Ch.12, Pt. 2: “A little sherry in the afternoon…”
“A little sherry in the afternoon makes a nice break, don’t you think?”
“I don’t actually drink at work, so…”
He waggled a finger at her, holding one delicate glass in his hand. “Of course not usually. But when I give you a drink it’s okay.”
“Well of course, but I do have to wrap that show, so I can’t really have a drink.”
“Nonsense. One little sherry won’t do any harm. Might even make you sound better, what?” He leaned close and put the glass in her hand. “Please. Keep me company. It gets lonely at the top.” He laughed and Katherine gave an appreciative murmur, indicating she was also amused.
She examined the pretty cut glass. Crystal? she wondered. She took a thoughtful sip. Clearly, Blaine was doing all right as station manager. Money was good to have. She had a few ideas for things she could do with serious money. And they weren’t even outrageous. All she wanted was security. Enough to retire on, to finish redoing the house nicely, to build up her savings again, be able to go on a few exotic trips, really only one or two a year…and be able to support the right charities a little bit. You can’t blame anyone for trying to make money. Wasn’t this Rick’s point?
“Look, sooner or later all this farmland’s going to be developed,” he had said during one recent discussion. “Why shouldn’t we benefit if we can get it together? It’s still a risk, you know. We could lose everything.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Nah, it’s pretty much a sure thing. We stand to make good money.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” she murmured.
“Sorry, what’s that?” Blaine turned from his credenza, a box of goldfish crackers in his hand. “Snacks?”
“Yes please,” she said trying to be hearty. Her job depended on her ability to be cheerfully conversational. “I was just muttering to myself. Don’t mind me.”
“Talking to yourself is the sign of a great mind,” said Blaine snuggling into the cushions of the armchair. “I often do it myself.” He indicated the wicker basket of orange crackers on the coffee table. “Lovely with sherry. Help yourself.”
Katherine took a small handful. “Very civilized,” she commented, trying to be appreciative.
“So how are things going with your new house? Still like it out there after the winter?”
“It’s not really so far away.”
“But it’s another world, isn’t it? The country. You’re all alone, no one around for great long distances. Don’t you get scared?”
“Really, I haven’t been. Of course, I have a dog. He’s great.” And he’s staying with me, Katherine vowed to herself. Doesn’t matter what Rick feels about that Something he had said at the kitchen table recently, Katherine remembered, when he’d found a dog hair in his food.
“Gross!” he had yelled, inspecting the hair between his pinched fingers. “I hate the way dog hair gets into everything, no matter what you do. I can’t wait to get into the new house where that won’t happen!”
Katherine had missed it at the time, had thought it mere overreaction. But later, hearing Rick on the phone to one of his sons, saying something about young people being too unsettled to have a dog, but not to worry, Goldie would have a good home. Now, Katherine wondered with concern whether Rick was planning to give Goldie up.
Then, too, there was Noodle’s strange behaviour around Rick. These days, the dog seemed to avoid Rick whenever possible. When Rick drove up, Noodle disappeared into a dark corner of the unused front parlour. Katherine had assumed it was because of the frequent arguments. Until now, when she began to worry that Rick had changed his attitude to dogs. He couldn’t expect her to give up Noodle, could he? Alarm flowed down her body.
“So no plans to move yet?”
“None,” she said shortly. Then, to soften it a little, she added, “In fact I had an interesting dream recently.”
“Tell me. You know how I love dreams.”
She hesitated. How could she relate it without telling every detail? It began with the blueprints. Lavish plans. Anything she wanted, she could have. A fireplace in the bedroom. A separate library, lined with custom-made walnut shelving and a brass rail for a sliding ladder. A greenhouse off the kitchen. An indoor pool with an adjacent sauna. All she had to do was ask for it, and it was drawn into the plans. Money was no object. Rick was smiling at her, leading her by the hand to carpenters, painters. The house was being finished all around her. She chose colours, gave her preferences. Stained glass windows were being unloaded. A curving cherry wood bannister was being sanded. The views through the open window frames were spectacular. A perfect dream house. Yet Katherine struggled to consciousness, sweating, heart pounding, feeling utter despair. She was being forced to move into this so-called gorgeous house that didn’t reflect her own values or personal style at all. She looked around her little bedroom with the sloping ceiling and relief washed through her. She was safe in her own little stone house and moving was not necessary.
Instead, she told Blaine, “I dreamed that I had the chance to move into the new house of my dreams, and I woke up terrified, with that feeling of nightmare, you know? And then I realized that I still had my house and I didn’t have to move out of it after all. I guess that indicates that I’m pretty happy where I am, doesn’t it?”
“Sounds like it to me. How’s the renovating?”
“I’m taking a bit of a break from it at the moment.”
“Enjoying what you’ve done so far. A good idea. No need to rush things, is there? I really must come out and see it one of these days. Give you your house-warming present.”
“You’re right. I need to get working on that house-warming party.”
“I was thinking of coming out for a private tour some time soon.” He paused. “Katherine, I want you to know that I separated from my wife a few months ago.”
Katherine put down her glass. “Yes. I heard, actually. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. It was for the best. So I want you to know that I’m free.”
There was another silence as Katherine’s mind raced for a reply.
“Like you,” he said simply.
That was the opening she needed. “Well Blaine, actually, I’m not. I’ve met someone recently, and we’re seeing a lot of each other.”