Chapter four. Kara stood at the edge of the parking lot of lake Wenatchee, clad in her normal shorts and tank top

KARA STOOD AT the edge of the parking lot of Lake Wenatchee, clad in her normal shorts and tank top, her unopened sketchpad still shoved under her arm.

" Well, I think I’ve found the area’s hot spot, " she murmured. Vacationers crowded into nearly every available space as multicolored tents dotted the shoreline and the lake itself was practically littered with boats. She could still sketch it, she supposed, but she was far too distracted now by all the clutter.

She let out a heavy sigh, thinking she should have asked Louise more about the lake last night and saved herself a trip out this morning. She went back to her Land Cruiser and sat with the door open, the map spread out across the steering wheel. Doesn’t have to be a lake, she thought. There were just so many small ones tucked into the mountains that she hated to miss any opportunity to capture one in the perfect light.

Without thinking, she reached for her cigarettes. She could always swing by the store and see if Ginny could recommend any. Maybe she’d be willing to show her around, too. She looked up and met her amused expression in the mirror.

" No playing with the locals, Kara."

She folded the map and headed back, stopping only once when she found a tiny dirt road leading off into the forest. The road stopped abruptly at a small clearing and an interesting creek flowed rapidly around boulders before disappearing into the trees. She watched it for a moment, wondering if the clearing was enough to capture the morning sunrise. It wasn’t too far. Maybe she would check it out one morning. She pulled out her notepad and scribbled down directions then turned the SUV around.

As she approached town, she slowed when she neared the general store, pleasantly surprised to see Ginny walking along the road. She stopped and lifted a hand in greeting and Ginny walked over without hesitation.

" Hi. How was the lake? " Ginny asked. She leaned through the open window and Kara met her green eyes briefly before looking away.

" Crowded. Where're you headed? " she asked.

" To the park for lunch."

" Park? "

" Just down the dirt road there, " she said, pointing. " Have you eaten? "

" No."

" Want to join me? " Ginny asked. " You can have my apple, " she offered.

Kara tapped the stirring wheel with her thumbs and her mouth twitched in a slight smile. Why not?

" Okay. Hop in."

Ginny led the way to her usual picnic table and Kara followed, her eyes watching Ginny’s graceful strides and she remembered those same legs, peeking from beneath her robe last night. Now, they were covered in faded blue jeans. When Ginny turned, Kara quickly veiled her eyes and looked away.

" This is a National Forest picnic area, but everyone in town just refers to it as The Park, " Ginny said and slid onto the bench.

" It's quiet here, " Kara said. She looked around, finding only a few tables occupied, most with families, urging the kids to eat before returning to the playground.

" Yes. Usually." Ginny unwrapped her sandwich and tossed her apple to Kara. " Sorry, but that's all I have."

" It's fine. I usually forget to eat lunch, anyway." Kara rubbed the apple on her shirt, shining it, then took a large bite, feeling the juice slide down her chin.

Ginny bit into her own sandwich, then looked up and watched as Kara licked the apple juice from her lips. Ginny felt nearly mesmerized by the sight of Kara’s tongue as it wet her lips and she stopped chewing and watched.

" What? " Kara asked, sensing Ginny's gaze on her.

" Hmmm? " Ginny raised her eyes to Kara's blue ones and frowned, then bit into her sandwich again.

Kara’s mouth moved into a slow grin, then she brushed it away. No playing with the locals, she reminded herself again. But there was something about the green-eyed woman that intrigued her.

" So, what are you doing here, really? " Kara asked, hoping it was a safe question.

Ginny smiled. Should she give the practiced speech she told everyone or should she tell this stranger the truth? She shrugged, opting for her speech.

" When my grandfather died, I thought Nana would need someone to take care of her, so I used my inheritance from my mother and bought the store and moved." She shrugged again and tucked her hair behind her ears. " I moved here in October."

Kara leaned her elbows on the table and met Ginny's eyes with a smile. " You've got that well rehearsed, don't you? "

Ginny smiled too. " Is it that obvious? "

Kara nodded. " And Phil? "

" Oh, I'm such a coward when it comes to him. He's really a sweet man, only he wanted to get married and I kept putting him off." She let out a heavy sigh and looked up at the trees. " He was getting restless, demanding."

" Wouldn't take no for an answer? " Kara asked.

" I mean, he wanted three kids, a house in the suburbs, the whole nine yards. I just wasn't ready, " Ginny said. Then, almost to herself, " I wasn’t sure."

" Maybe you just don't love him, " Kara said, reading her thoughts.

Ginny hadn't been able to tell herself that. After four years, surely she loved him. But something was missing and she felt like she would be settling if she just went ahead and married him.

