Dickens and Me

NOTE: I shall be away on Friday, May 22nd. Watch for CHAPTER SIXTEEN on Tuesday, May 19 – unless I forget to post it!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
(Copyright 2009 Anita Birt)
Dr. Moreland crossed the patio to greet her. "You're looking very lovely, Caroline. How was your day?"
"Busy. You know what summer Saturdays are like."
"Indeed I do. Now what can I get you to drink?"
"A white wine, thanks."
Tansy shifted sideways on her chair and gazed at Caroline. "You remind me of..."
She propped her elbow on the armrest, cupped her chin in her hand and studied Caroline's face. "The second you walked through the door I knew I had seen you somewhere. It's the way you hold your head. Tell me if I'm wrong but you remind me of Kate Southern, smartest girl in Markbridge High."
No point dodging the bullet. "Thank you for remembering me." Caroline wondered how she held her head that was so remarkable. Greg hadn't remembered. Maybe women noticed things men didn't.
Tansy sat back and crossed her arms over her very pregnant stomach. "It's your eyes. You used to look right through me as if I didn't exist. I'll bet you set this meeting up to surprise us."
"What did she set up?" Mark asked and handed Caroline a glass of chilled wine. Drops of moisture beaded the glass.
"I didn't set anything up. I had no idea who was going to be here." She hoped her tight-lipped reply would limit further discussion, if not she had to deal with the situation.
"Does Greg know?" Tansy asked.
"Tansy, what are you two talking about?" Jack called out.
Caroline's hand trembled. Better get it over with. She placed her glass on a small table beside her chair, stood and turned to Dr. and Mrs. Moreland seated nearby.
"I had no idea so many Markbridge High alumni would be here."
"What difference does that make, Caroline? They are all relatives or friends of our family. Are you not feeling well, my dear?"
Dr. Moreland's kindly smile almost wrecked her but she had to finish what Tansy had started. When they heard what she had to say she'd gracefully retreat, head unbowed, held in a certain unmistakable manner.
"I'm fine. I think everyone should know I attended Markbridge High. Tansy made the connection."
"You attended school here? When?" Greg asked.
Caroline lifted her chin. "You and I graduated the same year. You knew me as Kate Southern."
A cone of silence enveloped the group. Free of the burden threatening her the second she'd seen the old school crowd, Caroline relaxed. The worst was over. Still alive and well, she determined to enjoy the evening as best she could.
"This is absolutely wonderful." Mrs. Moreland beamed at her guests. "A surprise reunion, you can all make up for lost time." She rested her hand on her husband's arm.
"Time to fire up the barbecue and, Mark, there are two bottles of Champagne in the fridge. I was saving them for later. I think we should celebrate now."
Greg drew Caroline aside and clasped her hands. "Dr. Balfour, Kate Southern, you've created quite a stir."
"Have I?" She hung on to her frayed nerves. Worse things had happened to her. She'd get through this.
"Why didn't you tell me who you were when we met at the clinic?"
She freed her hands. "What difference would that have made?" She lowered her voice. "I wasn't interested in knowing you and I didn't think you cared to know me."
Jack barged between them. "You've sure changed. I wouldn't have recognized you. I like your hair."
He glanced at Tansy. "How did you put two and two together and make four?"
She pressed her hands over her stomach. "Baby's kicking. Have you any children, Kate? I hope you don't mind if I call you Kate instead of Caroline?"
"I don't mind." She remained standing like a prisoner awaiting a firing squad. "I don't have any children. I'm divorced and kept my ex-husband's name."
Tansy warmed to the subject of Caroline's past as Kate Southern. "You used to fascinate me. You were so smart. Aced everything. I wondered how you did it."
"I worked hard." Caroline said and hoped Tansy would drop the subject.
"Maybe it was because you didn't mix with the rest of us. You always kept to yourself."
Tansy was thick as a plank if that's how she remembered Kate Southern. Ready to spit fire, Caroline controlled her temper. She was a guest of the Moreland's and would not spoil their party to prick Tansy's mistaken assumption about the past.
If she wanted revenge she could enlighten the group about Tansy's reputation as an easy lay. Boys had sniggered about her as she walked past their lockers. "Me next, Tansy." They'd hiss and rub the front of their pants.
Mark stepped out on the patio carrying a tray of Champagne flutes and two open bottles of Dom Perignon. "Come and help yourselves."
He placed the tray on the table, poured two glasses and handed one to Caroline.
"To Caroline/Kate. You and I will stroll in the garden and discuss the future."
"Mark, I'll need help with the barbecue." Dr. Moreland called out. "See if the steaks are marinated and ready to go."
Greg intervened. "In that case, I'll take a glass and walk with Caroline in the garden. We've some catching up to do."
His dark eyes locked on her eyes. "Don't you agree?"
A walk in the garden with Greg for a few minutes was the lesser of two evils. The high school crowd had always ignored her and she had no desire to attract their attention now.
They strolled down the steps and walked slowly along a flagstone path bordered by beds of bright begonias.
