“No,” Katy said. “But I’m sure it’s lovely.” When Cerise furrowed her brow further, Katy continued. “Why do you ask?”
“You look so familiar,” Cerise replied.
Katy felt her heart leap into her throat.
“Are you ladies up for a board game?” Joseph interrupted, walking into the living room with David.
Katy nodded enthusiastically, stepping away from Cerise in relief.
“Do you mind if I use your restroom first?” she asked. She had to get away for a moment to compose herself.
“You can use the one right down that hallway,” Joseph said, pointing to the hall that he had carried their bags down. “First door on the left. Pardon the mess. Cerise comes into town and within seconds her stuff is all over the place.”
Cerise rolled her eyes. “You’re just lucky I don’t live here full-time!”
Katy quickly stepped away. She shut the bathroom door behind her and locked it, then she walked over to the sink and leaned over it.
Cerise had recognized her. She just didn’t know it yet. But now Katy was terrified that at any second, Cerise could look at her, eyes bulging, and blurt it out.
“You’re Princess Katerina!”
Katy closed her eyes tightly. What a nightmare. She had come to support David, but how would he feel to discover that he had brought an imposter along on the most sensitive trip of his life? Would he treat her differently? Never want to see her again? Ugh.
Cerise’s things littered the bathroom, just as Joseph had said, and Katy had to be careful not to knock over any of the perfumes, lotions, lipsticks, and soaps that covered the sides of the sink. As she calmed herself, she looked over to notice that Cerise had even brought along some bathroom reading: a tabloid. It lay on the counter beneath a small tub of face mask. Katy only glanced at it at first, but then her eyes shot back to it. She pushed the cosmetic container off it and picked it up.
Katy recognized the tabloid. It was an international rag, generally teeming with rumored affairs, sordid details of celebrity scandals, and tawdry news stories. This issue was no different. Katy was staring at a picture of a blonde woman unsuccessfully shielding her face from the paparazzi cameras, beneath a headline that screamed WHERE IS THE MISSING PRINCESS?
A picture of her. Princess Katerina.
24
David
“Joseph, I’m afraid you owe me a substantial amount of rent,” David said with a flourish. His cousin’s car-shaped Monopoly piece had landed on Park Place, a property David had purchased earlier in the game.
Joseph sighed and began counting out his paper money.
“Ugh, that’s all I’ve got!” he moaned. “I’m bankrupt.”
Cerise laughed, having bankrupted out of the game along with Katy long ago. “Monopoly is Joseph’s game! He never loses. So I have to say, I am really enjoying this.”
“One more game!” Joseph announced, grabbing up the tiny houses and game pieces for redistribution.
“Give it up,” Cerise teased her brother across the coffee table. “These games last forever, and you can’t beat an economist at Monopoly. David’s just better than you.”
“It’s half luck anyway,” David said modestly.
“Yeah, and Joseph’s has completely run out,” Cerise jabbed.
David looked over from his seat on the floor to see Katy laughing. He grinned at the sight. He’d been afraid that the trip would fall flat for Katy if things didn’t go well between him and his cousins. If, for instance, they all ended up being too unalike to hold conversation. Or if the tone of the visit was too heavy, too sorrowful, rather than joyous. But Joseph and Cerise seemed to have taken David into their family immediately, and, like a close family would, they were having a lot of fun.
But, glancing at his wristwatch, David realized that time had slipped away from them. It was past midnight, and they had a very big day coming up. Katy had yawned a few times over the course of their last game—as politely as she could, clearly hoping no one would notice—so David knew she was tired.
“Why don’t we finish this tomorrow, Joseph? Maybe you’ll wake up lucky again,” David said with a wink.
Joseph chuckled. “I guess you’re right. We have a lot to do tomorrow.” His cousin glanced over at the couch, on which Cerise had been kind enough to place a pillow and blanket. “You know, you’re welcome to my bed. I don’t mind sleeping on the couch. It’s kind of old, and it’s not the best on your back.”
