Chapter Eight

 

 

Ray tried to eavesdrop on Katie’s conversation, but his niece hummed a song rising in volume with each note. He finally gave up and hummed along with Emily. Katie’s comment about him being the boss bothered him. He didn’t want her to think of him like that. They were partners, but he wouldn’t correct her in front of Emily. Somehow, he had to romance his soon-to-be wife with his niece in tow.

He placed the top onto the sandwich and sliced it at an angle into fourths then placed it on a plate.

Katie pocketed her phone.

“Everything okay?”

“Sure.” She stood erect. Her gaze darted toward the door.

He brought the plate to the table and sat beside Emily who’d already seated herself. “Aren’t you going to sit, Katie?”

“Of course.” She grinned, but the smile didn’t reach her fear-filled eyes. She scooped peanut butter onto an apple wedge then plopped it into her mouth.

He chuckled. How could that tiny mouth fit all of that? “I’m impressed.”

She shrugged then washed it down with a gulp of water. “It’s a gift.”

“I want to try.” Emily brought a quarter of her BP&J to her mouth and opened wide and pushed. She pulled it away. “It won’t fit.”

Ray and Katie laughed together. Something stirred in Ray at the sound of their combined laughter. As unconventional as their arrangement was, he knew in his heart, marrying Katie was right. He bit into the cold-cut sandwich Katie had prepared earlier for him—he could definitely get used to this. But he was concerned about Katie. Even though she’d joined him in laughter, she looked ready to bolt. What had that phone call been about?

A quick glance at the oven clock reminded him why he never came home for lunch—not enough time. “I hate to eat and run, but I need to get back. How fast can the two of you be ready to leave?”

Katie frowned. She looked down at herself and shook her head. “I think Emily and I will stay here until I need to leave for work.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. I don’t want to make you late.” Katie motioned toward his lunch. “You didn’t finish.”

“I’ll eat on the way.” He placed a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks.” His eyes met her surprised ones, and a sudden thought struck him. “I should’ve asked sooner, but my sister is meeting me at the club to discuss wedding plans. Would you like to come along?” He willed her to say yes. Maybe he’d be able to find out about her conversation on the way to the athletic club. “I can spare a few minutes for you to get cleaned up. I’ll give Hailey a call and put her off a little. If you’re taking the bus you’d need to leave soon anyway.”

She bit her bottom lip. “I suppose you’re right. Will you watch Emily while I get cleaned up?”

“Of course, but hurry.”

She darted out the door.

Emily looked at him with doe eyes. “I love Katie, Uncle Ray.”

He picked her up and carried her to the sink. “Let’s get you washed up.”

“Do you love Katie?” She squirted soap onto her hands, rubbed them together, then rinsed them.

“I like her a lot. I’m glad you love her. I think she loves you, too.”

Emily giggled. “She said so.”

“Good.” He wouldn’t lie about his feelings for Katie to appease his niece and was thankful she hadn’t pushed the issue any more. “How about you go grab the bag Katie packed for you, and we’ll wait in the car for her?”

“Okay.” She darted from the room.

He shot off a quick text to Hailey, letting her know he would be late.

“Ready!” Emily wore a pink princess backpack.

“Let’s go then.” He led the way and locked up after them.

Katie rushed down the stairs from the apartment as they were walking to the car.

“That was fast.” How could she possibly have gotten ready so quickly? He looked her over from head to toe. Her freshly scrubbed face looked virtually makeup free with no sign of the purple paint from earlier. Her jeans and red T-shirt took him aback. “Where’s your jacket?” He’d grown accustomed to the ever-present part of her wardrobe.

“It’s a nice day. I don’t need it.”

“True.” Seattle had been experiencing an unusually dry spring.

Emily hummed a random tune from the backseat. He tried a couple of times to start a conversation with Katie but couldn’t think of anything that didn’t require more than a yes or no answer. Twenty minutes later, he pulled into his parking spot in the alley behind the athletic club. “Let’s go upstairs and hear what Hailey’s planning for our wedding.”

She shook her head. An uneasy look crossed her face. “I’ve changed my mind. I trust your judgment. It’d be best if Emily and I head over to the community center.”

“Are you sure?” Disappointment filled him. Why wouldn’t she want to hear what his sister was planning? After all, the wedding was Katie’s, too. Weren’t the women supposed to care a lot about the cake and stuff? Or maybe this was about that phone call. He’d never found the right words to bring it up on the drive over. Now he’d have to try this evening.

Katie helped Emily from the car. “I’m sure.” She lowered her voice. “I have things to do before the kids get there. Besides I think it’d be best to keep Emily away from your sister as much as possible. I know we don’t always have a choice, but Hailey and Renee look so much alike, I’m afraid it might make things more difficult for her.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

She stopped moving and looked at him for only a moment before shifting her gaze. “Maybe, but are you willing to risk that I’m right and you’re wrong?”

What if being with Hailey was healing for his niece? Regardless, either way, it wouldn’t hurt to send Emily with Katie. “Fine. I’ll be by this evening to pick you up.” He pulled the backdoor to the club open. “After you.”

