A Promise of Forever

by M. E. Brady

  “I’m not sure what you’re talking about but I needed to talk to you. I have something important to discuss with you,” she added. He’d known when she was troubled before but this time she was worrying him. There was something in the tone of her voice that made him worry. Kevin had been her only family since their parents’ accident and they had become very close. He felt her pain when she hurt and her joy when she was happy. It was a special connection they both shared. She could never hide her feelings from him.

  After talking about the events of the day, Kevin convinced her that, in this instance, Adam was right. She and Jenny should come out to Montana for as long as it takes to clear her head. “It’s not as if I’m a struggling attorney, Kate. If you don’t find a job right away, it’s no big deal. I could always help out, until you get back on your feet. That’s why I’m here, Irish, remember that,” he said after her protests; he had already done so much for her, she felt.

  “Kevin, I think you have supported Jenny and I long enough. I’m not going down that road again. I need to do this for myself. Things are different now. I’m an adult and I’ll find work. Jenny and I will be just fine. However, I will take you up on your offer for a short visit. By the way, we were so busy discussing me and my problems; what news do you have to share?” she asked.

  There were a few quiet seconds of hesitation before he spoke and Katelyn knew he was holding back to protect her. “I’m not sure that this is the time to tell you after the news you just shared.” he said hesitantly. “Then again, maybe it’s the best time. Sylvia and I found out a few months ago that we’re expecting a baby.” She could feel Kevin’s chest bursting with pride even though she wasn’t there to witness it. She was so happy for them both. They had waited so long for this joyous event. She remembered Sylvia telling her recently that they had given up hope and were going to be looking into adoption.

  “Oh Kevin, I’m so happy for both of you. How were you able to keep this from me for this long?” she asked. She couldn’t help the tears as they happily flowed down her cheeks. At least this time they were tears of joy. The cab had finally reached the apartment and she told Kevin she would have to call him back later when Jenny got home from school.

  Katelyn walked around the apartment and stopped when she arrived at the door to Jenny’s room. She smiled, as she glanced around at all the stuffed animals scattered along the wall. She couldn’t wait to become an aunt to Kevin and Sylvia’s child and spoil her niece or nephew the same way they had spoiled Jenny. It must have killed Kevin not to tell me. She decided to call Sylvia right away and offer her congratulations.

  Sylvia was tickled pink to be able to talk about her pregnancy and glad that Kevin had finally told Katelyn. Sylvia explained to Katelyn that it bothered them both not to be able to share their news with her but she wanted to get past that first critical stage of her pregnancy since previous attempts had failed. “I’m due around October 15th. I don’t need to tell you how nervous we both are,” she reiterated.

  Yes, happy and nervous all at the same time. She remembered those feelings and informed Sylvia of the gamut of feelings she would go through, until the baby came. The first emotion she would feel would be excitement. A baby was a gift, a part of two people who loved each other. “You both waited so long for this to happen; nothing will go wrong this time. Besides, you have two angels watching over you.” She held the cordless phone in her hand and walked over to her wall of memories. This wall held all the images of her favorite people in frames which she proudly displayed. It was there that she smiled as she touched the outline of the faces of her parents.

  “Look out for the baby, Mom,” she whispered silently. She missed her parents more than she had ever let on to anyone. The one and only person who knew just how devastated that loss was to her was Kevin. It was another feeling they mutually shared. She continued her conversation with Sylvia, all the while glancing from frame to frame. She had come upon the one of the three musketeers and smiled. It was a picture that Kevin had sent her while away at college, him and his two best friends, Gianfranco Broccolini and Jake Lonetree.

  The three men shared a lot of good and bad memories alike during their time together in college. They each had a story to tell as to what led them to Yale and in turn led them to each other. Jake was a very good-looking American Indian and proud of it. He fought his way to the top of his high school class and was offered a scholarship for all his hard work by an unknown donor. While at Yale he was called upon to defend his heritage time and again and it often ended in physical brawls. Gianfranco and Kevin were more than willing to throw a few fists of their own in aiding their friend.

  Jake shocked them all when he announced after graduation that he had enlisted in the service and yet they weren’t surprised to later hear that he had become part of a Navy Seal elite squad. It was that military training that quieted the restlessness he had always felt. With his Ivy League education in business and his Navy Seal training, Jake became a very wealthy man in civilian life. He was the one person Kevin trusted to keep an eye on Katelyn and Jenny after Kevin accepted a position at a large law firm in Montana.

  She and Jake had formed a lasting friendship over the years and spent a lot of time together. Some friends and coworkers alike wondered if there was more to their relationship than friendship.

  Then there was the third member of the trio, Gianfranco Broccolini. Unbeknownst to Kevin, he and Katelyn formed a relationship quite different than the one she formed with Jake; that liaison would change Katelyn’s life forever. He taught her what it was like to be totally consumed by love and then, afterwards, he tore her heart from her chest and hurt her so badly she thought she would never recover. The only saving grace was that Kevin and Jake never found out about the affair. Had they figured out who had fathered her child, it would have upset and disappointed both men. It was a secret she swore to keep to herself.

