She dropped her head against his chest and giggled. “You’re right.”
“I also brought you an energy drink.” He pulled a narrow aluminum can out of his pocket. “Didn’t know your preferred hangover remedy.”
“I think you’re my preferred hangover remedy.”
He scooped her up, lifting her off the floor, and rewarded her with a lingering kiss. She could get used to this each morning. After a few moments, he placed her gently back on the floor and said, “You’re keeping me from my work. I planned to finish the ramp today.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to distract you.”
“Believe me, you’re my favorite kind of distraction, but—”
“But, you need to finish. I have a meeting at the rehab place today. Gram comes home on Monday.” She turned him around to face the door and gave him a hearty swat on his back pocket, propelling him forward. “You’re on the clock. Get to it.”
“This one’s called Jingle Bells. See the pink speckles on the red blooms?” Riley was trying to educate Kate on all the varieties of poinsettias available at the Beautiful Blooms booth, but she’d already forgotten most of what she’d been told. Her mind wasn’t on petal colors, but on Brody, the man who was making her reconsider all her plans. Where in the world was he anyway?
“I’ll just turn the customers over to you if they have any specific questions, okay?” Kate said as she scanned the thickening crowd.
“That works. I’m going to get some hot chocolate. Want some?”
“No, thanks.” Her response came out with a white puff. It was bitter cold out with an occasional burst of snow flurries in the air, but that hadn’t stopped the huge crowd from attending the annual winter event. She tapped out a quick text to Brody to find out his whereabouts. Before she could hit send, two strong hands gripped her shoulders.
“There you are.” She snuggled into his arms, instantly warmed by his presence. “I was just about to text you. Where’d you disappear to this afternoon?”
“As soon as I finished the ramp I went home, did some writing.” She tilted her chin and rose on her toes, ready to receive a hello kiss. “Miss me?”
“Terribly,” she murmured against his kiss.
“Good.”
She tucked her cold hands in his back pockets, bringing him tightly against her as he warmed her with his lips. “As soon as Riley gets back, we can walk around a little.”
“I’ve got to help Tucker at the beer truck.” He gave her another kiss and draped his arm around her shoulder, guiding her behind the poinsettia table. “But I’ll come get you when I’m finished.”
As he leaned in for a goodbye kiss, an older gentleman clothed in an oversized ski coat and knit cap approached them at the booth.
“Hello, Brody. How’ve you been? Haven’t seen you in years.” The man shook Brody’s hand enthusiastically.
“Hi, Mr. Perkins. Good to see you. I hear you’re about to retire.”
“Sure am. Packing it in by spring and moving to South Carolina to be near my daughter.”
“Kate.” Brody turned to her, gripped her coat sleeve. “This is Marvin Perkins. He’s an attorney here in town.”
“So nice to meet you,” She shook his hand, surprised at the still-strong grip.
“Oh, I think you’re the young lady I’ve heard about. You’re a fellow attorney, right?”
“Yes, I am.” It always amazed her that people knew about her, were talking about her, as if her appearance in town was big news.
“Right. I think it was Travis who told me about you.” Marvin nudged Brody and pointed his finger at her. “He even suggested I talk to you about buying out my practice.”
“Did he?” Another surprise for her.
“There sure will be a void when you close your doors, sir. Don’t you do a lot of work for the college?” Brody said.
She listened closely as Marvin and Brody carried on their conversation, discussing the merits of his practice, wondering if she would be happy in a small town practice of her own. Did Brody even want her to stay? They’d grown so close and, at this point, she couldn’t imagine leaving Highland Springs.
“Well, you two, I better get down to the beer truck before it’s all gone.” Marvin patted Brody on the back and shook his hand. “Kate, it was great to meet you. Stop in sometime and we’ll chat.”
“I’ll do that. Thank you.” She watched Marvin hobble down the street, wondering once more if she could do it. Would the cases be interesting enough? Would she feel challenged? She imagined she’d work a lot less than her usual eighty-hour week. “He seemed like a nice man.”
