Chapter 6

The morning light had expanded and filled the sky as I woke up in bed, the last pieces of a dream slipping through my mind. I sat up on the edge of the bed and took a few deep breaths to let the grogginess recede. It couldn’t be later than eight already. After not sleeping past seven at least six days a week, my body was my own personal alarm clock. Sundays I sometimes made it to eight.
By the smell drifting up the stairs I knew Jeremy was up and probably making breakfast. Now there was a man that didn’t sleep in. He practically rose with the sun each day.
I heard faint footsteps and then they fell quiet.
“Come on old man, rise and shine! Come get the grub while it’s still hot.” Jeremy’s voice rang upstairs and reached my ears as I came fully awake.
I rose and walked to the door, but only to shut it. Breakfast could wait. I needed a shower first.
Fifteen minutes later I rounded the corner and found Jeremy drinking coffee, reading the paper, and eating an enormous omelet. It was good to have company for a change.
“So what’s on the agenda for this vacation of yours? You got any ideas?” I asked
“Well, for starters, you can tell me about the woman in the airport. After that, maybe get to work on the eat side of the house. Knock a few walls out, gut a few rooms, and get a tan while I’m at it.”
“Well big brother, help on this house is always welcome. How about we hit the courts a bit later? I could use some friendly competition.”
Jeremy glanced up from the paper and nodded while he held my gaze. He quirked an eyebrow, “And?”
“And what? There’s nothing to tell. That was the first time I met her.”
“But you’ve seen her before. You can’t just cover up that slack jawed moment in the airport as nothing.”
I grabbed a plate and picked up the spatula to grab the omelet’s twin from the stove. I took my time finding a mug and pouring my coffee. I snagged a banana off the bunch on the way to the table next to him. This unknown information was driving him up the wall. Let him try and figure it out a bit longer.
“I’m not covering anything up Jer. I just don’t know what to tell you at the moment. In fact, there’s nothing to tell. What you saw was it. That was the extent of what I know myself.” Okay, maybe not all of what I knew. Close enough.
“Okay. When you feel like telling me, I’ll be more than happy to hear it.” I looked up from taking a bite and saw him reading again. But now it was with a big smug grin on his face. One day I will revel in doing this to him. That day couldn’t come soon enough.


By the middle of the afternoon Jeremy decided he had indeed done some damage. The main wall was tore down and now in a pile, and he was measuring out where the new studs would be placed, accommodating the plans Ben had showed him. Why his brother insisted on buying this big house was beyond reasoning. Ben had found it six months ago while biking during one of his morning rides. Over the phone he had said it was in need of a few repairs, but sturdy and solid. What he had meant was that it was in need of complete repair, and sturdy and solid meant it hadn’t fallen over yet. But it was a good way to relieve some stress and focus on something that would come out as planned. Life could be unstable at times. Days like this returned that sense of stability.
The fact that Ben had remodeled a few rooms and the bathroom on his own proved that he was using it as a stress reliever himself. I glanced up as more shingles fell into a pile to my left. He was making quick work of that roof. It was most likely because with the sun directly overhead, he was getting fried. It had to be like walking on coals up there. Not that I was any better down here. My white tank top had turned a dirt brown color in the last hour, and it was soaked completely through. I went inside and grabbed a glass of water, grabbing a water bottle and filling it up as I headed back out. Ben was descending the ladder as I rounded the doorway.
“I could definitely use that water right about now. Good timing.”
“I figured by the steady stream of shingles that you were trying to make quick work of it. This heat takes the energy right out of you.”
Ben used his shirt to swipe across his face and took a swig of water.
“You’re telling me. A couple of months ago it wasn’t so bad, but once it hits June, there’s no hope of it cooling off. Let’s take a break.”
“That’s fine by me. Where can we grab a bite to eat?”
“There’s a great diner a few miles up the street. We can call and order a couple sandwiches. They’ll have them ready when we pull up.”
“That’s my kind of place. You call and I’ll go pick them up.”
Within an hour we had finished off the sub sandwiches and decided that we would wait and work more on the house tomorrow. We changed clothes and headed down to the basketball courts. The closest ones were at the high school, and Ben said if we got lucky, the day would be ending soon and there’d be a few guys out there wanting to play. We shot for about forty five minutes before the bell rang and kids poured out of the sets of double doors facing the street. By three o’clock there were about six guys headed our way. One yelled out as he crossed the court.
“Hey! Ben! Who’d you bring with you? Hopefully you two aren’t counting on beating us today.”
“Well Rob, that all depends on if you have actually been playing as much as you say. And he’s my brother. Jeremy, meet Rob, high school junior and on varsity.”
“Nice to meet you Rob, you ready to play a little ball?”
“You old timers got nothing on us. Two teams of four, you can have Jimmy and Luke. And we won’t go easy on you.”
I looked at Ben and he leaned in. “They’re a lot of talk, but they play hard. Have to give them credit for their nerve and determination though. Normally play to twenty, best out of three.”
“Sounds good, I’m up for it. Let’s show them a thing or two about Morris boys.” Ben slapped me on the back and grinned.
“Now that’s what I like to hear.” He turned around, “You ready boys? Let’s get this game started!”