David put his hand up to cut Joseph off. “I won’t kick any of you out of your beds. I’m sure it’s fine.”
But from sitting on the couch earlier in the night, sinking deeply into its floral upholstery, he already knew it was going to be a long night.
David stood first, and the rest of the group followed quickly, probably realizing, as David had, that they were more tired than they had previously thought.
“Your bags are both in the guest room,” Joseph said. “Wake me up if you need me for anything. Good night.”
Joseph turned and retreated to the master bedroom, leaving Katy, Cerise, and David in the living room.
Cerise glanced toward the hallway and then looked back down at the game pieces on the coffee table. “I better put these up tonight, so Joseph doesn’t see them in the morning and make us have Monopoly for breakfast.”
David nodded and helped Cerise gather the game together into its worn-out box. Then Cerise placed the game back on its shelf and said good night before heading down the hallway to her room.
That left only David and Katy.
He turned toward her to find that she was already looking at him, her hands clasped in front of her and a weary smile on her face. David swallowed in slight nervousness. Can’t you ever just act cool around her? Luckily, Katy spoke first.
“I didn’t know you were so good at board games,” she said.
David shrugged. “My dad and I played all the time when I was a kid. He was much better than me.”
Katy continued to look at David but didn’t respond. David wondered if she was stalling. Maybe she didn’t want to leave him just yet. He certainly didn’t mind. As excited as he was to be with his newfound family, he’d also hoped he and Katy would have some chances to be alone during the trip, since it happened so rarely back in Cambridge.
But when Katy raised her hand to her mouth and yawned again, he decided that there would be time for that later.
“I just need to grab my toothbrush and sweatpants out of my bag,” he said. “And then you’ll have the guest room to yourself.”
Katy nodded. “You go ahead and get changed first. I’ll wait for you.”
When David returned to the living room a few minutes later, comfortably dressed in a pair of sweats, he didn’t find Katy in the spot that he’d left her. His eyes scanned the room until he spotted her standing by a bookshelf. Curious, David walked over to her.
“Any good ones?” he asked, looking at the books.
Katy didn’t look over at David. Instead, she traced a slender finger along the spine of a thick, hardbound tome. “History of the Americas.” She touched another book beside it, then continued reading titles down the line. “European Conflict After 1945. The History of Ancient Greece, Part One. Part Two. The History of the Tanakh. A History of Women During Wartimes . . . ”
Katy looked over at him with a sweet, thoughtful expression.
“Maybe Cerise got her love of history from one of her parents,” David mused.
“That’s probably one of the best things you can inherit from your parents,” Katy replied. “A love of learning.”
David felt himself leaning slightly closer to Katy, who was looking up at him with her wide, light eyes. His eyes traced over her full, pink lips involuntarily, as they so often did when he got close to her.
“Better than inheriting an astigmatism,” Cerise’s voice intoned behind them. Katy and David turned from each other to the hallway to see Cerise standing in her pajamas, pointing at her glasses. She smi
led and walked toward the bookshelf. “But these books didn’t belong to our parents.”
Cerise grabbed one and pulled it from the shelf. David looked over her shoulder to read its title. American Sports: A History. Whoever the books belonged to, they certainly had a wide-ranging palette.
“My mom saved all of these in case Jeanine ever came back,” Cerise said.
David’s breath caught, as it seemed to do any time he learned something new about the mother he had never known. So she was a history buff! In that case, maybe it was David who had inherited that love of learning. Maybe it was something that he and his mother had in common. His heart fluttered in his chest as he felt a closeness to his biological mother; a rare occurrence.
Cerise replaced the book and turned to David. “I remember flipping through these as a kid, looking for pictures. When I got into high school, I actually started reading them. So I guess it was your mom who got me into history. I hope I get to thank her someday.”