  Gianfranco Broccolini entered Yale to break away from the presumptuous rich cronies that surrounded him since his grandmother’s demise, when he was sixteen. He had no family left to speak of and an education abroad seemed to be the best solution for him until his trust fund was released to his care. He had the grades and the money to pay for his education himself. The lawyers may have had temporary control over his amass fortune but when he turned twenty-five he took over full control of his company, and no one could stop him. He’d doubled his investments and holdings in a short amount of time. It didn’t take long before the men and women who hadn’t had to answer to him before respected him and were learning from him.

  “Sylvia, have you, by any chance, heard from Gianfranco?” she asked as she glared at his picture. She thought she heard her sister-in-law teasingly ask if she could make things move too and wondered what she meant by that.

  “Kevin was right; you really do have a sixth sense. We were just talking to Gianfranco yesterday. He flew to the states on business last week and, if I’m not mistaken, he left for New York City yesterday. He told us he’s back in the States for good this time. I guess we’ll all be seeing a lot more of him. Your brother is thrilled that he’s back in the country and I can only imagine that Jake is too. The three musketeers back together again; it’s a little scary to think about.” Stopping to take a breath, Sylvia laughed before continuing.

  “I believe Kevin gave Gianfranco your number and asked him to look in on you. He told him he should hook up with Jake and get a home-cooked meal at your place,” she added jokingly. She loved her conversations with Katelyn and when they got on the phone it was as if they lived around the corner and had just spoken, never missing a beat.

  “Jake never needed an invitation to come for dinner. He’s been known to stop by and check up on us. I’m sure he’s following my brother’s orders.” She loved her brother but sometimes he was a bit overbearing. Kevin thought she needed a man in her life and poor Jake bore the brunt of his over-protective attitude. She was sure Jake passed up many dates to spend time with her and Jenny.

&nb
sp; “Jake never minded spending time with you, Kate, and my husband is just a worry wart. Maybe, with a new baby to keep him occupied, he’ll leave you alone,” Sylvia teased. “By the way, I don’t know if I should mention this or not but Jake didn’t think Adam was the right guy for you and I’m sure he’ll be glad to hear you’re done with him; he never told us why he felt that way though.”

  Katelyn smiled, thinking of all the American Indian tales that Jake had shared with her and Jenny, night after night. “I’m beginning to think that you are all believers in Jake’s mumbo jumbo. I love Jake Lonetree with all my heart but I can’t say that I believe in tales of rings linking people’s lives together, forever. It’s hard for me to believe that such a well-educated man like Jake could believe in all that nonsense.”

  She had great respect for Jake and the work he did with underprivileged Native American youth on his ranch. He had turned his massive ranch into an Indian reservation from the past. If anyone were ever allowed to go beyond the entry gates, they would think that they had stepped back in time. He felt, if he took the youth back to where it all began they could move forward with pride in their heritage. The kids were taught everything about how their ancestors lived in the past. They became excellent marksmen and horseman. They learned to survive living off the land using nothing but knives and a bow and arrow and later the occasional rifle. Jake proved to be quite a success with the kids that he took there. A high percentage of the kids who spent time with Jake on the ranch went on to college and beyond. It was amazing; even those opposed to his project had to applaud him in the end. Jake was able to instill a feeling of hope and pride that many of the children hadn’t had before. Talk about paying it forward, Jake took his work with underprivileged youth very seriously and it was paying off.

  Katelyn heard the doorbell ringing in the background and assumed it had to be Adam. No one else would expect her to be home at this time of day and she chose to ignore it. She had no wish to rehash the events of her meeting with him or his father. She was surprised that he would come to her apartment, knowing how she felt about that. She had always insisted that they meet at their agreed upon destination. She had no desire to explain her relationship with Adam to her daughter. Jenny was a bright child and sometimes a little too presumptuous; she didn’t want Jenny to become little Miss Matchmaker.

  Chapter Three

  The doorbell was still ringing and, although Katelyn wanted to ignore it, the person on the other side of door had a different idea altogether. She didn’t feel up to a confrontation with Adam; she had already been through enough.

  “I have to go, Sylvia, someone is at the door and they are being very persistent. Again, congratulations, I’m very happy for you both,” she said before replacing the receiver on its cradle.

  As she opened the door, the face that greeted her wasn’t Adam at all. It was the face that had haunted her thoughts for many years. His eyes were so dark that you couldn’t tell where the pupil began or ended. He smiled warmly and asked if she were going to let him in. He acted as though they were two long lost friends who hadn’t seen each other, nothing more. Katelyn found it difficult to speak to him as their time together came flooding back to her. Gianfranco stared at her for a brief moment before reaching out and embracing her in a friendly hug.

  “Hello, Irish. I wasn’t sure whether you would want me to stop by but I took the chance anyway.” He still hadn’t let her go. It was almost as if he were holding on to a lifeline. “I’m glad I decided to though. I must have walked around your building for twenty minutes before coming up,” Gianfranco added without hesitation.

  “Don’t be ridiculous; I’m always happy to see one of Kevin’s friends.” She didn’t know what had prompted her to be so dismissive but she couldn’t take it back, now that it was out there. Once again, her stubborn pride needed to lash out in response to the disappointment she felt. She wanted him to pay for his nonchalance toward the past they shared together.

