The Mistaken Heiress

by Shelba Shelton Nivens

  She also had to put together something to wear and see what she could do with her hair.

  Lord, don’t let me look like a redneck in court tomorrow. Or act like one.

  “Don’t you think so, Kate?”

  Oops. She had forgotten she was supposed to be talking to Lisa on the telephone. She put the receiver closer to her ear. “I’m sorry, Lisa, I didn’t hear what you said.”

  “I said, don’t you think I look older with my hair shorter?”

  “Uh, yes, Lisa, I think you probably do. But I hope I don’t.” Kate gave a short laugh. “Don’t look older with my hair short, I mean.”

  Lisa giggled. “I knew what you meant. I don’t know if you look older. But you sure do look pretty. I’ll bet Daddy thinks you do, too.”

  Kate started. Maybe he did, the way he acted. Kate wasn’t sure she wanted him to think she was pretty, the way his attitude toward her had so suddenly changed.

  She didn’t know the man well enough to have an idea of what he was really like. She knew he was divorced and his wife seemed to feel she still had a claim on him, which he didn’t seem to appreciate. Maybe he’s the one who had initiated the divorce so he could be free to chase other women.

  “Are you still there, Kate?”

  “Uh, yes, Lisa. But I’m pretty busy. Why don’t you call me later in the week and see if we can work out a time to get together again. Maybe have a soda or something.”

  “Super. How about Wednesday?”

  “Check with me and we’ll see.”

  They hung up and Kate’s mind whirled. Could Mr. Boyer be interested in her? That would figure, when the man whose interest she actually wanted kept pushing her away.

  Chapter 15

  Kate hurried up the courthouse steps beside Paul Boyer, silently repeating the prayer she had already uttered half a dozen times that morning. Lord, give me strength and courage to face this day. Help me do whatever it is I need to...

  “Paul Boyer!”

  A nice-looking young man with a red tie flapping in the wind bounced down the steps toward them. He stopped and extended a hand to her boss.

  Mr. Boyer introduced him as attorney Jeff Kanockus. And her as his new legal aide.

  The young man enveloped Kate’s hand in his and smiled into her eyes. “Lovely. I wouldn’t mind her aiding me sometimes.” He quirked an eyebrow at her boss as he captured his tie from the wind.

  Mr. Boyer laughed lightly, looking pleased.

  Kate slid her hand from the young man’s grasp, trying to appear composed and professional, as if she was accustomed to such remarks.

  She had dug through one of her unpacked bags and found a white pullover sweater and midcalf black skirt, which she folded over and pinned at the waist. Topped with a gray blazer her mother had bought her last Christmas, and which she had never worn, it worked. A red scarf around her neck added a touch of cheerfulness and helped compensate for the loss of warmth due to the haircut. Her new black coat and high-heeled pumps completed her outfit.

  She had used Aunt El’s styling iron to smooth her hair, which a hot shower had curled tightly around her head. It now looked almost as nice as when the stylist had fixed it.

  “It was good meeting you, Katerina.” The young attorney flashed her a bright smile. “I hope to see you again soon.”

  He nodded at the soft leather briefcase Mr. Boyer had insisted Kate carry, more for appearance than usefulness, she was sure. “Looks like you two have a busy day ahead of you, too.”

  Her boss nodded. “Yes, an important case to argue. I’m pleased to have Miss Sanderson on board.”

  Kate almost laughed aloud. Now she understood why he wanted her here. Her presence, with her new professional look, was also for appearances. She had a feeling this was going to be an interesting day.

  * * *

  Kate and her employer left the courtroom a few minutes before five that evening with other legal personnel and spectators. She was surprised to realize she was not nervous at all after court convened. She was too engrossed in the proceedings.

  He beeped the remote to open the door to the Lexus, then opened Kate’s door for her. “How about we have dinner to celebrate our win today?”

  Kate smiled. Our win? He was acting as if she had had something to do with it.

