Chapter Sixteen

 

 

Katie sat at the table in her bedroom and stared at the envelope. She’d had it for a week and had yet to open it. Sitting here and wondering about it had become a late-night ritual. It was time. Not knowing the contents had become worse than facing the pictures.

She grabbed the manila envelope in one hand and opened the top. “Here goes nothing.” Reaching her fingers inside, she grasped the contents and pulled them out. She held three pictures in front of her and peered at the first. Ray sat in a booth at the breakfast place he’d taken her. Relief washed over her. She knew he enjoyed going there. Talk about overreacting. She flipped to the next photo and stilled. A woman sat close beside him. The picture was dated four days after their wedding.

She looked closer at the picture and studied the woman’s profile. Something about her was familiar. Some detective her mom hired. What was Katie supposed to do with this if she couldn’t identify the woman? For all she knew he could be there on business—if only she could see the mystery woman’s face. Katie flipped the third and final picture and gasped.

They were standing and Ray was hugging her.

Katie’s face heated, and her heart raced. She dropped the photos onto the table and pushed back. There had to be a good explanation. Ray didn’t go around hugging women. She should march to his room right now and show him the pictures.

She thrust the photos into the envelope and stood with leaded feet. They’d been living a fairytale. A couple didn’t just marry on a whim and live happily ever after—especially two people in their situation. Ray only claimed to care for her. He never said he loved her. It was time to face reality. Her husband, though a good man, would never truly be the husband she’d hoped for.

A scream wrenched her from her thoughts. “Emily?” She bolted to her bedroom door and raced into the hall.

Ray stood there with a puzzled look on his face as if he wasn’t sure what he’d heard.

The scream sliced the air again. His face paled. He spun and ran the short distance to Emily’s room then flipped on the light.

Emily tossed in her bed mumbling.

“What’s wrong with her?” Ray went to her bedside and rested a hand on her forehead. “Do you think she’s sick?”

Katie sat on the other side of the bed and reached for the little girl’s hand. “Emily, sweetie. Wake up.” She glanced across the bed at Ray. “I think she’s having a bad dream.”

Relief covered Ray’s face then he frowned.

Emily’s eyes sprung open. She jumped then sat up and threw herself into Katie’s arms. Soft sobs filled the quiet room. Katie’s eyes burned, and she blinked rapidly. She would not cry.

Ray eased onto the other side of Emily’s bed. “What’s the matter, munchkin? Did you have a bad dream?”

Emily sniffled and turned her face to look at her uncle.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Ray asked.

“No. Can you and Aunt Katie sleep in my bed with me tonight?”

“Your bed isn’t big enough for the three of us.” He rubbed her back.

Fresh tears streamed down Emily’s cheeks.

Katie’s heart wrenched. “How about I stay here for a bit with you?”

“Really?” Emily’s voice wobbled.

“Mm-hmm.” Katie nodded as she stroked the child’s hair away from her face.

“Thanks.” Her eyes brightened a little as she scooted over to make room.

Either the child was a master manipulator or she recovered quickly.

Ray chuckled. “Sleep well.”

“Thanks. You, too. Hopefully, she won’t have any more nightmares.” Katie waited for Ray to leave the room then snuggled next to her niece. “I’ll pray that you don’t have more bad dreams.”

“Okay. Thank you. My mommy and daddy used to do that, too. Daddy said to think happy thoughts.”

“That’s a great idea.” Katie pulled the bedding up to Emily’s neck. “Lord, please be with Your child as she sleeps. Please fill her dreams with happiness. Amen.”

Emily’s body relaxed beside hers, and soft snores followed. Katie slipped from the bed and tiptoed to the door. She startled when she spotted Ray pacing the space between their rooms.

He looked her direction and rushed toward her. “How is she?”

“Sleeping peacefully.”

“That’s a relief. Thank you.”

Katie nodded. She was going to have her own nightmares if she didn’t show Ray those photos. “We need to talk.”

His brow scrunched. “Okay.”

She passed him and led the way to her room, grabbing the envelope before sitting at the bistro table.

Ray sat across from her. “What do you have there?”

“Remember when I told you my mom doesn’t like you?”

He nodded.

“Well, she had you followed.”

His jaw dropped open for a moment before he clamped it shut. “Go on.”

She pulled the photographs from the envelope and slid them his direction. “I trust you, Ray, but I am curious who the woman is that you’re hugging. It’s difficult to tell from the angle of the picture.”

He picked up the photo then set it down. “It’s Kari White, our wedding photographer. We met so she could give me the flash drive with the pictures from our wedding. She had a special print made as a gift to us and wanted to deliver it in person.”

Sudden tears pricked at Katie’s eyes. She never should have let her mother get into her head. “That was nice of her. Where’s the picture? I’d love to see photo.”

He grinned. “I’m having it framed. I plan to hang it above the mantel. I was going to surprise you.”

“I’m sorry your surprise is spoiled.”

He shrugged. “It’s okay. Is this the reason you’ve been acting a little off for the past week?”

She shrugged. “Maybe. I knew I could trust you, but I guess I still had a shadow of doubt that made me afraid to look inside the envelope.”

