It would be hard to say exactly how many hours went into the writing of this story, which I undertook for my own enjoyment. I can't let the chance pass, however to thank a very kind Beta Reader who spent many, many hours editing it. The suggestions, encouragement and all the rest were and are greatly appreciated. Thanks Barb!

Please be warned that a physical relationship between two women is a large part of the story line. If this offends you, please read no further.

j.dragoness@mindspring.com

Part 4

Daylight was beginning to fade when Amy pulled into her drive. 'Gosh, I've still got to feed the girls. Uh! Then straight to bed, I'm beat!'

As she approached the house, something on the front lawn caught her eye. Bursts of pink were scattered about but she couldn't tell what she was looking at yet. 'Pink? What on earth…?' At that moment she was able to bring the objects into focus and she stamped the brake pedal, bringing the Explorer to a sudden stop.

On the lawn, she counted seventeen pink flamingos and seven pink elephants in various poses. In their center was a sandwich sign with a simple message. 'I'M PROUD OF YOU IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY!' it proclaimed. The grin on Amy's face was beyond measure. She laughed out loud at the ingenuity of her friend and wondered where on earth she'd come up with such an original idea.

"Here are the estimates for diverting the water to the pond and then back into the creek."

"What about fish? Can we have fish or will they escape into the creek?" Dorothy wanted to know.

"There's a screen here, you can't see if from above the water really. It keeps fish, plants, whatever from sluicing out when the water travels out of the pond.

"The whole thing is really clever, Kate." Sam Johnson was beaming, obviously not concerned about the additional money at all.

"Well, you already had the water wheel, which is the most important part. I suggest copper lining in the trough. If we have it made with just a bend, no seams, it should last for years and years."

She was concerned about the quality of the water in the pond's basin and the periodic maintenance required to keep it that way. Kate was thinking about some type of crude filter system. 'I'll spring that on them later. Let them be in love with my idea for now.' She had to admit it felt good to be dealing with people who appreciated and encouraged her little theatrical effects.

Kate realized that her attention was lagging and re-joined the conversation. Just as she was returning to total focus, the cell phone on her belt yelped two short blasts.

"Sorry, I've been leaving calls everywhere for the plumber and the electrician." Kate apologized.

They dismissed her with a smile and a wave and anxiously returned to the sketches before them.

"Kate Ryan here."

"Don't I know it! Just the sound of your voice gives me Goosebumps."

Her smile was automatic, but she wiped it off her face. 'This is a business meeting, Kate. Act like a grown up.'

"Yes, go ahead." Her clients were paying no attention to her so she stood and stepped away from the table, turning her back to them.

"I know you can't talk now but I had to tell you that you are the sweetest woman on earth. Please call me when you get home, NO matter how late it is. I need to thank you for the neatest surprise I've ever received ." Amy was bubbling and Kate loved it. She had wondered how long it would take Amy to discover her surprise.

"Uh huh, I can do that." She was trying to maintain a business like timbre in her voice.

"It's a shame you're not here now, so I could SHOW you my appreciation." Her voice dropped an octave and Kate swallowed hard.

"I see what you mean." She turned to be certain she wasn't being obvious. The Johnsons were still swooning over their fishpond.

"If I knew you were coming over, I'd meet you at the door, wearing nothing but my sunburn." Amy knew she was being unfair, but couldn't stop herself. The intake of breath from the receiver encouraged her to go on. "I doubt we'd get any farther than the kitchen table."

Gulping and straining to maintain control, Kate responded. "Sure, go ahead and handle that for me." Her voice cracked and Amy knew then how cruel she was being. She could imagine how uncomfortable she was making her partner. 'I wish I was sorry!'

"I really ought to let you go before you come after my scalp!" Amy laughed.

"That's absolutely true, but the damage is done already. I'll give you a call as soon as I find out how extensive it is. Thanks a lot." She was beaming as she hung up, but Kate sobered her expression immediately.

She turned to find her clients staring directly at her, bracing for bad news. Thinking fast she assured them that there was no problem on their project. They visibly relaxed and went back to the sketches on the table.

Kate closed her eyes and smiled in spite of herself. 'Mistake! Every time I close my eyes, I get pictures to go with her voice and they're in living color. UUGGGHHHHHH! I'll strangle her!" She returned to her meeting.

The waterwheel at the end of the Johnson's house had been a part of their design from the beginning. In fact, it was the reason they parted company with their architect. After four months, he had not been able to successfully integrate it into the plan. "It looks like an afterthought," had been Sam's remark and Kate had to admit, it did.

She stuck with the "L" shaped design of the floor space that the architect provided, but a great deal of the current layout was purely hers. The wheel itself was to be attached by a wheelhouse to the end of the long leg of the "L". It would stand a short distance from the rear wall of the great room, which held several banks of windows. A glass enclosed breakfast area off the kitchen would make it visible from the other end of the house, across the courtyard as well.

Kate sketched a series of miniature sluices to carry water from the wheel to the courtyard.

"This first half-barrel fills from the sluice, spilling through this wooden channel to the second and so on. The last one overflows into the pond itself. The natural drop of the water into the large basin nearest the house will have a submerged pump, carrying the water back to the creek by way of a subterranean pipe."

Kate pulled two more sketches from her briefcase and laid them beside the others. "Mr. Andrews in Jackson has been a nurseryman for twenty-seven years and he's definitely a better artist than I am. These show some proposed treatments of the space around the water feature. We were shooting for something with low maintenance."

She went on to explain the winding walkway shown in the drawings and the lighting installed beside it. There were also a half dozen natural alcoves formed from shrubs and pond grasses that would be perfect for reading or meditation.

The company that was building it submitted the rendering of the wheel itself. They provided Kate with endless specifications and installation suggestions. She was a little concerned, since she'd never dealt with something like this, but planned on doing her homework. The Johnsons asked her to go in their stead to Tennessee where the wheel was being constructed so that she could approve the materials. It would be Kate's problem to make it blend in with the exterior treatment of the house.

'Another road trip might not be so bad. Maybe I can take a long weekend. By then, I will no doubt have earned it. Maybe I can talk Ams into coming with me. This is sounding better all the time.

It had been the longest week Amy could ever remember. Friday afternoon finally arrived and she knew she'd be seeing Kate in a few hours, so it was getting easier to hang on. Amy hadn't realized the previous weekend how prophetic her remarks had been. There had literally been no time for the two friends to get together for the past six days. Hurried or late phone calls had been their only lifeline. Kate had already turned surly from the forced separation. Her work, normally consuming, had taken a backseat to her life. It was a real dilemma.

Amy looked at the clock and realized that she could not finish the file she was working on so she backed it up and shut off her computer. She stood and stretched her back as she made a mental list of what she needed to collect before leaving the office. By the time she entered the parking garage, her mind was already home, curled up on the sofa with somebody special.

'Thank goodness Charlie was willing to take care of the girls for me this afternoon.' Charlie had done such a good job while Amy was in Charleston that she made a permanent arrangement with him. The morning ritual of turning the girls out into the pasture became her only duty. Charlie had taken over the feeding, watering, and cleaning of stalls. Kate had been the one to realize that it would pay Charlie better than pumping gas and give him more flexibility to take care of his own work on boat motors. Amy of course, was thrilled to have someone like him to share the responsibilities of their care. She had been reluctant to admit it, but she knew the additional workload of the Landers account would make it impossible for her to give them the time they deserved. Charlie would even be riding the horses once Amy taught him how and they both got comfortable with his level of experience. Saturday had been designated as his first lesson.

She was literally out the door when her phone rang and she sprinted back to grab it. "Hello, she puffed a little."

"Hello, darling. I wanted to invite you for Sunday dinner and I knew I'd never get you at home. Does your phone work at home?" 'ughhh. Why, oh why did I answer it?'

Amy's mother was on the phone acting like they had never had the little confrontation about Jack.

"I'm not sure I can make it Mother. I have someone coming over to take a riding lesson. I'm not sure how long it might take."

As soon as she'd said it, she also remembered that she promised her niece that she could come out this weekend and spend the night. They made the plan after her piano recital and Amy had not given it a thought until now. "Mom, come to think of it, Jennifer is coming over to spend the night this weekend, too. I just don't see how I can come to dinner. Maybe, next time, huh?"

She was surprised when her mother sounded relieved that she'd turned her down. They talked briefly before Amy feigned another call as a reason to get off the phone with her mother. She picked up her keys and her jacket, leaving her briefcase. 'No work tonight. I have plans!'

As she went through the glass doors, she regretted having made plans with her niece, Jennifer. Guilt flooded her conscience. 'I haven't spent any time with Jennifer in months. She is going through so much with this divorce. How can I regret giving her my time?' She chided herself, but realized that it was a natural reaction. Her relationship with Kate was so new and she was anxious to know everything there was to know about the enigmatic builder. Additionally, Amy knew she would have to fiercely guard her time with Kate until their schedules either slowed down or coincided more.

Taking the stairs, as had been her habit for years, she reviewed the contents of her refrigerator in her mind, deciding she'd need to stop for the makings of dinner. Just as Amy reached the level where her car was parked and the door to the stairwell closed behind her, she noticed a figure in her periphery. Most of the people who worked in her building used the parking deck and Amy had never before felt the sense of foreboding she had now. She dug her keys out and made a beeline for her Explorer.

Footsteps behind her indicated that whoever was there was deliberately following her. She slowed and turned enough to glimpse a tall figure in a business suit. Within moments, it registered that it was Jack and she felt first relief, then anger.

"Jack! You scared the life out of me. What are you doing following me?" She was a few yards from her car when she twirled around to confront him.

There was a peculiar scowl on his face. He reached for her arm, grabbed her elbow and turned her, propelling her towards the car. Amy's mind was spinning from the sudden appearance. Jack's grip on her elbow was sending shooting pains up her arm, causing her to drop her keys into his upturned hand.

The Explorer was parked next to a van and he pushed Amy into the space between the vehicles. The ramp going up to the next level was directly in front of her bumper, so they were virtually hidden from passersby. Fear and confusion were at war on her face as he pressed her back against the Explorer and stepped closer.

"I don't know what you think you're doing, but this is over the top." Amy finally found her voice. "You either let me go, or I'm going to scream my head off!"

"Go ahead, it's seven o'clock and most of these cars just delivered their owners for the evening shift. The elevator bell will ring if anyone arrives on this floor." He studied her with wild eyes. Amy smelled liquor on his sour breath and his suit looked like he slept in it.

"Why don't you tell me what you problem is, bitch? Haven't you ever had a REAL man before?" Jack leaned into her and pressed her between himself and the car door. "That husband of yours must have been a real cupcake." She struggled to move him off of her, but couldn't budge his tall frame.

