Evil Intent (6 page)

Chapter 8

“G
ood morning mom!” Kathryn said giving her mother a hug as she walked into her house bright and early on a Saturday morning.

“Wow, honey. You got here early!”

“I took the 9:45 train out of Penn. But, I had to take the darn local. By the time we left Jamaica, I had the conductor’s entire spiel memorized! I knew all the towns by heart - this train will be stopping at, Hollis, Queens Village, Floral Park, Stewart Manor, Nassau Boulevard, Garden City, and Hempstead.”

Kathryn’s mother lived on Long Island, in the village of Garden City, about an hour from her apartment in Manhattan. A charming little town, with a Main Street that was lined with beautiful boutiques. It was a very well-to-do town with two famous private country clubs, private schools, their own police department, and the spectacular Garden City Hotel. Decades ago, the original hotel was the talk of the town, usually hosting entertainers like Perry Como, Bing Crosby and the like. A terrible fire destroyed the old wooden hotel and then years passed before the new Garden City Hotel was finally constructed on the same site as the original. There was also a charming railroad station. The Long Island railroad operated daily service from New York City to Hempstead, stopping at Garden City, and usually ran every hour, except rush hour when the trains were scheduled every thirty minutes, or so.

Her mom was living in the house that she and Kathryn’s father had purchased when he was transferred from Westhampton, to the New York City office. Prior to the transfer, they lived in the village of Mattituck on the East End, but, commuting was next to impossible, so they had little choice but to sell and move further west. Fortunately, they received a huge offer for their waterfront home in Mattituck, which allowed them to buy in the swanky village of Garden City.

Kathryn vividly remembers pitching a fit over the move. She was born on the East End, attended elementary through high school there, and of course, all her friends were there. She was devastated over the move. Fortunately for her, college came along. She only lived in the Garden City house, off and on, during those college years.

It was a charming English Tudor style home, on the corner of Cherry Valley Avenue and 6th street, walking distance to the railroad station. You could see the Cherry Valley Golf Club from the sun porch. The porch was a cool, relaxing room overlooking beautiful landscaping as well as the golf course greens. Kathryn often liked to study out on the porch, whenever she was home from college.

“I have some coffee brewed. Can I fix you a cup with a warm croissant?”

“That sounds wonderful, mom.”

“Here we are, let’s go out on the porch,” Kathryn’s mother said carrying a small tray with their coffee, cream, sugar, and two croissants, out of the kitchen.

“I always loved this porch, mom. It reminds me so much of the porch on our Mattituck house overlooking the Sound. I remember sitting out there, even on those cold winter days with the wind howling off of the water, playing with my toys. Daddy used to peek around the doors, and ask me if he could play too. We use to have so much fun out there.”

“And he meant it too, dear! Your father was real good about that. Spending time with you, I mean. He tried to spend as much time as he could with you.”

“How long has it been mom?”

“He died 11 years, and 4 months ago. I still feel sometimes that he’s going to walk through the front door hollering, what’s for dinner tonight, June? I do miss him quite a bit Kathryn. I guess you never get over something like that. Your father was a very special man.”

“I know. I miss him, too, mom, a lot. But, it does sound like you’ve been getting out every now and then. That’s good, mom.”

“I guess so, but, I am especially happy you could come to spend the weekend with me. This is wonderful. We can go downtown for lunch, and after that, maybe we can go shopping for a while if you’d like, and then later in the day, I made reservations for us at your favorite steakhouse in Malverne.”

“I like that idea. I need to find a casual blouse. I purchased a pair of white capris and would like something with a bright burst of color to wear with them.”

“I know just the place.”

“How have you been feeling? The last time we spoke you were concerned about your sugar. Isn’t the pump holding it steady?”

“Mornings are the worst, I guess. Unless I overdo my cocktails.”

“I thought you were supposed to cut back on the cocktails?”

“I have, but Betty and Bonnie still come over every now and then around four o’clock. I think they’d croak if I didn’t offer them a Gin & Tonic.”

“I hope you are using the diet tonic water.”

“Yes dear.”

“Work has been a nightmare, mom, but one of the positive things that has happened is the company has a new - latest and greatest - diabetic pump. It sounds really good. I could make sure we get one, and converting from your Gemini would be easy. I understand the new one is quite advanced.”

“Oh dear. You know how bad I am with these computer gadgets. I’m all thumbs and certainly don’t understand the bits, bites, ergs, pixels and stuff.”

“Mom, I don’t think there are ergs and pixels in a diabetic pump. I promise it will do everything for you, that’s why it’s so neat!”

Mother and daughter seemed to talk forever, but all of a sudden, mom decided she wanted Kathryn to see how she rearranged the furniture in the living room.

“Believe it or not, I still had so many little reminders of your father hiding in every nook and cranny. I decided I should really thin that out. They’re in the attic now dear, in case someday you want some of that stuff.”

Later that day, after they had finished their lunch - at an adorable cafe with tables scattered on the sidewalk where they were entertained by people donning their latest fashion creations - mom wanted to take Kathryn over to the dress shop she had mentioned. She was certain Kathryn would find some splashy summer blouse like she was looking for.

