“I…it wasn’t my intention to deceive you. I just didn’t want my last name to merit being published. I wanted to do this on my own. That’s really all there is to it.”
Kate smiled. “I’m sure. I can respect that, but you have your uncle’s talent. Your work is brilliant, Vivienne. Simply brilliant. I sincerely hope you’ll let us publish it.”
“I want to find the best home for this book.”
Kate nodded, “Of course you do. I completely understand and respect that.” Kate paused before she continued, “May I ask when you’re making your decision?”
Vivienne shrugged slightly. “I’m not sure really, it depends…” she took a deep, shaky breath. “Kate, I need to be candid with you. I love what you’ve outlined, and this whole thing has left me starry-eyed. But to be fair, I feel like…well, I just don’t know if this is such a good idea.”
“Nick,” Kate said and Vivienne nodded. Kate stood up and walked over the window, staring out. Of course she was hesitant. They were dancing around an obvious issue, and that was her brother and their broken engagement and the fact that when Mac came back, Vivienne would be dealing with him.
The man she was going to marry. The man Nick had lost to—at least that’s how Vivienne likely viewed it.
Kate spoke, still looking out the window. “Nick always told me about your adventures, your school, your traveling. But I was sorry I didn’t get to know you.” She turned to face Vivienne and pulled out a chair next to hers. For a moment Kate thought that Vivienne would scoot back.
“Vivienne, I’m sorry that we’re meeting now and not sooner. I know you’re thinking that if I had stayed with Nick, then this would be very different. We would have met under different circumstances. I hope you won’t let what happened with Nick and me deter you from working with us.”
Vivienne looked away. Kate had her answer. “You must hate me,” Kate said softly. When Vivienne did not look at her, Kate continued, “I’d hate me. Candidly, sometimes I do. When I lost your brother, I lost my best friend. I miss him every day.”
“Then why did you break his heart?”
There it was; the reality of why Kate had felt an unmistakable distance between herself and Vivienne. Usually during these initial meetings, there was so much kumbayah that the authors left with hugs and a peck on the cheek. Kate was certain this meeting would not end the same way.
Kate sighed. Where to begin? “I never meant to hurt Nick, but I did, badly. I will never forgive myself for that. Not ever. But I made a mistake, a terrible mistake, and I think that despite the situation, Nick has forgiven me.” Kate thought back to the other morning when she’d run into him and wasn’t sure that was actually the case.
“He’s moved on,” Vivienne said, thinking about the oh-so-fake Stephanie. Was that moving on or just sex? Either way, Viv was glad he didn’t have a shrine erected in Kate’s honor. Even fake Steph was better than that.
Kate swallowed hard. Moved on. Of course he had.
“I’m glad,” she said. “Nick deserves an amazing woman, someone who will love him the way I never could.” Kate felt a squeeze on her heart, remembering the night she gave the ring back to Nick and the heartache in his eyes.
“He does.” Vivienne nodded.
The meeting was starting to get awkward. The air grew thick and uncomfortable. But there was another elephant in the room Kate knew she had to address.
“If you sign with us, Vivienne, you’ll only have to deal with me and Lulu. No one else will have a hand in your project.” That would be a horrific schedule for her, she knew. But she felt she owed it to Vivienne and to Nick to not throw Mac in their faces.
Vivienne licked her lips. “So, Mac Ellis won’t be a part of this?”
Bingo. That was the big ticket for Vivienne.
“No,” Kate said and stood up. “I will keep him off of this project. I promise. I want to make this as easy for you as I can—for all of us,” she added.
Vivienne followed Kate’s lead and stood up. Vivienne put out her hand.
“Vivienne, it’s been such a pleasure meeting you. Nick must be so proud of you. Your work is beyond brilliant. I hope you will sign with Lavigne House. I really do. If you don’t, I wish you the best of luck and hope that this book gets the treatment it so rightly deserves.”