“Thanks.” She rushed inside. Emily held tight to her hand. “Say good-bye to your uncle, Emily.”

The child dropped her hold on Katie and quickly hugged his leg. “Can we come see you later?”

“Anytime, squirt. But remember Katie has to work, so only when she says it’s okay.”

Emily nodded. “Bye-bye.”

He watched as Katie and his niece breezed past the reception desk and out the front entrance. Somehow, he didn’t buy Katie’s reasoning for leaving so fast. Could she be the one uncomfortable with his little sister? But why? It didn’t make any sense. He headed up to his office and discovered Hailey sitting at a cluttered card table. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“It’s fine. I was almost here when I got your text.”

Yikes! “You’ve been waiting awhile. I’m extra sorry.”

She shrugged. “No problem. I’m about finished.” She focused on something in front of her, so rather than bother her, he sat behind his desk and got to work checking e-mails.

Thirty minutes later, Ray looked up from the computer screen in his office. “Are we going to make it in time?”

“Yes, but I don’t understand why you couldn’t wait a month,” Hailey said. “Pulling off a wedding this fast is next to impossible.”

He sighed. “But we did it, and now Katie’s best friend will be there. If we’d waited even a week longer, Brandi would be gone.”

Hailey smiled. “You’re sweet to consider your bride like that. I hope the man I marry will be like you.”

“I hope you don’t try to do what I’m doing. I’m not sure this family can handle more than one rushed wedding.”

“Don’t worry. I haven’t met Mr. Right yet. Which reminds me. You never told me the story of how you and Katie met.”

“Hmm.” He rested his chin in the palm of his hand. “I’m not sure I remember.”

Hailey widened her eyes. “How can you not remember something like that?”

“I don’t know. We met through mutual friends. There’s not much to tell.” His nineteen-year-old sister was the biggest romantic he knew. If she had any idea what was really going on, she’d disown him. Good thing she was too naïve to realize what he was up to.

“Mom is beside herself that she doesn’t know her future daughter-in-law. In fact, everyone is talking about how you’ve kept her hidden and never talked about her.”

He frowned. “You know I’m a private person.”

“That’s what I tell people. She’s adorable, and I’d think you’d want to show off the woman you love. Unless.” Her eyes widened. “Is there something wrong with her? I know she looks normal, but…”

“What? No. She’s a sweet girl.”

“Girl?”

“Sorry. Woman.”

“How old is she?”

“Twenty-three.”

“Robbing the cradle?”

“She’s only four years younger than me. Not a big deal at all. Now enough with the questions, Grace.”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “You know I hate that nickname.”

“Exactly why I used it. No more questions.” He held in a chuckle. When his sister was a kid, she had the grace of an out-of-control train and had the scars to prove it. One day Renee had said she needed to take ballet to learn how to move gracefully, and the name Grace stuck.

“Fine. I won’t ask about her anymore, but do you at least have a picture of her? I want to have one framed, sitting by the guest book. Actually if you have one of the two of you together that would be even better.”

Having anticipated this request, he’d secretly taken a few shots of Katie on Friday when they were shopping. He pulled up his favorite.

His sister laughed. “You’re so mean. If you went around showing a picture of me biting into a muffin, you’d have to start sleeping with one eye open.”

He chuckled. “You’re always so dramatic. I think it’s a cute picture.”

Hailey giggled. “True love. Don’t you have one of the two of you together?”

He slid his finger across the screen of his phone to show a selfie they’d taken at the coffee shop.

“I guess that’ll do.” She seemed disappointed. “I hope you’ll at least have a photographer at your wedding.”

“Of course. Kari White said she’d do it for us.”

Hailey grinned. “Cool. When I grow up, I want to be Kari.”

He chuckled. His little sis had always admired his long-time friend. They’d grown up together since they were in diapers. Many thought they’d marry one day, but marrying Kari would be like marrying his sister—gross. “If we’re done here, let’s go. I’ll pick you up first thing tomorrow to help get everything set up. Are you sure your friends don’t mind helping?”

“They’re cool. I promised them each Starbucks gift cards. Don’t forget!”

He pulled out his wallet and counted out one hundred dollars. “Will you take care of them for me?”

“Yes. Mom has the cake and the punch covered.”

“Good.” A part of him felt guilty for not being completely honest with his family about the circumstances of this wedding. Truth was, he was afraid of how they’d make Katie feel. They wouldn’t be mean—at least Hailey wouldn’t—but he wanted his mom and sister to accept her as his wife and not look at her as an outsider.

Hailey stood and walked to the door leading down to the main level of The Ring. “Be honest with me, Ray. Is Katie pregnant?”

His face heated. “No.”

“Okay. Mom thought maybe…”

He sighed. “I should’ve expected that.”

Hailey punched his shoulder. “It’s your own fault for not telling us about her.”

“I know. But go easy on Katie. She’s kind of shy. It took her a long time to warm up to me.” His sister didn’t need to know Katie had only started opening up to him a little over a week ago.

“Oh. I see. You were protecting her. Don’t worry. I’ll warn Mom. It’ll be okay.”

“Thanks.”