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Rudger’s. If I was told there was a place more down to earth, I wouldn’t believe it. The gas station/store sat right on the edge of town and was loved entirely for its atmosphere. Rocking chairs on the wrap around porch were continually set to motion, creaking away. As I passed by I waved and saw the same familiar faces smile and return the sentiment. I felt my chest tighten a little. Home. Not much ever changed, but then again, that’s what was comfortable about it. It was expected and well known. Another few miles passed and before I knew it I was walking through the front doors, smelling the lingering apple cider candles and some of my mother’s faint and soft perfume. I heard the screen door shut in the back of the house and my mother humming as she came inside. I began to hum with her. She stopped as I continued for a few seconds.
“Kate? Kate, is that you?” I walked around the corner and found her standing by the sink washing her hands. She had no doubt been knee deep in the garden by the dirt smears on her clothes.
“Honey, you made it!”
“Hi mom.” She dried her hands and enfolded me into a hug that only a mother can give.
“How was the trip? Are you hungry? I know they never give you anything worth eating on those flights. I can whip up something for you in no time.”
“No, I’m fine. I’ll just grab a little something to hold me over until dinner. I wouldn’t want to miss out on some good home cooking.” My mother smiled and nodded her agreement, satisfied with the answer.
“Why don’t you take your things to your room and get situated. I need to clean up myself,” she said as she looked down and noted her appearance.
“I think I’ll catch a nap before dinner if that’s alright.”
“Sure, whatever you’d like.” She hugged me again and began humming as I went back and collected my bags.I walked down the hallway and set my suitcase at the foot of my bed. Things had not changed. I had changed, but my memories were all crashing back in around me in swift and sure movements as my eyes took in the room. I didn’t want to dwell on them quite yet. I fell onto my bed and turned my face into the pillow. My mother still used the same laundry detergent she had for years. That was all it took for me to relax and drift to sleep.

Chapter 5

The doorbell was shrilling loudly enough to make me shift in my seat for a minute. Who would be at the door this early? Kate heard it again and was just beginning to grasp that it wasn’t the doorbell. I don’t have a doorbell. The alarm clock, that’s what that was. I rolled over just as the fog was beginning to wisp out of focus and clear my head. Reaching an arm out towards the table I felt around for that ringing box. Finding it, I smacked the snooze on top, and rolled onto my back and just let out a long sigh. Saturday mornings should not be started this way. Ever. And why was my alarm set anyways? Groaning in frustration I stretched, and it was then that my mind came fully alert. Then I remembered. I had a plane to catch. I glanced at the neon blue numbers and noticed I had a few spare minutes. A few blessed minutes of peace. But they never lasted as long as I hoped.
Two cups of coffee, a blueberry muffin, and a shower later I was dragging my bags to the door and convinced I never should have agreed to take this long weekend to go home. I should have spent it doing something productive, like taking Lori up on the offer to furniture shop, or starting that workout program I had in my bedroom. I could stand to lose a few pounds, like very other woman in America thought every time she glanced in a mirror. Oh, but who was I kidding? I didn’t want to work out anymore than I wanted to make the trip home. And if I stayed home now, furniture shopping would be the last thing on my list of exciting things to do for the day. It was all a bust. All of it. My life needed a double shot of something strong, and fast. I’d settle for a latte at the airport and pray that everything else worked itself out. It had to, eventually.

