Until Next Time (The Shooting Stars Series)

by Michelle Maness

  “I’ll call every day,” he promised.

  “Good,” she smiled. A moment later she was shaking her head and frowning. “I don’t even know where to begin now.”

  “Start with tonight and take it one day at a time,” he encouraged.

  “Right,” she nodded. A moment later she laughed. “Beyond breaking my engagement I made no plans for tonight.”

  “Let’s go see your parents and I can see my mom while we’re there,” he suggested.

  “That is a wonderful idea!” she smiled.

  “I thought so,” he smiled back. “Pack enough for through Sunday morning and we’ll go from there.”

  “Okay,” she agreed and stood. “Thank you,” she hugged Adam.

  “You’re welcome,” he assured her as he hugged her back.

  Katherine hurried to pack some clothes and Cleo’s things as well. Why hadn’t she thought to go see her parents? It was perfect. She hadn’t seen them in a while and it would be easier to explain her broken engagement in person. Not that she expected her mother would care much; she had never liked Derrick.

  Knowing Adam would be along any moment, Katherine sat her bags by the cracked door and went to tidy her curls. She returned to find Adam standing by the door, his hands in his jean pockets. He was an attractive man, she admitted to herself yet again.

  “You ready?” he asked her.

  “I am,” she nodded.

  Adam grabbed her luggage and she grabbed Cleo and her things. A few minutes they were underway.

  “Thanks again; I am looking forward to seeing Mom and Dad. I tried calling and got the machine but I know they had no plans to be out of town so they should be home later tonight,” she assured him.

  “No problem. I called Mom and she was out as well but I left her a message that I would be in town.”

  They chatted easily on the trip to Jackson; the distance seemed to pass quickly. They pulled into the driveway of her parent’s home just behind her parents.

  “Hi,” Julia stepped from the car and surveyed them in surprise. “I know that is Adam and that looks like my daughter but the last few times I saw her she looked like a stranger so I’m a little unsure,” Julia teased.

  “Aren’t you the comedian?” Katherine rolled her eyes and then hugged her mother.

  “Your curls,” her mother reached to touch them tenderly, “it’s so good to see your curls again. So what are you doing here?”

  “I came to see my parents!” Katherine laughed.

  “How are you, Adam?” Julia hugged him.

  “I’m doing well,” he assured her.

  “Hi, Daddy,” Katherine hugged her father.

  “Hello, Princess, I’m assuming that you’re staying the night rather than showing up at nearly nine-thirty for a quick visit.”

  “I am,” she nodded.

  “So let me help you get your things.”

  “Is your mom expecting you, Adam?” Julia asked him.

  “I got her machine,” he admitted.

  “So stay with us,” she invited.

  “Thank you, Julia,” Adam grabbed Cleo’s carrier for Katherine.

  A few minutes later Katherine’s things were in her old room, Adam’s things were in the guest room, and Cleo was settled into the basement.

  “I am starving!” Katherine admitted as she topped the basement stairs. “I never ate supper.”

  “Me either,” Adam admitted.

  “I have the stuff for some sandwiches,” Julia was quick to volunteer. “You two sit down, you’ve had a long drive.”

  “Where have you and Daddy been?” Katherine asked.

  “We were at the fair in Lexington. Angie’s little Tabitha was in the Fairest of the Fair competition; took second place.”

  “I bet she’s a cutie,” Katherine grinned. “I would love to go to the fair.”

  “We could go tomorrow night,” Adam offered.

  “What if you get recognized?” she asked him, it had happened more and more lately and he had even been mobbed a time or two.

  “I’ll try to dress to blend,” he shrugged.

  Adam didn’t blend, she mused, he was simply too attractive.

  “Adam, do you like mayo or mustard on your sandwiches?”

  “Mayo,” Katherine answered for him. “The only thing he eats mustard on is hot dogs, corn dogs, and burgers.”

