“Thanks, Patty. You’re doing great. Keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
Kelly flipped off her phone and returned to knitting Steve’s hat. Only a few more rows to go, and she would be able to close off the circle and finish. Knit one, knit two together. Knit one, knit two together. She almost wanted to say it out loud to keep herself on track.
Patty’s phone call made Kelly wonder. Had this Rachel deliberately given Holly too many pills? Would Holly even take pills from Rachel? Kelly knitted another row, thinking about what Patty said. There was no way to know if Rachel gave pills to Holly or not. Would Holly simply swallow down whatever she’d been given? She certainly hadn’t demonstrated good judgment at earlier parties. How many of those pain pills would it take to overdose? Kelly didn’t have a clue.
“Well, hi there.” Jennifer entered the room, dumping her large knitting bag on the table. She pulled out the chair beside Kelly. “I haven’t seen you over here in the afternoon that much since you’ve gotten those new clients.”
“Well, they’re keeping me busy.”
“How’re you liking them? I mean, do you enjoy the work? I bet you do.”
“Absolutely,” Kelly affirmed with a nod. “It’s intricate and challenging, and there are so many different parts to both their businesses that I’m still learning. I love that. I couldn’t thank Curt enough for recommending me to both those guys.”
“One’s in real estate, right?”
“Yes, Houseman is a real estate investor and has properties all over Fort Connor, Loveland, Windsor, and Greeley. Warner is a builder and developer. Most of his projects are commercial, and they’re scattered all over northern Colorado.”
Jennifer pulled out the burgundy wool sweater she was knitting. “That will keep you challenged for a while.”
“You bet. How’re things going at the real estate office?”
“Everything’s dead, basically. The only things moving are the foreclosure houses, but it’s still hard for people who try to buy them. Hard to get loans. Nothing is easy anymore.” Her fingers started working the wool.
“It’s a good thing Pete’s catering business picked up at the time real estate dried up last spring,” Kelly said. “He’s usually got at least two evenings a week scheduled, right?”
“At least. Sometimes we’ve got three to handle. It’s all good, though. And yes, I am really grateful the catering picked up when it did. Otherwise, I’d be in trouble financially.”
Kelly couldn’t help it. Her mind was wired that way. Like with Megan and Mimi, she had to ask. “So, you’re doing okay with your budget? I mean . . . you’ve got enough every month? Because if there’s ever a problem, I can spot you some cash.”
Jennifer looked over at Kelly and gave her a warm smile. “Thanks, Kelly, I’m doing all right. I’m paying my bills every month, and I’ve even started saving. I’ve gotten so responsible, I barely recognize myself.”
Kelly laughed. “That’s great to hear, Jen. I didn’t know whether to worry or not. I didn’t know if your trip back home this summer set you back.”
“No, I actually found a super-cheap airfare online and my mom picked me up from the airport. I stayed with family the whole time I was there, so it didn’t cost me much at all.”
Kelly knitted without speaking, letting the quiet settle between them. Even though Jennifer hadn’t said much about her trip home last summer, Kelly sensed it had been more than just a time to visit family. Something about the way Jennifer talked when she returned. When asked, Jennifer had simply said, “It was a good trip. We got to talk a lot.”
Jennifer hadn’t said anything else about the trip, other than she’d visited her parents and her sister who lived in the same suburb outside Indianapolis. Considering the traumatic experience Jennifer had gone through this past winter and how she had transformed her life in the months following, Kelly wasn’t surprised her friend wanted to touch base with her family.
There was nothing specific that Kelly could point to that indicated the trip was a closure of some sort for Jennifer, but Kelly sensed it was. There wasn’t any obvious change in Jennifer’s demeanor. But ever since, when they were both sitting quietly and knitting, Kelly sensed a peacefulness about Jennifer that she’d never noticed before.
Kelly also noticed that Jennifer and Pete had started showing up together whenever the group of friends all gathered. The “gang,” as they called themselves. They no longer arrived separately. Kelly often wondered whether Pete and Jennifer actually went out by themselves when they weren’t working.
Deciding this nice quiet moment shouldn’t be wasted, Kelly decided to ask. But first she’d have to work up to it. Jennifer was as quick as Kelly to pick up conversational ploys. Discarding one approach after another, Kelly fell back on what usually worked best for her: direct and forthright interrogation.
