“Come on, Kate, it was more than that,” Annie said.
She took a long drink from her lukewarm beer and slammed the mug on the thick, wooden table. “Well, it’s not like we sat around talking about country singers.”
“What did you talk about?” Derek pushed his beer aside and folded his arms on the table, drilling his crystal blue eyes into her. She’d known him long enough to recognize when he either had something to say or expected her to spill some information.
“Exactly what are you asking? Is there a specific answer you’re looking for?” She pushed her beer aside and mimicked his posture, propping her crossed arms on the table.
“It’s just you’ve been kind of vague about what drove you back to DC. The last time I was in Highland, you and Brody seemed kind of tight.”
“My job, remember? Besides, it’s none of your business.”
“Wasn’t it Loretta Lynn?” Annie suggested in a singsong voice. “Remember that old movie about her?” Her eyes sparkled and she looked expectantly at Kate and Derek, though neither one broke their stare. Her attempt to lighten the heavy mood wasn’t working.
“So, you’re telling me I’m only entitled to select information from you. Our long-standing friendship has its limits,” Derek said.
“I guess I’ll write down Loretta Lynn.” Annie penciled in the answer as Kate stared at Derek.
“It does when it comes to my personal life,” Kate said.
“Interesting. It’s never stopped you or Annie from sticking your noses into my personal life, has it? Who needs nagging sisters when I’ve got you two?”
“How did I get dragged into this?” Annie looked from Derek to Kate. “If Kate doesn’t want to talk about it, I think we should respect that.”
“Thank you, Annie,” Kate said.
“Every week I sit here with the two of you, listening to Annie whine about shit Kip did and listening to you whine about your boss or your client or how tired you are,” Derek said.
“Kip hasn’t done anything lately, I’ll have you know.” Annie drew herself up and lifted her chin. “He’s just about perfect.”
“Aren’t you the least bit concerned? Look at her—” Derek directed his question to Annie, but threw his hand out in Kate’s direction. “She’s got dark circles under her eyes, looks like a stick figure, and is paler than my white shirt. How much weight have you lost?” He leaned across the table and glared at Kate.
She blinked back tears as she looked at Derek’s face, only inches from hers. He was right. Theirs was not a typical guy-girl friendship, but more like brother-sister. He did listen to her problems and always offered sensible advice from his male perspective. Since she’d been back, she had avoided talking about Brody, finding it too painful to verbalize. Whenever Annie pressed for information as to what happened before she left, Kate did her best to explain it was a sensible, mutual decision, keeping the fact that she was hopelessly in love with him from entering the conversation. For all Annie or Derek knew, it was just a casual, non-committed relationship. In reality, that’s exactly what it was—but not on her part.
“I’m sorry. I appreciate your concern.” Kate grabbed Derek’s hand but he didn’t seem placated. “I am. It’s hard to talk about Brody, that’s all. It was hard leaving Highland Springs.”
“Ah.” Annie drew in a sharp breath and grabbed Kate’s arm. “So, you did love him? I knew it. Why didn’t you tell me? Why have you acted so nonchalant about it?”
“It was never supposed to get serious.” She shrank into the corner of the booth and wrapped her arms around herself. “He didn’t want me.”
“Are you sure about that?” Derek asked, still leaning across the table. “That’s not the vibe I got when I saw him on Tuesday.”
“What?” Annie popped off the booth bench like a jack-in-the-box. “You saw Brody?”
Kate thought she was going to be sick. Her body started to quiver, afraid of what Derek was about to say. She had the same hopeful reaction as Annie, but couldn’t bring herself to ask. Thank god Annie took over for her.
“Tell us everything,” Annie said, settled back on the seat.
“Remember, I told you I had to go back to Clarksburg.” He raised his brows at Kate, waiting for her recognition. She nodded, wishing he’d cut to the chase. “I got out of work a little early, so I decided to drive down to Highland Springs, have a drink at the Brass Rail.”
