Breakaway - A Contemporary Romance Drama Story (11 page)

"Oh I don't know about that," Kate said. "I'm sure there's a few of your female patient's that would love a hug from you."

"I just bet-"

"What are you two doing?" Mr. Miller asked, walking into the room.

"Nothing indecent, I assure you," Nathan said. "Your daughter had a bad day and needed to be comforted."

"You want to tell your old dad about your bad day, sweetheart?"

"No." Kate removed herself from Nathan's arms and stood. She moved into her father's embrace and kissed his jaw. "How was your day, dad?"

"It was fine," Mr. Miller said. "Lets take a walk in the garden. It's a lovely evening."

Kate, Mr. Miller and Nathan stepped outside. The sun was setting, turning the sky shades of pink, orange and blue. A light breeze carried the fragrance of roses on the air. Kate looped one arm through Mr. Miller's and the other through Nathan's.

"When I smell roses I always think of Nora," Nathan said. "If I close my eyes I can almost see her puttering among the bushes."

"Nora loved her roses," Mr. Miller said. "That's how I met her. When I was in college I worked part time delivering flowers. Her fiancé bought her a dozen roses for her birthday. I wasn't scheduled to work that day, but the guy who was had come down with a cold, so I covered for
him. Those roses paled in comparison to her. When she opened the door and I saw her I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. When she smiled at me I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It wasn't easy stealing her from her fiancé. He was a persistent bastard. I had to really work hard to win her heart, but I didn't care. I would've done anything for her."

To Kate's surprise she found her cheeks were wet with tears. Her father's story moved her and made her yearn for a love like he and her mother had shared.

"I'm glad you didn't let a little thing like a fiancé stand in your way," Nathan said. "If you had we wouldn't have our Katie here with us now."

"You wouldn't be here either, Nathan," Mr. Miller pointed out. "Without Katie you would have choked to death on that apple."

"You're right," Nathan said, squeezing Kate's arm gently. "I owe my life to my guardian angel."

"You're being awfully quiet, sweetheart," Mr. Miller said to Kate. "Do you want to share with me and Nathan what's on your mind?"

Kate took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I was just thinking about you and-"

"Ted," Richard called out. "You have a phone call."

"Damn," Mr. Miller mumbled. "I'll try not to take too long." He made his way toward the back door.

"Well, Katie," Nathan said. "It's just you and me. Shall we keep walking or do you want to go inside?"

"I want to sit on the bench over there and enjoy the weather," Kate said.

"Then that's what we'll do."

They wandered over to the bench and sat down.

"Have you talked to Connie yet?" Kate asked.

"I have," Nathan said. "We talked last night."

"And?"

"And she promised me she would wait until I was ready for marriage and children." Nathan paused. "She told me not to make her wait too long."

"I'm a little surprised she's willing to wait for you," Kate said. "The way you made it sound in your office on Friday she was in a hurry to settle down."

"I'm a little surprised myself," Nathan said.

Kate turned on the bench and stared at Nathan. His face was turned up to the sky. Slowly she stretched out her arm and touched his jaw. "Connie's the luckiest woman in the world to have you, Nathan."

Nathan smirked. "Sure she is. She's lucky to be with a man who can't bring himself to commit to her. I don't know what's wrong with me. Why the hell can't I commit to her, to any woman for that matter?"

"Have you ever stopped to think that maybe you just haven't found the right woman yet?" Kate said softly. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Nathan. You're an amazing man, sweet, gentle, smart, handsome. I wish-" She broke off and looked away.

"You wish what, Katie?" Nathan asked, taking her hand.

Kate bowed her head and looked at their linked hands. "Nothing."

"You can tell me. What were you going to say?"

"I wish Edward was more like you," Kate said.

"Katie, are you and Edward-"

"I don't want to talk about me and Edward," Kate said. She tipped her head back and stared up at the sky. "It's so beautiful here."

"You're beautiful," Nathan said huskily.

"And you're full of it," Kate said.

"You don't believe me, do you?" Nathan said. "When I tell you you're beautiful you always tell me I'm full of it."

"That's because you are."

Nathan reached up and cupped Kate's face between his hands. "Look into my eyes, Katie."

Kate locked eyes with him and her breath caught in her throat.

"You are beautiful," Nathan whispered. "Inside and out."

A piece of the wall around Kate's heart crumbled. "Thank you, Nathan."

Chapter 9

Two days later Kate awoke to the ringing of the telephone. Wondering who was calling, she propped herself up on her elbow and reached for the receiver. She brought it to her ear and said, "Hello?"