"You leave my ex-husband out of this, you bastard!" She tried to twist her wrist from his grip, but only succeeded in making him more agitated.

When Jack tried to kiss her, Amy turned her head away from him to avoid the contact. He reached up and dropped her key ring on the roof of her car, freeing his hand to turn her face to him. His mouth crushed hers while his hand groped crudely under her jacket. The repulsive reality of a tongue trying to gain entry into her mouth disgusted Amy. The slobber and smell of his horrid breath triggered her gag reflex.

"You'll thank me, wait and see," he grunted into her neck. She felt his hand between their bodies, opening the front of his pants. Now Amy realized what he intended and her eyes showed fear for the first time. He pressed his thigh into her crotch assuming it would give her a thrill. Instead, she cried out and pushed off against the Explorer at her back, butting him in the chin with her head. A trickle of blood started down his chin and Amy knew she had hurt him. Jack was so shocked that he stilled for a moment to recover his wits. He backed off slightly making sure she wasn't going to hit him again. It was all the opening she needed. Amy brought her knee up into the madman's groin with all her strength. The would-be rapist crumbled, dropping to the asphalt. Turning, she grabbed her keys and quickly let herself into the car. It took seconds to crank it up and spin her tires backing out of the parking space.

The explorer slammed on brakes. "Call Security! A man attacked me on deck three!" The young woman in the attendant's hut was cradling a telephone on her shoulder. She raised her index finger to indicate to Amy that she'd be available to listen in a moment. "DAMN IT! A man just tried to rape me! Call NOW!!!" The attendant clearly registered Amy's words this time and did as she'd been asked. In minutes, two security guards arrived. She told them what happened and they went in pursuit of the attacker. One radioed the security desk inside and requested that the Atlanta Police be notified.

Amy stayed locked in her vehicle, watching in her mirrors for her attacker to appear. The guards returned after fifteen minutes or so to report that they could find no trace of anybody in the decks. By the time the police arrived, one of the guards escorted her up to her office. He waited with her there while she gave a statement to the patrolman along with Jack's name and description. Amy's signature was required on the report to assure accuracy in his recording of the facts. She briefly read it over and noticed that he specifically mentioned that neither she nor her clothes 'sustained any visible damage'. The cold stare in her green eyes made a real statement to the Atlanta cop. Unaffected, his arrogance was insulting and her temper flashed.

"Thank God it wasn't your wife up there." She stared him down, daring him to comment. The tension of the situation was unnerving to the security guard. He started talking about nothing at all and could not stop. Finally, the patrolman left her copy of the report on her desk and departed.

"Some of these guys think they're Rambo, Miss. Don't pay no attention to him." The aging security guard smiled feebly at her trying to excuse the policeman's behavior.

"Thanks." Her voice was quavering. "I need to make a quick phone call, would you mind waiting just a second for me?" She was trying to stop her hands from shaking.

"Take your time, miss." He tipped his hat and stepped outside her office, closing the door to give her some privacy.

Amy thought about what she could and should say to Kate. She wouldn't be home for another thirty-five minutes and was already an hour late. Her friend would be worried but there was no reason to make it worse, she decided.

"Hey you. How are you?" Amy hoped her emotions weren't evident in her voice.

"WHERE are you? I've been trying not to cook, but you better hurry." Kate laughed.

"I'm leaving now, why don't you call for pizza or something? I was going to stop at the grocery store, but it's so late…."

"Sure, leave it to me." Kate's instincts kicked in and she realized something was very wrong. "Amy, what is it? Are you OK?"

"Yes, I'm fine but they're waiting for me outside, so I need to head out. I'll be home shortly." There was a stifled sob just as she hung up.

Kate had the office number memorized, but as quickly as she dialed it. Amy was gone when it rang. 'Or she's not answering it.' Kate thought. "I wonder who 'they' are."

The drive home was a blur. All Amy could think about was how dirty she felt and how stupid she had been for not seeing this coming. 'Kate will have a stroke, what can I tell her? I can't lie. That wouldn't work anyway, she's too smart for that.' That's when the tears started to flow. She pulled her car into the slow lane of traffic, because she couldn't see the road very well through them.

Kate paced the shoulder of the drive, waiting and wondering and suffering from waves of anxiety. She could think of nothing short of death that could have her endlessly optimistic friend this upset. 'Nah, if someone died, she would have told me. What on earth could be so tragic?' The builder was getting more and more frantic as her imagination sought some answer to her questions. Looking at the watch face on her wrist didn't make the hands move any faster either, no matter how often she did it.

Finally, the necessary eternity passed and a car pulled into the drive. When the searching green eyes contacted the figure of her waiting friend, she stopped the car and got out, leaving it running. Amy collapsed, sobbing, into strong arms. Kate Ryan, the friend, held on tight, whispering reassurances into blonde hair, and waiting patiently. When Amy finally choked the truth out between sobs, Kate swept the crumpling body up and walked steadily toward the back door of the house.

"Charlie!" She yelled twice before his head appeared around the barn door. "Would you go bring Amy's car around here? Bring the keys in when you're done, OK buddy?" Kate's even tones were designed to calm down Amy as well as Charlie who's concern was all over his face.

"It's alright now. I've got you. I'm here Ams. Come on now, it's gonna be fine, everything is going to be just fine." Kate lighted on the sofa, and began rocking Amy, holding her to her chest. Meanwhile Kate Ryan, the problem solver, was identifying problems and assigning solutions inside her head.

'She'll need a security system right away. I need to call her office and notify them about Jack, plus let them know she won't be in for a while. I wonder if Amy will need counseling. I could ask that doctor I did that work for to recommend someone. Ricki might be able to get a restraining order against that bastard. I have to find out if anyone has given Jack this address, particularly her mother. I'll need some clothes; maybe we'll go to my house until tomorrow. I could bring back everything then.'

Charlie entered the room with the keys outstretched in his hand. He meant no harm, but he came up behind the sofa causing Amy to panic and she screamed. Poor Charlie was devastated that he caused the fresh pain and tears. Kate assured him that it was nothing he had done. She quietly directed him to leave the keys on the kitchen table and wait for her outside.

"Amy, I have to walk out with Charlie. I won't be a minute, OK?" She nodded but made no move to let Kate off the sofa. Finally, she simply shifted, settling Amy gently against the sofa pillows and kissed her cheek.

Kate seethed inwardly at the act that triggered this fear in Amy. 'This is going to be tough on her. That bastard! I hope he has sense enough to stay the hell away from here!'

She instructed Charlie carefully as to where he was to look. There was a bottle of Xanax in her medicine cabinet that was left over from her subdivision building days and she thought Amy might need them. There was also a pistol that she wanted brought to her. Kate's plan was to make a gift of it to her lover as soon as she'd had a chance to teach her how to use it. The new lump in her own back pocket was from her own pistol, which Charlie retrieved from the truck for her. When Kate was certain that Charlie understood his mission, she let him out the kitchen door and locked it behind him.

"See, I told you I wouldn't be long. You OK? Do you need anything?" Kate's solid presence was helping Amy to relax a little.

When the tears subsided enough for her to talk intelligently, Amy told Kate in fits and starts the details of her assault. The words had been like bullets hitting Kate, each one causing more damage. Her anger was hard to control, but she had to, for Amy's sake. They held on to each other until Amy insisted that she needed to bathe to get Jack's stench off of her. The bath water was obviously too hot. The smaller woman cried out when she stepped into it, taking a few seconds to adjust before sitting down.

Kate grimaced, but kept her mouth shut. 'I have no frame of reference so I better just let her do what her instincts tell her to do for herself.' "I'll be here in the hall on the telephone. Shall I leave the bathroom door open?" An enthusiastic nod was the only answer she needed. 'She doesn't want me out of her sight. Poor kid.' Kate clenched her teeth in anger, at Jack and at herself for not being able to protect the one that she loved.

The security man that Kate had used for the past two years promised to be at Amy's house the following morning by ten. He assured Kate that he could install the works by day's end. She trusted him to do everything possible to secure the house.

The next call had been to the Telephone Company. After she explained the situation, Kate put Amy on the phone to confirm the request for a change of unlisted numbers. 'No way is she gonna pick up the phone and hear that son of a bitch's voice!'

It had been difficult to find out if Amy had given Jack her address. Kate hated to initiate that fear in her friend if it didn't already exist. Unable to figure out a way to avoid asking, she knelt by the tub and held Amy's gaze. Gentle tones helped soothe the sting of the inquiry. "No, he never really asked." 'Whew! That helps.' Kate tried not to show how relieved she was.

Now, she had to wonder if Jack had wrung the information out of Amy's mother. Kate wanted to believe that Mrs. Ingram could not possibly be that stupid, but her rational mind told her otherwise. It was clear that she'd have to call Amy's mother to find out. This, Kate dreaded. They had never spoken, and she doubted that Mrs. Ingram was even aware of her existence in her daughter's life. After all, what would Amy have told her? "Mom, I have a new girlfriend!"

"Tell me your mother's phone number Ams. I need to talk to her." Amy was surprised at this request.

"Why on earth would you call her at a…" her question was cut off. "She might have told him how to find you." Kate said slowly, again trying not to alarm her friend.

Kate added more hot water at Amy's request in spite of her already deep red skin tone. She scrubbed herself so hard that her skin was raw. Even so, it was obvious that in Amy's mind, Jack was still with her.

"Mrs. Ingram? This is Kate Ryan. I'm a friend of your daughter's. I'm here with Amy now in fact."

The older woman voiced no immediate concern for her daughter's welfare, which surprised Kate. 'Why would a virtual stranger be calling if Amy wasn't injured or in some kind of trouble?' She shook her head and dismissed it. Apparently Jennifer, Amy's niece had mentioned the builder because Mrs. Ingram seemed to know who she was and listened wordlessly until Kate stopped talking. Then she spoke so quietly that the dark haired woman didn't understand what she said and had to ask her to repeat it.

"I said it's hard to believe that a man could do something like that. Amy is OK isn't she? He didn't hurt her or anything?"

"Amy is just fine Mrs. Ingram, but she is terrified. I won't be leaving her side until she feels strong enough to be alone again. I need to know if you have ever given Jack this address. It's real important, so please think carefully."

The long silence on the line was making Kate jumpy.

Finally she answered. "No, because he never asked me that. You know, I assumed he had been to her house. If he had asked me, I would have thought it odd. I would have remembered." There was a long pause on the telephone line. "Will this be in the papers?"

'Great. She is only worried about what the neighbors might think' "I doubt it very seriously Mrs. Ingram. The Atlanta police seemed to think this is such a mundane occurrence that they barely took her statement."

