And wondering if Carrie missed her today.
CHAPTER TEN
Jill watched the clock, the hands moving ever closer to one. The morning had been nearly
insufferable and she urged the clock to hurry.
"You're being ridiculous," she murmured quietly. Yes, she knew she was. But she stood
nonetheless, logging out of her computer before moving into the main office, waiting for
Harriet to return so she could make her escape.
The sudden ringing of her cell phone startled her and she fished it out from inside her
purse, frowning when she saw Craig's name displayed. He rarely called her.
"What's up?" she answered.
"Hey babe, glad I caught you."
She glanced quickly at the clock, then out through the windows to the street. "Is
something wrong?"
"No, no, of course not. I thought maybe I'd take you to lunch today," he said.
She stopped short, panicked. "What? Lunch?"
"Yeah. I mean, I owe you 'cause of Saturday night."
She closed her eyes, letting her breath out slowly. The make-up lunch. She should have
known.
"Craig, you have a class at one. You can't take me to lunch."
"I've got a student teacher with me this term. He's cool if I slip out."
She shook her head, then moved to the door when she saw Harriet drive in. "Craig, there's
no need to take me to lunch. I don't want you to get into trouble."
"Babe, our football team went to State. My basketball team is in first place. I'm not going
to get into trouble," he said with a laugh.
"Well, I don't need you to take me to lunch," she said quietly. "As a matter of fact, I'd
just as soon you not."
"I knew you were mad, you said you weren't but I knew you were."
"I'm not mad. Really, I'm not. But my lunch is my time," she said evenly. "It's my time to
relax and get away," she said, smiling as she met Harriet in the doorway. "So don't feel like
you owe me.
"But I thought we could meet somewhere, maybe get a burger or something," he said.
She paused outside her car, glancing up into the overcast sky. "How about you take me and
Angie out to dinner tonight? That'd be nice," she said.
"Oh, babe, I have practice after school. It'd be late."
She nodded. "Well, then how about the next night you have free? Maybe treat us to pizza
or something."
"You sure?"
She unlocked her door and slipped inside, the phone tucked against her shoulder as she
turned the key.
"I'm sure. Now go back to class."
She was five minutes late when she turned onto the park road and as her luck would have
it, the rain that had been threatening all morning turned into a downpour in a matter of
seconds.
"Unbelievable," she murmured as she slowed her speed, her wipers struggling to keep pace
against the onslaught. She pulled into her normal parking place, wondering what she was
going to do if she didn't see Carrie today. But she didn't have to wonder long. The other
woman tapped on the passenger door and Jill unlocked it quickly.
They sat there, both smiling as Carrie brushed at the raindrops on her face.
"I think perhaps you bring the rain, my dear," Carrie said lightly.
Jill nodded. "It seems that's true."
"I love the rain."
Jill grinned. "I aim to please."
They were quiet, their eyes meeting, then moving away. Carrie finally cleared her throat.
"I... well, I missed you this weekend," she said.
Jill turned in her seat, looking into the pale blue eyes of her companion. She nodded slowly.
"I missed you too."
Carrie cleared her throat again. "If you don't think it's too forward of me, may I suggest
an alternative meeting place?"
Jill nodded, not caring in the least whether it sounded forward or not. Any alternative to
sitting in her tiny Subaru in the rain was fine with her, as long as she got to see Carrie.
"I have a place on the lake, a small cottage," Carrie said. "Seems kinda odd for us to meet
here, especially when it's foul weather, when we could be there," she finished with a shrug.
"You have a cottage? Here? No wonder you're familiar with the lake," Jill said.
Carrie flashed a grin. "Follow me. It's on the north side."
She was out before Jill could protest and Jill watched her through the foggy window as
she got into a blue van. She backed up carefully and followed the van through the winding
park road and back to the main highway. Instead of turning left, which would take her back
to town, they turned right on a road that led them through the new subdivisions that had
been creeping closer to the park. A few miles down the road, Carrie turned right again and
Jill followed close behind. The tiny residential road was bumpy and Jill slowed, finally
stopping as Carrie waited for an electric gate to open.
She followed Carrie through the gate, her Subaru bouncing nosily on the gravel road which
curved dramatically through the trees. She saw the lake before she saw the cottage, her
eyes widening as an inviting pier came into view. But she turned her attention back to the
road, slowing again as the bumpy gravel road turned into a smooth paved driveway. She
parked beside Carrie's van, pausing to grab her umbrella before getting out.
"This way," Carrie called, motioning for Jill to follow.
Through the white picket fence, a path led them to the back of the cottage and a sun
porch. Jill paused to wipe her shoes on the mat before following Carrie inside.
"Just leave your umbrella there by the door," Carrie said. "I'll turn the heat on."
Jill nodded, shivering as the damp cold penetrated. She turned in a circle in the sunroom, a
smile forming as she looked at the lake. The sunroom had a perfect view of the lake and
pier.
"You like?"
She turned at the sound of Carrie's voice, nodding. "Beautiful."
"Not so much now. Everything is gray, dull. Even the water. But springtime is beautifully
green, it almost hurts your eyes," she said.
Jill spread her arms. "If you have this, why bother with the park?"
Carrie shrugged. "Can't sketch the same old stuff every day, now can I?"
"Yeah, but you wouldn't have to put up with—" Jill stopped, smiling. "Maybe I really don't
like people after all."
Carrie laughed. "I enjoy the privacy of this place too. Especially in the summer, when kids
run amuck at the park." She pointed to the door she'd just come through. "Want a tour?"
"Of course."
"Won't take long though. I didn't build this for a family home. It's just a place I can
escape to."
Jill followed her into the cottage, the bright walls a contrast to the dark, dreary day
outside. A long bar separated the kitchen from the den and Carrie scooted a barstool
closer to the bar as they passed.
"A nice-sized kitchen but I don't really use it much," Carrie said. She pointed to the sitting
area, which was sparsely furnished. "Or this. I mostly use the sun porch."
"I love the kitchen. It looks inviting." Jill turned to face her. "How long have you had it?"
"I built it four years ago." She laughed. "As you can see, I don't come here all that much."
"I'd be here every day. Do you guys spend weekends here?"
Carrie shook her head. "James and the boys have no idea it exists."
Jill stared. "Why not?"
Carrie smiled. "Because I haven't told them."
"How in world can your husband not know?"
"We keep our finances separate." She laughed. "Well, not really. I mean, he's made a small