“I can’t help but notice that you and Pete arrive together whenever the gang is gathering for pizza and movies.”
Jennifer smiled over her knitting. “I wondered when you’d finally get around to asking questions. Frankly, I’m amazed at your patience. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Hey, if there’s a compliment buried in there somewhere, I’ll take it.”
“Admit it, patience has never been your strong suit.”
Kelly lifted her coffee mug. “Amen to that.” She took a deep drink.
“So . . . the answer to your question is ‘yes.’ Pete has been picking me up, and we drive to Lisa’s or Megan’s or wherever the tribe is gathering.”
“Well, it’s definitely better for the environment to take one car. Not to mention the price of gas,” Kelly joked.
Jennifer slanted a look Kelly’s way. “Go ahead, Kelly. I can tell you’ve got more questions.”
“Okaaaay, now that you mention it.” Kelly took another sip in preparation. “I simply wondered if you and Pete ever went out together for something other than catering or coming to join our communal get-togethers.”
“As a matter of fact, we have,” Jennifer admitted. “We’ve gone to dinner a few times, and we’ve also gone to the movies. We’ve even gone to the wine bar café you and Steve like so much. We really enjoyed it.”
It was all Kelly could do to keep her mouth from dropping open, she was so surprised. She’d expected Jennifer to answer that she was “thinking” about going out with Pete. Well, it was obvious that she’d already thought about it.
“That’s fantastic, Jen,” Kelly enthused, knitting dropped to her lap. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that.”
Jennifer gave her a smile. “I can tell.”
“Have you told anyone else yet, like Lisa?”
“No, because no one has asked. I could tell all of you guys were dying to ask but everybody was holding back. Pete and I figured you’d be the one to break the ice.”
Kelly held up her hand. “That’s me. Kelly. Icebreaker. One who charges in without asking. Whatever. You need people like me around. We do the jobs no one else will do.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
“Seriously, can I let it out? I mean, tell Lisa and Megan? That way it’ll spread everywhere.”
Jennifer held up her hand. “I give you permission. Blab away.”
“Fantastic,” Kelly repeated. “Tell me, did it feel funny at first for you two to be sitting at a restaurant waiting for someone else to serve you?”
Jennifer shot her a look. “Are you kidding? We loved it. Now it’s my turn to ask questions. How’s Steve doing?”
Kelly’s lighthearted mood evaporated. “He’s hanging in there. He’s still working a double shift. At the architectural firm in south Denver during the day, then at night he drives over to northeast Denver to work for the commercial builder.”
Jennifer glanced up, her concern obvious. “Boy, that’s grueling. How’s he holding up?”
Kelly shrugged. “During the week, I haven’t a clue because he’s been so busy he doesn’t have time to call. If he’s lucky, he’ll make it up here on Saturday night. He’s working at the builder’s office all day Saturday.”
“Poor guy.”
“Yeah, I know. He’s exhausted. When he does get here, he usually gobbles down some pizza and falls asleep in front of the television. Then, he’s holed up in his Old Town office all day. I’m amazed I got him to go over to Lisa and Greg’s last weekend.” She took a deep drink of coffee. “When he’s here, he’s not really here, because he’s either asleep or at the office. And the rest of the time, he’s in Denver. So I don’t really get to see him much at all anymore.”
“That’s hard,” Jennifer said, watching Kelly.
“Tell me about it. And he’s gotten so moody. Even when we have a chance to talk, he doesn’t really say anything. He turns on the television and just disappears into a baseball game. And he’s grouchy, too. Steve never used to complain about stuff before. Like when I was a couple of minutes late one night, he snapped at me. Wanted to know where I was. Sheeeesh.” She shook her head.
“You two are going through a hard time right now. Steve may be the one who’s financially stressed, but you’re living with him, so you’re having to deal with his problems, too. That’s tough. Call me up whenever you need to vent, okay?”
“Thanks, Jen, I appreciate that. I haven’t told anybody how I’m feeling, because . . . well, I feel kind of disloyal or something. I know Steve is hanging on by his fingernails, and I have to stand by and watch. But it hurts to watch all his dreams crumble. I wish he would let me help him, but he won’t.”
