Part Three:
If this does not convince her of my sincerity then I have no idea what will Kim considered as he appraised for the last time the bouquet of flowers he had managed to throw together, thanks to a quick trip to the greenhouse. The chief gardener was somewhat annoyed at being disturbed, complaining that there were things she needed to do and helping to create an arrangement for his benefit was not what she had in mind. After a little cajoling, however, she finally pointed out what would complement the other and then returned to her work, muttering something about him obviously having nothing better to do. But the expression in her eyes indicated that she was surprised to see him creating a bouquet for anyone!
Of course I have something better to do! I need...no...have to beat Sid to the punch! I’m tired of getting his leftovers...when he has any.
Although he could not yet explain why this unknown woman from Indiana had captured his imagination when he had no idea what she looked like or if she was even his type.
For all I know she has a mole on the tip of her nose and a great big black hair growing out of it....Oh no...no...I shouldn’t fool myself that way. She’s pretty....I’m sure of it. I know she is, simply because Tina is not going to hire some hag to work in our kitchens....Of course...that’s not precluding the possibility that she could be fat...or old...or has some other handicap I’m not taking into consideration...such as being ready to go all googly-eyed over one of the others...and he shuddered at the thought.
For one of the first times in his existence at the Point, Kim was taking the proverbial bull by the horns, although... although I may be making an enormous mistake...I ought to just let Sid examine her first and then if she’s not interested in him, I can move in and play....Good...She’s still here and he grinned at the sight of her SUV still parked in the front driveway. No doubt she and Tina are sharing a nice chat about ‘back home.’ He paused at the first reflective surface, appraised his appearance, then clearing his throat, walked towards the hotel’s main entrance. Let’s see...Arthur won’t cause much of a problem. I mean...it’s Arthur! Tina will be annoyed but won’t want it to show in front of the new employee; would make the woman uncomfortable if she did and she won’t want that. She’ll scold me later...but if this all works out, it’ll be worth it. I wonder what her name is. Arthur seemed to get such joy in telling me that she is a she...like he was revealing some top secret. No wonder Sid can’t stand him. Of course, Sid can’t really stand any... Glancing around him, Kim opened the right-hand door. ...one and he doesn’t try to hide it, whereas I....I can be the most perfect, most charming, and I really don’t want others to think that I’m....Hmm....
No one was around. He quietly moved inside, thinking Arthur might be behind the desk as he usually was, but the boy was not there. In fact, everything – the desk, Reception, the sitting area – appeared deserted.
“Arthur?” he called out, but not too terribly loud, and once again he moved forward, almost on tiptoe and strained his neck to glance about. “Arthur?” Where is he? “Arthur? Come out, come out, wherever you...” I’ll be damned. He’s left his post. I’m shocked beyond words. The little Obergruppenführer....I wonder where....”Arthur?” he said one final time and then sighed, smiling. “Good.” He smoothed his tie, then his hair, and fiddled with the bouquet a tad more before he stepped behind the desk.I’m sure Tina won’t mind if I come to see her on some business...although she’s going to wonder why I’m bringing flowers, but all I need say is that I realized we had a new arrival and I wanted to make them feel at....
“Kim?”
Kim felt the blood drain from his face upon hearing the other – and very recognizable – voice, but he managed to regain his composure upon seeing another of his siblings suddenly appear on the customer side of the desk. He gulped, unable to immediately speak. Shit! Where the hell had he come from? Was he hiding on purpose?
“Is Tina seeing you today?”
“Uh...Hello. I...I didn’t know anyone...I didn’t see Arthur and...Well...I wasn’t looking for Tina per se but...What are you doing here?” Why the hell did I put it that way? He’s only going to say...
“Funny...I didn’t know I needed a reason to see my wife.”
‘I didn’t know I needed a reason to see my wife.’ See...I knew it. He also was never certain why – although they were the same stature – the sight of John Biebe always intimidated him. “Well...Well no, John...No...No you don’t, do you?” he sneered, his bravado still intact. There was no way he would give the Alaskan the pleasure of believing he was afraid. “You are absolutely right about that. Tina is your wife...and a lovely woman she is. I’ve always said that you’re a very lucky...”
