Promise Made (The Callahan Series) (7 page)

“Glad to.” He grinned.

When the door shut behind him, Kate turned to her grandmother. “Why don’t you put the man out of his misery?”

Grace turned innocent eyes on her. “I don’t know what you mean, Katie-Girl.”

“Like hell you don’t,” Kate mumbled under her breath. Louder, she said, “He’s in love with you. Unless I’ve lost every last bit of my intuition, you’re in love with him.”

Gram’s cheeks flushed bright pink. “Why would you think such a thing?”

“You didn’t raise me stupid, Gram.”

“Ed and I like things the way they are,” she said primly.

Kate shook her head. Stubborn woman. Didn’t she know to grab onto love with both hands and not let go?

Dugan’s face popped into her head. Her stomach plunged to the floor. “If you’re all right, I’ll be in my room.” She got out of there, fast.

Kate left her door open in case Gram needed her, and sank into the nearest chair. She was good at seeing clearly what others couldn’t see about themselves. Her failings were another story. At every turn, she’d failed in the love department.

She’d walked away from Dugan
and
from Erik. Just then her cell phone rang. Erik. She didn’t want to talk to him, but knew she had to since she’d flown out of her office like a Texas tornado after his unexpected proposal.

“Hi,” she said.

“Kate, are you all right?”

“I’m fine. The only thing is, my gram broke her arm.”

“Sorry about your gram, but I asked you to marry me and you walked away. What’s with that? Do you need time?”

“I was surprised.”

“Take your time. I know you’ll say yes in the end. I need you here, Kate. You’re good for me. We’re good for each other. And we just took on another big case.”

“Didn’t you hear me? Gram broke her arm. I can’t come back now.” If ever. But she didn’t voice her concerns.

“I’m serious, Kate. This case will bring in a huge fee. I’ll give you a big enough raise to hire a nurse to take care of your grandmother.”

Kate couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. Didn’t Erik have an inkling as to how she felt? Evidently not or he wouldn’t suggest something so outrageous.

“It would be cheaper to hire another lawyer. Maybe screen them so they don’t have a family.”

She hung up, took a deep breath and went to check on Gram. She hadn’t seen this side of Erik before. But then she’d never had a family emergency before either.

Stories of how the Callahans were always there for one another, how Gram had always been there for her, made her realize how Erik would never fit in here.

Kate stood by the lounge chair, looked down at Gram. Despite her anger over Erik and his lack of consideration for others, she couldn’t hold back a smile. Gram was asleep, the TV giving background noise to her gentle snoring.

Walking to the kitchen, she tried to figure out what to have for lunch. Then she’d have to worry about dinner.

How long would it be before she was screaming to escape?

****

One week later she was close to pulling her hair out. If she didn’t get out of the house soon, Kate thought she might burst. She loved Gram. Had enjoyed Ed’s constant presence until even he got on her nerves.

Then there were the daily visits from Dugan and the townspeople. The daily calls from Erik. He wouldn’t stop even when she asked him not to call or at times ignored them. He’d asked so many times if she’d thought about his proposal that she was ready to scream. Even though she knew the answer, she put him off. She didn’t know why. She’d known her answer the day he asked.

Heaven help her. If it weren’t for Yogi and Heidi, she
would
be crazy.

Tending to Gram’s personal needs took little time. Kate made breakfast, read every book the library had that sounded interesting, and piddled around the house. Ed made it clear he’d make lunch and dinner. She didn’t argue, but she needed something to do—something to keep her mind busy.

She was accustomed to being busy all day and half the night. The law office in Austin was a busy one with a constant flow of case files crossing her desk.

She’d never complained. She loved the work too much, and wished for some of it now. Out of the question. But it was time to give Erik an answer to his proposal. She’d put it off too long. Now it was time to step up and make at least one decision.

“Kate? Is everything all right?” he asked when she called his cell.

“Life is quiet.” Just not peaceful. “How about you?”

“I’m taking a break before I start work on the new case. I’m coming to see you this weekend.”

“I’m really busy with Gram, Erik.” Lie. “Later, maybe.”

“I’ll be there Saturday.”

