Passionate Pleasures by Bertrice Small

Author:Bertrice Small [Small, Bertrice]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2015-11-26T16:00:00+00:00

November was upon them now. The trees were almost stripped bare of their leaves, the glorious October color now gone. The days grew shorter. And everyone in town suddenly knew that Principal Timothy Blair was courting Miss Kathy. Mostly they went out on Friday and Saturday nights, just like dating kids. From kissing they had progressed to old-fashioned petting, and Kathryn looked forward to each and every date.

She invited him to Sunday dinner one week. He reciprocated the following week.

And then one morning in his office he received a surprising call.

“Mr. Blair, this is Debora St. John, Hallock’s wife. How are you?”

“Quite well, Mrs. St. John. How may I help you?” he replied, curious.

“Oh no, this isn’t about the children,” Debora quickly said. “I was wondering if you would come to Thanksgiving dinner. Kathy is coming, and we would be so pleased if you would join us too. Nothing fancy, of course. Just an ordinary Thanksgiving.”

Tim doubted Thanksgiving at the St. Johns was ordinary. Ordinary was not a word he would associate with either Kathy or her brother. “I would be absolutely delighted to come for Thanksgiving dinner,” he heard himself say. “What time would you like me?”

“Four o’clock would be lovely,” she answered. “I’m so glad you’re coming!”

And she did sound glad, which touched him. “See you then, Mr. Blair.” She rang off.

It was an excuse to call Kathy. He punched in her number.

“Egret Pointe Public Library, Mavis speaking.”

“Mavis, Tim Blair. Is Kathy there?”

“Hey, handsome,” Mavis cooed. “Sure, I’ll put you through.”

Two rings.

“Kathryn St. John speaking.”

“Hey,” he said. “Your sister-in-law just invited me to Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Good grief,” she replied. “It would appear you have been accepted, and in record time, I might say. Debora would not have invited you without Hallock’s okay.”

“How fancy?” he asked her.

“Jacket and tie,” she told him. “But it doesn’t have to be a suit.”

“Why don’t I pick you up?” he suggested. “No need for us to take two cars, is there? What’s the parking situation at your brother’s house like?”

“Minimal,” she said. “Yes, pick me up. What time did Debora say?”

“Four,” he replied.

“Pick me up at four then. It’s just five minutes to the St. John manse,” Kathryn told him. “We’ll be considered right on time.”

“How’s the Christmas Book Fair coming along?”

“Pretty good actually. We’ve got several committees of very dedicated people this year. Making it Dickensy to fit in with the merchants’ shop décor this year has met with a great deal of enthusiasm from everyone,” Kathryn said. She paused. “Could I get you to participate, Tim?”

“How?” He had actually wanted to be part of her event, but he hadn’t known how to ask her, or if asking her would have been considered forward.

“I don’t want to have a Santa Claus. It’s not in keeping with the fair’s theme. But I would love it if you would be the ghost of Christmas Present. We would set you up on a large throne surrounded by Christmas décor. You would appear several times during the fair, seat yourself, and read a Christmas story to the children.

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