Subj: Kate ch 33
Date: 7/10/00 12:44:29 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Karen
Kate walked out of Acadia College's History Department Chair's office. Her feet barely touched the floor, she was so excited. Professor Bates, who until his untimely death the previous week, taught American History. Kate had just been hired to replace him for the rest of the school year.
Kate saw Professor Stokes hovering in the hall. She ran up to him and hugged him; much to the surprise of Professor Stokes and the amusement of several colleagues.
"Thank you for telling me about the position, Professor!" Kate said enthusiastically. "I start next week. I can hardly believe it!" She kissed him lightly on the cheek.
Professor Stokes cleared his throat and looked slightly embarrassed, but pleased by Kate's actions. "Well, I am glad you will be joining our staff, Ms. Collins. You are a welcome addition!" Eliot Stokes said, smiling.
"Please call me Kate, Professor. After all, we will be working together." Kate asked with a smile.
"With pleasure, Kate. Please call me Eliot." Professor Stokes said, returning the compliment. "Allow me to show you where your office is located. It is down the hall on the right."
He held out his arm and led Kate to a large office stuffed with books and papers. Every shelf had stacks of books on them. The desk was piled so high with papers, the top could hardly be seen. The window looked as if hadn't been cleaned in years. The cleaning person was not lax, he couldn't possibly get to the window. The floor under the window was piled high with more books; some stacks three deep. The walls were covered with bookshelves and maps of America. Kate looked around in dismay.
"It will take a month just to find the desk!" she lamented.
Professor Stokes chuckled. "Professor Bates was not the most organized person. I am afraid, my dear Kate, you have your work cut out for you." He looked at Kate in sympathy.
Kate found the desk chair and sat down gingerly. It looked to be the only part of the room not buried under something.
"I suppose I didn't have anything to do this week anyway. Maybe I can rope Carolyn into helping me. What a mess! I cannot even think where I should start." Kate laughed. "I don't suppose the college would put a chute in the window going directly to a garbage truck, do you?"
Professor Stokes looked horrified. "You are not thinking of throwing all of this out? There may be very valuable pieces of history in this room." He surveyed the room as if he could see a long-lost letter from George Washington to his wife under all the piles of material.
Kate laughed. "I was kidding, Eliot! I would not throw anything out. Perhaps there is a room where the books and papers can be catalogued. Sounds like a nice Christmas holiday project to me. I doubt very much I will be busy during the break." Kate said sadly.
Kate thought of Barnabas. Only he knew when he would return to Collinwood. It had been three weeks since Barnabas had left for the cabin. Only Willie had heard from him. Willie dutifully reported that Barnabas was doing well and would come home when he felt the time was right. Everyone speculated as to when that time would come. Kate was beginning to feel it would be never.
She sighed heavily. Professor Stokes put his hand on her arm.
"Kate, I know it isn't my place to say anything, but I believe you must be patient with Barnabas. I have know him for many years. He will be back, I am sure of it." Eliot said reassuringly.
Kate looked down at her hands. "I wish I had your confidence, Eliot." she said. Sighing again, she stood up. Changing the subject, she said, "I am hungry. How about you? May I treat you to the finest Rockport can offer?" she asked.
Eliot started to say something, but wisely decided against it. "I would enjoy lunch with you, Kate. I will take you to a little place I know downtown. It is a delightful mixture of old and new. Shall we go?" he said.
Kate smiled and took his arm again. As they left the office, she took one more look at her domain.
Okay, Barnabas, I have a job that will keep me here for awhile, she thought. Now it's up to you.
*****************************
Willie pulled up to the cabin and turned off the car. He got out and went to the trunk to get the bags of groceries he had purchased. Barnabas came out to help him.
"I sure hope I got ya what you wanted, Barnabas." Willie said, setting the bags on the kitchen table. He pulled out a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread. "I figured maybe you would want a peanut butter sandwich after all that canned stuff. Want me to make ya one?" Willie asked.
Barnabas began to put the groceries away. "Thank you, Willie. It would be nice to taste your 'cooking' rather than mine for a change." he said.
Willie prepared the sandwiches while Barnabas heated up the coffee. By the time the coffee was done, the groceries had been put away. The two men sat down to eat.
Willie said, "Mrs. Stoddard wonders if you will be home for Thanksgiving, Barnabas. What should I tell her?"
Barnabas sipped his coffee. "I am not sure, Willie. I have enjoyed the solitude here. It may be hard to come back to Collinwood just yet." he said.
"Well, I'll just tell 'em you ain't ready yet, I guess. Everybody is worried about ya, Barnabas. But they're all doin' fine at the big house." Willie looked across the table at Barnabas, waiting for his next question. He didn't wait long.
Clearing his throat, Barnabas asked, "How is Kate?" He did not look at Willie as he asked the question. He held his breath while he waited for the answer.
"Um, well, Barnabas, Kate looks okay to me. She is starting to show a bit. She tries to hide it, but if ya look close, you can tell." Willie waited for this bit of news to sink in, watching Barnabas letting out his breath.
"Is she taking care of herself, Willie? Is she eating properly?" Barnabas asked as he got up and walked to the sink. He gazed out the window, with his back to Willie.
Willie rose and walked to where Barnabas stood. Putting his hand on Barnabas' shoulder, he said, "I think she is doing okay, Barnabas. Sometimes she looks real sad when she thinks no one is lookin'." Willie answered.
Shaking off Willie's hand, Barnabas began to clear the table off. Willie drew water into a pot and set it on the stove to heat.
Nothing was said for a few minutes. Willie wanted to tell Barnabas to stop all this foolishness and come home, but he knew Barnabas wouldn't do it until he was ready. Willie was afraid Kate would get tired of waiting and leave again. Sometimes, he didn't understand Barnabas at all. The woman was carrying his child, she loved him, he loved her; what was holding him back?
Willie didn't know all that had happened between Barnabas and Kate when she returned. All he knew was Barnabas had stopped drinking and seemed back to his old self again. Coming here to the cabin had changed Barnabas more than Willie had thought it would. Barnabas seemed more introspective than before. He was more thoughtful and kind. Hell, Willie thought, he's even cooking and cleaning up for himself. That, to Willie, seemed a major miracle.
"Willie," Barnabas said, interrupting Willie's thoughts, "I would like you to give this note to Kate the next time you see her. Let no one see you do this, Willie. Do you understand?" he asked, a touch of the old Barnabas in his voice.
"Sure, Barnabas, I understand." Willie replied. He took the note and shoved it in his pocket. "I better get back. The radio said it was going to snow this afternoon. I want to get home before it starts." He put on his coat, heading for the door. Turning to Barnabas, he asked, "Anything special you want me to bring ya next time, Barnabas?"
Barnabas shook his head. "Just give the note to Kate, Willie. That will be enough." He held the door open for Willie. "Drive carefully, Willie. Good-bye."
Willie nodded and got into his car, starting the engine. As he pulled away, he saw Barnabas silhouetted against the door frame. Willie waved good-bye as he pulled out. In the rearview mirror, Willie could see Barnabas wave back and then close the door. He drove on to the highway and headed for home.
**********************
Barnabas thought about what Willie had said about Kate. The thought of Kate being sad hurt him. He didn't want Kate to be sad anymore. The problem was, Barnabas wasn't ready to face her yet. He hoped the note he had written would let her know how he felt.
'Kate,' the note read, 'I ask that you forgive me for hurting you. I have no excuse for what happened between us. I was a fool. I want to see you. I am just not ready yet. Please be patient with me, Kate.' The note was simply signed,
Take care of yourself, my love,
Barnabas