13. Dinner for Two (a succulent steak - seasoned with tears...)

12:38 PM.
After regaining his composure, William completed the three-block walk to the market square, and to "Versa-Style" - the clothing store on the same block as Bound Dreams, and across the street. He found a clerk and asked for her help with a project to completely outfit a woman in her late teens. He handed her the paper with Kim's measurements. She read down the list. "This doesn't seem to be too difficult," she said. Then she read further down. "no skunk butt?"

William had to laugh. "We were also discussing dinner suggestions."

The clerk smirked. "I can already tell she's a woman of discerning taste."

William then explained to the clerk about Kim's undemanding balance of taste for clothes - not having much desire for cutting-edge style, but at the same time, not the "dork" look either. The clerk was very helpful to William, and went the extra mile, laying out several choices to pick from, offering suggestions on color and fashion...staying away from "designer" labels, yet not going anywhere near the "bargain bin."

After better than two-and-a-half hours of presentation and decision, William and the clerk had amassed a rather impressive everyday wardrobe for Kim:

- three pair of jeans, in various styles, both full-length and the "calf-length" that Kim wore frequently;
- two pair of dress slacks, in khaki and navy blue;
- six pair of sweatpants, in varying colors;
- several tank tops of the style Kim wore - every color of the rainbow;
- three "polo" style shirts;
- a couple of spaghetti-strap midriff-length tops;
- a multi-pack of t-shirts, for sleeping or slumming;
- two long-sleeve button-down casual shirts, for various uses;
- a rich, thick pullover sweater in peach, with a "fuzzy" weave;
- six pair of ankle-length socks, in pink, white and peach;
- the essential "unmentionables," which the clerk picked out - from the description of her measurements, the clerk estimated a 33A size bra;
As something William hoped Kim would get a kick out of, he also picked out a pair of olive cargo pants, a mid-sleeve midriff-length black cotton top, and black "ninja" slippers.

The clerk rang everything up, stuffing them into three large shopping bags with handles, and taped them closed. After slipping his credit card back into his wallet, William pulled out a $20 and offered it to her.

"I'm not really supposed to take this," she started to refuse.

"I'll bet you're not supposed to let one customer monopolize your afternoon, either," William quipped, pushing the bill into her hand.

The clerk accepted. "Thanks," with a rather sheepish but grateful smile.

William gathered the handles to the bags, and went across the street to the bookstore. He wanted Kim to see the logo which had worked itself into the events of the past days leading to her arrival. He bought a small mirror, five inches square, with the "Bound Dreams" winged unicorn painted on it. What more fitting, thought William. He slid the mirror down the side of one of the clothing bags, and headed for the grocer, hoping to find something especially appealing to his new guest. While there, he also visited the "Health & Beauty" aisle, trying to anticipate as many of Kim's needs as possible. He bought a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, gel deodorant, a couple of hairbrushes, moisturizer, her own bars of soap, and a rudimentary makeup kit. The clerk knew William, and gave him a curious glance at seeing the toiletry items, knowing that William lived alone. "Company," was William's short explanation. He then gathered what was now more like luggage than bags, and started for his apartment.

4:46 PM.
William hauled the bags through his door and went to shove it closed with his foot. Just before it hit the latch, William caught it and closed it quietly.

Kim was asleep on the couch. The stereo was tuned to a "pop" station, with the volume low. William left the groceries on the chair next to the bookcase, and quietly took the bags of clothes into the bedroom, setting them on the bed.

William then turned around. This was the first time he had a good look at the mirror since the ritual. The missing material left a perfect silhouette of Kim. Every bit of the mirror within the outline was gone, leaving the thick cardboard backing exposed. William reached out and touched the edge of the outline. The edge of the glass was smooth, rounded to the touch, as if having been heated - even though Kim had described coming through the mirror as "cold."