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The San Francisco International airport was fairly empty this Saturday. I got my bearings and weaved my way through the other departing passengers to head towards the baggage claim. I missed the times before September 11, 2001 when I was met walking off the plane with a hug and a cup of coffee. Now it would have to wait until I found my suitcase and managed to be tracked down there.
Watching numerous black bags roll by, I was once again thankful my mother refused to let me carry one. She insisted that every other person would be looking for an identical black bag and it didn’t help to own one of them. She just liked to have some say in making life easier and I wasn’t too prone to refuse it. I grabbed a dark green suitcase and flipped the tag to check the name. Jeremy Morris. I lugged it off the conveyer and began to walk towards the escalator. To my left I saw the opposite one descending. Casting a glance to the top I saw that Ben was just beginning to step on. I said his name and managed to catch him before he made his way down. Coming closer to him now, I realized the changes. He was a bit more filled out. Had a few more lines etched into his smooth shaven face. His hair was shorter now, cropped closer to his head, and it looked a shade lighter. He looked good. This city was doing him a few favors, the beach being one of them.
Ben was watching me and then I heard him say, “Are you going to give me a prognosis or just study me and not say a thing? A ‘good to see you’ is always welcome.”
I got to the top and grinned as Ben grasped my hand and pulled me into his chest. “Brother, you don’t want the prognosis; you’re too tired for it. Remind me later. Looks like you’ve been hitting the courts regularly though. How’s the three point line treating you?”
“Oh, it’s good as usual. The more frustration I let out, the better it is to me. By the time I’m done I’ve got it to a quick flip of the wrist, headed straight for the net.” Ben answered.
They both walked to the mini Starbucks and grabbed a coffee as they caught up on the brief points of life. How Steve and Lina were, when the baby is due, how their jobs were holding up, and whether this weekend would prove to be as relaxing as they planned.
Turning from the concourse and seeing the front doors was like a look at freedom. I couldn’t wait to begin this two week vacation. It was a long time coming. Taking a few steps and trying not to scald my tongue on this piping black coffee I realized Ben wasn’t next to me. I swiveled and caught a glimpse of him still at the counter, holding his cup, and lost to the world around him. I really have to make sure he sleeps more, he’s the walking dead. With swift clarity, I realized he wasn’t out of it, he was staring at someone. That someone was across the lobby. People didn’t get this focus from Ben very often. This couldn’t wait.
I turned too quickly and felt the heat wash over my hand in a flash of momentary pain. There were several people walking in and out, and a few at the airlines checking in baggage. I quickly took note of each one and then reduced the number of people it could be to three, judging by his line of sight from the counter. About five seconds later I figured he must know the guy at the American Airlines counter who was loudly protesting to his ticket arrangement, the woman behind him who could quite possibly be the man’s mother as she tried to settle him down in an indiscernible tone, or it was the striking brown haired woman briskly walking into the concourse. Bingo. She was fairly petite, had what looked like long brown naturally wavy hair, and about five foot five, give or take a few inches. She looked very comfortable in jeans and a UNC sweatshirt, confident by her walk albeit a bit tired, and determined to make a flight it seemed. How did Ben know her? In the past weeks on the phone he had never mentioned anyone. I took the mental inventory realizing it was hardly a habit I could break easily. Quick assessment was important. I took a glance back to see Ben watch her as she approached the ticket counter. Now this was piquing my interest. It would be fun to get a response from Ben.

