Chapter Five

TWO WEEKS LATER on Sunday evening, Ridley climbed the steps to Laurie's front door. Last week, Laurie had called and invited her to a surprise birthday party for Karen. Ridley had promised to take her mother and aunt somewhere during the day, but as soon as she got back to the city, she showered and changed and left for the party. When she got to Laurie's house, she was relieved to discover that she was only half an hour late.

Laurie's cheeks were red and she sounded breathless as she opened the door. " I'm glad you made it." After Ridley stepped inside, Laurie shut the door and gave her the once over. " You should not be allowed to be out in public like that. It's not fair to the rest of us."

" Since I know you meant that as a compliment, I'll simply say thank you. How's the party going so far? Did you manage to surprise Karen? "

Laurie nodded. " Can you imagine that? I actually pulled it off for once."

" That's amazing. How did you fool her and how did you get her out of the house? "

" I took Karen out to dinner last night to celebrate her birthday, so she thought that was the end of it. Then I asked one of her friends to call this morning and beg her to go shopping to help her pick out a gift for her girlfriend. We weren't doing anything special and I pretended I had tests to grade, so Karen said she'd go. I don't think she suspected a thing. They got back about twenty minutes ago and by that time everyone was here except for you."

" You'll have to come up with a new trick next time you want to give her a surprise party. She'll never fall for that one a second time. I meant to ask you this when you called me, but I forgot. Why did you decide to have the party tonight when yesterday was her birthday? Wouldn't you rather have had it on Saturday? "

" Yeah, I would have, but I knew Dana and Tracy could only come if I had it on Sunday and I thought Karen would like it if they were here. Also, Dana offered to make something special for dinner and Tracy said she'd make the cake. All I had to do was buy salad stuff and provide the drinks and munchies. I couldn't turn that down."

" I thought maybe it had something to do with them."

" Come into the living room, " Laurie said.

Ridley put her hand on Laurie's arm to hold her there. " Wait a minute. I want to ask you a question before we join the others. Did you get a chance to talk to Karen about our annual trip to the shore for Columbus Day weekend? Will she be able to get that Monday off? I promised my mother I'd call her tomorrow and let her know if we're going."

" Yes, I talked to her and everything is set. We wouldn't miss it for the world. Karen wanted me to ask you if it would be okay if we came down on Saturday morning instead of on Friday evening. She gets home late on Fridays and she's usually tired and grumpy and by the time we get down there, she'll be a mess. I think she'd feel a lot better if she had a good night's sleep."

" That's not a problem. I'm leaving right after work on Friday, but you guys can get there when you get there. Don't take too long, though. I want us to have a lot of time together."

" We'll be there by noon. Once she gets some sleep, she'll be fine. Now let's go in and join the others. Can I get you a beer or a glass of wine? "

" I'd like a beer." Ridley followed Laurie into the living room.

" Why don't you go say hello to the birthday girl? She's talking to some friends from her law firm." Laurie pointed to a group of people gathered near the fireplace. " I'll get you a beer and bring it out to you."

Ridley went to Karen and tapped her on the shoulder. " Happy Birthday, Karen."

Karen excused herself from the group and stood aside with Ridley. She hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. " Hey you, I'm glad you're here. Thanks for the nice card and the gift certificate. They came in the mail yesterday."

" You're welcome. I know you love book stores and I thought with a gift certificate, you could pick out your own books or get whatever you want."

" I can't think of a better gift for me. I love spending money in a book store and I love it even more when it's someone else's money." Karen hugged Ridley a second time. " I'll introduce you to anyone you don't know later on, but before we do that I want you to come with me. Tracy and Dana are in the kitchen and they told me to let them know the minute you got here."

In the kitchen, the first thing Ridley noticed was Tracy leaning against the counter with her arm draped across the shoulders of an unknown woman. Judging by the glances they exchanged and the way they touched, they had to be more than friends and that made Ridley so ecstatic she felt like jumping for joy. Dana and Tracy weren't a couple after all and she couldn't have been happier if someone had just told her she'd won the lottery.

Mouth-watering smells filled the kitchen and Ridley's eyes followed her nose to the stove where she saw Dana just standing there smiling at her. The sight of her made Ridley's heart dance inside her chest. It twirled and dipped and beat to a measure as old as time itself.

" I'm going back in the living room to talk to some of my friends from work, " Karen said to Ridley.

" Have a good time and I'll see you in a little while."

