Reconcilable Differences: A 'Having It All' Novel (11 page)

Simon frowned but said nothing.

“I took a few courses, here and there, and then I
discovered the program at the Justice Institute. My background’s not in
Psychology, per se, or law, but I supplemented. All in all, I studied for a few
years before qualifying. It was quick. To be a Clinical Psychologist, I would
have had to go back to school for another six or seven years, get a doctorate…
I really didn’t have the patience for that. This way, I was able to get working
right away.” Kate held one hand open, palm up. “Not that I’m a counselor, of
course,” she added.

“So it’s more a kind of specialty on top of other
training. That’s why lawyers do it, I suppose, and shrinks.”

She nodded.

“And it’s more goal oriented, I imagine, than family or
marriage counseling, which can just go on and on and then peter out.”

“Exactly. I think you’d make a great mediator. You have
empathy,” she her eyes to his, felt her face heat, and a small smile pulling at
her lips. “You keep your cool around difficult people. That’s challenging for
some.” She raised her index finger, her enthusiasm brimming over, “And, you’re
a keen student of human behavior. I’ve seen the way you observe. Study.
Analyze. Those are just the qualities you need.” In that moment, Kate felt as
though they were alone, and that his attention was as focussed on her as hers
was on him.

He tilted his head to study her face. “You’ve almost got
me convinced. You obviously love what you do.”

“I do. It’s a great feeling to find what you’re meant to
do in life. It’s very empowering and energizing. I love going to work every
day.” It was true. She loved her work.

“I’m not sure I’ve got your… I don’t know. Commitment, I
guess.” He sipped his wine. “So how about you. I gather you’re not married?”

“No. Never been. I’ve been seeing someone for a couple of
years.”

“Serious?”

She lifted one shoulder. “My life is mostly about my
work.”

His eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

Their conversation swung to lighter topics, food, books
and travel. Kate listened with curiosity to Simon tell of his travels in Japan,
Hong Kong and Thailand, and his discovery of various new culinary and cultural
experiences along the way. Suddenly, despite her apprehensions of being with
him, she couldn’t get enough. She leaned in on her elbows.

“Each new trip I plan, I try to visit a country or region
I haven’t seen before. At the moment I’m thinking I might be ready for some
trekking in the Himalayas. I’m not sure. It’s hard not to go back to the places
I’ve really enjoyed. It’s tempting just to lie in a hammock in Phuket. These
days it’s a toss-up between the food and culture and experiencing the spiritual
meccas.”

“Does Madison stay with your wife when you go?” Kate
asked, wondering what exactly he did at a spiritual mecca.

A sharp bark of laughter escaped his lips. “Oh. No. Not
for the two or three weeks I need. I’m very fortunate in that; my parents and
my brother help out a lot.”

“So, you’re interested in Eastern philosophies as well?”
Her head was spinning with his myriad interests and activities. It was
difficult for her to reconcile this sensitive complex spiritual man with the
brilliant, career driven party guy she once knew. She was intrigued.

“Yes, more and more so as I get older. When I’m not
traveling, I read a great deal. The classics, poetry and philosophy. I know it
sounds, well, eccentric. Maybe a bit flaky. But… ”

She shook her head, about to protest, but he continued.

“You’re very polite.” He laughed softly, with the
self-deprecating, bashful grin and shy, dropped eyelids that she had always
found so endearing. “Usually when I warm to my subject, people squirm. I’m
afraid my interests have become a bit esoteric over the years.”

“Well, I remember you being quite the aficionado of rock
music, professional sports and, um, beer,” she laughed, and he joined her with
a rollicking guffaw, tossing his head back. She was touched by his easy grace,
the unselfconscious way he held his body. It was very appealing.

“Everyone changes, not that I’ve given up those pursuits
entirely,” he said, shaking his head and pressing his forehead into his
interlocked hands. “I guess I’ve never stopped looking for answers. I certainly
didn’t find them in the lyrics of rock songs, though they might have seemed
relevant when I was nineteen. If anything, they only raised more questions.” He
looked up at her, humor sparkling in the cerulean depths of his eyes. “What
about you? Have you traveled much?”

Kate bobbed her head ambiguously. “Not quite as much as
you, but I’ve been to Europe a couple of times. And Alex and I have been to the
Yucatan. I seem to be more drawn to European history, and art, when I travel. I
never get enough of the Great Masters.”

