“Why?” I wrap the bread in foil and set it on the stove to pop in when the lasagna is almost done.
KT sighs. “Nothing. Just wondering.”
“It’s something,” I say, pleased I’m able to read her even this little bit after knowing her such a short time.
Her gaze flicks to mine, then back to the tomatoes. She takes the cut pieces between her hand and the knife and drops them in the bowl, then starts on the cucumber. “It’s not my place—”
“KT.” When she looks at me again, I say, “If it involves the girls, I want to know about it.”
Still, she hesitates. “It’s just…when I came in, she didn’t introduce herself, and she didn’t care who the heck I was or why I was in your house. I know I’m a woman and not exactly threatening, but when I say she didn’t care, I mean she barely pulled her eyes from the phone to glance at me. And unless she was in on Violet’s plan, she had no idea what Violet was doing or how she’d pulled Jazz into it. She didn’t even attempt to clean up, she just let the water spill onto the floor and soak into the carpet. And Poppy and Jazz were watching cartoons with violence and swearing. You don’t strike me as a parent who would allow that.”
I sigh, pulling two wineglasses from one cabinet and a bottle of red wine from another. I knew Isabel was a borderline babysitter, but not quite how borderline.
“They shouldn’t have been watching TV at all. Isabel must turn it off when she hears the garage door open.” I drag a wine opener from the drawer, and I’m half finished opening the wine, worried and annoyed by this news, before I realize I haven’t asked KT her preference. “Is this okay? I have chilled white or beer or juice boxes.”
That makes her laugh. I love seeing her laugh. All the seriousness and caution vanish from her expression, exposing an amazing smile that lights up her face. “Red’s fine. I’m not picky.”
Yeah, I’m getting that from her, and it’s a breath of fresh air.
“I just thought you should know.” KT says. “You might want to invest in a nanny cam, because I heard all her exuberant concern before she left, and that’s not the same person who was watching the girls when I walked in.”
I brace my hands against the counter. “I’ll call the nanny service again in the morning and see if they have any possibilities for me.”
“You work so hard to do your best by them,” she says. “It bugs the shit out of me that you have someone undoing all that hard work behind the scenes, you know?”
I move up behind her again and slide my hands over her shoulders and down her arms before wrapping her in a hug. At her ear, I whisper, “Thank you. It means a lot to me, having their best interest at heart.”
She turns her head, seems to consider me a moment, like she’s going to say something, then just kisses me.
I could too easily get used to this, having someone here when I get home, someone to talk to, cook with, love. I’ve been lonely, sure. Horny, absolutely. Mentally and emotionally exhausted, completely. But I didn’t realize just how empty I’d been feeling until KT came into my life.
She’s a bittersweet surprise, though. Someone who finally makes me want more, but also someone who can’t and won’t fill that need in a committed way. I have to remind myself that I can’t let her drag me under.
I force myself to return to work, setting the table while KT finishes the salad.
“What’s your real name?” I ask. “Katie? Kate?”
She smirks and shakes her head. “Why can’t you accept that my name is KT?”
“It doesn’t make sense. As a nickname, sure, but not as a real name.”
“Daddy.” It’s Jazz, and from her voice, I know she’s sitting about halfway down the stairs. “I’m hungry.”
I sigh. My respite is over. “Girls, you can come down.”
They rumble down the stairs and slide into the kitchen on stocking feet. Jazz and Poppy come to the counter, Violet stands beside KT, smiling up at her with so much admiration, it makes my stomach twist. It’s a good thing, I remind myself. Things between me and KT don’t have to go anywhere to keep the relationship between Violet and KT going. Someday, they’ll have to say goodbye, but Violet will be older, her life more secure with friends and school.
“Violet,” I say. “What do you have to say?”
She curls her hand into KT’s. “I’m sorry I made up the story about the toilet.”
“It was a lie, Violet,” I make sure to point out. “That’s different from a story.”
“I’m sorry I lied. And I’m sorry about the water.”
I turn to Jazz. “And what about you?”
“I’m sorry I lied,” Jazz parrots her sister. “And I’m sorry about the water. Dinner smells so good.”
I smirk at the instant change of subject. “It’ll be done soon. Wash your hands.”
The younger girls scurry off to different bathrooms. Violet is tall enough to use the kitchen sink.
Dinner feels more festive than usual. The girls have someone new to talk to, someone who’s asking all kinds of questions and who loves their answers. Someone who’s really interested. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much, and the girls are glowing in the spotlight of KT’s attention.
“Kay Tee.” Jazz is trying to figure out her name, and I wonder if KT will fess up to my daughter, if not me. Jazz makes the K sound, then the T sound, while she moves a noodle around on her plate, her brow furrowed in concentration. “Cah-tuh. Cahtuh.” Her face lights up and she looks at KT. “Cat.”
KT’s brows rise. “Aren’t you clever?”
When she looks my way, I smile. “Kat. It suits you.”
The girls giggle.
“Can we call you Kat?” Violet asks.
“Sure, why not?” KT says.
This woman has so easily created an entirely new dimension in our lives. A dimension I wish could be permanent—for the girls, for me. Maybe she’s been sent to us as a precursor to something or someone even better. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to imagine someone better.
When dinner is finished, Poppy asks me if we can have a fire. KT insists on cleaning up, and I move into the living room with the girls to work on a puzzle we’ve been putting together. The only way this could get any more perfect would be to have KT in my bed all night. Hell, I’d settle for a few hours.
She wanders into the living room. “I should get going.”
“Help us with the puzzle,” Violet says before I can respond. “You said you like them.”
I suddenly see the method behind Violet’s madness to start a puzzle a few days ago.
“I do.” she sits on the edge of the sofa beside me.
“I’m going to get a few things to take those stitches out.” I grab the bag where I keep a full medical kit from a drawer in the kitchen and return to the sofa. Kat has already removed the bandaging, and I’m able to pull the stitches out in just a few minutes. I’m relieved to see the wound is well healed. “You’re going to have a bit of a scar.”
“Just one of many.” She smiles at me. “And it’s got a great memory behind it.”