Forbidden Disclosure (A Billionaire in Disguise) (15 page)

“Yes, she even laughed in her sleep. She was just like a little girl.”

“What?”

“Oh, never mind.”

“You’re blushing, Sir.”

“I suppose I am, Carl, I suppose I am.”

Daniel walked behind Katherine as she stepped onto the intensive care unit.

“We’re here to see Andy O’Brian,” said Daniel.

The doctor approached with his hand outstretched. “I’m Doctor Mathews. I wanted to speak to you before you visit with your uncle.”

“Is he okay?”

“He’s had a heart attack. Thankfully it wasn’t real severe, but he’s going to have a long recovery.”

“What happened to him?” Katherine was feeling even more guilt about not being with him.

“Apparently he dropped down to the ground with severe chest pain. He never lost consciousness and, luckily, there isn’t a lot of heart damage. It’s imperative that your uncle changes his lifestyle and diet. That’s all part of the recovery process.”

“So his heart never stopped?”
Please tell me no.
Katherine continued to beat herself up.

“No, it never stopped, which is a good thing. I understand you want some of his rehabilitation to take place in New York?”

“Yes, that’s correct,” replied Daniel.

“He can’t travel for a while yet. This is the best place he could be in. When you visit your uncle, try to keep things low key. We don’t want him getting angry or upset.”

“I won’t upset him. Thank you, Doctor.” Katherine and Daniel shook his hand and then headed for Andy’s room. They heard him in the hallway.

“I’m not drinking that, it tastes like shit! Can’t you get me some real stuff?”

Katherine stopped the nurse. “Why is my uncle upset?”

“He wants regular coffee and he can’t have caffeine. His diet is very strict and he isn’t happy.” The nurse smiled and let out a long sigh.

“May we see him now?” Katherine was so eager.

“You sure can. Just remember he’s still weak.”

Katherine and Daniel walked into Andy’s room and saw him sitting up in bed with his eyes closed.

“We should come back and let him sleep,” whispered Katherine.

“Nonsense! Come in, Katherine.” His voice was still loud but shaky. He looked ten years older.

“How do you feel?” Katherine kissed him on the cheek and held his hand.

“Okay, I guess. I just wish they’d shut all this damn equipment off and take these needles out of my arms, maybe give me a cup of coffee and some decent food!”

“Uncle Andy, do you remember John Williams?”

“Sure do, how ya been? I see ya found Katherine!”

“Good to see you, Andy. My real name is Daniel Giordano. It’s a long story which I’ll explain some day when you’re feeling better.”

Andy’s brow furrowed.

“Uncle Andy, how has the bar been doing?” Katherine needed to change the topic. The last thing she wanted was to get him riled up. Being lied to was a sure way down that path.

“Pretty bad. I lose money every month, and this last week I borrowed a few dollars just to make payroll.”

“Do you think it was the stress from that place?”

“I think so. That and the doc says my diet wasn’t anything to brag about.”

“I don’t think you should go back there and try to run that bar. I also don't believe you were seeing a doctor back home.”

“Katherine, I know you’re just worried, but it’s my job. If I don’t do that, what the hell else will I do? The town’s pretty dead, and I can’t survive on my good looks! The last thing I can afford to pay is medical bills. This is going to cost a mint.”

“Uncle Andy, we want you to come to New York with us. We’ll explain things later, but living out there with no one taking care of you, the bar failing, and the building falling apart isn’t a way to live. Besides, I miss you, and Daniel is going to help me get into the top design school in New York. I can’t stay in Tennessee with you, but you could come and be with me. New York is supposed to be an amazing place.”

“I’m not going to be a burden on anyone.”

“Andy, you’re not going to be a burden. We would love to have you, and I think you’d get along good with my father. He would enjoy the company, and he’s a good man. You also don't have any medical bills.”

“What’s your father do?”

“He’s in the shipping business.” Daniel was hopeful with Andy asking questions.

“Oh, yeah. Like packages and stuff. Does he have his own mail store like in Nashville? They got a pretty good one there.”

“No, not that kind of shipping.  He has vessels.”

“Really? I never met anyone who did that. Does he get seasick? Even if he’s a captain, being on a boat can do your stomach in.”

“No he owns them. Many in fact.”

“So your father is a rich man I take it.”

“Uncle Andy, don’t worry about that. The point is, we want all of us to be together.”

“You’re a couple now?” Andy let out one of his laughs.