“I really liked that restaurant mom. And I loved getting a table on the sidewalk. That was so nice. And, weren’t those dogs hysterical? Especially that big fat English bulldog. He was determined to take a drink from that water dish. Lots of those dogs were really cute, and well behaved, too. I just don’t think I could walk a dog onto a crowded street, even if on a leash. What would you do if he starts having a fight with another dog? Or what if he decides to poop? How embarrassing!”

“Speaking of cute, are you picking out a blouse for some new beau? I haven’t heard you talk about anyone, lately. You’re working way too hard at that job of yours. We aren’t getting any younger you know,” mom said dying to get into the subject.

“It’s really been crazy at the office mom. I’ve been extremely busy and there is very little time to go out looking for guys. It’s just not a good time.”

“It’s never a good time, honey. Maybe you’re not aware, but there’s a biological clock running here in the background. You don’t have forever to plan a family. Besides, didn’t anyone tell you that as you get older, single older men are about as rare as a coconut tree in Anchorage! Seriously, ask one of your married friends to rattle off the names of available single guys. Nope, can’t do. And let’s say you keep putting this off and now you’re in your forties, looking for an established, rich, successful guy in his 50’s? You might as well go park outside of the divorce attorney’s office or visit a local urologist. And, the longer you wait, the smaller the number gets. It’s terrible!”

“Mom! I think you are exaggerating a bit here. I’m not looking for someone in their seventies for gosh sakes. Who knows, by then maybe they’re all dead, but - 30’s, 40’s - I know they’re out there!”

“Yeah, at the sports bar watching ESPN all night, or on the hiking trails in the mountains if they’re the health nuts. Better scratch that last one. Come to think of it, I don’t know any hiking trails with cue lines or wait times. The men aren’t up there either.”

“Oh brother, this is hopeless!”

“What about the guys in the office? You have mentioned quite a few men. Aren’t any of those men single, available, bachelors?”

Kathryn hated this conversation. Every time she visited her mom, the subject came up. Of course, mom meant well. She felt concerned for her daughter, and had always hoped Kathryn would find someone. Being single herself, and having lost her husband, June knew what loneliness felt like. Kathryn, wasn’t getting any younger and if there was any chance of children, she better move quickly. She already was older than most women who planned a family.

“Oh my. We were having so much fun, I almost passed the shop. Here we are, this is the boutique I was referring to.”

Once inside, they looked around and found several blouses that appealed to Kathryn who proceeded to try on each of them. Naturally, she had to show mom and ask her opinion. Is this color ok? Does this make me look fat? Is it too daring, mom - I think I look like a slut? On and on it went for almost an hour. There were short sleeve blouses with boat necks, crew necks, cowl necks, turtle necks as well as sleeveless blouses galore, plus an array of tank tops in the summer collection. Each offered numerous bright colors to pick from.

Kathryn favored the light weight, and sometimes sheer, sleeveless tops, and narrowed her pick to three of them.

“Why don’t you just take all three, Kathryn? It’s on me. I want to buy them for you, please. You looked so sexy in these they are bound to attract that man we’re looking for!”

“You mean the man you’re looking for?”

They both laughed. Kathryn’s mom did insist on purchasing all three despite some resistance from her daughter. But, as a compromise, Kathryn insisted dinner was on her.

Dinner was wonderful and the two of them managed to get home at a decent hour. The next day, Sunday, mom suggested they take a lazy day and just lounge at the pool over at the clubhouse. Dad had joined the Cherry Valley Country Club for business purposes. He also loved golf, much more than June did, but regardless, when he passed away June continued membership. However, not caring about golf, she elected to downgrade to an Associate Member allowing only the facilities and dining. Golf was excluded.

“Going to the club sounds like a good idea to me. I even brought a bathing suit with me, just in case.”

When they settled down at the pool area, it didn’t take long for mom’s favorite topic to surface again.

“Ok mom, I’ll confess. Don’t get too excited yet, it’s just starting, I think, but there is someone I’m interested in.”

“What? Oh, please,” Kathryn continue. “I can’t wait to hear this.”

“Well, like I said mom, a relationship hasn’t even started yet. He’s a doctor.”

“Oh wow, that’s wonderful and very promising. I don’t think doctor’s hang out all night in the bars watching ESPN!”

“Just listen mom. I’m really telling you this because I don’t know what to do and I need some advice. He is a client, or I should say, has an ownership interest in a client of the company. I first saw him a while ago. Immediately, I felt an incredible attraction toward him. I haven’t a clue why, but it was a strong feeling. Kind of stopped me in my tracks. I never felt that way mom about anyone. Not even high school days when boys meant everything.”

“Well, I think that’s a good sign.”

“I hope so, because the feelings got worse. I found myself thinking about him and thinking of ways to see him.”

“Do you mean like see him on a date?”

“No, I mean like just physically see him or be in his presence. For all I knew, he didn’t know I exist.”

“What happened?”

Kathryn proceeded to tell her mother about the day at Physician Associates, when he threw her out of the office.

“Oh my. He threw you out of his office?”

“Well, not exactly, he just sent me back out into the lobby to see the office administrator,” Kathryn explained looking down with a certain sadness on her face. “I felt terrible and when I went back to my office I carried on, fretting about it more so. Finally, my girlfriend told me to just go after him, be assertive.”