“And...you’re bringing Tina flowers?” There was no jealousy in the words – only natural suspicion, and Kim knew that if he was in the same position as John, he would have thought the same.
“Flowers? Oh these? Why I....Well no, no I’m not truth be told. I...um...No...these...these aren’t for your wife, John. These...Uh...these...these aren’t for Tina. They’re for....”
“Arthur?”
Why does he have to be such a prick on top of it? The joke was so indignant that he became flustered without meaning to, but the second the sheriff moved to Kim’s side of the desk, he felt his fist relax. Not that he planned on hitting his brother, but it had been such a natural reaction to being teased. “No...No John...of course not. What do I look like – a poof?! You’re confusing me with Jeff! I just thought...” He sighed, rolling his eyes. “Can’t I be nice for once and offer some flowers to our newest resident as my way of saying ‘Welcome?’” He saw that his brother was staring even harder at him
“I didn’t realize you knew our new resident, Kim.”
And why does he always have to act like a cop? “Well I don’t know her...exactly....I was passing by earlier and saw Arthur out by her SUV and he told me she had arrived...” I’m rambling – John knows I’m rambling. “...and I thought ‘wouldn’t it be nice if someone made a nice gesture and...’”
“Kim? You never make nice gestures.”
“There’s a first time for everything, brother dear. Perhaps I’m following up on a resolution I made last New Year’s. You know: ‘I vow to be nice to people without expecting anything...’” He’s not believing me. “‘...in...’” He’s even more suspicious.“‘...return.’” Oh God! Why couldn’t Arthur had been here instead?! I could have conned my way past him! “Fine! All right, John – you got me!”
John cocked his head to one side, smiling innocently as he did. “I did?”
“You know you did you....Yes, I’m bringing flowers to the new resident and yes, I know she is a woman because Arthur told me.”
“And the second Arthur did, you got interested, right?”
“Of course I did. How many times...? John...” His voice was halfway between pleading and attempting to gain some understanding. “How many times...? Are you listening to me?”
“I’m listening.” Although he wished he was inside Tina’s office, which was the object of his destination when he entered the hotel. He had seen Arthur outside, playing with a strange cat – whom he learned was named Casey and that he belonged to the new chef – and had told the younger man that he was on his way to see Tina, so he was surprised to find Kim tipping about and calling ‘Arthur’ as if hoping his sibling would never appear.
“How many times have I met someone before Sid got his hands on her? And I don’t mean that in the literal sense either.”
“I know what you mean.” Although John had not been present when it happened all those years before, he knew that Sid had unsuccessfully attempted to seduce Tina upon her arrival at what was then called the Crowe’s Nest, but found himself not only getting the cold-shoulder from her, but nearly rammed through a wall by Bud!
“So here I am, getting a rare opportunity to meet a new female resident and introducing myself to said female, and hoping that perhaps she might find me even the most vaguely interesting before she is accosted by Sid or...or...or...starts swooning over the likes of Maximus...or Bud...or Terry...or some son-of-a-bitch that hasn’t...even...shown up yet!” He didn’t even realize that he was spitting out the names until John took a couple of steps backwards.
“So you thought you’d harass her first?”
“Harass? No!” he nearly squealed, then cleared his throat to regain his composure. “No John of course...John! I may be a lot of things but I am not that much like Sid.”
“Look...Kim...I don’t really care how much like Sid you are.”
“Well, I do. I hear the jokes. I’m not stupid, and I don’t appreciate being called ‘Sid Light’ as if that’s a compliment. He’s not as evil as Sid, but give him time.”
“I...Kim...just...Look...The last thing I want is for you to go in there interrupting Tina and her guest so you can make some kind of impression on a woman who probably doesn’t know you from Adam.”
“See?! That’s why I want to introduce myself before someone gives her some exaggerated opinion of me...”
“Or she sees your movie.”
“Right!” Shit...didn’t mean to agree with him on that one. “I mean...”
“Kim...” John raised his hand, indicating the conversation was nearly at an end. “I don’t care. Just wait until the new chef gets settled in, all right?”
“Are you not getting it through your skull, John? I need to meet her before Sid does and...”
