Chapter four. Jill waved to her assistant at noon as the younger woman left for lunch

Jill waved to her assistant at noon as the younger woman left for lunch. Jill always enjoyed the quiet in the office from noon until one. The phone rarely rang, giving her time to concentrate on the books. Accounting was a skill she had to forcibly learn when she took this job. Surprisingly, she found she was very good at it, intuitively so. But she hated interruptions. And now that she had an assistant to take care of the mundane chores around the small office, she could afford to close her door, shutting herself off while she balanced the accounts.

But now during lunch, her door was wide open on the off chance a customer might come in while Harriet was gone. Their business was still relatively small but had grown considerably since Johnny had taken over. He was more hands-on than his father had been, beating them to the office each morning, then leaving at nine to check on the various construction crews he had out in the field. Whereas his father ran the office and relied on his crews to run the construction end of things, Johnny allowed Jill to run the office while he managed the crews. It had been a profitable change for the business. A change that kept them all busy from eight to five.

But now Jill found herself watching the clock, wishing for one p.m. to arrive. She was anxious for her own lunch hour, anxious to go to the park. For some reason, she couldn't get Carrie Howell out of her mind. Even this morning, after Angie had thrown a fit about Jill not being able to take her to band practice at four, she longed for the quiet hour when she could escape to the park. God forbid Angie should hang around school for forty-five minutes until practice started.

" Mom, that's for losers. Those without a ride."

" Well, it looks like you'll be a loser today. Unless your grandmother can take you."

" Of course, push your motherly duties off on Grandma, " she said sarcastically.

" My motherly duties right now include working from eight to five. I don't have the luxury of being home all day like your grandmother."

" I can't wait until I'm old enough to drive. Then I won't have to rely on you anymore, " she spat.

" Your grandmother's going to buy you a car, is she? "

" Dad promised I could have a car, " she yelled.

" Yes. I think he promised you my old Subaru."

Tears welled up immediately. " I'm not driving that piece of crap! I'll be laughed out of high school."

She ran screaming from the room and Jill rubbed her temples, wishing once again that Craig was here to witness one of her little fits.

And after a completely silent trip to school, one that ended with Angie slamming the door on the Subaru, Jill escaped to the quiet and calm of her eight-to-five job.

She looked again at the clock, watching the hands move to twelve thirty, knowing she was getting absolutely no work done as she listened to the ticking of the clock.

Finally, with only five minutes to go, she began getting ready, saving the little work she'd done, closing down her computer. She walked to the tiny break room and retrieved her sandwich from the refrigerator, then grabbed a plastic bottle of water and waited patiently at her desk. As soon as she saw Harriet drive up, she rushed to the door, meeting her on the sidewalk.

" You're in a hurry today, " Harriet said. " Got a date? "

Jill laughed. " A date with a park bench, yes."

" Well have fun. See you at two."

Yes, she was in a hurry today and the morning had been endless. And the anticipation she'd been feeling all day manifested itself tenfold as she approached the park. She didn't pause to wonder why she was in such a hurry to get to the park, in such a hurry to see if Carrie Howell was there today. Again, that feeling that she was being controlled in some way, being guided to the park, settled over her and she knew it would be futile to try to challenge it. She didn't want to challenge it.

She wanted to see Carrie Howell.

And as she eased onto her park bench, letting the sun warm her, she looked around, her eyes searching for the other woman. A moment of panic hit when she didn't see her on first glance, then through the trees, near the lake, she stood. Easel again today.

Jill felt a wave of relief wash over her at the sight of the other woman. She couldn't explain the comfort she felt, knowing Carrie was here. Without thought, she unwrapped her sandwich, eating and chewing methodically as she watched Carrie.

Then, as if sensing her eyes on her, Carrie turned and stared right at her. Jill stopped chewing, her throat tight as she imagined those pale blue eyes looking at her. Carrie lifted a hand in greeting and Jill did the same. It wasn't until Carrie turned back around that Jill was able to swallow again.

What is wrong with you?

