Friends in High Places Read online

  “Cool it,” she whispered.

  I nodded shortly and turned back to face Gino. “So where are your kids? I’ve been looking forward to meeting them all week.”

  The wattage of his smile increased. “Come on, I’ll introduce you. Tori’s learning how to play pool, and Anthony and Little-T are busy building an entire universe out of a mountain of Legos.”

  “I hear Legos are huge with boys that age.”

  “You heard right. And they don’t come cheap.”

  I laughed and followed him out of the kitchen, through the dining room, and on into the cozy family room.

  Tori stood on tip-toe beside the pool table, an oversized cue held awkwardly in her small hands. We waited in the archway while she attempted her shot.

  “Good one!” Tom encouraged, while Daisy clapped her hands, “You got a good piece of it that time. Just keep practicing.”

  Tori smiled and then her eyes moved to lock with mine and her smile faded fast. She dropped the stick back onto the table and nervously fiddled with her curls; curls that were the exact color and texture of my own.

  “Your hair,” she said in a small, breathless voice.

  I moved closer to her, a bit shaken myself. “I know. It’s amazing. We have the exact same hair.”

  Gino moved to Tori’s side and put his arm around her. “Tori, this is Kat Donovan. She’s the district bank manager here in town. Remember, I mentioned she’d be here.”

  Tori looked down and nodded.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Tori,” I said, “It isn’t everyday I meet another true redhead.”

  Tori swallowed and cleared her throat. “My mommy was a redhead, too.”

  “It’s crazy how much you two resemble each other!” Tom broke in.

  Tori looked like she wanted to run.

  I shot him a look. “You flatter me, Tom.”

  Gino looked uncomfortable, too, so I moved over by the fireplace where the boys were building a city and dropped to the floor beside them. “Can I help, Guys?”

  Anthony handed me some Legos. “Hi, Kat, I’m Anthony.” His grin was as charming as his dad's. “You look like my sister.”

  I nodded. “So I hear, but I think all redheads look a little bit alike.”

  He was Gino’s mini-me, right down to the dimples, and was the sweetest, cutest little guy anyone could want. Of course Little-T was just as cute and he gave me a quick hug then pushed another pile of Legos toward me.

  As we built the tower, I wondered if Tori looked as much like her mother as Anthony resembled their dad, because if that was the case, then maybe I did have a chance with Gino. Maybe I was his type. There was no question he was mine.

  “Come on everybody! Dinner’s ready!” Lilly called from the dining room.

  “I’m starved,” Little-T said, dropping the Legos and racing off with Anthony at his heels. Daisy clapped her hands and giggled and Tom kissed her nose, then threw her over his shoulder, and tickled her all the way to the dining room. Her laugh made everyone smile.

  The table was glowing with tiny pumpkins and candlelight. Lilly told us all where to sit, and so we sat down to a delicious feast of scallops and shrimp scampi over angel- hair pasta.

  One of the many things I admired about Lilly was her ability to multi-task. If there was such a thing as a Super Mom, she was it. The conversation flowed easily, and even the kids chimed in from time to time.

  Every now and then, Gino would glance in my direction and his eyes were warm and interested. I felt so hopeful and for the first time since the idea had popped up that I might just have a chance with Gino, I began to believe maybe we could be right for each other.

  Gino expertly grated the parmesan over Anthony’s second helping of pasta and took a deep appreciative breath of the expensive imported cheese. “You got the good stuff, Lilly,” he said.

  “Only the best for ‘the best’; I didn’t want to disappoint the son of the famous Mama Maria.”

  “It’s true, my momma can cook!”

  I was grateful Lilly hadn’t put me next to Gino. I felt much more comfortable between Little-T and Daisy. And since I was directly across from Gino and his kids, I could sneak looks at him.

  “Kat,” Gino began, breaking off a piece of garlic bread, and using it to mop up some of the buttery garlic sauce around his shrimp, “what do you spend your time doing on the weekends? The kids and I are usually at Mama’s restaurant but I’ve never seen you there.”

