A Fondness  

Kim Barrett and Cindy

by Elise

Over the last week since New Years it seemed different round the store. Well not around the store. It seemed different around Cindy. Kim thought she’d become more relaxed. Even asked if she and a friend could fill the planters out front. A few times he’d found it easy to fall into conversation with her.

Not that it was a bad thing really just that Kim didn’t just converse. He had a goal, an ambition. Cindy was an employee, the first of hopefully many as the shop would grow. Kim didn’t need any attachments, he wasn’t the warm and fuzzy type. He was close to realizing the dream he wanted for himself. Then why did he find himself going out of his way for Cindy and Jake.

Turning his attention back to closing down the registers Kim’s stomach growled reminding him that he had missed lunch. Jake giggled. "You’re hungry."

Kim nodded with a grin. "That I am, I might have to go out and find a steak to nail down with my fork."

Jake handed him a roll of coins for the drawer. "You can eat with us. Mommy is a good cook."

Dropping the tin back in the drawer as he locked the register Kim looked up at the boy sitting on the counter. "I don’t think so young Mr. Levits."

Cindy grinned as she put the returns basket back under the counter. "Why not? Afraid I might poison you?"

Kim gave her a look in return. "I’ve got dinner plans, thank you."

"Uh huh, a date with your microwave and a TV dinner don’t count. Don’t give me that look. I see your trash when you bring it down."

Shaking his head as they walk to the back Kim flips the light switch for the store floor. "Mindy, I don’t think it’s a good idea."

Stopping on the stairs as he walked over she turned. "Give me a reason why not." She waited for a moment while he stuttered to answer. "Come on boss, just one good reason."

Pointing victorious Kim tips his head back. "Ha! That’s one. I’m your boss that’s why."

Rolling her eyes Cindy shook her head. "I said a good reason. Come on over in forty minutes." She started up the stairs then stopped and turned looking down into his eyes that looked so green in the light there. The building was quiet except for Jake’s small footsteps on the stairs. "I’ll be disappointed if you don’t show up so don’t disappoint me. Okay?"

Looking up into her dark eyes and hearing the words being said behind the ones spoken Kim nodded. "Forty minutes." When she turned and walked the rest of the way up the steps he wondered just how many disappointments she had had in her life. He knew it had been hard. She lived out of her car their first week in the Glen. And he had no bloody idea about it. Actually he didn’t know all that much about Cindy or Jake.

Well Jake would try and chat him up, so, he knew that the tyke liked Power Rangers, Scooby Do, and there were always crayons and scribbles…er drawings everywhere. As Kim showered and dressed he thought about how Cindy never complained or mentioned any difficulties.

Learning more about someone led to an attachment of some sort. Glancing at the door he knew he already felt something. Shaking his head as the turned back to the kitchen. "Nonsense it’s a sense of responsibility. I’m her employer, that involves a bit of care."

It was close to time, would she expect him to bring something? It was polite to take something to go with the meal, not that he was usually polite. Kim looked though the freezer and found a frozen apple pie. Looking at the clock there wasn’t enough time to bake it here. He was ready to go maybe she wouldn’t mind him popping over early with the pie. Then he could put it in her oven.

Kim thought about how that sounded and cleared his throat. Surely he wasn’t having those kinds of thoughts about Cindy. She was just doing this because her ankle bitter popped off with an invite. Yes that was it.

Taking the pie from the freezer Kim walked across the hall and knocked on the door. Jake opened it and grinned. "Hi, Mr. Barrett. Mom! It’s Mr. Barrett and he’s got a box of pie!"

Cindy laughed at his excitement. "Come on in. Sorry about that we don’t entertain usually so this is a treat." Seeing the pie box she smiled. "Thanks, you didn’t have to bring anything. But apple is my favorite so we’ll put this right in."

Kim smiled hearing that. "Really? Well glad I didn’t grab the cherry. Sorry it’s frozen I didn’t have time to bake it over there. Thought we could slip it in your oven." He cleared his throat again and followed her to the kitchen. "Supper smells good."

Taking the box from his hands she pulled out a cookie sheet and set the pie on it before putting into the heating oven. "Thanks, I hope it’s edible. You would call it Rissoles. I’ve always call them meatloaf balls." With a wink she grinned and pulled baked potatoes from the microwave. "I haven’t cooked for anyone but Jake before."

That statement caught him. "You’ve never had dinner guests before?"

Gently shaking her head Cindy poured them tall glasses of ice tea. "Nope, Mr. Barrett, you have the honor of being my first dinner guest."

Kim helped her carry over the hot bowl from the top of the stove. "Kim, please." He gave her a bit of a grin. "It’s after hours, we don’t have to be so formal. I’m honored to be your first guest."

As they sat at the table he looked around the apartment. It was still the same as he had seen it the other day. Nothing fancy or really girly, just neat and organized. What there was to organize.

Cindy served the meal, Kim watched as she broke up the ball of meat and vegetables for Jakes plate. The boy smiled at him and dug in. Cindy set a smaller portion on her own plate. Kim didn’t think that was her being a dainty eater. There was a time he remembered portions like that on his mother’s plate.