“He is.”
“I think I’ll stop in and talk to him about his practice,” she said. When she looked up at Brody he was staring at her, eyes furrowed with a wrinkled brow.
“Really?”
“Yeah, it might be interesting to hear what it’s like to practice in this quaint little town. You know, discover a typical day in Marvin Perkins’s life.”
“That’s a great idea; you should.” And like that, his brow smoothed, and a smile stretched across his face. “You just might like the idea.”
“I just might.” She draped her arms around his neck and tingled from his warm, tender kiss.
Brody weaved in and out of the crowd, milling around the street blocked to traffic after the parade had gone through. Local artisans and shop owners had set up booths along the two-block stretch and festive chatter was in the air. He could see Kate working at the poinsettia booth looking comfortable, like she belonged. He had relieved Tucker at the beer truck for a few minutes and was now hoping to steal her away.
“Hey, beautiful.” He snuck up behind her, making her jump. He shifted her scarf so he could nuzzle the creamy skin at the base of her neck. “Can you get away for a little while?”
“What’s in it for me?” She angled her head, giving him free access to her neck and shoulder.
“That’s a loaded question. What did you have in mind?”
“Hot chocolate and a pepperoni roll.”
He stopped his tender assault and tipped his head around to meet her eye-to-eye. “You’d choose hot chocolate and a pepperoni roll over what I’m offering?”
“Right now? Yes. I’m cold and hungry.” She wrapped her arm around him and brushed her icy lips against his ear. “I’ll take what you’re offering later.”
He chuckled and enveloped her in a smothering hug. “Deal.” As much as he tried to deny it to himself, he was in love with Kate. Until she officially told him she was going back to DC, he would relish every second with her and hope she might consider staying.
They’d only taken a few steps when a heavyset woman with shockingly red hair stopped Kate in the street.
“You’re Kate McNamara. Right?”
“Yes?” Kate tightened her grip on his hand.
“I’m Ashley’s sister, Tiffany.” All at once, Tiffany grabbed Kate by the shoulders and hoisted her against her ample bosom. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough.” Tiffany’s face quickly dampened with tears as she kept Kate in a crushing embrace. “If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”
Seeing Kate’s alarm, Brody used his shoulder to open a gulf between the two women. Kate stepped back and straightened her coat while mouthing it’s okay to Brody.
“How is Ashley? Has she been in touch?” Kate asked.
“No, of course not. You know how it works. But I got word yesterday that she and the kids are safely to their destination.” Tiffany gathered Kate’s hands in her thick ones, fighting back tears. “They said you filed for divorce for her. No one ever stepped in for Ashley like you have. I just hope someday she’ll be able to thank you herself.”
“She thanked me that night. I was glad to help.”
“Bless you, Kate.” Kate was jerked forward in another bear hug, but managed to shrug her shoulders at Brody. Tiffany finally released her and sniffled her goodbyes.
Totally confused, he watched her waddle away and then
caught a satisfied grin on Kate’s face. “Do you mind telling me what that was all about?”
“Let’s keep walking.” She slipped her arm through his and led him in the direction of the food truck. “Remember our auction date, when you invited yourself to stay over, but I said I had something to do?”
“The disappointment is seared in my memory.”
She gave his shoulder a nudge. “I think I’ve more than made up for that night, don’t you?”
“Hmm. Not quite.”
“Anyway…” She chuckled and shook her head. “I helped Ashley and her kids—you know from the Thanksgiving dinner? I helped them escape that night. I drove her to Beckley to meet up with a sponsor with the battered women’s network in the area. They run a sort of Underground Railroad, helping women escape to secret host families outside the region.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He guided her under a lamp post away from the throng.
“It had to stay confidential. I know I could trust you, but didn’t want to take a chance. Her husband was at work and we couldn’t risk him getting word she was leaving. If he had returned while I was there, he probably would have killed her and me.”
