Chapter Thirteen: Part One
Everyone met at the maloca to share a modest breakfast of fruit, coffee and fresh toast before leaving their island paradise. The goodbyes at the ferry ramp on the island were simple and warm. Mason, Madison and Rick were first in line for the trip back to shore on the barge. Kate and Rick kissed again, but in a far more chaste way, despite everyone looking in different directions, and all with smiles on their faces. His finger brushed the side of her breast as they broke from their embrace. ‘Thursday, next week. No expectations or pressure of any kind.’ It was the only thing he said to her after their kiss.
~~~~~
His words were still echoing in her mind as the amigas walked into their apartment. Sitting at their table, Carrie said, ‘Wow!’ It was the first word any of them had said since parking the van below their building. The three began to giggle.
‘Holy crap!’ added Dee, increasing their mirth.
‘Oh My GOD!’ Kate said, loudly and joyously. The friends laughed, looking at each other and shaking their heads.
Two of their staff in particular, Giselle and Suzette, were proving to be excellent at following through on details. A string of short text messages on Dee’s phone affirmed that their staff’s assigned to-do list for a small function, booked for that evening, was well in hand. The following day, the new mayor’s weekly lunch and dinner affair kept them busy. He had finished his many thank-you dinners following the elections. Now his regular Wednesday gigs were ‘schmoozing’ afternoons, with selected individuals invited to stay for a more intimate dinner for thirty. A good variety of interesting gigs kept them busy for the next week, including a wonderful engagement party for one of the mayor’s nieces on the Saturday. That gig was one of those perfect days where everything went exactly according to plan, and the write up in the social pages the next day extolled the amigas’ business in the most complimentary terms possible.
Dominique had ‘suggested’ before their second gig for him that they lift their rate to match what he was happy to pay, assuring them that those at his, and the mayor’s functions, would happily pay for the perfection the amigas delivered. Dominique’s assessment had proven accurate. Their business had nearly doubled in profit value since they’d followed Dom’s advice, and they were already having difficulty accommodating short notice gigs around their existing bookings.
~~~~~
Dee thumped on Kate’s door when it became clear to her that Kate was not going to be rising early on her own. ‘Come on, Katie, it’s Thursday. We have a date at the spa and you have a date tonight with Mr Tall, Smart and Heatsome. Let’s go.’ Through the door, muffled thanks and the sound of feet on the floor told her that Kate was up and moving.
At the spa, they started out with top to toe personal grooming, and ended with an extended pampering session. The spa’s attendants were familiar with the purpose of Kate’s preparations, and they joined Dee and Carrie in their happy teasing of her. Carrie showed them a photo of Dom, Rick, Juanita, Edison and JC competing on the chin-up bar. The sun was at an ideal angle and cast clean shadows over their bodies, highlighting their muscles perfectly. The ladies stared at the image on Carrie’s phone and remained quiet for a few long moments before the youngest attendant asked, with a tinge of hope in her voice, ‘Does JC have a girlfriend?’
Kate’s phone rang, displaying Juanita as the caller. Kate picked it up at once.
Nita said, ‘Hi Kate, quick question; are you still intending to dine with Rick tonight?’
‘Hi Nita. Absolutely. It’s all I can do to wait.’
‘Good. My teddy bear is driving you. He insists. Is seven good for you?’
‘It’s okay, Juanita. I can-’
‘If you want to try and talk him out of it yourself, be my guest. Do you have his number?’
After a thoughtful pause and a giggle, Kate said, ‘Seven will be perfect, thanks, Nita.’
‘Bien. Ricky is… he’s a son to us all. Maddie and Mason have been on cloud nine since you two met. We all have been. We all want the very best for both of you.’
‘Thank you again, Nita. That does not even come close to covering what I want to say.’
‘It is more than enough, Kate. Have a wonderful evening.’
Ending the call, Kate smiled. Dee and Carrie waited impatiently for her to fill them in.
~~~~~
Edison was as prompt as ever, knocking on their apartment door just as the clock turned to 7pm. He came in and hugged the girls warmly, accepting an offered chair to catch up on their latest news. Kate’s impatience was making her fidget, and when she almost jumped from her chair at Edison’s suggestion of departing, they all laughed, Kate included. Carrie told her to have fun and Dee reminded her not to overthink things as they hugged her goodbye. He poked fun at Kate and chatted happily for the whole drive, keeping her mood light.
