Kate was still shaking when she heard the front door close.
Lulu poked her head in her office. “Kate, I-I’m really so sorry. It’s just that it’s Mac, and I thought that you two, well, that you should at least see him.”
Kate raised a shaky hand. “It’s fine, Lu.” Though they both knew it wasn’t. If Kate hadn’t been such a shaking mess she might have let Lu have it, but she couldn’t muster it—especially since Lu was well intended. “Can you close the door, please?”
Lulu left quietly. Kate sat, staring at the door for what seemed to be an eternity, fighting off the urge to run after him.
Chapter Fifty-Five
The next morning, Kate stood rooted in place. It was nearing eleven a.m. Mac had certainly boarded his flight, she thought as she dug her toes deeper into the sand. She watched the people coming and going on the shoreline. The November morning was still cool but she saw a few diehard surfers attempting the waves. She watched them as they hopped on their boards and rode the waves in. Tick, tick. Ten fifty, ten fifty-five. Eleven a.m. He was gone.
“Goodbye, Mac,” she said out loud. She had not gone to see him or stopped him from going. Kate walked back to her car and headed to work.
…
It had been a long day—almost too long. Kate’s mind tumbled with a million thoughts. She saw Mac on his flight, and thought of him flying home. Thought of his new life with neither wife nor job.
Nick texted Kate sometime around midday asking what time she’d be home. Kate checked her calendar and sent him a message back. I’ll be home by 6. XO
Dear, sweet, Nick. She was so lucky to have him. Lucky and grateful. He was her new life, and her new life was here in California.
By the time Kate slipped behind the wheel of Grace’s car, she was exhausted. The day, the man, the thoughts she’d spent most of her time battling had taken their toll on her. She pushed the worn key into the ignition and the car started up. She made a mental note to get to a dealership this weekend and get her own car. This one had served its purpose; it had gotten her to her new life. Now she was putting down roots. A car. Something she’d never again need if she went back to New York.
If.
Highly unlikely at this point. Although, as much as Kate hated to admit it, she missed the life—the people—even the homeless guy who she saw most mornings when she walked to work. Often Kate would buy him a cup of coffee and a bagel. He’d smile his toothless grin and mumble a ‘thank you’ while he sank his gums into the warm bagel.
Indeed, Kate missed it all. But the life, the city, the job, the man—all of it was different. The man and the job had betrayed her in a way that had left her feeling gutted. It had only been through Nick’s unwavering support that she’d managed to piece herself back together. And Mac, she thought, the agreement for Allan’s book. That’s what did it and you know it.
Dusk had fallen quickly and it promised to be another beautiful night. Maybe they could have dinner outside before it got too chilly. Kate pulled into the driveway and saw Nick’s Jeep was already there. She suspected something was up when he had asked her what time she’d be home, but she didn’t think he’d beat her there. When Kate pulled in behind Nick’s Jeep, she saw a note he’d fixed to the back of his car. It read, Come in through the front door.
Kate smiled, wondering what on earth Nick was up to. Grabbing her purse, she stepped out of the car and walked up to the front door, which was slightly ajar. She pushed on the door and was welcomed with a sea of candles and rose petals. Music played from the stereo; the soft voice of John Coltrane wafted from the speakers. Kate stepped inside. “Nick?” she called out, but he did not respond. She noticed a path of rose petals that led to the living room and decided to follow them. There she found Nick, surrounded by candles and smiling. Kate dropped her purse on the couch and shrugged out of her suit jacket.
“Nick, what’s going on?”
“Welcome home, my love.” He smiled and walked over to her, kissing her gently on the mouth.
Kate’s mind scrambled. She had been so distracted the past few days. Did she forget something important? A birthday? An anniversary?
“Nick,” Kate’s voice was hesitant, “what’s this all about?”
Nick smiled again, wrapping a tendril of her hair around his finger.
“I love you so much, Katie,” he whispered.