“Why were you afraid?”

“My mother suggested you were cheating on me. I didn’t want it to be true, because I like what we have growing between us. If she’d been right, then this would have ended. I’m really glad you’re the man I thought you were.”

He placed his hands on the tabletop palms up. She placed hers in his.

“I would never do that to you—to us.”

She nodded, unwilling to trust her voice. He might not have said the words, but this sure felt like love.

 

 

Ray yawned as he strode into The Ring. He’d tossed and turned all night after his conversation with Katie. Something had changed between them last night, and he wasn’t entirely sure how to proceed.

“Good morning, boss.” Tasha flashed a wide smile.

He nodded. “Is Rusty downstairs?”

“He is. Everything okay?”

“Yes. Thanks.” He detoured to the stairs leading down to the boxing ring where two women were sparring. Rusty held a bag as one of their regulars pummeled it. Ray waited off to the side. Maybe this was a mistake. Rusty didn’t need to know his personal problems. Then again he’d always been there for him in the past. He knew he could trust the man.

A short time later, Rusty sauntered his direction. “How’s it going?” He reached out his hand.

Ray took it and gave him a firm handshake. “Not bad.” He nodded toward the trainer’s office. “Does that offer to talk still stand?”

“Always.” They headed into Rusty’s office, and Ray closed the door. Rusty perched sideways off the corner of his desk. “What’s on your mind?”

“Katie.” He sat in a leather chair that dated back to the fifties or sixties, which was still in surprisingly good condition.

The trainer chuckled. “I thought maybe.”

“You were married for a long time.”

He nodded. “Not long enough. But thirty-five years is long to most people. What seems to be the problem?”

“Not a problem really, but I’m curious about something.” He frowned. This was more difficult than he’d expected. He’d always been able to talk easily with Rusty but never about something so personal. He cleared his throat. “I’m going to tell you something that would send tongues wagging all the way to Canada, so…”

“You’re asking me to keep my mouth shut.” He grinned, showing a full set of slightly crooked teeth. “You don’t need to worry about me, son. I’m no gossip.”

“I think I knew that, but I needed you to know—this doesn’t leave your office.”

Rusty’s face sobered.

He shared his story with Rusty from start to finish, leaving out nothing.

“That’s quite a situation you have yourself in, but what seems to be the trouble?”

“The thing is, I’ve tried to show her that I care about her, even told her so, but it doesn’t seem to be enough.” Ray rubbed the back of his neck. “Did you ever tell your wife you loved her?”

“Of course.” Rusty sounded indignant.

“I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just that I don’t ever remember hearing my parents tell one another they loved each other. My family isn’t very expressive about our feelings.”

Rusty rubbed his chin. “No offense taken. But are you telling me you’ve never told Katie you love her?”

He nodded and swallowed the lump in his throat.

“You must tell your wife you love her. Daily.”

Ray’s head dipped. Daily? He had a lot to learn about marriage. He stood. “Okay. This has been helpful. Thanks.” He pulled open the door and trudged from the room then up the stairs.

He’d never said those words to a woman before. He’d dated casually, and there had been someone once, but she’d accused him of being emotionally unavailable. Had she really been asking for him to say he loved her? He would only say it if he meant it, and he hadn’t then. But Katie…

“Boss, you have messages.” She handed him a stack of pink papers.

“No one does voicemail anymore?” He shook his head and took the sticky notes she held out to him. “Thanks. I’ll be in my office.” Curiosity piqued, he jogged up the stairs. The messages were from his grandfather’s attorney, his mother, and Ian. His heart thumped hard. Ian was his best buddy, and he never called. His eyes roamed over the paper looking for a message. It only said to call.

He punched in the number.

“Thanks for calling so fast.”

“No problem. What’s wrong?”

“Why do you think something’s wrong?”

“You never call.”

“I couldn’t get you off my mind. Is everything okay there?”

“Things are fine.”

“You sure? It’s not like me to have such a strong feeling to call a person.”

“Well actually, I’ve been struggling with something.” Ray glanced toward his office door to make sure it was closed. “I need to tell Katie I love her, and I’m not sure how to.”

“Do you love her?”

“It’s crazy, but yeah. I think I do. I’ve never felt this way before.” He hadn’t realized until now how much he’d miss not having Katie in his life, and it wasn’t only because she made his life easier by cooking his meals and taking care of Emily. She was sweet, funny, complex, filled with surprises, and so much more. He’d never imagined falling in love so fast or so completely, but he had. Joy leapt through him.

“You there, Ray?”

“Yeah. Did I miss something?”

Ian chuckled. “Only a long speech on the benefits of romancing your wife and making sure you tell her you love her.”

“But what if she doesn’t love me back?”

“I shouldn’t tell you this, but Brandi told me she thinks Katie has had a crush on you for a long time. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s loved you for a while.”

“She mentioned something about having a crush on me.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

Ray’s face heated. “I hear you. Thanks for the call. Is everything all right on your end?”

“Things here are great. We’re settling into life as a married couple and have even made some friends.”

“I’m glad. Thanks for the advice. I’ll let you go.” A sudden idea struck him. He had a lot to do.