" Okay. I'll be out later." When Karen left, Ridley approached Tracy and the new girl. " Hi, Tracy, nice to see you again. Who's your friend? "

" Nice to see you, too and I'd like you to meet my date, Erika. Erika this is Ridley. She's the teacher I told you about, Karen and Laurie's friend."

" Hi, " Erika offered her hand. " I heard about you."

Ridley shook Erika's hand. " Pleased to meet you."

" Well, thanks. I'm pleased to meet you, too. Tracy told me you came to visit her and Dana at the restaurant a couple of weeks ago. That must have been interesting."

" I enjoyed it, " Ridley said. " I'd never been in a restaurant kitchen and I got to watch them in action. It was really something. Have you tried the restaurant yet? "

" Yes, I went to dinner there last week and I loved it." Erika glanced at Tracy and kissed her on the cheek. Anyone could see she was totally infatuated.

Ridley noticed a huge sheet cake on the kitchen table. " Laurie told me you were making Karen's birthday cake, " she said to Tracy. " I can't wait to try it."

" Go over and see how I decorated it, " Tracy said.

Ridley went to the table and checked out the cake. Tracy had used brightly colored icings to paint a likeness of Karen and Laurie's row house on the cake. The windows were tinted with yellow and white icings to suggest that warm lights were coming from inside the house and their street number was on the front door. Next to the house she wrote, Happy Birthday, Karen.

" It's a work of art, " Ridley remarked. " Loaded with calories, too, I'll bet, "

" No need to worry. It's a carrot cake, so it's full of veggies and therefore, healthy. I also used a secret technique they taught us in chef's school that removes all the calories. It's highly technical, but it's worth it in the end, or should I say in the derriere? "

" Honestly, Tracy. Do you think Ridley's dumb enough to believe that? " Dana chimed in from her private corner of the kitchen. " Knowing the way you make cakes, it would be easier to believe that you used a secret technique to get even more calories into it."

" I'm deeply wounded that you would say such a thing about me, Dana." Tracy clutched at her chest and pretended to swoon while the rest of them laughed at her antics. " I know Ridley's not dumb and I would never do anything like that."

After the merriment died down, Ridley moved closer to Dana who was bending over in front of the oven checking on two large foil covered rectangular pans. Dana lifted a corner of the foil with a fork and dipped a finger inside and then she began to put what appeared to be several big loaves of garlic bread wrapped in foil into the oven alongside the pans." What's that you're making? " Ridley asked her.

" Chicken cutlets baked in a homemade blush sauce with thin slices of prosciutto and fresh mozzarella on top. I made it for Karen once, a long time ago, and she loved it so much she never forgot it, so I told Laurie I'd make it as a birthday gift. I made it earlier at the restaurant and now all I have to do is heat it up with the garlic bread."

" It smells luscious." Ridley inhaled deeply. " I can't wait to try it."

" I hope you like it, " Dana said as she closed the oven door. After she straightened up and laid the potholders on the stove, she turned and met Ridley's eyes. " I'm happy to see you."

" Are you? " Ridley studied Dana's face. Standing this close to Dana made her feel giddy and weak in the knees. Those fiery brown eyes held on to hers and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't tear her eyes away.

" Yes."

" That's good, because I'm happy to see you." Ridley's gaze shifted to Dana's mouth and she found herself fantasizing about what it would be like to kiss her. She felt it down to her toes as if her lips were actually touching Dana's and she shoved that thought out of her mind. What good would it do to think along those lines or to torture her mind with wild desires? Just because Dana wasn't involved with Tracy didn't mean she was interested in her. Ridley tried to focus her eyes on something else. " How's your apartment coming along? " she asked Dana, her heart racing and her breathing reduced to short little puffs.

Dana appeared to be unaware of Ridley's discomfort. " I got a lot done this week. They delivered my furniture on Wednesday and I finished unpacking the rest of my things. Now, it feels more like my home."

" My place is finished too, Ridley, " Tracy called out. She must have been listening to their conversation. " In case you're even remotely interested. If you ever feel like climbing all the way up those stairs, you can come in and visit me."

" That's Tracy's indirect way of complaining about living on the third floor, Ridley." Dana gave Tracy a penetrating stare. " You need to climb up and down those stairs, because you're always sampling your pastries and licking the icing spoons."

" Don't listen to her." Tracy stuck her tongue out at Dana. " You're a lousy traitor. Here I thought you were my best friend. You ought to decrease my rent or increase my salary, or both, for forcing me to live all the way up on the third floor."

