Emily’s nose.
“I’ll remember,” Emily said, doing the Scout’s honor sign.
“You still going to Alexis’s house Friday night?”
Emily smiled. “Yeah. Why, are you trying to get rid of me?”
Konni gasped. “Absolutely not!”
“Okay, okay, I’m just teasing.” Emily turned a serious expression to her mom. “I’m really glad you’re doing this, Mom.”
Upon seeing her daughter’s hopeful face, Konni didn’t know how to respond. Emily reached over, dropped a kiss on Konni’s forehead, and headed for the door. “See you in the morning.”
“Okay, honey.”
Emily walked into the hall.
“Em?”
She turned. “Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
A huge grin spread across Emily’s face. “No problem.” With that, she went to bed.
Konni watched her daughter and smiled in spite of herself. She knew Emily felt proud to help her in this way. Still, Konni wanted everyone to know right from the start, she and Rick were friends. Only friends. Period.
She walked over to the closet and pulled out her red pantsuit. Maybe she would wear it Friday night.