The Best Man

by Carol Hutchens

  She took a deep breath. Sobs were about to escape her as she studied him. She forced another deep calming breath. Her glance darted around the room. This office was all of her father that she had ever known, and Joel had claimed it as his. She swallowed the bile filling the back of her throat and gained new resolve.

  “I finished mourning for you months ago.” Her breath hitched. Her heart pounded in her chest. “Our life together is over. That’s what I came to tell you. I want to reclaim my life, not ruin yours.”

  Kate stood on trembling legs. Silence shrouded the room echoing with her words, and she heard a gasp and turned toward the door.

  Laurel stood there, her face white, her eyes reflecting tormented emotions. “T-there’s a reporter on the phone.” Then she turned and staggered away.

  Kate felt a moment of pain. She’d lost a husband and a friend. But it was time to move forward. She had a life to live, thanks to the courage of poor villagers living half-way around the world.

  At the door, she glanced over her shoulder. Joel’s look of utter confusion pulled at her sympathy, until she remembered this was how he won his battles. This was the look he had perfected, the one he used on jurors when he was in court.

  Now she recalled, this was the look he turned on her when he insisted they should wait before having babies.

  Kate took a deep breath to calm her jittery insides. Chalk up five wins for Joel…Oops, no, make that six. He had squirmed out of having babies, and he managed to have her declared dead after only three days.

  He was resilient, she would hand him that.

  But so was she. The new Kate, the survivor, could face down this man she had called husband.

  “I’m back, Joel. I’m taking my rightful place in this firm.” She watched his throat work. It didn’t seem possible that he could turn any paler, but he managed. “And…” she paused, wishing she’d had time to get Luke’s backing on this, then she gave an unladylike snort. What the heck! She was through with asking permission. “And…I want you out of this office…today.”

  Joel sputtered and turned an unbecoming shade of red. He stared from Kate to Luke and snarled. “You planned this together.”

  Luke looked at him coolly. “Actually, we didn’t—”

  “T-then tell her that isn’t going to happen. This is my office and I’m staying.”

  “…it didn’t even come up.” Luke continued as if Joel hadn’t interrupted. “But I agree with Kate. It’s time you moved back to your old office.” He turned toward the door. “And don’t forget to file those petitions today as we discussed.”

  ***

  Luke spared a glance at the sick look on Laurel’s face as he strode after Kate. He couldn’t find it in him to spend a moment of sympathy on her. In the weeks before that ill-fated trip, he suspected Joel was interested in Laurel. That would explain all the late hours they had worked.

  He blamed himself for all that had happened to Kate.

  If he had shared his suspicions, she wouldn’t have agreed to that second honeymoon with Joel. She wouldn’t have suffered the past eighteen months.

  No matter how long it took, he would make amends to Kate. Sacrificing his career to a firm that had struggled since her father died seemed a small price to pay. He could have prevented Kate from her near death experience. But he’d said nothing and put her life at risk. He couldn’t forgive himself for that. Throw in the fact that he had feelings for her, and his reluctance to take action was unforgivable.

  He’d live with his regret, but he intended to turn this firm around. That was the least he could do for Kate. And like it or not, Laurel was still employed by the firm. Jaw rigid, he paused and stared at her. “Anything interesting in all those calls?”

  The secretary’s eyes widened as if she had expected something far different in his response. Relief flashed over her tear-stained features. “It’s reporters. They won’t stop calling.”

  “Take their numbers,” he said as Kate’s office door closed. He wanted to talk to her, but she needed time to herself. He turned down the hall, shutting the door to his office behind him.

  He’d lived with the guilt of withholding knowledge of Joel and Laurel’s actions for two years. While they were planning their wedding, he’d blamed himself.

  He could have left the firm and escaped his guilt, but that meant giving up all he’d worked for over the past ten years. Still, he’d been temped. It would almost have been worth the move to see Joel forced to work for once.

  What kept him from leaving, and kept him from telling Joel what he thought about his desertion of Kate, was hope. All the time Kate had been gone, he harbored hopes that maybe she was alive. No matter how slim the chances were, he never stopped hoping.

  That sliver of hope, that she might have survived, kept him rooted in the firm.

  If by some miracle she had survived, she would contact Joel. Would return to her father’s office. And despite the difficulty of facing Joel every day, he couldn’t leave his only connection to Kate.

  If Joel received any information from authorities and the latest updates of survivors, he wanted to be there. He couldn’t turn his back on Kate. He owed it to her…to her father’s memory, to work for the firm until she returned. If he’d found comfort in the four walls where she had spent most of her days, he was the only one who knew.

  He watched as Joel assumed command of the office. He cooperated on cases and worked to keep the firm afloat. All while blaming himself for Kate’s disappearance.

  Now, a miracle had happened. Kate had returned. Luke had a second chance. This time he intended to make sure Kate knew his intentions. But he couldn’t rush her. She had been through too much turmoil. After she had time to adjust, to absorb all that had happened, then he would tell her what she meant to him.

  Meanwhile, he wanted to sooth her path, make her return to the practice easy for her. She struggled for survival in the past months. He didn’t want her to feel pressured now that she was home.

