Katie's View by Susan Evelyn (best ereader for students .txt) 📕

Even the jam did not look as if it came from any mass produced jar; the uneven chunks reminded her of the home-made products sold at country fairs.

She ate hungrily, which surprised her. Perhaps it was the sheer luxury of having as much time as she liked to savour it rather than the usually hurried snatch of bagel and coffee as she ran to the car. Or maybe it was the indulgence of her devoted husband.

About the time she would normally be struggling to wake up, she sank back against the soft pillows and drifted into a light sleep.

She let the music of her clock radio alarm play out the hour as a reminder of her fortune at not having to answer to it today.

Vehicles crunching to a stop on the gravel driveway beneath her windows roused her from her slumber. There were voices, male voices, and of varying ages by their tones.

She thought that she heard Nina's voice shushing them as they were let into the house. The tradesmen had arrived. Definitely not the time to go swanning down the sweeping staircase in her flimsy nightgown. She drifted off to sleep again.

It was mid-morning before she woke properly. She took her time having a shower, washing her hair, drying and styling it after trying a few different arrangements. By the time she had decided what to wear there was a small pile of discarded clothes on the bed. Eventually she felt ready to face the day and the rest of the world.

She took the breakfast tray down to the kitchen where, as she had thought, Nina was kneeling amid an array of grocery items while rearranging them in the pantry. She smiled to herself. The two women exchanged pleasantries. Katie could hear noises coming from the dinning room next to the kitchen.

"Any good looking guys in that lot?" she asked Nina with a smile broadening on her face. Nina was single, but not for the want of trying.

"Urg!" Nina rolled her eyes. "One or two looked okay until they opened their mouths. Do you have any plans for the day? Going out?"


"No, I don't think so. I'll be up in my study until lunch. I want to check out those costume fabrics again now that I have the time to look at them properly."

Nina nodded acknowledgement as she returned to checking the date on the packets of pasta.

Katie wandered across the entrance hall to the room she called her study. Her little dog perked up when she opened the door. He knew better than to try to invade the bedroom, particularly after that incident with the cashmere jacket. He had been put in the study when the men had arrived because he had started barking at them but none of them would give him a pat or a tummy rub.

Katie bent down to cuddle him and played with him for a while until his hyperactive jumping around wore him out. By the time she sat down at her desk, he was tired enough to slump over her feet.

She sifted through the swatches of fabric and the cards the designers had mocked up of her next costumes.

In a while there were a few little piles scattered across the table, the 'definitely no way' pile, and the 'extremely possible' stack and a few clumps of 'maybe's.

She rang some of the designers and wardrobe people, checking prices and fabric suitability. Then she spoke to the director, cinematographer and properties mistress. After much discussion and a torrent of questions, she had narrowed the materials to about a third of the original quantity.

A little knock at the door heralded Nina arriving with a light refreshing lunch. She set it down on a low table away from the desk.

It was while Katie was relaxing over lunch that the phone rang. It was the new establishment that Tom had mentioned earlier that morning. They were offering an afternoon of pampering to people they were ringing in the area but it was only good for that afternoon, and free to try out their wide range of services.

Katie thought about it for a few moments as the woman on the other end of the line listed all the services and activities available at the establishment. It seemed a little strange that this should happen right after she had refused to accept Tom's money for this very thing.

Was he trying to make her leave the house? No, surely not. He would have known before he even suggested it that she would not accept money from him. If anything, he was pushing her to stay home. Now why would that be?

There were strangers working in the house, but she had not even seen them. Tom had arranged Nina to look after that, and she was more than capable. Was there something outside that he did not want her to see, or hear? Could there be someone at this new salon? Before the woman had finished her spiel, Katie had decided. She would go.

To rub it in, she decided to ring Tom. Maybe he would be on a break and be able to talk to her.

"Is Mr Jackson there?"

"Umm, sorry. He, umm, can't come to the phone at the moment," a little feminine voice answered that Katie did not recognise.

"Who is this?"

"Jan."

"Jan, I don't believe I know you. I'm Katie, Mr Jackson's wife."

"Hello, umm, Katie. I'm sorry, he really can't come to the phone." Her voice was tentative.

"That's okay, Can you take a message for me?"

"Sure." The young girl sounded relieved.

"Tell him I called and ask him to phone me as soon as possible. Okay?"

"Okay, I'll tell him as soon as I can." The girl was being evasive, Katie could sense it.

