With such short notice Kim decided on a simple dinner of barbecue-grilled steaks accompanied by salad and hot rolls. The beverage was to be either jug wine or beer. For dessert she got fresh fruit and ice cream. By six forty-five she had the steaks trimmed, the salad prepared, and the rolls ready for the oven. She even had the fire going in the outside grill.
Dashing into the bathroom, Kim took a quick shower. Then she went upstairs to put on fresh casual clothes before returning back to the kitchen to get out napkins and flatware. She was setting the table in the dining room when Stanton’s Mercedes pulled up to the front of the house.
“Greetings, cousin,” Stanton said as he came through the door. He gave Kim a peck on her cheek.
Kim welcomed him and asked if he’d like a glass of wine. Stanton accepted and followed her into the kitchen.
“Is that the only wine you have?” Stanton questioned with disdain as Kim unscrewed the cap.
“I’m afraid so,” Kim said.
“I think I’ll have beer.”
While Kim continued with the dinner preparations Stan-ton perched himself on a stool and watched her work. He didn’t offer to help, but Kim didn’t mind. She had everything under control.
“I see you and Buffer get along okay,” Stanton commented. Edward’s dog was under Kim’s feet as she moved about the kitchen. “I’m impressed. He’s a nasty son-of-a-bitch.”
“Me get along with Buffer?” Kim questioned cynically. “That’s a joke. He’s certainly not here because of me; it’s because of all this steak. He’s usually with Edward at the lab.”
Kim checked the warming temperature on the oven and slipped in the rolls.
“How are you enjoying living in this cottage?” Stanton asked.
“I like it,” Kim said. Then she sighed. “Well, mostly. The lab situation is unfortunately dominating things. With all the pressure, Edward has been on edge.”
“Don’t I know,” Stanton commented.
“Harvard is giving him a hard time,” Kim said. She purposely didn’t add that so was Stanton.
“I warned him about Harvard from the beginning of this venture,” Stanton said. “I knew from past experience that Harvard wouldn’t be apt to roll over and play dead, not when they got wind of the potential earnings involved. Universities have become very sensitive to this kind of situation, especially Harvard.”
“I’d hate to see him jeopardize his academic career,” Kim said. “Before Ultra, teaching was his first love.”
Kim began to dress the salad.
Stanton watched her work and didn’t say anything until he’d caught her eye. “Have you guys been getting along okay?” he asked. “I don’t mean to be nosy, but since I’ve been working with him on this project, I’ve found that Edward is not the easiest person to deal with.”
“It’s been a bit stressful of late,” Kim admitted. “Moving up here hasn’t been as smooth as I’d anticipated, but of course I hadn’t taken into account Ultra and Omni. As I said, Edward’s been under a lot of pressure.”
“He’s not the only one,” Stanton said.
The front door opened and Edward and the researchers trooped in. Kim went out to greet them to make the best of the situation, but it wasn’t easy. They were all in an irritable mood, even Gloria and David. It seemed that no one had wanted to come to the cottage for dinner. Edward had to order them to attend.
The worst response was from Eleanor. As soon as she got wind of the menu she announced petulantly that she did not eat red meat.
“What do you normally eat?” Edward asked her.
“Fish or chicken,” she said.
Edward looked at Kim and raised his eyebrows as if to say: “What are we going to do?”
“I can get some fish,” Kim said. She got her car keys and went out and got in the car. It was certainly a rude response on Eleanor’s part, but in actuality Kim liked getting out of the house for a few minutes. The mood in there was depressing.
There was a market which sold fresh fish within a short drive, and Kim bought several salmon filets in case someone besides Eleanor preferred fish. On the drive back, Kim wondered with some trepidation what she would be encountering on her return.