Meet Cate by Fiona Barnes Page B

Melissa had carried outside sat waiting on a small table at her elbow.
    She wore a soft-blue cardigan, three gentle clips buttoned at the top then falling loose to her tiny waist. Closer to her skin lay a soft tank top of the same color. Faded from repeated washings, Levi's hugged her hips and kissed her tan ankles. Her waist-length pin-straight blonde-streaked hair cascaded behind her shoulders, bangs just hiding her eyebrows. When she smiled, spoke or laughed, those bangs would dance, highlighting big blue eyes and lashes the length of butterfly wings.
    Melissa and Cate had been friends for more than ten years. They'd met at a cocktail reception, both admiring the same work from an up-and-coming artist, a young woman from the area: Jessica. Jess had threatened to sell them both rights to the same painting, her eyes full of laughter, the joy of the moment evident on her glowing face. In the end, a friendship grew between the three women. Jessica sold Melissa the original and Cate another, similar piece. Each of the three walked away happy with the memory. Both Melissa and Cate kept the canvases in their offices, as a symbol of beautiful things that might grow−given the chance.
    Jess would be great to have on the show in the new year, Melissa thought idly. She'd tell her assistant, Mary, tomorrow. Mary would call Jessica and set everything up. Mary was a God-send.
    Melissa had vowed when she'd hired her to give Mary office hours unless it was an emergency. In her opinion, anything that couldn't wait should be handled herself−it created a situation where her self-respect stayed intact. And Mary's gratitude felt good. In the beginning, Melissa had paid Mary a huge amount of money to do the smallest things for her. Mary had quickly risen to a place of trust where she'd earned access to several accounts including one of Melissa's payrolls.
    When she showed a distinct love of organization, Melissa assigned Mary to her studio office where Mary efficiently went to work. Soon Melissa's computer system, her files and her office hummed. Mary had gifted Melissa time, order and more peace than the busy executive had ever dreamed she'd see again with the schedule she kept. It was a perfect union, and Melissa was never more filled with gratitude. She simply wanted the same for Cate. She understood the pitfalls Cate was afraid of, or felt she did, Melissa thought, as she slowly rose, hungry, but not wanting to leave the peaceful view, the gentle, warm breeze and the soft air.
    Rising, she sighed wistfully and moved toward the heavy wooden front door, open to the breeze. She left her flip flops where they lay, still in the sunshine. In the sunny kitchen, she faced the same view she'd just left through an impressive window. On the spacious island, she found a crisp red apple, in the cabinet, cashew butter. Digging a single knife out of the utensil drawer, her bare feet cool on the tiled floor, Melissa paused a moment, staring out the large window.
    She'd call Alex, talk to her. Then Melissa would ask Mary to spend the day with Cate−no one could say no to Mary's effervescence.
    Now Melissa only had to figure out how to help her friend with one more problem in this life: Tom. She was a little bit afraid it was going to take all Cate had. And even that might not be enough.
     

Chapter Forty Three
    Cate, meanwhile, was singing. Her world was at peace, her heart busy. There was nothing, she thought, nothing like the feeling of a job well done, of being ahead of the game. Cate refused to remember a busy woman such as herself was never truly done being prepared. Still, it felt good.
    She'd called each of her beautiful children to check in and tell them she loved them. She'd talked to a jovial Mike. She'd listened contentedly and replied to messages from Clark and Joan.
    Winding up a call with Cindy, Cate sat on the wide couch in front of the fireplace, an old fashioned rotary dial phone to her ear. Cate twisted the springy cord around her