William remembered the spots of the outline appearing molten. He looked to the floor. No burns or any other evidence of "hot spots." He remembered Kim describing it as a "residual effect" - yet there was nothing on the floor or even the bottom of the frame to suggest the mirror had melted, or even "dripped."

He came back to the living room and took the groceries to the kitchen, putting them on the counter. He flicked on the light.

William stopped and slowly looked around the kitchen. Everything had been cleaned and polished. A collection of notes and phone numbers that were stuck to the refrigerator with magnets were now arranged and organized. Chrome tins on the counter for flour, sugar and coffee shone brightly. Knick-knacks about the kitchen were dusted.

William returned to the living room. Dusting, vacuuming -- the place looked great. Un...real, he thought.

5:08 PM.
Kim was stirred awake by a hand softly stroking her upper arm, and a soft voice..."Kiimmmm...?"

Kim brought her hand up to sleepily itch her nose, then turned to William, who was kneeling on the floor. "Hi..."

William smiled. "You've been busy."

"I cleaned a little. Once I get going, I just...find more to clean," she said, sitting up. "I took a shower, then just laid down for a while."

"I have to call my supervisor...then I'll get started on dinner," said William. Kim stretched and stood up. William sat on the couch next to the phone.

"There's something in the bedroom for you," he said while picking up to dial. Kim walked toward the bedroom as the phone began to ring on the other end.

"Good Evening, Meridian Answering Service, This is Teri. The offices are closed at 4:30 PM. Can I direct your call to a voice mail box?"

"Hi Teri. This is William Hodge with Claims and Rec. I need a home number for David Morris. He just transferred from Sales to head of the department."

"Yes, William. David left a note saying he was expecting your call. (rustling of papers) His number at home is 582-1664."

"Thanks, Teri, I'll call him now." William hung up and dialed David at home.

"Hello?"

"Hello, David? William Hodge."

"William, how are you? I heard you had an unexpected arrival last night. Are things getting settled there?"

At that moment, Kim came out of the bedroom with two armfuls of clothes. She mouthed the word "Wow" and turned back toward the bedroom.

"Things together," said William through a smile in Kim's direction. "Just as with anything else, there are things to work out. But right now I'm more concerned with how things went at work today. I didn't mean to leave you hanging like that...but my company's arrival was so unexpected and...sudden. I've been running around like crazy trying to make things more comfortable."

"Well, things could have gone a little better," David said. "But they could have gone a lot worse. Most of the people in the department know their jobs well. But I understand when family matters come up; they must be attended to. And I know it can get quite unnerving if you don't expect them."

You...have...NO...earthly idea, thought William, hearing the unruffling of clothes from the bedroom. "Yes, it was unexpected to say the least. So today wasn't the storm you were fearing?"

"All except the reports," replied David. "They really needed the touch of you and Marcy. And with Marcy gone to the Regents, and you away from the office, I'm not sure they measured up to the standard that LA is used to seeing."

William winced for a second. "Actually, that's something else I wanted to talk to you about. I know it sounds like I'm just leaving you out in the wind, and I don't mean to, especially after you asked for my help with hitting the ground running and all...but...to get things squared away might take a little longer than I first expected. I'm going to need a short leave of absence. Just a week or so. It would be the best way to bring things back to some sense of normalcy here."

David coughed. "Ouch. Hang on a second while I get this dagger out of my back! Kidding. I'm not sure I could do without you for that long. We'd need to work out some sort of contact during that time before I would feel comfortable with it. Could you come in for a few hours in the afternoons, just to do the reports?"

William's attention was drawn for a moment as Kim walked out of the bedroom. She was wearing a pair of pre-faded jeans, a dark red long-sleeve shirt, and the peach sweater. She walked by the couch and did a slow spin with her arms extended, then gathered two handfuls of the sweater and nuzzled her face into the soft material. It was like his heart skipped over a set of railroad tracks. William balanced the phone on his shoulder, gave a quiet golfclap with his arms extended, then made the motion of clicking a camera several times in quick succession. Kim returned a curtsey and a flourish, then walked quickly back to the bedroom.

