Race to a Happy Ending

Chapter 2

After Kate and Cameron gave the cashier their lunch orders, Cameron found them a table in the back corner of the deli. Considering it was at the peak of lunch hour, it was actually somewhat of a quiet spot. They sat down and waited for their food.

"So what brings you to Charlotte?"

"Well, like I said earlier, I had an interview today. Just trying to find a job," Kate answered matter of factly.

"No, really," he didn't seem to be buying it. How could he see right through her? Was she that transparent? Did she really carry her feeling on her shoulders that badly? He continued, "What's behind your reasoning for coming to a place where you know no one? And why Charlotte, in particular?" Cameron got right to the point.

Kate had to make a quick decision. How much information should she share? Does she spill it all out on the table? Does she only give pertinent details that pertain to the current conversation? Kate pondered on this for just a moment and decided the less information, the better. After all, the chances of seeing Cameron again after this lunch were very small. She didn't want to drag down a really nice time with a nice guy by giving him the whole sob story of her life.

"Honestly, I'm doing this for several reasons," Kate replied. "But for the sake of time and to keep a long story short, I'm mostly doing this because I needed to prove to myself and my family that I could do something on my own. And when I jump into something, I go all the way. I'm not a half-way kind of person. I needed a change of scenery and after some research I put some applications in Atlanta, Birmingham, and Charlotte. Charlotte was the first one that called me in." That answer seemed to satifsy his curiosity and it made Kate sigh a quiet sigh of relief.

About this time, the food arrived at the table and the two begin to eat. It was quiet for a moment while they dug into their sandwiches. They began talking small talk and then their conversation picked up and started sounding like something between two old friends catching up. It seemed they actually had a lot in common. They talked about everything from music to food to boats to cars to her job interview. Kate asked a few questions about Cameron's family and job, but he didn't seem to give any more information than was necessary. Kate was okay with that, just as she had kept several details about her life to herself. She was enjoying her time and from what she could tell Cameron did, too. He seemed to be letting his guard down just a little.

"Would you like me to get you another Coke?" he asked. Kate nodded and he went to the counter and refilled their drinks. When he came back he said, "Tell me more about what you feel you have to prove and why."

Kate nervously laughed. "Why do you want to know all this?" she asked good naturedly.

"Well, I've gone through a lot of things in my life where I felt I had to prove something. And even though I finally broke through to the top level of this profession, I still feel like I'm always trying to prove myself. I'm just curious, that's all."

This wasn't where she wanted the conversation to go. Granted, he thought he may have had the same feelings as her in trying to prove herself, but she didn't think he knew what he was asking by having her share more of her life's story. Sharing her horrific past was not always easy for her or well received by those who heard it. She didn't want pity from people. She wanted to move on. And this good time she was having with a handsome stranger, in fact the best time she's had in a long time, could go south at any moment after she starts to tell him more. She sighed a little and answered, "How much more do you want? I've got the long version or the short version."

Now it was Cameron's turn to laugh. There had been a little tension building and she knew he sensed that. The laugh seemed to ease things a bit. "How about somewhere in the middle?"