  Julia nodded and spread mayo on his sandwich. “Lettuce, tomato; what else, Adam?”

  “Both,” Adam and Katherine answered at the same time.

  Julia gave them a bemused smile and a moment later set their plates in front of them along with tea. Walter, now wearing comfortable clothes, came into the kitchen and seated himself at the table as his wife settled beside him.

  “So where is Derrick this time?” Julia asked her daughter.

  “I saw him earlier this evening but I have no idea where he is now or what he’s doing,” she shrugged. “As of this evening, it is none of my business where he goes and none of his business where I go,” she held up her bare left hand.

  “What? Kattie, are you okay? Did he dump you?” Julia asked; her eyes were dark with concern.

  “No, I dumped him. I looked in the mirror one night and I didn’t know the woman staring back at me. I realized that I was about to make a mistake. I would have dumped him a week ago but he had to leave for London before I could see him. And I would have told you earlier but I wanted to tell him first. I felt as though I owed him that.”

  “I am so relieved to hear you say that, Kattie; I was so worried!” Julia was blinking back tears.

  “I am still baffled as to how I let it get as far as it did,” she admitted. “It really was disconcerting to not recognize myself anymore,” she shook her head.

  “What made you realize, Kattie?” Julia asked.

  Katherine shook her head. “Long story and it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I realized and with a little help from a friend, found myself again.”

  “Okay, that sounds like an interesting story,” Julia smiled.

  “Poor Adam probably would never have moved into my building if he had known he was going to end up playing shrink,” Katherine rolled her eyes. “I ended up at his apartment ranting and raving last Friday night and completely freaked out,” she admitted and went on to tell them about their late night trip to town, dinner, and early morning Wal Mart run.

  “It felt good to be silly and completely impractical,” she smiled. “I guess that sounds silly,” she shrugged.

  “No, it makes sense actually. You were always so buttoned up and proper when Derrick was around and for someone who has always known how to have fun that had to be stifling,” her father noted.

  “It was but I am free and celebrating! I am also a little freaked out but that is neither here nor there.”

  “Why are you freaked out?” Julia asked.

  “Since meeting Derrick my whole life has been planned out; now I have no plan…at all. I think I’m coming to hate my job and I am completely without a plan.”

  “So your future holds nothing but possibility,” Walter informed her.

  “I like that,” Katherine nodded.

  “What about you, Adam? Have you ever gotten anything settled?” Julia asked him.

  “I have a meeting with Damien next month, after that I’ll know more. What I would like to do is open my own studio in Nashville.”

  “So you plan to settle in the Nashville area?” Walter queried.

  “I’d like to. Tennessee feels more like home than anywhere I’ve ever lived,” he admitted.

  “I imagine that will make your mom happy too,” Julia offered.

  “I think so. She and I have been talking a fair amount and we’re really starting to build a relationship.”

  “I am so glad to hear it,” Julia smiled. “When will you be going to California?”

  “He isn’t sure yet,” Katherine supplied.

  She stood to set her empty plate in the sink and rinsed her glass before
opening the fridge to pour herself some juice. She debated between orange juice and grape juice before finally filling her glass with grape juice.

  “Oh, guess what,” she turned to address her parents and slammed into Adam who was carrying his plate to the sink. Juice splashed all down the side of his shirt.

  “I am so sorry!” Katherine set her juice down and grabbed paper towels.

  “It’s okay,” he assured her.

  “Give me your shirt and I’ll see if I can get it out before it sets,” she ordered.

  Adam pulled his shirt over his head and handed it to her; Katherine turned to hurry to the laundry room with it.

  “Excuse me, I’m going to go get a shirt,” Adam addressed Kaitlyn’s parents.

  Julia, her brow arching, watched him leave.

  “Was that our daughter’s initials on his shoulder?” Walter asked.

  “Mmm, hmm,” Julia’s eyes were bright with amusement.

