“I rode with Adam but I am sure he wouldn’t mind giving you a ride,” Katherine assured him.
“You rode with Adam?”
“Yes, he didn’t know where the restaurant was and seeing as how he lives in my building we were coming from and returning to the same place,” she shrugged; Derrick frowned.
“I would be obliged if you could give me a ride home,” Derrick turned to Adam.
“Sure, no problem,” Adam assured him.
Adam hung back as Derrick pulled Kaitlyn’s chair, claimed his bag, and laid a hand on Kaitlyn’s back to guide her out of the restaurant. He felt a quiet rage burning in his belly at the way the man treated Kaitlyn. He was puzzled as to why Kaitlyn put up with it. Then he realized that it had probably been a subtle transition rather than an abrupt change in their relationship.
“My vehicle is this way,” Adam nodded and led the way. He unlocked the vehicle and got in while Derrick opened Kaitlyn’s door for her before he seated himself in the back.
“Derrick lives downtown; I’ll give you exact directions as we go,” Kaitlyn offered.
“Great,” he gave her a strained smile. “Choose us some music,” he invited.
Kaitlyn leaned forward and skimmed through stations before she settled on a top forty station and settled back.
Adam felt a smile tug at the corner of his mouth when the first strains of Goodbye filtered into the car. Beside him Kaitlyn glanced back at Derrick and seemed to be considering turning the station before she dropped her hands back into her lap. A moment later she snorted in amusement.
“What is so amusing?” Derrick asked.
“This is one of Adam’s songs, I don’t know, it just struck me as amusing,” Katherine admitted.
“What is this a love song? I wasn’t aware that you did romantic songs.”
“This is more of a song about regrets,” Adam shrugged. Beside him, Kaitlyn was very pointedly looking out the window.
“Oh? Did you write it yourself?”
“I did,” Adam admitted.
“And what was your inspiration?” Derrick asked him.
Adam hesitated. “A friend of mine; I’ve wondered more than once how things might have played out if I had made different decisions.”
Derrick’s cell rang and he fumbled to dig it from his pocket. Adam looked over to find Kaitlyn watching him.
After dropping Derrick off, Adam turned toward home. He knew he had no business interfering in Kaitlyn’s life but he didn’t see how he could keep his mouth shut.
“Kaitlyn, I’m worried,” he admitted.
“About?” she shifted to watch him.
“Derrick seems very controlling.”
“No,” she shook her head, “he’s opinionated to be sure but I know how to stand up to him when it matters.”
“When does it matter, Kaitlyn? He’s trying to shape and mold you into what he wants, not appreciating you for who you are.”
“No, Adam, he’s helping me groom myself for our career, outside that when it’s just me and him we’re talking about he’s much more relaxed,” she argued.
“Kaitlyn…” frustration had him gripping the wheel in a death grip. “Just promise me…don’t let anyone change you.”
Fifteen
Katherine, a cup of coffee in hand, sat beside Adam. Derrick had left for New York the day before and Katherine decided to go see her parents and her grandmother who had just moved in with Julia and Walter. When she had invited Adam he had been quick to agree. Now they were headed east bound on Interstate Forty and the morning fog hadn’t even burned off the low lying areas around the city.
“You’re real talkative,” Adam teased.
“I am not awake,” she admitted.
“Thanks for inviting me along, Kaitlyn.”
“You’re welcome; thanks for driving. Not exactly the drive it was from Knoxville but still not a drive I relish.”
“Driving doesn’t bother me,” Adam shrugged.
They were quiet a moment before Katherine yawned and then spoke again.
“I love the Harpeth River,” Katherine noted as they crossed over the fog shrouded water.
“It is a pretty river,” Adam agreed.
“Do you like to canoe?” Katherine queried.
“I’ve only been once but I enjoyed it.”
“The Harpeth is a great canoeing river. We took the youth last summer and had a blast.”
“Did Derrick go with you?”
