Until Next Time (The Shooting Stars Series)

by Michelle Maness

  “Thanks,” she slid under their warmth.

  “Your grandmother was a special person, Kaitlyn. I’m going to miss her myself.”

  “I know she was ready, Adam. I know her health was failing. She had good days like the one we visited but then she had days she could barely get out of bed. She’s not hurting now and she’s with grandpa but I miss her and that’s selfish.”

  “That’s human,” he countered.

  “My kids will never know her,” her tears returned.

  “They’ll know her through you and through your mom, Kaitlyn. You’ll both make sure they know what a kind and wonderful lady she was,” he pushed a strand of hair back from her face.

  “You’re right; I will make sure they know all about her. I’ll teach them the stories she taught me. I’ll show them how to make a bed and how to turn a pillow case inside out to get it on and all the other things I learned from her. It will be like she’s there,” Katherine smiled at him.

  “In a way she will be,” Adam assured her.

  “Thank you, Adam. I had no right to come in here and disturbed your sleep like this.”

  “You can come to me any time you need me for anything, Kaitlyn, you got that?” his gaze was serious. “At any time.”

  “Thank you,” her voice was soft, tears still sliding down her cheeks.

  “Welcome. I’ve lost count of the times you’ve been there for me, Kaitlyn. The least I can do is be there when you need me.”

  Adam watched her smile as she tugged the blankets closer. He had a feeling her being cold wasn’t so much a physical thing and wondered if there was something she wasn’t telling him. Why had she come to him and not gone to her fiancé?

  He couldn’t resist the urge to brush a curl back from her face and watched her eyes close and open. He repeated the action with same result and watched as she drifted off to sleep. Adam sighed as he watched an occasional sob rack her body.

  “I love you, Kaitlyn,” he whispered.

  Adam forced himself to drop his hand and convinced himself he should move her to her bed. She whimpered at the loss his touch. Adam sighed again and decided to leave her where she was, the consequences be hanged. If her fiancé wanted to ask what she was doing there he’d counter with why she hadn’t felt she could go to him. Adam flipped off the lamp, slid an arm around Kaitlyn and smiled when she wiggled closer; he let sleep claim him.

  Julia woke from another fitful dream and lay staring at the ceiling. Knowing her mother was no longer in pain and that she was reunited with her father didn’t ease the ache of her loss. She’d been blessed with wonderful parents and their absence was definitely felt.

  Julie moved to the bathroom to relive herself and then felt the need for a glass of water. She moved into the hallway, flipped on the light, and glanced in the direction of her daughter’s room from habit. She frowned when she realized the door wasn’t closed all the way and went to peek in. Cleo blinked at her in the light that spilled in but the bed was otherwise empty.

  Deciding that Katherine had likely gone for a glass of water herself, she moved downstairs. She found an empty glass in the sink but found no sign of her daughter. Julie prepared and drained a glass of water and frowned as she considered her daughter’s absence. She checked the living room, dining room, office and even garage. Where could Katherine be? She had her own bathroom but that door had stood open and the room had been dark.

  Julia stood, moved back into the kitchen, and placed her hands on her hips. The basement was dark but the light from the kitchen fell on the doorway to Derrick’s room; the door was barely cracked. Julia frowned and moved down the stairs. She hesitated a moment before she eased the door open and peered in. Derrick lay in the bed alone.

  Julia eased the door shut and glanced into the dark basement wreck room; no sign of Katherine. She shook her head as she swept back through the main floor and then climbed the stairs. She was starting to get concerned. Where could her daughter be? She stood in the hallway a moment before she turned the light off. Her daughter was an adult, she reminded herself. Light spilled in from the window at the end of the hall and Julia found herself staring at Adam’s door. Maybe she could ask him if he had seen Katherine. She moved that way and debated knocking before she cracked the door. She blinked to make sure her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her before she backed from the room and eased the door shut. She’d found her daughter, curled up asleep in Adam’s arms.