But she had no answer. She simply had an overwhelming urge to be near the woman. And before long, she would get her wish as Carrie walked toward her. Jill hastily wiped her mouth with her napkin and took a swallow of water.

" Hi, Jill. Good to see you again, " Carrie greeted.

" Yes. I see you have your easel today. Watercolors? "

" No. Colored chalk. I usually just use my sketch pad but I had an inspiration for a larger picture. I wanted to capture the trees and lake, maybe add a duck or two in the foreground. If it turns out good with the colored chalk, then I'll do the scene with watercolors." Then she opened her notebook and handed Jill a paper. " Here. Thought you might want to have this."

Jill took the paper, noting the sketch she'd seen yesterday, the sketch of her on the park bench. Carrie had added features to her face, making it obvious it was her, not just a faceless woman in the park. It was beautiful.

" Thank you. It's lovely."

" Well, I had a lovely subject."

Jill smiled, not knowing what to say.

Out of her bag, Carrie pulled a half a loaf of bread. " I was about to go feed the ducks. Feel like walking along? "

" Sure." Jill stood, motioning to the easel. " Will that be okay? "

" I doubt anyone will swipe it, " Carrie said.

They walked along the trail, heading to the small piers where paddleboats and canoes were tied. In spring and summer, you'd be hard-pressed to find one available as the lake would be littered with them. But today, on this cool January afternoon, no one had braved the water.

" I can't decide which time of year is my favorite out here, " Carrie said. " I like the quiet of winter, like today. But I miss the greenness of spring and summer. When I sketch in the winter, I try to find something bright, something colorful. Like one of the red canoes on the water, for instance."

" I've never seen you here before but I take it you're familiar with the lake, " Jill said.

" I'm familiar with the lake, yes. I don't often come here to the park, though. Especially during the summer. Way too many kids running around, " she said. " Not that I have anything against kids. They're just... disturbing, " Carrie said with a laugh.

" Yes, I'll have to agree."

Carrie laughed. " Let me guess. You have a teenager."

Jill nodded. " A daughter."

" Oh, my."

" She's fourteen, thinks she's eighteen and acts like ten. Do you have kids? "

Carrie nodded. " Two boys. Josh is seventeen and will graduate in May. Aaron is fifteen. Couldn't ask for better kids. Josh has always been mature for his age, and thankfully, they get along well. Josh actually enjoys being taxi service for Aaron, so that saves me right there. He's taken his role of big brother very seriously."

" Angie is at the I Hate My Mother stage, " Jill explained.

" It's a girl thing, " Carrie said. " My mother reminds me I was at that stage for fifteen years, " she said with a laugh.

They approached the swim area, deserted this time of year except for the ducks that were sunning themselves on the sand. As if sensing a free lunch, no less than ten came over to meet them. Carrie handed Jill several slices of bread and they went about the fun chore of tearing it up and tossing it to the clamoring ducks at their feet.

" Oh, here she comes, " Carrie said, pointing to a late arrival. " I call her Grandma Duck."

" Is she old? "

Carrie shrugged. " I have no idea. But she's more gray than brown, and see how she limps." Carrie squatted down. " Here, sweetie, " she murmured, tossing bread to the old duck.

Jill watched, smiling as Carrie shooed the other ducks aside so Grandma Duck could eat.

" I've seen her around for years, " Carrie said. " She's a tough old broad."

The loaf of bread was devoured quickly, so they made their way back to the park bench. It was a fun hour but it passed far too quickly.

" Can I ask you something? "

Carrie nodded. " Sure."

" Have we met before? "

Carrie laughed. " You too? I've been thinking about it since yesterday. You seem so familiar to me."

" I know. But I don't think we've met." Jill allowed her eyes to linger on Carrie's pale blue ones. " Surely we would remember."

Carrie's eyes turned serious. " Perhaps in another life, " she murmured.

Jill was about to say she didn't believe in that sort of thing but the familiarity in Carrie's eyes told her it might be true. " Perhaps."

Carrie smiled, her eyes softening. " And perhaps I'll see you again."