"William?" came David's voice from the phone.

"Sorry David," William turned back to the phone. "Just had to check something out here. I think we can cover the reports another way. Set up a conference call tomorrow morning with Lee down in Data Operations. He can set up a port for me to telnet in and get the data each day. Then I can do up the reports, and upload them to you."

"Wow," replied David. Marcy said you think on your feet. I guess she wasn't kidding. That's a good idea. Hmm. That gives me another idea, something we could work out when we do get to sit down and brainstorm. Maybe give a few people the option to telecommute a few days a week."

"I like the sound of that...and I can think of a few others who would, too. Maybe something with an open voice line or intercom, so we could still interact without the phone ringing off the hook."

"William, it's a plan," said David, sounding enthused. "Expect a call sometime in the morning. And good luck with your company. I hope it all works out."

Kim came out at that time in another outfit - black oversized drawstring sweatpants and a navy blue spaghetti-strap top.

"Hoping very much for the same," said William, grossly understating as he took in the soft image.

"Okay, talk at you in the morning."

"G'night"

Kim walked over to the stereo and turned it up slightly as William hung up the phone. "Your new boss a nice guy?" she asked.

"He sure seems to be. We're going to work it out so that other than dialing in a few hours a day, I don't have to be at work at all this week."

"Modern technology," said Kim, smiling and shaking her head slowly.

"I told him I had company," joked William. "He wanted to know if you had a sister."

Kim giggled. "And what did you tell him?"

"I told him I didn't think so. But you do have a friend named Bonnie he might hook up with."

Kim burst into laughter, sitting on the couch. "Hate him that much already?"

"No," William laughed.

"William, these clothes are fantastic," said Kim. "But I think you went a bit overboard."

"Well...I want you to be comfortable. The clerk mostly picked them out."

"They're wonderful. Thank you so much."

William then stood up. "Wonderful...that's the exact word I hope we can apply toward the dinner I picked up on the way home."

Kim started for the bedroom. "While you're doing that, I'm going to put the rest on hangers and put them in the hall closet. I think I'll wear this tonight, judging by your approval when I walked out."

William laughed softly. "Sounds like a plan. I'm glad you like the clothes. Oh, and how do you like your steak?"

"STEAK!??" Kim shrieked from the bedroom, then a giggle and a small cough. "Medium please."

William went into the kitchen, unpacking the bag from the grocery. He gathered the toiletries for Kim and went to the bedroom. "These are for you, too."

Kim looked the items over with her mouth open. "Now this is really too much. It's like Christmas! Thank you!" She then looked at him with one eye closed. "Please tell me that's all you bought."

"Well...there is one more thing," said William, producing the small mirror from behind his back.

Kim took in a slow rush of breath. "That's...beautiful, William," she said almost in a whisper, and giving him a quick hug.

It was almost like stepping out into the warmth of a late spring evening to William.

"A winged unicorn. But why is it tied in rope?"

"I'll tell you the story over dinner," he said. "--which we won't have if I don't start it." He then turned for the kitchen.

William turned on the oven, set it for "broil," wrapped the potatoes in foil and set them on the middle rack. He then got the broiler rack from the bottom cupboard, wiped it quickly with a damp cloth to remove any dust, and put the two strip steaks on it - each a healthy 10 to 12 ounces - and sprinkled them with Monterey seasoning.

"William, you should have told me."

He turned to see Kim in the doorway, holding the backgammon set he kept next to his desk and grinning.

"You play?"

"Every chance I get."

Kim again sat on the living-room side of the breakfast nook and opened the board, arranging the pieces. William set the timer for the potatoes and sat opposite her. They rolled for color and first turn, and began playing. Over the next hour, Kim won the balance of the games.

"I think I should have hidden this," William smiled.

