Love's Fate (Love Trilogy #1) (20 page)

“What good news?” I asked her, she looked a little nervous.

“I’ve been offered a job as a fashion consultant for a teen magazine.” Amy told me looking down at her glass.

“That’s wonderful!”  I exclaimed.

She beamed a big smile and looked relieved.

“I couldn’t bel
ieve it when I got the call.”  S
he gushed

“I bel
ieve it.”  I told her “I
t was only a matter of time before someone recognized your talent.”

“They want me to start in two weeks.”  She said a little quieter, looking down at her glass again.

“You’re going to be fantastic!”  I told her
.

“But what are you go
ing to do?”  S
he asked looking back up at me.

“I’ll hire someone.” I shrugged. “I’ll put some fliers up at the institute. There are plenty of eager culinary students looking for a job.”

“I feel so guilty leaving you.” Amy cried
.

“I’ll be fine.”  I assured her. “I’ll miss you, but this is what you’re supposed to be doing. You were meant for fashion, not cookies.”  I laughed and got up to hug her.

“I’ll miss you too.” Amy was really crying now, but I wouldn’t let her feel bad about this. I was so proud of her.

“I am so excited for you! Tell me all about it.”  I exclaimed trying to steer the conversation back towards a happy tone. It worked and Amy started telling us all about her new job.

After a few bottles of wine and several hours of conversation everyone began looking tired. Tomorrow was Monday and we all had places to be in the morning, so reluctantly we said goodnight. I couldn’t have been happier with how the evening had gone. Michael felt more a part of me than ever. Everything about our lives had blended so naturally, I couldn’t imagine my life without him.

“I love you.”  H
e whispered to me as we lay in bed that night.

“I love you too” I replied as I nestled my head against his chest. He sighed.

“It was fun having everyone over tonight.”

“Yeah, I’m glad everyone got along so well
.
” 

“Me too, it’s important for the in-laws to get along.”

“Amy and Dan really are the closest thing to a family that I’ve ever had, it means so much to me that you love them too.” I told him.

“What did happen to your family Katherine?”  Michael asked me.

“They died.”

I realized he already knew that, but I wasn’t sure exactly how to respond.

“How?”  H
e probed.

This was the one thing we hadn’t talked about. I had told him everything else about my life, but not this. He had never asked before, and now that he had I didn’t know what to tell him. I hadn’t ever talked about that day with anyone, not even the counselors I was forced to see as a child. I wasn’t sure if I could talk about it now.

“I was only five, I don’t remember it very well
.”
I started to tell him, and he wrapped his arms around me comfortingly.

“My parents had taken me to a museum and there was a terrible accident.”

I felt his body stiffen as I said this. Confused I lifted my head to look at him. His face was pale and his eyes were wide.

“I was there.”  H
e whispered.

I didn’t understand.

“What do you mean?”  I asked

“I was ten years old and I was at a museum with my parents… I saw the sculpture fall… I was there.”

Tears were running down my face as I listened to his words. The room started spinning. I sat up in bed and hugged my knees to my chest. I couldn’t focus my mind. It was racing. Images from that horrible day flashed in my mind. My parents, my father
’
s smile, my mother
’
s eyes, and… and blue eyes. Michael’s eyes. I turned to face him again and tears were running down his face too.

“How?”  Was all I could manage to say in between sobs.

He wrapped his arms around me again and rocked slowly rubbing my back as I cried against his chest.

“I remember seeing you.”  I finally said after my crying had slowed “I remembered your eyes. I realize now that’s what caught my attention in the coffee shop.” My head was still tucked against his chest and he held me tightly as I spoke.

“You looked at me that day
.” H
is voice was distant and hoarse, I realized he was still crying too. “We looked into each other’s eyes right before it fell…”

“I remember.”  I whispered.

“I haven’t talked about
that day since it happened.”  H
e told me “My parents refused to talk about it. I always wondered what happened to you. I saw your father try to throw you
to safety, but I never knew…”  H
e trailed off, and I looked up at him.

His eyes were focused on a distant memory. I had always tried not to think of that day, but now that I was allowing myself to remember it all seemed so clear.

“You saved me
.”
I realized aloud. “It was you that saw it falling, you screamed, you’re the reason my father had time to react. If you hadn’t been there that day I would have died too.”

He focused on me now.

He didn’t say anything else. He just grabbed my face and kissed me passionately. I overflowed with emotion and Michael tenderly kissed my tears away. I laid my head back against his chest and he held me tightly.

“Do you remember my parents?”  I asked him

“A litt
le.”  H
e replied.

“Tell me about them.”  I asked

“I remember that they seemed very much in love, and they loved you too. I was actually a little jealous watching you with them. It seemed so perfect, something I wished my family could be. Your mother was very beautiful you look just like her. You have her eyes.”

As he spoke of her, the fuzzy image in my mind came into better focus. I remembered her face. I smiled at the memory.

“You reminded me of her that night in the coffee shop. I didn’t realize it then, not entirely, but
I knew I had seen you before.” H
e continued. “There was just something about you, something so…”

“Familiar.”  I finished. “I know. I felt the same way.”