“Thank you, Kate, it’s been n…” Vivienne stopped short of saying it was nice meeting her, too. Traitor!
Kate walked Vivienne out and watched her get into the elevator. As the doors slid shut, something from the meeting came back to her. He’s moved on. The words hit her in the knees in an odd and unexpected sort of way. She was glad for Nick, of course she was.
At least that’s what she told herself as she walked back inside.
CHAPTER 17
When Mac arrived at his old house, he thought of his former life with his former kids and his former wife. It all seemed so long ago, almost another lifetime. There was no one to pick him up from the train station; the boys were with their mother, who was coming home today.
Coming home to die.
Mac still couldn’t believe it. His phone buzzed as he got out of the cab. “Hey, Dan.” It was his eldest.
“Dad, we’re headed home in a few minutes. Are you there?”
“Yes, I just got here.”
“I left the key in the usual spot.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll see you in a few.”
“I love you, Dad.” His voice was shaky.
“Is your brother with you?”
“Yes, he is. He’s right here. Did you want to talk with him?”
“No, I just want to be sure you’re not doing this alone. I’ll get the house ready. I love you, too.”
Mac hung up, pulled his luggage from the trunk of the cab, paid the driver, and walked up the pathway leading to the house. Mac had initially wanted to go to the hospital. However, he soon realized that his boys hadn’t planned for the fact that Carolyn wouldn’t be able to do stairs in her weakened condition, so she’d need to sleep downstairs. He’d also learned that the boyfriend had beaten it out of there when he found out that she was sick. It made Mac’s stomach turn. Carolyn had been abandoned by too many men in her life—first by Mac and then by this so-called-boyfriend.
“Fuck him,” Mac said aloud while he dug for the key in the mailbox. Mac opened the door. It creaked slightly; he made a mental note to fix it. If Carolyn was sleeping downstairs, the sound of it would wake her up. He walked inside. The house was quiet. Quiet and clean. No doubt Carolyn had cleaned first before going to the hospital. It was so like her. Everything in its place. Mac set his luggage down in the hallway and walked towards the study. He had talked to the boys about moving the furniture out of there and into the living room or the garage for now. A hospital bed was coming in an hour, so he needed to get started.
When Mac lived at the house, the study had always been his. He found that Carolyn hadn’t changed much of it at all. The books, some of the first he had published when he started at Morris & Dean, were still on the shelves. His old desk was still where he liked it, facing the window that looked out across the huge, well-kept back yard. Years ago he would sit at his desk on the weekends and watch Carolyn work in the yard. She was beautiful, slim, and blonde, with almost Barbie-like features. They had been a handsome couple. As Mac started to clear out the study, the memories bulldozed their way through his mind, as if clearing a path. They were relentless, one on top of the other as he worked.
Carolyn at the house, bringing him tea while he worked away.
Mac kissing her before he went to work.
Bringing home David and then Daniel from the hospital.
Decorating the baby’s room.
Then their dear, sweet daughter who had died hours after being born. Carolyn had blamed him and that had been that. The end of their marriage started with the death of their baby daughter, Isabella. Mac did the math in his head. She’d be eighteen now.
Eighteen years. Had it really been that long ago
? They were different people then. In love. Madly in love. He had adored Carolyn. Then one day, after they lost their daughter, she started to disappear, piece by piece until there was nothing left but the memory of what it was like to touch her.
Mac continued to move the furniture out of the room. His old desk was too heavy and awkward to move by himself, so he shoved it closer to the window to make more space. The sitting chairs and coffee table were in the hall. He’d take them upstairs or to the garage. If he had enough time, he’d shower before she got home.
Dinner, he thought. She’ll want dinner. Well, maybe not, but the boys would. Mac went to the kitchen to see what he could find. He opened the freezer to find all sorts of things marked. Casseroles, meatloaf, stew. All prepared and ready.
Of course Carolyn had prepared. She planned for everything.
