She and Gina found the perfect dress at the first store they visited. Both of them were smiling when they got back to the office, Katherine with a new floor-length gown and all the accessories, per Gina’s insistence, and Gina with new shoes and matching handbag to go with a dress she’d already purchased.
Katherine took her dress home at the end of the day and hung it on her closet door, where it would stay until Friday night. The shiny fabric caught her eye each time she came out of the bathroom. She tried to ignore both the dress and the tiny knot of tension winding tighter each day as Friday crept closer.
The dress was beautiful. There was no doubt about that. But the thought of stepping out of her comfort zone just to prove to Nick she was as good as him—and possibly failing because she had no idea what she was doing—upped her anxiety several notches.
Alice’s advice would’ve been to stand tall and look him in the eye. She could do this. She equated her preparations for the evening with the Bible’s command to gird your loins before a battle. She let out a determined breath and prayed for victory.
She’d missed her senior prom thanks to Edward Delaney’s arranged transfer, though she would have spent the night holding up a wall like all the other outcasts. Foster kids were not members of the popular cliques. But if she’d gone to a dance back then, she’d know what to expect now. A girlie girl she was not.
There hadn’t been any classes on prepping for a big social event in law school, which put her at Gina’s mercy. A scary prospect in and of itself. Gina’s imagination was way too vivid for Katherine’s peace of mind. Gina had cast herself as the fairy godmother and wanted Katherine and Nick to play Cinderella and Prince Charming.
With a tired sigh, she dismissed her apprehensions. Tomorrow night would be nothing more than an elegant dinner spent with Uncle Charles, Aunt Melvia, Jeremy, Gina and, she sighed again, Nick. She would only be alone with him for the short drive to the hotel and back. The rest of the time, she’d be with friends. She could do this. God, please help me.
This wasn’t a date. Nick had said so himself. This was an attempt to use her to look good in front of Uncle Charles. That reality snapped in two the ball of tension building in her stomach. In its place was the familiar burn of determination. She’d show him what he’d thrown away and smile when she stepped over him after he fell at her feet begging for forgiveness.
The next afternoon Katherine soaked in a tub filled with lavender scented water with cool slices of cucumber resting over her eyes. She buffed and pampered herself more than she ever had in her life, and it was all Gina’s fault.
She’d convinced Katherine she needed to experience the whole effect to get into the debutante act properly. “It will relax you. Put you in the right frame of mind to be around Nick for several hours while he’s in his element. It’s a means of leveling the playing field,” Gina had argued. And Katherine was so gullible she fell for it.
Gina arrived armed with what looked like a mobile salon. She draped Katherine in a smock and got busy. She misted, twisted, curled and pinned until she’d achieved her vision. Finally, she handed Katherine a mirror so she could see for herself.
The look of surprise and the sound of awe that escaped her newly plum-tinted lips were Gina’s payment.
“I told you,” Gina boasted.
“Wow. You’ve made me look...I don’t know how to describe it. Beautiful is too tame a word for this.” Katherine turned her head from one side to the other, using the hand mirror to get a better view. When her eyes met Gina’s, she fought the sting of tears. “I don’t know how to thank you for doing all this.”
Gina tweaked a hairpin. “Be sure and tell me what Nicky Boy’s reaction is when you open the door. That will be reward enough.”
Half an hour after Gina left, Katherine was coming down the stairs when she heard a car door close. The doorbell chimed at the same time her cell phone rang. With her head down, rummaging for the phone in her evening bag, she opened the front door.
“Hello,” she said by way of greeting to both the caller and her visitor.
“Uncle Charles, yes, he’s at the door.” Katherine smiled and handed the phone to Nick.
He didn’t move. She wasn’t sure he was breathing. His gaze was stuck to her. She held the phone to his ear where the judge’s voice boomed. The sound brought him back to reality and he clasped the phone with his hand.
“Yes, sir, we’re ready.” His smile could have lit up half of Pemberly, “She’s beyond stunning.”
Katherine’s stomach fluttered.
“We’re on our way.” He clicked the phone off and handed it back to her. “Wow. You look gorgeous.” He beamed another mega-watt smile. His eyes roamed over her, taking in the eggplant-colored evening gown. He took her hand and turned her in a circle. “Absolutely stunning.”
His compliment had her heart thudding in her chest. But she wouldn’t let his words sway her. She reminded herself he had an agenda. She was a means to an end for him, nothing more. It wouldn’t pay to get all dreamy-eyed now.
“Thanks. We should go or we’ll be late.”
He offered his arm and led her out to his car. He opened her door and waited until she positioned the long skirt of her dress around her legs. He’d left the SUV at home in favor of a dark BMW sedan. Neither one spoke on the short drive to the hotel as Nick maneuvered through the heavy downtown traffic. She focused on hiding her nervousness, struggling not to fidget whenever he glanced her way.
An usher at the door directed them to their table. Abby Blackmon was sitting next to Jeremy. He stood and greeted Katherine when they walked up. “Katherine, you look beautiful.” He gave her a casual hug. “Have you met Abby?”
