No Time for Apologies: No Brides Club, Book 5

by Gordon, Jean C.

  “I made an appointment for you and your grandfather to tour the home next Wednesday,” his mother said, as if Jon hadn’t said anything.

  Jon turned to his father for possible support.

  His father was nodding in agreement. “He’s your mother’s father. She knows best.”

  Jon opened his mouth to say she didn’t know anything about Grandpa. Then he looked, really looked at his father. At the moment, his father looked older than his grandfather. Sadness gripped Jon. He wasn’t sure if it was for his father, his parents, himself, or the family they could have been.

  Anger wiped out the sadness. “No.”

  “No, what?” his mother asked. “Should I reschedule?”

  “No, I can’t … won’t do it. First, I’m working at a mutual fund company in New York for the summer and can’t take more time off.”

  “That’s good. You wouldn’t get anywhere financially, teaching at a community college. And all the more reason to get your grandfather settled somewhere else when you relocate in New York.”

  Jon gritted his teeth. “I don’t plan on moving, and I’ll still be teaching. More importantly, Grandpa doesn’t need to be in a nursing home, and I refuse to have anything to do with putting him in one. Not to mention that he probably wouldn’t qualify for a placement since his physical condition doesn’t warrant full-time care.”

  His mother’s expression hardened. “We can take care of him getting a proper assessment for placement. If we can’t, I’ll research some senior living facilities with independent and assisted living options.”

  Jon gave up trying talk sense with his mother. “If you plan on hounding me all weekend, I’ll go to a hotel.”

  His mother jerked a wave-off to him. “Do as you please. I have Lynda coming to stay with your father tomorrow when I’ll be at the gala.”

  Jon’s father harrumphed as his contribution to the conversation.

  “I’m going out.” Jon tossed off the weight on his chest that accompanied his words.

  It shouldn’t matter, wasn’t any worse than he might have expected. But they were his parents. Maybe he hadn’t done a stupid thing, accepting Kate’s sister and mother’s invitation to the party tomorrow. It beat sitting alone in a hotel room.

  He glanced from his mother to his father. Or here alone with his parents.

  * * *

  “Hey, sleepyhead.” Ava burst into Kate’s room. “Since you ditched me for lunch, I’m taking you to dinner.”

  Kate sat up. “I’m so sorry. I forgot about our lunch date.” She stretched. She hadn’t really been asleep. More thinking with her eyes closed. Too often about Jon. “Sure. Give me a minute to change and comb my hair.”

  “I wasn’t thinking any place fancy,” Ava said, not making any movement to leave.

  “At least let me change my shirt.” Kate stood and pointed toward the door. “Shoo, I’ll be right down.”

  Kate changed into a fancier T with cut-out shoulders, let her hair down and brushed it, and touched up her make-up. She kicked off her athletic shoes and replaced them with leather sandals. After all, they might run into someone she knew. A picture of Jon appeared in her mind. She shook her head. Hadn’t she seen enough of him at work and on the drive here?

  She wiggled her freed toes and joined Ava in the living room.

  “I thought we’d go to London’s,” Ava said, heading toward the front door.

  “Sounds good to me.” Kate restrained her surprise. London’s was a locally owned, mid-range family restaurant and bar.

  “Why the surprise?” Ava asked.

  So much for hiding her feelings.

  “You didn’t think I was going to say McDonald’s, did you?”

  Kate’s gaze dropped to her feet as she pulled open the passenger door of Ava’s car. “It was your favorite place.”

  “When I was a kid.”

  Kate swallowed. That’s how she thought of Ava. As a kid. She studied her sister’s profile, so much like Kate’s own and their mother’s. Where had the time gone? Ava wasn’t a kid anymore. She was a woman who’d finished her education and achieved the first step in her career goals.

  “What? Do I have dirt on my face or something?” Ava asked, digging in her bag beside her. She pulled out a jeweler’s box.