Kate was glad that she heard no evidence of relief in the older woman's voice when she responded. She would have made a mental note to slap her face at a later date if she had. "Shall I come out there and sit with Amy? Please ask her if she needs me. I'll wait."

The look on Kate's face told Amy that something was up. She was stepping from the tub when Kate got up from the floor in the hall and holding her hand over the receiver, repeated the question.

Amy gasped, knowing but not knowing how to respond to the offer. "Please, tell her thanks but no, we'll manage"

When the message had been relayed, Kate spoke quietly for a few minutes more. As she hung up, Amy was coming out of her bedroom wearing a long flannel gown that covered her to her ankles.

"Feeling better now?" Kate was making conversation to determine how the young victim was mentally.

"I'll live. Thanks for everything. You'll stay with me, won't you?" The fear on her face broke Kate's heart. Up until today, she considered Amy Ingram a virtually fearless woman.

"Count on it 'little bit'. I'm here for the duration."

"That's a new one. Where do you come up with all these nicknames anyway?" She managed to smile a little.

"Every one lessens the chance that I'll be caught confusing you with my other girlfriends." She grinned and caught the sofa pillow that was heaved at her. "Are you hungry?"

"Not really thanks, but you should eat something."

"How about if I cook?" Kate offered innocently.

Amy studied her for a long beat. "You are the most amazing woman, do you know that? You're smart and sensitive, beautiful, loving and strong but you don't cook. You would really attempt it for me though, wouldn't you?"

A vigorous nod was her answer. "Hey, I can do survival cooking, you know. I could probably handle breakfast food. How about that?"

"You look so earnest, how can I refuse? Let's go."

The young designer sat on a stool and watched as Kate set about the business of preparing their meal. Unknowingly, Amy glanced through the open curtains a half dozen times before Kate realized that she must have been looking for Jack. As she beat eggs in a bowl, Kate sidled over to the double windows and pulled the shades without comment.

It was decided that the two friends would in fact spend the night at the lake. It would give Kate an opportunity to pack a few things and there would be no concern about Jack showing up at Kate's house. "By the time we get back here tomorrow, the phone number will be changed, the installation of your new alarm system will be on the way to completion and you will have had a good night's sleep."

Amy gathered a change of clothes to wear home the following morning and simply put on Kate's denim jacket over her nightgown. As they walked to Kate's truck Amy announced her intentions. "I'm going to leave this toothbrush at your house when we get there if that's ok?"

The smile on Kate's face warmed away the chill of the evening and its sordid events.

Charlie agreed to stay overnight at Amy's house. His presence would undoubtedly discourage Jack if he were stupid enough to show up.

Kate watched closely in her rear view mirror to be sure they weren't being followed. 'This cloak and dagger stuff isn't nearly as entertaining in person as it is on TV'. Only when she was satisfied that they were in the clear did she turn down the winding drive to her little house.

The cabin seemed much warmer with the curtains and special touches they had added. It was a welcome haven to the tired pair. Kate remained watchful all through the night with Amy cradled on her shoulder, dozing at intervals. The hours between their midnight arrival and dawn seemed endless to Kate who could not get her mind to shut down. Until now, the real weight of Amy's attack had not settled on her. Suddenly she had so much to fear and too much to lose.

A stirring broke her train of thought. Amy was waking and greeted her. "Good morning".

"Hey there." Strong arms were pulling her even closer. "How do you feel about going to work with me today? I bet you're a heck of a carpenter and haven't told me yet."

Green eyes looked up at her as if she'd lost her mind. "I'd love to come along with you but I think I'll leave the building to you. Today, I am just your cook and gofer. What time is it, anyway?"

In the process of reading her watch, Kate reached around Amy with both arms and pushed the button that illuminated the dial. "Can you read it?" Kate asked. "Yes," Amy replied, " but I don't like what it says. I'm making you late for work. Sorry." Amy apologized.

"I deserve to sleep late once in a while." She was gently trying to disentangle herself. Kate wasn't sure how much touch her friend could tolerate at the moment. It was one of the questions that played through her mind repeatedly during the night. Kate leaned close to kiss her love then thought better of it and backed off.

The gesture did not go unnoticed. Her dilemma was easily readable to Amy. "Kate, I appreciate you being so sensitive to my feelings right now, but I'm not that fragile."

"I just didn't know how you'd feel about being touched."

"Not so great to tell you the truth, but the safety of being close to you outweighs that."

Relieved at this news, Kate made a decision. "I'll just follow your lead until you're comfortable again, OK?"

Amy's response was a grateful smile and a brief kiss. Left alone while Kate showered, she buried her face in the pillow beside her, enjoying Kate's distinct fragrance.

Calls to Walton & Hanley were mandatory and Amy decided to handle them herself. She spoke with Martha in human resources first who was outraged at the news. "He should have been out of here years ago, the bastard!"

"I need to give you my new phone number. It's unlisted for obvious reasons and it's imperative that Jack not get his hands on it. Please guard it, Martha." She promised that she would.

Josh, her department head was equally appalled when she spoke with him. He let Amy know that she needn't concern herself with her workload. He offered to reassign all of it until further notice, but she protested. They compromised by planning to have her files transmitted to her house so that she could keep up.

"You probably should call Tom unless you would prefer that I do it. I think he needs to hear this in person instead of in some memo. I assume you'll press charges."

"I haven't talked to my lawyer yet, but I imagine so. I can't let this go unpunished because I'd hear about him doing the same thing to someone else and go nuts. Besides, I was lucky. Someone else might not be if there's a next time." She thanked Josh for his understanding and concern, promising to keep in touch.

Her business concluded, Amy dressed and joined Kate who was waiting for her on the porch. The morning haze burned off and the lake was calm and beautiful. "I really do hate to make you late for work," Amy said again.

"Don't be silly. The only thing you're making me is happy. It's very nice to have you here."

Amy thought she knew Kate and she did know something of the woman, friend and lover. Nothing in their short history, however, had prepared her for 'Kate the builder'. The tall brunette was everywhere at once at the Mitchell's house, orchestrating the detail work it needed in order to move the owners in. Kate told her that it was much easier to take care of these screw ups and boo boos before the homeowners were on the scene.

"It's hard for new homeowners to accept less than perfection when everything is brand new. Calling these contractors back emphasizes the fact that we're asking for repairs plus it's real inconvenient for them to stay home from work waiting for an electrician or air conditioning guy." She was talking to Amy who had shadowed her since they entered the house. The petite designer stayed at a respectful distance, not wanting to interfere with her friend's focus.

"This switch plate cover is ivory. Everything in this entire kitchen is white, even the sink strainers." Kate walked through the house with the electrician's helper, listing every problem. Once that was done, she repeated the process with the plumber. The trim carpenter had a much longer list, which she helped him prepare the previous day.

"I think everything here is running smoothly. Why don't we go over and see how everything is at your house?" As they were getting into Kate's step side, she realized she was hungry. "Hey Ams, do you have any peanut butter and jelly? If so, I'll cook."

Amy kidded her. "It's a good thing you didn't become a nutritionist instead of a builder." Charlie's truck was in the yard as well as that of the security system installer. The cell phone on Kate's belt rang just as they were entering the kitchen door.

Ricki, the attorney, was calling to bring the two friends up to date on the situation. Just as Kate feared, Amy didn't have grounds for prosecuting except on simple battery. Even that would be hard to prove since the policeman at the scene included his observation in the police report that Amy wasn't "physically harmed."

"The good news is that the restraining order may be do-able, but I'll have to get back to you on that. Ask Amy who I can talk to at her office to get this creep's personnel records. I need his address and all his other vitals. Tell her I'm doing everything I can and to keep her chin up." When Ricki had everything she needed, she mentioned to Kate that she would be calling a meeting on her insurance case within the next few weeks.

"I'll be right back." Kate walked through the house in search of her alarm expert. She found him drilling into the window casement in Amy's bedroom. They spoke briefly about some of the options that he could provide before she returned to the kitchen for lunch.

"You'll be all fixed up by dinner time. I'll feel a lot better."

Amy looked worried. "I should have had an alarm put in long ago. You'll stay with me tonight anyway, won't you?"

"I'm here until you throw me out and maybe even after that." Amy laughed at her and made a face. "Actually, the barn does look pretty comfortable. I could live there for months." Kate was tearing the crust off of her sandwich and making a mess of it. Her expression grew serious. "I don't want to invade your privacy, so you may have to help me work out some way to keep that from happening. Otherwise, I am happy as a clam being here with you."

When the phone rang, Amy jumped. She put her hand to her chest to calm her rapid heartbeat, took several deep breaths and answered it.

"Is Amy in please?" She didn't recognize the voice at first and was beginning to panic.

"This is she."

"It's Tom Hanley dear. I wanted to personally convey how saddened I am by this reprehensible act. I'm told that you were not physically harmed. I trust that is the case."

"It's nice of you to call Mr. Hanley. No, I wasn't hurt, just scared half to death I think." Kate was caught staring at her friend and realized that she was eavesdropping. She took her lunch into the den and sat down heavily into the sofa cushions. It was only a short while before Amy joined her. "He's not really sure what to do about Jack who is denying the entire incident. He called in with a hangover. Real professional, huh? I guess claiming drunkenness excuses everything in his mind. You know Kate, it is his word against mine."

"He has a history of sexual harassment in the company, even though he's never been officially reprimanded for it." Kate reminded her.

Amy pondered the remark before responding. "Yes, but there is no proof in this matter either. The security cameras show nothing."

"How did you find that out? Did the cops call?"

"No, I asked Mr. Hanley if security checked yet and he hemmed and hawed around until I made him tell me." She was obviously disappointed.

Kate honestly wasn't sure how strong a case her friend could make against her attacker. She could only hope that regardless of whether he was brought to justice or not, Amy would be able to get past the incident emotionally.

The afternoon flew. Kate, having accomplished a great deal more than she anticipated, attributed it to Amy's influence. "I should take you to dinner or a movie or something." A distraction sounded good to her.

They were led to a corner booth in a new restaurant located in Olde Town Conyers. The rich walnut and brass bar lent the establishment the flavor of an Old World pub. The atmosphere was intimate and the two friends were deep in conversation when one of the proprietors came over to greet them.

"I like this place," Amy admitted when they were alone again. She smiled brightly at Kate who was still studying the bar, undoubtedly in an effort to determine how it had been constructed. "Now, what were you saying about a gift for me?"

Kate had only started to introduce the subject of the pistol she wanted to give to Amy when they had been interrupted. Now, she needed to shift back into the proper frame of mind to debate this issue with her dinner partner.

