“Stay right here. We’ll bring her in.”
Kate waited as the police officer left. She looked around at the grey walls, steel table, and two modest, unpadded steel chairs.
“Remind me to never do anything wrong,” she said aloud just as a guard brought Estella in. Estella still tried to look superior, despite the fact that her hair was disheveled. She was in handcuffs, wearing an ill-fitting prison jumper, her eye make-up smeared, and Kate was pretty sure that she spotted the beginnings of a shiner near Estella’s left eye.
The officer unlocked the cuffs and moved to the corner of the room.
“You took forever getting here,” Estella said with a huff, rubbing her wrists and then dropping herself onto the metal chair that screeched slightly when she sat.
Kate did not sit down.
“I’m sorry I kept you waiting, Estella.” Kate’s voice was sharp, so sharp in fact that Estella took notice and softened her own tone.
“I-I’m sorry, Kate, but it couldn’t be helped. He provoked me.”
Kate tried hard not to roll her eyes. “He provoked you? How?”
Estella shrugged, and her too-big jumper flapped around the shoulders when she did. “He’s an ass. He does not deserve to be famous.”
“Oh, and you do?” Kate’s eyes never left her.
Estella jutted out her chin. “I am a far better cook than he is, for starters, and he’s an arrogant hick who got lucky. Now, why are we here talking about this? I called you to post my bail. As my publisher you should be able to do that, yes?” Estella voice cut right through Kate. It was all she could do not to lunge herself across the table and choke her.
Kate leaned on the table. “Estella, I have not come to pay your bail. I have come to tell you that we are canceling your publishing contract.”
The author stood up. “You can’t do that. I need to speak to MacDermott Ellis. He’s been working on my book and even though he’s not with you, he should still be in charge. I don’t even know why you would be handling my book. You know nothing about cooking.”
Kate’s hand itched to slap this spoiled rotten child. Instead, she leaned forward on the table and said, “Mac has been fired. I’m in charge and I’m canceling your contact and pulling your book. You should feel free to find yourself another publisher, someone who will be willing to listen to your whiney, sniveling complaints that you aren’t famous enough and don’t have a TV show and a restaurant and how the world is unfair and you’ve been cheated out of your fair share of fame.”
Kate could have sworn she saw a slight smile on the face of the officer who stood quietly in the corner. Estella said nothing for a moment and then stood up and lunged at Kate.
“You bitch!” she screamed.
The officer stepped forward and pulled the woman back, forcing her into her seat. “Don’t move,” he commanded.
Kate smiled as she said, “I will send the cancelation paperwork in the morning and have Accounting contact you and your agent about the advance. I really don’t know where you got off with this holier-than-thou attitude, thinking you are better than any other human because you’re an author and treating everyone like trash. You people need to learn that publishing is not a right but a privilege. Go find yourself a publisher that will put up with your egomaniacal bullshit, because Lavigne House is done. Oh, and good luck finding another publisher after that stunt you pulled tonight.”
Kate turned and left. Walking out of the police station, she realized that Mexico had changed her a lot more than she’d realized.
She could still hear Estella screaming at her as she was led out of the room and towards her cell.
CHAPTER 113
The next morning, Publisher’s Lunch picked up the story for their email newsletter:
Author Who Cooks Up Trouble Is No Match for Kate Mitchell
When was the last time you felt like firing an author and actually wish you could do it? Well, Kate Mitchell, Publisher and often Publicist for Lavigne House, did just that last night when Estella Travers got out of control during the opening of local Belgian restaurant Flanders. Travers was arrested for her disturbance and expected to be bailed out by her publisher, but Kate had other ideas. Insiders say that she walked into the station and fired the author. So, publishers, there’s an author out there looking for a contract. Any takers? I didn’t think so.
Kate closed the email and thought about the last twenty-four hours. She’d seen Mac, packed up their apartment, and fired an author.
It had been a busy couple of days.
But there was something else she realized that she needed to do.
Kate picked up the phone and dialed Grace. She picked up on the first ring.
“You calling from the police station?” Grace asked. Kate could hear the smile in her voice.
“Wow, Gracie, I didn’t know you read the publishing trades.”
“I don’t. It was the paper and I just happened on a copy in the subway this morning. That’s quite a stunt. Did you really slug her?”
“Wait, what? No, of course not.” Leave it to the media to slant the details to sell papers.
“Listen,” Kate took a deep breath and then continued, “I’ve made a decision. I’m giving Nick until the book launch party to contact me. Otherwise, I’ll make some time to speak with him then.” It hadn’t been an easy decision. Given how he left things, this could go either way. But it was time to go after what she wanted. And she wanted Nick.
“You will, really?” Kate could swear she heard glee in Grace’s voice.
“Yes, I will. I’ll sit Nick down and tell him how I feel.”
“That you love him—that’s what you’ll say, right?”
Kate nodded, “Yes, I just need some time and some distance to clear my head, and I think he needs some space, too.”
Kate could sense Grace smiling into the phone. “Space is overrated, my friend, and the only thing space will show him is how much he still loves you.”
“We’ll see, Gracie. We’ll see.”