  Grabbing the phone on his desk, Luke punched in the number for the bank. After a few minutes, he arranged for a new checking account and credit card in Kate’s name. The card and checks would arrive within the hour. He could do that much at least.

  Playing racket-ball with one of the bank officers gave him leverage, and deep pockets added clout. So did the mention of the woman’s name in all the news headlines. Kate would balk at his actions without consulting her, but she needed funds and he had the means.

  Luke settled back in his chair and sighed. She had to face the media. Nothing would be the same after that. Wait.

  Who was he kidding. Nothing had been the same since Joel had called from Thailand to say Kate was missing. Luke shuddered as he relived those moments. He’d been at home, sitting on his sofa, enjoying the quiet while he soaked up the beauty of his latest art acquisition, when the phone rang.

  When Joel’s frantic sounding voice said, “Kate’s missing. She was washed away by the tsunami.” Luke’s world had stopped spinning.

  For long hours, he stared at the new painting on the wall, willing Kate to be alive. And trying to think of ways to break the news to her father. When morning rolled around, he had zoomed into action, called every connection he could think of in his effort to find a way to locate Kate.

  Once he reached her father’s house and broke the news to him, the senior partner had done the same with his contacts. Tension and fear formed a bond between the two men like never before. Luke saw pain and regret on Roger’s face. At long last, he realized in his own way, this man cared for his daughter. And he knew, with the certainty of a kindred spirit, Kate would be thrilled.

  Except, he couldn’t see her, couldn’t share the news with her. And the long nightmare of praying for her survival began.

  Then Joel returned home three days after Kate was lost.

  Three measly days. She could still be clinging to a life raft. She could be floating at sea, waiting for rescue. Or washed up on a beach, needing medical attention. Bu
t Joel, selfish bastard that he was, returned home...alone.

  Luke revolted against his partner's uncaring attitude, instantly taking vacation leave from the firm. Kate’s father approved, though only the dark clouds in his eyes spoke of his worry.

  Joel badgered Luke to stay and take up the slack left by Kate’s absence. He knew there was some truth to Joel’s claims that he wasn’t ready to accept a full load at work, yet. Joel’s personal experience during the tsunami left him feeling over-whelmed.

  Luke accepted his claims of needing time to recover. But each day Luke delayed his search for Kate was a day she might be suffering and needing help.

  He ignored Joel’s pleas for him to wait and had taken his vacation time to go search for Kate. He’d flown straight to the disaster area and started his own search, despite the emergency relief teams flooding to the area. Three weeks later, after more dead bodies that he ever wanted to see again, he had reluctantly admitted defeat and returned home.

  But nothing was the same.

  And to this day, things were still different.

  Hell! Nothing had been same since he’d stood beside Joel as he married Kate.

  Then, two days ago, when he turned and saw Kate walking down the aisle, his prayers had been answered. Kate was alive. Even in her hand-me-down dress and ragged hair, she had never looked more beautiful to him.

  A knock sounded on his office door.

  Chapter 5

  Luke shook his head to clear the memories and called, “Come in!”

  Kate poked her head around the edge of the door. “Do you have a minute?”

  The sight of her face, framed by becoming strands of short hair, made his heart pound in his chest. He nodded and managed to squeeze one hoarse sounding word out of his mouth. “Sure.”

  Seeing Kate, alive and standing in his door, filled him with a sense of wonder. All week-end he’d caught himself staring at her when she wouldn’t notice. The new hairstyle emphasized her eyes, exposing cheek bones a model would drool over. How much weight had she lost? Twenty or thirty pounds, maybe more. Kate had never been heavy, but now she looked…too thin. But he’d never seen her look more beautiful.

  “Have a seat.” Luke waved toward a chair in front of his desk. Her father had given him a start in his legal career. He owed the firm his allegiance. He owed Kate... he hadn’t revealed Joel’s interest in Laurel.

  But his reactions now had nothing to do with his ties to the firm, and everything to do with how he felt about Kate.

  She settled in the chair, crossed her legs in the pale blue Capri's and glanced around his office. He could see the wheels turning in her head as she checked off the items she remembered.

  “You haven’t changed anything.”

  Luke gave a start, surprised at how close their thoughts were. But it wasn’t a major discovery. From the day they first met, they formed a common bond. While Kate didn’t know details of his past, he knew. They were both trying to win approval of their fathers. Kate’s father had died, but the fact that she consented to help save the firm proved she was still striving for her father’s endorsement.

  “I’m not much for decorating.”

  “You changed apartments. And sold all your paintings.”

  Luke shrugged and tried to keep any reaction from his face. Not and easy task. He could feel heat building in his neck. The last thing he wanted was for Kate to learn the reason he’d sold his paintings. “That’s different.”

  Kate studied him for long seconds. Long enough that he worried she saw through his attempts to hide his secret, and had worked out the reason he had moved. But her first words, when she changed the subject, allowed his tension to ease.

  “I wonder if I should reconsider staying with the firm.” She looked past his head, stared at the row of legal textbooks lining the bookshelf. “Things would be easier for everyone if I left.”