  I finished putting another helping of salad onto my plate, using it as an excuse to come up with the right answer, “Everybody in town goes to Mama Maria’s! Usually my mom and I treat ourselves to an occasional Sunday dinner there after church, but I know your mom is always off on Sunday spending time with all of you so that’s probably why you haven’t seen us there, but believe me, we’re both big fans.”

  “And usually every weekend she hand-paints her line of tea-sets that sell out regularly in several of the shops in town. Tell Gino about the Kit-Kats,” Lilly encouraged.

  Suddenly shy, I stared down into my wine; then shrugged, “It’s nothing really…I’ve just always loved drawing, it’s kind of an escape for me, and a few years ago I painted a tea-set for my mom with Victorian cats all dressed-up in the style of the period and having tea with little kids, and she showed it off all over town and now I have more orders to fill than I ever expected. It’s fun, though.”

  “Wow,” Gino said, looking impressed, “I think that’s wonderful. And I like the clever name.”

  I felt myself blushing. “I sound boring, but I enjoy doing simple creative things and fixing up my little cottage in my spare time.”

  “I like to draw too,” Tori said, “I’d love to see your tea-sets sometime.”

  Flattered, I assured her we’d set-up a play date to do art together in my studio. And we’d have our own tea party at the same time.

  “So does your side business eat up all of your free time, Kat?” Gino asked.

  I felt myself blushing again and wished I could make it stop. I laughed nervously. “No, I can’t let that happen, I still manage to do lots of different things on the weekends, like today for example. My mom and I went shopping for her first computer, if you can believe that, and then we had lunch at the Chatterbox Café. After that, I had the fun of setting up the computer and trying to show a woman in her mid-sixties how to use one for the first time in her life.”

  Everyone laughed, even the kids.

  “Does Meri want the computer for the bed and breakfast?” Lilly asked, cutting another one of Daisy’s shrimp into tiny bites and spreading them across the highchair tray along with some broccoli.

  “Yes among other things.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like internet dating.”

  “You’re kidding me!”

  “Scout’s honor.”

  Gino laughed. “I think that’s great. I’d like to get my mom interested in that. I’ve read it’s a great way for seniors to connect. Since Dad passed away, Mom has been throwing herself into the restaurant. I know she loves to cook and when she’s off she keeps pretty busy with all the grandkids, but I wish she had a life of her own again.” He paused and looked wistful.

  “Exactly,” I said, jumping into the silence. “Everybody deserves happiness, and in this day and age, that may only be a click away. But I’m not sure it’s for me.”

  Gino’s eyes held mine, “I’ve thought about it myself…internet dating…but these kids keep me hopping most of the time and we’ve been insanely busy at the office: lots of new listings, right Tom?”

  “Oh, yeah! Christmas is coming and I for one am grateful it’s a seller’s market right now. I’ve got a lot of listings and the commissions are bigger when you get paid for the listing as well as the sale.”

  Gino nodded, but Lilly gave Tom a pointed look. “No more shop talk, Guys. This is my adult time and I’ve been looking forward to some real conversation all week.”

  “Daddy,” Tori said suddenly, “Y
ou aren’t really thinking about dating anybody, are you?” Her eyes accused him of what she obviously considered to be the ultimate crime.

  “It’s no big deal, Tori. This isn’t the time to discuss it.”

  Tori jumped out of her seat. “Well it’s a big deal to me. How can you even think about it! How would Mommy feel if she knew?”

  “Tori!” Gino said, as we all watched her shove her chair back, angry and fighting huge sobs, she turned and then darted out of the room and into the downstairs bathroom.

  We all froze with forks suspended halfway between our dinner plates and our opened mouths.

  Gino stood and threw his napkin on the table next to his plate. He looked frustrated and sad all at the same time. “I don’t know what to do with her when she gets like this. It’s been two years since Linda…”

  Anthony jumped up and threw his arms around his father’s waist. “Tori just misses Mommy. She loves you Daddy. She’s just hurting.”

