Chapter Twenty-Three

Kate

 

Twentieth high school reunion. Back in the town where dreams seemed possible and the future bright. Where Sam still lived.

Once upon a time, I wanted Sam to be my first everything. Coming into my life as my piano teacher’s son, he was my ally, buddy, best friend, and unrequited crush.

I kept silent on that last part. Our friendship was precious to me.

I thought it was important to him, too.

Going to separate universities proved me wrong.

I still missed him.

Sometimes.

When life got quiet for a moment and I had nothing to do but think and remember.

It sucked.

The Civic Center would host the party, but Reunion Orientation was in the sanctuary of a nearby large church. The organizers had made this thing a weekend event, see.

I drove to Jane’s house. She still resided in the family farmhouse, one of the few domestic buildings in town older than the ‘60s. The city was quite small until a county boom in the ‘70s brought new streets and new families. Before that, it was all ranches and farm land.

We exchanged e-mails fairly often, but this was the first time seeing each other since I left California. She opened the screen door when my car stopped in the driveway.

“Kate Carson, get your skinny ass over here.”

Grinning, I stepped out, popping the trunk. Jane enveloped me in a good-mom hug. “Hi, Mama.” I leaned back to look at her. “Violet, huh?”

“School’s out for summer, so my hair can be any shade I want. Why has it taken so long for you to come see me?”

“You know why.” I got my luggage out of the back and closed the lid.

She grunted. “Get inside. You’re obviously not eating enough.”

Shaking my head, I followed the force of nature. Mama Jane, as all her close students called her, was five-foot-nothing but a commanding presence by sheer force of will.

She looked good for being in her sixties now.

Same piano in the front parlor. Same roast chicken dinner in the oven. Or lunch, considering the time. “Put your things in the guest room. Door’s open. Then wash your hands and sit at the table. Don’t dawdle!”

“Yes, ma’am.” I hurried up the stairs.

Entering the guest room was like stepping back in time. Always known this room as the spare, the Pink Room. Cream wallpaper with pink rosebuds, sheer pink curtains, pink gingham bedspread…the décor had been set up for Sam’s grandmother and apparently never changed. I stepped into the Jack-and-Jill bathroom—but this had.

The shower had a clear glass door and the sink faucet was new. It was also a walk-in shower now instead of a tub, with tiles that looked like pale gray marble.

I washed my hands as instructed and hurried back downstairs.

Sat at the table since she never let guests help in the kitchen.

Side dishes were already here and she was carving the chicken. “How have you been, Kate?”

A non-committal shrug. “Getting by.”

“Single?”

“It’s complicated.”

A snort. She brought the platter of chicken to the table and sat. “Why didn’t my son ever date you?”

“He never asked.”

I’d always been in the friend zone in high school, to the pain of my innocent heart.

She piled dark meat on my plate while I reached for the green beans (fresh from her garden). “No, he was a bit of an idiot back then.”

“All boys are. How are you dealing with this big house alone?”

Sam’s father passed two years ago. Aneurysm in his sleep. It shocked us all.

“I’m not alone. I have visitors all the time.” She shook a fork at me. “Nor am I too old to care for this place.”

“Would never imply it.”

She grinned. “You were always one of my favorite students.”

“Not in the beginning.”

She laughed. “Well, you sucked.”

“Others were worse. My fingers were just slow.” Mmm, I hadn’t had a home-cooked meal in forever. “Is Sam happy?”

She shrugged. “Far as I know. Good job, good family, helps his community. Neighbors like him.”

“Good. It sucked when we lost touch and I always wondered, so thanks for sharing tidbits here and there.”

“Well, I hope you get to catch up at this reunion. What’s the schedule again?”

I sipped from my glass before replying, “Orientation, then a big party tonight, and a picnic tomorrow. Anyone with family is encouraged to bring them to the latter.”

“So much fuss for an anniversary.” She shook her head.

“The organizer chick was always big on events. We had to have the best prom, the biggest fundraiser, so this weekend is no surprise.”