She couldn’t change his mind. After a few more moments of conversation, they hung up. She’d tell him her decision when he came. Irritation morphed into energy. She cleaned the house, scrubbed the bathroom, changed sheets, put them in the washer. By the time she finished, the house was sparkling and her exasperation slightly subdued.

Then Dugan was there for his daily visit. He looked so handsome she wanted to hit him. Or kick herself. It wasn’t right to feel this way about a man she’d spurned.

“Candy. Gram will like that,” she said when he showed her a box of Gram’s favorite chocolates.

He went into the den, kissed Gram on the cheek.

Kate ducked back into the kitchen. If it wasn’t candy, it was flowers or a treat from Molly’s. He was so darned nice. But hadn’t he always been that way?

After his visit, he stuck his head in the kitchen. “Need anything? I checked the yard. The grass won’t need cutting until next week.”

“Nothing. Thanks.”

“See you tomorrow.”

And he was out the door.

She was glad to see him go. Liar
. If you’re so glad why do you miss him when he’s gone?

She did notice that the anger she’d seen in his eyes when she first came back to town had faded. Maybe he was finally letting it go. She hoped so. She wished him the best with his new love. Ignored the way her heart squeezed at the thought.

Kate walked into the den. Ed was with Gram. He’d dragged a chair up next to hers and sat there holding her hand just as he had in the hospital. Cute.

“I think I’ll go to the store. Do we need anything for dinner?” she asked.

“I have a list,” Ed said, taking it out of his pocket. “I was going a little later.”

“No,” she said hurriedly before he could get up. “I’ll go.”

She’d take her time getting back. Their constant love-looks were beginning to grate on every nerve ending.

Seventy-somethings didn’t make goo-goo eyes at each other like teens. Nor did they touch every chance they had. Cute wasn’t so charming anymore, she fumed as she left the house and walked toward town. The walk would do her good. Besides, she needed the fresh air.

How could she be jealous of Gram? That didn’t set well. But Gram had a relationship Kate envied. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. What was
wrong
with her?

She didnʼt have time to dwell on the question because she was stopped several times. Everyone was aware Gram’s arm was broken. But that wasn’t what they asked about. Most of the questions were of the more personal kind.

“I see the sheriff at Grace’s almost every day. Didn’t visit so often until now,” from Emma Wells.

True. “Gram is one of his favorite people.”

From Sadie Hicks, “What’s with Ed Clark? Every time I look up, he’s turning into Grace’s drive.”

Ed and Dugan were the curiosities. As an afterthought, they’d ask, “And how’s Grace doing?”

They knew exactly how Gram was doing. But Kate couldn’t—or wouldn't—answer the asked or the unasked questions about Ed or Dugan.

Let the gossips draw their own conclusions.

By the time she got to Carter’s Grocers, she couldn’t wait to get inside and away from the gossip. Even here, she was stopped and asked questions. Today, it wasn’t amusing. Today, she wanted to take her mind off her growing boredom.

As she rounded the corner, she almost ran into Molly. “What are you doing here?”

Molly chuckled. “Ran out of mustard, if you can believe it. I took advantage of the break between lunch and dinner to stock up. My order doesn’t come in until next week.”

They walked side by side pushing their carts. “Hear you’ve been busy taking care of Grace.”

“Yes, I have.”

“You look tired.”

“Not tired, Molly. Bored.” Kate glanced at her list, took a loaf of bread off the shelf.

Molly laughed. “I’m not surprised. Why don’t you hang out your shingle? Karl fell asleep in the middle of a jury trial yesterday. The judge was so angry, he fined him a hundred bucks.”

Kate giggled. If that had happened in Austin, the judge just might take the lawyer off the case and fine him a lot more than a hundred dollars.

“Not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Why not? What do you need? A desk? Computer? Bet you have those at Grace’s. Put an ad in the
Oaktree Gazette
. I’ll bet you won’t be quite so bored. Okay?”

Kate laughed. “You have it all figured out.” She added a four-pack of strawberry yogurt to her basket.

“There’s something you should know,” Molly said, a twinkle in her dark eyes.

“What?”

“The townspeople are taking sides on whether you and Dugan will get back together.”