  “No squirt. Just realizing you’re all grown up. Done with college, a teacher …” Kate’s gaze fixed on her sister slipping her engagement ring on her finger. “A woman engaged to be married.”

  Ava reached across the seat to show Kate a tasteful platinum solitaire diamond ring. “The matching wedding band is plain, but Trey’s has a small diamond.”

  “It’s beautiful.” Kate smiled to cover any reaction to the pang in her heart. “You’ll make a beautiful bride.”

  “Thank you,” Ava said, placing her left hand on the steering wheel and turning the car on.

  Kate relaxed against the seat back. She must have done a better job of masking her feelings this time. A founding member of the No Brides Club did not get wistful over engagement rings.

  “How about you?”

  “What?” Had she missed something Ava had said?

  Ava turned onto the road toward town. “You and your to-die-for hunk of a chauffeur/employee.”

  Kate’s heart skipped. “Jon? What about Jon?”

  Ava grinned. “It must be fun being able to officially boss your boyfriend around at work.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I saw the way you two looked at each other.”

  Kate leaned her elbow on the armrest of the door and rubbed her forehead. “And how was it we looked at each other?”

  “Like there was more in play than hitching a ride home.”

  “Sorry to burst your romance bubble, but I had no idea where Jon was or what he was doing until my boss introduced him as my new assistant on Monday. Even then, I almost didn’t recognize him.” If she emphasized the almost, that was the truth. “He’s changed a lot since high school.”

  Ava’s eyes went soft and dreamy, and Kate bit back an admonishment to watch the road.

  “But didn’t you two date or something in high school?” her sister pressed. “Like what Jon said when you introduced us.”

  “Mathletes. We were on the Genesee High School team. Jon’s parents are doctors and often couldn’t drive him to regular competitions. So he rode with us.”

  Thinking about it now, Kate didn’t know how they could have been busier than her dairy-farmer father. Not that it mattered.

  “We hung out in different groups. Mathletes was about his only extracurricular activity. I was in student government, on the yearbook committee, prom committee, intramural sports, other stuff. Not to be mean”—although she had been in high school—“but he was a chunky nerd back then.”

  “Seriously?” Ava asked.

  “Seriously.” Who knew the beautiful swan that would emerge when Jon grew into his features and lost weight.

  Ava flicked the turn signal to turn into the restaurant. “Wow! I can’t begin to imagine him as nerdy-looking.”

  “You can look at my yearbooks when we get home.”

  Ava brought the car to a stop in the parking lot. “You admit that he’s gorgeous now, right?”

  “Yes, he’s gorgeous.” It wasn’t hard to agree with the truth. “And he’s always been intelligent and interesting.” The note of wistfulness in her voice surprised Kate.

  “So why don’t you go for it?”

  Kate sighed. “Because I’m concentrating on my career.”

  “You’re not still in that No Brides Club thing?” Ava turned the car off and looked at her.

  “Yes, my colleagues and I still meet Thursday nights.” Kate knew she sounded pompous, but Ava was starting to get on her nerves. “Our careers are our top priority.”

  Her sister’s eyes clouded. “Are you saying I’m not serious about my work?”

  Kate touched her sister’s hand. “Not at all. Some people just aren’t cut out for serious rela
tionships.”

  “And you think you’re one of those people.”

  Kate nodded. “Besides, Jon will only be in the city for the summer. In the fall, he’ll be back home teaching at Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson and running his beef cattle operation.”

  Ava’s eyes brightened, and Kate’s stomach sank. Why had she said that, as if she would be interested in him if he was staying in the city?

  * * *

  Jon had second, third, and fourth thoughts as he walked from the side field off the driveway to the Lewis’s back yard for Ava’s graduation party. He hadn’t gotten a hotel room yesterday. But the strain of breakfast with his parents this morning with his mother making another pitch for selling Grandpa’s farm out from under him had been too much. This time she’d held out a bribe of replacing his sold BMW, ostensibly to celebrate his new job with DeBakker-Geld. Somehow his parents had wiped his teaching in the fall from their memories.

