The Parent Trap(22)

“Do you know which classes you’re taking this semester?” he asked Casey.

“Science, social studies, math and English. What about you?” she asked Kate.

“Science, French, math and art.”

“We’ll have some classes together, then. And my friend Henry is taking art, so I’ll bet he’ll be in your class when he gets back from his holiday.”

“He’s into art?”

“He is. He’s been away all summer, first for a month at the Emily Carr University in Vancouver to study photography, and then he went to Montreal for a family reunion  .”

“He was at a university? How old is he?”

“Same age as us. They have a summer program for high school students. I think it’s totally unfair that there’s so much stuff for kids in the arts, you know, photography, art, music, dance. But do you ever hear about a summer veterinary program for teenagers? Never.”

Jonathan turned off the coffeemaker and loaded the dishwasher as he listened with interest to their conversation. There wasn’t even a slim chance that any of Kate’s friends in the city would consider spending their summer vacation studying and learning something new. That would have seriously put a kink in their hanging-at-the-mall-drinking-coffee time. But here, already, she’d met one kid who aspired to do just that, and would soon meet another who already had. When it came to his daughter he was naturally leery of teenage boys, but he liked Henry already.

“Are you girls ready to leave?” he asked.

Kate slid off her stool and snagged her bag off the counter. Casey, who’d been leaning on the island next to her, straightened and hitched her backpack higher on her shoulders.

“Cool outfit,” Casey said.

“Thanks. I did all my back-to-school shopping before we left the city.” If she noticed that Casey’s tan-colored T-shirt, jeans and high-top sneakers seemed more appropriate for the first day of school than something that had just stepped off the runway, she wasn’t letting on.

Jon latched the sliding deck doors, grabbed his sports bag and followed the girls through the foyer where Princess, curled in a tight little ball, occupied a ray of morning sunshine streaming through the sidelight.

“Aw, your cat is so sweet,” Casey said. “I still have my heart set on a dog, though.” The girls grinned knowingly at each other, suggesting something was afoot. “Cats are great,” she added. “But a dog would be more...” She paused, seemed to choose her words. “Lively.”

Given Princess’s penchant for catnapping, a sloth might be more energetic. And that’s what made her so perfect for their household. She was demanding at mealtime, but otherwise she quietly prowled from a patch of sunshine here to a couch cushion there. She had an affection for laundry hampers, especially those filled with clean clothes, a fondness for high queen-of-the-castle places, and a weakness for windowsills from where she watched the outside world with thinly veiled disinterest. Ever since Georgette had moved out, his goal had been to create stability and routine with an absence of drama. In spite of her name, Princess was a perfect fit for them.

The girls were settling into the backseat of the SUV as he descended his front steps and saw Sarah walking down hers. In a slim navy skirt with a matching jacket over a soft pink shirt, she looked businesslike, professional and absolutely stunning. She unlocked her car, set her briefcase inside and came around to where he stood by his open car door.

“Good morning.” She forced a smile.

“Good morning. You’re getting an early start,” he said, wishing he didn’t sound so lame.

“I like to go in early whenever I can.” She tipped her head, fluttered her fingers at the girls who were already fastening their seat belts in the backseat. “Have a good first day of high school. They grow up so fast, don’t they?” she said to him, straightening. “Too fast.”

“Mo-om.”

Sarah laughed. “See you after school, sweetie.”

“I’ve decided to get the soccer team together for a quick practice as soon as school is dismissed,” he said. “I hope that’s okay.”

“That’s not a problem. Casey’s been looking forward to soccer season, and I’ll be at the store until closing time. After that we’re going out for burgers.”

“Right.” He thought of the dinner plans he’d made for himself and Kate, the fresh salmon that would go on the grill, the makings of a salad in their fridge, and contemplated extending an invitation to Sarah and her daughter. No, it was too soon. He had already offered to make pizzas on Saturday, and she had accepted. That would have to be soon enough. “Well, have a good day.”