Wrapped In Shadows (23 page)

“Open it.”

“You got me a present?” she asked, her lips tilting in a sappy smile that made me chuckle.

“Well, you got me a shirt.”

She sat up and started opening the box, then peeked at me from under her long pale lashes, chagrinned. “Because I kinda mauled yours.”

Her words made my smile widen and I watched her beautiful face morph to bewildered shock when she lifted the lid. I was biting my cheeks now, trying not to laugh out loud. Her big blue eyes rounded.

“A sewing kit?” An indignant pout pushed up her lips, but laughter swirled in her eyes. She started playfully punching my chest, and I grabbed a pillow to defend myself. Her laughter escaped in bursts as I twisted and parried away, laughing myself.

“It’s a great gift!” I chuckled. “It even comes with buttons!”

“Funny.”

“Look underneath,” I said, peeking out from the pillow.

Definitely not trusting me now, she gingerly picked up the kit and looked deeper into the box.

I watched her cheeks fill with a smile as she lifted the delicate gold key chain.

“This is lovely!” She held it up and dangled it from her fingers, and the light in the room bounced off of the shiny metal, making it glow. “It has my initials!”

She beamed and flung her arms around my shoulder, tackling me to the bed. “Thank you.”

“I know you said you’re looking for your own apartment. I figured you could use it.”

“That’s so thoughtful.” Her lips split into a wide smile and she planted tiny kisses all over my face, springing more chuckles from my lungs. “I’m sorry I beat you up.”

“It’s okay.” I grinned. “I think you’re not seeing the bright side of having a sewing kit, though.”

Her forehead wrinkled skeptically, and I kissed the bridge of her nose.

“You can rip my shirts off anytime you want.”

***********************

Katie

“You are a complete embarrassment to this family, Katherine Regina!”

I pulled up short when my mother’s voice hissed low behind me. It echoed in angry waves across the large music parlor. I braced a hand on the shiny black Steinway and squeezed my eyes shut, reluctant to turn around and face the woman who’d just pursued me into the room. I’d come home for Christmas despite knowing it was going to be difficult. It was Christmas, after all, and how could I not? This was my family. My mother was still livid about the cancellation of the wedding. Last night at Grand’s home, I had been given a reprieve. There had been so many people in attendance that Diana hadn’t been able to release her beautifully wrapped anger. True to form, she’d mingled and socialized with the cultured grace of a true Vandercamp, smiling as if she hadn’t a care in the world. But I knew that underneath the refined sophistication was a woman waiting for the right opportunity to explode. And this was unfortunately the moment—right before we were to be called into the dining hall for Christmas dinner.

I had anticipated this outburst at some point tonight, but what caused my skin to grow damp were Diana’s words. Was she referring to the wedding, or something else? My heart seized with horrible foreboding and small twinges tightened my chest. I slowly lifted my lids and stared out the French colonial windows that gave a spectacular view of the grounds. Our caretaker had done an exceptional job with the manicured gardens and the feng shui placement of stone statuaries. I absorbed the serene vista while my body raged with internal pandemonium. Perhaps I could channel some inner calm from the pastoral scene. Taking a deep breath, I pivoted and faced my mother.

Diana’s face was gaunt with anger.

“I hope you are proud of yourself and the hoops you’ve made us all leap through this past year. I have spent an enormous amount of time indulging you with this wedding, and this is how you repay me?”

Inner peace flew out the French colonial windows. On some level, relief wormed through my muscles, but I was too angry to acknowledge it. Fisting my hands, I scowled at my mother. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“
Indulging me? Indulging me?
I told you repeatedly I didn’t want half that stuff you planned! But you never listened to me! As always, what I say—what
I
want—doesn’t count!” I hated the way my voice split open with emotion on the last sentence, but a year of banked hostility started to leak out. I could feel my eyes filling with tears, and tried hard not to fall apart.

Diana regarded me for an quiet moment, seeming stunned, and I thought for once I saw empathy in her eyes, thought that my mother was actually trying to understand me.

