She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to keep buying affection. She wasn’t stupid, but she yearned for Veronica’s company again. Her presence and that calm, centred way she looked at her, subtly listening. The dignity of it. Veronica had made her feel like she wasn’t awkward, as if she wasn’t an academic exhibit behind glass.
This time, Kathleen thought, she would suggest something that felt more likeherself. Not a boat cruise. Not small talk over truffled mousse and champagne flutes, but something real and grounded.
As she imagined the scene, her pulse steadied.
They could take a day trip outside the city. Kayak on a freshwater lake out past the state park boundary. She knew the perfect spot, near a marshland reserve with old trees lining the water and wild orchids hidden along the banks. She could pack sandwiches and a thermos. She could show Veronica what an epiphytic root structure looked like on a sun-bleached branch. Talk about birdsongs, and microalgae colonies, and why the lakes had changed colour in the last two years.
It wouldn’t be glamorous, but it would be interesting.
If Veronica didn’t mind the silence too much, she could show her the things that made her heart beat faster—spores blooming on fallen bark, moss that glowed under UV light, dragonflies that zipped in tandem over silver-green water.
Perhaps Veronica would laugh. Maybe she wouldn’t.
But Kathleen wouldn’t have to pretend.
She rubbed her temple and made herself a silent promise: she would wait a few days. Let the awkwardness pass and then she would call.
Not toseeVeronica again.
To ask if she might like to seeher.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Her phone buzzed while Marise was eating her lunch and focused on her handwritten notes from the pub night with Ted. She checked the screen:Langford Services. Elise.
She swallowed the last bite and answered, “Veronica speaking.”
“Good morning, Veronica. I have a client request for you.”
Marise sat up a little straighter. “Who from?”
“Dr. Knowles. On Saturday, she asked for a daytime booking. An outdoors excursion, she said.”
That caught Marise off guard. She blinked. “Did she say where to?”
“No specifics yet. Only that it would be out of the city and low-key. She said it was up to you if you wanted to go, but she’d like if you did. And to wear casual clothes, and bring a bathing suit.” Elise let a pause settle before continuing, “Darlene Hunt also asked for you on Saturday night.”
Marise leaned against the bench, keeping her voice neutral. “Tell Dr Knowles I’d be delighted to accept her invitation. Inform Mrs Hunt I won’t be available.”
There was a glimmer of amusement in Elise’s voice. “I shall inform Mrs Hunt.”
“I’m sure some of the other girls will be pleased to accommodate her,” Marise said dryly. Fucking Darlene had no hope of getting her again. “I’d prefer it if you would take me off her list.”
“That can be arranged,” said Elise. “We understand some clients do not suit everyone.”
Marise smiled to herself. If anything, Elise was certainly diplomatic. “Thank you,” she said and meant it.
Elise hesitated before going on, “Dr Knowles is becoming a valued client. She sounded…very tentative about asking for our services again. She’s…impressionable and needs to be treated with care. She isn’t like our regular customers.”
“I am aware of that, Elise,” said Veronica. “I’ll look after her.”
“Very good. I’ll forward the final details as soon as I have them.”
The line disconnected and Marise lowered the phone, feeling a flush of pleasure. Kathleen had asked for her, not Ava.
She’d picked a daytime outing, something to do with water—unsupervised, not built around champagne flutes or flattery. It wasn’t a date per se, but it felt like it.
She braced both hands on the counter, her palms cool against the table. Elise hadn’t said it outright, though it was clear she was watching. If Kathleen got hurt, the agency wouldn’t hesitate to come down on her hard.
