Ties That Bind (24 page)

With that, Kate turned and walked out of his
office. Gavin was leaning in the door of their office, his eyes
speaking volumes as they caught hers on the way past. She knew he’d
be home soon, probably with Jessica and Liz not far behind him.
Kate gave them all a little grin as she passed. She just had to get
out the door without cracking. It wasn’t far at all, really.

Kate was quite impressed with herself when
she made it all the way down the street before the great, heaving
sobs came. She’d meant what she’d said. Jack wasn’t her daddy in
any of the ways that counted. She knew it and she would come to
terms with it. But the dream of having a father to fill some of the
big gaping hole left by her mother had died today and that hurt
like crazy. The pain seemed to be clawing its way out of her soul
and she struggled to breathe through the tears. She ignored the
stares of strangers on that long walk home.

Her life mattered to Ty. To Gavin. To Jessica
and Liz. Her life had mattered very much to her mother. To Joan.
This rejection would not end her. Still, a little tiny piece of her
tucked away the hope that maybe someday, somehow, things would be
right between them.

Kate let herself into her apartment, greeting
Ty with a hug. She fell to her knees before the large black trunk
that acted as a coffee table and lifted the heavy lid. She took the
photo albums out and spread them around her on the floor, shifting
to a more comfortable position before opening the one nearest her.
Now she had a face to put with the third person her mind saw every
time she’d looked at these photos. Page after page of pictures of
just her, or just her mother, or the two of them. She’d led a full
life. A good life. But there had always been a hole. Kate had known
it even if they’d never spoken the words.

A piece of Danielle had always been reserved
for the person missing from the pictures. Kate squeezed her eyes
shut, willing away the image of Jack. So what if his eyes were like
hers? So what if their mannerisms were the same? He didn’t want her
and she couldn’t keep treating the memories of her life as
incomplete without him.

Kate opened her eyes, determined to see the
pictures through a new lens. There was more than loss and empty
spaces in front of her; there was love and laughter, too. Her mom
had seen to that. And now she had Gavin promising her a future that
would be anything but lonely. Kate could almost hear her mother now
telling her, “Live it for all it’s worth, Katie girl…”

Kate wasn’t sure how long she sat on her
floor reliving memories. She must have dozed off, because one
minute she was looking at a picture of her mother holding a
birthday cake, the next Gavin was gathering her into his arms and
reassuring Jessica and Liz that Kate was merely sleeping.

“Hey, you,” she peeked up at him.

“Hey, you,” he smiled tenderly at her. “You
were great today.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he kissed the tip of her nose
before helping her stand.

“Oh, Kate, we’ve been so worried about you,”
Jessica took that as her cue to step in for a hug.

“We wanted to come over sooner, but Gavin
said you’d be mad.” Liz hugged Kate the second Jessica released
her.

“He was right. I don’t want you guys doing
anything rash because Jack and I can’t see eye to eye on this.”

“It just feels wrong being there without
you,” Jessica protested.

“You’re expecting your first child. Liz is
about to be a newlywed. You both need your jobs. I will be okay. I
really will.”

“Alright, enough of this for now. Go get
freshened up. We’re going to Medjool tonight,” Gavin declared.

“Should I know what that means?” Kate
asked.

“Great tapas. Middle Eastern flair. You’ll
love it,” Liz reassured her.

“I don’t think I’ll hang out for dancing,”
Jessica told them. “But I’m in for dinner.”

“Or we could just go to Foreign Cinema and
you could get your nap in during dinner…” Liz teased.

“Do you not like Foreign Cinema?” Kate
wondered.

“I can’t seem to stay awake during movies,”
Jessica made a face at Liz. “I have no idea why.”

“Like movie-induced narcolepsy?” Gavin
grinned.

“It’s not funny,” Jessica tried not to laugh
along with him.

“Wear a jacket,” Gavin urged. “I’ll try to
get us a spot on the Skydeck.”

Gavin was one of those people who usually
gets what he wants. Kate was glad for that when she got her first
360-degree view of San Francisco from the Skydeck. It was
breathtakingly beautiful. As Kate drank in the sight, she knew that
come what may, this was her hometown. She had come to love this
place that was like no other on earth. With Gavin’s hand on the
small of her back and the city stretched out before her, the
troubles of the past twenty-four hours seemed to fade.