"I want to give you a pistol and teach you to use it." She waited for the reaction.

"Oh! I'm not sure that's such a good idea, I really don't know anything about guns. They scare me, actually."

"Good! That is as it should be, but there isn't any reason why you can't learn to handle one with respect and ultimately get comfortable having one around."

Uncertainty was evident on Amy's face. She wanted to protest, but Kate began delivering a long list of rational arguments for owning a gun.

"I'm most interested in you feeling safe. I'd like to think that I will always be around to protect you, but that's unrealistic. We could look into some self-defense classes, but I've done that once and I'm not convinced it's the answer." Amy finally had to look away from Kate's intense blue gaze, remembering she was in public and fearing what must be obvious in her open appreciation of the woman across the table.

"What's wrong with self-defense? I've heard that it's great, for women especially." She shook out her napkin and laid it on her lap as a diversionary tactic.

"I'm just not sure how realistic it is to expect yourself to prevail in a hand-to-hand combat situation. I'd prefer that an attacker would never get that close." Kate's arguments made sense.

"I might be able to try shooting if you could be the one to teach me." Amy knew that she would be totally honest with Kate. If she tried shooting and hated it, there would be no pressure to pursue it any further. They agreed to spend an hour at the South River Gun Club on Sunday and see how it went.

'That wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. It's most important of course, that she be OK with it. I just can't imagine how she'll be able to go into town to work again, without something to make her confidant of her own safety. As for me, I'll just be worried sick for the duration.'

"No more serious talk. I do thank you though for entertaining my proposal and agreeing to try it at least. I promise that if you hate it, I won't press." Kate raised her water goblet in a mock toast to their agreement.

On the way home, Amy expressed her concern about the coming weekend and the visit from her niece, Jennifer. "I don't want her to think anything is up, you know? She has enough upheaval to deal with in her own life. My sister's divorce is moving from messy to tragic."

"I'll help you entertain her if you want. I don't have much experience with that sort of thing, but I can manage something, I'm sure." Kate offered.

"I can't let you do that, you've let me monopolize your time too much. I won't even let you go home." A thought struck her then. "What do we do about that while Jennifer is here?"

"About what?" Kate waited. "Oh, you mean…?"

"Yeah, how could I explain the two of us sleeping together to her?"

"You couldn't. I'll relocate to the guestroom for one night. No big deal." She waved off Amy's concern assuming it would make things easier for her.

"You really don't mind?" Suddenly the younger woman sounded disappointed.

Apparently, Amy suddenly doubted Kate's feelings and that message was being broadcast loud and clear to a sensitive audience.

OOPS! I better watch what I say here.' "Of course I mind, I'll miss you next to me. You'll just have to owe me, that's all." She squeezed the smaller hand resting on the seat between them. Amy reflexively looked around to see if anyone was within sight to witness the gesture.

"Sorry." Kate mumbled, but it was obvious that she was not. In fact, her feelings were beginning to be hurt by these paranoid little reactions from Amy. Kate was proud of what they had and it was hard for her to hide it. Still, she understood Amy's reticence, at least on an intellectual level. She let it go.

The following morning, Amy decided to stay at home and try to get some of her work done. All of the files had been transmitted from her office as promised and it worried her that she was getting behind. Kate objected when she heard the plan, insisting that her friend was rushing things. Their friendly argument coined Amy's newest nickname, the 'green-eyed demon', but calling her that didn't help Kate's argument. Amy's will prevailed.

"There's really no reasoning with you is there? You are the most stubborn woman in this county."

Amy chuckled, "Only when you're out of town. Go and get some of your own work done! Just keep your phone handy in case I have to call, OK?"

Recognizing defeat Kate gave in. "Sure, and try out the alarm if you want. I'll let you know if I'm coming over here for any reason. This will be a good time to test it." Kate knew that her friend wasn't as confident about being alone as she was trying to sound. "I'm only a phone call away."

Sure enough, they spoke on the phone several times during that day, but nothing caused Amy to require her protector's presence. It was decided that Kate would work on with her landscaping people until dusk. The Mitchell's were chomping at the bit and the plan was for them to move in within a week. A lot of things still had to come together to make that happen.

"Honey! I'm home!" Kate announced herself by calling on her cell phone from Amy's back yard. Within minutes, the door opened and the petite blonde welcomed her with a wooden spoon in her hand.

"Slaving over a hot stove I see." Kate, reluctant to invade her friend's personal space stood close, but not too close behind Amy at the stove. "That smells terrific, but when did you find time to cook? I thought you were burning up that computer of yours."

Amy swatted her hand away from the saucepan where Kate was attempting to steal a taste. "We have to have sustenance and I know better than to count on you for that." Kate pretended to be hurt by the remark. Amy offered her a consolation. "I don't mind your lack of culinary talent, you have so many others." This unintentionally provoked some interesting thoughts.

Later that night they lay together, neither aware that the other was not sleeping. Kate normally lost in thoughts of joist spans and floor trusses was fighting fear, an unknown opponent. Tonight, it moved through her consciousness like a curl of smoke, permeating everything inside her.

'What if she doesn't feel as deeply for me as I do for her? Will I ever be able to provide the safety she'll need? Where will my next paycheck come from? I've never had a real family, but she may want one.' Anxiety was pummeling her from all directions. In reflex, she pulled closer into Amy's back.

Meanwhile Amy replayed the scenes from the parking decks inside her eyelids. She could feel again the terror of being followed and the foolish relief of realizing it was ONLY Jack. Trying to find some more pleasant path, she summoned Jennifer's face. Kate was right; it was her own face, but Jennifer's was unhappy these days. Jennifer's childhood had definitely been cut short.

'Like Kate's' she realized. 'Except that her mother died. I can't imagine being without my sisters or even my mother. As much as we clash, she was still such an anchor when I was growing up. Thank goodness Kate and I found each other.' An arm tightened around her, pulling Amy closer and making her smile. 'Surely she can't read my mind!' The warmth of the body behind her reminded Amy of some things she needed to address with Kate. 'I'm sure she wonders when we'll get back to where we were.'

Amy's sister Ann dropped Jennifer off at midday on Saturday. Amy decided that they would spend their first few hours together talking and caring for the horses. Standing on the stable stool that Kate had fallen off of during her first riding lesson, Jennifer stood on tiptoe to reach the center of Scotch's back with the brush. She seemed so earnest in her effort to do a good job that it worried Amy.

'I need to help her learn to play again. There must be a million reasons why she's so determined to please everybody.' "Jennifer, do you want to take a ride this afternoon? My friend Kate said that she would take us fishing if we wanted to go. We could take the horses to the lake in the back pasture. I told her I would have to ask you."

The little girl's face lit up. "Yes! Yes! Yes! When can we go?" her excitement drew a laugh out of her Aunt Amy.

"We can call her in a little while and let her know. She is working next door, building a house for some people."

Jennifer was perplexed. "Is she building it all by herself?"

"No honey, Kate's supervising the people doing all of the work. When we get done brushing all of the girls why don't we walk over and you can see what she's doing for yourself. Would you like that?"

Amy got an enthusiastic nod in response and began to look forward to seeing Kate sooner than she had expected to.

Kate Ryan would never have believed that she could have enough patience to deal with an eight-year-old. She was pleasantly surprised to find that Jennifer was an astute observer and her questions belied reason beyond her years. They walked around the exterior of the house, side by side, hands stuffed into pockets, deep in conversation. Amy followed at a polite distance, eaves dropping and deeply amused by the fast forming bond between her two favorite people.

"You're the mom today, right?" Kate's question got a nod from Amy. "What is the verdict? Do we get to fish?"

"The day belongs to Jennifer. We will do whatever she desires." Amy bent from the waist and swept her arm towards the ground.

Kate leaned her tall frame down and high-fived Jennifer's hand. "Let me kick some quick butts and we're out of here!"

They pulled into Amy's yard in the white step side. Kate was to drop them off and run down the road for minnows. Jennifer spoke up. "Do you think I could go with you Miss Ryan? I've never seen a fish bait store before."

The builder's reaction to the title "Miss Ryan" was visible. A smile spread across Amy's face matched by the one on 'Miss Ryan's'. Stifling a laugh, Kate answered Jennifer's question. "I could really use a co-pilot. Let's get the cooler. You can put your feet on the lid while I drive home."

"Why do I have to put my feet on the cooler?" the little girl wanted to know.

"To keep the minnows from escaping, of course." She had a serious look on her face as they continued their conversation about the tactics of runaway minnows. Amy watched them load up and stood with her arms folded across her chest as they drove away.

'There go two perfectly content children. Kate has obviously needed a playmate all this time. I bet she doesn't even know it.' She shook her head in amusement and started into the house. Until that second it had not occurred to Amy that she was alone. The sharp intake of breath that she heard alarmed her until she realized that it was her own. She closed the kitchen door behind her and leaned against it, scanning the visible areas of the house. Sliding the bolt shut on the kitchen door was an automatic response, but it didn't make her feel any better.

'It's impossible for anyone to be in here. We were only next door an hour. Use your head, Amy' She talked to herself long and hard, but ultimately fear rose in her throat. Her breathing became rapid and she could feel her pulse beating in quick rhythm at her temples.

Amy searched, room by room, looking under beds and in closets. Feeling foolish, but unable to stop herself she checked the last possible hiding place and finding it empty, breathed a huge sigh of relief. Hearing a car in the yard, she just had time to get back to the kitchen and unbolt the door before Kate and Jennifer came tumbling into the house, laughing.

As soon as Kate glanced at her partner, she knew something was very wrong. "Why don't you go get your riding gear on so we'll be ready to head out?" Jennifer liked the idea and left them alone. "What is it?" She moved to Amy's side and put an arm around her shoulder.

"I'm acting like a total baby. When the two of you left, I just panicked a little at being alone. I went all over the house looking for intruders under the beds. I'm ashamed of myself for being such a coward!" A tear tracked down her cheek.

Kate fought her impulse to embrace her frightened friend. Amy had been clear about her reluctance for them to appear too friendly in Jennifer's presence. Kate was determined to honor Amy's wishes.

"It's OK for you to be afraid. Why would you assume otherwise?" She waited, kicking herself for leaving her friend alone and watching to see if her words were making any impact before continuing. "Has anybody ever told you that you are too hard on yourself? My gosh Amy, it will take a long while for you to recover from the emotional injury that you've suffered."

Amy looked into the depth of Kate's eyes wanting to believe what she was hearing. Finally, acceptance arrived. "Thank you for being so patient and understanding." The look that passed between them held a great deal more than either could express in words. Kate gave her elbow a squeeze and backed away just as Jennifer reentered the kitchen.