"Where are you?"

"At the studio." Surprise sounded in her answer.

"Yes, but where? It's a big place."

"Oh, yeah," Jan giggled. "Umm, I'm in the wardrobe room. I think everyone else is tied up in the sound stage and they may have locked out all incoming calls."

"Thank you," Katie said before hanging up. She felt a little relieved. Of course, that would be what was happening. She was surprised that she had allowed a niggle of doubt and hesitation colour her thoughts. How could she do that? She was a devoted wife, wasn't she?

Feeling lighter and brighter than she had for hours, Katie bounded down the stairs in a most unladylike fashion and burst through the kitchen doors. Nina whirled on her with a look of fear and consternation on her face. What was going on?

"What are you cooking?" Katy asked.

"Mr Tom asked me to feed the tradesmen. You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not. It's a bit strange, but very like him."

"Is there something you want?"

"Uh, no. I was just going to say I'm going out. I just won an afternoon at the new beauty salon and spa. What do you think of that?"

"That's fabulous. Lucky you! Enjoy yourself."

"Thanks. Do you think this is alright to wear down there?"

"Of course it is. You look amazing."

"It doesn't make my butt look big, does it? Or wash out my skin?"

"Oh Miss Katie, you always look just right. Now get out of my kitchen."


...............................................


As Katie relaxed in the spa pool after a full body massage, she tried to contact Tom again. She realised it had been a few hours since she had rung him earlier and he should have had a break since then. It was mid-afternoon.

This time a young male answered the phone.

"Is Mr Jackson available?"

"Nuh, sorry Miss, he's not 'ere."

"What? Where is he?"

"I'm not sure as I should be tellin' ya. This is a secure set, y'know."

Katie was astounded. Her thoughts were reeling, and the young man was annoying her with his evasive answers. She could hear sounds in the background, other voices.

*Who is it?*
*Dunno', some girl, wants Tom*
*Huh! Tom has all the luck*
*Tell 'er I'm available seein' as Tom's not 'ere*

"Who are you?" she asked crossly. "Where is Tom?"

*Where is he?*
*Not sure, think he went to LA*
*Said somethink 'bout Victoria didn't he*
*How should I know?*
*Well, you were closer*
*I don't pay attention to what these stars get up to*

"Sorry Miss. We don't know." And then he hung up. He hung up on her! She was getting hot, and it was not because of the bubbling water.

Victoria? Tom had never mentioned a Victoria, or a Vicky, or even a Vic. She racked her brain for any other nickname. Anything he could have said recently that may be taken another way. Apart from being late when he was not even at work, there was nothing.

An attendant brought her a cool drink of tropical fruit juice. She smiled her thanks despite the frown she could feel creasing her forehead.

She was still frowning with thoughts buzzing round and round her head when she was being given a manicure and pedicure.

"Don't frown so, Miss," the young nail artist said. "I'm sure its not good for you."

"Probably not," Katie agreed.

"Just relax. You are tensing your hands."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't take it out on you."

"No, it's alright, but the effect isn't so good if you are all tensed up like that. I'm sure whatever it is will still be there afterwards. Just let it go for a few hours while you are here. It may not even be so bad afterwards."


.............................................

It was already dark when Katie pulled up at her front door. She could not be bothered putting the car away. The weather was fine; she was sure it could handle a night on the driveway.

The fury had drained out of her, she was just feeling tired, almost wrung out. She did feel proud, however, that she had not cried. She had come close, and she had even toyed with the idea of going to a movie so that she could have a good cry, but decided against it.

The lights were on in the house. There was movement in the kitchen. She was about to open the door when Nina came out.

"Oh Miss. What happened? I was getting quite worried. The salon should have been shut for over an hour now."

"Uhh! Nothing, Nina. I just went for a drive. I needed to think."

"But you are alright? You haven't eaten, have you?"

"What? Umm, no. Didn't even think about food."

"I've set dinner out in the dinning room," Nina told her. Katyie gave her a questioning look.


"Seeing as how Mr Tom went to such pains to get it all fixed up," she explained.

"Ooh!" Katie nodded and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Ummm, I'm not sure I feel like eating right now."

"Oh! But you must!" Nina exclaimed a little too enthusiastically.

Katie gave her a hard look as Nina ducked her head a little. She sighed again. The young woman was given to dramatics at times.

"Very well then," Katie said resignedly as she dropped her purse on the hall stand and