“No! Derrick is not really the outdoor type,” she admitted. “We tried going to Cade’s Cove one day and he spent more time putting on bug spray than he did walking.”
“That could prove problematic given your love of the outdoors,” Adam noted.
“We have other interest we share,” she shrugged.
“Such as?”
“Our work for one.”
“You need more than work in common, Kaitlyn.”
“I said for one,” her tone sharpened.
“So I take it you are trying to lose weight,” he changed the subject.
“I put on a few pounds after college,” she admitted.
“How many?”
“About ten.”
“So you’re trying to lose ten?”
“No, I’m trying to lose twenty and I’m almost there,” Katherine shared.
“Why?” Adam frowned over at her.
“When you gain enough that your fiancé notices, it’s significant,” she informed him.
“Derrick made an issue of your weight?” Adam demanded.
“Not exactly, he just noticed that I had gained,” she shared.
“So you are now roughly ten pounds lighter than you were in college?”
“Roughly,” she nodded.
“That’s a shame,” he told her.
“What?” Katherine demanded in irritation.
“I happen to know, personally, first hand; from experience…” his eyes were twinkling, “that ten pounds ago you had an amazing body.”
Katherine felt herself flush with pleasure; it irritated her.
“Adam, that was…we aren’t discussing this,” she snapped.
“Okay, you don’t have to, but Kaitlyn, you did and I’m sure still do have an amazing body. Your figure was very soft and feminine, not angular like so many of the women now.”
“Says the man who was living with a model,” she reminded him.
“Yes, I was,” his voice was heavy. “Men can be opportunistic, Kaitlyn and she was all too happy to be used if it furthered her career.”
“Whatever, I want to look amazing for my wedding so I am making sure I do.”
“Was that your idea or his because those were nearly identical to his words,” Adam challenged.
Katherine felt a stab of pain and winced.
“Kaitlyn, I’m sorry, I’m just worried,” Adam’s voice was heavy. “You don’t need to change a thing; you’re remarkable just the way you are.”
Katherine turned to look out the window, “As I said he didn’t make an issue of my weight.”
“Why does he order for you?”
“He thinks men are supposed to,” she shrugged.
“Think for women?”
“You really don’t like him do you?” she frowned at him.
“I’m sorry; I really didn’t mean to pick a fight with you, Kaitlyn. If you are happy; then I am happy for you,” he assured her.
“Thank you; I am,” she insisted.
“Good.”
They were both quiet, the air around them heavy before Adam chose a neutral topic. They chatted easily for the remainder of the trip.
Katherine’s heart lifted at the sight of her parent’s home.
“Kattie!” Julia smiled as she approached. She hugged her daughter and then hurried to do the same with Adam. “Hey, Adam; I am so proud of you for taking on rehab.”
“Thank you, Julia. It was a hard road but worth it.”
“How’s my girl?” Walter stepped from the house and hugged hi
s daughter.
“I’m good, Daddy,” she hugged him back.
“Good to see you, Adam,” Walter offered his hand to him.
“Good to see you too, Mr. Mayfield.”
“Walter, please.”
“Thank you, Walter.”
“Mama is inside, she’s going to grow impatient if we don’t get in there,” Julia shared.
They turned to enter the house and moved to the living room where Gracie sat in an arm chair, a throw over her lap.
“Kattie, girl, you get over here and kiss your ol’ grandma,” Gracie insisted.
“Hi, Grandma; I have missed you,” Katherine hugged her grandmother and kissed her cheek. “Excuse me a moment, please,” Katherine requested to go to the restroom.
“Adam, get over here, son,” Gracie waved him over.
“Hello, Mrs. Ross, how are you?” Adam hugged the woman and kissed her offered cheek.
“I’m alright. I have to say, Adam, when my granddaughter started bringing you around back in college I really thought it was you we’d be welcoming into this family, not this slick man she’s bringing around these days,” Gracie was frowning.
