“That.” Kate jabbed her finger in the air. “That right there.”
“What?” Aidan asked, genuinely confused.
“This isn’t a ‘you broke it, you bought it’ situation, is it, Aidan? Are you in this because you’re keeping a promise? Or because you don’t want a second divorce on your record?”
“Kate. Don’t.”
“No, Aidan. It is a perfectly legitimate question. Are you trying to make me the bad guy, the one who wants a divorce so that it is not on you? Shouldn’t love be a factor? The word love has never come up the entire time we’ve been together. And now we’re married. I witnessed firsthand what happened in my parents’ marriage. My dad didn’t love my mother and eventually he left. Even three daughters couldn’t make him stay. Because he didn’t love us. I know you’re not my father, but I don’t want to be in a marriage of obligation. Despite what you seem to think, it is not good for the kids. Kids can sense when it is wrong and they’re usually the ones who end up getting hurt.”
Aidan felt himself bristle. Then his walls went up. They needed to pick up Chloe. It was already getting late, and if they opened this can of worms, they had to be here longer. For a moment, it crossed his mind to say the words she wanted to hear. But he couldn’t find the right words. The ones that wanted to come out asked, What is love anyway? And what is I love you but three meaningless words strung together? A hollow promise.
If Kate couldn’t see how he felt—If his actions didn’t speak louder than three empty words, maybe this marriage would not work because she needed more from him than he could give.
“I think you need to take a couple of days and decide what you want,” Aidan said.
“So that’s how it is going to be? You’re putting everything on me again? The fate of this marriage is on my shoulders? Whether we stay married or go? I’m not the only one who needs to think about it. I need a marriage based on love. Not on obligation. I’m going to go away for a few days. And when I come back, we both need to have figured out what we want.”
Aidan nodded. Then they sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity. He watched a couple strolling in the park hand in hand. The other side of the park, near the basketball courts, was illuminated and he could hear distant cheers. Someone’s small victory.
He wished for a victory of his own.
He wanted to pull her into his arms and remind her why they were so good together. But that would only muddy the waters. Obviously, it wasn’t enough for Kate. She needed more than that.
“What will we tell Chloe?” Her voice was small.
“Tell her that you’re going to be away.”
Tonight he had realized that as much as her leaving now would hurt his daughter, if she was going to leave anyway, the longer Kate stayed, the worse it would be.
He glanced over at her and tears were streaming down her cheeks. “Can I stay tonight?” she asked. “So I can tuck her in and tell her myself? I’ll pack some of my things in the morning after she’s gone to school.”
“Of course. It is your home, too. For as long as you want it to be. But please don’t tell Chloe you’ll be back, if you can’t guarantee that you’ll keep that promise.”
* * *
Chloe looked so tiny and angelic in her little white lace nightie, with Princess Sweetie Pie tucked underneath her arm.
Kate pulled the covers up over the little girl, taking care to bring the pink sheet and blanket only up to the stuffed animal’s chin. As Chloe had explained, “Princess Sweetie Pie doesn’t like to have her head covered up.”
Kate sat on the side of Chloe’s bed and listened to her chatter on and on about the night’s adventure with Beatrice. They had built a blanket fort and Miss Doris had allowed them to eat their macaroni and cheese in the fort.
“It was the funnest time ever!” Chloe exclaimed. She threw her stuffed cat into the air and then wagged her finger and scolded. “Princess Sweetie Pie, get back under the covers. It is past your bedtime.”
Both she and Kate laughed at the naughty animal, and Kate repeated the tucking-in and read Chloe’s favorite book, Good Night Moon. Finally she noticed that Chloe’s eyes were getting heavy and she knew she couldn’t postpone what she had to do any longer.
For a moment, as she took her time putting the book on the nightstand and straightening the lamp and the small glass of water they kept by Chloe’s bedside in case she got thirsty in the middle of the night, Kate tried to talk herself out of going away, only to have the split-second decision washed away by the pull of her reality with Aidan. He didn’t love her. Not the way she needed a man to love her if she was going to give her life to him.
Doing her best to act normal, she said, “Chloe, I have to go away for a little while, but your dad will be here, and he can take you to your rock group, and maybe Miss Doris can let you come over after school. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”
Kate held her breath as she waited for the little girl to ask her when she would return. Instead, Chloe clapped her hands and rattled off the plans that she and Beatrice were already making. Kate managed a smile. As she leaned down to kiss Chloe good-night, it dawned on her that maybe Dori was a better fit for Aidan. If Aidan married Dori, Chloe and Beatrice would be stepsisters. Kate knew firsthand the power of sisterhood. Maybe she was holding them both back by trying to make this sham of a marriage work.
Her heart ached as reality unfolded: maybe she would be doing everyone a favor by ending things now.
“Good night, sweetheart,” Kate whispered in Chloe’s ear.
“Good night. I’m so happy you’re my mommy. I love you.”
The words uttered by that sweet, sleepy little voice knocked all the wind out of Kate, but still she heard herself saying, “I love you, too.”
She turned around before the tears started falling and turned off the light and shut her door.
