Kat's eyes lit up and she smiled, and it was like a jolt of lightning went through him. Of all the sights in the world, Kat smiling and happy was the most beautiful he could imagine. Be right back! she said.
Riley watched her run up the stairs and was tempted to follow that beautiful little ass of hers to the bedroom but thought better of it. He could put the few moments alone to good use right down here on the first floor.
Riley went to the boxes. The blue ink had faded so much that it was hardly visible, but written on each box in an unsteady cursive hand were the words /For Katharine./ A chill went through him at the sight of BettyAnn's handwriting. Riley squatted near the open box and, carefully, he pulled a flap away from the red fabric and brushed his fingers over it. He thought he recognized this, and when he lifted a corner to see the black velvet trim and buttons, there was no room for doubt.
Kat had worn this coat when she was little. He remembered it. He remembered her in it. His heart clenched.
Not sure continuing was the right thing to dobut knowing he would anywayRiley reached under the heavy coat and lifted. He saw a stuffed rabbit, a few books, and several pieces of kids' artwork. Riley swallowed hard, wondering how these things had gotten to Kat and how their presence in her home was connected to her painful memory.
He heard her bounding down the stairs, so he put everything back in its place and met her in the foyer. She wore a pair of torn jeans and an Orioles sweatshirt. She looked so good he wanted to eat her alive.
I'm not ready to look inside those boxes yet, she said casually, opening the hall closet and choosing a fleece jacket.
How did they get here, Kat? Are they from your mom?
She nodded. Rita gave them to me. I went to see her at the school today and we stopped by her house. Riley helped Kat get her arms in the jacket sleeves. She said Mom gave them to her to give to me one day.
Riley hummed in thought. You know that's your old coat in that box, right?
Yeah. A sad smile spread over her face. What else is in there?
Books. Crayon drawings. A stuffed animal.
Kat's eyes darted to the living room floor, then back at Riley.
Let's get out of here, she said.
After a quick stop at the Bohland House, where Riley threw a change of clothes in the truck along with Loretta, they took off toward the west side of town. Within minutes they were at the clinic construction site, and Kat was shocked at the progress made since she'd shown up that day more than a month ago, with revenge at the top of her to-do list.
It's looking wonderful, Riley, she said. Kat saw that the blacktop had been poured in the parking lot and the curbs and sidewalks put in. She watched one cluster of people unload rolls of carpet padding and vinyl flooring from a delivery truck while another group readied the ground for landscaping.
We've been working in shifts, Riley explained. There's a community sign-up sheet down at the Independent Grocery, and a bunch of the college sororities and fraternities have been helping for community service credits.
That's amazing.
Riley brought the pickup to a stop near the front sidewalk and he looked at her with a frown. It is. The problem we've got now is the cost of the interior supplies and furnishings. Do you know a single exam table costs about six thousand dollars? It's ridiculous!
Kat suddenly felt guiltyshe'd paid that much for her leather couch.
We've got some county funds. Plus, I've squeezed out a dozen or more sponsorships from the business community, and a whole bunch of in-kind donations, but it's not like Randolph County is an industrial powerhouse.
How about the mine?
The operation is a shell of what it used to be, but they did pony up something. The bank came up with about a hundred thousand, and it was much appreciated, but I'm having to do some real creative financing to make all this happen.
Kat's brain started to gallop ahead of her. She was suddenly thinking of a hundred ways she could help get Riley's clinic up and running, and one of them was a huge cash donation. I've got a few ideas, Riley. Let's sit down and look at the numbers later, OK?
He shook his head. Hell no, Kat. I don't want your money. That is not why I'm telling you this.
I know that, she said.
I wouldn't take it, anyway. It's yours.
She strained to reach Riley over Loretta's large body but only managed to plant a kiss somewhere near his cheek. First of all, it's Phyllis' money, not mine. Kat saw the doubt in Riley's eyes. She had a giving heart and would love this idea. Let me talk to her brother and see if maybe we can do something.
Riley shook his head. I can't ask for that.
Kat smiled at him. You didn't, my sweet man. I offered. She smacked her palms on her jeans. Besides, that's not my only idea. I think I know how we can get everyone to come together for one last push so you can open by Christmas.
Riley's face was flooded with a combination of relief and joy. It occurred to Kat that he'd been carrying this burden by himself a long time, probably because he hadn't trusted anyone to share it with him.
Tell me what happened with that grant money from the state. You never did explain that to me.
He nodded, sliding his hands together so they met at the top of the steering wheel. CarrieI told you she was the head of rural health policy for the state, right?
Kat nodded. I meant to tell you I saw her on a TV public-service announcement the other nightshe's stunning.
Riley let out a groan. She sure screwed me over in a stunning way.
What did she do, exactly?
Riley took a minute before he answered Kat, and she could tell he wanted to choose his words with care. I can't prove it, I have to say that up front, but right after I called off the wedding and broke up with her, everything went to hell. One day we were told the money was ours, and the next day it was as if nobody knew a thing about it. By the time I realized what was going on, the legislative session had ended. I hired a lawyer, who's been trying for a year now to bulldoze his way through a mountain of bullshit. I eventually took out a personal loan just so we wouldn't have to scrap it.
You /what/? Kat's mouth fell open.
I took out a second mortgage on the Bohland House.
Kat's body hummed with agitation. How much, Riley? How much was the state supposed to give you? A couple hundred thousand?
He shrugged. A little more than that.
How much, Riley? Kat was suddenly filled with trepidation. How much do you owe?
They say real estate is location, location, locationwell, the location of the Bohland House is the middle of nowhere, obviously, but it has some serious value because of its architecture.
She knew he was stalling. Just tell me how much you're in debt.
He shook his head. A little too much, I have to admit.
Brutal honesty, Riley. You promised me.
He looked at her and chewed the inside of his cheek. About one-point-five million dollars.
Kat thought she'd throw up. Oh my God, she said, looking back and forth between Riley and the single-story stone-and-siding office complex. What does Matt think about this?
Riley shrugged.
Is he in the position to help you pay it back?
Riley laughed. I'm sure if he knew, he'd double up on his weekly Mega Millions tickets.
No way. Kat thought her eyes would pop out. Please, please, /please/ don't tell me you did this behind his back.
Riley's face fell. He couldn't look her in the eye, so looked down at his hands on the wheel. I've been meaning to tell him. I really have.
And now I have to.
Really? Why? Did you suddenly grow a conscience?
Riley looked stunned. Ease up, Kat. I made a serious error in judgment and I'll take responsibility for it. I'll tell Matt what I've done and I'll get his share of the money to him somehow.