“No, not a couple, just friends.” Katherine’s cheeks turned red and Andy didn’t miss a beat.

“Bullshit. Look, I lost the woman I loved fifteen years ago. Don’t assume the person you long to be with will be there the next day. Stop wasting time.”

“We’re going to let you get some rest, Uncle Andy. We’ll be back in a couple of hours, okay? We have to get our luggage.”

“What the hell happened to your luggage? The airport eat it?”

“We accidently left it—“

Daniel cut her off. “Yeah, it’s in the car.” This was just too much information for Andy to take in. He was glad that Katherine was ending the visit, but knew he would definitely have to work on the ‘
just friends’
part. There was no way he was going to lose her.

When the area for the horses was complete, Francesco came and got Rosie and led her outside by the hand. He did a good job by keeping her away from that side of the mansion so he could surprise her. He’d also warned all the staff.

“Okay, my sweet. Now you have to close your beautiful eyes.”

Rosie smiled, closed her eyes, and let Francesco lead her around the side of the estate. When he had her standing in front of the beautiful red barn, he bent down, kissed her lips softly, and told her to open her eyes.

“Oh my! Francesco, you did this for me? You told me you would make an area for my horses, but I had no idea you were doing all of this! Thank you so much!” Rosie wrapped her arms around him and whispered in his ear for the fifth time that day, “I love you, Francesco.”

“I love you too, my Rosie. Now I have one more surprise for you.” Francesco got his phone out and dialed a number, let it ring, then hung up.

As soon as Rosie was ready to ask him why he hung up on someone, she turned her head in the direction of a truck. As it rounded the bend, Rosie could see the trailer carrying her horses.

She let the tears come out and ran to meet the truck, then ran back to Francesco and kissed him, then ran back again to the truck. She helped Amos back the horses out and led them to their new home. The barn and stable area were spacious and beautiful.

Francesco thanked Amos and waited until he was gone, then told Rosie he would like to go pet the horses.

“Oh, Francesco, they’re going to be so happy here!”

“I hope so, Rosie. I’m even happier with
you
here.”

She smiled and walked over to the horses. She couldn’t believe how her life had completely turned around from where it had been, and it was all because of this kind man who loved her so much.

“Francesco, we’re going to have to get some carrots down here for the girls. Do you have any?”

“Rosie, I had a special treat made. Look in the satchel. I think both you and they will approve.” Francesco held onto a post and waited.

Rosie looked around and found the beautiful satchel. She reached her hand in and pulled out a box. She looked at Francesco quizzically and opened it. Inside, there was a smaller box. As Rosie opened it up, Francesco held tightly onto the post and lowered himself to one knee. He held out his hand, and Rosie, with tears in her eyes, walked toward him and gave him the small box. Francesco removed the ring and held it. The small golden band had a two carat, brilliant cut diamond. He knew that if it was a larger stone, Rosie would have protested.

Francesco lovingly looked into her eyes. "I thought I would be alone for the rest of my life. Before I met you, I thought the inside of me was dead. But you melted my heart the first time I met you. I know that it’s soon, but I’m too old to be waiting for something that I know is already perfect. When you took my son under your wing, I thought you were special. When I brought you into my home, I was positive. You belong here, Rosie, forever. You belong in my life. I want to give you all my love, and I never want your beautiful mind to ever have another worry. I love you, Rosie. Will you make me a proud man and marry me?”

Rosie let Francesco hold her shaking hand and slide the beautiful diamond ring on her finger. “Yes, Francesco. I couldn’t be happier. You have given me more love in just the short time I’ve been here than I ever got during my entire life.”

Francesco held onto the post and pulled himself back up. He gently wrapped Ros
ie in his arms and kissed her.

Chapter 14

Katherine walked back to the motel room, slightly ahead of Daniel. Her face looked concerned, her mood was heavy.

“Katherine, what’s bothering you?”

“He’s not going to leave Prairie.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I know him. If he chooses to stay back in that small town, I’ll have to stay with him. I can try to help you get your tuition money back.”

“You need to finish your education, Katherine. It’s been your dream, and now you can go to the finest design school. Your uncle hasn’t said he wants to stay.”

“Daniel, the bar could easily be shut down. It’s in severe need of repair. The apartment upstairs where I stayed? The bathroom floor is starting to give in. The place is a fire hazard. He loves being around people all the time and he gets that running the bar. I just wish it wasn’t costing him more to run it than what he brings in. There’s no way he’ll ever get enough money to fix the building. I did a few things, but I could only do enough to keep the bar open.”

