"Well, with us, of course. Ginny, I’m not a prude. I know you sleep together. I won’t mind if he stays in your room," Nana said innocently.

Ginny closed her eyes, cursing silently. What was she going to do? She did not want to see Phil. And she certainly did not want him sharing her bed. And for a week? She would never survive.

"Ginny, you surely don’t want him staying in the lodge out on Lake Wenatchee, do you? That’s twenty miles away," she said.

"No," she murmured. We certainly couldn’t have that! "What time tomorrow?" she asked.

"He’s leaving in the morning. Should be here by noon."

"Noon?"

"Yes and I think you should just take the afternoon off. I know it’s Saturday, but Jessica and I can handle it."

Ginny felt like crying but she forced herself to smile at Nana. She meant well. "You’ll stay home tonight, I hope," Nana continued. "We need to clean house. And I’ll have meals to plan," she added. "Oh, this will be fun, won’t it? You can show him around, take him hiking or something. He likes that, doesn’t he? And, now Kara can meet him. I’m sure she’ll like him…" Nana rambled on, but Ginny had stopped listening.

Kara. What was she going to do about Kara? She closed her eyes, trying to ward off the wave of guilt that settled over her. She had just spent the night making love to Kara, waking up entangled in another woman’s arms and now she had to tell that same woman that Phil was coming to spend a week with her. A week in her bed.

She knew that Kara would understand. Ginny couldn’t very well tell Phil and Nana that she would rather Phil not come at all, that she would rather continue exploring her new relationship with Kara. That would be just crazy. Maybe it was good Phil was coming. Did she have any feelings for him still? This would be the only way to find out.

Suddenly, it was all just too complicated. But then, did she think that it wouldn’t be? That she could just ease into this new phase of her life without complications?

Nana left the store early to start dinner and Ginny waited until Jessica had left at closing to call Kara.

"It’s me," she said, when Kara had answered.

"I missed you today," Kara said softly. "Can you come over?" she asked.

Ginny closed her eyes for a moment, wishing she could go to Kara. "I can’t," she said quietly.

"What’s wrong?"

"Phil is coming," she said.

There was silence and Ginny pictured Kara standing there, clutching the phone.

"I see," Kara said finally.

"He called last night, when I was with you. He’s taking vacation next week and coming to visit. Nana’s got it all arranged," she explained.

"Where will he stay?"

"Here, at the house." Ginny heard the uncertainty in Kara’s quiet voice.

"In your bed?"

Ginny was silent for a moment. "Yes," she finally said.

"I see," Kara said again.

"Kara, I don’t know what I can do. I don’t know how to tell him or Nana that I don’t want to see him. They’ve got it all planned. That’s all Nana talked about today."

"I understand. It’s not like I didn’t know about Phil. I mean, I know you’re still technically involved. I just… I guess I didn’t expect him to show up so soon after we . . ." she let her voice trail off and Ginny squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to hear the hurt in Kara’s voice, knowing she could do nothing about it.

"I’m so sorry," she finally said.

"Well, there’s not a whole lot you can do now. And Ginny, maybe this is good, this is what you need right now. To see if… to see if you… still have feelings for him. Maybe you’ll see him and it’ll all come back to you."

Ginny wondered how hard it was for Kara to say those words. She hadn’t seen Phil in nearly nine months now. Her body told her that it was only Kara’s touch she needed but her mind still balked. Was it women or was it just Kara? But did it matter anymore?

"I don’t want to be with him," Ginny said. "I’m just so confused about everything, Kara. I know I want you… but…"

"I know," Kara said. "This is so new for you. Don’t worry about me, Ginny. You’ve got unfinished business with him. Maybe this thing between us is just…"

"Just what? A passing affair?"

"Something like that," Kara said.

"Don’t do this, Kara. I know how I feel about you," Ginny insisted. "This morning when I woke up, it felt so right to be in your arms. It was the most natural thing in the world to wake up with you, to make love with you this morning. No one’s ever made me feel the way that you do. Phil hasn’t come close," Ginny whispered. "And that’s why this is killing me that he’s coming."

"I’m sorry. If I could turn back time…"

"No. I wouldn’t want that. I don’t regret this, Kara. We both knew something was pulling us together. We both knew this would happen. Didn’t we?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes." Then she laughed gently. "Well, in my dreams. I never thought you would actually come to me."