David looked down at Cerise. Suddenly it hit him that they were related by more than just blood. They were all intertwined in a web of similarities, from their hopes and dreams to their hobbies and appearances. So this is what biological family feels like. “I hope you do, too.”
Cerise turned back to the shelf. “These mean the world to my mother. Jeanine took pretty much everything else that she owned before she left. But she left her books, and my mother has been taking care of them ever since.” Cerise took a deep breath and then looked at David. “But rightfully they’re yours. So when you go back to Harvard, you’re welcome to take them. Or we can hold onto them for you until after graduation.”
David shook his head. “I couldn’t take these from your mother. Not knowing how much they mean to her.”
“I don’t think she has much need for them anymore, David. And,” Cerise paused, “I’m not sure how much Joseph told you, but she just had a round of chemotherapy. We’re still waiting on the results but, well . . . the doctor doesn’t think she’d survive another treatment. So I don’t know if she’s coming back home.”
David stood quietly, sadness washing over him.
“But we can always figure that out later,” Cerise went on, trying to sound more cheerful and almost succeeding. “We’re just happy you’re here. And happy that our mom will get to meet you. See you two in the morning.”
Cerise disappeared back down the hallway, leaving David standing in silent reflection. Katy looked over at him.
“Your mother seems like an interesting woman,” she murmured.
David looked back at the books. Interesting indeed. He already felt like he knew her so much better than he had just that morning.
Katy went on. “I’ve been meaning to ask: Would you rather just the three of you go tomorrow? I don’t want to intrude. I can find a bookstore or a coffee shop or something . . . ”
“As long as you’re comfortable with it, I’d love it if you came with us,” David replied. It was gracious of her to offer, and far from being bothered by her presence, David was soothed by it. He might need that soothing tomorrow more than ever. He wanted Katy there.
“Then I’ll be there,” Katy said. “Although I probably need to get some sleep, or I won’t be very good company.”
David nodded. “I’m just going to brush my teeth. Then I’ll be hitting the hay as well.”
David followed Katy down the hallway. She went into the guest room and closed the door behind her, while he turned into the bathroom. He wondered if it was the last he’d see of her until morning. But as he was brushing his teeth, Katy appeared in the bathroom doorway with her toothbrush. She was dressed in a canary-yellow silk pajama set that stretched all the way up under her chin. Little lines of white ruffles went down both sides of the top. David was struck by how formal she looked.
“Don’t laugh,” Katy said, noticing his amusement. “They were a gift from my parents.”
David smiled, his mouth full of toothpaste, and scooted to one side of the sink to offer Katy space. She walked in and set to brushing beside him.
David tried his hardest to look straight ahead at the mirror over the sink, keeping his eyes on his own reflection. But eventually they wandered to Katy and, like David had expected, found that she had been eyeing him as well. When their eyes met, Katy’s snapped away.
They finished brushing together and then just . . . stood for a heartbeat. Perhaps each was waiting for the other to say something. David finally took the initiative.
What he really wanted to say was: Have any extra room in your bed? Or: Perhaps you’d be more comfortable sleeping in the buff? Or even simply: Can I give you a goodnight kiss? A whole range of flirty and forward thoughts rose to his mind.
In the end, out of a combination of respect, nerves, and common sense, all he said was, “Till tomorrow, Katy.”
Then he went back down the hallway and reluctantly sank into his couch for the night.
* * *
“I warned you about the couch,” Joseph said, setting a plate of hash browns down in front of David.
David realized that he had been rubbing the base of his neck.
“No, it was fine. I’m just not used to a soft bed. My mattress at Harvard is basically a brick,” David said, embellishing only slightly.
“Thank you,” Katy said as Joseph served her, too. “Mmm, smells wonderful.”
“Well, it’s not every weekend I get the chance to cook. When I’m alone I normally just pull extra hours at the office and grab a bagel on the way,” Joseph replied. “So really, it’s my pleasure.”