A memory of dinner as a boy filled Kim’s mind as he listened to Jake tell his mother all about the latest episode of a show he’d caught on the televisions. Mother making their plates filled with potatoes and meat, fresh baked bread warm from the oven. Her own plate only a small piece of meat, barely a portion and a few spoonfuls of fluffy mashed potatoes.

He was pulled from the vision by a small voice. "Mr. Barrett, what do you like to watch on TV?

"I don’t really watch television much. Maybe catch a match or the news report." He grins softly as Jake makes a face. "No time for fun an games when you want to run a top notch business. I read books and things that will help me do just that."

Jake took another bite shaking his head. "That doesn’t sound like fun at all."

Kim watched as Cindy got up and pulled the pie out of the oven as he talked to Jake. "It’s a different kind of fun. You’ll understand one day."

Cindy set the cut pie on the table and grinned. "You mean you don’t do anything just for the enjoyment of it?"

He started to protest that then Kim closed his mouth and looked at them. "I do enjoy reading the following the financials. Learning about business round the world. I suppose I’m focused on my goals."

They finished dinner talking about the store and what he would like to see come from it. As he spoke Cindy began to see what was under the guise he wore. All the blustering and at times nastiness was really a way to keep people at a distance. There was a light in Kim’s eyes as he spoke about his dream, a chain of Barrett’s across the country.

By the time they finished dessert Cindy had decided her boss wasn’t much of a scrooge at all. Jake yawned wide Cindy kissed his hair as she started to clear the table. "Get ready for bed then you can play for a little while."

She set dinnerware in the sink and felt Kim behind her as he reached over and set some in. He grinned a bit embarrassed at the closeness. Cindy retuned it as she pulled down containers to put the leftovers in. "I always cook a bit much when I make things like this. Do you want some to take with you?"

Kim thought about how little she ate at dinner and shook his head gently. "No, thank you. I’m not much for leftovers."

Cindy grinned. "How about some coffee?"

About to refuse and say good night Kim remembered that he was her first dinner guest. Instead he nodded, after all what could one cup of coffee hurt. "Sure, a cuppa would wash down the pie nicely."

Pouring them both cups Cindy put some cream and sugar in hers and offered it to Kim. He took the creamer and poured a bit in then walked with her to the sofa. "The place looks quite a bit different now. Is everything in working order?"

Curling her feet under her on the sofa smiling Cindy took a long sip of the hot coffee. "Yes, everything is perfect. I was afraid the oven wouldn’t come very clean. But some muscle and elbow grease later it looks pretty good." She points to the walls. "I tore down that wall paper and scrubbed down the walls. I think that’s what made the difference. Now it’s much brighter and cheerful."

Setting the base of the cup in his hand Kim smiles softly. "I think the occupants have something to do with that. You have a very bright outlook, Cindy. Even my place with brand name finery looks drab compared to here." Then he realizes what he said about the brand name finery. "Oh… I…."

Cindy was smiling already then she shook her head softly. "It’s okay. I’ve never really cared what other people have or what label is on something. Don’t get me wrong, I like those things too. I guess I just got used to not having it. Thank you for saying that. I try not to be bitter or angry, for Jake."

Twisting the cup in his hands as after a sip Kim looked up at her. There were no photos other than Cindy and Jake, no mention of anyone else. "Does Jake ever see his father? I know you’re from the States, but I assume your family will come visit."

Shaking her head the smile didn’t fall but there was a sadness in it. "No, no one will visit. Jake’s father has never seen him. Shame he’s missing out on a great kid."

Never seen your son? Kim didn’t have any fatherly inclinations but he couldn’t imagine not seeing your own child. He couldn’t fathom his father being absent like that. They may have been dirt poor for half his life but they were there. Even annoyed him during the holidays.

Thoughts crossed his mind. Cindy and Jake had spent Christmas alone in her car whilst he’d been at parties hob nobbing. For the first time Kim felt bothered by that. That thought disturbed him more. Casually glancing at his watch. "It’s getting quite late. I should go and let you put Jake to bed."

Cindy grinned softly she knew that look. Panic that she would saddle him as a substitute daddy. "Yes it is late for him. He’ll have to start on an earlier bedtime when he starts school in a couple of weeks."

She stood with Kim and walked him to the door. He turned back and she thought she saw something there in his expression as if he were going to say something then changed his mind. Leaning on the door jam she looked into that confused expression. Thank you, for coming. And thank you for everything you’ve done for me and Jake. I like working here." She grinned with a small laugh. "Living here is pretty good too."

Putting his hands in his pocket Kim looked at her. Was she sincere? Maybe she’s just lonely looking for company. "You like working here, for me?"

Nodding she could see the question in his eyes and wondered if he ever did anything without motive. Or gave anyone any trust, everything seemed to have an angle with him. "Yeah, I do. You’re a good manager and a fair boss. Believe me I’ve had a lot of jobs and been treated well on some and….. less than fair on others. You’re a good man Kim Barrett."

With that he watched her close the door. Kim knew she wasn’t after him to take care of her. Cindy was the most self sufficient woman he knew. That was one of the reasons he’d let down a bit of his guard around her, she was the first person he had trusted in a long while.

Stepping into his apartment Kim looked back at her door shaking his head then grinned softly. "I’m fond of you too, Cindy Levits."