  “We can drive out to the new place on Lay Lake. It has the best steaks and catfish around.”

  “Sure.” Kate slid onto the car seat. It was okay for a lawyer and his assistant to celebrate together after winning a big case, wasn’t it?

  She wondered if her sister celebrated with her handsome young assistant after a win.

  When they pulled into a lit parking space at a low, lodgelike building beside the lake, Kate smiled at the man beside her. “It’s beautiful.”

  Tall pines swayed in the breeze. Moonlight sparkled on the water of the Coosa River out back. Stepping from the car, Kate shivered in the sharp breeze off the water and pulled the red scarf more snugly about her neck.

  Paul Boyer put an arm around her shoulders as though to warm her, and hurried her toward the building. “There will be roaring fires to warm us inside.”

  Stepping inside the double doors, she glanced around the long room. Candles cast a rosy glow around white-draped tables. Log fires burned in stone fireplaces at each end of the room. The place was toasty warm. Only about half the tables were occupied. Conversation was subdued and soft music played in the background.

  Mr. Boyer helped her out of her coat and hung it and his top coat on wooden pegs by the door.

  “Paul! It’s good to see you.” The smiling bleached-blonde hostess approached with menus in her hand. “Your favorite table should be empty in just a sec. Do y’all wanna sit by the fire while I get the table cleared for you? I can bring coffee. Do you want the usual?”

  “Yes, the usual, Jo Dean. Steaks and shrimp. For both of us. And coffee by the fire sounds great.”

  Paul steered Kate to the fireplace nearest them, where they seated themselves in rockers. Paul extended well-manicured hands toward the flames. A diamond ring glittered on his finger. Every silky brown hair on his head was in place, even after he’d rushed through the wind. His dark coat and trousers were spotless, and the white shirt he’d worn all day still looked crisp.

  Kate glanced down at herself and smiled. She still looked neat, too. Even her hands were neat now, no more broken and stained nails. The manicure she’d had with Lisa at the mall had worked wonders.

  Paul looked at her and smiled. “Nice.”

  “Very.” She had a strange feeling he wasn’t speaking of only the fire and their surroundings.

  He was a nice man, she assured herself. Smooth-looking, smooth-speaking. But nice. Settling back on the pillowed seat of the wooden rocker, she watched bright flames dart up the large rock chimney. She breathed in the mouthwatering aroma of char-grilled steak, which she would soon be eating on a white-draped table with candles.

  But, to her, all this couldn’t compare to the enjoyment of sitting in a rough, timeworn rocking chair beside a small and ancient rock fireplace, with a weather-beaten, bushy-headed and bushy-faced man in beat-up jeans and scuffed boots, eating homemade vegetable soup.

  But she was here tonight. Her mirror, and the admiring eyes of other people today, told her she looked good. She had spent an interesting day watching intelligent people at work. And she had learned some things about the justice system in her country. She would enjoy the present.

  She would forget about what happened in the past, and what might or might not happen in the future.

  For tonight, anyhow.

  After they were seated at their table and the server had brought their salads, Paul picked up his salad fork and looked at Kate. “I saw what you were sketching today.”

  Kate’s face warmed.
“I’m sorry. I know I was there to take notes. But I couldn’t resist sketching the defendant. He had such an unusual face.”

  “Not so unusual to me. He has the same sneaky expression as most of the common criminals who come through the courts.”

  Kate stared at him, a tiny tomato on her fork suspended before her open mouth. “Common criminal? If you think he’s guilty, why did you defend him?”

  “My job. He’s entitled to defense.”

  “But you helped him go free. And all those other people congratulated you.”

  “They recognized a job well done, Katerina.”

  “Surely all of them don’t think he’s innocent, if his own lawyer doesn’t.”

  “It’s the way our justice system works.” He took a swallow of tea. “Do you still want to be a part of the legal world?”

  “I never said I did.” She put the tomato in her mouth and chewed.

