“All right, my pretty fish, stop playing with the worm and bite it, for heaven’s sake.” Katie gritted her teeth and knew for sure the fish could hear her.
“If you play with them back, they’ll see the challenge and go for the big bite,” Mitch said. He wrapped his arms around Katie and placed his hands on hers.
“Ah, stop it.” Her body shivered. “You’ve got to stop scaring me.” She leaned back against him.
He ignored her comment. “Follow my hand on the reel. Ease it in. Good, now stop. Do it again and stop. Do you feel the fish biting more?”
The warmth of Mitch’s body flowed through hers. “How did you know I was here? When did you get back? What happened? Do you have a child? Will I ever meet her? Will your ex ever come out here? Why didn’t you call or return my messages?” She dropped her hands and crouched to get out of his hold.
He rested the pole on a holding stick. “Watch it to make sure the fish doesn’t take it away.” He grabbed her hand again and pulled her to him. “I got back and saw your car when I drove by from the airport. I was nervous, stressed, and it was a big pain in the ass. But it was worth the work and the hassle to know for sure. Valerie’s baby isn’t mine. I have no attachments to her anymore.”
A weight lifted off her heart. “Do you wish you had a child, even if it was from Valerie? Are you happy?”
“I’ll give you a simple answer. I’m happy I don’t have a child with Valerie. I would love to have a child with someone I can spend the rest of my life with.”
Katie lowered her head. “Aren’t you scared to get serious with someone again?”
“That’s the question you need to answer too.”
Katie kept her head lowered.
Mitch continued, “I can tell one thing. I know this beautiful lady I could spend the rest of my life getting to know better and am willing to take the chance.” He put his hand on Katie’s chin and lifted her head. “I understand what you have gone through with your divorce and the loss of a beautiful girl. It hasn’t been long and I’ll be patient. I don’t want to pressure you. I care for you, Kate. I want you to be my beautiful lady.” His hand was still under her chin and he used his thumb to rub against her cheek.
It almost sounded like a proposal. I’ll pretend it isn’t. “I’m speechless. I’m not used to being treated special. My heart says one thing but my mind’s telling me to stop.”
“Stop what, Kate?”
“Falling in love again.” She rested her head on his chest. He put his arms around her and held tight.
“I believe I beat you to it. I fell in love the first time I saw you lying on the sidewalk.” He gave her a tender, sweet kiss.
Out of the corner of her eye, Katie saw her pole getting dragged into the river. She broke the kiss, ran over to the edge of the water, and grabbed it before it went under. Katie felt the weight of the fish pulling on the line as she reeled it in. “It’s a big one. Help me.”
“Hope your line’s strong enough. You got a net?”
“No.”
“Here, let me take it.”
“Don’t break the pole,” Katie demanded. “There it is. Wow, it looks to be around ten pounds. Look at the beauty. I love bass. You unhook it and I’ll get my fish holder out of the river.”
Mitch unhooked the fish and added it to her supply. This big one made number four. “Looks like I have to keep my promise. My parents like fish and I told them if I caught enough I would bring them dinner.” She pulled the fish holder out of the river and put the fish in a plastic bucket. “I’m sure you want to go home, but would you like to join us?”
“I would like to meet your parents and have some fresh baked fish. I’m light as a feather with my answer and have no obligations to keep. I also get the privilege of ending my day with you.”
***
On the walk back to their cars, Katie called her parents. “Mom, dinner is on its way with a guest. Please set the table for four. I got three catfish and one bass. Yes, make sure the sink is empty and see you in a few.”
“Does your dad clean the fish in the sink?” Mitch asked.
“Nope.”
“Why do you need the sink empty?”
“So I can clean the fish in the sink. I like to do it there.”
“You clean the fish? It doesn’t gross you out?”
“Mitch dear, you have a lot of learning to do, so you’d better get started.” She snickered.
“Did your mom ask you who was coming?”
“She asked if my guest was the police officer. You’d better grab your gun and show it off.”
“Sorry, it’s at home. Guess they have to see me as a normal person tonight.”
“My parents are pretty cool.”
“Drop your car off at your place and I’ll drive you to their house,” Mitch said.
“Sounds great. Will you take the fish, please? You can place them in the back of your truck so my car seats don’t smell like a fish hatchery.”
***
Mitch carried the fish to the front door with Katie. She opened the door. “Hi, Mom.”
Katie’s mom walked out of the kitchen to greet her guest. “This must be Mitch. I’m June.” She took the fish and shook his hand with her free one. “Make yourself at home in the front room. Gary will be in soon.”
“Nice to meet you.” He looked at Katie. She smirked and went into the kitchen to do her job. Mitch walked over to the fireplace and looked at family pictures on the mantel. He could hear Katie joking with her mom about cooking the fish innards for dessert. He chuckled and knew he had found a spunky gal.
Katie peeked around the corner and saw Mitch holding a picture of her and Autumn. She stood behind him and pointed at her baby. “She was six months when my dad took this picture.”
He placed it back and put his arm around her. “She was a beautiful girl.” He picked up another picture of Katie’s family. “Is this your brother?”
“Yes. His name is Bruce. He and our cousin own an auto parts manufacturing plant. They make their own parts and sell internationally.”