“Debbie the caterer?”

I nodded. “That’s the one.” I couldn’t get enough of the mashed potatoes. Like fifty-percent butter and cream. “Is Mandy a local?”

“She went to the other high school. They met at Sam’s firm.”

My eyes widened. “She worked for him?”

Jane shook her head. “Different department. She’s a nice girl.”

“But? I hear a ‘but’.”

A wave of her hand. “Never mind. It’s not my place to say.”

“Since when do we hold back?”

Jane sighed. “She’s a fine daughter-in-law, don’t get me wrong, and a good mother. She just…wasn’t the person I expected him to marry. Sam was a go-getter, you know, and that part of him has faded to the background.”

“You think he settled.”

Eyes to the side, she searched for the way to tell it. “Settling isn’t the right word. I guess I’ve been surprised by his life journey. I didn’t expect him to raise a family here in the ‘burbs.”

“Well, he did get hired here after college.”

“But first companies are usually a temporary position.” She waved it off. “Don’t mind me. There’s nothing wrong with him.”

No…never was. I did remember his young big-city dreams, though.

“Can I interest you in some pie?”

My stomach gurgled. You don’t get a vote. “Beyond tempting, but I have to save room for tonight. And fit into my dress.”

“If I can’t convince you…” She started clearing the table.

“Don’t give me that look, Queen of Carbs. I have to resist until later.”

She chuckled. “You know where I keep it.”

Jane wouldn’t let me help with the dishes, either, so I went up to the guest room to unpack.

My dress was on top to minimize wrinkles and I hung it on the closet door first. When I tried it on at the store, my first thought was wanting Sam to see it, something that shamed me since he was a married man.

Married men were off limits.

Set out the rest of what I needed tonight, put my toiletries in the bathroom, and stretched out for a nap. It’d been an early flight to get here.

My phone buzzed. Where are you? Sonya, my BFF and roommate.

Jane’s. Just finished lunch. Need a little jetlag nap.

Call me later.

Will do.

I had two hours until I needed to start getting ready, so I set my travel alarm.

And dreamed about Sam for the first time since I was a teenager.

I opened a door to step into a hard body and gasped at the surprise presence.

Sam.

He hauled my body to his and kissed me like I’d kissed never been before.

Except once.

By him.

A kiss so soul-searing, it scared him into never talking to or seeing me again.

My arms went around his shoulders and neck.

Why was he wearing clothes? I had to remedy this.

He had the same thought and we frantically tossed the fabric.

Strong hands pressed my back to the wall while giving me the kiss of a lifetime. On a moan, I hopped up and wrapped my legs around a narrow waist.

This position hit all the right places and my body was close to coming.

He must’ve sensed it too, for his fingers found my clit and I soared.

He was everything I hoped for in secret dreams.

I hadn’t had a fantasy this good in forever and…

The alarm buzzed—thought I set it on the beep—and I rolled out of bed. Blurry-eyed, I stripped out of my wrinkled clothes and turned the shower on. Should’ve washed my eye makeup off before falling asleep. Used a cleansing wipe on my face while I waited for it to heat.

Jane must’ve upgraded the water heater, for it didn’t take long for steam to rise. Stepped in and—ah, bliss. Firm water pressure dissolved the stiffness in my shoulders from sleeping in my clothes. Running my hands over my legs, they were still smooth from the morning’s shave, so I skipped ahead to my hair, and once the conditioner was in, my body.

Eyes closed. Creamy bubbles felt good on my skin.

While no stranger to masturbation as a single woman, I rarely got off like this. What a woman does in private is her business, but I’d say my dream was inspirational.

At least I’d kept quiet. Years of having my little brother as a roommate had ingrained that well. If you’re not a hundred-percent sure you’re alone, don’t scream to the heavens.

“Kate! I’m headin’ out for a bit!”

Startled, by the yell through the door, I nearly slipped and fell.

“Okay…”

Argh.

Being back here apparently stirred up ancient feelings and it was not good.