Page 20 of First Date: Divorce
Pauline scowled, divided equally between the two of them.“Cynicism about relationships is not attractive.No wonder you two were available for this assignment.”
Eric snorted.“Ever since you and Gramps started carrying on, you think you’ve got a direct line to Cupid.”He looked at K.D.“They met when a group of us were snowed in at Gramps’ store at Christmas.He started off less than hospitable, but it turned out …” He smiled slightly.“Memorable.”
“Gramps and I are not carrying on.We enjoy each other’s company.If it deepens into more I will consider myself fortunate to have a second such relationship after my happy years with Chuck.”From those lofty, dignified heights, she added, “And you could do with carrying on yourself, Eric Larkin.You, too, probably,” she unexpectedly shot at K.D., “though I don’t know it for a fact like I do with him.
“You can use Eric wanting kids and K.D.not wanting them as your problem — sorry K.D., nobody around here would believe he didn’t want kids after hearing about our Christmas and how he pitched in making it great for the kids who were there.”
Grif, Ellyn’s husband, also suggested different views on wanting kids as a potential issue.Combined with Eric’s reaction, it seemed a likely culprit in his divorce.
“But,” Pauline went on, “there’s all the rest of it.So, let’s get back to it before K.D.has to get to Far Hills Ranch for a fitting, not to mention if you want to get into town for shopping later.Tell me again, how’d you two meet?”
*
Today, Rebecca directed K.D.to a den off the living room of the Far Hills main house for the wedding dress fitting.
“No mirrors, so you won’t be tempted to look,” Rebecca said.“I’m determined to make this a surprise.”
K.D.didn’t feel tempted to look.Even when a smile lit Ellyn’s face and Kendra whistled.
She had never gone through that little girl phase of delight by weddings.Probably a result of her native pragmatism, strong even in childhood, crashing up against her mother’s Cinderella dreams, undiminished even in adulthood.
But her feeling about weddings and wedding dresses did not contribute to this investigation, so she kept that to herself.
“It’s gorgeous.”Kendra snapped a couple photos.
“Sure is,” Ellyn said.
K.D.said, “I think you’re trying to rub it in that Rebecca’s not letting me look.”
“Turn,” said the woman with the pins.“Quarter turn to your left.”
K.D.obeyed.
“Now, hold still.”
Ellyn chuckled.“Maybe rubbing it in a little.But I’m here for a reason, too.We need you to taste samples.”
“Hey, I’m here for a reason, too,” Kendra insisted.
But K.D.nearly drowned her out with a moan.“I’m still stuffed from last night’s dinner and this morning’s breakfast.”
“Breakfast?”The question would have come in triplicate, except Rebecca’s pronunciation suffered from the mouthful of pins.
“Eric made great scrambled eggs and bagels.”
Aware of a sudden increase in interest from the other women, she quickly added, “For a working breakfast with Pauline drilling us on what we should know about each other — our fictional selves.As for samples, we agreed yesterday you should serve whatever you think best.You said you were good with that.”
“I am.And we’ve got that all covered.But this is to sample cakes.”
“Cakes?”K.D.twisted to look at Ellyn.
“Hold still,” ordered Rebecca.“Face the desk, not these two distractors.Not even over your shoulder.”
“Wedding cakes,” Ellyn clarified.
“But—”
“It’s a wedding.There has to be a wedding cake.And it has to reflect the couple.Eric’s waiting for you to sample so you can make a decision together.”