“I don’t really give a rat’s ass what you’re trying to beat Sid at.” John kept his voice low, not wanting the sounds to penetrate the office door’s thick wood. For one, he hated disturbing Tina and bringing her into a situation like this; for another, he did not want Kim accosting the new arrival so soon that she went running back to Indiana. He realized it was inevitable that she meet all of the Point’s citizens, but as Maximus might intone Not yet....Not yet. “Good freaking....Leave the woman alone! Got it?” He saw Kim’s blue-green eyeballs roll into his head. “Got it, Kim?”
“Yes John, I get it. God forbid that once...just once...I get the chance at someone like you or my other darling siblings. Even that fucking Egan has NormaJean! But that’s all right. I’m fine. I’ll...I’ll just slip back under my little rock and you all can pretend I don’t exist...as usual!”
“Trust me...we know you exist.”
“Ha ha.” Had he been less of a man, he considered, he would have stuck out his tongue, but instead, he stood as stiff as a ramrod, clicked his heels together and in one fluid movement gave the Nazi salute. “Sieg heil mein Sheriff Führer!” and before John could say another word, turned and goose-stepped out of the lobby, taking a second to fling the bouquet onto a tabletop as he left.
“Stupid bastard,” Biebe muttered, shaking his head. He picked up the flowers, saw that little damage had been done and looking about, noticed an empty vase in one corner. He was placing the bouquet in it when Arthur returned, Casey’s carrier in his arms.
“And I’ll see if we can find some tuna for...” Arthur was telling the cat when he saw his older brother. “Oh John...I thought you’d be in there with Tina. Is she still with...?”
“I got interrupted,” was all he would say, but Arthur noticed the ‘cat that ate the canary’ smile. “When you get a chance, can you add some water to this?”
“Of course, but why don’t you take them into Tina? You know how much she loves...”
“I...think she’d prefer them out here,” John added with a wink and before Arthur could inquire further, the Alaskan walked over to the door to his wife’s office and gave it a gentle knock, disappearing inside when he heard a voice say ‘Come in.’
“John!” Tina exclaimed on seeing her husband’s face.
“Am I too late to take you out for lunch?”
Glimpsing the clock on her fireplace mantlepiece, she shook her head. “Nope...not at all. We were thinking about taking a break anyway. John...I know you haven’t met her yet but this is Adalia Rabinovich.”
“The new chef.” John was at her side in a few steps and he extended one hand so they might shake. “Tina’s been telling me about you. Glad to meet you.”
“Well, it’s good to finally meet you too. Tina’s told me about you as well.”
“She has?” John raised an eyebrow. “Should I be worried?”
Both women laughed. “John...stop!” Tina told him. “So...Adalia...how about it? You want to take a break for a couple or three hours and then we’ll hookup again later this afternoon? Um...give you a chance to check out your things and the condo...oh and Casey.”
“Casey! Oh God...I hope he’s all...”
“I just left him with Arthur and he’s fine,” John assured her. “Actually...I think he and Arthur are becoming pretty good friends. Arthur was going to find him some tuna fish.”
“He’s going to get more spoiled than he already is,” Adalia exclaimed as she stood. “But you’re right Tina. I think it would be a good idea for me to check and make sure everything’s intact and all. And Arthur’s already told me that when I need help setting up my furniture, let him know and he’ll round up some volunteers.”
Tina nodded. “That’s what he’s good at. I’m sure the movers did the best they could when they put your things in there, but you want to make it your home. And let me know when you’re ready. I’m going to throw you a housewarming party.”
“Oh Tina you don’t have to.”
“Too late,” John told her. “Tina’s already made up a planning notebook. Once she does that it’s a done deal.”
Adalia looked back at her new employer, who simply shrugged and smiled. “He’s right you know.”
“Okay....Okay that sounds...sounds great. It’ll give me a chance to meet everybody too.”
“Yep...” and momentarily she sensed John’s unspoken words There might be one or two she can do without. “So...want to meet back here about...three-ish then.”
“I’ll be here....John – it was very nice meeting you...finally.”
“Nice meeting you too, Adalia and...welcome to the Point.”
“Thank you...and...thank you again, Tina. I mean it. Thanks for everything,” and with a slight bounce in her step, she picked up her briefcase and hurried back into the main area. Both John and Tina could hear her talking to Arthur and Casey, before the sheriff closed the door to give him and his wife some privacy.