Just hearing the name of that rustic bar where she had first kissed Brody made her yearn to be back there, back in his arms.
“I was there about fifteen minutes and Brody walked in.”
“Was he with anyone?” Annie asked quietly, as if she were afraid of the answer.
“No, came in alone. I think maybe Liza had given him a call.” Derek chuckled and lifted his beer mug to his lips. “He looks about as bad as you do. Has a shitty beard, hair brushing his collar.” He flicked his hand below his closely cropped nape, showing them how long Brody’s hair had grown. “Looks like he’s been living out in the backwoods.”
“Like he did when you first met him.” Annie leaned against Kate and then wrapped her arm around her shoulders.
“Did he say anything?” Kate finally unlocked her vocal chords, praying Derek would give her a glimmer of hope.
“He asked about you. If I’ve seen you. How you’re doing.”
“And?” For once Kate was happy for Annie’s impatient, inquisitive nature. Her voice had locked up again as tears threatened to fall.
“And I told him I haven’t seen much of you except on Thursday nights, and that you were really tired and overworked.”
“What did he say to that?” Annie asked.
“He said you’re back in your element.”
Kate’s head sagged and she couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. She grabbed the paper napkin on the table and pressed it to her nose, doing all she could not to let out a loud, embarrassing sob. Why couldn’t he have said something like he wished she’d come back or he missed her or something, anything she could grab on to? She thought maybe after all these weeks apart, he would have come to realize he did love her after all. So much for wishful thinking.
“Listen to me.” Derek reached across the table and pulled one of her hands free. “Listen. To. Me.” He squeezed her hand tight, forcing her to look at him. “It’s what he didn’t say that I picked up on. The guy misses you. Wants you to come back.”
“Stop it,” she blurted between tears.
“I’ve been trained to read between the lines. Plus, I’m a guy. I know how we think.” He tugged on her hand once again. “He’s hurting. I can see it. Heard it in his voice. You need to talk to him.”
“What could I possibly say that he’d want to hear?” She sniffled and wiped her eyes and nose with the napkin. “I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“Tell him you’re miserable, that your job sucks, that you made the wrong decision. You’d move to Highland in a heartbeat if he’d just say the word.”
“He’s right, Kate.” Annie went back to rubbing Kate’s back and this time it actually started to work its magic. Her nurturing helped stop the flow of tears. Maybe Derek was right. She’d followed what she thought was the right path and she was miserable. The endless hours combing through evidence, depositions, testimony and constant research were making her crazy—and physically ill. Even now, thinking about going back into the office tomorrow morning at eight o’clock made her feel nauseated—a feeling she’d been having each morning for the past week. She had seriously considered quitting, regardless of the bonus and promotion.
“All I’m saying is—” Derek tipped up her chin with his knuckle, forcing her to look at him. “You look like you could use a little of Gram’s home cooking and some rest. Why don’t you go down to Highland Springs this weekend? And while you’re there, why don’t you go see him? You have nothing to lose.”
She glanced over at Annie who replied with an enthusiastic nod and then she locked eyes with Derek once again.
She drew strength from his confidence and agreed with a bob of her head. A weekend in Highland was exactly what she needed.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Gravel crunched under the rented Jeep’s tires as Kate rolled slowly down the frost-covered lane. The sun’s bright beam on the snowy field made it hard to see Brody’s gray farmhouse ahead. A plume of smoke rose out of Liza’s chimney, announcing she was home, as Kate drove past.
She had arrived in Highland Springs Friday evening, surprising Gram, and just as Derek had said, some of her grandmother’s home cooking and a good night’s sleep had made a world of difference. She had awoken this morning refreshed and relaxed, without the usual nausea she had been feeling for the past week. Just knowing she didn’t have to go into the office had settled her nervous stomach. Gram had made a huge breakfast of eggs, pancakes, and sausage gravy, and Kate had eaten like it was her last meal. While sipping her second cup of coffee, Gram brought up the reason for her visit—something she’d kindly avoided the night before.