  Julia moved into her room on autopilot and sat on the edge of the bed as she tried to decide how she felt about that. She’d taught her daughter fidelity and yet Julia was aware without being told that her daughter had gone to Adam not seeking sex but comfort. Katherine was strong but she was tenderhearted and had been close to her grandmother. Julia knew Katherine would feel that loss keenly for a while to come.

  She wondered why Katherine hadn’t gone to Derrick and frowned. Perhaps she had, after all, his door had been open. Had she been turned away? That wouldn’t really surprise her, Julia mused with a grimace. The man wasn’t a warm or affectionate person and she feared Katherine would wither away under his lack of care. Julia decided that she was relieved that she had found her daughter in Adam’s bed and chuckled. That was a first, being relieved that her daughter was in a man’s bed. She knew, however, that whatever his faults, Adam loved Katherine and would be there for her.

  “Are you okay?” Walter’s voice was thick with sleep.

  “I needed a glass of water and checked on our daughter,” she shared.

  “Is she okay? Is she taking it hard?” Walter was immediately concerned.

  “I am sure she is,” Julia mused. “She wasn’t in her bed.”

  “So where was she?” Walter was frowning at her in the pale moonlight.

  “At first I couldn’t find her but I did finally.”

  “Where was she? In your mom’s room?”

  “No, Adam’s.”

  “What?” Walter sat up and turned on the lamp.

  “She is sound asleep in his arms but I think… I don’t know that she did, but I think she went to Derrick for comfort first. Walter, I think he turned her away or dismissed her or something. His door wasn’t closed all the way and it was earlier when I checked in on her and her friends. I guess that could be a coincidence but I don’t think so. I think he wasn’t there for her yet again.”

  “So she turned to Adam? That’s what you’re saying,” Walter was trying to keep up.

  “Yes, I believe that is exactly what happened,” Julia nodded and smiled.

  “Why are you smiling?” Walter looked confused.

  “This does not bode well for her and Derrick and that makes me insanely happy. She may not ditch him tomorrow but I am confident it is coming.”

  “Why would…I’m lost,” Walter sighed.

  “If she is turned to Adam when Derrick isn’t there for her, a pattern is being established and sooner or later that will trump whatever snow job Derrick has done on our daughter.”

  “So you are happy that you found her in bed with a man?”

  Julia chuckled and kissed her husband’s cheek. “They weren’t having sex; he was holding her and I can guarantee she went to him for comfort and in tears.”

  “Yes but those two have had sex,” Walter was scowling.

  “Yes, they have,” Julia nodded. “For just a moment quit thinking like a dad and consider this, Walter. Derrick is on his way out,” she smiled and sighed happily.

  “And our daughter is in a man’s bed,” Walter maintained.

  “Never mind, I will gloat alone,” Julia rolled her eyes. “Get some sleep.”

  “I’m not sure I can.”

  “Walter, get some sleep,” Julia reiterated and leaned across him to turn off his lamp.

  Julia, picturing the day her daughter would be free of Derrick, drifted off into an easy sleep.

  Walter lay frowning at the ceiling for some time before he fully realized that his daughter had made a choice whether she realized it or not; h
e smiled and rolled to hold his wife.

  ***

  The next morning, Katherine laid a hand on Adam’s shoulder and could feel the tension in him as he waited for his knock to be answered. They stood on the steps of his former home.

  “Relax,” she whispered. The door swung open and older man frowned at them.

  “Yes?”

  “I was looking for Donna Ellington,” Adam explained.

  “I know that name. Talk to the manager, first trailer on the right,” the man instructed and then shut the door in their face. Adam drove back up the drive and stopped in front of the trailer.

  “What can I do for you?” the man asked when he answered their knock.

  “I’m looking for Donna Ellington,” Adam explained again. The man nodded.

