Kate shook her head and grabbed for the newspaper. “Want to see the other picture of him in this issue of the paper?” She flipped to the gossip page and there was David attached to a very attractive, very young, woman.
Julie scowled when she took in the picture. “Yeah, well, maybe he took a hit to the head that night. I mean she’s beautiful, but she has nothing on you.”
“Are you kidding? The only thing I have on her is about twenty years.”
“Maybe it was a previous commitment?”
“Maybe, but it gets worse.” Kate paused because this part of the story was humiliating—there was no other way to think about it. “Last weekend, I met my agent for brunch, remember?”
Julie nodded, remembering Kate’s trip to New York. “You took her out for her birthday.”
“Right. There I am, on a gorgeous Sunday morning, enjoying my French toast and berries, and who walks into the café? David, with a gorgeous blonde on his arm.”
“Shit. You have the worst luck.”
“Tell me about it. The blonde was Chelsea Connor.”
Julie gasped and Kate nodded. Chelsea was one of St. Andrew’s most well-known alumni. Unfortunately, she was well known for being a society party-girl and a spoiled brat. Kate always thought if the faculty could give senior superlative awards, Chelsea would be voted Most Likely to Marry for Money. “I could see them the whole time. They were there with another couple and I felt like I was going to die. I had to go right past them when I left. I actually tried to cover my face with a coat. It was like a perp walk.”
“Did they see you?”
“He did, she didn’t. He looked terrified, like I was going to start a scene or something.” Kate shook her head and glanced at his picture again. He was so gorgeous it hurt to look at him. “I’m pathetic.” Kate dropped her head into her folded arms once again. “I actually thought there might be something between us. How could I think that? Am I stupid?”
“You aren’t stupid, he is.” Julie rubbed Kate’s shoulder. “So, he’s why you don’t want to chaperone?”
“Uh huh.” She lifted her head and sat up. “I know there will be thousands of people there, but I’ll feel like such a stalker. What if he sees me?”
“You’re going to let the possibility of seeing this man run your life? Are you going to stop going to the city because you might run into him?”
Kate stood and started putting papers into her briefcase. Julie was right—her life couldn’t just stop. Kate was in the city a few times a month, at least. Damn. She hated it when people made sense.
“Our seats are somewhere up in the stratosphere,” Julie added. “It’s not like you’re going to be rink-side.”
Kate nodded. “Fine, I’ll go. How many kids and how many of us?”
“Thirty kids, three adults. One bus. Not so bad.”
“No,” Kate said on a sigh. “Not so bad.”
*
Kate rifled through her drawers, wondering aloud why she cared about what she wore to chaperone a field trip. “What’s the big deal? I’ll wear jeans and a sweatshirt.”
“What are you doing, Mom?”
Kate turned when she heard her daughter’s voice. “Good, you can help me.”
“What’s up?” Laura stepped into the room and her presence overwhelmed Kate.
She still didn’t know when her little girl had grown into a goddess. Long limbed with dark hair and eyes, her daughter was a stunner. She didn’t know why there weren’t more boys calling.
Of course, there could have been boys calling and Kate didn’t know. A lot could have been happening at Richard’s and she wouldn’t have a clue. Laura didn’t tell her much. Things between them were uneasy, because even when the family had been intact, Laura favored her father. Each and every day, Kate mentally slapped herself for letting the creep drive a wedge between her and her daughter.
“I’m chaperoning a trip tomorrow night to the Flyers game and I don’t know how to dress. It’s my first time to a hockey game since I went to The Beanpot in college.”
“The Beanpot?” Laura raised an eyebrow.
“The most intense college hockey tournament ever. B-C, B-U, Harvard, and Northeastern. You’ll probably hear about it when I take you to visit schools in Boston. It’s all about bragging rights.”
“Cool, I didn’t know you were into hockey.”
“I used to be. Although, hockey players annoyed the crap out of me when I was younger. But it was a social thing in college. Everyone went. I remember the arena was freezing.”
“How did you get roped into chaperoning tomorrow?” Laura sat on the bed and fiddled with a pink pullover Kate had tossed on the bed.
“Julie. Someone backed out.” Kate shrugged, wondering herself how she managed to get into such awkward situations. But at least Laura was in a good mood. This was the most civil collection of sentences she’d shared with her daughter in a month. “So, what do you think?” Kate looked at the clothes on the bed.
“I could loan you my jersey,” Laura offered.
“No, thanks. It would probably hang to my ankles.” Even Laura had to chuckle at the image of Kate, nearly a full head shorter, in Laura’s beloved jersey. Of course, Kate thought about the name emblazoned on the back—Burke. No. Absolutely no way she was wearing that.
“Jeans and a sweater should be fine. Where are your seats?”
“We’re in the upper level.”
“Nah, then don’t worry about it. Dress like you’re going to the mall.” Laura seemed nervous, quieter than usual.
“How was your lesson?” This was an easy subject.
Kate loved talking to Laura about her piano classes and Laura loved telling her about it. Her daughter was truly talented, and Kate enjoyed every note she ever heard Laura play.
“I have a new piece for a recital in January. It’s different. I think you’ll really like it. It’s a variation on the Canon in D.”
“I can’t wait.” Kate sat next to her, loving the flow of the conversation. “And school?”
“Not bad. I got a ninety-four on my chemistry exam.” Laura played with her hands, twisting and turning her long, slender fingers like Play-Doh. She stopped to tuck a lock of dark hair behind her ear.
“That’s great. It’s a good thing you have your dad’s talent for science.” Laura’s nervousness was becoming a distraction, and Kate was curious about the real reason Laura wanted to talk. Something told her it wouldn’t be good. “Is something bothering you, honey?”
Laura took a breath and then spoke slowly. “I have a favor to ask you.”
“What?”
Laura’s back stiffened and Kate braced herself. The conversation had been pleasant, but the sudden change in posture made Kate wonder how long it would take for things to turn sour. Every once in a while, they had moments that told Kate their relationship had the potential to be better, but she was always ready for Laura to turn into her father’s daughter.
“I talked to Dad today. He and Marie are going to the Bahamas over Thanksgiving, and they asked if I could go with them.”
She drew an audible breath. She had a special Thanksgiving planned for them, and now Richard and Marie were going to ruin it. “Didn’t they just get home two hours ago?”
“Marie wants to do the beach for a few days. I’d like to go. It will only cost a thousand dollars.”
Kate stood and forced the bile down. She was expected to pay, too? Give up her daughter and pay for it. Turn this around. “Well, since you’re changing plans, I guess I can expect you for Christmas then. Grandma and Grandpa will be thrilled to see you.”
Laura bowed her head and stayed quiet.
“Still planning the ski trip for Christmas?” Kate asked.
Her daughter’s head bobbed up and down.
Once again Richard struck and used Laura to do it. It was underhanded and cruel, but she had to give him credit for being effective. No matter what she did, she found herself competing for her own daughter and losing.
“I see.” Kate rose slowly, stood for a minute, and then excused herself to the bathroom because the burn behind her eyes signaled the inevitable loss of control. Crying would give Richard the upper hand. Again. Looking in the mirror, she rubbed her eyes and wondered what she’d ever done to deserve this treatment. Her husband rejected her, now her daughter. Even a dumb jock didn’t want her.