“This is your show, Erik. You tell them what we want to do,” Seth said.
“Well,” Erik said slowly. “I’m a photographer, working mainly with videotape instead of film. I worked at a network affiliate television station for a while.” He darted a quick glance at Kathleen. “Last year, I went to Europe and knocked around for a while. Missing the States, I came back with hopes of establishing my own production company and thought that the Bay Area was a good place to settle. Some financial backers, whom I was lucky enough to find, referred me to Seth. Not only has he agreed to invest in my new company, but he has also dubbed Kirchoff’s as my first major account. We plan to produce commercials for the stores that will be innovative and unique. Hopefully, when they begin to air, they’ll generate more clients for my company. Kirchoff’s is, after all, a very prestigious name to have in one’s portfolio. Eventually, I’d also like to do industrial films, documentaries, things like that.”
“That’s wonderful, Erik!” Kathleen cried, her enthusiasm for his new venture bubbling forth before she could stifle it. The other three at the table turned to her in surprise. Flushing, she looked toward Seth and said, “This is what we’ve needed to do, Seth. I couldn’t be more pleased with your decision.”
He grinned and reached for her hand. “I knew you’d feel that way. I’m counting on you to help Erik.”
Her eyes flew to Erik, then back to her husband. “In… in what way?” she stammered.
“I want you to act as a consultant for him. He knows a lot about production, but he claims not to know a lot about fashion. He wants your expert opinion on all that before each commercial is made.” His dark eyes shone with excitement and, despite her own misgivings about Erik’s sudden resurgence in her life and the prospect of their working together, she couldn’t help but be glad to see Seth’s exuberance.
“Hazel, what do you think?” Seth asked. She had remained ominously silent.
The older woman smiled sweetly at Erik and said, “I’m afraid I am ignorant about television commercials. I’ll reserve judgment on Mr. Gudjonsen’s craft until we’ve had time to see the results of his labors.” On that dim note, she suggested that they go into the living room for coffee.
Erik ushered in Hazel, while Kathleen walked beside Seth’s chair, holding onto his free hand. No sooner were they settled than George carried in a large silver tray with a coffee service and china cups and saucers on it. He set the laden tray on the coffee table. Alice came in with Theron straddling her broad hip. “The little prince is ready for bed, but he wants to kiss everyone goodnight.”
Kathleen noticed Hazel’s expression of stern disapproval, but Alice set the toddler on the floor and he immediately ran to Erik after his mother had given him the first goodnight kiss. With a naturalness that surprised Kathleen, Erik picked up the pajama-clad boy and hauled him onto his lap. With the indiscrimination of a child, Theron wrapped his chubby arms around Erik’s neck and gave him a smacking kiss on the mouth.
Theron pulled away and rubbed his face comically. The mustache had tickled and he was instantly intrigued by this new, fun toy. His fingers reached up and plucked at it.
“Ouch! That’s attached, Captain,” Erik said, but he didn’t deter Theron’s curiosity. He laughed and stroked Theron’s back, staring down into eyes that Kathleen knew were mirror images of his own.
She watched Erik’s face in suspense. At first she read incredulity, then bewilderment, then enlightenment. Her heart stopped. Erik raised his eyes over the top of Theron’s head and she shook under their piercing accusation.
Theron clambered down and toddled on his sturdy little legs to Hazel. She accepted his kiss with a gushing falsity that sickened Kathleen. Then he was beside Seth, climbing unassisted onto his lap.
“Isn’t he wonderful, Erik? Was ever a man so lucky to have a son like this?” Theron got down from Seth’s lap and went once more to Kathleen, who knelt and hugged him to her fiercely. He indulged her by allowing her to cover his face with soft, quick kisses before he was again handed over to Alice.
“Thank you, George. I’ll serve the coffee,” Kathleen said quietly as the couple left the room to carry Theron to bed before eating their own dinner in the kitchen, another custom that irked her. Why couldn’t they all eat together like the big family they were?
Seth extolled Theron’s virtues and recounted escapades for Erik while Kathleen poured the coffee, first serving Hazel, who drank hers black. Both Erik and Seth had ordered theirs with a splash
of brandy. When she handed Erik his cup, her fingers had momentarily made contact with his, and it was like an electric bolt that ran up her arm and aimed directly for her heart.
Shakily, she poured Seth’s coffee and was carrying it to him when Erik said, “He’s quite a boy. How old is he? When did you say his birthday is?”
That was when Kathleen’s trembling hand lost control of the cup. It slipped off the saucer and into Seth’s lap, splattering it with scalding coffee.
Chapter Thirteen
Kathleen stared stupidly at the hot liquid being absorbed by the fabric of Seth’s trousers. Finally, conditioned reflexes took over and she cried, “Oh, Seth, darling, I’m sorry.” She lunged for the tray and picked up a linen napkin, then came back to him quickly, blotting up the hot coffee in his lap before he could protest.
“Kathleen,” he said, laughing. “Dear, don’t bother yourself.” Anguished moans were coming from between her tense, colorless lips. “The one good thing about my paralysis is that it takes something pretty painful to even bother me. Remember?” he asked gently, taking the stained napkin out of her hand. “Go drink your coffee. You look like you could stand some.”
She walked like an automaton to the couch and sat down, but she didn’t pour any coffee. She didn’t think her shaking hands could handle it, so she clasped them tightly in her lap while Seth wheeled over and served himself another cup.
He was chuckling under his breath. “I think the dry cleaners can get this stain out, but if they can’t, I’ll buy a new suit at Kirchoff’s. I hear their fall lines are terrific.”
He looked toward his guest with a broad grin, but Erik didn’t share the humor. He was staring at the spot on Seth’s lap that had just been doused with scalding liquid and yet displayed no feeling. No feeling.
A half-hour later, Erik stood up and said his goodnights. “I’ve enjoyed the evening. I was getting tired of eating out. Thank you, Hazel. Kathleen.” He crossed the room with his long-legged stride and stopped in front of Seth’s wheelchair. Shaking hands with the man, he said earnestly, “I’m looking forward to doing business with you.”
“Same here,” Seth said firmly, and smiled his heart-melting smile. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to let Kathleen show you to the door. I think I’d better let George get me out of these clothes as soon as possible.”
“I’ll take you as far as your door,” Hazel said solicitously to her brother, assuming a proprietary position behind his chair.
Kathleen’s knees would barely support her as she rose and walked with Erik to the wide arch leading into the hall. “Oh, Kathleen,” Seth delayed their departure, “I promised to show Erik how we’ve lighted the pool. Would you be so kind as to take him around back and show it to him before he leaves?”