"May I speak with Kate?" a female voice asked.

"This is she?"

"Hello, Kate. This is Connie. I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time."

"You didn't," Kate lied, sitting up.

"Good," Connie said. "I was wondering if you would like to get together. Maybe meet for a cup of coffee."

"I'd like that," Kate said.

"Lets meet at the Java Café in an hour."

"I'll see you then." Kate hung up the phone and got out of bed. After getting dressed she checked on Gaby and then headed downstairs to breakfast.

Edward was already seated at the table eating when Kate walked in. He glanced up as she passed by. "You're late, Katelyn. Breakfast is at eight sharp, not eight-"

"I'm sorry," Kate said, taking a seat. "It won't happen again." She unfolded her napkin and placed it in her lap. Removing the silver lid, she discovered a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast.

"The hospital is holding a fundraiser tonight," Edward said. "Father usually attends these things, but he can't make it this time, so I'm going in his place. That means you're going with me. It's formal and I expect you to be ready to go by seven."

Furious with Edward for waiting until the last minute to tell her Kate had to bite her tongue to keep from lashing out at him. "I'll be ready," she said through clenched teeth.

Edward raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong?"

"No." Kate picked up her fork and began to eat.

Not another word was spoken between them. Once Edward was done with breakfast he got up and left the dining room without looking at Kate. Alone, Kate thought ahead to that night and sighed. She knew what was in store for her at the fundraiser and she wasn't looking forward to it.

Twenty minutes later, Kate entered the small coffee shop. She paused just inside the doorway and scanned the customer's faces. As she stood there she realized she didn't have a clue what Connie looked like.

"Kate."

Kate turned and found a stunning auburn haired woman with hazel eyes. "Connie?"

"Yes," Connie said. "Come sit down. I have a table."

Kate followed Connie to a table near the window. She pulled out a chair and set the infant sear down gently.

"This little sweetheart must be Gaby," Connie said as she took a seat. "She's beautiful."

"Thank you," Kate said, sitting down across from Connie. "She's a wonderful baby. She hardly ever cries or makes a fuss." She reached out and caressed Gaby's cheek. "She's my little angel."

"I hope you don't mind, but I ordered a black coffee for you," Connie said.

"That's fine," Kate said. "May I ask you a question?"

"Sure," Connie said.

"How did you know who I was?" Kate said.

"Nathan has a picture of you on his entertainment cabinet," Connie answered. "Well actually he has a few of you. When you walked in I recognized you."

Just then the waitress arrived with two cups of coffee and a plate of croissants. She placed the coffee in front of Connie and Kate and the plate in the middle of the table.

"Thank you," Kate said.

The waitress smiled and then moved on to the next table.

"I always eat pastries when I come here. They have the best," Connie said, reaching for a croissant. "Help yourself."

"Thank you, but I've already had breakfast," Kate told her. On the table there was a glass jar of non-dairy creamer. She opened it and sprinkled a spoonful in her coffee.

"So, Kate," Connie said, pulling apart a croissant with her fingers. "Tell me about yourself."

"I don't really know where to start," Kate said, stirring her coffee.

"Tell me about your family."

"Well my mother died from a heart aneurysm when I was young," Kate said. "I was raised by my wonderful father and the equally wonderful people that took care of us."

"Do you mean the servants?"

"I never thought of them as servants," Kate said softly. "They were more like my family. They helped me through some of the most difficult times in my life." She took a drink of the coffee and felt the warmth spread through her.

"And Nathan?" Connie said.

Kate smiled. "Nathan was my protector. Whenever the boys on the bus would pick on me he was there telling them to back off. When a guy was interested in me he would interrogate them. There were times when he drove me crazy, but I know he was just looking out for me because he cared."

"Do you have any siblings?" Connie asked.

Kate shook her head. "What about you?"

"I have two brothers and three sisters. I'd love to have a large family of my own," Connie said wistfully. "I'm just waiting for Nathan to get his head out of his butt and marry me."

Kate fiddled with her spoon. "How did you and Nathan meet?"

Connie chewed and swallowed a bite of croissant before she answered. "Two years ago I moved here from Chicago. It was my first day at the hospital. I'm a registered nurse by the way. Anyway, it was my first day working at the hospital and I got lost while looking for the lab. I was reading those little signs on the wall that tell you where you're going when I collided with him. I started to fall and he caught me. I remember thinking how beautiful his eyes were and how strong he was. We became friends until last year when he asked me out. We've been dating ever since. How did you meet your husband?"