CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Katie was still glowing mid-week after her mini-vacation with Clay. Even though they could only stay one night at the lake, her cup filled to overflowing, making it much easier to face the remaining days ahead without him. There was a sense of shared understanding between the two of them—respect for each other’s time and commitments. She got it and never wanted to get in his way of anything career related. His response to her career was much the same—he was proud and impressed with her work ethic.
She held her head a little higher as she walked into the large conference room, ready to take on the afternoon meeting with her team. The admins had arranged platters of sandwiches and drinks along the console against the wall, which indicated they might be there for a while. Grabbing a cup of coffee, she chatted with her coworkers before settling in a comfortable seat around the massive table next to Dale.
“You seem extra chipper today. You’re feeling better?” he asked softly, leaning into her ear.
Smiling demurely over her shoulder, she batted her eyes at him. “Yes. Much.” She hadn’t told Dale the truth about her surprise lake trip with Clay, letting him believe she had called in sick.
“I’m glad. It’s not the same without you around here.” He winked just as their boss came in with purpose and spread a pile of papers at the head of the table.
For the next three hours with a couple of bathroom breaks in between, the team got down to business, going over numbers and important paperwork that was necessary for an upcoming conference. Katie sighed with relief, knowing she wouldn’t be at that particular conference. This trip would be the first one she ever missed because it happened to fall on the same weekend as Clay’s performance at the Ryman. When he had first asked her to be there for him, she did her due diligence and put in a request for vacation time through the company work-source portal. Dale had to walk her through it because she hadn’t taken a vacation for so long and had forgotten how to use it. The dates were immediately approved, much to her excitement. During meetings like the one today, she was usually uptight and in work-mode, concentrating on making sure all their i’s were dotted and t’s crossed. Out-of-town conferences were a big deal and not something to be taken lightly. For once in her career, it was liberating not to have to worry about it.
Everyone scattered when dismissed for the day, including Dale who had an overdue conference call he needed to get on. As Katie threw away her trash on the way out the door, her boss called out to her.
“Miss Parker? May I have a word, please?”
Katie raised her eyebrows and turned back toward him. “Sure, Mr. Taylor. What can I do for you?”
“Have a seat, please.”
She pulled out the swivel chair next to him and sat with her back erect. Mr. Taylor had been her boss since day one, and they had always gotten along. To some, he often came across as intimidating, but Katie knew he was “old-school,” much like her father. They held a mutual respect for one-another, and she always received rave reviews in her portfolio once a year.
Mr. Taylor smiled with pursed lips, and she noticed he looked more tired than usual, his normally bright blue eyes dull and fatigued. He took his glasses off and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Is everything all right, Mr. Taylor?” Concern was evident in her voice.
An audible, deep sigh came from the man. “It has come to my attention that you received approval on some upcoming vacation time.”
Katie’s heart fell to her stomach, and she immediately tensed. Did she not put in her time off in the system correctly? Dale was right beside her talking her through it. Could they have made a mistake?
“Yes. I’ll be in Nashville on Friday through the next week. I’m finally taking a vacation after all these years.” She chuckled, the fleeting grin on her face quickly faded when she noticed the knitted brows of her boss. “Did I not correctly put it in the work-portal? I received an email saying the time-off request was approved…”
Sighing again, the large man put his glasses back on and looked right at her. “Yes, you did it correctly; however, my assistant should never have approved it without my knowledge.”
Katie gulped trying to remember to breathe. “I’m sorry, sir. I don’t understand. I’m not allowed to take a vacation?” She wasn’t about to dive into the many reasons why she was owed a vacation from the company outright. All the time she spent at the office working, never taking days off, working weekends and holidays. The endless days and nights eating, sleeping, and breathing work. Her skin prickled with nerves. She would fight for her time off. She would fight to be there for Clay whom she had made a promise to.
Mr. Taylor’s face softened. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re the only one in this whole damn company that deserves a much-needed vacation.” For a brief moment, she started to relax.
“But…”
There was a “but.” What kind of “but” could it possibly be? What was more important than her time off supporting the man she was in love with? She bristled, ready to argue for what was rightfully hers.