"I'm ready! Are we taking the horses?" she wanted to know. As they walked the short distance to the barn, Amy explained the situation. Kate offered to saddle Molly with Jennifer's assistance.

"We can't all ride, sweetheart. The fishing stuff has to be taken down there." Amy told her.

"Yeah, and Scotch draws the line at transporting minnows." Kate added. "I'll run everything down in the truck, you two ladies bring the horses." She leaned over and addressed Jennifer specifically. "That way, your line will be ready to go in the water as soon as you arrive. Of course, if you catch the first fish, I'm gonna …" she started to tickle the eight year old and was answered with peals of wondrous laughter. Amy joined in, the panic attack completely forgotten.

The fishing trip was dotted with instances of hilarity. Amy, in her excitement to land a fish, stepped off into the muddy apron around the pond. As she tried to back away, the swampy landscape sucked the boot from her foot, causing her to lose her balance. While Kate helped her up, Jennifer, laughing heartily, went in to retrieve the footwear. Finding herself ankle deep in the muck herself, a fresh round of laughter broke out among the three.

Ultimately Kate had to chuck her shoes and socks and go after the eight-year-old. Jennifer held onto Amy's boot while Kate held onto Jennifer and lifted her from her mushy trap. Once she had them back on shore, all three of them went in search of a better place to wade into the water and clean up. It was the tall brunette who had the hardest time rinsing the mud from between her toes. She stood balanced on one foot, wiping at it with a bandana, when a push from Amy sent her sprawling into the water.

Sitting chest-high in the pond, with water running down her face, Kate swore revenge. She settled for a surprise splashing fit that succeeded in wetting her two fishing companions thoroughly.

Later, the three sat at Amy's kitchen table eating the homemade ice cream that Jennifer and Kate churned out on the porch. "I owe you an apology for pushing you into the pond." Amy offered. Kate eyed her suspiciously, doubting her sincerity.

"That was pretty mean Aunt Amy, especially considering that she was the one that rescued your shoe, not to mention me!" Jennifer had peach ice cream dripping from her chin. Amy fought her instinct to reach over and wipe it with her own napkin.

"I know it was, that's why I wanted to apologize." Amy defended herself.

"Oh no you don't. A lame apology won't take away my entitlement for revenge. You'll never know when it's coming, either." Kate regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. She hoped they wouldn't spark apprehension. "Who wants more ice cream?" Kate asked, rising from the table. Jennifer went with her to the sink where they left the dripping churn.

By ten o'clock, Jennifer was fast asleep on the sofa with her head in Amy's lap. They all agreed to watch a Disney movie and the grown ups hadn't missed a line of dialect. Jennifer had fallen out only twenty minutes into the show, but Amy let her sleep, enjoying the feel of her niece's warm presence. When the movie was over and Kate stood and stretched, she was surprised to see the energetic little girl finally motionless.

"She had a busy day, didn't she?" Kate smiled in a way that Amy had never seen before. Kate couldn't seem to take her eyes from Jennifer's sleeping face. "Want me to carry her in?" She jerked her head in the direction of Amy's bedroom.

"Would you please? I'll go with you and tuck her in." The two women went silently down the hall and made Jennifer comfortable in Amy's bed. Kate suggested that they leave the light on in the bathroom and shut the door most of the way. Jennifer told her about waking in the night in the midst of bad dreams and both women understood that being in a strange place would only compound her fear.

Amy hesitated, unsure of whether to close the bedroom door or leave it open. She compromised and closed it part way. "Just in case," she explained. Looking up into Kate's eyes, she whispered her thanks and the two friends went back up the hall to the den.

Kate was aware that her friend was inordinately nervous tonight. She studied every window she passed, watching for an unnamed threat. The telephone rang and she jumped and drew a sharp breath before she realized that it was Kate's cell phone and not her own. When they were seated at opposite ends of the sofa again, it was Amy who made the offhand remark that started the conversation in the direction of her fear.

"I can't believe I was so naïve. I've been working in town for all these years with no concerns about this kind of thing."

"Don't be so hard on yourself Ams. There's no shame in living without fear. You're a kind, loving and forgiving woman. It's simply not in your nature to recognize heinous character flaws in others." She was trying every argument she could think of to help Amy end her self-depreciating litany. Somehow Kate didn't think she was making any headway when the beautiful young designer responded.

"What you're not saying is that I've been overprotected my whole life. I've never had my safety or happiness threatened before. For the most part, I've had the support of my family and the love of the man I married. All of it was based on lies though, huh? They all thought I was something other than what I really am."

"Whoa there! You surely don't feel that you owe anybody an apology for who you are Amy. You made your father proud and by your own admission, your marriage contented your mother for many years. The accomplishments you've collected are fairly stellar, too. Your education, career, this place and what about the relationship you have with Jennifer and the others? You are somebody very special to a lot of people besides me."

There had been many things taken for granted between these two women. Each knew their own depth of feelings toward the other, but both assumed the intensity wasn't reciprocal. Sure, Kate knew Amy cared for her. She had, after all, held her hand through some pretty rough spots already. Amy was a good friend and one to be relied on in a crisis.

Amy understood Kate's reluctance to let herself feel too much for anyone. The stately woman exuded strength and an alarming coldness towards people that most would accept as a warning to 'stay out'. Amy accepted it as a challenge of sorts and had been rewarded with hard won warmth of deeper value as a result.

A startling irony existed between them. Kate with her ability to imagine and then turn into reality the dreams of her builder heart could not speak of her feelings, even to Amy.

Amy, the brilliant designer, could create a visual image and communicate an idea to the masses in the course of an average business day. Her greatest fear was in revealing the depth of her love to Kate and scaring her away.

It was after midnight and Kate lay, tossing in the guest room bed, unable to let sleep overtake her. She missed Amy. 'I hate this! I knew I would miss her lying next to me, but this is ridiculous. After all, I slept all these years without her.'

Those were the facts in her rational mind, but neither her heart, nor her soul cared to listen. Pictures kept replaying in her mind of the day she'd spent with Amy and Jennifer. Kate could see them, standing on the shore, Amy with her hands on her hips, laughing at her, the solid, often sullen one, half drowned in the murky pond. The high tinkle of a child's laughter was clear in her memory, too. It had taken so little to make both of them smile. For once Kate's serious nature served her well in providing a contrast to the whimsy of their afternoon together.

'I had no idea that a family could feel like that. I really wish Dad and I could have spent more time playing together. He was always under so much pressure that I can't remember what his laughter sounded like.' She only knew that she hadn't heard it nearly often enough.

Kate stood in the front yard waving at Jennifer who disappeared down the driveway on her way home the next day. Ann had come to pick her up before noon and Kate found herself hating to say goodbye to her new friend. Amy observed from the porch and marveled at how many new things she had learned about Kate in the past twenty-four hours. Smiling, she spoke up mostly to remind her friend of her presence. "I think you made a big hit with my niece." Kate started toward her. "I also believe that between the two of you, my heart doesn't stand a chance."

Her candor caused the approaching builder to stop and regard her openly before replying. "Wait until you see me with the rest of them." It sounded like a challenge, even to Kate's own ears. "I didn't know I liked kids. Isn't that ridiculous?"

"Not really. You are an only child. I've never heard you speak of cousins or childhood friends. When have you ever been around any children?" Amy already knew the answer.

"Never, not even when I was one." She shook her head, saddened by the knowledge that she had missed out on a lot of things.

"You just have some catching up to do. I've always heard that childhood is better the second time around, because you know how to enjoy it more." She turned and led the way into the house. "I have two nephews and another niece, so don't you worry. My only concern is that there will be enough of you to go around."

"I don't mind being stretched thin as long as they all know that you have first dibs."

Amy held the unrealistic hope that Kate had forgotten about the shooting lesson. They were in the study, going through old photo albums. "Which one is this?" Kate was trying to get all of the names and faces sorted out. Both nieces and one nephew had blonde hair and favored Amy's looks heavily. Jennifer's brother, on the other hand, looked so much like his father, the creep, that it was eerie. Kate hoped that she could push the resemblance aside when she got to meet him.

"Who took so many pictures and why aren't there more of you?" Kate flipped slowly through the pages, fascinated. Her own family album held just seven pictures.

"My dad loved to snap us, no matter what we were doing. I took all of the embarrassing ones out before I married Steve and put them away. That's why there aren't may of me in there."

"What kind of bribe would it take to get you to show me?" Blue eyes were sparkling with challenge.

Amy considered for a moment before speaking. "I'm not sure I know you well enough yet."

"How can you say that? We have shared so much together." Kate was half kidding but her earnest look caused her friend to feel guilty.

"I think all of that stuff is up in the attic. Maybe after dinner, if you still feel like it."

"Don't think for a moment that I will forget. My memory is my strongest attribute." Kate let the topic drop for the time being and glanced at her watch. "We're expected at South River in a half hour. Jeff has reserved a table for me on the short pistol range."

'Yyyuuuuhhh. I should have known I wouldn't get out of it. She's been so sweet about all of my troubles, I guess it's the least I can do. If I have to go, I'll try to be gracious about it.' Amy smiled weakly. "Do I need to change clothes or anything?"

The builder laughed, "We're not going on Safari, it's just a target range. You'll like it, I promise and if you don't we don't have to go back."

The yellow lenses of the shooter's glasses turned Kate's eyes a shade of palest jade. Her long dark hair was pulled into a ponytail and threaded through the opening in the back of a faded red baseball hat. 'Old Navy' it proclaimed, which was a favorite shopping Mecca of Amy's. On inquiry, the petite blonde learned that Kate picked up the abandoned hat on a job site and had no idea what the embroidered words meant. It amused her, like many of the things that she learned about the enigmatic woman who was now firmly ensconced in her life.

Kate had been going over the finer points of the revolver she held in the palm of her hand for the past five minutes. Amy lost in the visual assessment of her lover and where those thoughts caused her mind to wander, missed the entire explanation.

"Are you with me?" the raven-haired beauty wanted to know. "You better go ahead and put these in your ears. She held out a pair of orange earplugs joined by a rubberized string.

"Sorry, I guess I was daydreaming." Amy took them and did as she was told. Between the earplugs and the gunfire that surrounded them, she had to lean close and yell to be heard. It was a busy day at the gun club and Kate had been grateful that Jeff, who was also a former client of hers, had been willing to reserve a table for them. Giving Amy her best exasperated look, she patiently began again, keeping her information basic this time.

While she was demonstrating the cylinder release, Jeff appeared and laid a scope on the table for their use in viewing their target for accuracy. He leaned in and spoke into Kate's ear briefly, laughed loudly with her, then gave her a brilliant smile and left the two women. Kate turned back to her pupil and resumed her instruction by inquiring "Do you have any questions?"