  I was at a loss for words. I wanted to comfort Gino myself, but it didn’t seem appropriate, given our relationship as work friends, and my heart began to ache a little. But one thing was clear. With Tori’s attitude toward parental dating, Gino and I may never have a chance to get together.

  Lilly stood and put her hand on Gino’s shoulder. “Let me go and see if I can talk to her. You take care of Anthony. Believe me this is typical of girls her age. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to lose your mom so young. This age is always a touchy time for girls, at best.”

  I nodded. “Remember what we were like back then, Lilly?”

  Gino gave me a shy smile. “I was a little schizophrenic myself.”

  Tom nodded. “Me, too, but we had wrestling to help us get our frustrations out.”

  “We sure did.”

  “Maybe you could get Tori interested in soccer or basketball?” I suggested.

  Gino shrugged. “Her cousin Gia got her to join the soccer team with her but I’m afraid she hasn’t much interest in sports. She’s more of a loner.”

  Lilly and Tori came back into the room. Lilly had her arm around Tori and it appeared she had worked some Mommy-Magic on her. “Come on, Kat,” Lilly said, “We’re ready for some of your pie”

  Tori smiled. “I love apple pie. Mommy and I always made it together every fall.”

  “That’s my mom’s recipe, you know,” I said, rising and grabbing some dishes to take along with me.

  “Coffee, Angel Heart?” Tom asked.

  “Sure, Babe.”

  Lilly put the fresh pot of coffee on one of the trays from my collection along with a pot of hot cocoa, some whipped cream and several of my mugs. She shot a meaningful

  look in my direction. “Cut a big piece of pie for Tori, Kat. I’ll get the guys set up with coffee. Then I’ll get their pie.”

  Tori tore into her piece and I was right behind her.

  “Good pie,” she said.

  “Thank you! I try,” I said.

  “You and Lilly are nice…I’m sorry I was a jerk before,” she added in a tiny voice.

  “No apology necessary. I get it.”

  “You do?” She looked shocked.

  I nodded. “Nobody wants to think about a parent going on a date. It’s freaky…even for me. I mean, I want my mom to be happy, but the idea of her bringing a new man into the family is hard even for me to accept. I’m a grown-up so I have to hide my feelings about it, though. Especially since I do care about my mom and I want her to be happy. But I’m still a little cautious about it.”

  Tori’s mouth dropped open. “Cool. You do get it.”

  Before I’d thought it through, I reached over and gave her a quick hug. “Sure do.”

  There was something about this little red-headed girl that seemed so familiar to me. Maybe because I’ve never been a mother I can identify more with being a daughter than with being a parent.

  And even though I was sad that Gino and I might never find love together because of her attitude, I couldn’t help but be glad that at least Tori didn’t see me as a threat.

  Maybe I’d be able to help her and Gino to come to a better understanding. Friendship and love have always gone hand in hand with me and no matter what my mom’s angel cards might say, I was convinced no one knew for certain what the future might hold for any of us. I was a realist at heart.

  ***

  After Lilly and Tori and I cleared the dishes and loaded the dishwasher and tidied up the kitchen, she joined the other kids in the family room and the grownups congregated in the living room with after-dinner drinks. Lilly put the local jazz station on the sound system and we sat talking. After a while Daisy came in, dragging Tori behind her. They were both dressed in some old Halloween costumes Lilly had saved over the years.

  Tori was dressed like the little mermaid and Daisy wore an angel costume and when they first stepped through the door it triggered a memory of my childhood. My big sister Angelica always dressed as an angel on Halloween because that was her nickname, and one year I, like Tori, had dressed-up as the little mermaid. I loved that costume and it was cool not to need the red wig. I had so many good memories of my sister, and in that moment I wanted so much to be able to call her when I got home.

  She would have been the perfect one to talk to about Gino and his kids. I could use some of her natural confidence right about now. Angel was always great at making me feel pretty and smart and encouraging me to believe I could do and be anything.

  I envied my mom for how easily she could accept Angel’s passing. To hear mom tell it, our loved ones who had passed on were still with us in spirit and a part of our daily lives…if only.

