If Veronica was surprised, she didn’t show it. Her expression was calm, perfectly composed, no flicker of recognition in her tone or her gaze. It made something tighten in Kathleen’s chest. She knew Veronica was being discreet but it still hurt.
Edith, already halfway through a glass of pinot, beamed across the table. “Darlene always brings such stylish people with her. Veronica, are you in fashion?”
“Not exactly,” Veronica replied with a small smile. “I work in lifestyle consulting—event prep, personal coaching, things like that.”
“Sounds very modern,” Edith said approvingly. “You must be good at reading people.”
“I try,” Veronica said, her eyes flicking to Kathleen for the briefest second before returning to Edith.
The waiter came by to take drink orders, and conversation shifted to an upcoming charity auction. Kathleen sat quietly, listening to Edith and Darlene chat like old friends—fast-paced, full of old shorthand and friendly glances.
But her focus kept slipping back to Veronica.
She didn’t say much, but when she did, her voice was warm, low, husky. She laughed at Darlene’s jokes, and once, when Darlene reached across the table to pour her a little more wine, her fingers brushed Veronica’s wrist. A whisper of contact, deliberate and affectionate in its subtlety.
Veronica didn’t react, offered a faint smile and murmured, “Thank you.”
Kathleen looked down at her plate. The food had arrived but she wasn’t really hungry.
“You’re awfully quiet tonight,” David said, glancing over at her.
“I’m tired, David,” she said, and offered him a small smile. “Long week.”
Darlene turned to her with a look that was equal parts amused and curious. “Edith told me how hard you work, Kathleen. What is it you’re working on that keeps you so focused?”
“No shop-talk tonight,” Edith admonished her friend.
Darlene rolled her eyes. “I was only trying to point out that Kathleen shouldn’t work so hard. She’s young…she should take some time off to enjoy herself.”
“She’s got that from her father,” Edith added. “Head down, no nonsense.”
Veronica’s voice was soft. “There’s nothing wrong with focus.”
Kathleen looked up. Their eyes met for only a heartbeat, but it was enough to make her feel unsteady.
Darlene noticed. Her gaze lingered on Veronica a moment longer than necessary. “Well, I must say, it’s refreshing to spend time with someone who listens as well as she speaks. Veronica’s been a very calming influence on me.”
“That’s rare,” Edith said. “You’re usually the one doing all the talking.”
“Exactly,” Darlene said with a low chuckle, “and it’s nice to feel looked after, for once.”
Kathleen picked up her wineglass and took a long sip.
The rest of the dinner passed without incident. Veronica never broke her role, never slipped out of character. Yet, the grace with which she moved, the ease she showed with Darlene made Kathleen feel like she was watching a play she didn’t audition for. One she wasn’t sure how to interrupt.
As they stood to leave, Veronica held Darlene’s coat while she slid her arms in. Darlene smiled and said something too low to hear, and Veronica responded with a soft laugh that Kathleen felt like a kick in her ribs. They all stepped out together into the cool evening air. The city shimmered beyond the restaurant awning, a soft hush settling over the sidewalk. Edith was laughing as she adjusted her scarf, linking arms with David on one side and Kathleen on the other. Darlene slipped her hand through Veronica’s arm, resting against her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“You don’t mind walking a little, do you?” Darlene asked Veronica, looking up at her with a smile that was unmistakably fond.
“Not at all,” Veronica replied, calm as ever.
Kathleen trailed a few steps behind, watching the shape of Darlene’s hand against Veronica’s sleeve. It wasn’t possessive, but it wasn’t casual either.
They strolled half a block together, the conversation light, an old story about one of Edith’s experiments, an upcoming charity luncheon, but Kathleen remained silent.
When the car David ordered pulled up, Edith kissed her on both cheeks. “We’ll talk soon. Just the two of us next time. Lunch maybe?”
“That sounds like a plan. I’ll let you know when, honey,” Darlene said, then glanced at Veronica fondly. “Meanwhile, I’ll keep this one out of trouble.”
