Джерри Хилл: Kara’s Moon

No. She was straight, Kara reminded herself. And straight women were curious. But still, there was something happening between them. She could feel it and she suspected that Ginny could feel it, too. Would she even chance seeing Kara again? Had she been afraid that Kara might actually try to kiss her?

She stood up suddenly, putting a halt to her thoughts. She ate inside, barely tasting the soup as her mind remained focused on Ginny.

"You never said how it went the other night," Nana said over dinner two nights later.

"With Kara?"

Nana nodded as she cut into her steak.

"It was interesting. I never noticed the colors before," Ginny said. "How they change nearly every second before the sun goes down," she said quietly.

"Is she any good?"

"Very. She captured it exactly," Ginny said, remembering how Kara’s fingers had moved over the paper, snatching up color after color without looking. "She has this thing about the moon," Ginny said.

"The moon?"

"Yes. She puts a full moon in all of her paintings," Ginny said.

"Well, I’d like to see one of them, wouldn’t you," Nana said.

"Yes. I would."

"Does she have any finished?"

"She didn’t say," Ginny said. And she hadn’t thought to ask. She had been too busy wondering about kissing a woman to ask. She blushed, putting a halt to her thoughts. No need to go over all that again. She had already spent two sleepless nights.

"Maybe we should have her over to dinner again," Nana said. "You seem to have become friends."

"Yes. I like her," Ginny said carefully. And she did like her, it was true. She only wished she wouldn’t constantly think about kissing her.

Nana stood back and watched her. "Are you all right, Ginny?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

"You’ve been quiet. Your answers are short." She watched her for awhile longer. "Are you thinking about Phil?" she asked.

Ginny smiled. No, Phil had definitely not been in her thoughts lately. "I’m fine, Nana. Really. And, no, I haven’t been thinking about Phil."

"Well, he hasn’t called in a week or so, has he?"

"No, he hasn’t."

"Maybe he’s waiting for you to call," she prompted.

Ginny smiled again. "Nana, don’t start," she said gently.

"Well, I just don’t understand you. If it’s me you’re worried about, don’t. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. And, in case you haven’t noticed, I enjoy running the store. Your investment would be safe."

"I know. You’re wonderful at it. But Phil and I… we just needed some time apart," she said.

"Honey, I know marriage is a big step. But don’t run from it. When you find a good man that loves you, you better grab him. They don’t come along every day," she said.

"Nana, when did you know that Grandpa was right for you?" she asked.

"Oh, I’d had my eye on him," she said with a wink. "He just didn’t know it." She put her fork down and Ginny could tell she was remembering. "The first time he kissed me, it was magic. Pure magic. I had been waiting for months, but he was a damn fool and thought he would offend me if he tried to kiss me." She laughed. "By the time that he actually got around to it, I was so ready for it, I nearly passed out."

Ginny smiled. Magic. That’s how it should be. That’s how she wanted it to be. Was it magic when Phil kissed her? Had it been that first time? She tried to remember when they had first kissed. A lunch date, and he had brushed her cheek. Then he had cooked dinner for her and had stolen a kiss as she had poured wine. But magic? No, she wouldn’t have called it magic.

"Are you worried about Phil not being the right one, dear?"

"I’m not certain that he is," she admitted.

"Ginny, you’ll know. But he’s good for you, isn’t he?"

"Yes. He’s good." And he was. He just didn’t stir her soul like she needed him to.

KARA HAD PURPOSEFULLY gone to the store during lunch, hoping that Ginny would be out. And she was. Nana greeted her with a smile and drew her inside.

"I’m afraid that Ginny’s at the park," she apologized.

"That’s okay. I ran out of beer," Kara said and took two six-packs from the shelf. She looked around. "You don’t happen to have any tofu, do you?"

"Tow what?"

"Never mind," Kara said and laughed. She picked through the fresh vegetables and bought a few more bags of pasta. "I can make do with this," she said.

"Ginny will be disappointed she missed you," Nana said. "Why don’t you come over for dinner again?"

"Oh, Louise, thanks, but I don’t want to trouble you with my diet," she said.

"No trouble," Nana said, racking her brain, trying to think of something she could cook without meat.

"Really, but I appreciate the offer," Kara said, letting out a sigh of relief. It was short-lived, however. The bell jingled over the door and she turned and met green eyes across the room.

"I thought that was your Land Cruiser outside," Ginny said.

"Beer," Kara said and she shoved a bill at Nana.

"Have you been working?" she asked.

"Yes. It’s coming along."

They stood watching each other, Kara not realizing that Nana was trying to give her change.

"Sorry," she murmured and held out her hand. "Well, I better go. See you around," she said. She had nearly escaped out the door when Ginny called to her.

"Kara?"

"Hmmm?" She turned around and Ginny walked over to her.

"Come to dinner?"

"I think Louise is out of vegetable dishes," she said quietly.

Ginny smiled. "Come early. There’s a trail at the park I want to show you," she said. "And don’t worry. We’ll do something with rice," she added.

Kara’s eyes lingered for a moment, then she nodded. "Okay. But don’t go to any trouble."

"Come about six?"

Kara nodded again, knowing she was foolish to accept. The less time she spent in Ginny’s company, the better. What was it about this woman? Green eyes remained fixed on her and she smiled weakly.

Ginny watched her retreating back until Kara was out of sight and she sighed. Why had she insisted on dinner? She knew she was playing with fire but that hardly mattered anymore.

Ginny was chopping vegetables for their stir-fry when Kara knocked on the door.

"Go ahead. I can finish," Nana said and waved her away. "But I’ll wait for you to cook. I’m not really certain what you’re trying to make here."

"I’m not really certain myself, Nana."

She wiped her hands on a towel before opening the door. Kara had traded her shorts for jeans and her T-shirt was tucked inside neatly. Ginny’s eyes traveled slowly upward, stopping only when blue eyes locked with hers. She drew a nervous breath as she stared at the taller woman.

Kara held up a bottle of wine. "I hated to come empty handed again."

Ginny shook herself, finally stepping back.

"Thank you. Let me give it to Nana, then we can go to the park."

Kara watched her, her eyes following her as she walked away.

Ginny was aware of Kara’s eyes burning into her and she had to force herself to keep walking. But when she was safely seated in Kara’s vehicle, she couldn’t seem to relax. She was aware of Kara’s nearness like never before and she refused to look at her as she drove. She closed her eyes for a moment. I’m not attracted to her! Not like that. When they parked, they sat for a few seconds, their eyes lighting everywhere except on each other. Finally, Ginny opened the door and Kara followed suit.

"The trail follows the stream," Ginny said and they walked in silence, past the picnic table where they had shared lunch.

"Ginny?"

"What?"

"You’re awfully quiet. Is everything okay?" Kara asked.

"Yes, of course. I just wanted you to see the stream." She managed a weak smile as Kara’s eyes peered into hers and she finally looked away, afraid. "I don’t know about the colors, though. Probably too dark in the woods," she said, continuing.