“Alone at last,” John teased as Tina sat back down and shuffled some papers.
“Yeah...and I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Leaving before breakfast. I just had so much...”
“Sunny...darlin’...” and he reached across the desk to take her hands, “I already knew you had a load on your plate today. No problem. I wasn’t even sure if you’d be able to have lunch with me.”
“I...was hoping we could,” she shyly replied. “And could we have it outdoors or over at the Tavern or something. I don’t think I can eat another lunch here in my office. I’m getting stir crazy.”
“Your wish is my command, Mrs. Biebe.”
“And what was all that about ‘There might be one or two she can do without’?”
“Oh that.”
“Yes that. What’s up?”
“Guess who I ran into when I got in the Hotel?”
“Who?”
“Kim.”
“Kim? I...Arthur told me he was lurking around earlier.”
“He was?”
Tina nodded as she started putting things away. Ordinarily she didn’t lock the drawers or file cabinets, but considering Kim was about and Sid – once he heard of the new arrival – might start prying as well, it was best she tried to block them as much as possible. “Arthur went out to Adalia’s car to get Casey and Kim came into the driveway and started interrogating Arthur.”
“How did he do?”
“Arthur? He had Kim all in knots. Barely told him anything, so you know that drove him crazy. I was really proud of Arthur. It’s about time he realized he doesn’t have to be all meek and mild around Kim and Sid.”
“I would have loved to have seen that.”
Tina frowned. “But you said he was in the Hotel w hen you got here?”
“Out in the lobby...and getting ready to pay you a surprise visit.”
“What?!”
“He brought flowers.....Oh uh...I put them in a vase. I got them after he threw them away.”
Tina shook her head and rubbed her eyes. “Wait....Flowers? What flowers?”
“The flowers Kim was bringing to our new chef.”
“Okay...I think you’ve lost me.”
“Kim, darlin’, has developed an infatuation for a woman he hasn’t met yet.”
“You mean Adalia?!”
“He wanted to make sure I knew it wasn’t you.”
“Oh Lord.”
“Guess he figured I’d knock the crap out of him if I got confused and thought he was paying attention to you. Of course I couldstill do that if you want me to, just on general principle.”
“No John that’s....Kim? And Adalia? I mean...why is he fascinated with Adalia? She just got here.”
“I know.”
“And as far as I know, he never even saw her when she was here for the interviews.”
“I know. Just...chalk it up to Kim wanting to get a jump on Sid.”
“Sid’s not even here,” she reminded him, as he and Tonya were on holiday on his yacht and would likely not return for another week or two. “Why’s Kim concerned...?”
“He told me that just once he would like to not get Sid’s leftovers...or something like that.”
“And why does he think that Sid is going to get Adalia anyway?” Before her husband could reply – a wry smile on his lips – Tina threw up both hands and laughed. “Never mind. You took care of it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but that doesn’t mean Kim has given up.”
“Great. That’s all I need to hear....Adalia does not deserve this, John – she doesn’t, and I don’t intend on letting Kim make a total ass of himself just so he can prove some point to Sid...like Sid will care anyway.”
Crossing his arms before him, John asked, “You...You don’t really care about Kim’s feelings, do you?”
She snorted a reply. “Hardly. I know he’s been here a long time and he thinks...well...whatever he thinks...but I’m not going to allow him to harass our new chef. I’m not going to. I won’t stand for it.”
“That’s my girl.”
“Well Adalia deserves better than that. It’s not that I’m thinking she’s weak, but she’s under so much pressure right now to prove herself and...and...it’s not just the new kitchen and the wine cellars and all. She pulled up all her roots in Indiana to come to the Point. I’m not going to have that ruined by...”
“Sunny?”
“Yeah?” Even before John brushed the back of his hand against her cheek, Tina could feel how flustered she was; how scarlet her face had grown. Sighing, she returned the action by kissing his fingers, then taking a gentle hold on his wrist. “I know....Don’t lose my temper with him,” came the whispered answer.
“I don’t blame you, darlin’”
“Even if I do want to knock him for a loop.”
John couldn’t help chuckling. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” But now he grew more serious. “Sometimes I wonder how you do it anyway. I know we can be a handful.”
“I used to wonder how Michelle...” But she paused.