Dana waved her finger back and forth and shook her head to the same rhythm. " Your rent's as low as it's going to get and your salary's as high as it's going to get and that's that, at least for now. A barely detectable smirk peeked out from Dana's pseudo-serious facade.

Tracy folded her arms across her chest. " I don't know what to say."

" There's nothing you can say. I guess you're stuck with me." This time, Dana let everyone see without a doubt that her exchange with Tracy was all in fun.

" Yeah, I guess we're both stuck with each other, " Tracy said. She kissed her palm and blew it in Dana's direction.

LESS THAN AN hour later, Dana and Tracy arranged the chicken dish, the garlic bread and a huge salad buffet style on the dining room table. The guests ate wherever they could find a spot and after everyone finished, Laurie and Tracy carried the cake into the dining room and led the others in a loud and discordant rendition of Happy Birthday. After Karen blew out the candles and made a wish, Tracy plucked the candle stubs out of the icing and cut slices of the cake onto small paper plates.

After dinner, Ridley talked to some people she knew and mingled with the other guests, but no matter where she was, her eyes roamed the area hoping to get a glimpse of Dana. Whatever it was that drew her to Dana was strong and something new to her. A few times, Dana happened to drift through her field of vision and when she did, Ridley took pleasure in the curve of her hip, the soft swell of her breasts, the sheen of her hair and the radiance of her skin.

" Are you having a good time? "

Ridley jumped at the intrusion and discovered that Laurie had sneaked up beside her. " Sorry, I was deep in thought. Yes, I'm having a great time. You really outdid yourself with this party."

" Karen said the same thing, " Laurie said. " I couldn't help but notice the way you've been watching Dana. What's up with that? "

" Nothing's up. She's really attractive, that's all."

" Uh-huh, I also noticed that. In fact, I think she's quite special."

Ridley turned to her friend. " Laurie? Can I ask you something? "

" Sure. Go ahead."

" I assumed Dana was a lesbian and I assumed she was with Tracy, but now I see Tracy brought a date with her tonight and I wondered if I was wrong about Dana. Is she a lesbian? "

" Damn, I knew it! You're interested in her! " Laurie squealed quietly as she pumped her right fist a few times in front of her. " This is very good news."

Ridley pulled Laurie into a corner. " Will you please lower your voice? " she demanded in a hushed tone. " And do you have to squeal all the time? "

" You know I always squeal when I'm excited. I can't help it."

" Never mind that, just answer my question. Is she? "

" Is she what? " Laurie asked.

" Come on, Laurie, for God's sake! "

" I'm sorry. You're such fun to tease. Yeah, she is and she's available, too."

" I didn't ask you if she was available. I'm just curious about her, that's all."

" Uh-huh. If you say so, " Laurie said.

" Well, I do say so and you're making too much of a simple question. Please don't mention this to anyone, especially Karen. I don't need anyone else to know I asked. "

" I won't. I promise, " Laurie said as she held her right hand up.

" Thanks. I'm going to get another beer, " Ridley said. " I'll catch you later."

Ridley hurried into the kitchen to get away from Laurie and that 'I know more than you're telling me' message on her face. Laurie's imagination was probably already running wild with the prospect of her being with Dana and all it would mean to their close-knit group of friends. The door that led out to the backyard was cracked open and through the screen, Ridley saw Dana on the back deck with her head tilted toward the sky. She grabbed two beers and quietly stepped onto the deck. " I thought you might need one of these after standing in front of a hot stove for so long." She handed Dana one of the beers. " Do you need a glass? "

" No, this is fine." Dana took a long swig. " Thanks."

" Care to share your thoughts? "

Dana turned to face Ridley. " Trust me, you wouldn't be interested in my thoughts." She tapped her head with the neck of her beer bottle. " Nothing much in here but a pile of worn-out memories and a few cobwebs, I'm afraid."

" But you're wrong. I would be interested."

" Just the same, it's not worth the effort." Dana glanced up at the sky again.

Because she sensed Dana was uneasy, Ridley moved on to a less personal subject matter. " That chicken dish you made for Karen was delicious."

" Thanks. I made that dish for Karen a long time ago when she and Laurie visited me in Chicago and she always remembered it so Laurie asked me to make it for the party. What did you think of Tracy's cake? "

" That was the best carrot cake I've ever had."