  His face registered surprise.

  Was he surprised because she’d hinted she might refuse his offer to work for him full-time and let him foot the bill for her training as a legal assistant? Or was he shocked she would speak to him the way she did?

  She picked up her knife and cut a large piece of lettuce leaf. She was surprised at herself, too. What had given her the courage to speak to her boss as she had? Was it because he didn’t seem like her boss tonight? Or because she had newfound confidence in herself?

  “What did you think, Katerina? After reading all my notes from the previous day in court, then sitting in on the closing day of the trial?” He leaned across the table, watching her, as if he really cared what she thought.

  And what did she think? Paul had presented such a brilliant defense she hadn’t thought to doubt the man’s innocence.

  “Did you think he was innocent when you read my notes and my interview with him?”

  “Well, I...”

  “See?” He sat back in his chair, smiling smugly. “Innocent until proven guilty.” He forked a bite of salad into his mouth and chewed.

  “Still...”

  “I just presented the facts given to me and...”

  “Did you do any investigating on your own?”

  His smile turned to one of amusement. “See, you would make a great legal assistant. You would be careful to check all the facts. And you’re becoming a pretty good interrogator.”

  She smiled at his obvious reference to the way she queried him.

  But his tone turned serious. “Can you draw a person’s face from someone’s description?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never tried. Why?”

  “I think your sketching ability—if what I saw today is any indication—would come in handy in trying to identify suspects. If you can draw the face of someone you’ve never seen simply by hearing someone else describe it...”

  Excitement began to tickle Kate’s brain—and her stomach. This appealed to her artistic side. But could she do it? Did she want to?

  The waitress set large platters of steak, shrimp and baked potatoes before them. Paul pointed at Kate’s plate with his fork. “Don’t worry about it right now. Your dinner will get cold. We’ll discuss it more later.”

  She cut into her steak and took a bite. But the chef’s talents and Paul’s further attempts at conversation were wasted on her as she thought about the insinuation that his client was guilty, and his question about what she thought.

  They were almost through with the meal when he regained her attention with another stab at humor. “Where are you tonight, Katerina?” He wore an amused smile. “Still trying to decide if the man’s guilty?”

  She started and shook her head to clear it. She felt herself blush. “Yes, I guess so. I was going over all he said in court today, and the way he said it, to see if I could detect a lie or deception in there someplace.”

  “And?” His smile mocked her.

  She lifted her chin a bit and looked at him coolly. “And, I haven’t decided for sure yet.”

  He gave a low chuckle. “Be sure to let me know when you do.” The smile was still on his lips, but his gaze intensified as he looked at her.

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “You’re a lovely young woman, Katerina.” He spoke softly, causing her cheeks to grow hot again. “You’ve been hiding your beauty under that screen of hair. And...” He paused and looked at her more sharply, as though testing the waters. “And under shapeless clothing.”

  Her cheeks grew even hotter. Flustered, she slid her hand from his and reached for her bag on the chair beside her. She pulled out her cell phone and checked the time. “It’s getting late. We should go.”

  “We haven’t had dessert.” He held up a finger to summon their waitress. “You may bring our dessert now, Lucy. Bring us the cherry cheesecake.”

  Kate spoke up. “I think I’ll have apple pie. Without ice cream.” I like my new figure and I want to keep it.

  She smiled at Paul’s raised eyebrows. Was he surprised she didn’t want cheesecake, or because she had usurped his authority?

  Paul kept his hands and fresh remarks to himself while they ate their desserts and sipped decaf coffee. On the way back to the office parking lot where Kate left her car, she dozed in the warm interior of Paul’s luxurious automobile.

  “How about a nightcap at my place?”

  “No, thank you.”

  “I left the coffee ready to drip. And we don’t have to get up early. I thought I’d close the office until after Christmas.”

  “That sounds good, and it’s been a great day. But a long one. I want to go home and sleep.”

