Remember Love (17 page)

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN

"So you
tutor students?" Katrina took a bite out of the apple she’d brought to Kat’s
Korner and watched Alec set up one of her new computers. Sharon had called this
morning with a message for Alec from some school in the city, which prompted
Katrina's curiosity.

"Sometimes."
He fiddled with a wire. "It’s a way to give back since I wasn’t the best
student myself."

"Poor guy.
You should’ve chosen someone else to copy your math homework off of."

Alec shot her a
look. "Yeah, well, it took me until tenth grade to realize my so-called
A-student friend was the reason I was making C’s."

She smiled. "I
never claimed to be good at math. Rachel couldn't understand why you hung out
with me."

"You mean
you didn’t let her copy your work?"

"She never
needed to." Katrina enjoyed the bubble of joy that rose inside her at
their relaxed banter, loved the way it insisted on sneaking out in a giggle.

Alec’s lips
twisted into a lopsided grin as he pushed a plug into the wall. "There.
These new computers are set. I’m going to get the power going and start
downloading your accounts. Hand me that flash drive." He gestured to a memory
stick near Katrina.

She handed it to
him. "It’s a good thing you made all those copies." She wanted to
mention their contract and ask him to reconsider his partnership, but hadn’t
found the nerve to do it yet. Instead, they’d settled into a strange
companionship that left her unsettled and uncertain.

"That
reminds me." He turned around. "Grant called yesterday after I left
your house. Says Steve is still nowhere to be found."

"I don’t
know why he’d vandalize the store. It’s not my fault Sharon left him."

"We don’t
have proof it’s him. But he’s the only one who might have a reason."

"It could be
a bored teenager," she offered, though the idea seemed implausible.

Evidently Alec
agreed because he sent her a quelling look. "Doubtful. I’ll be here for a
few weeks. We need to figure out how to get this store sold."

Shock stole
Katrina’s thoughts for a moment. She found herself staring at Alec’s back when
he turned to the computer. Quickly on the tail of surprise came anger.

As someone who'd
feared confrontation most of her life, she'd held a tight rein on her anger. But
now indignation seemed to fill the vacant place of timidity and it took every
ounce of self-control she possessed to keep from throwing a book at Alec’s
stubborn head.

She inhaled
deeply. Exhaled. "I’m not selling."

"You have
to, Katrina. Nobody’s buying Christian books in this town."

"Ms. Landon
came in last week."

"She was
your only sale." His attention didn’t stray from the computer.

"I’m
thinking of adding more than books, but I don’t want you to worry about it."

"Speaking of
which," he faced her, and goose bumps skittered down the back of her neck
at the look on his face, "our contract is legal and binding. Don’t expect
a kiss to change that."

Her cheeks
flamed. "Excuse me?"

"You heard
me. I want us to get to know each other, but don’t think a kiss will change our
professional relationship."

She shoved to her
feet, ignoring the twinge in her healing ankle, and hurled the half-eaten apple
in the trash. "If you’re implying I would use that against you, you’re way
off." Beneath the anger simmered hurt.

"Our
personal relationship doesn’t have any bearing on the business one you agreed
to." Alec clasped his hands on his lap, looking every bit the successful
businessman.

"What I
agreed to is pretty specific. Twenty-five percent."

"You’re
being unusually stubborn, Kitty."

"Would you
stop calling me that?" She paced the small room, careful not to stumble
over the empty computer boxes. "I make the rules."

"You’ll lose
your lease if you can’t pay the rent."

"Once again,
that’s not for you to worry about. I’m not seventeen anymore." She whirled
on him, and felt a tiny thrill of satisfaction when he quickly masked his
surprise. "Please don’t get me wrong. I’m more than thankful you’re
willing to foot the bill for new equipment until my insurance check gets in."

Alec rose, eyes
glittering, and Katrina took a step back. He didn’t intimidate her; she just
needed room to breathe. He didn't give her that luxury and mimicked her
movement.

"You always
did this," she said, wishing for more space. "You always took over
and told me how to do things, when and where. And I followed. But I have to put
my foot down." She placed her hand against the sleek lapels of his
expensive suit. "This store is very special to me. I won’t allow you to
pressure me into selling."

She felt his
scrutiny and let her hand fall down to her side. She looked up into his eyes.
They were squinted, as if trying to figure her out.

"We’ll see,"
he said, and moved away.

Relieved to have
avoided a fight, she slid around him and left the office.

He was so sure
things would go his way. Not with Kat’s Korner, though. Unless God specifically
showed her she should sell, she would hold onto the store the way Joey used to
clutch his favorite blanket.

In the main
store, a woman browsed the shelves, her white hair glowing in the bright
sunlight that streamed through the windows.

"Widow Carmichael,
can I help you?" Katrina crossed the small room and grasped the elderly
woman’s hands.

"Where are
the couches? My legs are tired."

"We had to
get rid of them," Katrina soothed. "Why don’t I get you a chair?"

"That’s
quite alright. I don’t see what I’m looking for." Snappy cornflower blue
eyes studied her from beneath thinning lashes. "Got rid of them, did you?"
She sniffed. "I knew that man was up to no good the moment I set eyes on
him."

Katrina let go of
her hands, the widow’s tone making her wary.

"He’ll hurt
you again."

"Are you
referring to Alec Munroe?" she asked gently.

"I’ll tell
you one thing. As long as he’s a part of this store, I’ll have none of it. I
suggest you get rid of him before it affects your standing in our church."

Katrina’s mouth
dried. Had she heard the widow right? Was that a threat? She blinked, studying
the woman's face, trying desperately to come up with some sort of response. "I
don’t understand."

"That man is
poison."