  He had never been so glad to see anyone as he was when Lynda arrived shortly after noon and assured him she’d be fine with his father while Jon went to the party. He rounded the corner of the Lewis’s house and slowed his pace when he spotted Kate in a bright blue and green sundress. The slight breeze molded the light fabric to her legs. His mouth went dry.

  She gestured with her hand and laughed, making some point to the guy she was talking to. A guy about their age that he didn’t recognize.

  He hadn’t considered that Kate might be involved with someone back here. After all, her sister had thought he and Kate were together when he’d dropped Kate off. She hadn’t said anything about being in a relationship. Jon stopped and raked his hand through his hair. Why would she? Kate was his boss. He wasn’t in the habit of discussing his boss’s or any colleague’s love life. His mind choked at the word love. What was with him? His interest in Kate had been over long ago, a silly high school crush he’d left in high school. Jon rubbed the back of his neck. Being in Western New York, in Genesee, was getting to him more than usual.

  He glanced around. No one had noticed him. He could go back and help Lynda with his father. He turned to leave.

  “Jon,” a female voice called.

  It sounded like Kate, but not exactly like Kate. He pivoted back around. Ava waved to him from the back step. She must have just come out of the house. Too late to make a get-away. Besides, despite the weirdness he was experiencing, the graduation party looked to be a better time than he’d have at his parents’ house. And what else did he have to do?

  “You made it,” Ava said. “We’re about to cut the cake, but you can get a burger or hot dog and stuff first if you want.” She motioned with her left hand toward a grill on the patio and the sun glinted off her ring, catching his eye.

  Ava followed his gaze and, blushing, covered her left hand with her right. “We haven’t told my parents yet.”

  “I won’t say anything. And I already had lunch, so I’ll wait for the cake.” He scanned the small crowd for anyone he knew besides Kate.

  Ava grabbed his arm. “Kate’s over there, if that’s who you’re looking for.” Ava’s smile was far too wide and knowing for someone her age.

  “I was checking to see if I knew anyone else here,” he said, as she tugged him toward Kate and the guy.

  “Do you?”

  He shook his head.

  “They’re mostly my friends, neighbors, and relatives. Kate hasn’t stayed close with any of her high school friends.”

  Thinking back to high school, that was a plus in his book, not that Kate had been kinder than anyone else in her group. He’d idolized the teenage Kate, but genuinely liked the adult version—at least, as much as he’d seen.

  “Look who I found,” Ava called to Kate and the guy, who was smiling and nodding at whatever Kate had said to him.

  Jon fisted and unfisted his hand. Why hadn’t he gone when he’d had the chance? Or, better yet, never come to the party or Genesee.

  “Jon,” Kate said, her eyes widening. “Is there something wrong at home, with your grandfather? I left my cell phone in the house if you tried reach me.”

  Jon shook his head. No smiles for him. He wanted to spit in disgust at himself.

  “No, I invited him to the party yesterday. Didn’t I tell you?” Ava asked. The glint in her eyes belied her innocent expression.

  Kate wrinkled her forehead, making his presence seem unwanted. He could have stayed at his parents’ if that was the case.

  “Pastor Chris, this is Kate’s friend Jon Smith,” Ava introduced him.

  The guy was a minister. A rush of relief flowed through Jon. But that didn’t mean anything. He was still a guy. Jon pasted a smile on his face and shook the man’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “The same,” the guy said, not looking very minister-like in jean shorts and a polo shirt stretched across his chest.

  “Chris and his wife are the new ministers at my parents’ church,” Kate said.

  Knowing that her words had to be for his benefit, Jon wondered if he was as transparent with his out-of-control and unfounded jealousy. Ridiculous as it was, he couldn’t call the feeling anything but jealousy. He corralled the remnants of his teenage self and shut them away.

  Ava continued, “Kate and Jon went to high school together and now they work together in New York.”

  Kate rolled her eyes and Jon stifled a snort. Could Ava be any more obvious?

