05

Kathie Jane

I signaled the bartender for another drink and stared down to my phone. I’ve been checking for new messages from Owen. I wanted to text him, maybe check on him. See if he’s reached the peak of Mount Everest yet ? Or if he finally considered mountain climbing at all. Is he in a tropical beach somewhere sipping piña colada ? Now, that’s more like him.

Just one quick text.

I flip my phone face down, thinking better of it.

« This is so unlike you. »

I almost jumped when I heard a voice coming from the seat next to me. « Jesus, dad. Don’t creep up on me like that. »

He laughs. « Are you going to stay at the bar the entire the night ? » He sipped on his drink.

I narrowed my eyes on the amber liquid he was nursing on his glass.

Dad looked guilty. « Just one glass, sweetheart. »

I shake my head, confiscating the drink. « No. You’re supposed to cut back on the alcohol. That’s not part of a healthy diet. »

« The doctor said cut back on the alcohol. Not stop drinking entirely, » he reasons. « I would really appreciate it if you don’t tell your mom though. »

« Okay. »

« Where’s your boyfriend ? » He asks, looking around.

The word struck me. « He’s, um, not here. »

« Why ? »

« He left. »

My dad clicks his tongue. « Where ? »

« I don’t know, » I murmured.

His hand clasped my shoulder, urging me to face him. « Sweetie, is there something wrong ? »

« Actually, Owen said he needed some time to think about us. »

His eyebrows wrinkled to form an angry crease. « The bastard broke up with you ? »

« Daddy, no. » I put a hand over his to calm him down. « He just needed a break. »

« What sort of cowardice is that ? »

« Dad, let’s just keep this between us. For now. If Chassie and mom find out, they’ll burn him alive. » I winced at the thought.

He snorted. « Good. I’m counting myself in on that. »

« Daddy. »

« What ? No one messes with my little girl. » He gritted his teeth, his eyes in narrowed slits.

I made an admirable job of not breaking out of my calm composure. « Your little girl is unscathed. Owen is just overwhelmed. »

He heaved out a sigh.

« Dad, please. We can’t let them know. At least not just yet. We should all be focused on Chassie. Let’s be happy for her. Besides, my future niece or nephew deserves a happy mommy. »

His anger converted into complete shock. « Your sister’s pregnant ? »

« Oh, crap. »

« Kathie, your sister’s pregnant ? » Dad repeats.

I chewed on my lip. « Please, don’t tell mom. She won’t be able keep it a secret. »

Dad raked a hand through his hair. He looked conflicted. « I’ll try. »

« Kathie ? Honey, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. »

Speaking of.

My mother comes up from behind me. « Margaret Parkinson wants to say hi. »

She combs my hair with her fingers, which leads me to conclude I’m sporting that fuzzy look someone a few drinks in would have.

« She’s with her oldest son tonight. He doesn’t really go out much unlike his five other siblings, so you probably never met him. »

« Poor guy. » I propped my elbow and plunk my chin on my palm.

She shrugs. « He’s a bit of a recluse, that’s all. »

« Ah. A lone wolf. »

My mother turns to her still thunder-struck husband and smoothed a hand over his tie. « I thought I told you no alcohol tonight. »

« I never had any, sweetheart. Not even a drop. » He clutches her wrist, giving her knuckle a kiss. It was one of his ways of buttering up my mother. And it works every single time.

She sighed, relenting. « Fine. Have you seen your sister, Kathie ? She’s gaining some weight and I can’t help but wonder why. »

« It’s understandable, babe. With another baby on the way, she sure is going to gain weight. »

I gasped. « Dad. »

He gulps, color leaving his face. « Sorry, sweetie. »

« Chassie’s pregnant ? And you two were not telling me ? » She has her hands on her waist, her delicate brows knotting together.

« We were going to tell you. Chassie is surprising Nathan on their honeymoon and she doubts we can keep it a secret until then, » I say.

Mom nods slowly. « Oh. Okay. »

« Okay. I’ll go ahead and repent. Maybe beg Chassie for forgiveness. » I slide down the bar stool, blinking when the drinks I just had weighed heavily on me. I shake my head, walking toward the throng of people.

« Kathie. » Margaret waved me over to their table.

I swerved to her direction, plastering on a smile. It won’t hurt to say hi. She sits with another friend – someone I saw in social gatherings. On her left, though, is a man I almost don’t recognize which is strange because I know everybody.

I gathered the skirt of my dress and squinted curiously at the man. My jaw dropped when my mind buzzing with alcohol was finally able to place him.

It’s my neighbor.

I yelped in surprise – not from the realization – as I tripped on my foot and revved forward.

I thought it would be embarrassing to fall face first on the floor. Turns out, possibly face-planting on a man’s lap is a motherload of awkwardness enough to last me lifetime.

Cutleries and glasses clattered as I bump the top of my head on their table. My hands clawed his thighs in attempt of jerking myself back.

He lets out a startled breath. His hands went to my shoulders, helping me up.

I craned my neck to look up.

He gazes down, eyes narrowing in recognition.

I have to stop meeting him like this.

« Kathie, are you okay ? » Margaret leaps out of her chair and walked around the table.

My own mother was rushing toward us. « Jesus, honey. You dove right onto Cade. » I was tugged into a brief hug and held in arm’s length for a quick perusal. « Does it hurt somewhere ? »

« No. » I scrape my knee a little, but that’s just a minor inconvenience. Everybody must have seen me crash landing on his lap. Nothing calls attention in a quiet gathering than rattling dishes.

Margaret is on my neighbor’s side. He stood, motionless.

My eyes fluctuated between the two of them.

Oh, hell no. Now, I really am having the worst luck.

Cade the neighbor is Margaret Parkinson’s oldest son.

« I’m fine. I just tripped on something. » I fixed a bright smile on my face. « Nothing’s broken. »

Margaret sighed in relief. « Are you sure, sweetie ? »

« Yeah. Perfectly fine. »

She nods, turning to the man on her side. « This is my son. »

« Cade, » I murmured.

« Kathie, you met him before ? » My mother mused.

« Yeah. We moved into the same apartment building. » I shove the memory of that one awkward incident into the back of my mind. I thought he was just going to be a distant neighbor.

What on earth are the odds ?