CHAPTER 114
Nick looked out over the Santa Monica pier. It was another warm, clear, perfect Southern California day, but Nick felt nothing even remotely close to “clear.” In a matter of a few days, his world had been turned upside down.
He leaned on the wooden railing, deep in thought.
Stephanie was pregnant.
He still could not wrap his mind around it. He hadn’t told anyone, not even his best friend Greg. They’d grown up together. Although their lives had gone off in different directions, they always tried to stay in touch as much as time allowed. Greg was married with three little ones and a demanding job as a corporate lawyer.
No, Nick had kept this news close to the vest. Vivienne had her own things going on with her book launch and he knew how she’d react.
Ballistic would be putting it mildly.
Nick had fully intended to break up with Stephanie when he got home, even though he wasn’t sure where things stood with Kate, or if they stood anywhere at all. She was, after all, only two weeks out of a breakup, and Kate, in general, had never been a good bet for him.
“I slept with Kate,” he’d confessed.
Stephanie had only blinked a few times and said, “She’s manipulative, Nick. I forgive you. Whatever happened in Mexico does not matter to us.”
But the problem was, it did matter. Because whether convenient or not, he was still in love with Kate.
“I want to get married, Nick. It’s important to me and to my family.” Stephanie did come from a Catholic family, although Nick had never seen any evidence of faith in her own life. But that didn’t mean much. When it came to pregnancy, they were pretty firm.
That had been three days ago. He’d asked Stephanie to give him space, and she’d somewhat unwillingly given it to him.
Now he was here, standing on the Santa Monica pier waiting for his friend to arrive. He hadn’t seen Greg in a while, typical with Greg’s schedule, but they’d texted occasionally over the l
ast few months.
Nick saw someone running towards him. Greg was tall and lean with dark, wavy hair.
“Hey man!” Greg approached him and gave Nick a light hug.
“Great to see you. Hungry?” Greg asked.
“Yeah, let’s go. Cora’s?” Nick asked, referring to Cora’s Coffee Shoppe, which was located not far from there, off of Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. The Santa Monica Pier was always a place that they’d meet. It was halfway between their respective homes and a place they both used to hang out when they were kids.
“So how’s it going?” Greg asked, “How was New York?”
Nick told his friend about his stores, how proud he was of them, and about Vivienne’s success.
“Wow, a writer, our little Vivy. Who knew?”
Nick shook his head, “I know it. I honestly had no idea until she showed me her stuff. It’s brilliant.”
“So, who is publishing her?”
“Lavigne House,” Nick said, which made his friend stop mid-step.
“Wait. Is that why we’re here, so you can tell me that you and Kate are back together?” A broad smile curled on Greg’s face. “I’m happy for you. She’s a great girl. I know, I know, the whole Mac thing, but you knew that wouldn’t last.”
Nick felt a little short on oxygen. “It’s not Kate. I mean, it’s her house, but it’s not because of Kate. It was just the right move for Viv.”
Greg slanted a look at his friend as they crossed the street to Cora’s. “So, nothing new there?” he asked.
Nick thought for a moment about telling Greg about Mexico. But what was there to tell? He’d gone to save her, and yet again, they’d slept together. He left with just a note, and he hadn’t heard from Kate since. As adamant as she’d been to tell him that she’d had second thoughts about them while they were in Mexico, she’d gone radio silent, which meant that he’d been right to leave and right to push the entire incident as far out of his mind as he could.
“No,” Nick said finally, “nothing new there.”
They walked into the restaurant, which was bustling even at eight a.m., and they found a seat near a window towards the back of the restaurant.
Once they ordered coffee and had a chance to look at the menu, Nick looked up and said, “Greg, what was it like growing up without a father?”
His friend looked slightly surprised and then said, “It wasn’t great. I mean, I missed having a dad. You know, he was around early on. He’d promised my mom to stick around, but they never got married, and he never did stick around. I mean, I think he tried, but you know, they were young and he drifted off and then got a job in Michigan and started a family there.
“Now, I occasionally see him on holidays, but mostly it’s just a call or an email.” Greg drifted off and then said, “It’s part of why I’m so involved with my kids. I mean, I get that every father is, or at least they should be, but for me it’s different. I remember what it was like to not have a dad around, to watch my mom struggle and try to be both parents. I would never wish that on a kid.”
Nick fell silent; of course that’s what Greg would say. Although they hadn’t actually ever talked about it, not really anyway, Nick knew it had been hard on his friend to grow up without a dad.
The waitress set down their breakfast and Greg pinned his friend with a stare. “Nick, you seem off. What’s with all the questions about my dad? What’s up?
“Stephanie is pregnant.”
Greg looked up suddenly, as though he’d been slapped. “Wait, what? You mean that’s still going on?”
“Well, she showed up in New York and it was actually nice to have her there, you know.”
Greg, who had met Stephanie said, “I’ve seen the curves on that girl. I bet it was nice.” He smiled.
“Anyway, she wants to get married and I just don’t know what to do.” Nick felt his stomach tighten; this wasn’t how it was supposed to be. But then, no single part of his life had turned out as he’d expected.
