"Everyone will have shorts on. Now quit worrying," Ginny said. "And wear your walking shoes, too."
"Oh, Ginny, are you sure?"
Ginny had rolled her eyes to the ceiling and nodded. Nana was always concerned with what other people thought.
They loaded the two cakes and the bowl of potato salad that they had volunteered to make into Nana’s car and Ginny drove through town, now crowded with cars, and made their way to the park.
"Looks like a lot of people in town today," Nana said. "Maybe we’ll have a good crowd this year."
"Well, the weather is gorgeous," Ginny said. And it was. Clear, blue skies beckoned and not even a hint of a breeze. Perfect summer weather.
"I hope Kara can find us," Nana said.
I hope she doesn’t, Ginny thought. Oh, but that was cruel. She liked Kara, she really did. If it wasn’t for… well, if it wasn’t for what had happened between them, she thought that they could be good friends. That they were friends. But Ginny had ruined that with her… experiment.
The park was beginning to fill and they left the car in the shade of a giant spruce. Ginny balanced the two cakes while Nana carried the pie. Nana called out to friends as they passed and she actually blushed when Mr. Arnold complimented her outfit.
"See, I told you people would notice," Nana said quietly.
"It was a compliment," Ginny said with a laugh. "Besides, he had on shorts."
"Well, that’s different," Nana said.
Ginny laughed. "Oh, yes. He’s a man. He can be comfortable."
"Ginny!"
"Oh, Nana. You look great. Quit worrying."
But Ginny was the one worrying. She looked around, fearing that Kara would be there, waiting. The men were already heating the assorted grills, getting ready for burgers and a small crowd had gathered by the kegs of beer, but there was no sign of Kara. She breathed a sigh of relief, thankful she had been spared for at least a little longer.
Nana mingled with her friends and Ginny walked off, avoiding the children that ran and played in the park. A temporary stage had been set up and the band was already there, tuning their guitars, getting ready for later. Vendors had set up their goods in booths along the street and Ginny thought it looked more like a flea market than a picnic, but still, it brought money into the town.
Ginny turned around and made her way back to where she had left Nana and her heart jumped into her throat. Kara was there, talking with Nana, laughing at something Nana had said and Ginny stopped and stared. They hadn’t seen her, Kara hadn’t seen her, and she let her eyes travel over Kara slowly, and as she did, each moment that she had stood in Kara’s arms came back to her with vivid clarity. She could still imagine her mouth on her, still taste her, still feel her tongue as it slid over her own.
She groaned and slammed her eyes shut, willing her thoughts away. She opened them again and made herself move. Nana looked up and waved and Ginny forced a smile to her lips as she walked up.
"Look who I found," Nana said.
There was a moment of awkward silence between them as their eyes collided, then Kara smiled and turned back to Nana.
"I didn’t realize this was such a big deal," she said.
"Well, I don’t know if it’s the burgers or the dollar beer that draws them," Nana said.
"Or maybe the cake you were mentioning," Kara said. She looked up at Ginny then. "How have you been?" she asked.
Ginny swallowed nervously and nodded. "Okay."
Kara nodded, too.
"Have you been working?" Ginny asked.
"Yes. A lot," she said. "I’ve been out every morning and evening. The sunrises have been beautiful."
"I was telling Kara that she should take you out some morning for the sunrise. You’ve seen her sketch in the evening, but the lake she did this morning was just beautiful," Nana said.
Ginny’s eyes widened and she glanced at Kara, but her eyes revealed nothing, only slight amusement at Nana’s words.
"Well, you know me… I’m not exactly a morning person," Ginny said.
"Oh, pooh. You should do it once. She’s very good," Nana said.
Ginny nodded, knowing perfectly well how good she was and she wasn’t thinking about sketching. She swallowed again, feeling Kara’s eyes on her but when she looked up, Kara was looking at Nana. Ginny was thankful. She didn’t want to have to look at her. She couldn’t. Not when she still felt… something. Attracted, her body screamed, but she ignored that. No, not attracted to her. Just… something.
But Kara was being kind, wasn’t she? There was no hint in her words or actions that there had ever been even the slightest indiscretion on Ginny’s part. Ginny frowned. Had she spent the last five days worrying over nothing? Had their kiss affected Kara so little that she had not even given it a second thought? No. Ginny remembered that night all too well. She remembered the look in Kara’s eyes. She remembered her words. "I want you."
"Ginny?"
"Hmmm?" Ginny murmured, glancing at Nana.
"I said you should take Kara to get a beer. And bring me an iced tea, please. I’m going to help the ladies cut the cakes." Nana left them standing there and Ginny looked nervously at Kara.
"You want one?" she asked.
"Yes, please."
They walked off silently, leaving ample space between them and Ginny cursed her nervousness. What did she think? That Kara would sweep her into her arms and continue what they had started that night? Lord, she felt her pulse pounding in her throat and it was wrecking havoc on her senses. She was having a hard time breathing and she opened her mouth slightly, gulping in fresh air.
Kara shoved her hands in her shorts and stared ahead, not daring to look at Ginny. She could tell Ginny was uncomfortable. Hell, she was uncomfortable, herself. They should talk. They should have talked before today, she realized.
"Ginny?"
"What?"
"If I said I’m sorry-"
"Why should you be sorry?" Ginny asked. "I’m the one who should apologize. I’m the one who started it," she said quietly. "And I’m sorry."
"Okay."
Ginny turned and dared to look into her eyes. "Kara, I never meant… I wasn’t playing with you. I wouldn’t do that."
Kara nodded and Ginny pulled her eyes away.
"I wasn’t going to come today, but Louise insisted," Kara explained. "I know you’d be more comfortable if I weren’t here."
"I’m… okay," Ginny said. "I’ve practically forgotten about it, actually," she lied.
"Good. Me, too," Kara said easily.
Ginny bit her lower lip. So, it had meant nothing to Kara, after all. She probably did that sort of thing all the time. Straight women, just like herself, were probably always… experimenting with Kara. Oh, Jesus, stop it! You want her to forget it, don’t you?
"Let me buy you a beer," Ginny said and she dug into her pockets for money. "Hi, Matt. Two, please," she said.
"How you doing, Ginny?" he asked.
"Fine. How’s Jean?"
"Oh, she’s ready to drop any minute," he said. "Her ankles are swollen so she didn’t make it."
"This will be number four?" Ginny asked.
"Yes. We’ll keep trying until we have a boy," he said as he handed them the beer.
"Thanks, Matt. Tell Jean I said hello."
"Will do."
They walked off and Ginny rolled her eyes. "Four. Can you imagine?"
"No. Let’s hope it’s a boy, for Jean’s sake," Kara said and she winked at Ginny and smiled.
"Really," Ginny agreed, trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach.
They found Nana and gave her the iced tea she had requested, then she waved them away.
"Ginny, show Kara some of the booths. They usually have art, although I doubt it’s in the same class as hers," Nana said.
Kara laughed. "Louise, I’m hardly famous."
"Nonsense," she said. "You’ve been in a magazine. That’s famous." She went back to her cake. "Don’t linger, though," she called. "I’ll save us a table."