“Well, honey, it’s time to spill it. What brought you back here so soon?”
“Gram, I’m hurt. Haven’t you missed me?” She winked at her grandmother as she gathered their plates from the table.
“Of course, I’ve missed you, but whenever we talk you sound so busy. I didn’t think you’d be able to get away.”
“I missed you and that’s why I’m here.” She carried the coffee decanter to the table and refilled her grandmother’s cup. “And I needed a little TLC.” She went to the sink and filled it with hot soapy water. She looked out into the backyard and thought she’d seen Brody outside, stacking wood. Of course, it had only been an apparition, one of many she was sure to have as she traveled around Highland Springs.
“You know you can always get that here.” Gram patted Kate’s chair. “Leave those dishes, honey. Come talk to me.”
She wiped her hands on a towel and returned to the table, dropping with a heavy sigh onto her chair. She and her grandmother had always been close, even closer since her accident, and she so wanted to talk about the past two months. Her grandmother’s wise counsel was what she needed.
“Gram.” She shook her head, unable to speak. Her throat clogged with emotion and she was once again on the brink of tears—a condition which was becoming all too frequent.
“Take your time, honey. We’ve got all the time in the world.”
She wadded a handful of tissues from the box always available on Gram’s table and pressed them to her face. A steady stream of silent tears dampened her cheeks. After a few minutes, her vocal chords unlocked and she blurted out, “I’m miserable. I think I made a mistake.”
“It’s okay. Let it all out.”
“I shouldn’t have gone back to DC.”
“You’re not happy with your decision?”
With a vigorous shake of her head, she blurted, “I want to come home—I mean, come back—come back home.”
“Oh, Katherine, honey.” Gram climbed to her feet and pulled Kate against her soft belly, petting her hand through Kate’s hair like she’d done since she was a child. “I hate seeing you so sad.” Her grandmother’s warm embrace and tender voice only made the tears fall harder. They stayed pressed to one another for several minutes until Kate was over the worst of her deluge.
“You can come home anytime you want. Your room is always made up for you.”
“I don’t know if I can come back. It will be too hard being in the same town as—”
“As Brody?” Gram stepped back and gathered Kate’s face in her hands. “Have you talked to him lately?” She shook her head no and dabbed at a few stray tears. “Why don’t you drive out to see him?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m sure he’d like to see you.”
“How do you know?” She sniffled and wiped her wet nose on the tissues.
“He’s been by here a few times and always asks about you.”
“Does he?”
“Every time.”
When Kate had pulled out of her grandmother’s drive ten minutes ago, she had been confident that this surprise visit with Brody would go well. Both Derek and Gram said he’d like to see her and when she left she was sure it was true. But the closer she got to his house, the more worried she became she was making a mistake. What if they had it wrong? What if he didn’t want to see her or talk to her? What if he was happy with her gone? It wasn’t like he’d begged her to stay. Would she have the nerve to tell him how she felt about him and her desire to move back to Highland Springs?
She pulled alongside the garage and cut the engine. She took a deep, steadying breath and climbed out of the truck, immediately hit with the cold, crisp wind blowing up from the valley. She walked toward the front porch, passing the window where she had so mischievously spied on Brody and chuckled at the memory. Walking across the porch, she quickly peered through the windows, but saw no one inside. The doorbell echoed throughout the house as she paced in a circle, waiting for him to answer. She rang again, but got the same unanswered reply.
As she rounded the corner to walk down the steps, she saw Loretta running up the lane, her brown speckled body streaking toward her, barking out a welcome with Liza following close behind. Her heart swelled against her ribs. She’d missed that dog so much—she didn’t realize how much until now. And she’d missed Liza, too. In the short time she’d been in Highland Springs, she felt like they’d become real friends.