Her shouted question earned her a loud reply. "Yes, why was Jeff looking at you that way?" Amy couldn't believe she'd said it or thought it. It went totally against her nature to feel jealousy but when Jeff reached around Kate and dropped his hand onto her shoulder, Amy instinctively felt a surge of possessiveness. In the years when she and Steve had been married, it had taken other people to point out to her those occasions when women were hitting on her husband. Even when she had been made aware of the situation Amy never felt as she did now. This was all brand new and it disturbed her.

Kate was looking at her with disbelief written all over her face. "You must be confused Ams," she tried laughing it off.

Caught up in a fishbowl full of uncharted emotions, Amy couldn't let it go. As she started to respond a voice came droning over the loudspeaker causing her to have to scream even louder. "I'm telling you, Jeff has the hots for you!" Her voice echoed.

The quiet had come so suddenly that it took a few seconds for Amy to realize it had been her own voice she'd heard carrying out over the firing line. She looked to Kate for some clue as to what had just transpired.

Kate removed her earplugs so she could gauge that her voice was soft enough for Amy alone to hear her. "Every half hour they call a cease fire and change the targets." she pointed to the young man who was efficiently moving down the line twenty-five yards in front of them, stapling up new paper targets. "That was the announcement they were making on the loudspeaker."

Amy was clearly embarrassed but Kate had no idea in how many ways. The people at the adjoining tables turned politely to their own matters but they couldn't have missed the remark. Amy was thinking that people in the next county couldn't have missed it, as loud as she had been screaming. The quiet of the cease-fire felt like an unending vacuum. "Sorry," she mumbled and looked at the ground in an effort to hide her discomfort.

Stooping so that she could make eye contact Kate spoke softly again. "Don't be embarrassed, I'm not. In fact I'm glad that you feel that way." She paused to make sure her words were having the desired effect. Judging that they were, she continued. "Jeff and I have talked about this and he understands that we share an appreciation for beautiful women." Again, she waited and this time, Amy slowly looked up. Kate smiled, hoping that this knowledge wouldn't be the cause of further upset.

"Oh," was all Amy could muster. At that moment, "FIRE AT WILL" came booming over the intercom and gunfire rang out once more. Amy got as close as possible to her friend's ear this time before speaking again. "I'd rather have him know that we are together than be hitting on you. Especially if I'm going to be armed in the future!"

Kate's laughter could be heard above the din.

The tall figure was sprawled across the quilt, studying sketches and chewing on a pencil eraser. A voice broke the quiet. Amy was soaking in a hot bath and had left the bedroom door open so that they could communicate.

"Your closing is Tuesday afternoon, isn't it?"

"Yes, the Mitchell's are moving in Wednesday, in fact. They are so excited; they're like a couple of kids. I don't blame them really. If I'd been stuck in some dinky apartment for eight months, with all my gear in storage somewhere, I'd be nuts by now." Kate scribbled some notes in the drawing's margin.

The sound of water moving gave her a mental picture of Amy arranging and rearranging the bubbles on its surface. She would have liked to see it in person, but decided not to invade the privacy of her friend's inner sanctum.

"I definitely think we should plan a celebration. How about an early dinner downtown someplace? What's your favorite restaurant?" Amy wanted to know.

"The Varsity of course." Kate smiled broadly, waiting for the explosion.

"Surely out of all of the wonderful restaurants in Atlanta, there is someplace nice you would rather go!" Amy was clearly nonplussed at Kate's choice.

"It's my favorite. You shouldn't have asked the question if you didn't want to know the answer."

Amy sighed. "OK, it's your celebration. Anything you want is fine with me."

The Varsity was the largest drive in restaurant in the world. Built in close proximity to the Georgia Tech campus in downtown Atlanta, it served the public for almost seven decades. Considered an institution by native Atlantans, it provided an endless supply of fast food for its patrons. Many people favored the famous Varsity chili dogs, greasy homemade onion rings and fried peach pies, but few admitted it as openly as Kate did.

Amy agreed, but mumbled something that her friend could not decipher. She came out of the bathroom wrapped in a chenille robe and lay down by Kate, watching her. The builder was so intent on the sketches she was studying that it took a few minutes for Amy's presence to register and speak to her. "Hi! You sure smell nice. How was the bath? As if I didn't know..."

"Fantastic. It's made me sleepy though. Do you mind if I get under the covers?"

Kate assured her that she was within minutes of finishing up and would join her. She started to gather her papers and get off the bed, but her friend stopped her.

"You don't have to go anywhere. I like watching you work. You look like a little kid doing your homework." She smiled with a warmth and sincerity that melted Kate's heart. "I love you," she added, before sliding into bed.

It was almost two hours before the older woman turned off the light and slipped in beside Amy. She felt as if she'd really been missed the previous night when she was immediately grabbed and snuggled up to.

"Good morning Martha, it's Amy. I need a favor today. Are you up to the challenge?"

Martha was pleased to hear the cheerful note in the voice of the beautiful young designer. "You can get anything you want from me today, you just name it."

Amy explained that she had a dear friend who had been wonderful during her recent ordeal. Martha interrupted her. "Carol told me that you had somebody new in your life. She couldn't give me any details though." Martha waited but was offered no information. "I'm so happy for you!"

"Don't go overboard. We haven't known each other that long. Anyway, I need you to see if the folks at the Ritz Carlton will comp a room for me tomorrow night. It's kind of a special occasion and we're going to have dinner downtown."

Once the details were worked out to Amy's satisfaction, she moved on to the next phase. Renting a car and driver was an extravagance, but that wasn't the greatest obstacle. It took a little doing to explain the details of the afternoon and evening she was planning, but the young woman taking the reservation at the Limo service was patient and helpful.

"This is off the wall, I know." Amy apologized.

"You don't have to explain, believe me. You would not believe some of the requests we get. If you want to take somebody to the Varsity in a Limo, so be it. What time should we pick you up and I need the address."

"She will croak when they show up at the barn to collect us. I can't wait to see her face. I'd say we'll be even for the pink flamingos after this." The woman at the Limo service did not comment, but the line stayed quiet for some time before Amy realized that she had said her thoughts out loud. She laughed nervously and gave her address.

The following morning Amy finalized their plans for the afternoon. Kate was expected at the attorney's office on the third floor of the Decatur Federal building at four o'clock. "I'll meet you here at two thirty, OK?" The builder was rushing out the door to honor her offer to let the direct TV man into the Mitchell's new house to do an installation.

"Make it two forty-five why don't you? That will give us plenty of time and I have a conference call with Sybil White at two." A quick kiss on her way through the door that Amy was holding open signified Kate's acceptance of the plan. She jumped into her truck and took off.

It seemed as if only minutes had passed when she returned, but it was two forty-five. Kate was right on time. Having used her door key, she walked into the kitchen and called out to announce her presence. It wasn't long before Amy appeared, and Kate's eyes grew wide at the apparition.

Amy was wearing a simple black dress with a scoop front. A single strand of pearls was its only adornment and it created a spectacular effect. "Can you finish zipping me up in the back please?"

Stunned by the sophisticated appearance of her friend, it took Kate a moment to collect herself and react. "Are you alright?" Amy grew concerned.

"Fine." Kate swallowed hard. "You look fantastic Ams. The dress is killer." It suddenly occurred to the older woman that they were planning dinner at a drive in restaurant. "Aren't you a little over dressed, though?"

"You have your dress code, I have mine, besides I thought you liked the dress?" Through the glass in the kitchen door she could see the long black limousine pulling up. Kate had her back to the scene. "All set. Let's get going." She handed an overnight bag to Kate who looked at it in confusion.

When they stepped out into yard, the driver of the car leaped out and opened the car door for them. Once again, Kate was dumfounded by what she was seeing. When they were safely seated and underway Amy laughed and took her friend's hand. "I wanted to surprise you and I think I have managed that."

"You sure do have a flair for this kind of thing. How long have you been planning this?"

"Only since yesterday, I work fast." She leaned over and gave Kate a kiss. Amy was obviously pleased with herself, but didn't want to dwell on it. She began talking about a phone call she'd had earlier from Ann.

The Mitchell's loan closing went smoothly as all the parties anticipated. Kate congratulated them on their new home and promised to stop by and see them when they were settled. "Your house is almost like my child. I hope you don't mind if I visit often."

Amy waited in the plush lobby of the attorney's office and stood up when the conference room doors opened. Kate's face told her that everything had gone well. All of them took the elevator and walked out into the parking lot together. Ada Mitchell raised an eyebrow at the waiting limo.

"A surprise for me. Amy cooked it up." Kate explained.

The young blonde spoke up immediately. "We're headed to the Varsity for dinner, it's Kate's favorite place. Would you like to join us?"

"Why doesn't any of that surprise me one bit?" Mark Mitchell turned to Kate. "That's the thing about you lady. What surprises me most about you is how often you surprise me." He extended his hand to shake hers. "I know we were supposed to end up hating each other and throwing rocks at each other's cars, but I have to say, this has been a wonderful experience for us."

"Even when we fought over the bathtub?" Kate's eyebrow shot up, but her eyes were sparkling with merriment.

"Especially then. I have never known anyone else who could be so passionate about the color of a bathtub. You're quite a woman. You two go ahead and have a great time. Ada and I want to finish getting organized for the move tomorrow."

Ada spoke up. 'We will see you soon, no doubt. I hope we'll make good neighbors, Amy."

Their driver loaded them up and followed the pre-arranged itinerary. As they pulled into the parking lot of the varsity, Amy asked her fellow passenger if she preferred curb service or going inside.

"Oh! Inside is the only way to go. It's not the same thing if you don't, besides I want you to show off that dress. The people of Atlanta deserve a treat."

The compliment was well received. Amy pushed the intercom button and instructed the driver to take them around to the front entrance. Kate was thoroughly enjoying the entire experience.

Dinner in the TV room that was playing non-stop CNN was enjoyable. Frequent bursts of laughter from the two friends caused other diners to stare at them. Amy, who would normally have been self-conscious about all the public attention, was oblivious to anyone except Kate and their shared elation. Full to bursting, they lingered examining the contents of the glass case in the lobby. It held newspaper articles and photographs made through the years of the restaurant's existence. Finally, there was nothing to do but walk through the door and be swallowed up once again into the long black car awaiting them.

Assuming that they were now heading home, Kate leaned back into the comfort of the leather seat. They rode in silence for a while, enjoying the sights of the busy city.

Kate broke the silence. "I've had quite a day, thanks to you. I'm proud to have completed my project for your neighbors. I never thought I'd be able to say that again. It's been a long time since I've done anything that I've been proud of."