“What can I do to help? Just let me know, Katherine, and I’ll do it.”

“I want you to go back to New York and enjoy yourself. Since you met me, look how much trouble I’ve caused you.”

“Katherine, on the twentieth of December I take over the family business so my father can retire. I can’t stay in Tennessee even though I’d rather stay with you. Our main offices are located in New York.”

“Daniel, I’ve said this before. I’m not your problem.”

“You’re not a problem, and I believe I’ve said
that
before.” Daniel could sense impending doom approaching. “Look, all we can do is wait and talk to your uncle. We have to go by whatever he wants to do. But I promise you I’ll help as much as I can.”

When they arrived at the motel, he knew there’d be no way that Katherine would allow him to sleep in her bed. He just went and got a different room so he wouldn’t have to hear the words from her mouth. Daniel couldn’t make her come back to New York with him, and he couldn’t make Andy come there either. If he lost her again, he didn’t know what he would do. How could he fix this? How could he make Andy’s life better so Katherine wouldn’t have to stay in Tennessee? He decided to call the man who was way wiser than Daniel had ever given him credit for being.

“Daniel! I’m so glad you called, I was getting worried about you.”

“Katherine’s uncle had a heart attack and I just don’t know what to do.”

“Is he okay?”

“Yes, Father, but he feels like he’s imposing. I’ve offered him the chance to come to New York, but Andy’s pretty stubborn. Katherine agreed to come back with me and go to fashion design school in New York, but now she wants to go back to Tennessee to take care of him if he won’t agree to come with us. I love her and I don’t want to lose her again.”

“Does she love you?”

“She said we’re just friends.”

Francesco could hear how tired his son was and how sad he’d become. Now was not the time to let him know that he proposed to Rosie. “Do you want me to talk to Katherine’s uncle for you?”

“Father, he’s a very stubborn man. I wasn’t exaggerating.”

“Good, so am I. I’ll see you in the morning, Daniel.”

“I’m not sure when I’ll be back, Father, things are kind of in the air.”

“No, I’m flying there. What hospital is he in?”

“I don’t mean to be disrespectful so don’t take this the wrong way. He might get angry, and he isn’t supposed to be getting upset.”

“So you think I got this far in business by not knowing how to talk with men like him? Daniel, watch and learn. I love you.”

Daniel knew there’d be no stopping his father.

Katherine sat in her motel room staring out the window.
Why did he leave?
She knew that once Daniel got to know her, he would run. Today it’s a different room, and tomorrow it’ll be a different state.
It’s better this way
, thought Katherine. She would have to go back to Prairie, and his life was in New York.

  Her heart felt so heavy. She didn’t want him to leave. Opening the sliding door wall, Katherine stepped out on her balcony. She was alone. Just like she always ended up. Why should she go back to Prairie? Where did her responsibility end?
If Uncle Andy chooses to jump off a bridge, do I follow him knowing how unsafe it is? He knows he shouldn’t be going back to that situation but chooses to do it anyway. If I follow him, my life will be nothing.
Katherine continued to struggle. She felt an obligation to take care of her uncle at all cost, but didn't want to bury her dreams.

Katherine went back inside and put on her warm coat. She smiled when she remembered all the packages that Daniel bought and wrapped for her. She crossed the street and walked up to the cardiac intensive care unit.  She found her uncle sitting up in bed, reading the paper. It was time for the two of them to have a heart to heart talk.

“Hi, Uncle Andy.” Katherine stepped up to the bed and kissed his cheek.

“Hey, Katherine, where’s your partner in crime?”

“I wanted to talk to you alone.” Katherine pulled up a chair and sat next to the bedside. She didn’t know how to begin. Her fingers began to gently run through her curls.

“Okay, spit it out, sweet one.” He knew when something was bothering his niece. She would pick at her fingernails or play with her curls. The last thing he wanted was to have her worrying about him. She always put herself last.

“Uncle Andy, I’m not sure if I can go back to Tennessee with you. I feel really bad about saying that.”

“You thought you’d have to come back with me? You thought I’d actually
let
you?”

“Who’s going to take care of you? How are you going to run the bar and get the building fixed? I have so much guilt.” Katherine tried not to cry, but a small tear ran down her face.