“Alex… is he–?” His brows drew together in a question.

She hesitated. “Alexa Jenner? You might remember her.”
Kate shrugged, feeling momentarily awkward at the prod to their memories.
Perhaps he wouldn’t. She wasn’t sure how much he paid attention to back then.
He sure didn’t seem to miss much now, though.

“Yes. I do remember. Short little brunette? She was in
your dorm,” he nodded, his eyes faltered and slid sideways. “I went to Greece
and Italy once, years ago. But I’d end up sitting on a rock contemplating
ruined civilizations, thinking about life, rather than touring museums and
stuff.”

He paused.

“What are your thoughts on Eli’s work?” he enquired, his
expression giving nothing away of his own opinions.

She remembered his comments in the boardroom. “You seemed
to think it had merit, as I recall. Were you being polite?”

“Aah. But I asked you first.” His mouth lifted to one
side, teasing, with a sexy flash of white teeth.

She smiled back. “You missed my comments that day. I had
just finished telling Eli that I liked his work
very
much. And I was not just being polite. I think
he’s amazing. Really talented and very, very smart.”

“Mmhmm. Me too, though I meant to have another look.” He
grinned. “If you ever get the chance to travel in Asia, you might be surprised
by the art and architecture there. When I was in Japan—” he was interrupted by
the trilling of his cell phone, and stopped to dig it out of his pocket.
“Excuse me. Sorry. Hello?”

Kate sat quietly sipping her wine, watching Simon. He was
so well-rounded and thoughtful, and all of this on top of being a full time
single father to his daughter. How did he manage it?

The waiter took the opportunity to whisk away their empty
plates, smiling warmly at her. “Cappuccino, Signorina? Espresso?” he asked
quietly, and she held up a hand to indicate they needed a minute. He nodded and
drifted away again. Simon’s countenance changed quickly from curious to
concerned as he listened on the phone.

“She was fine this morning. When did this start?” He
listened. “Did she eat anything?” Another pause. “Okay. Yes. I’ll be there right
away. Give me twenty minutes or so. Right. Thanks.” He clicked off, and rose
from his chair.

“Trouble?” asked Kate, sensing, her bright mood dampened,
that their lunch was over.

“Yes. I’m afraid so. That was Maddie’s day care. She
seems to have come down with something after lunch. She’s barfing and running a
fever. I’ve got to go get her. I’m sorry.” He pinched the bridge of his nose,
frowning, though he had shut down, mentally having left already. He pulled his
mouth into a tight attempt to smile, and bent to pick up his briefcase.

She felt the light, fizzy sense of happiness they’d
shared over lunch drain away, and her heart seemed to sink into the pit of her
stomach. She felt the powerful pull of her attraction, and something more. A
desire to comfort him. She sensed that, despite help from his family, he was
very much alone. “It’s okay. She needs you. And we’re done here anyway. It’s
been a great lunch. Thank you so much for… everything. It was fun.”

“I’m glad you found me.” Simon said, taking the time to
meet her eyes, and she believed him, though it was obvious he was distracted
and worried. His face flickered with alarm, and he sucked in a breath. “The
bill!” He rummaged for his wallet.

“I’ve got it. Don’t even think about it.” She placed a
hand lightly on his arm to stop him. “Really. I hope Madison’s alright. I’m
sure she is… Just go.”

He shook his head, reaching to curl a hand over her
shoulder, his thumb squeezing gently, gliding over the edge of her collarbone.
That small gesture felt like a momentous embrace, stopping her breath. “Thank
you. Thanks a lot. I’ll see you next week.”

And he was gone, leaving Kate to sit and ponder the
astonishing amount of information he had shared about himself, feeling as if
her shoulder was on fire, throbbing with his heat, and the memory of his touch.
She couldn’t recall meeting anyone like him, perhaps ever. Not even himself at
nineteen. There always was that dreamy side to him, even then, she thought.
Strangest of all was trying to fathom how he’d traveled along that road, how
he’d gotten from there to here, with everything else going on in his life. The
waiter returned, his jaw hanging, apparently confused to find the charming
tête-à-tête ended so abruptly. Kate ordered a cup of green tea, determined to
sit awhile longer and contemplate the astonishing reappearance of Simon Sharpe
in her life.