  ***

  “Come on,” Katherine dragged Adam toward the Henderson county fair; she was dodging mud puddles as she went. It had, in the tradition of the Henderson County Fair, rained on and off all week, that morning included. They could just make out the top of the giant Ferris wheel and hear music and screams ahead.

  “I’m coming, I’m coming,” he laughed.

  She got in line and they purchased bracelets that would allow them to ride for the entire night.

  “Hey, I haven’t heard this song in forever,” Katherine noted as they passed a ride; its music blaring. “We have to do the Rock N Roll first,” she informed him. “They set up in the same place every year and I always ride it first when I get to come.”

  The ride went up hills and then down in a tight, fast circle, before reversing and going backward.

  “If you scream they’ll go faster,” she shared.

  “What if you’re screaming because you want off?” he joked.

  Katherine smiled; she was not the least bit worried that Adam couldn’t handle it. She noticed a group of young people studying him and moved to block their view. She didn’t want their evening ruined by a crowd of people. They made it to the front of the ride and claimed a car.

  “Heavier person on the outside,” the man holding the bar instructed. They settled in, he lowered the bar and moved on but not before giving Adam a smile and nod of recognition. Katherine was relieved that he hadn’t made a scene. The ride operator sat in a booth above the platform.

  “Are you ready?” he called over the microphone and they yelled as the ride jerked into motion. One of Adam’s more colorful songs came over the speakers, and Adam groaned. Katherine threw back her head and laughed.

  “You’ve been recognized!” she yelled.

  “I noticed,” he yelled back.

  “I love this ride!” she yelled again.

  “I noticed,” he again replied. After the ride stopped, they rushed off the platform before they could be stopped by the carnies and made their way to the Gravitron. From there they rode the Wipe Out; the ride first spun in a circle and then rose onto its side to spin around like an unbalanced top.

  Katherine next led him to a new ride that was like hang gliding, it had two long cars that you laid belly-down on and swung you out into an angled circle.

  “Aren’t you scrambled up enough yet?” Adam asked her as she led him to a ride that resembled a large black spider. It had eight legs and two cars at the end of each leg. The cars swung freely, while each leg moved up and down and the whole thing spun from the middle. It didn’t take Adam long to realize it was making Kaitlyn sick. He pulled her head onto his shoulder and told her to close her eyes.

  “Are you okay?” he asked her once they were back on solid ground.

  “That was a bit much,” she admitted.

  “Why don’t we go see the exhibits?” he suggested. She nodded and led the way to the exhibit building.

  The exhibit building held an odd assortment of displays and booths by local businesses and organizations. There were churches with Bible quizzes and pamphlets in their booths, businesses offering free door prizes, and industries showing off their products, displaying pictures, and showing videos of their employees. There were displays of the award winners in a quilting competition, pie baking, sewing, largest pumpkin, best cucumber and so on. Adam and Kaitlyn were looking at the quilts when she heard her name called.

  “Katherine!” She turned to find her cousin coming toward her.

  “Hey Angie,” she smiled. “I heard that Tabitha won second place in the fairest of the fair.”

  “She did. She was a little ham. Hey Adam, how are you?”

  “I’m fine,” he responded.

  “Where is Tabitha?” Katherine queried.

  “With Mom and Dad. Dustin and I wanted to come alone. We’ve brought Tabitha twice now. Where’s your fiancé?”

  “We broke up. It’s just me and Adam here tonight.”

  “I’m sorry, Katherine.”

  “Don’t be; I’m not,” she insisted.

  “I take it things didn’t go so well.”

  “Not really,” Katherine admitted.

  “Well at least you realized it before it was too late. It was good to see you.”

  “You too,” Katherine returned as Angie moved off to catch up with her husband.

  “You hungry?” Katherine turned to Adam.

  “I am,” he nodded.

  She took his hand and led him to the booths lining the outside of the exhibit building.

  “Great burgers, great burgers, great burgers, great barbeque chicken, great barbecue,” she said pointing to each booth and naming their best food item. “All proceeds go back into the community.”