Kim giggled. "Shego made me this way. She taught me the game. I've beaten her like, twice in all the time we've been playing."

William glanced back at the timer, then back to Kim. "That brings up something I've been meaning to ask you."

"Tell me."

"Well...you said that villains can't cross, right?"

"Right."

"Okay...but then you tell me that you and Shego are the best of friends. If she's 'evil,' how are you such friends? And if you're friends, why can't she cross?"

"Remember the thing about villains not being able to cross, and fleshers trying to make us do something against our character?" explained Kim. "Well...the parts we play in the shows are more or less part of our character - our makeup. So for the most part, Shego is evil. But not so much off the show. Urrghh, I'm not explaining this quite right. I really have to email Wade tomorrow."

6:40 PM.
ding.

"That will be our potatoes," said William, standing and moving to the stove.

"Mmmmm...starch..."

William had to laugh at that. "Our steaks are next...Backgammon Girl." Kim snickered, and put her hand over her mouth.

William opened the oven and set the steaks in. "There. Fourteen minutes to charred animal flesh."

"William!" Kim laughed. "Are you trying to ruin the steak for me??"

"No, of course not," said William playfully. "If I wanted to do that, I would have brought home skunk butt and told you it was steak."

Kim giggled uncontrollably. "You...DO know I was kidding about the skunk butt....right?"

William's face fell for a second. "Well, there goes tomorrow's dinner."

Kim burst into laughter again. "It's your roll....So Not Backgammon Boy," she smirked.

William turned the steaks at seven minutes. He brought them out and cut into one. Just a bit less juice than he anticipated. "These are just a little more than medium," he said back to Kim. "Is that okay?"

"...yeaahhh..."

William then motioned Kim to the small table next to the counter, pulling out her chair. "Medium Flesher food, coming right up," he said. He then got two plates from the upper cabinet, setting Kim's steak onto one, and wrapping a hot pad around one of the potatoes, lifting a flap on the foil to start it. He got two forks and steak knives from the drawer, and presented Kim with her plate. She slowly inhaled deeply, taking in the aroma.

"I forgot to ask if you like any sauces," said William, slapping his hand over his forehead lightly. "I have A-1, Heinz 57 and Worcestershire."

"ummm...Wor-chester-shire," Kim stumbled over the word.

William opened the refrigerator, taking out that and A-1, his preference. "I used to have trouble with that," he said. "The British pronounce 'cester' like 'ster.' So it's more like 'Wor-ster-sher.'" He took the bottles to the table, then went back for his steak and potato, sitting opposite Kim again.

"Dinner and an English lesson," Kim teased. She then sprinkled the thin brown sauce over her meat, cut in and took a bite. Her eyes got as wide as saucers the split second she closed her mouth around the fork - then they melted nearly closed while crossing slightly. She sat there for a moment, reveling in the taste, a slow continual moan escaping from her lips.

"That good?" William inquired.

"You'd better know that's right," Kim replied, cutting another bite from her plate. Mmm-mm-m-m-mmm.

Even though it was a hearty cut of meat, Kim managed to eat nearly three-quarters of it, and found room for an entire half of her potato.

After dinner, William put the remainder of Kim's dinner into a plastic storage bag, and onto a shelf in the fridge. He then ran hot water into the sink, and set the plates in, vowing to do them when it was easier for him to move. He had eaten his entire steak.

Kim immediately re-challenged William to more backgammon, and they sat at the breakfast nook again. William won the first game. As they were setting up the pieces again, Kim looked at William. "I have to say something."

"Yes?"

Kim reached for William's hand. "This is becoming one of the nicest crosses I think I have ever done."

William drank in the image of the red-haired girl sitting across from him. He searched the light from her eyes, basking in it. He felt the current of her touch flowing through him...turning his hand over to face hers, his fingers curling around it. William wondered if the time to confess his feelings was racing to him faster than he could prepare for it. "Thank you, Kim," was all he could really find at the moment. "This is certainly an experience for me, too."

