Ties That Bind

by Heather Huffman

  “Gavin’s back,” Kate interjected. She’d forgotten to call Liz and Jessica to tell them.

  “Really? That’s great! It sounds like you’ve had quite a day.”

  “To say the least,” Kate smiled a little bit at that. “Wow, Jessica, I just can’t get over it… you’re going to be a mom. A really amazing mom. I am so happy for you.”

  “Thank you. You’re going to be a wonderful Aunt Kate… oh… I have someone beeping in. Talk to you tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow,” Kate agreed. She sat there for a minute after she got off the phone, not entirely sure why her eyes were suddenly filled with tears. Jessica and Ryan were two wonderful people who were madly in love, married, and financially stable. If ever two people should be having a baby, it was them.

  So why was she crying now? Was it because the circumstances surrounding her own birth had been so messed up? Was it the baby she’d lost? Was it that being with Gavin made her want things she’d never considered possible for herself? Ty whined and nudged her leg. Kate gratefully accepted the offer and curled up with him, letting the tears come. She’d be happy tomorrow.

  Kate woke up early to spend some time playing the violin after her yoga routine. There was something cathartic about that habit. She even allowed herself a dollop of whipped cream on her nonfat mocha. She was very nearly smiling by the time she walked through the doors at work where she stopped short. The all-white interior had been decorated with black streamers. She looked around in disbelief. Everyone was dressed in either black and white or bright orange. Suddenly the quiet overhead music was replaced with a blaring Jailhouse Rock. She was going to hurt Gavin Nichols.

  She found him sitting in their office, his feet propped on his desk and an amused smile on his face. Of course, he was wearing black slacks and a white button up. Liz was in orange. Jessica was wearing black and white. Both were trying not to giggle; their shoulders seemed to shake with the effort.

  “Very funny, all of you.” Kate scowled at them.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t tell us about this one,” Liz shook her head reproachfully.

  “I can’t believe you did,” she stuck her tongue out at Gavin.

  “Oh, hey, we have a copy of the newest issue of the magazine,” Liz changed the subject. Kate grimaced when Jailhouse Rock ended and Chain Gang began.

  “Great. I want to see it.” Kate was genuinely enthused to be changing the subject. It was a little surreal seeing her picture in a magazine and looking at a polished, professional product created right here in this office. Kate hadn’t realized how prominent her little section would be in the magazine as a whole. She wondered if that was an ongoing thing or for the launch issue only.

  Pride swelled within her—her friends had done a truly amazing job. Kate flipped through the pictures, each conjuring a memory that included Gavin. How quickly their lives had become intertwined. Too bad hers and Jack’s had not blended quite as smoothly.

  “Hey, what’s all this I hear about you being a jailbird?” Tara poked her head in the office.

  “Not you, too,” Kate groaned.

  “Someone really went to a lot of trouble to commemorate the event,” Tara smiled.

  “I thought about taking her to Alcatraz today but decided that might be over the top,” Gavin winked at Kate who silently fumed.

  “Seriously, are you okay?” Tara seemed truly worried about Kate.

  “Never better,” Kate tried to smile at her. There wasn’t much Tara could do about Jack’s behavior. If it weren’t for the other people in this office, Kate would have long since told Jack where to stick it. They tethered her to this place.

  “He’s such a stubborn man,” Tara frowned. “I just don’t understand why he’s acting this way.”

  “Don’t let it upset you,” Kate urged her. “It’ll all work out the way it’s supposed to.”

  Kate was surprised to realize that she truly meant that. She might be frustrated with Jack, she might be hurt, but she knew that whatever the outcome, she didn’t regret the choices she’d made. Six months ago, she’d been alone in this world. Now she was surrounded by friends who loved her, a family. She was going to be Aunt Kate. How could life get much better?

  The rest of the day passed uneventfully enough and the one after it as well. Wednesday Gavin was at her door before she’d finished playing her violin.

  “Very pretty,” he motioned to the violin after giving her a good morning kiss.

  “Thank you,” she flushed at the compliment.