“
You ungrateful little bitch!
” Diana bit out. “Do you know how much planning went into this? Who was to attend? Some of the strings I had to pull? I’m thoroughly embarrassed, and have most likely become a laughing stock! ”

I shook my head, awed at my mother’s myopic view of the world. It was clear what her priority was: her reputation.

“Do you not care that I could be making the biggest mistake of my life? That Josh might not be the one for me?”

“You need to get your priorities in order. Josh is a fine man. He loves you! If you weren’t so caught up in the foundation, you’d see that!”

“And if you weren’t so caught up in
yourself
, you’d see that I haven’t been happy, that Josh and I have had problems! But you really don’t give a shit!” I threw at her. I knew I shouldn’t say such a hateful thing, but now I was beyond angry.

“
How dare you?
” Blotches of pink soiled Diana’s porcelain skin. “You are a naive, little twit who doesn’t know the first—”

The French doors suddenly pushed open and my father walked in. I turned to his piqued expression.

“What the hell is going on in here? It is Christmas, for God’s sake!”

“Jerome, you stay out of this!”

I was hoping for an ally in my father, but I could already see his courage withering under Diana’s scorching glare. My father’s main concern had always been keeping peace in the house, and for him that meant keeping his wife placated.

“It is time for dinner. Please, let’s just make the best of this evening.”

I stared at my mother’s face, seeing a side of her that she kept veiled from the world. Diana always wore the facade of a gently bred lady with the perfect life, but I could see that deep inside she was unhappy. What warped sense of happiness she had was derived from what people thought of her and this family. It was siphoned from the praise and adulation she received from others, and to feed that desire, everything she did always had to be praise worthy—had to be the biggest, the best, the most lavish. This time it was all at my expense.

Sadness seeded in my heart, a profound sense of loss. This was how I’d grown up. I’d existed in the superficial, never felt grounded, never felt like I received genuine emotion from my family. I’d always felt lost and adrift, hoping to be found, hoping to land and take root in something of substance.

“It is too late!” Diana scoffed at my father’s words. “Christmas has already been ruined, thanks to your daughter!”

With a twirl of chiffon, she sailed from the room.

My father turned to me and sighed heavily. “What did you expect, Katherine? She’s angry and deeply disappointed. She put a lot of work into this wedding. But give her time and she’ll get over it. Now, don’t dally. Dinner is ready .”

My father left and I turned to peer out the window, fighting the urge to pick something up and fling it. My parents had no idea what had transpired between Josh and me on Saturday night, and although I didn't want to get into it with them, they hadn’t asked if I was okay, why I’d left so suddenly, or why the wedding was cancelled again. Because whatever the reason, it would in no way justify the embarrassment my mother had to endure.

My father’s words echoed in my head.

She’s deeply disappointed… Give her time… She’ll get over it…

Right. I gave a mocking shake of my head.
Whose wedding was it again?

I swiped at a tear that escaped down my cheek, wondering if coming tonight had been a mistake.

My phone rang and I looked around for my purse. I’d left Cindy a message earlier to see how she was doing and was expecting a call back. Finding it on the couch, I wiped away another tear and sniffled as I answered.

“Merry Christmas, beautiful.”

Luke’s deep voice was a balm to my overwrought emotions. We’d made plans for the weekend, and I hadn’t expected to hear from him until then. I found the tiny gold keychain he’d given me in my purse and held it in the warmth of my palm, cradling it against my heart. His voice blessed me with a smile, but lingering melancholy congested my throat.

“Kay?”

I cleared my throat and infused cheer into my voice.

“Hi, Luke! Merry Christmas.”

“I know you’re probably busy with your family, but I wanted to call and say hello. How did everything go today?”

I could hear the chatter of raised voices and ringing laughter in the background. He must be at his parents’ house with his whole family for Christmas dinner.

“At the soup kitchen? Great. There were a lot of people.”

“Cool. How’s Christmas with the family?”