Kim's face spread into a warm smile, her eyes half-closing, still trained on him. "The food, the clothes - just everything. Thank you, Wiliam."

William slid one of his pieces over three spaces, finishing his move, and picked up his dice. "How did Cellers ever discover the cross?" he asked. "Or did you invent it?"

"So not," said Kim, stirring her dice cup slowly. "It was brought to us by a group who knew that there were a lot of Fleshers who wanted to experience something like this, and showed us how to make the Cross. We ended up calling them 'Cross Agents.' I guess you could call them travel agents, of a sort."

"Neat," William said.

Kim continued, "They're the ones who go out and find people just like you. The ones with the strong belief that it can really happen. They give the Fleshers the things that are needed to bring the Cross about...you know, the candle and stuff. There are a lot of them now, but the idea was presented to us by three women...Kathy...ummm, Misty, I think. And Angelica. Do you remember which one you met? You'd remember if it was Angelica. She rocks, William!" She put her elbow on the counter, leaning her head against her hand holding the dice cup.

Angelica.

William's expression sank as Kim finished. This was going to suck. Now it was his turn to reach for her hand.

"Kim........."

Kim gave a worried look. "William, you look so serious. Did I say something wrong? What's the matter?"

Tact suddenly became elusive for him. "Kim.......Angelica...." He swallowed and looked into her eyes. "Angelica...is dead."

William felt her fingers tighten around his. Her dice cup clattered to the counter. "...what?" she said as a breath of disbelief escaped her. A single tear burst down her cheek. "Wh-what??" she said again, her voice breaking.

William suddenly wished he were someone else. He wished he were telling anyone else. "She was killed yesterday afternoon...by a drunk driver. Kim...I'm so sorry."

Kim's lower lip began to quiver and her eyes became as liquid glass, welling up with tears as she brushed the hair back from her face with her free hand. Then she lowered her face onto that hand. Her eyes closed, and her expression twisted into one William instantly knew he never wanted to see come from her face again as a result of something he said to her. More tears began to flow, and Kim's shoulders moved from her sobs. She held his hand tighter.

William reached for Kim's hand with both of his now. "I...I wish there was something I could do," he started. Seeing her like this was tearing into him nearly as badly as the shock of the news was ripping through her.

Kim raised her head, her eyes now reddened. "W-William," she stammered, "c-can I use your phone? I...I need to call Wade."

"Of course Kim, anything," William replied, finding it harder to remain composed after seeing the miracle Angelica brought, now so wounded at the news of her death. Kim turned in the chair and went to the phone in the living room, sitting on the arm of the couch. William followed to stand next to her. She took his hand again as she was dialing.

"Wade...it's Kim. M-my God, Angelica is dead, Wade!" she said, her voice trailing into sobs again. "I just found out....William....he's the Flesher I crossed to last night....I know...I know....I can't believe it either....Wade, please tell Ron I'll try to call him tomorrow..." she looked up at William, who nodded his approval...there was no other response.

Kim looked down again. "Yes...please...thank you, Wade...I'll try to email you in the next couple of days...bye."

She replaced the phone the receiver, and stood up, facing William. She then suddenly dropped his hand and fell against him, her arms wrapping tightly around him.

He could feel her shuddering as his arms enclosed her. Then she took in a huge rush of air. "This is so wrong!" she said against his chest, her words broken, jumping and stuttering through her sobs. "Angelica was my friend...she was everybody's friend! She was there each time someone did their first cross...she was there every time someone was sent back...she was always there...and now she's not...this HURTS, William...this hurts so BAAaa-a-a-ad..." her voice collapsed into open crying now, reverberating through his chest. She embraced him tighter. William brought one hand up, stroking her face, following the shape of her head....curling in the red mane of her hair. William then felt his own tears trickling down...

to be continued...