  “I don’t suppose you’d play something for me?”

  “You know what? I would. It’s really more of a piano piece, but I love it so much….” Kate smiled a little, gesturing for him to have a seat on the couch. It was speculated that Für Elise was Beethoven’s work for lovers everywhere. It just seemed fitting. So she sat cross-legged in the middle of her coffee table, closed her eyes as she played for him. And when she was done, they seemed to find their way into each others’ arms. To Kate’s dismay, he pulled away from her much too soon.

  “We have an appointment to keep,” he explained.

  “You mean work?”

  “Nope. Not the office anyway.”

  “The event my job hinges on is next Monday. You’ve got to be joking.”

  “I know you. It’s all in place. You can check email on your Blackberry if it makes you happy. Now get dressed – and wear something warm.”

  Curiosity piqued, Kate did as she was told. He drove them to the marina and ushered her onto a large white boat with blue trim. Kate noticed he’d brought his camera. She wasn’t sure that boded well for her. There were about ten other people on the boat she didn’t know. Kate could sense their excitement. It was catching. That is, until she caught part of their conversation.

  “Did I just hear them say…?”

  “Don’t worry. I just booked us as topside observers.”

  “Excuse me?” Kate swallowed as the boat roared to life.

  “I thought expecting you to do a cage dive might be pushing it. Of course, when I booked this you weren’t a convicted felon. Maybe you could have taken it,” he teased.

  “I am not a felon,” she whispered fiercely. “We’re going looking for sharks?”

  “Not just any sharks. Great whites.”

  “This is totally not a fair trade for hiring a maid,” Kate protested.

  “Maybe not, but Jack thought it was a great idea. Don’t worry; you’re on the clock today.”

  “Don’t bring Jack up right now—I’m feeling murderous enough as is. Come to think of it, are you trying to kill me? Did he offer to give you a pay raise if you got rid of me?”

  “So dramatic,” he tsked and shook his head. “Relax. Have some breakfast—they have a continental breakfast you know—and if you keep your eyes open, you’ll probably see some porpoise or whales.”

  “I don’t think I want to play anymore,” Kate pouted. Gavin simply laughed and pointed at some porpoise that had either shown up to swim in the boat’s wake or prove Gavin’s point. He draped his arm over her shoulders and pulled her to him and Kate felt herself relax. Occasionally Gavin released her to take pictures of her or the marine life around them. Otherwise, she spent the day wrapped in his arms.

  She was terrified when four of the other passengers on the boat voluntarily got in a large metal cage in the water with the great sharks. Her heart stopped the first time she saw one of the creatures break through the choppy water. Having only seen them on the Discovery Channel before, she’d never realized just how massive the Great White was. There were so many of them in the water, and they were so huge, Kate found herself wishing they had a bigger boat. The mental Jaws reference made her giggle nervously, which seemed to amuse Gavin.

  They had lunch on the boat and Kate enjoyed the wine, even if they served the wrong label. It was hard to believe this untamed, rugged place with its jagged islands was so close to the city. Kate wasn’t sure if Gavin had booked the trip as an over-the-top way to get her to
loosen up, or because he’d known how breathtakingly beautiful it was out there, but she was glad he’d done it.

  “Your stunning right now, you know that?” Gavin’s eyes seemed to devour her.

  “I’m probably a complete and total mess right now,” she corrected. There was no escaping the wind that whipped her hair about her face and had assuredly turned her cheeks bright red.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you more exquisite. And I didn’t think that green dress could be topped.” He brushed a wild hair out of her eyes and caught her lips with his. “I love you more than I could ever possibly convey.”

  “You have my heart, Gavin. I think you have since I first laid eyes on you.” She closed her eyes, relishing the feel of the salty spray on her face, mingled with his breath, the smell of the sea, the beat of his heart so close…

  “I hadn’t meant to do this here. Now. Like this. I have reservations at a little French restaurant later.”

  “What are you talking about?” She opened her eyes to meet his. There was something in the tone of his voice.