His voice became authoritative. “You’re my ace, Kathryn. I need you at the Pharma Conference representing the southeast. This is an important event for our industry. You know it better than anyone else.”
“You don’t need me for this one,” she reassured him, trying to stay calm. “You can send Russell instead of me. Dale will be there too, so you really have nothing to worry about.” In shock, she watched with wide eyes as he slid a large envelope toward her that displayed the company logo on the upper left side.
“You and Dale are a team.” He smiled. “I’m flying you both first class. You fly out Friday mid-day and return on Wednesday the following week. I want you to take the next two weeks off when you get back. My way of thanking you for a job well-done and for putting your best effort forward at the conference.”
Stunned, Katie pulled her hand back from the envelope as if it were a loaded gun. “I’m sorry, sir. I…I can’t go. There’s a significant event I promised to attend on Friday night. I can’t let my boy…my friend down.”
“I see.” He scowled as if mulling over her response. “Is this a life or death matter?”
“No…”
“Is this a family member or family event?”
She could feel her shoulders sag. “No, sir.”
He stood and started to stuff papers into his already bulging computer bag. “Well then. Whoever it is will understand. And won’t they be surprised when you get to spend two full weeks with them when you get back from California? I think I’ve been more than generous.” Dumbfounded and at a loss for words, she watched him walk to the giant glass doors of the conference room and turn around. “My apologies for the mix-up and not catching it sooner. I think I’ve more than made it up to you. Now, go get ‘em, ace!” He winked before pushing the doors open with force, leaving her in an astonished wake.
As soon as he turned the corner and was out of sight, she allowed her eyes to brim with tears. Her hands were shaking as she pulled the contents of the envelope out. Staring at the first-class ticket and itinerary, she shook her head. All these years as a faithful employee and it came down to this. How in the hell was she going to break the news to Clay?
***
Clay was standing on hallowed ground. Looking out into the twenty-three-hundred seat venue of refurbished, century-old, wrap-around church pews placed in a signature curve, the hairs on the back of his neck prickled. His acoustic guitar still hung around his neck as he rested his right arm on the body of the instrument. Swallowing a lump of emotion, he looked up into the bright lights, awestruck by the legacy and history of the place. He could feel the essence of legends who had played at the historic Ryman Auditorium, and he was humbled.
The sound check had gone off without a hitch, his voice reverberating in the great hall with warmth and clarity. It was no wonder—experts had praised the acoustics in the building for years, calling the Ryman one of the best listening places in the world. His band had dispersed to the backstage area leaving him alone on the stage for a moment of reflection. He looked around, wide-eyed and grateful. Never in a million years did he ever imagine he would be performing in the place his Daddy always dreamed about him playing…
You’re good enough son. Don’t you ever forget it. Mark my word, someday you’ll play on the Ryman stage just like that Tillis fella, leavin’ everyone in awe of your talent.
Clay’s eyes were closed, the sound of his daddy’s voice echoing in his memory. Nodding his head, he opened his misty eyes back up and smiled. His daddy was with him—he could feel his aura surrounding him like a warm hug. “I’m gonna make you proud, Daddy,” he whispered into the air, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
“Who you talkin’ to?”
Clay was startled and jerked his head to the side. Buddy was standing with his hands on his hips, looking like a mule eating briars, his wide-mouth grin impossible not to smile back at. He ran his hand through his thick hair and chuckled. “Nobody. Just having a moment.” Pulling the guitar strap over his head, he held the instrument by the neck. “That was probably the coolest sound check I’ve ever had, Buddy. Thanks again for…for everything.”
“Nah, it was bound to happen with a talent like yours.” He placed his hand on Clay’s shoulder, leading him backstage as he handed off his guitar to one of the tech crew in the wings. “The event is sold out. Has been for weeks. You ready for your life to change overnight?”
Clay stopped in the dimly lit hall. “It’s already changed. I’m pretty sure I got this.”
Buddy offered a whole-hearted nod. “You got some more changes ahead. Your stylist is here.”
“My what?” He couldn’t have heard him correctly.
Buddy snorted with a quick laugh. “Yep—your very own, hand-picked, genuine stylist. She’s in the dressing room with an assortment of clothing for you to try on.”
“The fun never ends, Buddy.”
“You got that right.”