Driving onto the compound, Kim glanced at the lab building and wished she had the assertiveness to go over there directly and demand to talk to Edward immediately. But she knew she couldn’t. In fact, she knew she couldn’t even talk to him even if he showed up at the cottage that afternoon unless he also did something to make her feel he was ready to talk. With a degree of resignation, Kim knew she’d have to wait for Edward.
But Kim did not see Edward Friday evening, nor all day Saturday. All she’d find was scant evidence that he came in sometime after midnight and left prior to sunrise. With the knowledge she had to talk to him hanging over her like a dark cloud, Kim’s anxiety gradually increased.
Kim spent Sunday morning keeping herself busy in the castle’s attic, sorting documents. The mindless task provided a bit of solace and for a few hours took her mind away from her unfulfilling living situation. At quarter to one her stomach told her it had been a long time since her morning coffee and bowl of cold cereal.
Emerging from the musty interior of the castle, Kim paused on the faux drawbridge and let her eyes feast on the fall scene spread out around her. Some of the tree colors were beautiful, but they were hardly of the intensity they would assume in several more weeks. High above in the sky several sea gulls lazily rode the air currents.
Kim’s eyes roamed the periphery of the property and stopped at the point of entry of the road. Just within the shadow of the trees she could see the front of an automobile.
Curious as to why the car was parked there, Kim struck out across the field. As she neared, she approached the car warily from the side, trying to get a glimpse of the driver. She was surprised to see it was Kinnard Monihan.
When Kinnard caught sight of Kim, he leaped from the car and did something Kim could not remember his ever having done. He blushed.
“Sorry,” he said self-consciously. “I don’t want you to think I’m just lurking here like some Peeping Tom. The fact is I was trying to build up my courage to drive all the way in.”
“Why didn’t you?” Kim asked.
“I suppose because I was such an ass the last couple of times we saw each other,” Kinnard said.
“That seems a long time ago,” Kim said.
“I suppose in some ways,” Kinnard said. “Anyway I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“You’re not disturbing me in the slightest.”
“My rotation here at Salem Hospital is over this coming week,” Kinnard said. “These two months have flown by. I’ll be back working at MGH a week from tomorrow.”
“I’ll be doing the same,” Kim said. She explained that she’d taken the month of September off from work.
“I’ve driven out here to the compound on a few occasions,” Kinnard admitted. “I just never thought it appropriate to stop by and your phone’s unlisted.”
“I’d wondered how your rotation was going every time I drove near the hospital,” Kim said.
“How did the renovations turn out?” Kinnard asked.
“You can decide for yourself,” Kim said. “Provided you’d like to see.”
“I’d like to see very much,” Kinnard said. “Come on, get in. I’ll give you a lift.”
They drove to the cottage and parked. Kim gave Kinnard a tour. He was interested and complimentary.
“What I like is the way you’ve been able to make the house comfortable yet maintain its colonial character,” Kinnard said.
They were upstairs, where Kim was showing Kinnard how they had managed to put in a half-bath without disturbing the historical aspect of the house. Glancing out the window, Kim did a double take. Looking again, she was shocked to see Edward and Buffer walking across the field on their way to the cottage.
Kim was immediately gripped with a sense of panic. She had no idea what Edward’s reaction to Kinnard’s presence would be, especially with Edward’s cantankerous mood of late and especially since she’d not seen him since Monday night.
“I think we’d better go downstairs,” Kim said nervously.