  “I have a forwarding address, hold on,” The man disappeared and then reappeared with a scrap of paper.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Say hi to your mom for me,” the man called after they had turned away from him. Adam looked over his shoulder in surprise but the man had already shut the door.

  They drove to the address and studied the small, tidy house in front of them.

  “This is the address,” Adam commented unnecessarily. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel and his eyes dark with fear.

  Katherine knew that if his mother were as nasty with Adam today as she had been in the past, she would not be able to respond graciously.

  “It looks like a nice place,” she told him. It was a small, older home with new vinyl siding and shutters.

  “Maybe she finally used some of the money I sent,” he said as they climbed from the car. There was a late model Toyota parked under the carport and they took it as a good sign. They walked the path to the door, knocked, and waited. The door opened and Donna stood looking at them.

  “Adam?” she said in disbelief.

  “Hi, Mom,” he greeted her.

  “Come in,” she invited and stepped aside. The interior was as neat and comfortable as the outside indicated. A blonde Cocker Spaniel, its nub wagging enthusiastically, greeted them.

  “Down, Sandy; go get in your bed,” Donna ordered and the dog obeyed.

  “Have a seat,” she invited.

  Katherine sat down beside Adam on the couch and studied his mother. She looked better than she had the last time Katherine had seen her. In fact, except for the worry lines around her eyes, she looked to be doing pretty well.

  “How are you, Mom?” he asked her.

  “I’m better. I’ve been worried sick about you.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. It took me a while to get my nerve up after our last visit.”

  “I’m sorry about that, Adam,” there were tears in her eyes.

  “No, Mom, I deserved your anger,” he said. It was quiet for a moment and then he spoke again. “I see you got a nicer place.”

  “Yeah, it’s no mansion but it suits me. I joined an AA group, Adam. Too late, I know, but I joined.”

  “I’m glad, Mom, I haven’t been out of rehab long myself.”

  “I heard some rumors. I’m sorry, Adam. I’m sorry for all the times I directed my anger and frustration at you,” Donna broke down, her voice and face anguished. Adam rushed across the room to his mom and the two embraced.

  Katherine felt like an intruder.

  “Mom, I forgave you a long time ago. Can you forgive me?”

  Donna nodded and the two hugged again.

  “I’ve picked up the phone to call you so many times but I wasn’t sure that you would want to hear from me or that the number I had was recent.”

  “Mom, I would never refuse to talk to you,” he assured her.

  “So what are you doing now?”

  “I don’t know yet, I am working on that but for now I am living in Nashville and getting my feet under me again.”

  “I’m glad, Adam; I hope you work out what it is you want soon. It took me a while to do so.”

  “I have a few ideas but I’ll have to see.”

  “How are you, Kaitlyn?” Donna acknowledged Katherine for the first time.

  “I’m doing well, Ms. Ellington.”

  “Donna, please. So have you two stayed in touch all this time?”

  “Pretty much,” Katherine admitted.

  “What have you been doing with yourself?”

  “I graduated from college and now I work in advertising with my fiancé.”

  Donna looked between them a moment before she spoke again.

  “Congratulations on your engagement,” she finally offered.

  “Thank you. Where are you working now?”

  “I’m working at the hospital.”

  “That’s a good place to work.”

  “I like it. You know, I owe you an apology too. All the time you were trying to be a friend to my son I was trying to convince him not to spend time with you.”

  “It’s okay, Donna. I assure you that I never took it personally,” she smiled at his mom. She was actually pretty nice. They stayed for a while letting Adam catch up with what was going on in his mother’s life.

  Back at the house, Derrick was the last one up.

  “Good morning,” Derrick greeted Julia and Walter as he joined them. He’d been exhausted the night before and had slept later than he had intended.

  “Good morning, Derrick. There are some bagels and muffins in the kitchen if you’re hungry,” Julia offered.

  “Thanks; where’s Katherine?”

  “She went with Adam to see his mother. He hasn’t seen her in quite some time and didn’t want to go alone,” Julia explained and watched him frown. Julia wanted talk to her daughter about how possessive Derrick could be; she should stay out of it.

