Hidden in the Heart: An LDS Novel by Roseanne Evans Wilkins
* * *
As they walked into the atrium, Garrett was seated at their table. He smiled warmly as they approached. Christina was announcing before they reached the table, “Mommy says I can call you Mr. Garrett. Do you like that?”
As she arrived, Garrett reached over to ruffle her curls and said, “It sounds like a nice name. I hope I get to hear it a lot.”
Christina giggled. “Am I the only one who calls you that?”
“You’re the only one so far.”
Christina carefully placed the paper plates around the table, put the napkins in the center, placed the knives on the napkins, then dropped into the seat next to him.
Cathee opened the cooler and pulled out a loaf of whole wheat bread, salad dressing, turkey deli meat, a bag of romaine lettuce, and a small jar of sliced dill pickles. “I hope you like turkey. I wasn’t expecting to share.”
“Turkey sounds great. I was just planning to eat at the restaurant, but this is much better.”
Cathee dropped her gaze. “I doubt it tastes as good.”
“I’m sure it’ll taste great.”
Christina interjected, “Mommy makes yummy food.”
Garrett smiled. “I’m sure she does.”
The blush started up her cheeks again. Being on the reddish side of blond had its disadvantages. “I’ll let you fix your own. I don’t know how you like your sandwiches.”
“I’m not too fussy, but that works for me.”
Cathee took out four slices of bread for hers and Christina’s sandwiches, then handed the loaf over to Garrett. He took four slices, too.
They worked quietly at fixing their lunch. When Cathee finished making her and Christina’s sandwiches, she handed Garrett the remaining sandwich supplies, then pulled three individual cartons of milk out of the cooler for their beverage. There was only one carton left. She hadn’t planned on sharing.
The next few minutes were spent consuming their meal. When Christina finished hers, she asked, “Can I go look at the fountain, Mommy?”
“You can stick your fingers in, but don’t get your clothes wet.”
“Thanks, Mommy. I’ll be careful.” She skipped over to the fountain just a few feet away.
Garrett finished both his sandwiches before Cathee could finish hers. “You’re fast.”
“I learned to eat fast as a missionary.”
Cathee giggled, then asked, “Where did you go?”
“I served in the Missouri Independence Mission.” He paused a moment. “Jill’s family attends the Lawrence First Ward. I met Jill while I was teaching her boyfriend the discussions.”
“Did he join?”
“No. Jill went on to attend BYU. When my mission was over, I looked her up. The rest is history.”
“From your career choice, I assume you majored in psychology. What was Jill majoring in?”
“She was studying elementary education, but she dropped out to work as a secretary after we got married. She never did finish her degree.”
Cathee stared at Garrett for a moment, wondering how to respond. Jill would never get the chance to finish.
Sensing her discomfort, Garrett hurried on. “Did you attend college?”
“Yes. I majored in accounting at Utah Valley University. I’m currently working for the Defense Contract Audit Agency in Wichita.”
“What do you do?”
“I audit defense contractors so they don’t charge the government too much.”
“Sounds...interesting.”
Cathee laughed. “It’s ok if you like numbers and you don’t mind talking to a variety of people. I spend the bulk of my time in offices talking to contractors about expenses.” She shrugged. “It pays the bills.”
“That’s something, then.”
“What made you choose to be a therapist?”
Garrett echoed her shrug. “I’ve always liked helping people. It seemed like an appealing career.”
“I’ll bet it’s exciting.”
“I’ve had some interesting clients,” he smiled, “but I find the person across the table from me absolutely fascinating.”
Cathee blushed again. “How come?”
“Well,” he stopped to brush some crumbs onto the plate he held off the table as a catcher, “I’ve never been looked through.” He glanced up at her then.
“What are you talking about?”
“When you walked into the hotel the first time I saw you, you looked right through me.”
“Really? I guess I didn’t see you.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. Most people know when they’ve seen someone. You didn’t even see me, but I saw you.”
She rubbed her forehead wearily. “I’ve spent a lot of time not seeing people, I guess.”
“Why would you do that?”
“I...I don’t know.” She paused a moment, trying to reason out her own behavior. “I guess I didn’t want to see people after my experience with Juan.”
Garrett reached out to gently pat the back of the hand she had resting on the table. “You don’t need to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
She met Garrett’s gaze. “I feel like I owe you after yesterday.”
“You don’t owe me anything.”
“I’m not feeling that way. I don’t think I could have gone through the day without you there.”
His eyes shadowed, then cleared. “I’m sure you would have done fine. You’re a strong woman.”
“You keep saying that, but how would you know?”
He smiled. “The way you handled me at the breakfast table was telling, don’t you think?”
“I wouldn’t call that being strong. Rude, maybe...”
“Being a single mother who graduated with an accounting degree? You don’t call that strong?”
She sighed. “I did what I had to do.”
He gently lifted her chin to look in her eyes. “Not everyone could do what you’ve done. You really are a strong woman.”
The look in his eyes convinced her he believed in her. She didn’t understand why he would come to that conclusion when he hardly knew her. How could anyone really know anyone else?
Christina skipped back over from the fountain. “Can we play UNO, Mommy?”
“I brought the cards with me. I think we can fit in a game.” She looked up at Garrett. “Would you like to join us?”
“I haven’t played in years, but it sounds like fun.”
Garrett cleared the table while Cathee dug the deck of cards out of her purse. Christina dealt the first hand. They spent the next hour laughing their way through several UNO games. Christina won four times, Garrett won once, and Cathee won twice. As Cathee gathered up the cards, Garrett looked at his watch. “It’s 2:30. Did you want to come to my suite to watch a movie?”
Cathee hesitated, then answered. “We had a big day yesterday. Christina and I are going to take a nap.”
Christina protested. “I’m not tired.”
“Yes, you are. And we are going to take a nap.”
“Okay.” Christina surrendered quickly.
“I know I ate a good portion of your food. Can I pay for your dinner?”
“You paid yesterday.”
He grinned. “I think I can afford it. What do you say?”
“Do you ever take ‘no’ for an answer?”
“It depends on who’s talking.”
Cathee laughed. “Does that mean you won’t take a ‘no’ from me?”
“Not if I can help it.”
“Dinner does sound nice. What time did you want to eat?”
“I don’t care. I thought we’d just stay here. The Falling Water Grill and the Waters Edge have good food. I can meet you here or at your room...”
She was quick to say, “Let’s meet at this table, then. Does 6:30 sound ok?”
“That will be fine. I’ll meet you here. You can decide which restaurant.”
Christina piped up, “I like the one with the yummy dessert.”
Garrett
“The formal one – not the lounge.”
“I forgot. Christina probably isn’t allowed in the Waters Edge Lounge. The Falling Grill is fine.”
Cathee laughed. “Yeah. I don’t think she’d pass the driver’s license check. The only thing I’m worried about at the Falling Grill is an expanding waistline.”
His glance skimmed over her slender form. “I don’t think you need to worry.” He smiled when her blush raced up her cheeks again. “I like your coloring.”
She dropped her glance and mumbled, “I think we need to go take that nap.”
“I’ll see you at 6:30 then.”
Cathee reached for Christina’s hand. Christina skipped happily as they moved to the elevator. “I’m glad we got to meet Mr. Garrett. He’s nice.”
Cathee didn’t reply. She was too immersed in her own thoughts to hear her daughter’s chatter.