Page 31 of Fight or Flight
Katherine stood on the deck watching Sam and Sophie, amazed she could do this with such ease. The dogs stopped digging, turned toward her, and headed back to the house. They weren’t used to seeing her outside. It must be strange for them, too. Even stranger was Katherine’s lack of fear. Her hands trembled slightly, and she felt lightheaded, but she could handle these symptoms. As she turned to head back inside, both dogs followed her to the kitchen. “You two are going to get fat if I keep this up,” she said, giving each a chunk of dried liver. The dogs took the treats to their favorite spot in the kitchen, their munching sounds filling the quiet.
Amazed at her new ability to handle herself, Katherine pushed aside negative thoughts. This evening would be the best she’d had in almost a decade.
Chapter Ten
Katherine took one last glance in the bathroom mirror before heading downstairs. She’d washed and dried her long hair, deciding to wear it loose. She didn’t want to appear as though she were trying too hard. The makeup enhanced her features but didn’t exactly change them. Her red sweater was stylish, but not too overdone, even though it was cashmere. The black jeans and shoes she’d selected completed the outfit. Most women planning an evening alone with a handsome doctor would ensure they looked their best. That’s what she’d done when she’d first met Adam, and she didn’t think that aspect of dating had changed.
Returning to the kitchen, she checked the chicken in the oven and saw it was browning nicely. The potatoes were simmering on the stove. Saving the peas for last, as they only took a few minutes to prepare, she took a loaf of French bread from the pantry and wrapped it in foil so it would be ready to put in the oven when Tyler arrived. She took the disposable cell phone out of her pocket and checked the time. There were no new calls, so she left it on the center island.
Katherine left the French doors open for Sam and Sophie so they could run outside when they heard Tyler’s vehicle. It was chilly inside. Rarely did she light a fire in the kitchen’s fireplace, but she thought it would be appropriate. She checked for a draft to ensure the damper was open and placed a Dura-flame log on the grate. She closed the damper, added several newspapers she saved just for this purpose, then piled the kindling horizontally in a small stack. When she finished, she lit the newspaper, waited for the kindling to emit an orange-red glow, then added a large log that should burn throughout the evening.
Next to the fireplace, she cleared off a small round table she used as a catch-all for everything from junk mail to reusable shopping bags from Apple Blossom. The table was old and had come with the house, along with two matching chairs. The real estate agent had told her it was real mahogany and walnut and should be cared for with a special polish, which she didn’t have. She had never used the table for a meal, so tonight would be her first time.
Because her office was in the dining room, and the dining table was so long, she wouldn’t even consider inviting a guest to share a meal there. She’d wanted to get rid of the ridiculous dining table and chairs for years but had no motivation. Katherine decided that she would finally donate the flamboyant furniture to a local church. Doc could advise her how to do it, as he had with most things lately.
Katherine used Lemon Pledge to buff the antique table to a high shine, since she didn’t have a tablecloth to cover the fine wood. She took a step back, admiring the shimmer of the different wood grains, enhanced by the flames from the fireplace. She then polished the chairs and pushed each beneath the table. To set the table, she used dinner plates made by a North Carolinian artisan. The dishes were all a deep forest green, mottled with many lighter shades of green. Each piece was handcrafted and unique. Katherine had found them rustic when she’d ordered them years ago, though she rarely used them anymore. Having no cloth napkins, she used her everyday paper napkins. She wished she had the guts to add candles, though she knew that was too much. This was only a first date. It may not lead to a second date. She was getting way ahead of herself. They could hate each other, for all she knew. They’d barely spent any real time together. It could be that those few minutes together yesterday were nothing more than a fleeting physical attraction. Katherine felt sure they had nothing in common other than the obvious—he was a doctor, and she needed his expertise.
The oven timer buzzed, the temperature automatically lowering for the bread she would add as soon as Tyler arrived. She thought modern technology was awesome, even though it’d taken her a while to learn the oven’s many features. She took the chicken out, spooned the drippings into a small saucepan for a gravy, then covered the chicken with foil, allowing the natural juices to permeate. If the smell was any indicator of the taste, tonight’s meal would be scrumptious.