Daniel knocked on Katherine’s door for the fifth time and didn’t get an answer, so he got the office to check on her. She wasn’t in the room. He sprinted to the nearby restaurant and she wasn’t there either. Finally, he took off to the hospital. Daniel had a feeling he’d find her there. When he got close to Andy’s room, he heard two voices; Katherine’s tearful voice and Andy’s soft, comforting one. Daniel was surprised that the man could talk soft for
any
reason. He decided to stop and not enter the room. He didn’t want to eavesdrop but he needed to know that Katherine was okay by herself. Daniel knew the man could get a little brass and pushy.

“Katherine, you don’t have any reason to feel guilty. When you came to my house, shortly thereafter, your Aunt Patricia died. Even though you were young, just a little girl, you automatically assumed the role of caregiver. When I got pneumonia, you dropped out of college and came to take care of me. Now you want to do that again? I won’t have it. Besides, I love the folks in Prairie. If we could get some good things to happen in that town, it would be a great place. I know there’s not much left in Prairie, but it’s still my home.”

“Daniel has offered me the opportunity of a lifetime. But I feel I can’t be happy unless you are.”

Katherine let out a couple of soft crying sounds. It was breaking Daniel’s heart, but he knew he couldn’t interrupt; it wasn’t his place.

“Katherine, you have gone your entire life trying to please everyone but yourself. You should be in love, happy, enjoying your youth. You have to give yourself permission to be happy. I know this Daniel guy really loves you. I could see it in his eyes when he was in here,
and
I could see it in his eyes when he was looking for you at the bar.”

“Uncle Andy, we’re just friends. Daniel needs to be with someone who has their act a little more together than I do. All I am is a burden.”

“Do you love him, Katherine?”

“I really like him. He’s not the type of guy I thought he was. He has a really good heart, and he’s very kind to me.”

“Do you love him?”

“The whole time I was gone, I felt torn. I ran from Prairie because of my own fears.”

“Answer my question, Katherine.”

“Yes, I love him. I’ve loved him for a long time. I just didn’t want to let myself care about someone who would leave.” Katherine looked at her uncle with her water-filled eyes. “I just wish he loved me. I think he cares about me, but he isn’t in love.”

“You go be with him, Katherine. That’s what would make me happy.”

“What if he doesn’t want me? I would be devastated if he didn’t feel the way I do.”

“Daniel is a good man. You hold your beautiful chin up and stop fighting life. Don't waste time, Katherine, it's precious. Once it's gone, it doesn't come back. If you love someone you need to tell them. I have to get some rest so I can mend up and go home. Your home is in Daniel. So, Katherine, go home.”

Daniel left the unit and ran out of the hospital as fast as he could. His heart was pounding, and the smile on his face was huge. No woman had ever said they loved him. He didn't give them the opportunity. Daniel didn't stick around long enough.

Katherine went into her room and took her clothes off to soak in the tub. She didn’t even know which room Daniel was in. He could have left for all she knew. She doubted he was even concerned about it. She closed her eyes and let the tears blend in with the water that she wished she’d never have to get out of.

Daniel paced inside of his room. One thing he wasn’t prepared for was Katherine’s love. He felt like that was way beyond his reach. If she only knew how hard it was for him to get the room next door, especially when another couple was demanding the same room. But he had to stay close to her. That ended up being an expensive persuasion. He didn’t care. Daniel was willing to move mountains for this woman.

Katherine climbed out of the tub and put on her yellow robe. It felt so soft and warm. She needed to get some fresh air and hopefully clear her head. If she was going to tell Daniel what was in her heart, she’d have to find the strength to endure the painful words she didn’t want to hear. The sun had set, but there wasn’t much of a breeze when she stepped outside and took a deep breath.

Daniel heard her open the door wall. He saw Katherine with her chin lifted and eyes closed, taking slow, deep breaths. Her curls were loosely pinned up, and upon her face was a small smile. But when she opened her eyes, the smile disappeared. He stepped out on his balcony.

Katherine turned to see who it was that had stepped outside. She became self-conscious about being in just a robe and nothing else.

“Daniel, I didn’t realize you were in the room next door.”

He had no words for her. He just lifted up his hand and made a slight ‘come here’ motion. Then she turned and went back in her room. She took off her robe and put her jeans back on and a beautiful green sweater that Daniel had given to her, and walked over to his room. She softly knocked.
I can do this.