“If by help you mean money, you know Steve won’t accept it. So don’t even ask him.”
“Everyone says the same thing.” Kelly frowned. “I wish I could give it to him anonymously.”
Jennifer laughed softly. “That only happens in the movies, Kelly. Not in real life. Steve would know it came from you.”
Kelly sank back in her chair and sipped her coffee. A little movie magic would be in order right now. But someone had to believe in magic for it to happen. And right now, Steve wasn’t in a magical mood.
Seven
Kelly
spotted Burt getting out of his car across the knitting shop driveway. “Hey, Burt,” she called out as she walked toward the patio garden behind the shop. Café tables were still occupied with customers even though it was late morning.
“Hi, Kelly. How are you?” Burt asked as he joined her on the stone path that wound through the garden to the café’s back door.
“I’m doing great. I finished off my account work early this morning, so I’m giving myself an early break. Plus, I’ve run out of Pete’s coffee. Time for a fill-up. Have you been doing errands?”
“Good guess, Kelly. Mimi had a long list. I’ve been racing around finishing the list so I could get back here. I’m teaching a beginner spinning class at noon and need to sit and draft a whole bunch of fleece to get ready.”
“Well, let me get my coffee and I’ll sit with you. Watching you at the wheel or drafting fleece is guaranteed to relax me.” She pulled open the door before Burt could get to it.
The aroma of bacon and eggs drifted on the air, teasing Kelly’s nostrils. Breakfast food. Her big weakness. She waved her mug at Julie. She needed coffee so she wouldn’t weaken and gobble down a second breakfast.
“Thanks, Julie. You saved me from inhaling a platter of bacon and eggs.” Kelly watched the black stream pour into her cup.
“You know, bacon and eggs might be good to absorb some of that caffeine,” Julie teased.
“What? And lose my edge?” Kelly retorted with a laugh. “It’s the morning. Gotta have it.”
Burt accepted a cup from Julie. “Did you even have breakfast this morning?”
“Yeah, a bagel and cream cheese.” Kelly took a big sip and headed toward the hallway that led to the knitting shop. “How’s Mimi doing with her caterer calls? I was sitting with Megan and Mimi yesterday and they’ve got a list as long as your leg.”
Burt chuckled as he followed behind Kelly. “You’re right about that. Mimi was worrying out loud about how expensive everything was nowadays. The last time she helped with a wedding was several years ago, so I think the prices were a big shock.”
“Well, I gave them a nudge yesterday to come up with their budget first before they start making firm plans. Megan and Marty need to see how much they can afford to spend, then work from there.”
“You’re an optimist, Kelly. You know most people decide what they want to do first, then they figure out how to pay for it.”
Kelly plopped her knitting bag on the library table while Burt pulled his spinning wheel from the corner. Kelly settled into a chair closer to him and retrieved Steve’s hat from the bag. Nearly finished. Just a few more rows of reducing stitches and she could tie it off. If it was a hat for someone else, she’d make a fluffy pom-pom to sew on the top. But Steve was definitely not a pom-pom kind of guy.
Burt settled in his chair and pulled a large plastic trash bag of creamy white fleece beside him. He grabbed several handfuls and began drafting—slowly stretching the fibers so they could be spun properly and wouldn’t bunch.
Kelly relaxed against her chair and watched Burt’s movements for a couple of minutes before she picked up her knitting. “How’s Barbara doing? Have you seen her since the funeral?”
“Yes, Mimi and I took a casserole over to her house last night. She’s doing okay. Still worrying about Tommy as usual.”
“Have you heard anything from him? I got an e-mail the day after the funeral thanking me again for being there. He also asked if Patty had learned anything about the party so far.”
“I recall you said you were going to talk with Patty the other day. Did she offer to help?”
Kelly nodded. “Yeah, she was glad to help Tommy. And she was glad we had talked him out of trying to do the party circuit himself.”
“That would have been a dumb move. Has Patty learned anything?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact. She started asking friends who were at the party. One of them told her an old girlfriend of Tommy’s was there, and she and Holly got into an argument about Tommy. Sounds like it was kind of heated, too.”