  “Hello,” Adam smiled as he and Katherine entered the living room. He sat down on the love seat and Katherine joined him, leaving Derrick alone on the couch. Julia looked between them and wondered if her daughter was even aware of what she had done or had done so out of habit.

  “Guess what?” Katherine asked with a wide smile.

  “What?”

  “The visit went great!” she told them and Adam filled them in on the details.

  “I’m glad your mother is doing better,” Julia told Adam.

  “I know you probably need to be going but is there time for us to all go eat?” Walter asked.

  They agreed there was, and piled into her mom’s car with Katherine sandwiched into the middle of the back seat.

  ***

  Katherine sat in the front seat of Adam’s car and chastised herself for all the mistakes she had made of recent. She should never have turned to Adam and spent the night in his arms. She should have stood up to Annelise about some of the wedding plans. She should have put off some of the planning to be with her grandmother more. That one ate at her the most. She had known her grandmother’s heart condition was worsening and she had allowed herself to get swallowed up with wedding plans until it was too late to spend more time with the woman.

  In the back seat, Derrick droned on and on about his issues with his client, his concerns for the rookie he had left handling him and about what he would do to court the client and make sure they knew they were still in good hands; Adam frowned at him.

  “Would you quit beating yourself up over there,” Adam finally cut Derrick off.

  Derrick frowned at Adam and glanced at Katherine.

  “I should have been there more,” Katherine said softly.

  “Do you really think your grandmother expected you to sit around at her side and wait for her to die? The doctor said she could have months or years depending on several factors. Kaitlyn, you couldn’t know and you saw her rather recently. That’s not bad when you live in two different cities.”

  “Three weeks. It’s been three weeks since we went down to see her,” Katherine sighed.

  “I know how much you loved your grandma, Kaitlyn and she knew that as well.”

  “You’re right, it’s just hard to let go,” she a
dmitted.

  Derrick wondered how Adam had known that Katherine was quietly berating herself.

  “You will though, a little at a time,” Adam assured her and then frowned at the crawling traffic in front of them. “What’s this?”

  “There must have been an accident. We’re not far from Highway Sixty-Nine. If we can make it there we can take the back roads or maybe by-pass the hold up.” Katherine suggested.

  Adam pulled off when they reached the exit and pulled into a convenience station parking lot. He grabbed a map, hopped out, and spread it out on the hood.

  “What are you doing?” Katherine frowned and jumped out behind him.

  Derrick shrugged and followed.

  “I’m looking at the map.”

  “We don’t need a map. I know the way.”

  “Well, as I recall there are two routes we can take.”

  “One hundred is the fastest,” she informed him.

  “But look, we can take Six Forty-One to Camden which will put us right at Highway Seventy.”

  “It takes longer. We can take Sixty-Nine into Parsons and we’re right at Highway One Hundred.”

  “But it looks like Seventy stays closer to the interstate.”

  “It looks that way but One Hundred is faster. Or we can take One Hundred to Thirteen back to the interstate,” she argued.

  “Or Seventy to Thirteen to the interstate.”

  “One Hundred is faster!” she insisted again.

  “Look, Kaitlyn. Seventy will run right into Charlotte Pike.”

  “And One Hundred will run right into Harding by Belle Meade, that’s our side of town,” Katherine pointed out.

  Derrick looked back to Adam for his argument.

  “I still say Seventy looks closer.”

  “Adam, I have made this trip hundreds of times. One Hundred is faster,” she had her hands on hips; chin jutted out, and emphasized her statement with a stomp of her foot. Adam stood in a similar stance and stared her down.

  Derrick waited for the next move. This was rather interesting. Katherine had never shown this kind of spirit with him.

  “Fine, we’ll take One Hundred,” Adam gave in.

  Derrick didn’t bother to point out that Seventy and Charlotte Pike would have put them closer to his flat.