“I lost sight of some things, Mrs. Ross and made some bad decisions,” he admitted.
“Call me Gracie, Adam.”
“Gracie, you are just about the finest woman I’ve ever known,” Adam smiled at her.
“Just about? Who’s the finest then?”
“Kaitlyn, but it’s a close call,” he winked.
Gracie was smiling now, her blue eyes lit. “Mmm hmm; you are a charmer, Adam.”
“Are you flirting with my grandma?” Katherine teased as she approached.
“Paying homage where it’s due; your grandma is a fine lady.”
“Yes, she is,” Katherine agreed.
“Did you bring the pictures of the dresses you’ve been looking at?” Julia asked Katherine; she jumped up to get them and share them with her mom and dad. Adam found himself sitting alone with Gracie.
“How are you holding up since you got out of rehab, Adam?” Gracie asked Adam.
“Pretty good, Gracie, it was hard but I feel better than I have in a long time.”
“How long have you been out?” Gracie was watching him closely.
“A few weeks.”
“And you haven’t gone after my granddaughter? What’s taking you so long?” Gracie demanded.
Adam opened his mouth to speak but could only blink at the woman beside him. He would have thought she was joking except her eyes were steady and questioning; she was completely sincere.
Before he could formulate an answer, the others returned and he found himself being questioned again.
“What made you decide to check into rehab?” Walter asked him.
“To be honest with you I was all but ready to end it all. I had contemplated it many times and it would have been easy and painless enough with all the drugs I had at my disposal. I had been through two rounds of outpatient already. I was ordered there by a judge that I could see expected me to fail. When I came to Nashville on tour I invited Kaitlyn to come and was relieved and somewhat surprised that she did. Something about her certainty that I could beat it made me believe I could.”
The room was quiet for a moment; Julia and Walter exchanged a look Katherine couldn’t quite read.
“Adam needed a dose of confidence,” Katherine shrugged.
“What are you going to do next?” Walter asked him.
“I’m still trying to sort that out but I certainly don’t want to return to where I was. I can’t move backwards and that is exactly what returning to that lifestyle would be.”
“Where’s Derrick this time?” Julia asked her daughter.
“New York City,” Katherine supplied.
“That boy has restless feet,” Gracie accused.
“It’s his job,” Katherine reminded her grandmother. Gracie made no bones about the fact that she didn’t like Derrick; Katherine couldn’t figure out why.
Katherine soaked up the time with her family like a sun baked sponge soaks up water. She missed them. Even though she now lived closer to her parents than she had in college, living away from them felt different now. She could no longer say she was simply away for college, she no longer came home on breaks; Nashville was home. Katherine knew, however, that her parents’ house would always be a haven for her.
Katherine helped her mom prepare a lunch of homemade subs that they shared along with laughter around the table. It felt kind of like old times when life had been far simpler for Katherine. After lunch, Katherine helped her grandmother up the stairs where she planned to nap. Her dad had run to the store to grab some dish detergent for her mom.
Adam smiled as he watched Katherine and Gracie leave the room. It was nice to see Kaitlyn so relaxed. He wondered if she was aware of how tense she was much of the time anymore; he doubted it.
“Can I help clean up?” Adam offered.
“Sure,” Julia smiled.
They were clearing the table when Julia dropped her voice and addressed Adam.
“Adam, you cannot tell Walter or Kattie this conversation took place, understand? Walter has told me not to stick my nose in it but I can’t help it.”
“Okay,” he agreed hesitantly.
“You still love my daughter; are you going to try denying that?” Julia demanded.
“No, I won’t deny it,” Adam’s voice was heavy.
“What do you make of Derrick, Adam?”
“What do I make of Derrick? Julia, I am hardly an impartial party. I just admitted to loving her,” he dropped his own voice.
“No, but you aren’t blind either.”
“I don’t like him. He manipulates and controls Kaitlyn; he even has her trying to lose weight.”