---

“Hi, my name’s Kate Drummond, here’s my ticket.” I rested my arm on the counter as I sat down my suitcase with the other and left my carry on over my shoulder.
“You’re all set Miss Drummond, let’s get this bag checked in for you.” She handed my ticket back to me and tagged my suitcase after it rolled behind the counter. “Your flight is on time and will be departing from gate 223 in terminal C in approximately twenty five minutes. Enjoy your trip.” She had pointed behind me to what I guessed was the correct terminal, smiled, and typed a few more things in the computer as I turned away and headed in that direction. Twenty five minutes. Not bad for assuming I was going to be late as usual. I swung my carry on a bit higher on my shoulder to readjust the weight. I didn’t need my laptop, but in some ways it proved a bit comforting to have. And if I was lucky, if there wasn’t too much turbulence in between the take off and landing, I might be able to write a few emails and send them later.
I reached down to pull my jeans up a bit on my left leg thinking that loving them long was sometimes a bit foolish, especially when I dragged them under my tennis shoes on occasion. Like now. It was a bit annoying. About ten steps later I had to yank them up a bit again hoping it was because I had lost weight, not that they were suddenly long. In the process my bag started falling from my shoulder and taking me with it. I stumbled rounding the corner by a group of people getting their morning coffee. Not here. Being clumsy is only okay when not surrounded by onlookers.
I managed to grab my bag, but not before my drawing pad slipped from the front pocket. It of course had to slide across the impeccably clean and traveler run floor.
“Let me get that for you.”
Right before I looked up and brushed the hair out of my face, I had a moment of recognition flare in the recesses of my mind. I knew that voice. But I couldn’t place it. I was only a few steps away now and had yet to let that deep voice register. But those eyes did.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.” I let it out as my head came up and rested back into place. After my eyes swept up his roughly six foot three frame and settled on his face. It was the guy from outside my apartment! This couldn’t be happening. Not again. Embarrassment swept through my face within the blink of my eye.
“Nope, not kidding, I really did get it for you.” He handed me back the pad and just smirked. I felt the corners of my mouth begin to smile and my cheeks catch on fire.
“Well thank you. Sorry to have to inconvenience you, again. I can’t seem to make it too long without dropping something.” How I was staying calm I had no idea. All I knew was that he was still smiling and I hoped he hadn’t said anything yet, because I couldn’t hear much. He seemed so relaxed standing there. Like this happened all the time. I looked away.
“My name’s Ben.” He stuck his hand out, and I shook it.
“Nice to meet you Ben, I’m Kate.”
I was looking at him again. Memorizing. He had really great dimples when he smiled like that.
“Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
For a second my mind said turn and run, and I forced my feet to stay and my voice to work.
“A latte would be great, but I’ve got to make a flight in fifteen minutes so I’m afraid I can’t stick around.”
He ordered it for me and we stood there, unsure of what to say, but both unable to simply ignore whatever it was that kept us here, trying not to make it awkward. He looked down for a second and I saw his sun streaked brown hair. He must like to be outdoors. Wait, what was I thinking? I was headed home. Right now. Suddenly home didn’t seem too appealing. That chair beside me did though. No Kate! No. He paid for and handed me the cup as he looked back up.
“Well have a good trip then, enjoy the weekend. Maybe I’ll run into you again sometime.”
The sentence was said while I couldn’t look away. What was with me? This was ridiculous. By sheer force of will I looked down, swept my bangs behind my ear, and budged my bag onto my shoulder a bit more. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I’m nuts, I thought. I have to be.
“Don’t you have to catch your flight?”
My head snapped up. How long had I been standing there? Seconds, minutes, an hour? I was lost to time.
“Um, yeah… yes, I do. Thanks for the coffee,” I held it up and tried to smile as I said it. I had no idea how that smile came out.
“Not a problem. Bye Kate.” He turned and walked towards the lobby doors. There was another guy waiting there, watching. A darker, broader version of the man who had just introduced himself. The unknown one slapped him on the back as he met up with him, and they turned to walk out into the sunshine that had broken out of the clouds over the last few minutes. Ben caught the handle for the door as the other man stepped through. He glanced over his shoulder and his gaze went straight through me. He winked. And then he was gone. And my plane was about to be.