A Light on Altered Land by Becky Bohan

Author:Becky Bohan [Bohan, Becky]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-01-12T05:00:00+00:00

ChAPTER 24

If Ellie and Kathryn weren’t already in love, Yosemite in April, muffled with fresh snow under a brilliant sapphire sky, would surely have done it. The bank of windows in their room at the Ahwahnee Hotel looked out on snow-dappled pines. The plush drapery and bedding, the Native American artwork, and the comfortable leather sofa gave the room a rustic, yet elegant panache. On the coffee table a glass ice bucket held a bottle of champagne and two flutes. A plate with cheese and fruit sat alongside.

Ellie set up a charging station on the small corner table while Kathryn arranged her clothes tidily in the chest of drawers.

“You’re unpacking?” Ellie said as she cracked open a window.

Kathryn glanced up. “Aren’t you? We’ll be here a few days.”

“No. I thought I’d just get things out of my suitcase as needed.”

Kathryn raised an eyebrow. “I see. Well … different styles … .”

“Speaking of style, did you order this?” Ellie picked up the bottle of champagne and examined the label.

“I did.” Kathryn rolled her suitcase under the bed and checked her phone. “Oh, good, I’m getting a strong signal … and a text from my daughter.” She sent a quick reply and joined Ellie on the couch.

Ellie popped the cork and poured them each a glass. “Speaking of your daughter … I’m curious about something.”

Kathryn’s gaze snapped into focus.

“You’ve told me about Nate, his pulmonology practice and his family. But you’ve never said much about Jenn. Why is that?”

“You’ve never seemed that curious about my children. I know people can get bored by parents going on and on about their kids and grandkids.”

“I’m sorry if you were waiting for me to ask. Of course, I want to know about them—they’re your family.” The unspoken extension was that they were on their way to becoming her family. “What’s Jenn’s story?”

Kathryn centered a wedge of brie on a whole grain cracker, as though precision with her food would carry over to her answer. “It’s a somewhat painful topic these days.”

“Maybe you’d like to wait until another time to discuss this,” Ellie said, tipping her flute toward Kathryn, who smiled wistfully. “Let’s celebrate now.” They clinked their glasses, but a sour pall had settled in the room, one even the fresh breeze from the Sierras could not dispel.

“I want to talk about Jenn,” Kathryn said, “and now is a good time with champagne in hand and food to fortify me.”

Ellie settled back to listen.

“The divorce hit her hard. Even though Joe left me for another woman, Jenn blames me … that I wasn’t attentive enough or maybe I’d put on a few too many menopausal pounds.

“No!”

Kathryn held up a hand. “That’s Jenn. Or, as she’s fond of pointing out, as a therapist I should have seen the danger signals in my own marriage and done something to save it. There’s some truth in that, as you know.”

“Grrrrr … I want to defend you.”

“Jenn is complicated. She’s a strange and wonderful mix of strength and dependency, braininess and naiveté.

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