“So I’ve been thinking,” Kate struggled to
put the random thoughts that had been dancing through her brain
into coherent sentences to share with her friends.

“Always a good idea,” Gavin teased as he
poured her another glass of wine.

“Anyway,” she paused to make a face at him.
“I’m going to call Joan tomorrow. She’d mentioned needing some help
with events at Blue Valley…”

“You can’t move an hour away!” Jessica
protested.

“I’m not planning on going anywhere—unless
Gavin wants to go back to London, but I had hoped to stay.”

“I assumed we’d stay here,” he assured
them.

“Good,” Kate breathed a sigh of relief.
“Anyway, I think I’m going to take up some contract work. I’ll be
able to go on Gavin’s health insurance soon. I’ll tell Jack that if
I can report to Tara, I’ll work the San Franciscan in as a client.
I had a message from Alicia that her radio station is looking for
an event planner… I know a certain photographer that I could
probably stay busy planning shows for.”

“I think that photographer would love for you
to plan his shows,” Gavin scooped her hand up to kiss her
knuckles.

“You guys are too cute,” Liz wrinkled her
nose prettily. “I mean it. Stop it.”

“Sorry,” Kate yanked her hand away. “This
week should really be all about you guys.”

“Don’t remind me. I’m trying not to panic.”
Liz rolled her eyes.

“Who was telling me just last night to enjoy
the engagement?” Kate reminded her pointedly.

“You know it’ll be amazing,” Jessica
reassured her. “And no matter what happens that day, when it’s all
said and done, you’ll be married to the man you love. Remember
that.”

“Remind me again why I’m doing this,” Liz
fanned herself in a feeble attempt to not hyperventilate.

“Because you love Derrick,” Jessica placed a
firm hand on either of Liz’s shoulders and looked her in the
eye.

“And when this is all said and done, the two
of you get to spend a week in Hawaii,” Kate reminded her
hopefully.

“You have worked too hard to let her derail
you now,” Jessica’s jaw had a firm set to it Kate hadn’t seen
before.

“It’s just a few extra people,” Kate put
another bobby pin in Liz’s veil. “Gavin’s setting out extra chairs
now. I’ve already spoken to the caterer.”

Kate left off that Gavin had written the
caterer a rather hefty check to convince him to add roughly 50
people to the count the day of. He’d called it a wedding gift no
one really needed to know about.

“I can’t believe she just called people and
invited them.” Liz’s breathing picked up again. “I mean, who does
that?”

“That was pretty low,” Jessica agreed
sympathetically. “But don’t let it ruin your day. You’re too
ravishing for that.”

“This day is about you, not her,” Kate added,
putting the final pin in place. “And you look amazing.”

“You think?” There was a hesitance in her
voice that Kate couldn’t understand.

“Are you looking in the same mirror as me?”
Kate laughed. “Look at yourself. You’re perfect.”

And she was perfect. Her dark brown hair was
pulled back loosely, escaped ringlets framing her face prettily.
Her dark eyes shone bright; her alabaster skin was flawless. When
she smiled shyly at the reflection, her dimples appeared to
complete the picture. The sleek dress hugged her perfect form. She
was the woman the rest of womankind loved to hate—curves where she
needed them, slender where she was supposed to be.

“I’d better go get my seat,” Kate gave her
one last hug and scurried out the door to find Gavin. Jessica, the
matron of honor, stayed at Liz’s side.

“How she holding up?” Gavin tucked Kate’s arm
in his.

“I think she’ll make it,” Kate leaned her
head against his shoulder. “She’s pretty ticked at the
monster-in-law, though.”

“That’s not nice,” Gavin’s lip was twitching
again.

“But it’s true,” Kate scowled. “I can’t
believe she did that.”

“Now probably isn’t the time,” he reminded
her with a grin.

“Maybe not,” Kate shrugged and took her seat
next to Tara.

“Crisis averted?” Tara asked.

“Dealt with, anyway,” Kate left it at
that.

“You do know how to save the day, don’t you?”
Tara smiled prettily at her.