“I love you, too,” she said softly. Was that a catch she heard in her throat? Or was it uncertainty?
“I know the circumstances that brought us together, twice in fact, weren’t the best. In fact, they were horrible. The first time was when Uncle Allan died and the second was when your life fell apart in New York. But, I like to think that out of that mass of chaos, something good came of it. We are here, together, and I want to spend the rest of my life like this. I want to cheer at your successes, comfort you when you’re sad, and love you for the rest of my days.”
Kate could feel her heart pound. Was he…?
Nick knelt down in front of her, pulling a small box from his pocket. He flipped it open to reveal one of the most beautiful rings she’d ever seen.
“Katharine Anne Mitchell, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Chapter Fifty-Six
Lulu was at her desk when she arrived. “Morning, Lu!” Kate said cheerfully.
Lu cut right to the point. “How are you?” It was a reasonable question. After Mac had left, Kate had remained in her office, door closed, for the better part of the day. When she finally emerged, Lulu could tell how shell-shocked she was. She’d never been certain that Mac and Kate had been an “item,” but like everyone else, she heard of Mac’s reputation. Despite Lulu’s opinion about men who cheat, she never held it against Mac. She liked him and she liked the two of them together. Nick was great and sweet and handsome, but there was an unmistakable chemistry when Kate and Mac were in a room together.
Kate hung up her jacket. “Any calls for me this morning?”
“Yes, I emailed you the notes. Allan’s book is going to blow through its third print run.”
Kate smiled; it was exactly what she needed to hear. “Let’s order more, another thirty thousand. No, scratch that. We’re going into the holiday season. Let’s get fifty.”
Lulu nodded. “Okay, I’ll handle it.”
“Oh, and Lu, I have some great news. Nick and I are getting married!” Kate threw her a smile and headed back to her office.
It took Lulu a while to recover from her shock.
Kate picked up her phone and dialed Andrew.
“Hello, Love. So, did you get some answers?”
“I’m getting married.”
She heard Andrew nearly choke on whatever he was drinking. “Well, that’s one solution. May I ask, to whom are we getting married?”
“Well, of course to Nick.”
“Katharine, what have you done?”
“Nothing. I saw Mac just like you said, only he came here looking for a job.”
Andrew laughed, “He did what?”
Kate sighed. “He came here looking for a job and told me I had until yesterday morning to decide if I wanted to be with him.”
“Eh, so instead you went home and decided to get married to Nick. Who asked whom?”
“He asked me. Look, I had no idea, and granted, the timing isn’t the best, but I love Nick and I want to marry him.”
“Well, that was one way to go about it.”
“Andrew, I need you to be happy for me.”
“Darling, I learned something a long time ago. If you are solid in your convictions, you don’t need anyone to validate them. Whether I’m happy for you or not should be inconsequential to your decision.”
Kate was silent for a moment. “I need you to be happy for me, Andy.”
“Kate, are you sure this is what you want? I mean, doesn’t Nick deserve someone who truly loves him?”
“I do love him.”
“In that heart-stopping way that you love Mac?”
“Loved.” Kate was starting to get annoyed.
“Kate, listen. I love that we’re friends, and I love you as a person and as a woman. But I think you should give this more time. Sounds a bit knee-jerk to me.”
Kate drummed her fingers on her desk; she needed to end this call. This wasn’t helping. She’d said yes, and that was that. Nick had asked, and after a slight hesitation, she’d nodded and cried. Nick was an amazing man. He was solid and more importantly, he would never break her heart.
Andrew continued, “I wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t tell you that. I’m sorry, I know it’s not what you wanted to hear. But if you really love this bloke, then James and I will dance at your wedding, and I will expect you to name a child after me—even if it’s a girl.”
Kate smiled. “Thanks, Andy. I have to go. I’ll call you later.”
Kate ended the call and decided to call Grace; she knew she’d be ecstatic for her. “Gracie!” Kate exuded as soon as her friend picked up the phone, “Guess what?”