Aidan’s face drained of color when he saw the state that Kate was in.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” His voice was accusatory.
“She said she’s happy I’m her mommy, and she loves me.”
She could tell by the look on his face he was as shocked and moved as she was. Though she had never heard Aidan tell Chloe that he loved her, he had always acted warm and caring toward her. What spoke volumes was how happy and well adjusted Chloe was—even before Kate had come into her life. This little girl whose mother had abandoned her at birth still had a pure, unblemished heart.
Granted, she had never known what it was like to miss her mother because Aidan had protected her from the fact that her mother didn’t want her. Kate didn’t want to be the mother who affected Chloe the way Kate’s own father had damaged her.
“I can’t stay tonight,” Kate said. “Will you please tell Chloe that I had to leave earlier than I thought? Don’t worry, she didn’t ask when I was coming back.”
* * *
After spending a restless night in her house, Kate got to the salon earlier than she had expected. She had had an all-call text from Kerrigan Karol, summoning everyone to come in for a staff meeting before the staff opened. He did this every once in a while. Not often, but when he called meetings, there was usually some point of contention that needed to be aired—someone was stealing the Keurig cups or the toilet paper or dipping into another stylist’s supplies, the ultimate taboo. Staff meeting–worthy infractions were never a crisis. Usually, a terse “Somebody has been doing x, please stop it” righted the ship without further discussion.
Kate figured she might as well go in and endure the group scolding and then use the time to organize her station. She knew she hadn’t borrowed anyone’s flat iron without returning it or taken something that didn’t belong to her—unless you counted taking Aidan and Chloe away from Dori and a chance for them to be a loving family—
No! Stop. I’m not thinking about that now.
She had this meeting and a f
ull day of clients. If she thought about it now, she would cry and then everyone would ask her what was wrong. She didn’t want to talk about it. She didn’t want to think about it—even though the heartache of choosing was a physical ache that tightened her throat and made her feel like she had a hole in her chest where her heart should be. Tonight, after her last client, she would get take-out Japanese food and go home and face her issues.
Although she hadn’t found comfort there last night, in her own house—her own space. The bed had been cold and too big. The walls felt strange, like she didn’t belong there anymore. She had felt nearly as fenced in there as she had at the inn last evening, when Zelda had unveiled her plan to manipulate Kate into taking on the spa.
She wasn’t going to the inn for a while. She was still too irritated with her mother for ambushing her. Zelda had called three times already—twice last night and once this morning. Kate hadn’t able to listen to the messages. If there had been an emergency, her sisters would have called. She and her mom would talk eventually, once Kate had a chance to cool off, but right now, she needed to sort out her head.
Kate joined her colleagues in the small kitchen at the back of the salon. Since the front of the salon featured a large plate glass window, where they were on full display to passersby, the kitchen was the one place where they could gather without a client knocking on the door and asking to be let in.
“Good morning, lovelies.” Kerrigan was ten minutes late. But at least he was carrying boxes from the Tearoom at The Forsyth. There would be loads of comfort in her sister’s fresh-made pastries. Kate fully intended to eat her feelings. “Gather round, children, get a yummy and settle down. I have big news.”
Big news? Does that mean no one’s in trouble?
Her coworkers must’ve been wondering the same thing because they were fast to settle in.
Kerrigan was a small man in his midforties. His hair was dyed blue-black, his bangs a stark contrast with his ivory skin. He was clad in all black—skinny jeans and a silk shirt that clung like a second skin to his toned body. He had accessorized with black cowboy boots and a studded black leather belt.
“Y’all are a talented bunch and I have been honored to have you in my salon—some longer than others.” He nodded to Kate. “Some of you have been with me since I opened my doors eleven years ago, right, Katie girl?”
God, has it been that long? It has been that long. What is he saying?
“A few months ago, I learned that the landlord of this building wants to raise my rent to an obscene amount. At first, I was devastated. Then I got mad and thought about moving the salon. But the greedy bastards that own the buildings in downtown wanted crazy rent, too. I didn’t want to move out to the suburbs. That’s just not who I am. So, after a lot of soul-searching and talks with my financial planner, I decided it is time for me to retire. I am moving to Costa Rica, babies. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Kerrigan clapped for himself, as if to drive home exactly how wonderful. Everyone else stared at him blankly, in various stages of realization that they were going to have to relocate.
“But wait, there’s more,” Kerrigan said. “The reason I’m moving to Costa Rica is because I’ve met someone. I’m getting married and we’re starting our lives together there.”
Finally everyone snapped out of it, clapping and making congratulatory noises, demanding details.
They met online. Three months ago.
First, her mother had fallen head over heels in love. Now Kerrigan? Had someone put something in the water to make people fall in love so fast? She had known Aidan since high school. They were married and she still wasn’t sure.
How could her mother and Kerrigan be so sure after such a short time?
Just as pressing was the thought, where was she going to go now? Where would she move her clientele?
Zelda would eat up this news like one of Jane’s pastries.