  “Marry me.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Marry me.” His jaw was set, as if he was ready to argue his case. But his eyes were tender, hopeful.

  “You have turned my whole world upside down,” Kate stated softly. “You seem completely determined to forever alter my way of thinking.”

  He took a breath, as if to say something before thinking better of it. He watched her quietly instead, seeming to know that she needed to talk through this.

  “You have become everything to me, Gavin. It scares the hell out of me.” She bit her lip for a second, an almost pained look flitting across her face. “But it’s too late to come out of this unscathed, isn’t it? Yes.”

  “Yes it’s too late to come out unscathed or yes… yes?” He seemed hesitant.

  “Yes… yes.” She smiled.

  “You’ll marry me?”

  “Yes.” She told him for the fourth time. He finally seemed to begin to believe it. A grin completely took over his face and lit his eyes. And then he kissed her. Cheers erupted all around them. Kate and Gavin looked up to see what everyone was applauding only to realize it was them.

  “Do you have a ring?” someone asked.

  “I don’t know, do I?” Kate couldn’t help smiling ridiculously.

  “You do,” Gavin pulled a velvet pouch from his pocket, producing a delicate gold ring with a perfect, round diamond set in the middle.

  “It’s so pretty.” Tears filled Kate’s eyes. He’d really put some thought into this.

  “Do you really like it?”

  “I love it. I love you.” And then she kissed him. More cheers erupted. Kate hid her face against Gavin’s chest while he accepted the congratulations. As if to share in her joy, a whale breached the water in the distance, flying gracefully through the air before returning to his watery world.

  Kate was exhausted by the time the twelve-hour trip was through, but Gavin insisted they shower and dress up for their dinner reservations. Instead of proposing as planned, they talked about the details. Part of Kate wanted to elope the next week to put an end to his run of chivalry before she imploded. Gavin was pretty insistent that his mother would have both their heads if she couldn’t be at the wedding. Kate wasn’t about to start off on the wrong foot there, so she agreed to plan an actual wedding.

  “So, are we getting married in London or San Francisco?” Gavin asked.

  “Can we have the ceremony at Blue Valley?” Kate knew instantly that’s where she wanted to get married. “We can keep it small so we can fly your family in. Heck, let’s just invite Jessica, Ryan, Liz and Derrick. There. Guest list done.”

  “No one else?” Gavin arched his eyebrow.

  “Do you think Tara would leave Jack at home? If so, let’s invite her, too.”

  “We’ll figure that one out later. What about a date?”

  “I think Jessica is due in May. We’ll want to plan around that. Let’s get married soon so she can be in the wedding.”

  “Due?” Gavin furrowed his brow and it dawned on Kate that she hadn’t told him yet.

  “They’re having a baby,” she explained.

  “Good for them,” he brightened. “You’re right, let’s not wait too long then.”

  They tossed around possible dates for a while before giving up. After dinner, they drove to Jessica’s to share their news with her, then to Liz’s to share the news and pick up Ty. Kate called Tara, dismayed when Jack answered the phone. After a few terse words between them, Tara was on the phone and giddy with excitement. After Kate called her Aunt Joan and Gaston, she curled up on the couch to listen to Gavin’s end of the conversation when he called his mother then brothers. It was a happy, dreamlike evening. It didn’t seem real at all. She was sure that at any moment she would wake up to the knowledge the entire day had been an illusion.

  “Sing my song for me,” she pulled him to her.

  “Your song?” he smiled.

  “The one you sang last Fourth of July,” she reminded him.

  “Ah,” his grin deepened. She snuggled up against him and let his deep, gentle voice sing her to sleep.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Despite Gavin’s confidence that Kate had things well in hand, the next few days were a flurry of activity and phone calls as Kate saw to the last details of the launch party. She knew Gavin would tell her that there was nothing to prove, but her nerves seemed to be screaming otherwise.