David brought a forkful up to his mouth. He was struggling more than he was letting on. His neck and back hurt terribly from sleeping on the worn-out couch, and he was far too excited to eat anything. He couldn’t believe he was about to meet his aunt! This was the woman who probably knew his mother better than any other living person.
But he didn’t want to be rude to his hosts, so he dutifully chewed and swallowed as much as he could handle, washing bites down with mercifully hot and strong coffee. David got the impression that his cousins were a bit nervous as well, since little conversation accompanied breakfast. When they’d finished, Cerise grabbed all of the plates and walked into the kitchen.
“Ready?” Joseph asked. But his smile wavered slightly before he continued. “I spoke to the doctor yesterday. He said that she’s weak from treatment, but it isn’t as bad as it looks. So, just a heads up.”
David nodded. He wasn’t ready to lose this woman so soon—not when he’d just found her. And he knew firsthand how quickly cancer could progress. So, even if it was a small thing, it was good to know that the doctor was hopeful.
They stood and walked to the door together, spending a few quiet seconds fumbling with coats, scarves, and gloves. David was careful to remember the gift bag for Mary. Then the group stepped out together into a bright and chilly New York City morning. They hailed a cab and piled inside, Joseph taking the front seat and Katy squeezing into the back between David and Cerise.
“Memorial Cancer Center,” Joseph directed the cabbie.
The drive was even quieter than breakfast. Had they been traveling anywhere else, David might have relished the light touch of Katy’s knee against his own. He might have noticed that she laid her hand beside her on the seat, where it grazed against his thigh, when she usually kept her hands folded in her lap. He may even have noticed that her breathing had sped up a bit and wondered if it was due to their closeness. But, at present, all he could do was stare out the window and think about his aunt.
Joseph had said that she was stage three, but that things had recently taken a turn for the worse. David’s father hadn’t even been diagnosed until he was stage four, and then he had deteriorated rapidly. How long did Mary have? Years? Months? David tried not to ruminate on the thought. He just wanted to meet her and enjoy her company. And, if she was feeling up to it, to talk about his mother.
After some time, the cab came to a stop in front of a red brick build
ing with a fountain in the little courtyard in front of it.
“Keep the change,” Joseph said to the cabbie, handing her a bill before stepping out onto the sidewalk. The doors opened and everyone stepped out, David trailing a bit behind.
From beside the fountain, Katy turned to wait for David. She looked beautiful, as always, elegantly yet simply clad in jeans, tall boots, and a peacoat. But, all that aside, David was reminded again of how glad he was that she was there. Her presence exuded a grace and compassion that calmed David and made him comfortable just being himself. And he needed that today more than ever.
They passed the gently bubbling fountain, and David noticed that it was filled with sparkling coins. The lip of the fountain was inscribed with the words “The Well-Wishing Well.” Beyond it, he climbed the center’s concrete steps and then stepped through the heavy doors into a brightly lit hallway.
Joseph and Cerise walked in front, leading the way for Katy and David. David was struck by how pristine the facility was, how little it resembled a public hospital. There were no harshly buzzing fluorescent lights, and the hallway was lined with framed photographs of the various executives and physicians who had led the center over the years. It seemed like an exclusive place to David, which gave him the impression that it was also very expensive. No wonder Joseph was concerned about funds.
His cousins led David and Katy up a flight of stairs to the second floor. They walked to the end of another long hallway and then paused outside of a door. As everyone followed suit, a silence settled over them. Joseph looked at Cerise. Cerise turned to David. David looked at Katy. All the while, no one spoke.
Finally, Joseph opened the door.
The hospital room was bright and airy. A vase of cheerful yellow tulips graced a wooden nightstand, and a large window displayed a view of the grassy square behind the center. David could see a bustle of activity outside: passing cars, bundled-up pedestrians, and dog-walkers being strung along by their pack. And, lying in the bed, her face turned toward the bright window, David saw an older woman in a fluffy pink robe.
A Love that Endures Page 20