“You took a big risk.”
“After meeting her at the Thanksgiving dinner, I couldn’t sleep imagining what she must be going through. I decided not to call Child Protective Services, afraid they’d take her kids away, so I handled it myself.”
“And you’ve filed divorce papers on her behalf? Can you do that?”
“I can and I did. I’m licensed in West Virginia. Her husband was none too happy. Apparently, he got violent, trashed a bunch of equipment at work, and was thrown in jail. Best place for him.”
Brody gathered her against his chest, thankful she was alright. This was just the kind of legal help she could provide if she stayed. By the look on her face and the determination in her voice, he could see the pride she felt in helping this woman.
“I’m impressed. Really.” He tipped her chin up with his knuckle. “That was very generous of you and I’m sure Ashley will always appreciate it.”
“I have to say, helping her start a new life has probably been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”
“Without even trying you’ve got a small practice of your own started here in Highland Springs.” He pecked a kiss on her nose. “You’ve helped Ashley, you read over Tucker’s crap-load of papers.” He tipped his forehead towards hers. “And you gave him very wise counsel, I might add. If you should ever consider sticking around, I think maybe we can keep you busy here.”
“And I do like staying busy.” Their foreheads vibrated with her laughter. Maybe his suggestion was too heavy handed, but damn it, he didn’t want her to leave. He never intended it to happen, but he was in love with her. She originally planned to stay until Virginia was settled and he prayed it would be much longer than that. Stay here with me and you’ll stay busy, in more ways than one.
Coffee pot off, dishwasher started, lights out…Kate walked through the kitchen, taking a quick glance at the dining room, which would soon be converted to Gram’s temporary sleeping quarters, before grabbing her coat off the back of the blue plaid chair. Brody was on his way over. They were going to the medical supply store in Clarksburg to arrange for a hospital bed for Gram’s arrival home on Monday. Her cell phone vibrated in her back pocket.
“Hello?” she answered on the second ring.
“Kate. It’s Grant Goldman.”
“Oh, um, hello.”
“It’s been a long time. How’s your grandmother?” He boomed into the phone, his voice upbeat, jovial.
“She’s, um, better.” Her vocal chords tightened from the surprise. She hadn’t expected to hear from the managing partner. She cleared her throat and said, “Much better, thank you. In fact, she’ll be home from rehab Monday.”
“Great news. Glad to hear it.” If she didn’t know better, she’d think she was talking to her long lost buddy, he was downright jaunty. “So, listen, Kate, we’ve had some changes around here since you’ve been gone, moved some people, and I was hoping we could meet to discuss it. When will you be back in the District?”
“Well, as I said, my grandmother will be home Monday, but I told Patrick I planned to stay a little longer to make sure she can live on her own, until after Christmas.”
“I’m not sure I want to wait that long. Let me just tell you where we stand.”
Her legs suddenly turned to jelly and she plopped down on the sofa; her head pulsated and her heart pounded. Surely Mr. Goldman called because he wanted to let her down easy. She didn’t think she’d feel so deflated knowing she didn’t get the promotion, but she did.
“It’s been brought to my attention, in fact to the attention of several of the partners, that maybe we haven’t done enough to recognize your contributions to this firm. You’ve been unfairly overlooked for a promotion—a very well deserved promotion—and we’ve put you through an unnecessary trial period for one open senior associate spot.”
“Oh?” Like a helium balloon suddenly released, she slumped against the sofa back, her head floating in confusion.
“Like I said that day before you left, your performance on the District Hospital case was outstanding. I dare say we might not have won if it weren’t for you and the entire team.”
“Thank you.” Where was this going? Would he just get to the point?
“In fact, we’re now ready to offer you the promotion you so richly deserve, including a bigger office and a fifty-thousand-dollar bonus. And the partners all agree you can be sure to make full partner well ahead of schedule.”