  Still, despite all of the hubbub, she occasionally paused to stare at her left hand. Whenever Jessica or Liz caught her in the act they would give her a knowing smile. Whenever Jack did, his scowl would grow even fiercer. Kate wondered if it was because even if he fired her, he’d never get rid of Gavin. That meant she was now a fixture in his life whether he liked it or not. Whatever the cause of it, she was growing weary of his scowls. Every other person in the place seemed to understand the choices she’d made, so why couldn’t he?

  Friday night, Gavin declared that she needed a break, so he took her to dinner at Foreign Cinema. Located mostly in an interior building courtyard with classic films projecting on one wall and drive-in speakers at the tables, it was exactly what Kate needed to get her mind off of the event for a few hours. Gavin only had to remind her of his “no work tonight” policy twice.

  Monday was a scary blur. Gaston was enlisted to Ty-sit again since Kate had put Gavin to work for the day. She’d finally pried herself away from preparations to change clothes when her phone chirped yet again.

  “Hey Justin,” she answered warily. His constant calls were getting on her nerves. Gavin’s eyes narrowed at the name.

  “Hey Katie…”

  “Kate,” she reminded him curtly, earning a grin from Gavin.

  “I was just wondering if you need any help tonight, before the event. Or after. I could stay after too, if you needed.”

  “I really appreciate that, but Gavin’s here with me. We’ve got it under control.”

  “Are you sure? It’s no trouble,” he tried again.

  “Eight o’clock should be just fine. Thanks. Gotta go.” Kate hung up the phone before he could try a third time.

  “If that guy doesn’t back off, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.” Gavin’s jaw was set, his eyes like granite.

  “Not tonight,” Kate pleaded. “Just don’t start anything tonight.”

  “I know how much this night means to you,” was the closest he came to a promise. “I have to run home to change. I’ll pick you up here in an hour.”

  He was back in 45 minutes, as stylish and handsome as ever. Kate envied his easy good looks. She’d spent every bit of the 45 minutes cleaning, shaving, buffing, and polishing and she still wasn’t done. It simply wasn’t fair. Still, Gavin’s low whistle of appreciation when he saw her in the frilly little eggplant dress was worth the effort.

  They were the first to arrive for the evening, but Liz and Jessica weren’t far behind. Larger
-than-life prints of various pages of the magazine were scattered throughout the room. The lights were low and candles glittered like stars. The hors d'oeuvres were ready; things like spicy tuna sushi and crabmeat and wasabi infused caviar sushi sat prettily on their trays, awaiting their turn to tempt guests. Chocolate fondue drizzled with white and dark chocolate was set out for the lush red strawberries. The Irish punk band Kate had hired warmed up downstairs. She’d gone that route mostly for sentimental reasons; she felt justified in her choice, though, the group played a wide assortment of music that was easy to dance to.

  “This place is amazing,” Liz looked around with genuine appreciation.

  “You helped me find it,” Kate reminded her with a smile.

  “But you put this together,” Jessica reminded her. “It’s perfect. Even Jack will have to admit you’ve done a great job.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he’ll find something… besides, you guys did the real work of getting the magazine ready. It’s not much of a launch without the product.”

  “It’s been fun,” Jessica grinned.

  “It has,” Liz agreed. The three women surveyed the room. Everywhere they looked reminded them of all they’d accomplished in their short time together.

  “Your guests are arriving,” Derrick nodded in the direction of the door as people started to pour in.

  And just like that, the place filled to capacity. The downstairs, open to the public, reverberated with the sounds of a party. The upstairs, with its appetizers and lush ambience, was open by invite—press, magazine staff, San Francisco’s celebrities and trendsetters only.

  The staff at the Bubble Lounge was amazing. Kate flit back and forth mostly out of habit. Nothing appeared to really need her attention by this point. She spent a lot of time mingling upstairs, as did the rest of her friends. The bash downstairs was solidifying their reputation for throwing a great party. The upstairs was slightly more subdued to allow for the networking that would be absolutely vital to their success. Every now and then, Gavin would catch her gaze from across the room and the promise in his eyes would fill her with a new heat that radiated from the very core of her being. It never failed that whomever she was speaking to when his eyes caught hers would have to repeat themselves.