  “You guys don’t mind if I borrow Pastor Chris, do you? Trey and I are going to make our announcement now.”

  Kate glanced from her sister to Jon.

  “Jon saw my ring.” Ava responded to Kate’s raised eyebrow.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to tell Mom and Dad in private first?” Kate asked.

  “You’re still behind me with Mom and Dad, aren’t you?” Ava asked.

  Jon couldn’t help but pick up the sudden tension between Kate and Ava.

  “Come on, Pastor Chris. Let’s go find Trey and your wife.” Ava took a step away from their circle and looked over her should at Kate. “Just because you and your No Brides Club friends don’t believe in marriage doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.”

  “Excuse me,” the minister said, I’d better go with her.

  “I … she … I have to go, too.” Kate took off after Ava and Chris, leaving Jon standing alone in the middle of the yard, stuck on Ava’s words.

  No Brides Club? What was that? And why should it bother him that Kate belonged?

  Chapter 5

  Sorry about yesterday. Ready to leave anytime you are.

  Kate took a break from cleaning up after breakfast and texted Jon. Her parents and Ava had left for church. Kate had begged off, saying Jon wanted to get an early start. She stared out the kitchen window, her gaze going to the middle of the yard where she’d left Jon yesterday to go mend fences with Ava.

  Ava and Trey’s big announcement had gone off without a hitch. Kate wasn’t sure what had made her apprehensive about supporting her sister at the last moment. It turned out that their parents weren’t surprised in the least and were happy for the young couple. After that, talk had turned to congratulations and wedding stories, and Kate had gone in search of Jon but he’d left.

  She pulled her gaze from the window and checked her phone, even though she hadn’t heard a ding signaling a reply from Jon. It wasn’t that, as Ava had accused, she didn’t believe in marriage. Ava and Trey’s obvious joy in each other, catching her mother and father last night in a close embrace in the living room when they hadn’t heard her enter, the adorable Edna and Ralph at the train station, they all warmed her heart. It’s just that I have other things to accomplish first. More important things. For now, at least.

  Her phone dinged and set her heart racing. Jon. She rolled her shoulders as if they would shake off whatever was afflicting her.

  She read the text. Nothing to apologize for. I’ll be there in a half hour.

  I’ll be ready, she typed. Kate glanced around the kitchen. Nothing left to do in h
ere. Her bag was packed. She could check her work email, although she’d done that yesterday morning to catch up on anything that had happened on Friday. Kate trudged upstairs and got her overnight bag and tablet.

  She dropped her bag next to the couch and herself onto the couch and powered up her tablet, drumming her fingers on the armrest while she waited for the login box to appear. At the prompt she typed her password and skimmed her new mail. The last email, from Bob, dated Saturday afternoon, grabbed her attention.

  Subject: Monday Strategy Meeting

  Note the new time: 9:30

  But it wasn’t the content that had her fixed on the email. It was the required attendees. The list included jpsmith. Jon. There weren’t any J-anything Smiths at her senior analyst level or above. Since when had lower level staff been included? She narrowed her eyes and scanned the attendees again. It wasn’t all the lower level analysts. It was only Jon. Good thing she’d decided to forego the day off she’d scheduled for tomorrow to decompress from the trip to Genesee.

  It took all Kate’s strength not to heave the tablet across the room. The uncertainty about why Jon had been included in the meeting rubbed against the argument she’d had with herself about marriage and career—and first things first. She couldn’t let her guard down, or Jon just might get her promotion. Somehow, reasserting her resolve didn’t give her the boost it usually did.

  The sound of a car pulling into the driveway brought her to her feet. Kate stashed her tablet in her shoulder bag and looked out the window. Jon. Early. She put her bag on her shoulder and picked up her case. She was ready.

  “Hey.” Jon walked around his car to open the passenger side door.

  “Hi.” She closed the door behind her and met him at the car.

  “I’m early, but I see you’re ready.”

  She slid into the passenger side. “Yes, yes, I am.”