Katherine smiled and said thanks before turning to Abby. “Yes, Abby and I have worked on several charity boards together. How are you doing tonight?”
“I’m well. It’s great to see you again, Katherine. I love your dress.”
Gina arrived, followed by Judge Pierce and Aunt Melvia, along with members of the selection committee. Dinner included grilled chicken served with seared pineapple, rice, and asparagus, along with garden salad and dinner rolls. Close to time for dessert, the committee members and the judge excused themselves to take their places on the raised dais.
“On behalf of the selection committee I would like to thank all of you for attending tonight’s Citizen of the Year awards dinner. I’m Judge Charles Pierce and it’s my honor to present this year’s award. The recipient has lived in this and some of our neighboring communities all her life. But she never received the advantages some of us took for granted while growing up. She didn’t have a stable home environment, and in fact, found herself entrusted to state care before she turned ten.”
When he began his speech, Katherine had stopped eating, granting him her undivided attention, knowing how excited he was about presenting the award tonight. But when his speech touched on the recipient’s tragic upbringing, a hot pressure gripped her chest. The air squeezed from her lungs. She threw a panicked glance over to Aunt Melvia. She was smiling back at her while tears slid down her cheeks.
And that’s when she knew. He was talking about her. Revealing the pathetic story of her life for the whole town to hear. She wanted to run, but made herself concentrate on taking slow, even breaths. She didn’t look around. Too afraid she’d see the looks of pity on their faces as the judge trotted her life out for inspection. She forced herself to listen to the rest of the speech, trying to detach herself from the story. Pretend it’s one of your cases.
“This year’s recipient didn’t take the disadvantages she faced as anything but a challenge, a chance to prove the system wrong. She maintained excellent grades in school. In her senior year of high school, she met a woman who became her mentor. Who challenged her to be anything she wanted, who convinced her hard work would take her wherever she wanted to go.”
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br /> She tried not to squirm while he listed all the charities and other community causes she volunteered with.
Nick leaned over and whispered in her ear. “You realize he’s talking about you?”
She nodded but kept her head down. As Uncle Charles wound down from his long list of her accomplishments, a new dread filled her. They’d want her to walk up there and accept the award. To thank them for their pity. They expected her to say something. Her mind was blank. She had no idea what to say to all these people. Why had she given in and filled out that stupid form?
“The reason they let me have the honor of presenting the award this year is because the young lady I’ve been describing is a family member of mine, so to speak. My cousin by marriage, Alice Harper, adopted Katherine Jenkins right before she turned eighteen. Katherine is a children’s advocate serving in family court under my jurisdiction. She’s more than an attorney, more than a friend to this community. She’s more than a children’s advocate. She is a true advocate of love for all people, willing to help anyone in any way she can. So, without any further bragging from me, may I present Pemberly’s Citizen of the Year, Miss Katherine Harper.” He stepped back, applauding. As his eyes met hers, he smiled his pride at all she’d accomplished.
The heat of a blush rushed across her cheeks. Unsure what to do, she looked around the table. Jeremy and Nick stood and escorted her to the stage. Jeremy kissed her on the cheek and Nick kissed her hand before leaving her at the steps to the dais.
Uncle Charles wrapped her in his arms, giving her a crushing hug. In a soft voice meant for her ears alone, he said, “I’m so proud of you. I promised Alice I’d do this, but I wanted to even before she asked me. We are so blessed to have you in our family.”
Katherine fought against the emotions welling up, refusing to cry over the judge’s private words in front of these strangers. She accepted the plaque and looked out over the room full of guests. They had risen in her honor and were still clapping.
“Thank you very much, Uncle Charles.” She offered him a watery smile. “And thank you to the members of the selection committee. I know there are numerous people who have done so much more than I have. I think we should honor them, as well. The things I do, the people I help, I don’t do for an award, or even a thank-you. I do it because I see a need.” Her voice took on an impassioned earnestness. “And if I don’t do it, who will? My mom, Alice Harper, taught me to look at what I can do, not what I can’t. Everyone who volunteers in our community does that. I accept this award tonight in memory of my adoptive mother and on behalf of all the volunteers who work tirelessly throughout our community. Thank you.” She raised the plaque high and smiled before she went back to her seat.
Event staff moved the tables aside to make room for dancing. When the band opened with a slow classic, Uncle Charles led her onto the floor for the first dance. The mayor and his wife, along with several other council members, joined them. As the next song began, Jeremy led Abby onto the dance floor, and Nick claimed Katherine’s hand while the judge sought out Aunt Melvia.
“So, how does it feel to be the city’s sweetheart?” Nick teased while he twirled her around the room.
“I don’t know if I’m considered their sweetheart. I’m more the redheaded stepchild who hasn’t shamed the family yet.”
He frowned at her. “Why do you always do that?”
She’d meant it as a joke, but Nick’s scowl meant that wasn’t how he’d taken it. “Do what?”
“Why do you always sell yourself short? You’re an amazing woman. You’ve accomplished so much and you did it through your own hard work, without anyone doing you any favors.”