“You are my soul mate Katherine.” Michael said confidently. “I knew the first moment I looked into your eyes, and every time after that. I’ve always known. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The words didn’t seem strong enough to express the overwhelming feelings I had for him. As a child I had often wondered why I had lived, had sometimes wished that I had died. But now I knew why I survived and I was glad that I had. I was meant to love this man.

“Marry me.”  Michael asked propping himself up on his elbow and looking down at my face. He was smiling excitedly tears still glistening in his sapphire eyes. I couldn’t speak. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to kiss me.

“Is that a yes?” he asked laughing as he pulled away.

“Yes, yes, yes!”  I shouted and we kissed again.

All of my dreams were coming true even the ones I hadn’t even thought to dream of.

I never imagined I could be so happy. I spent my days painting and my nights with Katherine. My reputation had exploded and I had waiting lists a mile long for murals. In one month I painted a snow-capped mountain range in a Chinese restaurant, a rain forest waterfall in a day spa, and an underwater scene in a children’s library.

I enjoyed painting, and was paid very well for it, but something was missing. Landscapes had become too easy. I wasn’t challenged anymore. I began to feel unfulfilled, and I missed Katherine during the day. I hated being away from her.

One night as Katherine and I ate dinner in her apartment I found myself lost in her face. I studied every curve, every shadow. As soon as we finished eating I asked her if we could go up to my place so that I could paint her. She seemed a little embarrassed at my request, but still reluctantly agreed to be my model.

The first painting I did of her was a portrait of her face. I finally had found the inspiration I was looking for. The image flowed onto the can
vas without effort, as if by it
s own will. The finished piece was amazing. The only thing more beautiful was Katherine herself.

This became our pattern. I painted my murals during the day, making sure to finish and be home in time to meet her as soon as she closed the shop. She would cook dinner in her apartment and then after we ate we would go up to mine so that I could paint her. We stayed up late every night, talking and laughing as I painted her. We ended every evening wrapped in each other’s arms. I had never been so happy.

Finally after a month we decided we needed to stop neglecting our friends. We invited everyone over for dinner and had a wonderful time. It was great seeing Charlie and Claire again, and they got along perfectly with Katherine’s friends Amy and Dan. I loved seeing Katherine so happy.

That night after everyone left Katherine and I lay in bed together talking and something caused me to ask about her parents. She had always avoided the subject, and I knew the memory was painful for her so I had never asked before. But for some reason that night, I wanted to know. I knew everything else about her, and I wanted this last piece of information.

As she started to tell the story I was shocked to realize it was my story too. She had been the little girl I had seen in the museum. It was her family that I had watched die that terrible day so many years ago. As soon as the realization hit me I told her. We cried together as we both relived the painful memory.

It all came together that night. I realized that I had fallen in love with her that first moment our eyes met as children. My heart had belonged to her from that day, and it just took my mind a few years to catch up. We belonged together. We were soul mates. I knew that more strongly now than ever. I proposed to her that night and she said yes.

Of course I didn’t have a ring, but I would quickly remedy that situation. The next day she went to work at the bakery as she always did, but I did not call the next client on my list. Instead I decided to shop for a ring.

If I hadn’t decided to stay home that day, I wouldn’t have been home when the messenger came. It was funny how Fate worked. I was just about to leave when the doorbell rang.

“Michael Carter?” T
he well-dressed messenger asked when I opened the door.

“Yes?”
I examined his clothing and decided he looked more like a businessman than a messenger.

“I have a lette
r for you, please sign here.” H
e stated matter-of-factly.

I signed for the letter and closed the door. Curiously I sat down to read it. It was only a few short typed lines requesting a meeting to discuss a mural. The letter was not signed.

I folded the letter and put it in my pocket as I left my apartment and went downtown to shop for a ring. I found the perfect one at an upscale jewelry store downtown. It was a princess-cut diamond solitaire on a gold band. It was elegant and simple, just like Katherine. I knew she would love it. My heart soared as I bought the ring and thought about how she would react when I gave it to her tonight.

As I left the jewelry shop I thought about the letter in my pocket. I pulled it out and looked at the address again. It was only a few blocks away, so I decided I would stop by to see what the mystery client wanted.

When I found the address I looked at the ominous sky-scraper and wondered who could have sent the letter. This did not look like the type of business I usually was called to. Curiosity drew me into the building. I walked to the reception desk and gave the timid-looking woman my name. She seemed to be expecting me and asked me to have a seat. She spoke quietly into an intercom as I walked to the row of metal chairs against the wall.

I glanced around the cold, austere room and felt strangely nervous. There was no warmth in this building. It was all concrete, glass and steel. No pictures hung on the walls; every piece of furniture was functional. You could barely call the room decorated. I had an urge to get up and leave, but my curiosity kept me in my seat. It wasn’t long before someone approached me.

“Michael
Carter
?” 
T
he woman asked.

She was dressed in a grey business suit with her pale blonde hair pulled back in a severe bun. Her features were sharp and unattractive, her watery eyes pale and emotionless. She did not look capable of smiling.

“Yes.”  I responded, again fighting the urge to flee.

“Follow me.”  S
he said turning abruptly.

I stood and followed her to the elevator. We rode in silence to the top floor and from there she led me to a large office. She left me alone there without another word. I looked around the room at the leather sofas and large mahogany desk and it felt strangely familiar. I began to feel sick as I realized why.