They exchanged pleasantries. Kim was nervous. She tried to hide it, but not very successfully.
“Are you okay?” Kinnard asked after a pause. “You sound a little strange.”
Kim struggled to think of something to say, but she couldn’t. She felt confused, embarrassed, and suddenly emotional.
“Just not answering is telling me something,” Kinnard said. “Can I help somehow? Is something wrong?”
Kim took a deep breath to get herself under control. “You can help,” she said finally. “I need to get away from Salem. I’ve called several girlfriends, but no one is home. I had it in mind to come into town and spend the night since I have to be at work in the morning.”
“Why don’t you stay here?” Kinnard asked. “I’ll just move my exercise bike and eighty thousand copies of the New England Journal of Medicine out of my guest room, and it’s all yours. Besides, I’ve got the day off. I’m sure we could have some fun.”
“Do you honestly think it’s a good idea?”
“I’ll behave myself if that’s your worry,” Kinnard said with a laugh.
Kim wondered if she was more worried about behaving herself.
“Come on,” Kinnard encouraged. “It sounds like it will do you good to get out of suburbia for a day and an evening.”
“All right,” Kim said with sudden determination.
“Great!” Kinnard said. “What time will you be here?”
“What about in an hour?” Kim said.
“See you then,” Kinnard said.
Kim replaced the receiver. She wasn’t sure what she was doing, but it felt right. Getting up, she climbed the stairs and got her things together, remembering her uniform for work. In the kitchen she put extra food out for Sheba and changed the Kitty Litter box by the back door.
After putting her things in the car, Kim drove over to the lab. Just before she entered the building she paused to think about whether she should specifically mention that she was staying with Kinnard. She decided she wouldn’t bring it up, but she’d tell Edward if he asked.
The atmosphere in the lab was even more intense than on her previous visit. Everyone was absorbed in their work, and although they acknowledged her, they did it perfunctorily.
Kim didn’t mind. In fact she preferred it. The last thing she needed at the moment was a long lecture on some arcane experiment.
She found Edward at his printer. His computer was busy spilling out data. He smiled at her, but the smile was fleeting. In the next second his mind was back on what was coming out of the printer.
“I’m going into Boston for the day,” Kim said brightly.
“Good,” Edward said.
“I’ll be spending the night,” Kim said. “I could leave a number if you’d like.”
“It won’t be necessary,” Edward said. “If there’s any problem, call me. I’ll be here as usual.”
Kim said goodbye and started for the door. Edward called to her. She stopped.
“I’m really sorry I’m so preoccupied,” Edward said. “I wish we weren’t so busy. We’ve got an emergency of sorts.”
“I understand,” Kim said. She looked at Edward’s face. There was a hint of awkwardness she’d not seen for some time.
Kim hurried from the lab and got in her car. She drove out of the compound with Edward’s demeanor on her mind. It was as if the old persona of Edward were reemerging: the persona she’d been attracted to when they’d first met.
It didn’t take long for Kim to begin to relax, and the farther south she drove, the better she felt. The weather helped. It was a hot, Indian summer day with bright sunshine and fall clarity. Here and there were trees tinted with a hint of their dazzling fall foliage. The sky was so blue, it looked like one vast celestial ocean.
Sunday was not a difficult day for parking, and Kim found a spot within easy walking distance of Kinnard’s apartment on Revere Street. She was nervous when she rang his bell, but he immediately made her feel comfortable. He helped carry her things into his guest room, which he’d obviously taken the time to clean.
Kinnard took Kim on an invigorating walk around the city, and for a number of blissful hours she forgot about Omni, Ultra, and Elizabeth. They started in the North End with lunch at an Italian restaurant followed by espressos in an Italian cafe.