Her eyes seemed lit with a mischievous humor, and they never left mine as I stepped inside.
So you split your time between a bar in Kalkaska and the East Jordan Library?
I felt myself blushing.
I was looking up things from when your dad disappeared.
I sold this house once.
Theyve remodeled the kitchen since then,Alan noted, sounding like a Realtor.
What sort of things were you looking for?
Katie asked, her voice a bit flat.
I shrugged, oh so not wanting to talk about this.
Did you remodel your kitchen?
She looked around, bewildered.
It looks modern, like maybe you had it worked on, I explained lamely.
The countertops and cupboards,Alan supplied helpfully, as if I cared about any of this.
I wanted to slap my forehead again.
Why would you be doing that, looking into my dad?
I could feel myself hating him.
I took a breath.
I just want to understand him, thats all.
Ever since the dream, I cant get him out of my head.
Alan had already heard that particular joke and didnt laugh.
Katie was watching me steadily.
There were a couple of stories about the nursing home fire.
Oh,that,Katie said in disgust.
Right, my dad disappears and then a month later theres a fire, so hes a suspect?
Did you know any of the people who were killed?
No, I dont think so.
She looked sightlessly into the distance.
I remember I was pretty angry.
She seemed to catch herself.
I mean yes, it was horrible that people died and everything.
But my dad was still missing, and no one cared anymore.
The only person to even mention it was this guy from the ATF or what ever it is called.
Oh, and Nathan, of course.
I went very still.
Oh, Ill bet he mentioned it,Alan fumed.
Right, he was always asking how I was doing.
She flipped a wrist as if getting something off her hands.
Im past that, though.
Whats done is done.
Then he sold the land, I prompted.
Her eyes regained their focus.
For the factory, I mean.
Katie shook her head.
That was a huge shock.
I guess I dont understand.
The city didnt tell him.
They didnt have to; it was in the lease.
She gave a sigh.
I just, you know, was curious.
Katie glanced at her watch, and I felt my heart sink.
Its getting pretty late,Alan remarked.
Now I just have to hand him the court summons, and my work is done, I finished.
How are you going to do that?
It seems like hes hiding from you.
I havent figured that out.
Maybe I would make Alan do it while I was asleep.
Then the sheriffs department goes and gets it?
How do you feel aboutthat?she inquired, her eyes twinkling.
She laughed again as she saw the implication of her question register on me.
Well yeah, but those guys are armed.
I mean, they can just see Einstein driving by and pull him over.
They drive police cars.
Its not a real repo, I argued.
She shook her head, grinning.
She jumped up before I could reply and went into the kitchen.
I watched the rear end of her jeans as she walked away from me.
Hey!Alan shouted.
I jerked my eyes away.
We shouldnt be drinking and driving,he admonished.
Katie was still smiling when she came back from the kitchen.
Lets go look at the lake, she suggested, handing me a brown bottle of beer.
Sure, okay, I agreed, pretty much willing to do anything she wanted.
I followed her out the back door.
Were not going in the trailer,Alan informed me tightly.
The trailer, I recalled, was where Katie usually slept.
He was right; thats not where we were going.
We built the steps, Katie informed me.
She pointed and I squinted.
The people who lived here before us never went down to the lake, if you could believe it.
I mean, trying to get down there would be like falling off a cliff.
So Mom hired these guys to put in the steps.
We were talking about this, I realized, just to have something to talk about.
They did a nice job, I noted lamely.
They look too steep to me,Alan complained.They should have put in a landing.
I saw that Katie was getting aggressive with her beer, tilting the bottle up for long swallows.
Something was going on with her, but I was both figuratively and literally in the dark.
I snuck glances at her in the night, tilting my own bottle up and ignoring Alans puritanical sighs.
Okay, she announced.
The lake-viewing portion of the evening was over.
We retreated from the lip of the hill and trooped back into the house.
More beer?Alan observed sourly.
We clinked bottle necks in a gesture that was both silly and fun.
Its probably time for us to go,Alan observed frostily.
Being with Katie felt free and easy and natural, so of course I had to screw it up.
Im glad youre not going to marry Dwight after all.
She gazed at me, no longer smiling.
God, what did I mean?
Hes not a bad guy, she said.
I didnt mean that.
Hes a great guy.
She pushed the hair out of her eyes.
Im not some sort of prize for you two to compete for, you know.
I agree with her,Alan said primly.
No, of course not.
Neither one of you is the .
She stopped herself, but her eyes were angry.
The man my father was,I knew she had been about to say.
I felt the truth of it deflate me.
My dad died when I was in prison, I said haltingly.
He would throw the football to me until it got so dark I couldnt see it.
When I heard about him dying, I realized I couldnt picture the world without him in it.
Katies expression was unreadable.
And now my sister .
I had to pause for control before I got the rest of it out.
She told me she thinks it was the shame that killed them.
I gave her a crooked smile.
I know what it is like to have your whole life figured out.
I mean, you were on track to marry Dwight, right?
I think sometimes we get angry when we realize our plans arent going to work out.
The wisdom of Jimmy Growe.
But then in the end, it turns out to be better.
My arms went around her as naturally as anything in the world.
Ruddy,Alan gasped.
I broke from the kiss.
Katie blinked, looking a little puzzled.
I think maybe youve had too much to drink?
I said weakly, unable to believe what I was doing.
Oh no, dont worry about that, she assured me.
She came back into my arms, searching for me with her mouth.
I backed away, retreating into the couch.
She stood up, smiling.