Their dance ended before she could answer. Jeremy claimed her hand and sent Nick off to dance with Abby. “I’m so proud of you. I know you don’t like a lot of attention, but you’re a public figure now.” He beamed at her.
“Stop, Jeremy. You know I hate this sort of thing.”
Being Citizen of the Year also meant she had to remain at the dinner until it ended. Katherine had danced more tonight than she had in her entire life. How could Nick want to do this on a regular basis? He and his future debutante wife could have it. She was exhausted. Her face hurt from all the smiling almost as much as her feet did thanks to the strap of her heeled sandal biting into the side of her toe.
It was late when Nick drove her home. “So, tell me how you know Abby.”
“She and I both work with Big Sisters. Abby gets stuck with the administrative duties while I work with the girls directly.”
“Does it bother you that Abby doesn’t roll her sleeves up and get her hands dirty the way you do?”
“No. What Abby does brings in the funding for supplies and covers the cost of taking the girls on field trips. She deserved that award more than I did.”
“Yeah, and she welcomes the attention more than you do, too,” he teased, oblivious to her rising temper.
“She would make an ideal politician’s wife, don’t you think?” Her smile and tone were nothing but sugar.
Nick shrugged instead of taking the bait. “If that’s what she wanted.” He glanced over at her. “For someone who claims to be so in tune to who’s perfect for whom, you sure miss some obvious signals.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Jeremy.”
“What about Jeremy?” she asked, still confused.
“I’m saying Abby has plans for Jeremy.”
“No. Really?”
“Oh, yes. But Jeremy’s too busy playing big brother to you. He’s clueless about Abby’s interest.” Nick glanced her way. “Believe me; I play on his basketball team. He and I’ve been close friends for the past several years. He keeps his comments about Abby down to a suspicious minimum.”
Nick’s revelation of a strong friendship with Jeremy made her aware of how little he’d shared about himself. “You let me believe you’d never met.”
“I didn’t know how well you knew each other. A guy likes to scope out the competition before revealing too much.”
They pulled into her driveway.
It took a few seconds for his words to register. She scrambled out of the door he’d opened for her. “Competition? For me?”
He shrugged in a helpless gesture and followed her up the walk and onto the porch.
“I assure you, you have nothing to worry about.”
“Really?” The relief in his voice proved he’d missed the sarcasm.
She unlocked the door before she turned to cut him off at the knees. “I wouldn’t date you if you were the last man on earth.”
“What? Wait a second. You just said—”
“I know what I said. You made your opinion of me abundantly clear years ago. A fancy dress, a law degree, and a shiny award.” She waved the plaque between them. “None of those things change my past or who I am. I’ll always be a former foster kid. The kind of person you think you can use, then throw away like an old newspaper.”
“Kat, what in the world are you talking about?” He stalled her with a hand on her arm.
“None of this makes me one of the right people you need to align yourself with to further your political career.” Her heart pounded in her chest. “I wasn’t good enough for you in high school. I’m sure not good enough for you now because I’m the same person inside.” She snatched her arm free and slammed the door in his face.
Once inside, she slid to the floor in a heap. The thud of his fist against the solid wood matched the roar in her ears. She sat in the dark, ignoring his demands for her to open the door.
Where was the satisfaction? The pleasure of finally confronting him after all these years? All she felt was empty and alone. When she heard him drive away, she ran up the stairs and flung herself onto her bed. She buried her face in her pillow to muffle the sobs. The action was wasted. There was n
o one to hear her cries. No one at all. That made it hurt more. With the ache of loneliness heavy in the room, she promised herself this was the last time she shed a tear over Nick Delaney.
Chapter 7
Nick yelled Katherine’s name and pounded on the front door for ten minutes before he gave up. He could imagine her neighbors peeking out their windows to see what was going on and calling the police. On top of everything else, being arrested was the last thing he needed tonight. Hurt and confused by her rejection, he made himself walk back to his car and drive home.
He spent the rest of Friday night in bed, flat on his back, staring at the ceiling. What had she meant? How had he used her? He’d asked her to tutor him. She’d agreed. He’d passed his entrance exam with her help and he’d said thank you, a lot, if he remembered correctly.
And then she’d vanished.
He replayed the conversation he’d had with her thirteen years ago. This time, hearing the words that had come out of his mouth instead of the ones he’d meant to say. The ones he’d practiced saying in front of the mirror before meeting her in the library. The ones that told her how much she meant to him. That he wouldn’t have been able to succeed without her. How he wanted to stay in touch even though he was going away to school. Ahhhh. I’m an idiot.
As dawn peeped through the drapes, he stepped into the shower, unable to stand the solitude of his bedroom a minute longer. He’d said the words he’d promised his father he would, and he’d hurt the first girl he’d let himself care about. Hurt her to the point she’d run away. He couldn’t say anything that would make amends for the pain he’d caused her then or now.
His team had a game at nine. With any luck, it would keep his mind busy. He would talk to Jeremy, but not before the game. As protective as he was about Kat, Nick would be lucky if Jeremy didn’t use him as a punching bag when he told him about this latest fiasco with Kat.
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