“Gavin did all of the heavy lifting,” Kate
waved off the compliment, grateful when the music started so the
conversation would stop. Tara had been thrilled at Kate’s suggested
working arrangement. Jack had gratefully accepted and seemed to be
sending less hate-vibes her way in the past few days. Kate still
felt odd being around him but knew it couldn’t be entirely
avoided.

Even though Kate had seen Liz in her dress,
she was struck again by what a beautiful bride she made as she
floated down the aisle at her father’s side. Suddenly, Kate’s
throat felt thick and the tears began to flow. Why hadn’t she
remembered this part of the wedding sooner? How stupid would she
look walking down the aisle by herself? She cast a glance at Jack
before she could stop herself. He was staring at her intently. Why
weren’t his eyes on Liz like they were supposed to be? As one of
his beloved protégés, she was more his daughter than Kate. Why did
his eyes bore into hers now? With a small, frustrated shake of the
head, she forced her gaze back to Liz.

She could tell by the look on Liz’s face that
she only had eyes for Derrick. His mother couldn’t touch this
moment between them. Kate took heart. It didn’t really matter who,
if anyone, walked her down the aisle as long as Gavin was waiting
at the other end of it. She felt him squeeze her hand, as if
reassuring her of that truth.

The ceremony was probably the shortest Kate
had ever been to. Fifteen minutes after she’d sat down, the
minister was introducing the crowd to Mr. and Mrs. Harrison and
telling them where the party was.

In true Liz fashion, the reception was larger
than life and completely amazing. Where Tara had gone for subtle
and understated, Liz had embraced warm, vibrant color. What Kate
enjoyed most was the idea of being at a party she hadn’t put
together and had no obligation to tend to.

“Ma’am,” the caterer approached Kate as if on
cue. “We’ve added the extra place settings you’d requested.”

“Thank you. The wedding party should be here
any moment. You can plan on serving the food in about half an
hour.”

“Just can’t help yourself, can you?” Gavin
teased.

“Hey, he came to me.”

By the third time the caterer had approached
Kate for instruction, she realized she was glad for it. She got a
little antsy without anything to do but chit-chat, especially when
she was sharing a table with Jack. Liz had warned her that the
place settings had been set before things had gotten so sticky.
Kate knew it was coming. That didn’t make the evening seem any
shorter.

“So Kate,” Tara tried yet again to strike up
a conversation. “Gavin tells me you’re working at your aunt’s
vineyard part time now?”

“Actually, it’s my vineyard, too,” Kate
corrected without thinking.

“Really?” Jack’s brow furrowed.

“I inherited my mother’s fifty-percent
ownership when she passed away. I chose to stay in San Francisco
because it’s home now, but I did agree to help out more at Blue
Valley… pull my own weight and all that.”

“I had no idea,” Tara kept trying. “Could I
see it sometime?”

“I’d love that,” Kate smiled genuinely at
her. “We’re planning to have the wedding there, so you’ll see it
then if not before.”

“So we are going to be invited?” Tara
couldn’t help asking. “I wasn’t sure…”

“Of course you are invited, Tara. I can’t
imagine getting married without one of my best friends there,” Kate
hoped she hadn’t overemphasized the word “you”. The look on Gavin’s
face suggested maybe she had. There was an uncomfortable moment of
silence.

“How is Joan?” Jack asked finally.

“Doing well,” Gavin finally answered when it
became apparent Kate wasn’t going to come out of her shocked stupor
long enough to.

“That’s nice,” Jack nodded. Silence fell
again.

“So Gavin, how’s your mother?” Tara
brightened at the prospect of a safe topic.

“Doing better every day.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“We’re certainly happy with how she’s
responding to treatment. I mean, it’s been hard on her and Da, but
she really seems to be improving. The doctors are optimistic.”

“Good, good,” Tara seemed to be searching for
a way to extend the conversation. Everyone seemed grateful when the
couple shared their first dance. Silence was okay then. They were
even more grateful when the invitation was issued for others to
join them on the dance floor. Kate nearly jerked Gavin out of his
chair in her haste to escape the table. She stubbornly danced every
dance, finding another partner when Gavin insisted on getting a
drink. She did stop dancing long enough to give Liz and Jessica a
hug and to congratulate Derrick. Gavin came to reclaim her when she
was doing the twist with Liz. Jessica had grudgingly sat that one
out at Ryan’s insistence.