"It's the first in a long list of things to come." Amy kissed her absently, but feeling her own deep response to the contact went back for more and they found themselves absorbed in the moment when the car ceased moving. "Oh! We're here." She sat up quickly and straightened her dress ignoring Kate's puzzlement. Tapping lightly on the car window, Amy signaled the driver who offered his hand as he opened the door and helped her from the car.

"I arranged for us to stay here tonight, I hope you don't mind." Amy's watched as her tall friend looked up at the façade of the prestigious Ritz Carlton Hotel, then back at her. "No response is a good response I think. Come on!" She pulled Kate by the elbow into the hotel.

While the younger woman went to check them in, Kate wandered around the rich lobby inspecting everything, as was her habit.

"I'm with Walton & Hanley and I believe our HR department reserved a suite for me this evening."

"Certainly and your name, Miss." The young man behind the desk waited expectantly. Unnoticed a young woman named Wendy who was one of the two remaining clerks had overheard the exchange and the company name triggered her interest.

An hour later, Wendy's shift was over and she sat at the desk in the back office that was provided as common territory for all of the desk staff. The answering machine beeped signaling her to begin her message. "Jack? This is Wendy and I have something for you, I think. Someone from your company is checking in. Her name is …" she paused and squinted at the poor quality print out. "…Amy Ingram. I don't know if it's of any interest, but I promised I'd keep my ears open for you. My shift is over and I'm on my way home. Long time, no hear, give me a call."

"We won't need any help with the luggage, just two keys please." Amy gave the clerk her best smile and signed her name with a flourish.

"All set," she reported to Kate, whom she finally located around a corner, looking at an oil painting.

The elevator was crowded, so Kate waited until they were inside their room before she commented. "I can't believe you did all of this. WHEN did you do all of this?"

"It was easy and Martha from work helped me. We put out of town clients up here frequently, so they provided the accommodations with their compliments to Walton & Hanley." She spun around, looking for all the world like a kid in an amusement park. She slipped out of her shoes and bounced on the bed until Kate came out of the bathroom and caught her at it.

"There's a Jacuzzi in there and what do you think you are doing young lady? Can't take you country girls anywhere." She threatened to tackle Amy's ankles, which resulted in both of them winding up in a giggling heap on the huge bed.

Looking around, Amy realized that Martha booked them a room with only one bed. 'Not very subtle are you my friend?' Amy could guess what questions Martha and Carol would have for her when next they spoke.

"Are we going out again, or can we just watch movies and call room service later for ice cream?" Now Kate was the one who most resembled a kid.

"The latter, I think. I really don't feel like walking around downtown and the car won't be back for us until the morning." The mention of downtown triggered a chill down her spine, but she shook it off. 'I'm not letting anything spoil this good time for either of us. We deserve it, especially her. I wonder if she has any idea how much I really do care about her. Someday…I can tell her, someday when we're both ready.'

Jack Harris had not left his apartment for two days after the incident with Amy. The first day he spent nursing a severe hangover and icing his bruised and hurting family jewels. He devoted the greater part of the second day to devising the details of an acceptable excuse for his behavior.

'None of the guys in sales will be a problem to convince, they've seen me with her. They'll know that it's what she's wanted all the time. I wish she hadn't taken it into the office. That was a mistake. Hanley is such a straight laced, ancient bastard; he won't understand any of this. He's always thought that Amy hung the moon anyway. I can't besmirch her character, it would be like accusing one of his daughters.'

In the end, it was the oldest excuse in the world that Jack repeated to Hanley when he was confronted. "Tom, what can I tell you? I was drunk! I came on too strong and she panicked, but I never intended it to go that far. Amy and I have a history, you know. Her mother thinks I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread." Jack waited for his comment to sink in; wondering if anyone at the agency realized that he did in fact know Amy's mother. It made him sound like part of Amy's family.

"All I know is that you terrorized an associate and that your behavior is inexcusable. It will be a long time before that young woman learns to trust our gender or this town again. I can only hope that we haven't lost her talent because you exercised very poor judgement."

Tom Hanley thought for moment before adding "Frankly Jack, I'm more inclined to believe her story than yours, but I have no proof. Understand that I will be keeping an eye on her and on you." He waved the now angry salesman out of his office.

Tonight, sitting in a hotel room in Chicago where he was working on a new account, Jack listened to the message from his pal Wendy at the Ritz for the second time. He checked his watch and dialed her home number.

"Say lady, how are you?" Jack used his practiced sales voice on her. They talked for a few minutes before he got around to the real purpose of his call. "Listen, kiddo, can you fax a copy of that print out to me here at the hotel? I really need to check into this Amy Ingram person and find out who she is." Wendy readily agreed and they made a date for dinner the following week before Jack hung up.

It had been almost two years since Jack formed an alliance with the young night clerk from the Ritz. He was there often, picking up clients for dinners or entertainment. Wendy's attraction for older men plus his confidence and endless expense account were enough to interest her in sharing elaborate evenings with him. They also shared the occasional tryst within the confines of the hotel, which was easy for Wendy to arrange. In return, she kept her eyes and ears open in his behalf. Whenever his company's name came up, she cuffed a copy of the registry for him. Jack liked to know whom the other salesmen were romancing. He considered them all to be competitors and had in fact stolen more than one account from his unsuspecting proteges. The information Wendy provided had been useful to him many times.

Jack made the date with her, but wondered why he bothered. The unusual nature of their relationship left a lot to be desired. Both parties candidly dismissed the possibility of any commitment between them. Neither had ever been to the other's residence nor knew any personal background. Each knew the other's preferences in the bedroom, but not their birthdays. Jack didn't grasp the irony in that. He sighed deeply and tried to reassure himself. "We're both getting what we want out of the deal, so what the hell!"

He didn't know what he hoped to learn from the fax Wendy was sending, but on the way to the lobby to wait for it, he pondered the situation with Amy. Sleeping with younger women always flattered his ego, but she was the only one that he really coveted. Amy Ingram was beautiful, talented, well liked and independent. This last quality, along with her strength and integrity was the thing that challenged him. Jack Harris had never been close to a woman like that. It was becoming an obsession.

Kate was closer to Amy's house than she realized when she recognized her surroundings. She picked her cell phone up off the seat and hit number one on the keypad. Amy's pre-programmed phone number was dialing right away. "I'm on my way, in fact I'm almost at your driveway. See you in a minute." It had become habit for Kate to warn her friend of her arrivals. The purpose was to avoid any unwanted incidents of surprise. It also gave Amy an opportunity to shut off her alarm system, which she sometimes turned on now when she was home alone.

Tapping lightly on the glass in the kitchen door with her key, Kate turned the knob and entered. She was about to announce her presence when she saw Amy turn the corner and come into the kitchen from the down the hall. "Hi! How are you doing? Have you been working hard?"

Kate would never tire of the way that her friend put aside everything else upon greeting her, giving her a sense of importance. Amy wasn't making any special effort on her part. Her delight was heartfelt.

"I have no discipline anymore. I seem to be daydreaming half the time. I don't know what I'm going to do about it." 'The rest of the time I'm hearing every creak in the floorboards, every breeze out in the yard.' Working at home was getting more and more difficult for the designer. She had never experienced problems focusing on her assignment but suddenly everything served to distract her. It was becoming commonplace for Amy to regain the present while sitting before her computer screen. As if to exemplify her predicament, she suddenly realized that Kate had spoken to her. "Sorry, what did you say?"

"I said that I sure hope I figure prominently in those daydreams, you certainly do in mine." The builder flashed a lecherous smile and turned to the sink to wash up. "I talked to an interesting woman today at Cason Lumber."

Amy's eyebrow went up. "You're not trying to pick up strange women again?"

"Of course not. How could you doubt my devotion?" Kate added the appropriate theatrical expression and both women laughed. They met in the center of the kitchen floor and hugged each other. Kate was tentative at first, but the younger woman was so enthusiastic in her response that Kate soon abandoned the attitude. "No, actually she and her 'friend' are potential clients. They are trying to hire a builder." Amy was intrigued by this news. She tilted her chin up without releasing her partner, making the silent request for a kiss. "MMMMMMmmm. Folks, there is simply no substitute." She smiled brightly and hugged Amy once more before releasing her.

"Do you mean what I think you mean when you say 'friend'?"

"Sure do, or at least as far as I can tell. I haven't heard any specific declaration or anything, but I'd say that's the case. They live in Social Circle and want to build on some land they've bought. The woman I met today is Kathy Sullivan. She says they need a bit more privacy than they have where they are."

"How old are they, what do they do for a living?" Kate laughed at her inquisitive friend.

"I knew I should have let you conduct the interview! Actually, you may find out everything that you always wanted to know about them. We are invited to dinner Thursday. I told Kathy I'd call her."

Amy was waiting patiently for Kate to get done at the sink before rinsing the ingredients for the salad she was making as part of their evening meal. "Are you sure they invited 'us'? By the way, how about checking the grill for me?" I've got chicken going and it should be almost done." Kate nodded and headed for the door as she answered the first of the questions.

"They said I should bring a friend. I don't have that many. I mentioned your name and Kathy seemed to get it. I'll be right back." Kate scooted out the door, knowing that Amy would probably have some thoughts on the subject when she returned. She would have been surprised at what was going through Amy's mind.

'I wonder if that qualifies Kate and I as a couple, like officially?' Amy had been pondering that question on her own for a while. She leaned on the edge of the kitchen sink so that she could get a better view of Kate standing at the grill out by the barn. Just then, her attractive friend turned and caught Amy looking at her.

Kate was still smiling when she re-entered the kitchen. "Ten more minutes I think, but you'd better do the final judging. We both know I'm no expert."

All the salad ingredients were in the bowl waiting for Amy to add just the right amount of oil and garlic vinegar. Her salads had become quite a hit with her junk food addict friend. She felt like it was a beginning at least in her fight to get Kate to eat healthier foods.

"Can I ask you something?" Amy's voice was so serious that Kate laid the newspaper she was scanning down and gave her full attention to the inquiry. "Do you consider us to be a couple?"

Kate was caught off guard. Never one to take matters of the heart lightly, she considered carefully before answering. "When I think of myself, I think in terms of me being half of 'us' Amy. I don't make decisions about my life without considering you and how it will affect you. To me, that means that yes, we are very much a couple." Amy's relief was obvious but short lived when Kate continued. "What I would like to know is how you feel about all of this. You haven't exactly been a wealth of information."