Edison escorted Kate into Rick’s building, wearing his stiff and professional public persona for a couple walking past with their dog. As soon as they had privacy inside the foyer, he touched the back of her shoulder. ‘Kate?’ His eyes were sparkling as he flashed his most dazzling grin at her. ‘Have a truly wonderful time. You are each other’s reward.’
Before she could even start to respond, he skipped away lightly to open the door for another lady. The woman smiled at his flirtatious flourish and mischievous expression as she walked in. Edison winked back to Kate and was gone.
Bloody chameleon! she thought with a smile.
A quiet tone sounded from the rear of the foyer as elevator doors opened. Kate turned, and there he was, looking relaxed and gorgeous. She was constantly amazed at how completely attractive he was to her. His confidence was palpable, yet he was without the slightest hint of bravado or arrogance. His smile warmed her instantly, and he gave her a polite kiss on the cheek and a chaste hug before ushering her into the elevator. She could feel that he was straining to be true to his word, and was doing his best not to exert any pressure or expectation on her. Naturally, it made her want him even more. An older couple sharing their car smiled knowingly at the coy glances and happy tension flashing between the two. Getting out on sixteen, the man winked to Rick as he exited.
As soon as the doors closed again, they broke out giggling like schoolchildren. That was the catalyst. Kate grabbed Rick and kissed him for a short moment before he kissed her back.
‘I am so glad you wanted to come tonight, Kate.’
Feeling cheeky and invincible, Kate looked him square in the eye and said, ‘Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself, good sir?’
The shock on his face gave way to a deep chuckle as he recognised the double entendre.
Struggling to keep a straight face, he said with a slight bow, ‘My lady Catherine, I am ever so glad that you chose to accept my invitation and consented to dining with me this evening.’
Giving him her very best ‘bored’ act, she sighed. ‘Well, I had considered washing my hair tonight, and maybe watching TV, but there’s nothing good on. You know how it is… so here I am. I suppose we could kiss again, you know, to pass the time?’
Neither of them could keep a straight face and their ride to his apartment ended in an intimate and giggling kiss. The elevator doors opened and he led her into a small foyer not much larger than the elevator car itself. He held a key tag to a sensor and a heavy door hissed aside. With a sweep of his arm and a smile, he said, ‘Welcome to my home, Kate.’
The apartment was in low light, and the panorama of city lights sparkling in the early evening through the floor to ceiling windows was stunning.
‘Wow! Just… wow!’
‘It’s a view that never gets old,’ he said.
The endless vista of the city was breathtaking. ‘Wow!’ she said again, following the view around. Every external wall she could see was glass from floor to ceiling.
A series of thunderstorms on the horizon flashed and strobed in an almost continuous display. ‘At the risk of being repetitive, wow!’ Kate said, gazing out at the natural light show over the distant hills.
After watching for a few moments himself, Rick said ‘Don’t worry. I still say wow on a daily basis. May I offer you a drink?’
After looking at her for a moment, he said, ‘Champagne it is.’ He left her gazing down at a ferry and a few small boats on the river with a contented smile on her lips, returning a few moments later with two glasses.
With a slightly more serious expression, he asked, ‘Kate, I am so happy you are here. May I ask; have you had any second thoughts, or changes of heart or intent?’
The formal manner of his question told her that this was important to him. ‘Rick, aside from a little natural fear of where things may or may not lead, no. Thoughts of you have dominated most of my waking hours.’ With a cheeky smile, she added, ‘And a few of my sleeping hours.’
The joyful relief in his smile was clearly visible. Kate found herself surprised at how much of his own vulnerability he was revealing to her. Raising his glass, he offered her a toast. ‘To you, Catherine Jones. You are a most fascinating, talented, clever and beautiful woman. You have saved me, and my family, from personal and professional disgrace, reawakened my spirit, and gladdened my soul. In so many ways and on so many levels, I am profoundly grateful to have met you.’
Kate raised her glass in response. ‘Thank you, Rick. I feel very lucky to know you too, and I feel the same way about you.’ They sipped their sparkling wine and looked into each other’s eyes, their serious demeanour cracking when they began to giggle.
‘May I give you the grand tour?’
‘I’d like that.’