“Impressive. I can see a small resemblance. He looks like your mom and you look more like your dad.” He kissed the top of Katie’s head. “Fish smells good.”
“It’s about done. I’ll go check.” She grabbed Mitch’s hand and brought him with her. She opened the oven, poked a few of the filets with a fork, and read the thermometer. “Perfect. Will Dad be home soon? The fish is ready.” She put the oven on warm.
June set the table and put out the rest of the food. “Any minute. He ran to the store to get dessert. I believe your favorite ice cream’s on sale.”
“And what is your favorite flavor?” Mitch asked.
“It depends on my mood. I’m not picky, but, overall, it’s Ben and Jerry’s cookie dough and moose tracks. Love the chocolate covered nuts.”
Just then, the garage door opened and shut. “Your dad seems to always get home at the right time,” June said.
Gary walked in through the utility room carrying a couple of bags. “Sorry I’m late. Traffic and the line at the grocery store was a mile long.” He sat the bags on the counter as June, Katie, and Mitch walked over to him. “You must be Mitch. Katie’s told us about the new friend she’s made.”
Katie was embarrassed to have Mitch know she had been talking about him to her parents. She wondered if Mitch questioned what she said. She needed to change the topic. “Go sit and I’ll bring the fish over.”
After a quick thank you to God for the food, they dug into dinner. “This is the best tasting fish I’ve had in a long time. What did you put on it?” Mitch asked as he took another bite.
“Lemon juice and lemon pepper seasoning."
“Thanks for inviting me over.”
“What do you do in the police force?” June asked.
“I work patrol, catch speeders, search for missing people, and track down drug dealers. It can be pretty boring at times.”
“Do you ever get a day off?”
“Not unless I’m on vacation or a business trip. If I’m not scheduled, I’m on call. Week nights are slow, but they have enough of us on call just in case.”
“Does it get on your nerves?” June asked.
“It keeps me busy.”
“It’s nice to know we’re being watched over and protected by trustworthy police officers. I appreciate your hard work.”
Mitch smiled. “You’re welcome.”
More chit chat in between bites of cookie dough ice cream made the time fly. “Let me help you clear the table, Mom, before Mitch and I have to go. I need to be at work early and have a few errands I need to run tonight,” Katie said.
“Don’t worry, dear. I’ll take care of the dishes, you run along.”
***
Katie unlocked her door and felt the vibration of her cell phone. She noted the time and saw Unlisted on her screen where the number should be. Before Mitch said a word, Katie told him. “Every night between nine and nine thirty, I get a prank call.” She walked into her apartment with Mitch at her side. “It’s either breathing or a click and the call ends. At first, I answered and stayed on the line, staying silent myself. Now I don’t even answer.”
“Not much you can do with the number being unlisted or if the call comes from a pre-paid cell,” Mitch said.
“Can I block unlisted numbers?”
“It varies on what cell phone you have and company. Sad part is, the scammers know how to go around it and still call.”
“Whoever it is, they are wasting their time.”
“Wish I could help.”
“Can I show you something?” Katie suddenly asked.
“Sure, what is it?”
“Stay here.” She walked into her room and came back out with a picture. “This is Autumn when she was two.”
Mitch took the picture and studied it. He looked at Katie a couple times and back at the picture. “She has your cute nose.” He kissed it and something rubbed on his leg. “What have we here?”
“Forgot to tell you. While you were gone, Melanie forced me to take in a kitten to take your place.” She laughed. “Her name is Ivy Muffin, but goes by Ivy for short.” Katie took the picture and put it back into her room.
“Do you have any more pictures?”
Katie frowned. “My parents might have one or two around, but what you saw is all we have. At one point, I had my parents send me all the pictures they took of us and what I sent them so I could make a photo album. I was into scrapbooking and had all the books, decorative papers, and stickers.”
Katie went to get a drink of water. “Thirsty?”
“Sure.”
She poured two glasses of ice water and gave one to Mitch. “After the divorce, Kevin came to our apartment when I was at work and boxed all his items with some of mine, including the box of pictures and my photo album supplies. Through the grapevine I was told he burned them. I hurt so bad thinking about it, but I have to move on.”
Mitch sat on the couch. Katie sat by him and leaned on his chest. “To me, Kevin sounds like a person with a twisted mind. I’m sure you’re tired of hearing I’m sorry, but if I run into him here in town, he’ll be out of action.”
Katie fluffed one of the pillows. “What would you say if I told you my heart is winning over my mind?” She looked at him as Ivy jumped in her lap.
“I’d say I like it.”
“Are you sure?” She set Ivy down on the carpeting.
“Want proof?”
“I could use a little.”
They kissed and Katie heard a soft buzz. Mitch searched for his cell with his lips still latched on hers.
“This always happens.” He pushed the talk button. “This is Mitch. Not good. Okay, give me thirty minutes.” He stood. “Got to go. Someone broke into an airport hangar and caught one of the crop dusters on fire.”
“Things keep getting in our way. It’s like something is trying to stop us from being together.”
“When the time is right, Kate, nothing will get in our way. See you later.”
Without a doubt, she knew she would see Mitch again. Katie went into her room and got Autumn’s picture again. She looked around her living room and decided it would look nice on the end table by the couch. Katie didn’t need to hide the fact that she did have a child.