"Why didn't you tell me you were Kate Southern when I called at the clinic?"
"I was in shock." Playing for time she paused to breathe in the scent of pink roses blooming on a heavily laden bush. Her self-confidence had taken a hit. Greg's questions rattled her.
"What kind of shock?"
"I'm not prepared to discuss it here. Let's go back and join the others."
"Wait a minute. You and I went to school together. What's so shocking about that?"
Too stressed to argue with him she walked to the end of the garden and paused under the softly swaying branches of a willow tree. She hoped he'd return to his friends and not push her into discussing the past. She couldn't deal with it here.
Surprised to find him close behind her Caroline turned to face him.
"We attended the same school. We were not friends, ever."
"That was thirteen years ago. I didn't recognize you at the clinic but you remembered me so why didn't you introduce yourself?"
Caroline swallowed some Champagne to moisten her dry throat. Didn't he know? Why was he being so dense? "As far as I was concerned there was no reason why I should."
"That was then, how about now? Do you still feel the same way or can we get together, maybe go on a picnic, or have dinner?" He grinned. "I don't bite."
Caroline's carefully laid plans to avoid him had blown apart the minute she stepped on the patio. "I'll give you a call."
"When?"
"Caroline. Greg." Mrs. Moreland waved from the patio. "Time to eat."
Caroline pasted a smile on her face. "Try to look as though we've had a pleasant conversation. I don't want to spoil the party."
"To make us look authentic I'll link my arm through yours as if we're old friends. When are we going to meet?" He glanced at her. "You're not smiling."
"I am smiling." She beamed at him over the rim of her Champagne glass. "Please let go of my arm," she muttered through clenched teeth.
"Not a chance until we reach the patio. Don't grit your teeth it spoils the effect, makes your smile forced."
Caroline resisted the temptation to jab him with her elbow.
He released her arm at the patio steps. "Great to catch up on old times, Caroline. Let's get together soon." He gazed into her eyes almost daring her to refuse.
She handed him her empty glass. "I'll let you know." and ran up the steps.
Mrs. Moreland passed her a plate. "Please help yourself to steak and salad. There's garlic bread in the basket."
Tansy motioned Caroline to sit beside her. "I can't believe Greg didn't recognize you. Maybe it's a female thing. Women notice things men don't. Sometimes they can be so dense it's pitiful."
Dense or a convenient memory, Caroline thought.
Tansy leaned towards her. "Men always notice big boobies like mine. I wore a 38C cup when I was fourteen. The guys drooled over me." She glanced at Caroline's shirt. "What size were you as a teen? You're not very big now."
Feeling silly for taking part in such a personal conversation Caroline stuck her finger in her cheek like a kid trying to remember something. "I'm not sure, 34A or 36A."
"What about now?" Tansy smirked.
"The same." Caroline cut a small piece of steak and ate it. "Doctor Moreland, the steak is delicious."
"My wife's responsible. She makes the marinade. I barbecue."
Caroline concentrated on the food hoping Tansy would change the subject from breasts to something less personal. Her ragged nerves weren't up to discussing bra sizes.
"Are you and Greg an item," Tansy asked.
"No."
"That's too bad. You look good together."
Caroline studied the food on her plate. Linking her with Greg was the last straw.
"Excuse me." Caroline stood and carried her plate to the serving table for more salad.
Greg strolled over to her. "When can we get together?"
"I'm not sure." She picked up a piece of garlic bread and bit into it. "I'm having a wonderful conversation with Tansy."
"About old times?" Greg asked.
"About brassiere sizes." Caroline enjoyed his surprised gaze and walked across the patio to sit with Sarah.
Like a movie filmed in slow motion the rest of the evening crept by on leaden feet.
Eating and fielding questions about her work filled an hour. Did she deliver babies? She did. What was the worst case she'd ever had to deal with? Could not discuss it. How much malpractice insurance did she carry? Jack posed the question.
Dr. Moreland interrupted. "Sorry, that's clinic business." He diverted the discussion away from Caroline.
Conversation swirled around her as coffee, dessert and liqueurs filled another hour. Caroline stuck with black coffee.
Despite her best efforts to discourage him Mark persisted in his attentions and she promised to have dinner with him tomorrow evening.
At eleven she thanked the Moreland's for inviting her, said good-bye to everyone and drove home.
Too restless to sleep she picked up a medical journal to read the latest data on AID'S drugs. In minutes the print blurred and she tossed it aside.
Greg didn't care how badly he'd treated her. His arrogant attitude rubbed salt in her wounded heart. He blamed her for not telling him at the clinic she'd gone to Markbridge High. Why was he pretending that nothing had happened between them?
She bit her lip. Why couldn't he leave her alone? Why pester her about meeting him? He'd dropped her thirteen years ago when she desperately sought his help. Didn't he have a clue what it was like to have no one to hold her hand, to offer a shoulder to lean on?
She'd been eighteen years old, pregnant with his child. He had turned his back on her and left her to cope as best she could.
Tears misted her eyes. If only he had come for her. Talked with her. Spent time with her. They could have worked something out.