Chapter 26
Toward the end of the week I finally felt decent enough to get back to the court.
My first training session was low-key. We practiced serves and returns, strokes that weren’t too demanding.
In addition, we fine-tuned tactics and strategies and went through various match situations.
Even if I’d have preferred going full throttle, so to speak, I had to accept that my body wasn’t up for more than I was already doing.
Thanks to my intestinal flu I’d lost weight as well as muscle mass, and my fluid balance wasn’t in equilibrium.
I was still sensitive to food, too, so Kay, above all in the evenings, was making sure I got things that were easy to digest. It bothered me that not only was she going through so much trouble cooking all those lightly salted, mostly steamed vegetables, but eating them too.
She insisted that she didn’t mind, that it was only for the sake of the scale.
We had successfully avoided clearing things up over the last few days, but I knew it was something we had to do.
If only because I had a snorkeling date with Vince on Saturday.
Well, also because I still had a guilty conscience, and the fact that she had looked after me so devotedly only made it worse.
When we were eating dinner together Friday evening, I decided to take the bull by the horns, as it were.
“Can we talk?”
“Haven’t we been doing that the whole time?” Kay grinned, but I knew she’d understood what I meant.
“Tomorrow afternoon Vince is taking me snorkeling. We are going to a beach where there are sea turtles. I haven’t seen any since I’ve been here.
” I paused for a moment, but Kay didn’t bite.
“I know that you don’t approve, but I don’t want to hide it from you.
Because you’re important to me. And I appreciate everything you’ve been doing for me here.
” I had to catch my breath. “And that’s why I’m not happy about what I said to you the other day. Out on the terrace. That wasn’t okay.”
Kay remained silent. For at least twenty seconds. And twenty seconds can last a long time. A really long time. By the time I was sure she probably wasn’t going to respond, she said, “You could have asked me.”
“What?”
“You could have asked me where to go see sea turtles.”
That wasn’t the reaction I’d expected.
“I didn’t ask Vince. I’d only mentioned that I’d love to see some.
He’s the one who suggested it.” Before she could say anything, I added, “And not because he wants to get one over on you, but”—I hesitated—“because we get along well. And, as we’re on the subject, it bothers me that you think people only spend time with me because they want to get to you. ”
She looked at me, appalled. “Lou! I never said anything of the kind.”
“But you’ve thought it. At least a little, if you’re being honest.”
She started to say something, then changed her mind. “I just didn’t want him to hurt you.”
“I know. And that’s kind of you. But”—I inclined my head slightly and smiled—“I’m a big girl.”
“Yes, you are.” Kay laughed. “And a sharp and beautiful and successful one too.”
“Well, I’m still working on the successful bit.”
“Nonsense.” Her expression was soft, almost tender. “You have accomplished so much in your life so far. And will accomplish even more.”
I had to swallow the lump that was growing in my throat.
“Without you in my life these last number of weeks I would never have gotten my self-confidence back.”
“Oh, you would have gotten it back without me, believe me.” She reached across the table for my hand and squeezed it. “And as far as this whole Vince Greenfield story is concerned, you’re probably right.”
I blinked, as if I’d misunderstood.
“Maybe I’ve just got to accept that I lost.” She looked thoughtfully at the tabletop.
“It doesn’t have anything to do with losing, but with trust. Give Vince a chance. He’s not the type to allow wild parties over there.” I pointed with my thumb and chuckled. “He doesn’t even like to go to parties himself. I am certain there’s a way you all can coexist next to each other peacefully.”
Kay inhaled audibly and then let it back out. “How serious is it?”
I looked at her uncomprehendingly.
“The thing I said about your eyes. That they shine whenever you talk about him. That’s also what I meant.”
The lump in my throat was back.
“Are you in love with him, Lou?”
“No! I hardly know him.”
“You don’t need to know someone’s shoe size to fall in love with them.”
“Well, you should know each other a little longer than just two weeks,” I replied.
Kay didn’t say anything. Not that I was right or that I was nuts. And that made me begin to babble.
“I’m not in love with Vince. He’s nice and good-looking and he’s a good…
surfer,” I said, blushing. “I like him but that’s it.
And I wouldn’t have time for anything more serious anyway.
In tennis love means zero. I even know someone who called their autobiography the same thing.
” I winked and attempted a nonchalant smile.
“I did indeed,” Kay said, and got up to start clearing the table. “But I never cared for it, to tell the truth.”
“What?”
“The fact that love means zero points in tennis. The word doesn’t deserve that somehow, does it?”