“Hey, Kate. I don’t know, but you know I hate guessing, so just tell me.”
“Nick and I are getting married.”
Silence.
“Gracie, did you hear me?”
“Kate, are you sure?”
What the hell was with everyone today? “Of course I’m sure. Why would you even ask that?”
“Because I know Mac was in town to see you.”
How the hell did she find out?
“Lulu told me,” she added quickly, “I called your cell and left at least a dozen messages, sent texts, nothing. And you know how I hate texting. Anyway, I got worried and called the office. Lu told me Mac was in town and that he’s divorced.”
“That has nothing to do with this, Gracie. Really, I love Nick.”
“Kate, you know I’ve been pretty hard on you, and for that I’m sorry. I was so worried that you’d end up waiting your entire life for this man to come around, and it was my baggage, not yours.”
“You were right, Gracie. Seriously, I’m glad you pushed me.”
“But maybe I pushed you in the wrong direction. I mean, if you really love Mac.”
“Loved,” she said, getting more irritated by the minute. Loved. Past tense, why could no one grasp that?
“Kate, all I’m saying is that it’s not my life, it’s yours, and I want you to be happy. Marriage is a big step, and it’s an even bigger step if you aren’t truly in love with the person.”
“Grace, I need to go. I can’t do this right now.”
“Kate,” her friend began gently, “Nick is a great guy. You two could be really happy, but if Mac’s in your heart, then you can’t marry Nick. He doesn’t deserve to live in the shadow of anyone.”
“Grace, look, I’m getting another call. I’ll call you later.” She hung up without saying goodbye.
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Kate was already at her office the next morning when Lulu arrived. “Lu, I think we should consider getting New York office space, too,” she said. “I know you’re not going to be able to stay here forever, so we’ll need someone to manage this office and I’d like for you to go back to New York and find us some modest space there.”
A broad smile filled Lulu’s face. “I was headed home next week for Thanksgiving anyway.”
“I know, and I appreciate all the time you’ve given me here away from your family. I couldn’t have launched Allan’s book without your help.”
“Thank you, Kate. So, you’ll be coming back and forth?” Lulu’s voice was hesitant. Kate back in New York was a big deal. She knew it must be hard for Kate to return.
“Yes, but I need to find an editor first and it’s too difficult to find someone here, so I’m going to have you set up some interviews in New York after the first of the year.”
Lulu almost asked if she was going to hire Mac, but figured that would be a bad idea.
Kate’s phone buzzed, a text from Grace. I love you. Whatever makes you happy makes me happy, and if you make me your maid of honor, I’ll throw you the best bachelorette party ever. And, since you’re mingling with celebs, do you think we can get Bradley Cooper to strip for us?
Kate smiled and turned her attention back to Lulu. “So, I want you to run an ad in Publishers Lunch and see what we can find.”
“Got it, will do. Kate, I’m going to miss working with you here.”
Kate smiled. She was really going to miss Lulu. “I will, too Lu. But we’ll still be working together, just in a different way.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Lavigne House was busier than ever. Allan’s book had exceeded her print run again and she’d gone back to press once more for the new year. She planned to release the paperback just before their wedding and a special edition of the book in time for the movie, which was still on track for fall of 2014. There were a million things going on at once, but Kate loved it all. Being a publisher, being a publicist, being in charge. She read an update in Publishers Lunch that the Shenkman twins book never actually made it to press. “Mysterious circumstances,” they had cited. Mysterious. Kate had snorted reading the piece. She was glad to no longer be a part of that. Despite the increased demands on her professionally, she would still rather be on this side than back at MD babysitting these out-of-control girls.
Book submissions were pouring into Lavigne House, and it was no longer a matter of whether she would publish again but what books to pick. The Madeline Masters title was scheduled for fall of 2014. Madeline was currently working with a ghostwriter, and Kate hoped to see the first draft of the book by January. Lulu had done a good job of putting the word out looking for an office manager for their San Marino office, and she had secured a lease for an office on University Place in the Village. Kate planned to fly back there to set up the office and do some interviewing right after the holidays.