  I pulled my mind and heart back to the present and my next thought was how nice it was to see the girl’s bright smiles and shining eyes after all the drama earlier in the evening. The resilience of children never ceased to amaze me.

  Gino was visibly relieved by the change in Tori’s attitude and when the girls left the room, he changed the subject we’d been discussing earlier to say, “I have a great idea. Next Saturday night is Halloween and I hear the town still has the Halloween party up the hill at Heller’s Park. So I suggest we all dress-up and take the kids together. It would be fun and a lot safer than trick or treating.”

  Not sure if I was included in the invitation, I said, “They also have a haunted hayride and I bet the kids would really love that. Lilly and I used to go every year. But after that we had to show up at my mom’s Halloween party at the Bed and Breakfast.”

  “And we absolutely do still have to show up over there,” Lilly agreed,” It’s our family tradition. My mom and Kat’s mom are very close. You probably don’t know this, but Kat and I practically grew up across the street from each other. Her grandparents ran the Bed and Breakfast before her mom took over.”

  “Wow,” he said, “I had no idea. Do you think the kids and I could get an invite to your mom’s party, Kat?”

  I almost choked on my blackberry brandy. “Absolutely; my mom’s only party rule is ‘the more the merrier.’ She’ll be thrilled. And you’ll love her. Everybody does because she’s a character. The kids will have fun too, she organizes games for them.”

  He held my eyes for a moment longer. “Then you’ll come to the hayride with us first and then we can all hit your mom’s party together?”

  “Yes,” I said, a bit louder than I would have liked to.

  Lilly was grinning at me and shaking her head slightly. “I still have to come up with a costume. How about you, Kat? Do you know what you’re going to be?”

  I nodded. “Yup, but it’s a surprise.”

  Gino held my gaze again. “I love surprises.”

  Wow, I thought, so do I!

  ***

  I never wanted this night to end, but when Tom started to yawn every other minute, it was obvious the polite thing to do was to say our goodbyes.

  Lilly got my purse and jacket from the kitchen, and I was surprised when Gino took my jacket from her and helped me to put it on. E
very place he touched me, I tingled. I felt my cheeks get hot again, and to cover it, hugged Lilly goodbye.

  “I’m sure I’ll see you before next Saturday night,” she said, “I’m going to need help putting a costume together.”

  “Sure,” I said, “you know I’ll help.”

  Then Gino insisted on walking me out to my car even though there was practically a zero crime rate in our little town beyond the occasional drunk driver or mischievous teenager.

  As we walked to my car, Gino slowed his steps and I matched his pace to mine . “I had fun tonight, Kat.”

  I swallowed hard, afraid I wouldn’t even be able to speak in a normal tone. “Me, too,” I said, “You have great kids.”

  We were at the car, and immediately, he stepped closer to me and took my hand. My heart was pounding so hard I was afraid he’d notice how fast I was suddenly breathing.

  His eyes were shaded by the dark shadows and when he spoke his voice felt like a caress. “I’m glad you like Tori and Anthony, and I’m surprised by how much they both like you.”

  “Surprised?”

  He dropped my hand and leaned back against the car. “I knew Anthony would be crazy about you, but Tori’s dead-set against me having a life.”

  I put my hand on his shoulder before I could stop myself. “I don’t think it’s that she doesn’t want you to be happy. I think it’s more that she’s still grieving for her mom and she can’t imagine you with anyone else. Remember when we were that age how grossed out we were by our parents even holding hands.”

  He laughed. “Yeah, I do. I know that’s part of it, but I want you to know I’d like to see more of you, Kat. It’s just that I’m confused because I can see Tori does like you and if we move too fast we could ruin what might be able to develop between all of us in the future”

  Now my heart did a huge leap up into my throat and in my excitement I made a huge mistake. “I completely understand, Gino,” I said, “I wouldn’t want to do anything to cause Tori any anxiety or unhappiness. But I would love to get to know you and both of the children better. So I hope you’ll all accept me… as a friend.” As soon as I said it, I regretted it. I’d just put myself in the friend zone and that wasn’t at all what I really wanted.