Mike nodded.
“Well then, you’ve got plenty of time to start a new career. If that’s what you want to do, of course.”
Shrugging, Mike said, “I certainly don’t intend to do
maintenance work for the rest of my life.”
Catherine thought a change of subject was in order, for Mike’s sake. “So, Wayne, how do you like your new car?”
“Oh, it’s a honey,” Wayne answered, instantly diverted. “It gets very good gas mileage, so I don’t feel so bad about driving so far to work every day. And it’s much quieter than my last car.”
“That’s because your last car was trying to shake itself into a million little pieces,” Karen said dryly. “And us along with it. Is everyone ready for dessert? I made strawberry tarts, and I have fresh coffee for anyone who would like some.”
Catherine pushed her chair back from the table. “Let me help you, Karen.”
“I’ll help, too,” Julia said, jumping to her feet and reaching for dirty dishes.
Catherine had hoped Julia would make that offer.
Catherine waited only until they were in the kitchen and out of hearing of the dining room before rounding on Julia. “Get off his back, Julia. He’s not one of the cocky jerks you dislike so much, so stop treating him like one.”
Julia scowled. “I haven’t been doing anything but making conversation with him.”
“Asking him what he wants to be when he grows up? Please.”
“Well, you would think he’d have an idea by now, wouldn’t you? By his age, I’d already finished law school. You had a Ph.D. and a postdoctoral position behind you.”
“And Mike has been working at perfectly respectable construction jobs since he left college the first time. He’s very good at his maintenance job now. He takes pride in his work, and he tries to get to everything as quickly as possible. The on-site manager told me he’s the most competent and responsible person she’s ever hired for the position. He has no reason to be ashamed, and I wish you wouldn’t treat him as if he should be.”
Julia looked at her in concern. “You’re not getting serious about this kid, are you, Catherine?”
Her cheeks warming, Catherine picked up a tray loaded with strawberry tarts. “He’s a friend, and he deserves to be treated with the same respect as my other friends,” she said curtly.
“You’re absolutely right, Catherine.” Karen handed Julia a tray of coffee cups while she picked up a steaming carafe. “He’s a guest in my home, and I want him to be completely at ease here.”
Going on the defensive, Julia followed them to the doorway. “I’ve hardly attacked him. Just asked a few questions to draw him into the conversation.”
Catherine gave her a look that made it clear she didn’t quite buy that innocent disclaimer.
Sitting in the passenger’s seat of Catherine’s car, Mike felt as though he had escaped a painfully awkward situation to blessed freedom. No one was looking at him curiously now, no one was asking him questions, no one was around to wonder what a guy like him was doing with Catherine.
Catherine had been driving with a somber expression that made him wonder what she was thinking. He didn’t ask. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
“Mike,” she said, finally breaking the silence.
“Mmm?”
“I hope you weren’t offended by the things Julia said tonight. She has become a good friend of mine, and I’m very fond of her, but I’m aware that she can be…difficult. She’s very protective of her friends, and I think she has it in her head that you’re just, I don’t know, using me somehow.”
“Because you make a decent salary and I’m doing maintenance work to pay rent and tuition? Does she think I’m some sort of freeloader?”
“Julia knows that no true gigolo is going to hit on a research scientist,” Catherine said dryly. “We aren’t exactly known for making tons of money. As an attorney, she’s run into more men looking for a meal ticket than I have.”
“Well, you can assure her that I’m not looking for anyone to support me,” Mike said grumpily. “I’ve been paying my own way for almost ten years, and I plan to keep it that way. I might not have anything left over at the end of the month, but I don’t take any handouts, either.”
“Actually, I’m not going to tell Julia anything of the kind. It’s none of her business—and as I said, she doesn’t really think you’re after my money, such as it is.”
“So what is she worried about?”