Except, Mac suspected, she hadn’t planned for this.
. . . .
By the time the boys arrived home with their mother, the study was ready. Even the hospital bed was in place. Mac surveyed his work. A thick knot began to form in his throat. In all the years he’d known Carolyn, he had never expected to come to this: A sterile hospital bed in the downstairs study.
Mac walked outside as the boys drove up in Carolyn’s shiny new BMW. She’d wanted a new car last year after having driven their Chevy SUV for ten years. She didn’t need a car that big anymore, and her boyfriend had encouraged it. Of course he had. She was loaded; he no doubt wanted a part of that, and, at the very least, the hanger-on wanted a nice car to drive around in.
Mac made a mental note to beat the crap out of the guy before he left.
And when would that be? Mac wasn’t sure exactly. He had told Kate that he’d get her settled and head home. Now he wasn’t so sure. This whole thing was more complicated than he’d anticipated.
Mac walked down the steps to greet his family.
Family. They were his family. His first family. As Mac watched Carolyn emerge from the car, emotions he hadn’t felt in years washed over him. Memories of the first time he’d seen her. She was a cheerleader, of course, and he’d been drawn to her from the minute he had laid eyes on her.
The All-American girl. They had dated all through senior year and during college. By their second year in college they were inseparable.
The woman who emerged from the car was altogether different. The disease had taken its toll. While Mac had expected that, it still shocked him. She was impossibly thin and frail. Mac rushed to her side.
She looked up, her once bright blue eyes more grey than blue.
“You’re here,” she exhaled the words; clearly the trip home had been tiring for her. He noticed for the first time that her head was covered in a soft, pink shawl. Her beautiful blonde hair was gone.
“I’m here, Carolyn,” he said softly, and looped a strong arm around her back, pulling her into his sturdy frame.
“Hey boys,” he nodded to his sons. David threw a half-smile back to his father.
“Good to see you, Dad.”
“Yes, it’s good to see you,” she said, doing her best to walk alongside him. She was really struggling.
“To hell with this.” Mac stopped, slipped his arms under her legs and scooped her up. He smiled down at her, “Do you remember the last time I carried you?”
Carolyn nodded, “When we moved in here. You carried me over the threshold.”
“It seems like yesterday, doesn’t it?”
She nodded, letting her head drop into his neck.
CHAPTER 18
Vivienne’s phone rang, she checked it, it was her brother calling.
“Hey.”
“Sorry I didn’t call you sooner; I was on the phone with Stephanie.”
“Nick, are you really dating her? She’s, well, she’s not your type.”
“She’s not who she seems. It’s a façade, she’s really nice and she’s been a big help with…”
“Getting over ‘Kate the Magnificent?’” Vivienne filled in.
“Whatever.”
“I met her today.”
Nick said nothing.
“Nick, are you there?”
Nick paused for a few seconds, “Yeah, I’m here. How did it go?”
“Great. You were right. She’s very likable. I’ve decided to hate her though.”
Nick let out an exasperated breath, “This is crazy, Viv.”
“It’s not,” she said, deciding not to tell him what a mega-sweet deal Kate offered her. “I can’t and I won’t do it.”
“Viv. When I get home, we’re going to talk about this.”
Vivienne paused for a moment, she knew Nick was right to push her, and if he knew what the deal was, he might just drag her over there himself. She would be a fool to turn it down.
“No we won’t. Now why don’t you tell me what you plan to do about Stephie?” she said, mocking her name.
“Nothing, why? Listen, she’s really not that bad.”
Vivienne huffed. He seemed to say that about everything.
“I know you’re rolling your eyes right now, Viv. Don’t. I’ll be home soon.” Nick clicked off and Viv stood in her room thinking back to the day and the deal. She wanted it badly, but she had to explore other options. It was only right. Signing with Kate would be like sleeping with the devil, and Nick had already done that. She sent a quick text to her agent and asked her to make more appointments. She needed to keep considering her options.
