Loving Kate

by Lara Van Hulzen

  “I believe the lady asked you a question. And you aren’t her husband.” He sensed Kate relax just a little at his presence. Good, because he wasn’t going anywhere. Ever.

  The slick charm Barry had been attempting disappeared. “Who the hell are you?”

  He didn’t get a chance to answer. Kate jumped in and said again, a bit louder this time, “What do you want, Barry?”

  “I wanna know who’s standing behind you like he...”

  “Barry.” Kate cut him off. “What. Do. You. Want?”

  “I just want to talk. Is it so strange that I want to see how you are doing?”

  Kate shook her head. “Fine, we’ll talk. But here and now is not the time. Meet me at the coffee shop on Seapoint Boulevard tomorrow at nine a.m.”

  Barry didn’t look pleased, but to Jack’s surprise, agreed. “Fine. We’ll do it your way. Coffee tomorrow.”

  He turned and walked down the street and into the night.

  Once he was out of sight, Kate turned and all but fell into Jack’s arms.

  He held her, unsure if she was going to cry, scream, punch something – maybe all of the above at once. “You’re shaking like a leaf, princess.”

  “I hate how he does that.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Rattles me so.” She tilted her head up to look at him. No crying. That was a good start. Screaming and punching might still happen, but he was ready.

  “You really don’t know why he’s here? He didn’t call or say he was coming?”

  She shook her head. “No. I blocked him from my phone after you and I talked the other night at your house.”

  “Atta girl.”

  “I honestly don’t know what he wants from me.”

  “Come on. Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

  He tucked her under his arm and led her back towards the building. Only then did he see Josh, Maggie, Hannah, Paul, Chet and Baylee on the steps. God bless ’em. They had her back.

  “Hey, sis. You okay?” Maggie asked when they reached the group.

  Kate nodded.

  “Are you sure?” Baylee came down the steps and hugged Kate.

  “I’m sure. I just want to go home.”

  “Are you gonna be okay by yourself tonight?” Josh asked. “You’re welcome to stay with us for the night.”

  Jack had had the exact same thought and appreciated his brother making the offer. But before he could say he would stay with Kate, even if it meant sleeping on the front porch steps like a guard dog, Kate answered. “I’ll be fine. Barry’s a jerk, but he wouldn’t hurt me.”

  Something in Jack sensed doubt behind her words but made a mental note to ask her about it later. For now, he was getting her home and tucked in tight before Barry had any ideas of coming back to make another scene.

  They said their goodbyes and drove back to Kate’s house. She didn’t even question him when he simply followed her inside and locked the door behind him.

  “You go change. I’ll make us some coffee.”

  She nodded her agreement and went down the hall to her room.

  Kate peeled off her outfit and hung it in the closet. Needing a hearty dose of comfort right now she pulled on her favorite yoga pants and sweatshirt her mom had bought her for Christmas.

  Sitting on the bed, she tugged pink puffy socks over her feet. She laid back and stared at the ceiling. Barry was here. Why in the freaking world was Barry here? Because she’d just decided to be happy with Jack, that was why. Was she ever going to be rid of this part of her past? It was like a bad penny.

  The fire came to mind and she shivered. Could Barry really have been involved or was he just here to gloat? Rub it in that she couldn’t, indeed, make it without him? That wasn’t true though. She was doing fine. She had her friends and her family. The group of them standing on the steps backing her up hadn’t gone unnoticed. And when Jack had come up behind her, she sensed him before she heard his voice and a wave of courage ran through her system. He had her back. Barry still rattled her, but he couldn’t shake her to the core anymore.

  The sounds of Jack moving around down the hall spurred her from her bed and out into the family room. He’d started a fire in the fireplace. Two steaming mugs of coffee sat on the table in front of the sofa. He patted the cushion next to him, inviting her to sit. She did.

  “You wanna talk?”

