Danielle Engle - Lavender Excursions

"Oh, I will. Thank you, Taryn!" Taylor hurried out of the office.

Her step light and springy, she felt giddy with excitement. She knew it would be a tough assignment working under Camarin, but she also knew it could open new doors for her at Lavender Excursions.

Taryn watched her leave, knowing beyond doubt that Taylor's pledge was sincere. Why were so many women so eager to work with Kimberly Justin? "And why am I?" Taryn asked herself. Visions of Kimberly Justin were filling her every waking moment. She knew something was amiss, but she could not bring herself to question what was in her heart. The ache was too unbearable to dismiss. But for now, there were other matters to attend, beginning with Camarin Knight and the young woman now assigned to work with her. She reached for the telephone.

Camarin was surprised to hear Taryn's voice when she answered the phone. "Taryn! What's up?" she asked. Concerned that something was wrong, her chest tightened and she twisted the telephone cord nervously between her fingers.

Taryn chuckled. "Relax, Camarin. There has been a change but it is very minor. As I told you earlier, Taylor was in my office this morning. Now…"

Camarin listened closely, making note of Taryn's repeated admonitions regarding Taylor. This assignment was becoming increasingly complex. However, Camarin found the effect to be quite stimulating. She couldn't wait for the next step!

Kimberly Justin had no idea of the impact she was having on the women at Lavender Excursions. She delved into her work with a fanatic intensity that drew comments from her secretary. Ignoring Michael's protests that she needed to slow down, Kimberly spent the remainder of the week in a blur of activity. If anyone from Lavender Excursions called, she knew nothing about it. Michael had strict orders not to take any personal calls unless it was an emergency.

She negotiated terms of the contract with her company's new vendor. Fortunately, the negotiations were by telephone, so she didn't have to meet with the representatives face to face. No matter how hard she tried, Kimberly could not keep her thoughts and feelings from straying to her experience with Lavender Excursions and the strange dreams and fantasies she'd been having. She dared not risk someone delving too deeply and learning of the strange admixture of confusion with the curiosity she already felt. When she'd spoken to Mark again on Wednesday, he'd suggested they go away for the weekend. She agreed and they made plans to spend the weekend at his parents' cabin. Skiing conditions were excellent and good travel conditions were forecast over the next few days.

After her strange experience with Camarin and the aftermath that followed, Kimberly was anxious to get together with Mark. If not for her work, she'd have seen him earlier in the week. As it was, she waited until Friday. It didn't come soon enough. Her assignments semi-caught-up, Kimberly left work early that afternoon. She needed to pick up the new pair of skis she'd ordered, then go home and pack her things. Mark was planning to come over around six o'clock. They planned a couple of hours driving, and then stopping for dinner before completing the drive to the cabin. Kimberly was anxious to get away.

Too many unexplainable things had happened and she needed time to sort through it.

Mark arrived on time, as usual. He looked really nice, Kimberly thought. Mark was a very handsome man. She found him even more attractive when he wore rugged outdoor clothing. On weekends when they went skiing, Mark didn't shave, beginning on Friday morning.

Kimberly found the effect to be very sexy, compelling her to run her fingers lovingly over the stubble of his beard as they kissed.

After a rather prolonged and deep kiss, Mark stepped back and asked, "So, how's my favorite girl?" It was then that he noticed the trace of dark circles under her eyes.

"Good actually. How about you?" Kimberly asked as she gathered her coat, laptop and suitcase.

Mark frowned at the sight of the computer. "I'm fine," he replied.

He pointed to her laptop. " I thought we were going on this trip to get away for a while. How can you get away if you take your work with you?"

Kimberly knew it was a rhetorical question, designed to prompt her into leaving the laptop at home. "Oh, this isn't for work," she lied. "I have some correspondence I'd like to catch up on. Friends, family, people I've lost touch with over the past few weeks.

"Oh," Mark said. Although he suspected she wasn't telling him the truth, he decided to let it pass. Getting into a fight would do nothing to resolve the matter and he knew Kimberly well enough to know a fight would surely follow. He reached for her suitcase. "Ready?"

"Ready," Kimberly replied. She checked the apartment once more to make certain she hadn't forgotten anything. When they left, she slipped a note with instructions under her neighbor's door. Mr. Appleton took care of the cats when Kimberly was away. It seemed for every aspect of her life, there was a contingency in place should anything happen outside of the ordinary or daily routine. Although she didn't realize it, this was all about to change.

Rush hour traffic had slowed considerably by the time Kimberly and Mark got on the freeway. They made the trip to the little resort town in record time, including the dinner break. The first stop was a little grocery on the main street. Although it was closed, Mark drove to the back and opened the door. "Hey, Uncle Bob," he called out when they stepped inside the cozy apartment that was attached to the store.

A middle-aged man with silver white hair and mustache emerged from the kitchen. He carried a mug of steaming hot cocoa in one hand and a calico cat in the other. "Mark! I didn't know you were coming up this weekend." He gave Mark a quick hug then turned to Kimberly. "I could've had the cabin warmed up and dinner on the table," he said, reaching for Kimberly.

Kimberly kissed the man affectionately on the cheek. "Uncle Bob, it's good to see you," she said. "And how's Marceau?" she asked, ruffling the cats' fur. He meowed and sniffed as Kimberly scooped him into her arms.

"You're as big as she is," Uncle Bob scolded the cat. "Have a seat in front of the fire, you two. I just made a pot of hot cocoa. I'll get you both a mug then be right back."

"Thanks, Uncle Bob." Mark put his arm around Kimberly and led her over to the fire. "We'll only stay a few minutes, honey. I know you're probably just as anxious as I am to get to the cabin. I just thought we should let Uncle Bob know we're here."

"Oh, I don't mind," Kimberly replied. Her quick response surprised her as much as it did Mark. Although she didn't want to admit it, she was not looking forward to being alone with him at the cabin.

"Everything okay?" Mark asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

He squeezed Kimberly's shoulders in a display of concern.

"Of course," Kimberly replied. "I just don't want to hurt Uncle Bob's feelings by running in and out of here so fast he thinks we only stopped because we felt we had to. Besides, I like visiting with Uncle Bob."

"Hmm." Mark knew something was bothering Kimberly and he searched for a way to get her to talk about it. Unfortunately, Uncle Bob returned before he could.

"Here you go," Bob said, handing each of them a large mug of the steaming chocolate. "Now sit down and tell me what you've been up to. How's work? How's Chicago?" Uncle Bob sat in the recliner facing the couch.

Kimberly felt grateful for the camaraderie Mark shared with his uncle. She took a sip of the sweet hot cocoa, then leaned back and closed her eyes. She commented here and there, but left the conversation mostly to Mark and Uncle Bob. The conversation lulled her into a sleepy relaxed state. The last thing she remembered was Mark telling his Uncle Bob something about his work.