CHAPTER 19
On Saturday morning, Kate woke up alone for the fourth day in a row. She hated it. She missed curling up next to Mac, or just listening to him breathe. She rolled over and looked at the clock. six a.m. Good grief, she needed more sleep. She’d stayed up reading several new submissions Lulu had found. With Mac out of the office she was doing double duty, although he promised once things calmed down he’d be back home and back in the saddle.
Initially he had assumed it would take a day, maybe two. Kate sort of figured he’d underestimated the time he would need. While the extension didn’t bother her, per se, she still hated how she felt—like the old days when Mac was married and she was, well, his affair. Now they were engaged, with a wedding date, and Mac was back with his family. Well, he wasn’t back, back, just, you know, caring for his sick wife.
Wedding date! Kate sat up in bed; the sudden realization slapped her in the face.
“Damn,” she said to no one. They’d need to move the date. There was no way with so much going on that they should get married now. Right? She needed someone to ask. She looked at the clock, seven minutes past six. Too early to call Andrew, who was three hours behind her. Grace? No, Grace was no fan. She’d be the first person to tell her to postpone. Normally she would talk to Mac about these things, but Mac wasn’t there.
Just then her phone rang. “Hello,” she said without looking at the screen.
“Hey Katie.” It was Mac. His voice was low. “Did I wake you?”
“No. I was just here thinking of you,” she smiled into the phone. Hearing his voice was just what she needed.
“I miss you.” His voice was gentle and her heart did backflips.
“I miss you, too. How’s it going there?”
She heard Mac sigh, a long, deep, tired sigh. “It’s hard. We got the nurse and he’s great, but Carolyn is home now and she wants to do stuff, you know work in her yard, cook, and we need her to rest.”
“Why? I mean, maybe I don’t know a lot about these things, but I would think if she had the desire to do stuff, you should let her. Unless she can’t walk or something.”
“No, she can walk. I mean she’s up all the time. Being home has invigorated her in a way that none of us really expected. We keep having to take her back to bed.”
Kate pushed herself up onto her pillows. “Mac, I’m sorry. It’s not my place, but I mean, well, you know, when we were at MD we had that book. I can’t recall the title. Anyway, it was written by an oncologist, and he said that patients who want to move, should move. He said
that it helps them, just mentally, and also in some cases can extend their life because they aren’t just waiting to die. It’s our inclination to want to keep them in bed, as though staying in bed will help them heal. You’ve said that she’s beyond that, so what’s the point? As long as she can move, I think she should.”
Kate could hear Mac let out an exasperated sigh. “Damn it, Kate, you’re right. We’re all hovering around her. I mean, she’s fragile and weak, but she could garden and she‘d love it.” Mac’s voice drifted off and Kate felt a pang of jealously stab at her heart. Yes, this was Mac’s wife, her heart reminded her. Eh, ex-wife.
“Then you should encourage her to move around. If the nurse doesn’t agree, fire him and find someone who does.”
“I love you,” he said, his voice deep and sexy and full of desire.
“I love you, too.” Kate fumbled with the edge of the bed sheet. “Um, Mac, I was thinking this morning that we should talk about our date…our wedding date.”
“Yes, June 15 still, right?”
Kate bit her lip. “Yes, well, I think we should hold off for now.”
“Why? Changed your mind about marrying me? Did you decide to run away with the doorman instead?” Mac joked.
Kate smiled into the phone. “No, nothing like that. I just think that with Carolyn being sick, we should see how she does in the next two weeks or so. Adding the wedding on top of that, especially with the boys being understandably so shell shocked, is probably not fair to anyone.” As she spoke, she realized that she’d forgotten to call anyone about their venue. Was that an accident?
“I’m not sure what I ever did to deserve you, Katharine Mitchell. I’m afraid you’re right; it could get complicated.”
Climax: The Publicist, Book Three Page 6