  “I think we need to.” She took a sip of coffee and tucked her legs beneath her. “I honestly don’t know why he’s here, but I have been meaning to tell you something.”

  “Okay.” He leaned back, placed his arm along the back of the sofa behind her.

  “Baylee has been getting updates from Chet about the fire. He thinks they have a good idea how it started and maybe even who started it.”

  “Yeah. Chet told me as much tonight at the dance.”

  “I’m sorry, Jack. I should have told you sooner. It’s just that whenever I thought to do so we were having a nice evening and I didn’t want to ruin it or think about it.”

  “No worries. If there was something important about it, you’d have said something.”

  She looked down into her coffee mug, unable to meet his eyes as she spoke. “Well, that’s just it. For whatever reason, each time I talk to Baylee about it, I get a bad feeling. Like I might know who started it. Although I don’t know how.”

  Jack turned towards her and put his hand under her chin, lifting her eyes to meet his. “What are you talking about, Kate. You can tell me.”

  She could. He wouldn’t think her crazy. “I think Barry might be involved somehow.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Jack carried Kate to bed and tucked her in. She’d fallen asleep in his arms on the sofa. However, he was far from tired. He made himself another cup of coffee. It was decaf, but still. It didn’t matter. He was so wired even a sedative wouldn’t work on him. He prayed Kate would be able to stay asleep. She put up a brave front that the evening hadn’t upset her that much, but he could see it, and sense it in her. Barry tensed her up something fierce.

  He tensed up Jack as well but not in the same way. A ten-mile run and jabbing at his punching bag for hours wouldn’t work off all that flowed through him at the moment. It was good for Barry’s sake he was nowhere near the man.

  No. Kate had to do this her way or she’d never feel rid of Barry. And Jack wanted him out of their lives for good. So, he’d agreed that Kate made a smart choice in meeting for coffee at a public place the next day. Maybe she could get out of the jackass why he was here. If he did have anything to do with the fire, it wasn’t his best move to come snooping around. Unless he was trying to see what went wrong, or find other ways to get at Kate. The thought made Jack’s blood boil.

  When Kate told him she thought Barry might have had something to do with the fire, he made a point of listening without too many comments. Like, how he’d had the same thought but didn’t know enough about the guy to deem him an arsonist. And he wasn’t about to grill Kate about it.

  No. He would go tomorrow and talk to Chet while Kate was having coffee with Barry. Jack wasn’t thrilled with the idea of not being with her, but again, she had to fight this battle on her own. However, it didn’t mean he had to be far away. She agreed to text him 911 if something was off or things got uncomfortable for her. Jack would visit Chet at the fire station, which was only a couple blocks from Seapoint Boulevard anyway, and he and Kate would meet up afterwards.

  Man, what a crazy night. He ran his hands through his hair then laid his head against the back of the sofa. What had been an ideal day sure ended with a bang. He didn’t even want to imagine what tomorrow had in store.

  Kate sat in Jack’s kitchen, waiting. He insisted on driving her into town but wanted to grab a shower and change of clothes. Being the constant gentleman, he’d tucked her into bed then slept on her couch the night before, in his sock hop clothes. He hadn’t complained, however, and based on how he was acting that morning, it was safe to say he’d had more coffee than sl
eep, poor guy.

  What a mess. She leaned her elbows on the kitchen island, her head in her hands. The last things she expected when she told Jack about Barry was that they’d have to deal with him in person. Sure, the guy had harassed her some via phone and text since the divorce, but she’d ignored him for the most part. She never imagined he’d make the effort to fly all the way to California to bother her face-to-face.

  Of course, she never thought she’d entertain the idea that he had anything to do with the fire at the bakery that also almost destroyed her store. Good Lord. If Barry did have something to do with this, she would be at fault for Baylee almost losing her livelihood. And now he was a huge fly in the ointment of her life right as she found Jack and wanted to move forward. Barry was a tornado that had to be stopped.