 

 

Katie rubbed the rag back and forth over the craft table at the community center until her hand cramped. According to her former caseworker, Cassandra, Katie’s mom was back and wanted to reconnect. Why now, after all these years was her mother interested in a relationship? She wanted to slam the door on the woman who’d rejected her, but curiosity ate at her.

“Can I go play on the basketball court?” Emily asked.

“I can’t see you in there, and I need to work in this room. I’m sorry, but you’ll need to stay in here with me until your ballet class starts.”

Emily’s bottom lip protruded. “I’m bored.”

Katie sighed. What was she supposed to do with a four-year-old? Maybe keeping this job had been a mistake, but it gave her purpose, and she loved the families that frequented the center. She couldn’t give up her time here.

She’d been in a rush on Thursday and hadn’t done her normal thorough cleaning since she had moved that night. Then Friday, she was too worn out from lifting those heavy boxes. Now was her only time to sanitize and make sure she had everything ready to go for the art class she’d lead in another hour. “How would you like to watch a video?”

Emily’s face brightened. “Yes.”

Thankfully, there was a television set with an attached DVD player in this room. This would be one of the few times she’d use the TV to entertain Emily. The center also had a nice selection of G-rated videos. Katie pulled open the drawer holding all the DVDs. “Go ahead and pick out what you want to watch. Then slide it into this slot.”

Emily nodded, and Katie readied the TV so Emily could do the rest on her own. With her soon-to-be niece entertained, time flew, and before she knew it, people began to trickle into the community center. “Emily, your ballet class is starting soon. We need to get you into your leotard and tights. Grab your backpack.”

Emily scrambled to obey. “Hurry, Katie. I don’t like being late.”

Katie chuckled. She’d heard Renee say the same thing many times—like mother, like daughter. Was Katie anything like her mom? It’d been over a decade since she’d last seen her.

Emily tugged on her hand. “Come on.”

“Okay. I’m coming.”

They dashed to the restroom, and ten minutes later, Emily rested a hand on the wooden bar along the mirror. Slow classical music played from an ancient record player, and Emily’s face scrunched in concentration. She looked to be completely engrossed in the class, so Katie returned to the craft room.

“Good afternoon.” She looked from one face to another in her class of eight art students.

“Good afternoon, Miss Katie,” they said in unison.

She explained what they would be drawing and showed an example from her own sketchbook. “If you have questions or need help, I’m here for you.” She walked around the room and offered suggestions here and there.

Ray walked by the window that looked into the craft room and waved as he passed. She waved back. He must be going to watch Emily’s ballet class. She couldn’t help but smile. Ray was going to make a great dad for his niece.

“Who was that man,” one of her female students asked.

“He’s…my fiancé.” It felt weird saying that out loud, especially since she’d never even had a boyfriend. Her foster mom had discouraged boyfriend/girlfriend relationships when she was in high school and had instead urged her to develop strong friendships. Well, she’d had one strong friendship. There were a few guys that she liked, but she’d been too shy to do anything about it.

“You’re getting married?” a boy asked.

“Yes. This Thursday.”

“Wow,” Breeze, another one of her female students, said. “I wish I could go. I love weddings.”

“You do?” Katie had only been to one wedding as a child and had found it boring, but Breeze was one of the older kids in the group. If memory served, she was eleven and in the sixth grade. “You can come if you want.”

“Really?” Her eyes widened.

“Sure. I don’t have any invitations on me.” She wasn’t sure if they’d even printed any. “But I’ll make one for you.”

“Thanks!” Breeze’s pace picked up on her drawing, and what had started off looking dark, rapidly changed into a bright and cheerful piece.

After thinking about how best to make an invitation, Katie tore a page from her sketchbook and cut it into fourths, then drew up several wedding invitations in case anyone else wanted to come.

She drew a rose bud in the bottom right corner, put the information along the left side, then colored the rose red.

“What’s this?”

She jumped and looked up at Ray. “I didn’t realize you were standing there.”

Her class giggled.

He sat beside her. “You were quite intent on that rose.” He pulled one off the table and studied it. “We should make copies of this and hand them out.”

“I didn’t even think of making copies.”

He chuckled. “If you’re finished with this one, I’ll run it across the street and have it printed on high quality glossy card stock. What do you think?”

“It’s not necessary. I only needed one. The others were for just in case.”

He shrugged. “It’ll only take a few minutes. They have several self-service machines.”

“Okay.” She caught Breeze’s eye.

The girl raised her brow and gave her a thumbs-up.

Katie laughed. “Oh, stop.”

“What? He’s cute.”

Katie whipped her gaze toward the door to make sure Ray was out of earshot. Thankfully, he was long gone. A smile touched her lips. Her future husband was very handsome.

“I bet your mom thinks he’s cute, too,” Breeze said. “My mom and I talk about boys all the time.”

Katie’s stomach knotted at the reminder of her mom. What was she going to do? Cassandra was waiting on her decision. Thankfully, her former social worker wouldn’t give her mother any information without Katie’s consent. She’d always wanted to understand why her mom had left her with her dad but wasn’t sure she wanted her back in her life. Even after years of counseling, a part of her was still angry with the woman that was supposed to nurture and protect her. What if Mom was as big of a mess as Dad?