Greg dug into his eggs and said. “Listen, don’t let my story sway you. I mean, I get that everyone’s situation is different.” He paused for a moment and then said, “Do you love her?”
Nick’s gaze drifted outside. He had always dreamt of that with his kids, but it had been part of a life he’d wanted with Kate.
“Nick?”
Nick turned his gaze back and smiled at his friend. “Yes, sorry. I just, it’s a lot to take in.”
“I asked you a question,” Greg reminded him.
Nick took a sip of his coffee. Did he love her? Doubtful. Well, he cared for her, very much, but his heart was fickle.
Only one girl at a time, thank you. And that girl, right now, was Kate.
“I don’t know. I care about her—”
“Enough to sleep with her,” Greg said, finishing his sentence. “But that doesn’t mean that you are ready to marry her.”
“Did you always know—about Melanie, I mean?” Nick asked, referring to Greg’s wife of ten years.
Greg shook his head, “Hell no. Well, I knew when I asked, but let me tell you, love and marriage, it’s hard. It’s probably harder on her because I’ve got this job and she’s home with the kids and taking care of everything. But there are days when I’m not in it, you know, when I wish I were single with no responsibilities. Then I come home and my kids will pile on my lap or one will crawl into my arms the minute I come in the door, and I realize I’d rather cut off an arm than miss that.”
Nick knew exactly what he meant, well, sort of. He’d thought of it endlessly after he and Kate had gotten engaged, and then he hadn’t thought of it for a long time because the loss was just too big of a burden to shoulder.
“Listen, my friend, whatever you decide I’ll support you. But I’ll say this: You’d better be damned sure this is the right thing. I like Stephanie, from the little I know of her. She seems a little self-involved, though, and frankly, not at all the kind of girl I had expected you to end up with. But if it’s what you want, I’m there for you.”
. . . .
Nick left breakfast and promised to let Greg know his decision, but at some point during breakfast he’d already made it. It was time to grow the hell up and take life by the horns. He was going to be a father, which was the biggest news of his life. He’d work out the Kate stuff, eventually. He knew he would. Bad judgment call, whatever. He had new priorities.
Nick went straight home to tell Stephanie he wanted to get married.
CHAPTER 115
The Spice Market Restaurant was buzzing with the lunch crowd, which tended to pack in pretty early. Located in the exclusive and ultra-hip Meatpacking District in New York, Spice Market was an Asian restaurant known for its flare and unique dishes.
It was time to take her star author on a long-overdue celebratory lunch and go over some of the final details of her book launch. Kate found it almost hard to believe that The Summer We Died was due out in six weeks. Already the buzz for the book had been staggering. Reviews in every major publication, even the entertainment magazines, had picked it up as the “must read” for fall. Earlier that day, Kate heard from Oprah’s people that they might even be considering it for the book club, but Kate held back letting Vivienne know that until she had something firm. Shielding your authors was always part of the job. There was already enough disappointment in the business of publishing without heaping on a big media hit that wasn’t confirmed.
Not having the Lavigne name attached to Vivienne’s book combined with publishing this as a debut novel by an unknown had been tricky. Kate had managed to pull it off with no help from Annabelle, who Kate intentionally kept off of this project until all of the pieces were lined up. It was a lot of work, but it was her commitment to the book and to Vivienne as Nick’s sister that made her keep a tight rein on this project.
Earlier that day Kate, had interviewed a promising candidate for the editor position. He’d originally been at Time Warner, then was at Hachette for many years before his division was do
wnsized. He was seasoned, happily married, and never made the news unless he landed a big-named author, which he did often.
He may be absolutely perfect for the job.
Kate saw Vivienne walk in and waved at her. Their relationship had gone from ice cold to almost lukewarm and at times even friendlier than she’d expected it ever would. Vivienne had warmed up to her in a way that was sometimes quite surprising
Vivienne was dressed smartly, as she always was. She was ready to be an author and never missed a deadline. Kate hoped she had a lot more books in her, because she was, in fact, her ideal author.
When Vivienne approached, Kate stood up, she could see she was beaming and to Kate’s surprise, Vivienne gave her a small hug. “I’m so excited,” she smiled, “I finished the interview for Publishers Weekly today and it went really well.”
“Oh, I’m so glad,” Kate smiled. They had selected Vivienne’s book as the debut novel to watch. It would all become so much more of a frenzy when they realized she was a Lavigne.
Kate could hardly wait.
Vivienne sat down. Immediately, a smiling server dressed in backless dress was at their side.
“This place is amazing,” Vivienne smiled. When she did, Kate could see her brother in her smile. Something tore through her heart, and she suddenly missed Nick very much. Not that she didn’t miss him generally; he was rarely out of her thoughts. But being here with his sister reminded her how much she loved him.
At Vivienne’s request, Kate ordered for them. Until their meal came, Vivienne talked excitedly about the book launch party, which was in a few weeks, the emails she was already getting from her website, how her blogs were doing (Kate had told her to blog a couple of times a week to help build early readership), and how she’d been spending time with Maeve to discuss her “coming out” book event.
“I’m really grateful, Kate. You’ve done so much for me. I can’t thank you enough.”
Climax: The Publicist, Book Three Page 39