"I have to go check on our dinner." She pointed through the window at the grill. "I'm not copping out, I'll be right back and we can talk some more about this." Amy went out the door armed with a barbecue fork and a plate. Never anticipating having her question turned back on her, she was glad for the opportunity to pull her thoughts together. 'She's just as entitled to know my feelings, as I am to know hers. I want to be fair, but I'm not sure what to say.' In the end, she was unable to decide on one of the many warring factions. In a bold move, Amy decided to speak candidly and straight from her heart.

Although Kate was nervously anticipating Amy's words, she did as was requested of her and sat down at the kitchen table. Amy mixed the salad and put it on the table between them. Spreading a napkin on her lap, she signaled the beginning of dinner.

Kate's patience was wearing thin by the time Amy thoughtfully chewed a few bites and took a sip of iced tea. Finally she spoke. "I can't lie and say I don't have doubts, Kate." She regarded her immediately crestfallen partner across the table. "They don't have anything to do with you, though. I just have no frame of reference for any of this and I don't know if I can get it right. It doesn't help that I'm the proud owner of a failed marriage."

Kate interrupted. "I know it's new to you, but…"

"Yes, it is new to me, but not for the reason you think. I'm not sure… Wait, I'd like to be accurate in this. I know I haven't ever felt this before, this feeling I have for you." She looked at the table in self-defense. She could not meet the clear blue eyes watching her. They made her incapable of thought, much less speech.

Seconds turned into minutes and the silence became uncomfortable. Kate so wanted her to elaborate, but knew better than most that finding the words could be terribly difficult. In the end, she decided to rescue her lover. "Thanks for dinner, everything was great."

Amy's sigh of relief was audible. They had, by mutual, unspoken consent, put off their discussion to a later date. "There's nothing to this domestic goddess thing. In fact, it's pretty boring. That's why I'm going back to work in town tomorrow." Amy's back was to her, but she could feel Kate stiffen. "I know what you're thinking, but I need to get back to some type of normal routine I think. Otherwise, I'll never feel normal myself. "

It was a sound argument and one that was difficult for Kate to combat, but everything in her nature was screaming for her to argue. "I know I tend to be overly protective where you're concerned."

Amy cut her off. "That's is a gross understatement."

"I can't help that Ams." She was hurt, but not badly.

"There's no reason for you to try to help it. It's part of the reason I love you so much you big lug." The kitchen was finally cleaned up and they decided to walk out back to the swing to sit for awhile.

It was not full dark yet. Charlie had come and gone, leaving the horses fed and content in their stalls. The two women went in and spent a few minutes visiting them before continuing on to the swing that hung on a peeled log frame near the tree line.

Kate didn't feel like the subject of Amy's return to work was anywhere near closed. She tried hard not to bring it up again, hoping her partner would, but in the end couldn't help herself. "Amy, if that bastard so much as speaks to you again, do you realize that I will have to kill him?"

Amy laughed. "I thank you for your concern, but I can handle this. After all, with another practice session or two at the firing range I should be able to pass as Annie Oakley's younger sister."

"Younger and much better looking." Kate kidded and instinctively reached over to tickle Amy's ribs. When she realized what she had done, she began an immediate apology. "Sorry, I just forgot…"

"I love to feel your hands on me. I need to be close enough to feel the warmth coming from you, to feel your breath. It's part of us, that shared space and I won't have him steal that from me, too." She paused and Kate fought her instincts to speak once again, feeling that there was more that Amy needed to say. "The only thing I'll relinquish to him is my sense of safety. That, he can have. It wasn't realistic for me to feel that anyway. After all, Atlanta is a beautiful, but potentially treacherous city." They had begun to move the swing, in perfect unison. Amy reached over and pulled Kate closer to her, putting her arm under Kate's and clasping her hand.

Kate's concern was evident. but instead of voicing it, she slipped into a brooding silence. The light on the barn came on signaling full dark. Amy smiled involuntarily; remembering the day Kate had come to fix it. The tall figure high above her as she held the ladder had been unaware as she studied Kate's awe-inspiring rear view. Amy smiled and wondered if she had known then on some level at least, that there would be something special between them.

The low timbre of Kate's voice wafted out across the yard between the house and the barn. It seemed like such natural part of the setting much like the crickets that got louder as the darkness fell. A gentle breeze picked up and felt delicious in contrast to the inferno of the afternoon.

Amy watched Kate's face, fascinated with the intensity she saw there. The blue of her eyes vanished in the halogen of the security light leaving only reflected fire. 'I've never known anyone with such a passionate nature. You would think we were talking about a crisis of life and death. It's part of what I love about her the most. She is truly an amazing woman… and a beautiful one.'

"Are you still insisting on going into town tomorrow, because if you are, maybe I should…"

"…. Should go to your job and handle the responsibilities you already have, of which there are many. I'll be fine Kate, trust me. If I thought for a second I couldn't handle this, I wouldn't do it." Amy wasn't as confident as she sounded, but Martha had spoken with the security desk in her building and arranged for someone to meet Amy in the parking decks and walk her in. Amy felt like it was a valid plan although she had not felt it necessary to tell Kate the details.

Kate's facial expression changed to one of resignation and she rose carefully as not to upset the balance of the swing and Amy in it. As they walked the short distance to the house, Amy reached for Kate's hand, a kind of consolation she hoped. It seemed to be accepted in that vane.

Later, as they lay, side by side waiting for sleep to overtake them, Amy spoke in the darkness. "I must say that I like to hear you making plans for our future."

Kate pulled the smaller woman into her chest and held her tightly, her laughter only a rumble. What she felt was so deep, Kate thought it must be evident in many ways. "Amy, everything about you appeals to me, including the way I respond to having you in my life. I'm better than I ever have been, because I have to be to somehow deserve you." Feeling that a response was unnecessary, Kate considered the subject closed. "Get some rest Ams. You have a busy day tomorrow." She kissed the top of the blonde head, unaware of the grateful tear that tracked down Amy's cheek.

Kate was having trouble concentrating. Her loader operator had beaten her to the job site and had his bulldozer's diesel engine warmed up by the time she arrived. Today at her direction, he would cut the drive into the actual house site, pushing trees and underbrush out of the way. In the next few days, a crew of men would cut up all the usable wood and remove it. It would then fall to the loader man to return and push all of the trash into a hole he would dig at a pre-determined location, elsewhere on the seventeen-acre property. The builder flagged a path that she wanted followed, but decisions would have to be made during the process and her presence was mandatory for the next few days.

Her mind kept returning to Amy and her trip into work. Kate had been filled with apprehension as she left home that morning. It had been a serious struggle not to show it and alarm Amy. Typically, Amy expressed concern for Kate and not herself. "I want you to be careful out there today. You're going to be a long way from civilization and things can happen." Amy stood on tiptoe to kiss Kate good-bye. They held each other long enough to make them both regret having to part again.

"I'll see you tonight. If you beat me home, put dinner in the oven and turn it on to three-fifty." Amy reluctantly let go and picked up her briefcase.

Kate took a long look at her, searching for the right compliment. "In case I forgot to mention it, the outfit is very nice. You look beautiful this morning." Amy had in fact dressed very conservatively in an effort to be totally unprovocative, Kate suspected. Although that was not a possibility in the builder's eyes, she regretted that her friend felt it was necessary.

"You sure I don't look like a nun on vacation?" The question surprised Kate. She hadn't realized that Amy's was a conscious effort towards a sexless appearance.

"I happen to be a prejudiced observer, but believe me, you look terrific." Kate punctuated her remark with a serious kiss. They broke apart and laughed, each at the other's deep breathing. "We better get out of here while we still can."

Amy locked the door behind them and followed Kate out the drive. They turned into opposite directions and each waved to the other as they headed off to face their prospective workdays. Amy's thoughts were immediately of her arrival in the dreaded parking decks on Peachtree Street. In an effort to avoid where her mind was taking her, she thought of Kate and the kiss they just shared. It was getting easier for the passionate young designer to allow Kate's invasion of her personal space again. In fact, Amy had in her mind, the beginnings of a plan for a romantic evening in the very near future.

'I know Kate is trying to be sensitive about all of this. It's going to fall to me to let her know that it's all right for her to be a bit more spontaneous. I think I can handle it now.'

It was everything Kate Ryan could do to keep from calling downtown before lunchtime. Three separate times she caught herself punching numbers on her cell phone and forced her fingers to stop. She knew she was being silly and that Amy was safe and sound, ensconced in her office and working. That was more than Kate could say for herself. Her focus had been off for the past couple of weeks. Today, it seemed to be non-existent. "That what you meant?" The loud voice surprised her and kept her from responding momentarily. The loader operator cut the engine, thinking she hadn't heard him and jumped down from his seat high above the ground.

"That's perfect Hal. I don't want to damage the tree roots through here, but we have to be able to get a concrete truck around this curve. There's no use kidding ourselves about that."

He nodded, having experienced just such problems on a previous job he had done for Kate. Neither of them ever wanted to go there again. Hal respected her judgement and knew that her primary interest was in saving the natural setting as much as was realistically possible.

"You have a crew coming to cut this stuff up this afternoon?" he indicated the downed hardwoods.

"Tomorrow morning was the soonest I could get anybody. There should be several of them in the crew though. I don't think it will take very long for them to get the job done and you can come back and do your thing."

They talked for a few minutes more and settled the matters that would be addressed next. Kate's presence would not be strictly required for the next couple of hours. The smell of new earth was intoxicating. She walked the wide drive that Hal had just created, back to the shoulder of the road where she had parked her truck. Getting inside, she once again looked at her watch. 'Eleven-thirty is close enough to lunchtime. Isn't that what we decided, that I'd call her at lunch time?'

Unable to wait any longer, Kate dialed the number and was delighted to hear Amy's soft voice answer on the first ring.

"How are you doing out there in the real world?"

"Great! How about you?" Amy's voice sounded natural which relieved her friend.

"I'm dirty, sweaty and courting disaster with all of the poison ivy around here but I'm trying to be brave."

Amy laughed, always appreciative of Kate's wit. "Looks like I may be a little late tonight. I've set up a conference call with Jimmy and Sybil Hunt at four thirty. He's in Charleston and she's in Chicago. I need to get her approval on some graphics before I can advance to the next stage."

"Speaking of being out of town, it looks like I'll be heading for Tennessee week after next. Do you think there's still a chance you might be able to go with me?" The possibility of getting out of town for even a long weekend very much appealed to both of them. Before hanging up, Amy agreed to do everything possible to accomplish it.

The loader motor quieted and Kate realized Hal was probably hungry, as it was after twelve o'clock. He invited her to go with him to a local fast food place, but she begged off preferring to examine the building site in the peaceful quiet. It allowed her to think more clearly.

Continued in Part 5.