“No,” she said. “I was working.”
“Working? Did you get a second job?”
Maybe she should take a page from Clay’s book and be a little short.
But Karl was standing there hopeful for the attention and it made her think of the kids in her class that few paid attention to. Everyone needed a friend now and again.
“I thought I told you. I’ve been a part-time wedding planner for almost two years. I actually got hired to do them solely at Ridgeway Orchards.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Karl said. “You told me you did that. I guess I forgot.”
“I haven’t done much in a while. Or nothing like I’m doing now. It was great. Anyway, this was the first wedding even though I had little to do with the planning of it, but I wanted to get a feel for how they did things.”
“That’s great,” Karl said. “I bet you’re just as good at that as you are with your students.”
“I hope so,” she said. “I guess I’m lucky that I’ve got two things I love to do and get to be paid for them both. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get off my feet and get something to eat.”
“I’ve got some stew I made earlier if you want,” Karl said. “I made plenty.”
She’d had his stew before. Something his mother used to make. It wasn’t horrible, but not her thing either. He liked to try new recipes and share the extras with her. Since she did the same, she just thought he was paying her back.
“That’s sweet of you,” she said. “How about a rain check? I really need to decompress.”
He hesitated as if he didn’t want to leave, but finally said, “Anytime,” then went into his house.
She unlocked her front door, kicked her shoes off right by the entryway and was thrilled when her feet touched the floor.
At least one person didn’t mind talking to her.
She dropped her mail on the counter with her purse, then went to the stairs and up to her room, reaching around her back for the zipper.
After she gripped a fistful of the material at the top and could start the descent of the zipper, she was flexible enough to get the rest and pull it down. Her dress dropping to the floor, she kicked it away in her room.
She stretched her arms over her head, grabbed a change of undergarments and went into the hall bath for another shower.
Her belly was rumbling when she returned to her kitchen in leggings and a baggy T-shirt. It seemed off in here. Felt odd too. Almost eerie. Which was odd since she’d never felt that in this house before.
She sniffed the air some, her lips curling, her nose twitching, then it hit her. It smelled like Karl’s stew. It must have gone through the walls or something in here.
Or maybe it was lingering on him outside and she still caught it. She thought she smelled it close to him on the porch once he mentioned it. The strong scent of onions and garlic as if it was following him around.
She opened the fridge, saw half the steak she cooked to put on her salad yesterday and pulled that out, then snagged the container of potato salad she’d made a few days ago.
She dumped both on a plate, grabbed a fork and knife and ate it all cold. Food was food.
There was a time she enjoyed romantic dinners for two.
She wouldn’t let herself be jaded over her failed relationship with Fredrick or the rejection from Clay.
Better to pick herself back up and try again.
Or keep poking the bear.
She let out a giggle. Poking the bear sounded much more fun.
Once her plate was empty and in the dishwasher, she grabbed her purse, and pulled out the cash she’d stuffed in there, stunned at the few hundred dollars. She hadn’t expected that and should have protested more.
But she knew by the look on Clay’s face it would have just been another argument and one she wouldn’t win.