Ginny smiled, feeling some of the tension dissipate. "There was no way I could not go to you, Kara."

"Which brings us back to Phil."

"I’m sorry," she said simply.

"Well, there’s nothing we can do about this. I’ll give you room. You need some time with him, Ginny, whether you think so or not. You know, we haven’t exactly spent our time talking about this thing between us. Maybe we should have. I just…"

"I know. But other things kept getting in the way," she said lightly. She didn’t want to try to analyze her feelings for Kara. She just wanted… to be with her.

Ginny sighed, wishing she had just driven over to the cabin. This conversation should have been in person, not over the phone. But she knew they would get precious little talking done. She couldn’t seem to keep her hands to herself whenever she was around Kara. Anyway, maybe Kara was right. She did need to see Phil, to see if there was anything there, if there ever had been.

"We’ll talk after he’s gone. After you see… how you feel."

"I know that you’re right," Ginny said. "Maybe I do need some time to see how I feel about… everything."

Kara let out a heavy sigh. "Yes. You do. Because if you don’t you’ll always wonder if it would have worked out with him."

"But I can’t stop thinking about you, Kara," Ginny whispered.

"I know. You haven’t left my thoughts all day," Kara said quietly. After only a slight pause, she cleared her throat. "Have a good week," she said and hung up abruptly.

Ginny listened to the dial tone a moment longer, then hung up gently. Despite her words, Ginny had heard the pain in Kara’s voice.


When Phil walked in the store just shortly after noon, Ginny forced a smile to her face and went to him. He looked the same. His brown hair cut short, his moustache neatly trimmed.

"God, I’ve missed you," he whispered in her ear. His arms held her tightly, pressing her breasts against his hard chest and she raised her face for his bruising kiss.

"It’s good to see you," she managed, pulling out of his arms.

"You look great," he said. "Country living must agree with you."

"Hello, Phil," Nana said, giving him a big smile.

"Nana!" He gave her a brisk hug and kissed her cheek. "Thanks for having me," he said.

"I’m so glad you’re here, Phil. And Ginny is, too." She winked at him. "I think she’s been missing you."

"Nana!" Ginny turned pleading eyes to Nana, but she ignored her.

"Oh, Ginny. It doesn’t hurt that Phil knows you’ve missed him, does it?"

"Have you missed me?" Phil asked.

"I suppose," Ginny said and forced another smile to her face. Had she missed him? She hadn’t given much thought to it in more weeks than she could count.

But Phil looked happy with her answer and he draped an arm around Ginny possessively. "We’ve got a lot of catching up to do, sweetheart."

"Yes. That’s why I’ve given Ginny the afternoon off," Nana said, pleased with herself.

"That’s wonderful."

"Ginny, take him to the house and help him unpack. We’ll have dinner at seven. Roast," she added.

Ginny smiled and nodded, wishing she were anywhere at this moment other than here. Nana was positively beaming and Ginny didn’t have the heart to spoil things for her.

She rode with Phil to the house. Nana had planned it that way, she supposed. Nana had skipped her walk this morning, instead, riding with Ginny to the store. She would drive Ginny’s car home later.

"You are glad to see me, aren’t you?" Phil asked.

"I wish you had asked before taking vacation," Ginny said.

"I tried. You weren’t home," he reminded her.

No. She had been with Kara, in her arms… making love. She felt a twinge of guilt and sighed, trying to keep thoughts of Kara away. She had to if she were to survive this week. "I still wish you had waited and talked to me first."

"Ginny, I had to see you. You’ve been gone for nine months. Don’t you think that’s long enough?"

"Long enough for what?"

He smiled in that way of his. Cocky, she thought. And she hated it. "It’s time we got married, Ginny."

"Married?"

"Yes. I know you left because you were scared when I asked you before. I love you, Ginny. We’re good together. It’s been four years. Well, nearly five now. It’s time."

Ginny closed her eyes, feeling sick to her stomach. How dare he? How dare he come here after nine months of separation and talk marriage? As if they had never been apart? As if they had not spoken of this before?

"I’m not ready," she said.

"Don’t start that again, please. You’re just scared," he said.