  What she intended to accomplish when they met today she had no clue. What she did know was that she wasn’t about to have it out with him out in the dark the night before with half the town right inside. Her counselor in Boston had said to try and keep any interaction with Barry to public places. Guys like him were all about image. He wasn’t about to blow up with people watching. Of course, that didn’t stop his mouth from spewing things that could make her feel three feet tall, but at this point, she was used to that.

  She said a thank you prayer that her mother had hopped a flight the day before to visit Drew in New York. Having Rose around would only complicate things. There was a long line of people in her life waiting to give Barry a boot in the butt. Her father had been first in line but since his passing, her mother had stepped up. Not too far behind her were her brothers. And now Jack.

  In Boston, no one really knew what Barry was like until Kate found out he was cheating. She’d lived the lie right along with him, praying things would change and that her family would never have to know how bad things had been. And she’d lost most of her friends because Barry didn’t ever want to spend time with them and they weren’t thrilled by him either. Before she could see what was happening, her life had morphed into her home alone most nights, wondering when Barry would be home and, in all honesty, getting to a point where she dreaded hearing him come through the door.

  Jack’s boots clumped down the stairs. She turned as he came into the kitchen. Fresh from a shower, his dark hair was wet but unlike the night before where it was combed back slick against his head, he had run his fingers through it, a lock falling over his forehead as usual. Back in his daily uniform of jeans, t-shirt, and jacket, he was perfect. Gorgeous. All man. All hers.

  No. She wouldn’t ever dread seeing him come through the door. The anticipation of it each day would keep her skipping through life, she imagined.

  “Hey, beautiful. You okay?”

  She got up from her perch on the barstool and stepped into his arms. Her fingers ran through the hair at his neck as she leaned up and kissed him. Hands on her hips, his fingers through the belt loops of her jeans, he pulled her close and kissed her back. The man could teach classes on stellar kissing, but that would mean his lips on someone else’s and she wasn’t about to share him. Ever.

  Hours, maybe minutes had passed as he nipped at her bottom lip then trailed kissed down her jaw to her neck. Time was irrelevant.

  “I’ll take that as a quite nice, and super-hot ‘yes’,” he said as he pulled back to look at her. “And believe me when I say I’d like to continue doing this all day, but...”

  She took a deep breath and let it out. “I know. But, Barry.”

  “The sooner we deal with him, the sooner he’s gone.”

  “You’re right. I know you’re right.” She stepped out of his arms and grabbed her purse from the counter.

  “You sure you don’t want me to go with you?”

  “No. That will only put his defenses up. I need to find out if he had anything to do with the fire. Not that he’s going to confess or anything to me, but maybe I can get him to slip up in some way, say something to validate my suspicions.”

  “Okay, but remember. You text 911 to me and I’m there.”

  With another quick kiss and a smile she said, “I know. Let’s go.”

  Jack dropped Kate off at the corner of Seapoint Boulevard by Jamie’s Java, the local coffee shop. He’d driven off with a kiss and a wave of his phone as if to say, “I’m one text away.” It was killing him to not go with her, but she appreciated him understanding she had to do this on her own. Although, as she stood and looked at the door of the coffee shop from across the street, her courage waned.

  A couple came out, each holding a steaming cup of coffee. Smiling, they held hands and wandered down the street. Man, what she wouldn’t give to be doing that with Jack right now instead of dealing with Barry.

  She could see inside through the big windows, one with the logo painted in the center and thanked God she didn’t know anyone inside. The less drama the better. However, her friends wouldn’t have shown up. They were close by, like Jack, if she needed them, but wouldn’t think to come and eavesdrop. Well, Maggie and Hannah might think of it, but would never do it. She smiled at the thought.

  This was her home now. And nothing Barry said or did could take that away from her.

  At that moment, he walked around the corner. Speak of the devil.

  She watched as he held the door open for a tall blonde in spiked heeled boots and a red dress. The long coat she wore didn’t hide the fact that the dress was more of a shirt. By the look on her face, she liked the compliment he for sure tossed her way.