  “How about barbecue?”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” she smiled and led him over to the Rescue Squad’s booth; it sat slightly removed from the others. They found a place at one of the U shaped tables and a volunteer with a note pad approached.

  “What can I get you folks?” she had her pencil ready. They placed their orders and had them almost immediately.

  “This is good,” Adam commented around a mouth full of food.

  “I told you,” she smiled smugly.

  He smiled back at her. It was so nice to see her relaxing and enjoying herself again. After eating, they agreed to stay off the wild rides for a while and loaded onto the Ferris wheel instead. They swung back until they were on top and Katherine inhaled deeply of the night air and the familiar scents of the county fair. She could identify the smell of burgers, chicken, pizza, barbecue, the fresh scent of the rain cleansed breeze, and Adam’s cologne. It mixed, mingled, and joined into a unique aroma she thought she would remember the rest of her life, though she wasn’t certain why.

  “Isn’t it beautiful?” she asked as she looked over the town below.

  “It is,” he agreed but he was looking at her as she closed her eyes and tilted her face to the breeze. A strand of hair had pulled loose to whip across her face and she reached to pull it away but Adam was faster and tucked it behind her ear. It was an impulsive move and he thought nothing of it until her eyes swung to him in surprise.

  “It looked like it was bugging you,” he commented and leaned forward to look at the ground below. “Are we ever going to move?” he asked.

  “I don’t know,” she leaned forward as well.

  “Hey watch it!” he yelped and tugged her back as the car tilted. The ride swung into motion and Katherine laughed, breaking the tension from the moment before.

  They stepped off the Ferris wheel and moved through the crowd together. She frowned when she noted a crowd of teens following them.

  “Adam, I think we have a problem,” she noted.

  “What’s that?” he glanced down at her.

  “I think you’ve been recognized,” she admitted, “there’s a group of teens following us.”

  “What?” he glanced over his shoulder and grimaced.

  “They are closing in,” she noted.

  “Come on,�
�� he grinned, grabbed her hand, and they dashed through the crowd together; the teens pursued.

  Katherine was laughing as they dodged behind buildings and between booths. They just managed to make his Durango and get in before the teens crowded the vehicle. She watched Adam ease his way from the crowd and laughed as she laid her head back against the seat.

  “I’m glad you can laugh; sorry about that,” he offered.

  “It was kind of fun,” she shrugged.

  “Fun? Had they caught us, surrounded us, shoved you aside in their excitement and started pulling and tugging at me you wouldn’t have thought so,” he assured.

  “Perhaps not but they didn’t and it was kind of fun.”

  Adam chuckled and smiled over at her.

  “Thanks. I had a blast,” she assured him.

  Twenty-One

  It didn’t take Katherine long to realize that Derrick wasn’t too difficult to write from her life. A fact she found disturbing since she had been so close to marrying him. All of her friends had been surprised, not that she and Derrick had broken up, but rather that she had dumped him. Apparently, that was a first. She entered her apartment and dropped her briefcase onto her entry table. Another Friday night had arrived and unless she pestered Adam she was going to spend it alone. She considered heading out for dinner but the steady rain outside made up her mind for her. Her phone rang and she grabbed it as she settled into her arm chair.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey, Kattie, sorry it has been so long since I called,” Amy returned.

  “Hey, Amy; I know you’ve been busy. How are repairs coming on the house?”

  “Slow but good. I dream of mudding drywall and scraping paint,” her friend admitted. Their lease on their apartment was up soon, meaning they were racing the calendar. “How are you and Prince Charming?”

  “History,” Katherine replied.

  “What? You didn’t call me?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I am fine,” she assured her friend and explained the events leading up to and following her broken engagement.

  “I’m so glad you finally saw through him!”

  “Everybody keeps saying that and I am beginning to feel like a complete and total dunce,” Katherine laughed.