“You used to wonder...what?”
Tina turned the chair away from the desk so that she could cross her legs, and the Alaskan could see that this had more to do than future problems with Kim. She did not answer for a few seconds, and then – after looking about as if afraid she might be overheard – she finally confessed, “I used to wonder how she did it....Michelle I mean. How she kept it all together...or...I’m sorry. I shouldn’t even be talking about this right...”
But John was squatting in front of her. “And if you don’t talk about it you’ll keep it bottled up...the way I used to do. Well, the way I try not to do anyway.” His admission made her smile. “Go ahead. What were you going to say?”
She shrugged. “Just...I don’t know. There were...” Her eyes drifted upwards towards the ceiling. “There were just times when I thought That is so awesome what Chelle’s able to do....She...She has such a gift and she’s helped to bring so many of us together and still....And I really used to envy her that, John. I did. I used to think how wonderful it was that she had something that unique about her...and I knew it wore on her – a lot...”
“Yeah...Colin used to tell me that when he felt like...well...when he felt like he needed to talk.”
“But I still couldn’t help wondering what I would do...I mean...if I would be able to be that strong if I...and then...” Tina sighed, shaking her head. “Well, here we are...and now...now I really wonder how she did it and still managed to keep it all together.”
“It’s nice knowing you’re not perfect,” John teased.
“Same here,” she joked, laughing lightly. “Look....Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.”
“Well, this isn’t the time for me to start...wondering...whatever. Guess I’m just trying to figure out what the heck to do about Kim and then I start rambling and...” She laughed. “I think I ought to warn Adalia again.”
“You didn’t tell her about him?”
“Just...something cursory, you know, until I can sit down again with her and go into more detail. ‘That was Kim Barrett and he was in The Efficiency Expert with Anthony Perk....Anthony Hopkins. Did you hear me? I almost said Perkins.”
“Perkins might be more along Kim’s lines...or Sid’s,” John quipped.
“Oh stop it!”
“And don’t forget to remind her that Kim’s a total prick.”
“Well, not in so many words, no, but I guess I ought to....No, John...I don’t want to totally prejudice her against him.”
“Oh....I thought that was why we were discussing this.”
“It’s just...I don’t want her to hate him. She ought to get to...well...get an impression about him just from meeting him; not from you or me telling her things up front about him...although...she may have already gotten that from me.”
“Did you call him Sid Lite?”
“Did I...? No...No....At least I didn’t do that.”
“So look darlin’. Let it go at that. You gave her a slight warning just so she’ll be on her toes and...hey...you never know. Kim’s been here a long time and...”
“John! You’re not suggesting that...”
John put up both hands, indicating she should listen. “I’m only saying that Kim’s been here a long time and he’s never had a single steady relationship – just one and two...or three nighters...but he’s always complaining about feeling on the outside by not having someone more...regular.”
“So whose fault is that? Yours? Because you found someone. Terry’s or Maximus’ or East’s or...?”
“I’m only saying that you never know where this stuff might lead, Tina. I’m...I’m not thinking about throwing the two of them together, but I figure...well...if Hando found someone and Sid too, you just don’t know.”
“Oh God,” Tina groaned, her chin lowering to her chest. “I’m not throwing that poor girl to...”
“No, not throwing her. Just...I’m just saying that if it happens...”
“I’m not feeling that.” Her eyes raised so that she could see the puzzlement on the sheriff’s features. “In my gut...John...I’m not feeling that. There is no connection with Kim – I don’t sense that and I’m usually...I’m usually very good about...”
“Any chance you might be wrong?” He wondered if he had gone too far in questioning her that way, so he was relieved when she hesitantly nodded.
“I...I don’t know. Maybe it’s more an ‘I hope there’s no connection’ than it is I’m certain of it. Look...I’m just going to throw a bit of another warning her way and then...I swear...I will step back and let destiny take its’ course....But if Kim tries to hurt her in any way, shape or form, I will ring his neck and bury him where nobody will find the body. And you know I can do that.”
“Never doubted it for a minute,” John laughed, giving her a tender kiss on the mouth and happy to feel her relax at the touch. “Now...back to what I came here for – taking my beautiful wife to lunch. You still hungry?”
Tina eased her arms about his neck. “Famished.”