“Um.” She was speechless, literally speechless. She’d thrown that expression around plenty of times, but at this moment her mind couldn’t form the words to send to her mouth to speak. He was handing her the dream she’d had since the first day she entered law school. It was too good to be true.
“Kate, are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m sorry about that. I’m just very surprised.”
“You shouldn’t be. All the partners acknowledge your hard work and outstanding abilities.”
“I appreciate that and appreciate your giving me the senior associate position.”
“As far as we’re concerned, you were the only person who truly deserved the promotion and I’m happy you were patient with us while we made the decision. You have an amazing future with the firm.”
“Mr. Goldman, I don’t know what to say. I’m honored.” Her goal of making partner had just leapt forward by several years. She couldn’t stand still. She had to move. She rushed to the kitchen and back again, turning circles in a frenetic dance, unable to control her excitement.
“We’re the ones who should be honored. Even while you’ve been away, taking care of your grandmother, you’ve managed to produce more in a day than some associates produce in two. You’re a great asset to this firm and deserve this promotion. Call me when you’re back in town.”
“Thank you so much. I’m thrilled. You’ve made my day. I’ll be in touch soon.”
She halted the celebratory shuffle and dropped to the sofa with a satisfactory “Yes!” Finally, she was feeling validated, even appreciated. She squeezed her temples to calm her pounding head, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt. She took a deep breath, noticing a tingle up her spine. She looked behind her and found Brody standing inside the foyer, hands on his hips and a decided scowl on his face.
“Sorry. You didn’t answer when I knocked and the door was unlocked.”
“It’s okay.” She rose from the sofa and crossed the wide divide between them—a divide that had nothing to do with the size of the room. “The firm called. I got the promotion. I guess you heard?”
“Yeah, I heard.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets with a shrug of his shoulders. “It’s what you’d been hoping for. Congratulations.”
“Brody, listen.” She stretched her hand toward him as he took a small step back. “I’m sorry. You know how much this promot
ion means to me. It’s what I’ve worked for—for so long.”
“I know and I’m glad for you.” His sweet smile didn’t match the dullness of his gaze. “It’s great. Really.” He drew her into his arms, but she felt she was hugging a mannequin—no warmth or strength lay in his touch. “I, um, had a call from Tucker on my way over. There’s an issue at the brewery.” He cleared his throat and tucked his hands in his pockets, keeping his eyes tipped downward. “You think you can take care of getting your grandmother’s equipment on your own?”
“Sure. Are we okay?”
“You bet. I’ll see you later.”
TWENTY-FOUR
“Hi, Dad. I’m back again. Twice in less than a month. That might just be a record for me.”
After Brody had gone, Kate couldn’t sit still, couldn’t focus on anything, so she decided to order Gram’s bed over the phone. Instead of driving to Clarksburg, she made a trip out to the cemetery. A woodpecker drilled frantically into a nearby tree with overhanging branches that shaded the plot. Until recently, Kate felt like that bird, pecking way at a heavy workload, with little to show for it. Now, she was offered the promotion, validation for all her hard work, but her earlier exhilaration was waning.
“So, I got the promotion…but you already knew that. I should be happy, right? I was happy earlier. Why am I not happy now?” She dropped to the damp grass and tucked her legs behind her. “The thing is I’m starting to really love it here. I miss Annie and Derek, but I have new friends and I’ve helped a couple of people with their legal issues. Ashley and her kids are safe and waiting for her divorce to be final. I looked over Tucker and Brody’s offer and advised them on the beer company’s buy-out, and I think they’re happy with their decision to pass.” She tugged a handful of frosty grass and let the blades trickle through her fingers. Brody’s disappointed expression continuously flashed in her mind.
Across the tombstone-dotted knoll, an older couple was huddled together in front of a grave, appearing to gain warmth and comfort from each other as the winter wind blew. How long had they been married, she wondered, and whose grave were they visiting? She quickly wiped an errant tear dangling on the end of her nose.
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