Katherine watched Tim as he opened his gifts with excitement written all over his face.
She looked around with a smile on her face. Jon had done a great job arranging everything for the party and she was very grateful that son had the ninth birthday party he wanted. Tim was really growing up so fast. She thought.
"Who wants cake?" she heard her mother announce and seconds later, kids were running towards her shouting "I do".
She laughed as they crowded around Delia. Her mother loved kids. Even when she was little, Delia always encouraged her and Jon to bring her friends over. Which Jon the food lover never failed to do.
Her father sat in a corner, watching the kids with a smile on his face. Jon and his fiance, Kate were also present. Katherine had to admit, life was much better when you had your family around and you knew they would always be there for you no matter what.
She reached out for one of the snow cones and when she looked up. The sight of Jensen's car almost gave her a heart attack. She hadn't seen him in a while. It was almost like he was avoiding her just as she was avoiding him. And he never called to ask her on a date again. Katherine didn't know if she should be relieved or angry at him.
Well he was here now and while the kids were still crowded around her mother, Jensen went to chat with her father.
Jonah Kavell loved Jensen Packard. He and Hank Packard, Jensen's father, had been friends before Hank died. They got along so well and Jonah saw Jensen as a son.
Katherine watched them, everyone seemed to get along with him so well. Everyone except her.
Her heart skipped a bit when Jensen looked in her direction. She scolded herself for getting caught ogling him. She turned away. But minutes later, her heart nearly stopped beating when he stood up and began to walk towards her. A wrapped gift in his hand.
Damn. What was the reason for this stupid reaction whenever she saw him?
"Hi, Kat," he said when he got to her. "Nice party".
"Thanks," she said, smiling. "Jon did most of the work though."
He nodded. "It's good," he said, looking around.
"Well, you would know. Since you threw a lot when we were in school" Katherine said.
He threw his head back and laughed. The sound did things to Katherine's insides. She fought to concentrate.
"You can't blame me, Kat." he said finally. "I think that was when I was going through my 'rebellious phase'".
"Well you certainly had a lot of those" Katherine replied smiling.
He nodded. "God. I was so immature back then".
"I'm glad you admit it now"
"Well, when you told me back then, you were trying to annoy me," he said. "I wasn't going to agree with you".
Katherine laughed. "You asked for it".
They were interrupted by Tim, whose mouth was filled with cake. A few crumbs were still on his face.
"Hi Jensen," he said. "You came"
"Well I wasn't going to miss it when you invited me personally" Jensen said, grinning and Tim smiled.
"This is yours," Jensen said and gave Tim the gift he was holding.
"Thank you," Tim said excitedly. "What is it?" he asked.
"Well I can't ruin the surprise. Go check it out yourself" Jensen said.
Tim grinned, then he ran off with his gift. Yelling "thank you".
Katherine ventured to the eastern side of the house where she had a little garden. Jensen walked with her. On the far side of the garden, there was an Oak tree. A swing hung suspended from one of its branches.
"I didn't know Tim invited you," she said.
"He did." he paused, then added. "You don't want me here?".
Katherine turned to him. "No..." she said, sounding surprised. "I mean yes... Of course I want you here.... " she sighed and he smiled.
Katherine continued. "I mean you are welcome here. Tim wanted you here and I'm glad you came".
He nodded.
Gingerly, Katherine sat down in the seat and gave the swing a desultory push with the toe of her sandals.
Tilting her head back, she closed her eyes and let the dappled sunlight spill across her face. She breathed deeply of the sultry air, which was heavily scented with honeysuckle and gardenia.
"I see you still have a thing for swings and trees," Jensen said.
Katherine smiled. She opened her eyes. Jensen, standing with both hands in the rear pockets of his jeans, was watching her. His eyes looked darker than usual.
He moved behind her, placed his hands above hers on the ropes, and began pushing the swing, not too vigorously, but enough to let the wind sift through her hair.
"No I don't" she denied.
"Are we really going to do this?" he asked. The tone of his voice suggested that he was chuckling.
She lowered her foot and plowed a yard long furrow in the ground before the swing came to a stop. She had to angle her head far back in order to look him in the eye. The crown of her head came close to touching his belly.
He didn't move, although the conversation would have been much easier if he had let go of the ropes and stepped around the swing to face her.
"That's right," she said finally. "I kinda still do"
He smiled. "Thank you for admitting it, at least," he said.
"You must think I'm crazy". Katherine said, although she wasn't completely talking about the swing.
"I think you are.... Intriguing" he admitted after pausing to search for the right word. "Infact, Kat, you confound the hell out of me"
His voice sounded so intense for comfort. She tried to make light of what he had said and divert the topic to him.
"You are a fairly puzzling character yourself" she said.
He smiled then. "Me?" he asked.
"Uh-huh."Katherine said."For example, for a bachelor living alone, you don't go out much. It's really different from the Jensen i knew growing up"
"I guess my job doesn't leave much time for the pursuit of pleasure," he said. "I'm a busy man".
"You don't see women" Katherine said before she could stop the words.
He arched one of his eyebrows. "Are you keeping track?" he asked.
"No," she said quickly. "I just had you pegged as a man who would frequently need female companionship".
God. She knew she should keep quiet, but the words kept coming.
"You mean sex" he said.
"Yes, sex" she repeated uneasily.