" Maybe I just don't love him enough, " she allowed. " Maybe I've read too many romance books." She leaned forward and said softly, " I mean, I want that passion, that burning desire for someone that makes you crazy when you're not with them and crazier still when you are. You know what I mean? "

" You're a romantic, " Kara stated.

" Maybe so. Maybe there's no such thing as that kind of love." Ginny met her eyes for a moment. " Have you ever had that? "

Kara looked past her, into the trees. " No. Never, " she said quietly. She had thought, once, that she had found it, but she had given up searching for it when Marsha left her one winter. She had been so involved in her painting that it was two days before she even knew she was gone. She pushed her thoughts back into her memory and forced a smile. " But I'm not really expecting it anymore."

Ginny hadn't missed the pain that had flashed across Kara's face briefly, before she had hidden it, but she wouldn’t pry. They were only strangers. You don't bare your soul to strangers.

" So, what did you do in Seattle? " Kara asked, looking for a safer subject.

" I was in marketing. I designed ads. That's where I met Phil, " she said. " We worked for the same firm."

" So you quit your job and moved up here to take care of Louise? " Kara grinned. " And Phil had no idea you were running away? "

" Oh, he had an idea, all right." Ginny laughed. " He said he would give me six months to come running back, then he was coming to get me."

" And? "

" And it's been eight and he'll be coming this summer." She sat up straight and tried to mimic his tone. " Ginny, you're not making sense. We love each other, it's only natural that we get married."

" Have you ever tired the direct approach? Leave me alone, I'll call you if I want you? "

Ginny laughed. " No. The truth is, I don't want to hurt him. He’s done nothing wrong."

" Maybe you're hanging on to him, just in case, " Kara said.

" Just in case what? " Ginny asked sharply.

" In case nothing better comes along. At least you'll still have him, " she said.

Ginny shook her head. " No. I would hate to think that's what I'm doing." She wondered if indeed Kara wasn't right though.

Their eyes met across the table for an instant and Kara saw a spark of anger in the younger woman’s eyes, daring her to say more.

Kara looked away but offered a smile. " I've upset you. I'm sorry."

" No. Maybe you've hit on the truth and I don't like it." Ginny stood and tossed her bag into the trash. " Maybe I am simply hanging on to him for that reason. It would suck, but it may be true."

" Well, it's none of my business, anyway, " Kara said and stood and tossed a perfect strike into the trash can, her apple disappearing into the bin.

They rode back in silence and when Ginny got out, she walked around to the driver's door and leaned in.

" I'm not angry with you, Kara. I just haven't had a chance to talk to anyone about this before. My friends, they all think Phil is a wonderful man and that I'm insane not to marry him. Nana wants great-grandchildren and for me not to be an old maid, " she said lightly. " I guess maybe you made me see things differently. And the truth sometimes hurts, " she said quietly, her eyes again locking on blue.

Kara shrugged. " Again, I’m sorry. None of my business." She lifted a hand as Ginny stepped back. " Thanks for lunch. I'll see you around, " she said.

Ginny nodded and watched as Kara drove off. Through the back window, she saw her light a cigarette and she thought again that she had never met a woman quite like her before. Strong, independent, alone and seemingly happy. But she remembered the pain that had been on her face earlier, briefly, before Kara had hidden it. She wondered who had caused this woman pain?

Kara savored her cigarette, her third of the day, as she drove slowly to her cabin. She should work, she thought, but she felt restless. She took a beer, one of only six she had brought with her, and walked into the woods to the property line. The old fence was in need of repair and she crawled through it easily into the forest beyond. She walked aimlessly, letting her mind drift. She had not thought of Marsha in a very long time, she realized. Kara had barely turned thirty-two when Marsha left. Her work was just catching on and her paintings were in demand and she had been very busy. Too busy to notice that she was neglecting Marsha and everything else in her life. They had met when she was twenty-six; Kara, a spoiled rich kid pretending to be an artist and Marsha, fresh out of college, trying to land a corporate job that would take her out of her parents shabby home in Tacoma. Marsha had been impressed with Kara's cottage on Bainbridge Island and even more impressed when she found out that Kara's parents had given it to her as a gift. Kara had gotten Marsha a job with her father's company and they had settled into their life with ease. And it had been fun, especially at the beginning. Kara had no worries. She sold a few paintings here and there and accepted her parents monthly allowance without guilt. But the more successful she got, the more it consumed her, this need to make a name for herself, to be a successful working artist. It had taken its toll on their relationship. Her endless travel during the summers, the endless hours of painting during the winters had been their undoing.

And Marsha had simply disappeared from her life one day. When Kara realized what had happened, it had been too late to salvage things. Marsha had met someone else and Kara had let her go. There had been no one since. Oh, plenty of women had shared her bed, but none had gotten into her heart. Not that many had even tried.