  Kate shook her head. “Once a worm, always a worm.” She took a deep breath. “Here goes nothin’.” She crossed the street and entered the coffee shop. Only two of the ten tables were occupied so she had her choice of where to sit. She took a chair at one by the window.

  Barry had been in line for coffee but when he saw her stepped out and joined her.

  “Aren’t you getting anything? My treat.” His smile looked genuine, but she knew better.

  “No thanks. You go ahead though.”

  “Is this one of those tricks your shrink taught you to stay in control of the situation?” He put air quotes around the last part and altered his voice to sound like he was talking to a child.

  “No, Barry. I’m just not thirsty.”

  “Hmph. Who drinks coffee because they’re thirsty?” He waved a hand at her. “Whatever. I’ll be right back.”

  As he got back in line and waited to order his drink, Kate looked out the window and said a silent prayer. She’d need God’s help to get through this. She’d needed it when they were married, that was for sure. Without her faith, she’d be lost. Maybe even still be with Barry, believing every lie he told her until she was so broken and torn she’d just wither away.

  So much of her wanted to hate him, but hate took too much energy away from all the good that was in her life. However, she did have high disdain for him mocking her going to a counselor. She mentally kicked herself for ever telling him some of the things the counselor said. Yes, there were certain things she was to do to not let Barry always have control of a situation, but she’d told the truth. Having coffee, or not, had nothing to do with it. It was the simple fact that her stomach was so knotted coffee would just make her sick. Her heart jack-hammered in her chest. Caffeine would be a bad idea. Choosing the coffee shop and sitting by the window were part of the counselor’s advice, but she’d be damned if she’d ever admit that one to him.

  He returned with a ceramic mug, the Jamie’s Java logo in brown on the side. He never drank from a paper cup. Said it was beneath him. Only women who ordered frilly pumpkin coffees drank from the paper cups. Whatever. One more of his “quirks” as Kate had come to call them.

  He took a sip of his drink and leaned back in his chair. “You look good, Katie. Real good.”

  His tone and the nickname he’d used for her, the one he was well aware she hated, sent a shiver down her spine. Not the good kind.

  “Thank you.” Every blonde hair on his head was in place, as always, his suit and coat Armani. H
is blue eyes twinkled but only because he had something brewing in that head of his, none of it ever good. Kate never said he wasn’t handsome. Too handsome for his own good, really. But the appeal ended there. Jack’s face came to mind. Yeah. Now there was a man who was the whole package. Beautiful inside, not just out. And like Jack said, there was a difference between arrogance and confidence. Jack was confident. Barry was arrogant.

  He looked around then back at her. “It’s quite the little town you’ve chosen for yourself.”

  “I like it.”

  He scoffed. “Right. You could never settle into a place this small. You’re a city girl.”

  “You don’t have any idea who I am, Barry.”

  His smug look faltered. “I went by your little shop. Atmosphere, it’s called, right?”

  Kate’s skin crawled at the idea of Barry anywhere near her store. And he knew damn well what the name of it was.

  “Yes.”

  “It’s not bad.”

  “Why are you here, Barry? To check up on me? Seems like a long way to travel for that.”

  “Well, it seems you blocked me from your phone. You wouldn’t take my calls. So, I thought maybe we ought to talk in person. Now that I see where you live, I’ll give you six more months.”

  “Until what?”

  “Until you come crawling back to me, begging me to take you back. You don’t want to block me from your life, you just don’t know it yet.”

  Kate laughed. Not a small chuckle either, but a from-the-gut, tears starting to form in her eyes kind of thing. She had no clue why, it just bubbled up and came out.

  Barry’s face began to turn red, his anger apparent. “What’s so damn funny?”

  “I’m sorry,” Kate said as she wiped her eyes with a napkin from the table. “Why in the name of all that is holy would I come running back to you, Barry?”