Triple Destiny

Chapter 10

The Siesta Key Café

She was behind the counter, busily filling coffeepots when Dr. Nicholas Kontos first entered her life. The Siesta Key Café was not one of Nick’s regular stops. He usually bought his coffee out on Lido or Longboat, closer to his office at Gulf Marine Lab. Today, however, was different. Nick had just come in from sailing with friends on a sloop that was docked on Siesta.
The first thing Nick noticed about Catherine was her long, spectacular hair. Caught up in a tortoiseshell clip, it cascaded to her waist, reminding him of a Tahitian maiden he once met on a scuba-diving trip to the South Pacific. The second thing he noticed were Catherine’s large sunburst earrings, which dangled and turned and caught the light. Striking in design, these earrings were made out of what appeared to be hammered gold, and they might well have belonged to an Aztec princess.
From the neck down, Catherine was dressed as a garden-variety coffee shop girl: checked dress, apron, Reeboks, and socks. Nothing much there of interest, except for the pin on her shoulder, which revealed her name.
Catherine went about her morning chores, barely stopping to look at her only customer. “Fresh coffee will be up in a few minutes,” she called over her shoulder.
“Fine, Catherine. I’ll wait.” I could sit here forever looking at you, thought Nick, feeling frisky. Classy name, pretty lady. Wonder if she scuba dives?
Catherine walked into the kitchen, retrieved a box of sugar packets, and came back out to refill a series of small white containers. He started at her hands. Good, she’s not wearing a wedding ring. He could not take his eyes off her, but she seemed not to notice.
Mrs. Martinez entered the door of the cafe followed by Katie, who burst into the establishment with a knapsack filled with drawing supplies. Nick turned to watch the exuberant little girl. “I won’t be more than an hour, Catherine,” called out Mrs. Martinez.
Catherine continued restocking the sugar bowls. “Take your time, Elba. It won’t get busy until five.”
After she set down her knapsack, Katie gave Mrs. Martinez an extravagant bear hug. “Remember, if the dentist says you gotta wear braces, get the pink rubber bands. My friend’s big sister got blue ones, and boy, did she look yucky!”
Mrs. Martinez responded with a laugh “Right! See you in a little bit, baby. Take care of your momma.” She waved and walked out of the café.
Catherine came out from behind the counter to kneel in front of Katie and give her a hug. “Hi, sweetie. Smart girl, you brought art supplies.” After she took Katie by the hand, she led her to one of the booths in the back. “Sit right here, honey. What are you going to draw?”
Katie pondered the question. “I think … hmmm … I think—”
“Well, keep thinking. I’ve got to get back to work.” Catherine turned and went back to the kitchen as Nick’s eyes followed her.
Suddenly, Katie shrieked in excitement. “I’ve got it!” Nick turned to watch the child as she furiously began to work on her composition.
Catherine came out of the kitchen, and Nick took a stab at starting a conversation. “That’s quite the little Picasso you have there.”
“Mmm—” Catherine appeared distracted.
“I really liked drawing when I was a kid.”
“Yes? Well, I’ll get your coffee.”
Well, talk about blowing me off, thought Nick. She’s sure not impressed with yours truly.
Catherine poured a steaming mug and set it in front of Nick along with a spoon and a napkin. She then set down small bowls filled with thimbles of cream and packets of sugar. “May I get you anything else?”
“Apple pie maybe?”
“We have cherry or pecan. Those are the best.”
“In that case, I’ll have pecan.” Catherine nodded, took a pie from the pie safe, and cut a fat slice as Nick looked on. She put a fork on the plate before she set it down in front of him.
“Thanks,” he said, and she nodded.
Sam called out from the kitchen, “Catherine, could you come give me a hand?”
Catherine disappeared through the swinging door as Katie popped up at Nick’s side, waving her drawing. “Hey, mister. Want to see my picture?”
“Sure.” He took the paper and studied it. The drawing has one tall figure and one small figure. “Wow, you are good!”
Katie began proudly pointing out the finer points of her master work. “That’s me! I’m the one in the ballerina suit. See, I’m wearing my gold necklace.”
“Ah, it’s got your name on it. And who’s the other person?”
“That’s my mommy. She’s wearing her lee-o-tard. It’s got a pink skirt.”
“To go with the rubber bands on her braces?”
Katie started to giggle. “Ohhhhhhhh, my mommy doesn’t wear braces.”
“Too bad. Bet she’d look good in braces!”
“You’re funny, mister!”
Sam emerged. He placed some clean cups under the counter and went back into the kitchen.
“That your daddy?” Nick asked.
“Nooooooo, that’s Mommy’s boss. He’s a nice man. I’ve got a baaaad daddy!”
Nick was both startled and intrigued. “Oh?”
“Mommy and I are prob’ly not going to love Daddy anymore!”
Nick blinked. “I see.”
Katie’s voice dropped to a whisper, as if he was speaking to a conspirator. “We’ve been playing Zigzag.”
“Really?”
Katie’s whisper became even softer: “So Daddy can’t find us.”
“Ah—”
Then Katie abruptly returned to her normal speaking voice and announced, “Now I’m going to make a new drawing!”
“Go for it!”
Katie hopped to her booth and busily got back to work.
So that’s it, thought Nick. Her mother’s gun shy. She’s coming out of a bad relationship.
Catherine backed through the swinging door, bearing another tray of mugs. As she set down the tray, Nick stood up and placed a couple of bills on the counter. For the first time, Catherine looked directly at him. “That is way too much!” she protested, pushing one of the bills back toward Nick.
He pushed the money back. “Keep it. You’ll need it for art supplies.”
Catherine appeared slightly flustered. “Oh … well, thank you.”
Nick turned to Katie. “Keep up the great work, honey. You’re going to be a famous artist someday.”
Her head cocked to one side, Katie began coloring with a vengeance. When she saw her mother stare at the departing Nick, Katie abruptly stopped and spoke in a clear, bell-like voice, “He’d make a very good daddy.”
Catherine made a face. “Shhhh, Katie … hush!” Embarrassed, she made herself busy as Sam backed through the swinging door.
Even with his back turned, Nick had heard what Katie had said. The kid’s on my side, he thought, and he chuckled.