“Wonderful!”
God awful…

“I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

I could feel my angst slowly ebb. I looked down at the gold keychain, thinking of his smile. I couldn’t wait to see him. Olivia had invited me to her ballet recital and I was looking forward to it. We’d planned to spend the day together, and then Luke and I would go out for a romantic dinner. The door to the music parlor pushed open and my father stuck his head in, his jaw set in anger and his eyes blazing.

“We are all waiting, young lady!”

Shit!

“Sorry, Luke, I have to go. I’m looking forward to it too. Tell Livy I wish her a Merry Christmas,” I whispered quickly, watching my father turn and walked away, grumbling beneath his breath.

“I will. See you then.”

I was about to sign off when his voice stopped me. “Hey, what’s your name again?”

I could sense him grinning on the other end, and couldn’t help my wide smile.

“Ivanna Gettof.”

“It would be my pleasure.”

Signing off, I raced to the door, clutching his gift in my fist. I was determined that no matter how bad the evening got, I’d hold on to the smile in my heart.

I
could
wait until Saturday to see Luke. I did
not
miss him terribly. I was
not
thinking about him every second of the day. And I was
not
constantly aroused by persistent sexual fantasies of his hard athletic body, ridiculously talented tongue, or mouth-watering member. Or at least that’s what I told myself as the elevator zoomed up to the thirtieth floor to Davenport PR. I was going to see Michelle, and if I happened to
accidentally
bump into Luke, then so be it. I tried to douse the fireflies dancing in my belly. They were kindling my nerves and making my palms sweat.

The silver doors of the elevator glided open and I stepped out into the wide marble hallway. Not wanting to lose my nerve, I walked quickly into the suite and approached the receptionist, who was chatting with a woman with stunning red hair.

“May I help you?” the tidy receptionist asked.

“Uhh…”

I felt suddenly awkward with both pair of eyes on me. Although I’d planned an excuse, I knew I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be bothering Luke at work. I’d just seen him a few days ago and here I was like some crazy stalker, girlfriend-wannabe! I was worse than a silly school girl with her first boyfriend!
Ugh!

He was dealing with a murder charge, going through a difficult time with his business, juggling being a single father, and I was already…smothering
him. He didn’t need a woman nipping at his heels. I’d already shown up at his apartment uninvited. I should just leave. Feeling like a fool, I stared blankly at the puzzled receptionist.

“Uhh…” I grunted inanely. “I’m sorry. I’ll come back another time.”

The woman sitting behind the desk cocked her head and smiled. “You’re Michelle’s friend, right? I remember you from the last time.”

“I think she’s just coming out of a meeting,” the redhead said.

I shouldered my handbag and started to back up toward the door with a casual wave of my hand. Now that I’d made the decision, I had the sudden urge to flee. “Yeah, just tell her I was here. I’ll catch up with her another time.”

I almost lost my footing when I backed into a solid body. Strong arms reached out to steady me as I turned and found myself staring up into smiling green eyes. Luke waved away the men he was with, then turned to me. He was tall and gorgeous in a tailored dark blue suit and yellow silk tie against a stark white shirt. The wing of his dragon was an eye-teaser above his collar.

Oh, God…breathe… He’s so hot… Would it be totally psycho if I wrapped myself around his body and climbed him like he was a flag pole?

Images flashed through my brain in full color, raw and erotic. I felt heat rush to my face, and afraid he’d see right through me, I looked away. The two women had stopped talking and were staring in our direction.

“Uh…” My jaw loosened, and embarrassingly tongue-tied, I grunted again.

His smile tilted and the dimple appeared. “I thought we took care of that throat thing.”

There was innuendo in his tone as well as his eyes, and it didn’t help my throat thing or the blush I could feel spreading to my neck.
How did he always do this to me? Pull yourself together! Cheek. Smack! Other cheek. Smack!

I took a step back, needing some distance, or I could not be held responsible for my actions.

“This is a nice surprise.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and shifted his weight onto one long leg.

I could feel the curious gazes of the women on us, and not wanting to seem like a bunny-boiling stalker, made my excuse.

“I—ah—came by to see Michelle. We have lunch plans.”

An eyebrow rose skeptically. “Is that so? You mean you didn’t come to see me?”