“I knew that.” Though it was too absurd to talk about. Dugan was still angry with her. Besides, he was in a serious relationship.

Molly chuckled. “Wait until you hear the rest. They’re laying down bets. More than half want you two to get together, the rest think Dugan’s better off without the hussy who broke his heart when she left him at the altar.”

Kate shook her head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Taking sides? Making bets? “Does Dugan know?”

“I’m not sure. He knows everything going on in this town, but somehow I don’t think he’s gotten wind of this just yet.”

“What will he do?”

Molly shrugged.

“Ohmygod. Should I tell him?”

“Up to you. You could just ignore it.” She patted Kate’s arm. “I have what I need. Now you think about what I said and hang out your shingle.”

Kate chuckled. The gossips had gone overboard. What next? There was nothing between her and Dugan now. After bringing her home from the hospital after Gram broke her arm, Dugan had been nice, but chilly.

Molly’s suggestion, though, sounded pretty good. Could she do it? Could she work in Oaktree? Just how hard would it be? Her license was good. She would have real work to do and she’d still be here for Gram. Plus, it would keep her sane. She could write wills, handle real-estate closings, and file lawsuits as well as anyone.

Before she could change her mind, or talk herself out of it, she paid for her groceries and almost ran down the street toward the newspaper office.

Doing a bit of real work instead of sitting around the house sent her adrenaline soaring.

She’d need her own phone line. Her steps slowed. Maybe she should rethink this. She didn’t know how long she’d be here.

Stay busy, use her brain, or watch Gram and Ed all day? She picked up her pace. She simply couldn’t endure many more days like the past week. Even if she didn’t get calls, she could hang out at the courthouse when Ed was with Gram and pretend she had a case.
Who knows? The judge might feel sorry for me and give me one.

If he did, it would be pro-bono. But that was okay. She just wanted to work.

With a determined sigh, she turned into the tiny office of the local paper.

Her bank account looked good at the moment. If she had very many weeks without work, it would wither to virtually zero. Maybe she’d make enough over the next few weeks to keep afloat financially.

“With you in a minute,” a voice called from the back.

Kate put her two bags of groceries on the counter and looked around. Nothing had changed. A copy of last week’s edition was on the counter for the taking. Behind the counter were a couple of desks with a computer, phone, and fax machine.

She opened her cell phone, asked for information, and got the number for the phone company.

It didn’t take two minutes to get another line added to Gram’s. They would be out the day after tomorrow. Good.

“What can I do you for?”

Harry Greer hadn’t changed either. Gray hair touched the collar of a golf shirt that had seen better days. He had on a pair of knee length shorts and wore flip-flops. Harry didn’t believe in dressing up for work.

“I want to place an ad.”

“Kate Maroney? Someone told me you were in town.”

He walked to the counter and reached across to shake her hand. “You here to stay?”

“At least until Gram’s arm heals.”

“She all right?”

“She’s good.” Gram was doing a lot better than Kate. Her love life was in high gear, someone waited on her day and night, and, whether Gram would admit it or not, she loved the attention.

“What kind of ad?” he asked, a pad in his hand.

“How about: Need legal help? Call Kate Maroney at…” And gave him the new number.

“Wonderful. This town needs another attorney. Want to list office hours?”

“No. I’ll be at Gram’s. I can answer the phone any time.”

She wrote a check, picked up her bags, and turned to leave. “Good seeing you again, Harry.”

“You got a minute?”

She turned back to see his broad face wrinkled in thought.

“What is it?”

“I’ve been putting this off for a long time. Maybe you can help.”

Kate went back to the counter. “What can I do?”

Harry let out a sigh. “I need a will. My brother had a heart attack in Houston a couple of months ago and died without one. It’s caused quite a lot of trouble for his family.”

“I’m so sorry about your brother, but everyone needs a will.”

“I asked Karl about one, but he never got back with me. Would it be too much trouble for you to do it?”

“I’ll be glad to. Why don’t you jot down what you want in it. I’ll come back after dinner tonight, say around seven and we’ll go over it.”

“It’s a deal. See you at seven.”

By the time the dishes were done, Ed and Gram would be holding hands. Every so often, he’d steal a kiss.