  He smiled but grunted too, “Is that all I am to you, Irish? Am I just your brother’s friend?” he queried mysteriously. Katelyn could see that she had stung him with her words. When she tried to make up for it by shaking her head, in response to his question, she thought she felt a slight kiss on her head. It was ever gentle but he had indeed kissed her, just above her ear. She had always wondered what their first meeting would be like after all this time. It was going to happen sooner or later; they were both bound to see each other eventually.

  There was no way to describe the effect he was having on her by holding her in his arms for so long. It is time to break from his embrace. She stared up into his eyes and willed him to let go of her but she could see his intent was very different. He wanted her to remember. He willed it; he needed her to recall what it felt like to be in his arms. His Italian pride would not allow him to be dismissed by her so easily.

  She pulled away just then and made a poor attempt at safer conversation. She would do anything that would help erase the shameless thoughts that his touch evoked. “Kevin tells me you’re back in the States for good this time,” she stated as she fidgeted with the door behind him. “Come in and sit down. I don’t want my neighbors to start speculating about all that banging you were doing,” she added. “I don’t keep any liquor in the house but there is some beer in the fridge if you would like one. Jake has been known to stop by now and then and I keep some beer cold for him,” she rambled, but not before noticing she had triggered another reaction; she couldn’t quite figure out why.

  “I don’t want anything. Thank you for asking though. I should have come by sooner but I didn’t know what to say to you,” Gianfranco said. He could see that she was uncomfortable in his presence but, instead of feeling compassion, he felt amused. “Am I making you nervous, Irish?” he asked arrogantly. He was sure his close proximity was having an effect on her and he could see that she was struggling to keep herself together. As they continued into the apartment, Katelyn was having trouble relaxing. He could see that and wondered why he affected her so deeply, even now after all this time.

  “Don’t be silly. Why would you make me nervous? I have a lot on my mind right now and you and your arrogant self aren’t high on my list,” she added, rushing past him.

  She turned slightly to ask another question. “By the way, whatever happened to Italy being in your blood? I recall you said that you wouldn’t be happy unless you were there.” Katelyn hadn’t meant to reveal so much. She could feel his eyes bearing down on her from behind. It was as if he were trying to read her thoughts as they made their way down the narrow hall. She couldn’t turn to face him because her eyes would most certainly give her away.

  “Be careful, Irish, I might think you memorized our last encounter word for word. I wonder what the experts would consider that to mean. Are there some deeper unresolved thoughts running through that beautiful head of yours? Or, better yet, are you trying to bate me, as you have so expertly done in the past?” he asked conceitedly. He didn’t want to scare her but she was hiding something from him, of that he was certain.

  Gianfranco had finally come to terms, believing that she had had an affair with another man shortly after leaving his bed. That affair produced a child and he wasn’t sure if he could get past that knowledge. He knew that every time he looked at little Jenny, it would remind him of her mother’s betrayal. The blame for the betrayal lay with him. He never blamed her. He had taught her all the ways of sensuality and left her.

  “Don’t be silly. I have nothing to hide. I’m just a little surprised that you came back and maybe a little curious, about why you came back,” she blared as she sat down on the sofa. She cursed herself; how easy it was for him to read her thoughts and make her uncomfortable in her own skin. He joined her on the sofa because he knew she was hoping he would opt for the chair across the room. He wasn’t about to let this opportunity pass.

  “I’m impressed,” he said as he looked around. “The apartment is nice. It’s small but very warm and cozy.” He p
aused for a moment before continuing. “I came back, Katelyn, because I needed to and, as far as our past is concerned, I said what needed to be said at the time,” referring to their time together.

  Gianfranco needed to explain himself further. “If I remember correctly, which I assure you I do, you were the one who had plans for a bright future that didn’t include me. You were going to California to experience your new independent life. And, by the way, I’m proud of you and all you’ve accomplished. I know that it’s been hard for you over the years.” For a man who made multi-million dollar decisions on a daily basis, why was talking to Katelyn increasingly impossible for him. He fumbled with his hands; he was afraid of what would happen if his skin came into contact with hers. He wanted to pick her up at this very moment and take her to the bedroom and make love to her. Make her forget the man who fathered her daughter but that was impossible.

  “Would it have mattered if I had decided to stay here instead?” she asked nervously. She wanted and needed to hear his answer. The answer might convince her that she had done the right thing by keeping the secret of their daughter’s birth from him.

  “That, my sweet Cara, is a loaded question. Are you sure you can deal with the answer? It may be the answer you don’t want to hear, then what? It would be too late to take back the question, once I have answered it.” He glanced around the room once again; this time he commented on how much he admired her taste.

  “I could use someone like you to decorate my new place. It doesn’t have this warm glow that this place has. It’s very cold or so my housekeeper tells me.” He noticed how much his Irish had matured. Her breasts were the only obvious physical sign that she had had a child. They were fuller and larger than he remembered them and, yes, he did remember. She seemed less trusting and easy going than in the past.