Julia nodded and stepped closer; laughter from upstairs made her jump. She grabbed Adam’s arm and dragged him into the garage.
“Adam, do you know how easy it would be for you to steal my daughter from Derrick?” she demanded.
Dumbfounded, Adam stared at her. Had she really just encouraged him to come between Kaitlyn her fiancé?
“Julia, how can you say that after I walked away three years ago and broke your daughter’s heart?” he asked.
“You made a stupid decision; we’re all guilty of them. That does not change how you feel about my daughter.”
“No, but it does change how she feels about me, Julia. She moved on. I don’t blame her. I hurt her, not once but twice. The second time I took something that I know mattered to her and then left. She has no reason to trust me. If she loves this man then I am not going to interfere.”
“She is not in love with Derrick, Adam, she in love with the idea of Derrick. He is older, polished, and presents a nice picture. Unfortunately under the glossy finish he isn’t so perfect.”
“Maybe, you’re right, Julia, maybe she is in love with the idea of Derrick and not the man himself but that doesn’t mean that she could love me again,” Adam shrugged.
“Again?” Julia quirked a brow.
“She keeps a very careful distance between us, Julia.”
“Physically, she does.”
“Look, I have no idea what my future holds, my past is nothing to brag on, and I’ve already hurt her more than once.”
“You’re right; you don’t present as pretty of a picture as Derrick does,” Julia shrugged. “But which one of you loves Kattie more? Which one of you loves her just the way she is? Adam he is slowly erasing everything unique about my daughter. He is changing her and molding her and erasing the essence of who she is. Can you watch that happen? Can you watch her marry him knowing that he will keep her under his thumb the rest of their lives?” There were tears in Julia’s eyes now.
“I understand how you feel Julia. I expressed concern; she won’t listen.”
“Woo her, Adam.”
“I cannot believe we are having this conversation,” Adam sighed and shook his head, “Julia, I’ve been out of rehab all o
f a few weeks. How do you know I will not end up right back in a mess? ”
“The only reason you ended up there was because you were miserable in the first place.”
“You can’t know that; look at my mother,” Adam pointed out.
“Your mother is miserable too; it was all about forgetting for both of you.”
“Julia, I do love Kaitlyn, but I had my shot and I blew it.”
The sound of Walter’s car in the drive sent them both rushing back inside before the garage door started lifting.
Adam shook his head as he entered the living room. He could not believe Julia had just encouraged him to pursue Kaitlyn.
Kaitlyn settled into the passenger seat and made herself comfortable as they made the drive home. She had enjoyed visiting with her family. So much so that she felt recharged and ready for the week ahead.
“I called Sam yesterday,” Adam announced.
“How did that go?” she shifted slightly so she could look at him.
“Pretty well but then he isn’t the one who is going to be a problem. He’s promised to buy me some time with Damien but I will have to go out there before too long and deal with things. Word is going to get out of where I am. I can see and feel people staring and trying to figure out already,” he admitted. “I keep waiting to be mobbed.”
“What’s that like? Being mobbed?” she smiled; he chuckled.
“The first time a little scary but flattering, a hundred times in just baffling, and by the time it becomes routine: annoying. You want to just be able to go to the store and chose your own damn fruit and underwear. I’ve been enjoying the anonymity of no one knowing where I am and my new look but that will only last so long. It helps that I’ve been staying tucked away more than not.”
“I can’t imagine worrying that my every move was fodder for gossip columns and the public opinion,” Katherine shook her head.
“It can weigh on a person,” Adam’s voice was heavy. “Sam asked about you.”
“Oh? I’m surprised,” Katherine admitted.
“He’s been hearing about you for years,” Adam grinned. “However,” his expression sobered, “I want to know why you didn’t tell me your home had been broken into.”
“What?” Katherine frowned at him. “How did you hear about that?”
“Damien admitted to Sam that he’d had your place searched; Sam was furious.”
Until Next Time (The Shooting Stars Series) Page 23