~*~

Kate
was glad to have a night out,
and an excuse to wear the new violet chiffon gown she’d bought recently. The
Children's Hospital Fundraiser ball was the perfect venue, and she looked
forward to catching up with the old work colleagues who had invited her to join
them.

She pressed through the dense crowd, eager to get her
first glass of wine. Too many bodies, most of them taller than her, pressed
close, a pungent mix of colognes, alcoholic breath and, even at this early
hour, perspiration assaulting her senses. On the other hand, it was nice to see
people dressed up, especially the men in their tuxedos. A tall,
broad-shouldered specimen up ahead caught her eye. The warm light of the
crystal chandeliers overhead sparkled in his golden waves. She felt suddenly
breathless, the skin on the back of her neck tingling. He looked almost like—he
turned his head— hey, it actually
was
Simon.

Her pulse fluttering wildly, she lifted her voice to hail
him. “Hey neighbor. I would have expected you to be home with a book on
Confucius or the I Ching tonight, not rubbing elbows with the glitterati in
your tux.”

Simon whirled around at the familiar voice, his eyes
searching the dense crowd.

“Here,” she said, with a little wave. “Excuse me,” she
elbowed her way between two men and approached him. He stared at her, his jaw
slack, but still hadn’t spoken. “You look rather Bond this evening. Or you
might if you didn’t have such a vacuous expression on your face,” she teased.

Then he spoke, his voice throaty and deep. “
Your two great eyes will slay me
suddenly/Their beauty shakes me who was once serene/Straight through my heart…
the wound is quick and keen
.”

“Hmm?” Her grin vanished, and she stared,
uncomprehending. What did he say?

“Chaucer,” he murmured. He swallowed. “Sorry. I’m not
hitting on you. I just mean to say, you look… amazing.”

Her pulse kicked into higher gear. “Oh.” She looked at
his tie, feeling her face heat. “Thank you.”

 “Can I get you a drink?”

“I was on my way,” she said, gripping her beaded evening
bag. “I was thinking about a glass of white wine.”

“How about Champagne?” he suggested. When she nodded, he
elbowed up to the bar, looping his arm behind her, steering her closer, laying
his fingertips lightly against the bare skin of her back to keep her beside
him. She stiffened slightly, shivering, and drew her shoulders up, goose-bumps
rising on her flesh. He ordered two glasses, then raised them high to turn
toward her.

“Shouldn’t you be drinking a martini? You know, shaken… ”

“That’s not me,” he laughed, shaking his head, handing
her a glass. She took a sip, and wrinkled her nose as the bubbles tickled it.
His mouth lifted into a crooked smile.

“There you go again laughing at your own private joke.”
She clicked her tongue with feigned annoyance, secretly thrilled at his
nearness, and his attention on her again. “And I was seeing you as this… sort
of … bearded mystic on a hilltop.”

“Hah! That may be closer to the truth. I’ve been known to
forget to shave, or forgo a haircut, but my daughter keeps me in line. She
likes her guys clean shaven.”

“A woman after my own heart,” replied Kate, their eyes
briefly meeting before she glanced away.

“How is she, by the way? Last I saw you she was ill.”

“Much better, thanks. It was a short-lived stomach virus,
I guess. She was back at pre-school yesterday, good as new.”

Just then, the MC announced that dinner would be served
shortly.

“They bounce back quickly, don’t they?”

“Where are you seated for dinner?” he ventured, and
reached for her elbow, which tingled again at his touch. “Are you here with
someone?”

She flinched, picturing Jay, who loathed formal
fundraisers, refusing to accompany her tonight,
and replied, a little breathless, glancing across
the room, “Oh, table twelve, over there. A bunch I sort of know from my
volunteer work at the hospital. Social workers and psychiatric nurses, mostly.”
She spoke too quickly.

“I should have known you’d be involved with the patients
somehow,” he said.

“It’s nothing. The hospital social worker calls me up
from time to time when there’s a little problem with the families,” she
shrugged, her sheer shawl slipped, baring one shoulder. Simon stared, and she
pulled up her shawl self-consciously.

“Uh. Well if your boyfriend’s not here with you, would
you care to join me? There’s room at my table,” he hurried to explain, “and a
group of very dull old lawyers whose evening your company would distinguish,
not to mention my own.”