" She's the best. She never runs out of ideas." Dana was quiet again.

After a few awkward moments, Ridley said, " The stars are bright tonight, aren't they? You can't usually see them this well in the city because of all the lights. I love when the sky is that deep blue-black and the trees look as if someone sketched them in black ink."

Dana met Ridley's eyes in the darkness. " I love it, too. The universe is so timeless and it reminds us of how insignificant we all are in our little world, living our little lives. It kind of makes you put your problems in the proper perspective, doesn't it? "

Ridley dove without hesitation into the depths of Dana's eyes. A sadness lived in them and she got the impression that Dana was holding back the way people do when they're protecting themselves from being hurt. " What problems do you have? " she asked even though she knew Dana would never tell her.

It took Dana a fraction too long to answer. " I was speaking in generalities and not about myself. I don't have any problems."

" I thought..." Ridley wanted to know all about Dana and she wanted to be there for her if she was hurting, but they didn't know each other that well and it was wiser not to push. " Never mind. How are things at the restaurant? "

" Great. Business only gets better and better."

" I'm glad to hear it, " Ridley said. This new topic had visibly lightened Dana's mood. Small crinkles flashed like flint sparks on both sides of Dana's mouth as she talked and when she smiled they burst into a dazzling display of dimples. Blindsided by a surge of desire, Ridley gripped the deck railing to stabilize herself. Her heart hammered in her chest and her legs felt unsteady. She'd never experienced this strong an attraction to anyone.

Ridley's hand rested on the railing close to Dana's. A strange energy made Ridley's fingers tingle and a force like a powerful magnet made her afraid her fingers would move without her permission and touch Dana's hand. She found it hard to breathe.

" Are you all right? " Dana asked.

Ridley's next words came out like a whisper. " Dana, I..." It took all the strength she possessed not to reach out and touch Dana. As if the railing had suddenly burst into flames, she yanked her hand away and stuffed it deep into the pocket of her jeans. She was in deep trouble.

" What did you want to say? " Dana asked.

" You're still coming to my school tomorrow, aren't you? "

" Of course I am. What time should I get there and where should I go? "

" Do you know where the school is? " Ridley asked.

" Yes, I've been by it many times."

" Why don't you come around twelve-thirty? Go to the main office. It's on the right, just inside the front entrance on 10th Street. I'll tell the secretaries to call me when you get there." Ridley was relieved to concentrate on something other than her physical response to Dana. " I'll come down and take you to the classroom so we can get set up. You'll be talking to my last two classes from one to one-fifty and from two to two-fifty. Is that okay? "

" That's fine. Where should I park? " Dana asked.

" You can park on any of the streets around the school or in the schoolyard if you can find an empty space. It's all legal parking."

" I came up with some ideas, but I'll let you be surprised."

" Do you need me to bring anything or pick anything up? " Ridley asked.

" No. Leave everything to me. I'm bringing one of my other chefs along. I've never talked to high school students, so I hope I won't be too nervous."

" You'll be fine. There's nothing to be nervous about. It will be informal and the students are going to enjoy it. I guarantee it."

" It sounds like we're all set then." Dana's pronouncement was followed by an awkward gap in the conversation and then she said, " Ridley? "

" Yes? "

" Thank you for asking me to come to your school. I..." Dana paused as if she intended to say something from the heart, but instead she said, " We'd better go in and join the others before we're missed." Dana held the back door open for Ridley.

Ridley went inside with Dana behind her. " I'll see you tomorrow, then? "

" You will. I'm going to go find Karen and Laurie. I've been so busy with Karen's birthday dinner, I haven't had a chance to talk to either one of them. Are you coming? "

" I'll be out in a minute. I need to use the bathroom."

" Okay. See you later." Dana left Ridley in the kitchen.

Ridley closed her eyes and wondered what the hell was happening to her. She wanted to spend more time with Dana, just to talk, just to breathe the same air and occupy the same space. How could she crave being with her this much when they'd only met a few weeks ago?

After she regained her senses, Ridley threw her empty beer bottle in the recycle bin outside the back door and went into the living room to find Laurie and Karen. They were in plain view, but Dana wasn't with them. Worn out and too tired to think about her feelings for Dana, she said her goodbyes, handed out kisses and hugs and went home. With any luck, a good night's sleep and a new tomorrow would bring her some blessed relief from the tempest of emotions she had to contend with every time she was anywhere near Dana De Marco.