Ch.16, Pt.2: It’s so great of Lawrence…
It’s so great of Lawrence to want to help me through this, Katherine was thinking as she entered the donut shop looking for him. His suggestion to meet away from work is fabulous. Although he could have chosen a nicer place. Katherine didn’t see him, so she sat at a corner table with a view of the door. What if he could solve everything? Help me get a new job and support me emotionally through everything. I could rest and be taken care of. I’d love that. To be looked after. To know that I’ll be okay no matter what happen. To be loved. What peace.
She spotted Lawrence coming through the door and waited for him to look around and find her. Then she smiled and he nodded. “Why don’t you keep the table and I’ll go to the counter,” he suggested. “What do you want?”
“A large tea would be great.” Katherine watched him line up for service, admiring his height and build. A fine-looking man, possibly as good-looking as Rick in his own way, she thought. She imagined how it would feel to lean her head on Lawrence’s broad shoulder and have him hold her close. Such peace, she thought again.
“Here’s your tea,” Lawrence said, looming over the table. Katherine gave a start. “What were you dreaming about?” he asked.
“Wouldn’t you like to know!” Katherine bent her head over her tea.
Lawrence shrugged and sat down. “How are you doing? How’s the work situation?”
“Very uncertain. I don’t know what I’ll be doing, actually.”
Lawrence set down his coffee cup. “What about another position at the station? Aren’t they finding something else for you?”
“They say they’re looking. But there are no openings at the moment. Because come on–” Katherine held her hands open in front of her. “Nobody else is leaving. Have you heard of anyone who’s leaving?”
Lawrence shook his head.
“Course not. And they’re telling me to consider my other options. As if I have any other options.” Katherine spoke bitterly. “If I have to go, I really don’t know what I’ll do.”
“What about another radio station? Although it would mean going to Toronto or somewhere.”
“Sure, if I could get something, although I don’t want to commute to another city, and I don’t want to move. I just bought my house, and I love it there. I’d like to find something in the area.”
Lawrence nodded. “Of course. What about voice-over work? I hear it pays well if you can get it. And that probably doesn’t involve steady commuting.”
“A friend of mine suggested that,” said Katherine thinking of a recent phone call with Frieda. Katherine still felt uncomfortable about Frieda’s arrangement with her men, but she didn’t want to lose a good friendship. It would take time to sort things out. “I’m going to have to look into getting an agent. Do you know of one?”
“Sorry, can’t help you there. Not my area.” Lawrence drained his mug and pushed it to the side of the table. “How about something a step removed from broadcasting? How about teaching?”
“Sure, but I don’t know anything about the technical side of broadcasting.” Katherine sipped her tea.
“But you’re a great interviewer. And you know how to put a whole show together. That’s journalism, isn’t it?”
“I suppose you’re right. I never thought of it that way.” Katherine sat up straighter and felt lighter. “Radio journalism. Maybe I could teach aspects of that!”
“It’s worth looking into. You’ll want to make copies of some programs. A portfolio of some of your best work. No matter what you do, you should have that on file.”
“You’re so right. You’re a big help to me. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have you in my corner.”
“Of course!” said Lawrence squeezing her hand. “You know you can count on me. Like a brother, remember? No matter what.”
“That’s great, but…” Katherine paused as she considered how to say it. “If I move on to another job somewhere, what’ll happen to us?”
“Nothing. We’ll still be friends. Doesn’t matter where you work.”
“Good. I hope so. I really value our friendship and wouldn’t mind…” She paused again, this time for courage. “…if we got even closer.” There. I said it. He has to hear it.
Lawrence was looking down at the table. “I’ve gotten that impression from you before. And I think we should talk about it. That’s one of the reasons I suggested we meet here, away from work.”
I knew it, thought Katherine, her heart beating faster. He wants to take us to the next level.