It dawned on her that her sisters had succumbed to Zelda’s master plan to move her three daughters and their careers into the Forsyth Galloway Inn. They seemed happy. Kate hadn’t asked too many probing questions for fear that Zelda would mistake her curiosity for interest in securing her own place at the inn. The mere thought made Kate itchy with claustrophobia.
Still, it felt as if the fates had been conspiring with Zelda and Aidan to herd her and keep her close to home. Making her settle down with responsibilities that made her chafe even thinking about them.
Could she do hair in her kitchen?
Her clientele liked luxury. That was why they were willing to pay the prices they paid that allowed Kate to live comfortably. They would not want to sit in her kitchen.
If she did go to the inn, it sure would simplify things, and it would be a good time to see if some of her favorite colleagues might want to join her. Granted, the spa was a few months from opening but if she planted the seed now—
She shook her head. It was all too much, coming at her too fast.
Maybe she should talk to her sisters and get the inside scoop on what it was really like to work at the inn under their mother’s well-meaning but intrusive watch.
Carrying one of Jane’s famous colossal cinnamon rolls, Kate walked back to her station and opened her bag to get her phone out, but she was waylaid by the sealed manila envelope that contained her father’s contact info. It had been in her purse—unopened—since the day Aidan had presented it to her. While she was at it, maybe she should talk to her sisters about him, too. They had all been hurt by him. Each of them carried the scars of his abandonment in her own way. The main difference between Kate and her sisters was that Elle and Jane had gotten on with their lives. They had found love and happiness and fulfilling places in their community.
Kate was admittedly stuck on an island of her own making, unhappy and unable to move on. That was evidenced by the fact that she hadn’t realized she had been at the Kerrigan Karol Salon for eleven years. Doing the same thing day in and day out. Life had been passing her by. More than a decade was gone and what had she done? She was still in the same spot, treading water. It took Kerrigan draining the pool to make her make a change.
Kate plucked the envelope out of her bag and contemplated it. What was the harm in looking at the information Randy Ponder had gathered. It wasn’t as if he would have to face him. But it might be the first step toward a better life. She glanced at her watch. It was still early. Her first client wasn’t due for a half-hour. Envelope in hand, Kate hitched her bag onto her shoulder, and approached the salon’s reception desk. “I have to step out for a minute. If my client arrives early, please tell her I’ll be right back.”
She to the coffee shop across the street to read private detective’s report.
Chapter Ten
“They’re over there, Daddy!” Chloe pointed toward a group of girls and moms at a picnic table. “Can I go?”
Aidan nodded and watched Chloe set out across the park with her stuffed white cat tucked under her arm, running toward her rock-painting friends. When she reached the table, Doris greeted her and then immediately walked toward Aidan to meet him halfway.
“I’m so glad you could make it,” Doris said. “Where’s Kate today?”
He knew they had to ask this question. He had been prepared, but for a moment he lost his words.
“She is away right now, but Chloe still wanted to come. I hope it is okay that I’m here. I know this is a mom-and-daughter thing.”
He wished she would offer to keep an eye on Chloe so that he could go back to work for a couple of hours. He didn’t want to ask since Chloe had already spent so much time over there. Apparently, his returning to work wasn’t in the cards, because she had linked her arm through his and was walking him to the table.
“Nonsense,” she said. “You are absolutely welcome to join us. We won’t be here very long anyway since a couple of the girls have commitments tonight. We’re just go
ing to paint a few more rocks and let the girls place them around the park for people to find. I had little labels made with our collective Instagram handle @savannahrocks2754.”
“Does 2754 have a significance?” he asked.
Dori shrugged. “It was available.”
He nodded, not quite sure what else to say.
At least there would be something to do, a way to keep busy. He could help Chloe paint and then they could hit the road. His heart was heavy thinking about going back to the house and Kate not being there. He hadn’t heard from her today. A couple of times, he had had his phone in his hand with her number up, his thumb hovering over the Call button. But he had managed to come to his senses before doing anything stupid, like calling her. She wanted space. Or maybe he had told her she needed space. It was all so convoluted that the lines were beginning to blur.
All he knew was that she needed space and he needed to give it to her.
Speaking of personal space, Doris still had her arm linked through his, and as they approached the picnic table, he wasn’t quite sure how to pull away without offending.
By the grace of God, Chloe called, “Daddy, come here and look at my pink rock. Isn’t it pretty?”
When he reached Chloe’s side, his daughter held up a bismuth-pink rock, beaming at him as if she had painted a replica of the Sistine Chapel.
“It is gorgeous, Chloe,” Doris said. “What inspirational saying are you going to write on it?”
Chloe squinted toward the sky, pursing her little mouth and tapping her chin as if giving Doris’s question careful consideration.
Then her face brightened, and she said, “I’m going to write, ‘Come home soon, Mommy. I miss you.’”
“That’s very sweet, Chloe, but that will be the second rock you’ve painted for your stepmother. Don’t you want to write one you can leave in the park?”
Chloe’s face clouded. “I was going to leave this one in the park. I want her to find it so she knows how much I miss her and how much I want her to come home.”
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