  “Not really.” Luke ran a hand through his hair and struggled to control his emotions. Now was not the time. He had to wait. “Look, I know why you’re making that suggestion. That confrontation with Joel was awkward. But this firm was your father’s dream. He built his client base with hard work and dedication. If Joel is uncomfortable, let him be the one to relocate.”

  Maybe he should he feel remorse for laying a guilt trip on her, but he was thinking of her best interests. Protecting her inheritance...and keeping her safe. Watching her expressions, seeing the rigid tilt of her chin, he almost retracted his statement.

  Doubt clouded her eyes. Wrinkles creased her brow. She’d had enough stress over the past few months. If he could ease her load, he would. Tossing caution to the wind, he played his last card. “You owe it to your father’s memory to stay, to save the firm.”

  “Excuse me!” Kate’s brows rose almost to her hair, an amazing feat considering her short haircut. The sound erupting from her bow shaped lips seemed more snarl than laugh. “Owe my father?” Contempt dripped from her words. “I learned one thing from this disaster. And that’s how to think clearly.”

  She braced her hands on the arms of the chair, ready to escape. He wanted to help, not chase her away.

  “Kate, I—”

  “Why do you think I owe my father anything?” Her eyes burned like hot coals. He sensed the emotions churning inside her and wished he hadn’t caused her pain. “He deserted my mother when I was a baby.” Her breath shuddered. “He donated sperm. Started this firm. Well, guess what. I tripped over myself trying to please him. I bent backwards, tried to forget the past, all because I wanted to earn his love, and his respect.”

  “Kate—”

  Two large tears rolled down her cheeks. “I-I thought things would be okay…if he would just love me. T-that’s all I wanted from him. My father’s love.”

  “I didn’t mean—”

  “But you know what I discovered after all those months of going with little food, and not knowing if I would ever find my way home?”

  Luke shook his head. “I know you changed.” Her brows arched, reminding him of how he’d missed her. During those months while she was gone, he would have given his life’s savings for a chance to see her familiar expression again.

  “Disaster and near death brings change.” Kate cleared her voice. “I learned to see things clearly.” She looked down at the hand clenched in her lap. “That’s how I worked out my feelings for Joel.” She sighed and leaned back in the chair. “I worked out a lot of things. I finally realized it wasn’t my fault my father didn’t love me. It was his loss. He wasn’t capable of love.”

  “He was a hard man.”

  “You should know. Look at how he treated you.”

  Luke frowned. “What do you mean? He gave me my first job, and made me a partner in the firm.”

  Kate’s snorted impatiently. “Then Joel comes along and snaps up an equal partnership in no time. That had to sting.”

  Luke leaned back in his chair. He had under estimated her insight. She really had grown in the months since she had been away. His admiration for her grew. “I didn’t think it showed.”

  “It didn’t. If I hadn’t been stranded in the top of that tree for three days, I might not have figured it out.” She shook her head. Shorts wisps of hair clung to her face. “We were all pawns. My father didn’t care about anyone but himself. He never intended to make me a partner. Even if Joel hadn’t shown up, and courted the boss’s daughter, I wouldn’t have been made partner.”

  “Don’t be so hard—”

  “I’m facing facts. My father left us because he didn’t care about us. He only cared about himself.” She sucked in a noisy breath. “Once I realized that, I was determined to change. I want the people I care about to know they’re important to me.” She pulled in a deep breath. “That’s why I need to get away from Joel.”

  “He’s not important to you, now?”

  Kate met his gaze as her head moved slowly from side to side. “It took me long enough, but I know my feelings now.”

  “That doesn’t mean you
need to leave and give up what belongs to you.” Luke struggled to keep his tone even and fought back the question on the tip of his tongue. He was desperate to ask if he was important to her. But all that had happened held him back. “Despite your feelings for your father, this firm is your heritage.”

  Kate sighed. “I guess. At least this is better than what he left us the last time. But I think starting over is best.”

  “I don’t want you to go. Stay and claim your rightful place in the firm.”

  “That’s just it, Luke. I don’t know my place. Everything has changed.”

  “You have changed.” Luke watched her brows lift in surprise. “You’re stronger, now, more determined.”

  “I’m not afraid to stand up for myself, if that’s what you mean. But…I’m not so sure I’m stronger in other ways.”

  “You wouldn’t have stood up to Joel, before.”

  Kate gave a lopsided grin and nodded. “It felt good.”

  Luke laughed. “It sounded good, too. I’m proud of you.”

  “I don’t know, Luke.” Kate held up a hand that trembled. “I’m not sure I’m ready to face a courtroom.”

  Luke fought the urge to rush to her side and wrap her in his arms. “That’s understandable. But there’s always piles of work that don’t require an appearance in court.”

  Kate studied the square lift of his chin and nodded. He meant his offer, she knew. Would Joel agree to her lack of time in court? Then it hit her. She was a partner in the firm. Luke backed her up. Two partners to one. “You’re right. I’m just being a coward. One confrontation and I cave like a marshmallow. I won’t make that mistake again.”

  “You didn’t cave. You threw Joel out of your father’s office. I’d call that a win.”