  “Maybe another time?” When she didn’t answer, he turned up the volume on the CD player and turned his attention to the road.

  Words and music of an old love ballad surrounded them. “My heart is longing for you...”

  Kate cushioned her head against the car seat and suppressed a sigh. Five more days until Steve would be back.

  Chapter 16

  On Christmas morning Kate dressed carefully in the new pants and sweater her mother had bought her on their shopping trip together. She opened the front door to her mother shortly before noon.

  “Kate! I’m glad you took my advice and had your hair cut.”

  Kate took the casserole dish from her mother’s hands. I didn’t take your advice, Mother. I’d already decided to cut it before you said anything. “Where are Daddy and Billy?”

  “Trailing behind. As usual. They’re going to get wet if they don’t hurry. A cold drizzle has started.” She followed Kate to the kitchen. “Now aren’t you glad I insisted you buy that yellow outfit? It’s much prettier than the drab brown one you wanted to get. I don’t know where you got your sense of style. It wasn’t from me.”

  Kate held her tongue, refusing to let her mother pick a fight with her on Christmas Day. She set the casserole on the kitchen counter as her father and brother brought in two large cloth-covered baskets.

  Billy shot her a quizzical look. “What did you do to yourself, Kate? You look sorta decent for a change.”

  “Merry Christmas to you, too, Billy.” She turned to her father. “Hi, Daddy.”

  He gave her a quick hug, then pushed his glasses up on his nose and studied her. “There is something different about you.”

  Kate touched her hair.

  “You cut it, didn’t you? I bet your neck gets cold after being used to it long.” He turned to his sister-in-law. “Merry Christmas, Ellendor. Rob in his office? I brought him a new computer program.”

  Billy and her father left the kitchen.

  Aunt El gave Kate’s mother a hug. “How do you like Kate’s new hairdo, Joyce?”

  Her mother turned from the basket she was unpacking. “I must say it’s an improvement.” She scrutinized Kate. “She looks a lot like
Sonja with her hair short.”

  Kate picked up a stack of salad bowls from the counter and took them to the dining room. You look sorta decent. I bet your neck gets cold. It’s a big improvement. She looks like her big sister. Well, she didn’t dress in a new outfit, put on makeup and style her hair for them. She did it for herself.

  And she wasn’t going to let anyone spoil Christmas for her. She had attended an inspiring Christmas program last night at the church. Amy and little Tommy would be here soon to open the gifts she’d bought them—and Steve would be back in two days.

  Dinner went smoothly without her dropping one speck of food in her lap, and no one insulted her while they ate. She was helping clear the table when Sonja’s little Amy ran into the kitchen and tugged on her sweater. “Auntie Kate, will you read to me and Tommy?”

  The children fell asleep before Kate was through reading the story. Closing the book, she placed it on the bedside table and headed down the hall to help Aunt El finish up in the kitchen.

  Passing her uncle Rob’s office, she heard her mother’s voice inside. “I still can’t understand why Father did what he did. I just hope Kate never finds out.”

  Kate stopped. Hope Kate never finds out?

  She stepped closer to the opening in the doorway. Her mother and uncles stood beside the desk studying a large sheet of paper.

  “It can be easily remedied. There’s this little stretch right here.” Uncle Rob pointed to a spot on the paper. “We can deed this to Kate. Sonja can do the paperwork. The lot adjoins Charlotte’s property on one side and Billy’s on the other. Renae’s is here and...” His voice faded.

  “Kate! Is that you?” Her mother’s head appeared around the door. “Are you out there eavesdropping? This is a private conversation.”

  Kate pushed the door open wider. Her mother stepped back to keep it from hitting her.

  “Private, Mother?” Kate kept her voice calm and cool. “What is it you don’t want Kate to know?” She looked at her uncles. “Uncle Rob? Uncle Sid?”

  The men looked at each other, then at their sister. “Joyce...?”