“Hey.” Kate called out and waved to Liza, who was marching quickly up the drive. Loretta reached her first and jumped at Kate, landing her two front paws against her chest, nearly knocking her over. “Hey, Loretta. How’re you doing, girl?” She rubbed the dog’s ears with both hands and planted kisses on her long snout. “I’ve missed you, girl.” Loretta’s tail spun like a propeller at the end of her spine. Liza puffed white clouds of breath as she reached them.
“Liza, hey. It’s so good to see you.” She gently shoved Loretta’s paws aside and stepped toward Liza.
“What are you doing here?” Kate dropped her outstretched arms when she realized Liza wasn’t happy to see her. Liza planted her feet wide and crossed her arms, glaring at Kate in a noticeably unfriendly manner.
“I, um, stopped by to see Brody.”
“Why?”
A worried shiver ran down Kate’s back as she looked at Liza, standing ramrod straight, glaring at her as if she were her enemy. It was unlike Liza to be so antagonistic. Since the first time they met, Kate had felt an instant liking, a strong connection with her, but this angry woman standing in front of her was a stranger.
“I was in town for the weekend and thought I’d say hi.” She steeled her nerves and took a step closer. “Is something wrong?”
“Oh, I don’t know. How’s Washington? Happy to be back?”
“Not particularly.” Liza cocked one perfectly shaped eyebrow at Kate as her mouth twisted into a wry pout. “Did I do something to upset you?”
“Maybe.” Liza still hadn’t moved, hadn’t changed expression, and Kate was becoming very uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry if I upset you somehow.” She wasn’t up for a confrontation today and had a feeling she couldn’t win if she tried. “Just let Brody know I stopped by, will you, please? Maybe we can get together tonight at the Brass Rail.”
“He won’t be there.”
“Is he out of town?”
“He’s in Nashville.” News that Brody had returned to Nashville knocked the wind out of her sails. What happened to him needing to live in Highland Springs?
“Oh? When’s he coming back?” she asked.
“Who knows?” Liza struggled and pursed her lips. “Things are going really well for him down there, he might never come back.”
“He’s doing well?”
“Better than ever. He’s recording, writing, having a great time. It’s good for him to be back to his old life. He’s in a much happier place.”
“I’m, um, glad to hear it.”
“Yea
h, he’s back hanging with his old friends.” Liza took a step closer, keeping her trance-like stare locked on Kate. “He’s been spending a lot of time with Callie Starr.”
“Callie Starr? The singer?” Kate thought she was going to be sick. Her knees weakened and Liza’s face blurred in front of her. Callie Starr was the hottest—in every sense of the word—female country singer in the world. Not only was she a platinum-selling recording artist, but she was drop dead gorgeous.
“Yep, the very same.” With a satisfied smirk, Liza turned and started walking back toward her cottage. She looked over her shoulder and tossed out one more comment, just to make sure she’d driven the knife in deep enough. “She’s all he talks about when he calls.”
How stupid could she be? She honestly believed Derek when he said Brody missed her. Liza’s announcement confirmed exactly what she had suspected before she left. They were just a casual thing to him—nothing more. All those weeks tangled up in his arms meant nothing to him, while she kept falling deeper and deeper in love with him—fooling herself into believing he felt the same. Well, at least he never lied to her.
“Good for him.” A sizzling rage boiled up inside Kate, but she wasn’t sure if she was angry at Brody or herself for being so blind. She stomped toward her car and mumbled as she passed Liza. “I hope he’s happy,” she sneered.
“What did you think he was going to do? Sit around here night after night alone?” Liza turned around, her fury pinning Kate against the door. “You didn’t want him, so why should you care?”
“What?”
“You couldn’t get out of town fast enough. You were the one who left him.”
“I left him? Is that what he said?” She drew up straight, using her height advantage to hover over Liza.
“You’re back in DC, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I went back to DC, but it’s not like he wanted me to stay or was willing to move.” She turned her back on Liza and threw open the car door. “I guess he wanted me out of the way though, so he could get back to Nashville.”
Whatever You Say Page 22