Nick had been urging Kate to pick a date for their wedding, but Kate had resisted. “So much going on,” she’d said. “So much to think about.”
She told him she needed to get through the end of the year before she could think about the wedding. The response seemed reasonable, although part of her knew it wasn’t. Picking a date wasn’t hard. But it was to her. She pushed the doubts from her mind. Nick was perfect, end of story.
It was a week before Christmas. Nick’s home, their home, was decorated with a beautiful 9-foot tree adorning the living room. Kate was putting the finishing touches on the decorations to get ready for Andrew and James’s visit the day after tomorrow. The kitchen door clicked open and she knew Nick was home. In time to get dressed for a dinner with one of his store managers, Melissa, and her fiancé. They got engaged only a few weeks before she and Nick did, and Nick was eager to have them meet Kate. Melissa had been with Nick for years. She was sort of his right hand and Nick trusted her without question.
“Hey, Babe!” Nick called out from the kitchen.
“In here!” Kate responded, as she tucked a few more white twinkle lights into the evergreen garland that draped across the mantel. It was a thick rope of greens with pinecones and berries. Kate had brought it home from the local farmer’s market.
Nick walked in and smiled as he watched her. “I can’t believe what you’ve done with the house, Kate. It’s amazing.”
“Thanks,” she smiled, tucking in the last string of lights she walked over and kissed him. “I’m looking forward to meeting Melissa tonight.”
Nick put an arm around her and then another, tucking her inside his embrace. “I am, too. It’ll be good to see her fiancé Stan again. It’s been a while.”
Kate kissed him again. “Well, good. I’m going to take a shower and get ready.”
He dropped his arms and smiled. “Need any help?”
…
Nick and Kate arrived at The Penthouse in Santa Monica just as Melissa and her fiancé were handing their keys to the valet.
Nick hopped out of his Jeep, handed his keys to the valet, and grabbed Kate’s hand.
“Meliss
a, good to see you.” He gave her a friendly peck on the cheek and held out a hand to Stan. “It’s been a while. You should come by the store more often.” Both men shook and smiled.
“I’d love to,” Stan said and wrapped an arm around Melissa, “but she says I distract her from her work.” Melissa gave him a playful kiss.
“This is Kate. Kate, meet Melissa, the best manager I’ve ever had and Stan, her soon-to-be husband.”
Kate threw them both a smile and held her hand to Melissa, who immediately hugged her. “I feel like I know you, Kate,” she said. “Nick talks about you all the time.”
“Kate,” Stan said, shaking her hand, “it’s good to meet you and glad you’re here. If those two decide to talk shop, we can lob some interference into the conversation.”
Nick laughed. “No shop talk tonight, I promise.” He held up his hand and turned to the valet to get his ticket. “We’re ready. Let’s go inside.”
The Penthouse had been rated one of Santa Monica’s top restaurants both for the food and the view. Located above the exclusive Huntley Hotel, the restaurant offered sweeping views of the California coastline. At night, it was almost enchanting. Kate remembered it well as Nick had taken her to dinner there while she was in Los Angeles for the writer’s conference. That seemed almost a lifetime ago.
They were seated at a table beside the window with a stunning night view of the water. Boats off in a distance were like fireflies on the water, their tiny lights flickering as they bobbed on the water.
Melissa smiled at Kate; there was a glint of interest in her eye. “So, Kate, all Nick talks about is his uncle’s book and the fact that you’ve made it a bestseller. What’s that like? I mean, he says it’s going to be a movie. That’s fantastic!”
Kate smiled and looked over at Nick, who winked at her. “Yes, it’s exciting, but I had nothing to do with the book’s success. Books either do well or they don’t. In the end, it’s up to the readers to make them successful. But, yes, it’s an amazing process.”
The Publicist Book One and Two Page 37