Katherine checked the time. If Tyler were punctual, he’d be here in twenty minutes. Enough time for her to make the chicken gravy. She took the saucepan with the drippings and added flour, salt, and a dash of white pepper. She whisked the ingredients together until they thickened, then set the burner to simmer. Taking the peas from the sink, she emptied them into another small pot and added a smidgen of butter and a dash of salt.
She had two bottles of the Biltmore Estate’s best Chardonnay chilling in the refrigerator. She seriously doubted they’d drink both, but she wanted to be prepared. Should she offer him a glass of wine before dinner? Or something stronger? If he wanted anything else, all she had on hand was a bottle of Grey Goose vodka, given to her last Christmas by her UPS carrier. She found it on a bottom shelf in her pantry and put it in the freezer to chill. A sudden thought occurred to her: she hadn’t made an appetizer. Rolling her eyes, she took out a block of Monterey Jack cheese and cut it into cubes. She found a jar of her favorite Greek kalamata olives and a box of wheat crackers in the pantry. Arranging it all on a dinner plate, she placed it in the center of the island.
She washed and dried her hands and sat on a barstool, suddenly feeling anxious now that it was time for Tyler to arrive. She took deep breaths, in and out, and closed her eyes, knowing she had the power to stop the flow of anxiety. A couple of minutes later, she felt calm as she released the built-up anxiety.
Shrill barking from both dogs out on the deck told her Tyler was indeed prompt. She glanced at the time. 6:59. Katherine appreciated it, as she’d always been very punctual herself. Taking one more deep breath, she smoothed her hair away from her face and smiled.
There came the sound of a car door closing, and then a few seconds later, she heard footsteps. A light tap sounded on the open door. “Anybody home?”
Katherine went to greet Tyler at the door. “Hi, please come on inside. It’s a bit cold out this evening,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound as nervous as she felt.
“Thanks,” he said, handing her a small bouquet.
Surprised, she accepted the bouquet of cream-colored flowers. “These are beautiful,” she said, and meant it. They were blush-colored dahlias and creamy white mums, wrapped with a thick, dark green ribbon. “Thank you.” She closed the door behind him to keep the chilly air out.
“My pleasure. I wasn’t sure what to bring.”
She smiled. “You didn’t have to do this, but I do love dahlias.”
“Good. I’m glad you like them.” A smile lit up Tyler’s already sparkling blue eyes.
They stood there silently for a few seconds before Katherine found her social manners. “Would you like something to drink? I have Chardonnay, vodka, and a variety of sodas.” She headed to the kitchen. “Hope you don’t mind hanging out in the kitchen while I finish dinner.” Katherine filled a large drinking glass with water, placing the small bouquet inside. Arranging the flowers, she placed them on the windowsill.
“Not at all. Isn’t the kitchen the heart of a home? And a glass of Chardonnay sounds perfect.”
Katherine removed two wineglasses from the cupboard, her Rabbit corkscrew, and the chilled bottle of wine from the refrigerator.
He was about to sit down when she took the wine from the refrigerator. “Do you mind?” he asked, taking the corkscrew.
Grinning, she shook her head. “It’s all yours.”
He made fast work of opening the wine and filling their glasses. She watched him, admiring how at ease he was in her kitchen. His movements were graceful for a man of his size, though Katherine thought that might have something to do with the fact he was a doctor. Wasn’t gentleness in his field to be expected? It was probably her imagination, but his movements were positively exquisite, very self-assured. As she watched him, something about his easy motions soothed her. It had been so long since she’d been close to a man her age that she felt like a teenager, a little too giddy and excited. Her heart raced—in a good way, for once. Tyler held out the glass of wine, and she took it, their hands briefly touching, sending a shiver of warmth throughout her body. Tyler lifted his glass. Katherine watched his hands move succinctly, precisely.
He held his glass, lightly clinking it against hers. “Cheers.”
She raised her own glass. “Cheers.” Taking a sip of wine, she felt totally out of her depth but remembered that if she felt overwhelmed, she could do the breathing exercises that seemed to relieve her anxiety.
Katherine removed the paper towel she’d placed over the appetizer plate. “Please, help yourself,” she offered. She had two small plates and napkins beside the plate of cheese and crackers. “It should hold you over,” she added, a grin on her face.
