Free The Secret Life of Mrs. Claus by Carly Alexander Page B

“What? Oh… Sorry. Turtle and I had another argument this morning. That makes three in three days. Three more than we’ve ever had.” She balled up her sandwich wrapper. “At first I thought that there was something messed up between us, that he was looking for an out, but that’s not it. Yesterday he told me he also tossed in an application for a job at the Seattle Aquarium. It’s not just about moving to San Diego; he doesn’t seem to care where he lands. He’s just determined to leave here.”
    “I can understand that. Right now, Baltimore is just a stop along the road for me. Once my ankle checks out, I’m on the next Metroliner to New York.”
    “Because you want to dance, and New York is a cultural center for performing arts. But Turtle can be a biologist in lots of places.”
    “And you can’t?” I prodded. “Why aren’t you sending out applications, too? Go on-line and check out some different cities, see if anything strikes your sense of adventure. You’ve always lived here, Kate. Don’t you want to explore other options?”
    “Why would I? My family and friends are here. I’ve got a job I love, with a strong sense of commitment to the dolphins, especially the new calves. I’ve got a great apartment, peace with my neighbors, and I know all the best places to eat and shop and walk the dogs. Baltimore is my home; why would I want to leave?”
    “To try something different. Your dogs could run wild on an island in Seattle and you could take a ferry to work every day and sip lattes by the water. Or San Diego. With that weather, the dogs could be outside every day. Think of dolphin presentations in the sun, you swimming side by side in a sparkling lagoon. I’m kind of with Turtle on this one. Your life could be so much better—”
    “Different isn’t always better,” she interrupted. “Why don’t you get that? You and Turtle… As if everything I’ve always loved suddenly isn’t good enough anymore. You know, the grass isn’t always greener in another city.”
    “Maybe it isn’t, but you won’t know what’s out there until you take a look. And you know me, I spent most of high school just waiting to get out of Crab Town.”
    “That nickname…” She shook her head. “It nearly killed Sister Mary Agnes.” Our freshman year at Spaulding, Lanessa had stuck a bumper sticker onto her binder that read, “I got crabs at CRAB TOWN,” and the nun who taught us science freaked out. Lanessa kept explaining that Crab Town was a restaurant, but Sister Mary Agnes made her write an essay on the dangers of double entendres.
    Kate’s eyes went wide. “Don’t look now, but somebody you don’t want to see is here.”
    “Sister Mary Agnes?”
    Her head shook faster, like a broken bobblehead. “No. Worse. Duck under the table.”
    “But everyone will see me.” I was dying to turn around. “That’ll attract too much attention. Who is it?”
    “Go hide behind the relish and pickles—quick!” she whispered, motioning me aside frantically.
    I wasn’t going to slink behind the ketchup and tartar sauce, and I couldn’t stand the suspense; I had to turn around.
    Three feet behind our table, Bobby Tharp balanced a tray of salad as he scanned our area for a free table. He didn’t seem to find one, but he did catch sight of me.
    I turned back to Kate and mouthed, “Oh, no!”
    Kate folded her arms in sanguine resignation. “Should have gone for the condiment table when you had the chance,” she said as his tray slid onto the table between us.
    “Livvy…” His low growl reminded me of intimate moments, playing under the covers, kissing on the beach at Ocean City, snuggling at the movies. “And Kate! Wow, what a blast from the past. Mind if I join you two?”
    My blood thrummed in my ears as I held my breath and reluctantly let myself soak up Bobby—all six feet of him—looking taller and leaner, as if he’d lost the freshman ten. His hair seemed golder—maybe touched up?—and he had