Dickens and Me

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
(copyright 2009, Anita Birt)
Confident he'd work something out Greg returned to the kitchen, spooned ice cream from the container and remembered to leave some for Davie when he wakened. They'd go shopping tomorrow and load up with good things to eat.
He picked up the phone to check his messages. His mother had called. "Dad has two weeks of business meetings in Hong Kong so I'm flying home to meet our grandson. I've spoken to Laura. I'm stopping off in Vancouver for a day to touch base with her and Colin. Expect me tomorrow. You'll probably need a break. I'll take a taxi from the airport. Bye."
Greg didn't need a break. He liked minding Davie. They were getting along just fine. If Davie's spots returned or he got sick his mother would take him to the clinic, sabotaging part of his plan to see Caroline.
She'd left a message on his voice mail, cool and to the point. It sank his immediate prospects of getting to know her better. His life had definitely taken a turn for the worse. Saturday she another engagements. Friday she'd promised to play in a mixed doubles tournament at the club. He had the distinct feeling she was glad to have excuses to avoid having dinner with him.
* * * * *
Caroline knew she couldn't go on pretending she didn't know Greg. Time to confront him. Maybe confront wasn't a good idea. Better to remind him he used to know Kate Southern. To remind him they'd traveled to Ottawa when they were both eighteen to represent their school in a mock parliamentary debate. To remind him they'd partied with students from across Canada their last night in the city.
Why had she let her guard down? She wasn't used to alcohol. She loathed and detested drunks after the miseries her father had inflicted on her and her mother.
Thirteen years ago.
She'd paid for one drink, a glass of white wine. A boy from New Brunswick insisted on buying her a rum and coke.
Greg had rested his hand on her shoulder. "You've got unusual eyes."
"Unusual?"
"The color is sort of like violets." He grinned. "Are you having a good time?"
"Yes."
Greg's hand resting protectively on her shoulder as if he cared about her. He liked the color of her eyes. She wasn't used to compliments, wasn't used to being noticed, especially by someone like him the most popular boy in school. His attention made her feel like a different person, not like familiar Kate Southern, someone special.
He'd ordered a Tequila Sunrise. She ordered one as well. It embarrassed her to remember she had done it to impress him hoping he'd think she was used to partying and might find her interesting.
The drink was tangy and delicious. She ordered another.
What happened after that was a blur. She'd wakened in the morning with a pounding headache.
She was naked in her bed. Greg was naked. He was asleep with his right hand on her breast. A burning pain stung inside her vagina.
They'd had sex. She could feel it. He'd been inside her. She felt stretched and sore.
He said she'd invited him into her room, stripped off her clothes, helped him undress and fondled his erection before they stretched out on the bed.
"But I was a virgin. Why didn't you stop?"
"I didn't know you were a virgin until I was half way inside you. You didn't seem to care. I used a condom first time but you wanted to keep on."
He said they'd made love twice before they fell asleep.
She'd burst into tears, told him she didn't remember anything after drinking the second Tequila Sunrise. He'd apologized but said she should be glad it was him and not one of the other guys, at least she knew him.
He'd promised not to tell anyone what happened and didn't. She would have died of shame if he'd bandied her name around Markbridge High as the girl who'd lost her virginity when she was drunk. After learning she was pregnant she discovered the kind of person he really was.
Caroline sighed. He was back in her life. Time to be honest. She couldn't keep fending him off. She'd left a message on his voice mail declining his dinner invitation.
She'd lied about the doubles tournament it was scheduled for next week. She had a valid excuse for Saturday. Dr. Moreland's wife, Marjorie, had invited her to dinner to meet their daughter, her husband, and their son, Mark.
Tomorrow she'd phone and arrange to meet Greg. Where? Not a local café, too many townspeople knew her and gossip would fly from voice mail to voice mail.
The city park? It'd be quiet in the evening. A bench under the trees would be private. That'd be the best place. She'd walk away and leave him to think about the past.
Caroline finished writing up her charts and paused in the quiet reception area. Betty called her over.
"Isn't Greg Fraser handsome? He's the best looking man to walk through these doors since I've been working here." She grinned at Caroline. "If I were twenty years younger I'd follow him home."
"Betty Harris, you are happily married to a lovely man, and you're a mother and grandmother. I thought you'd become sensible in your old age," Caroline teased.
"Because I'm sensible doesn't mean I can't look, does it?"
"As long as you don't suggest I should be interested in Mr. Fraser."
"Would I suggest such a thing?" Betty raised her brows. "But he's not your patient so there's nothing to stop you following him home."
Caroline shook her head. "You are such a romantic. Mr. Fraser wouldn't give me a second thought and I'm not interested in him."
"Too bad," Betty sighed. "You two would look good together. Don't you think he's a real sweetie the way he's looking after his nephew?"
Caroline held up her hand. "Yes, he's a real sweetie and I'm going home. See you in the morning."
She smiled on the way to her car. Betty's matchmaking efforts were an ongoing joke between them. She was right, of course, Greg was the best looking man she'd seen in years and he was a good guy for taking of Davie and doing it so well.
She thought about him on the drive home and supposed he had put the past behind him.
Thirteen years ago, young and drunk, she had lost her way.
Like a falling star she had crashed. Indifferent to her desperate plea for help Greg had left her to pick up the shattered pieces of her life.
* * * * *
Greg was bathing Davie when the phone rang. Maybe it was Caroline saying she'd changed her mind about coming to dinner.
Not a hope in hell of that happening. She'd been coolly polite, not exactly unfriendly but definitely not friendly.
"Let it ring." He chanted to amuse the baby. "Who cares? Three bears. Bears care. Let it ring."
"Da," Davie said.
"Caroline," Greg said, and holding the baby firmly, lifted him from the tub. He placed him on a big towel and blew bubbles on his plump little belly. Davie kicked and laughed.
"One more bubble, then I have to dress you. Your grandmother is coming today and we have lots to do." He bubbled under Davie's chin.
"Da." The baby chortled and waved his arms.
With the kid wrapped snugly in the towel Greg carried him to the bedroom and dried him off. In the space of two days he'd learned a lot about babies. He thought he'd done ratThe thing about babies is to love them. He powdered Davie and diapered him. The baby grabbed a handful of Greg's hair and tugged.
The other thing about babies, he gently loosened Davie's grip, is not to let them pull your hair.
Greg enjoyed their morning routine. He showered and shaved while his nephew played in his cot and talked to Kim. Like a trained guard dog she stationed herself at the baby's open door every night and moved in closer when he wakened, but not too close or Davie would pull her ears.
Still on guard, she followed them downstairs to the kitchen.
Greg checked his voice mail. The baby sat in the high chair mashing a handful of pureed banana into his mouth.
A Marjorie Moreland had called. In a pleasant breezy voice she identified herself as Sarah Somerville's mother and invited him to dinner on Saturday. Might as well go, he thought. He didn't have a date and Mom would mind Davie.
He called back and accepted the invitation. His social life had foundered. Hit a wall. The few times he'd spoken with Caroline had ended in a draw as he tried to entice her into a relationship she obviously didn't want.
Much as he loved Davie their conversations were not exactly mind challenging. He needed adult company, female preferred.

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