A quick look to
the office door confirmed Alec was still in there. Good. She faced the widow. "I’m
sorry, but you’re wrong."

"Mark my
words, young lady. You’ll never help in our church again if you keep this up."
She wagged a bony finger in Katrina’s face. "Baby out of wedlock, working
with a liar, a killer."

Overcome with an
urge to take that finger and shove it away, Katrina took a deep breath and
stepped to the side, closer to the window. "He’s none of those things,
Widow."

"You’ll see."
She sniffed and with a withering glance, shuffled out of the store.

Katrina frowned.
News traveled fast. If the widow knew of Alec’s involvement, everyone knew.
She’d see to it.

"Widow Carmichael
will always hate me," Alec said from behind her.

Katrina turned
from the front window. Alec was fiddling with the computer at the front
counter, the click of the keys punctuating the stillness of the room. His hair
fell over his forehead and her fingers itched to smooth it from his brow.

"She’s still
grieving. Bitter." Katrina shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans
and tried to ignore how tender that lock of hair on his forehead made her feel
towards him.

"Carmichael
isn’t worth missing."

"A lot of
people would disagree with you." Most people hadn’t believed Alec over
their award-winning teacher. "She blames you for his death."

"He did it
to himself."

"You
humiliated him—"

"Humiliation
doesn’t make everyone kill themselves. The man was repulsive and I exposed
something that needed air before it rotted the town."

"He needed
help but—" Katrina swallowed the rest of her sentence as Alec straightened
from the computer. His face was granite.

"Have the
people of this town brainwashed you? Calling the cops was the only thing to do.
What I’m wondering is, would you be so forgiving if he’d touched our son?"
His eyes narrowed when she blanched. "I didn’t think so. Yeah, I’m sorry
the man is dead, but I’d rather that than see him prowling this town."

Katrina looked
away, chin tucked. It was true. He’d exposed something evil. If only it hadn’t
hurt so many.

Alec stood. "Your
computers are all set. I have a conference call with my uncle this afternoon,
but if you want we can meet for dinner."

He stood so
straight, his shoulders back and his strong jaw stiff, that she knew he
expected a no. She’d never blamed him for doing the right thing, but maybe he'd
thought she did.  She offered  a tentative smile. "I’m cooking tonight.
Why don’t you come over?"

*****

Katrina sat at
the edge of the river, fishing pole lodged between her knees, and reached for a
Coke. The heady, musty scent of the river relaxed her, drained the stiffness
from her shoulders.

Dinner had gone
surprisingly well. The tension from earlier in the day didn’t resurface during
the meal and enjoying Alec’s company had been easy. He’d charmed her from the
moment he walked in the door carrying a dozen lilies and wearing a crooked
smile. Because he hadn’t brought up the store, neither did she. Instead, they
ate spicy chicken alfredo and she allowed herself to unwind.

Then Alec suggested
they go fishing.

Her gaze skipped
to where Alec reclined against a stump, his pole held lightly in his hands. He
looked so peaceful when fishing. So much more approachable.

"Is there a
reason you’re watching me, Katrina?" His profile shifted so that he faced
her, and his eyes gleamed fathomless in the night.

Her face heated
and she sipped her Coke, grateful for the dark that surrounded them. "I
was just thinking how happy you seem when you fish."

Out of the corner
of her eye she saw his bobber slip away from the pale gaze of the moon, into
the river and, a second later, Alec jerked his pole. She jumped to her feet,
carefully propping her own pole between some rocks, and raced over.

"Wow, he’s
big for a crappie." Katrina heard the excitement that tightened her voice.

"Hand me the
bucket."

Katrina grabbed
it and grinned as Alec plopped the fish into its temporary home. For a moment
it flipped and jerked, making wet slapping sounds against the sides of the
bucket. Then it darted beneath the surface of its new environment. Beset by
memories, she lowered herself to the cool grass of the river’s bank. "Do
you remember the first time you went fishing with me?"

"You mean
the first time I
ever
fished?" Alec sat back down. "You were
what, nine? Ten?"

"Somewhere
around there." She retrieved her pole and then settled next to him. "You
snuck up on me in the middle of the night."

"Even at
nine, I knew something was wrong with a kid out at that time."

"You had no
business roaming around, either," she pointed out.

"True."
Alec took the bait she handed him and marveled at the maternal authority that
had crept into her voice. "Bet you would never let Joey out by himself."

"You know I
wouldn’t." Her tone softened and Alec wished he could kiss her again. Or
even touch her hand. But it was too fast. She needed time to adjust to the way
things would be.

He could tell she
was thinking about Joey. She smiled in that sad way she had, chin on her arms,
fishing pole gripped between her drawn knees. Bringing Joey up may’ve been a
mistake, but there was no skirting around the fact that she’d had a child.

That
they’d
had
a child.

Alec cleared his
throat. "I saw a kid skateboarding down Main Street today. He reminded me
of myself." Katrina looked at him and his shoulders relaxed. No tears in
her eyes. That was good. "He looked rough, like he was trying to be bigger
than he is."

"Is that
what you did?" Katrina smirked and the coiled tension in his chest slowly
unknotted.

 "I was just
rough. Anyway, the light turned red. I stopped and the kid looked right at me.
I expected him to flip me the finger or something, but he just stared. His eyes
didn’t match the rest of him." Alec couldn’t pinpoint how and paused, the
insects filling the silence with their soprano song.

"Softer,
maybe?" she asked.

"No...Something
worse. They were shattered, like the innocence had been ripped away."

"Life is so
fragile." Katrina plucked a blade of grass beside her and held it up,
twirled it. "A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will
not quench."

"Is that
from the Bible?" Alec asked, intrigued.

"It is."
The blade drifted to the ground as her gaze once again met his. "After
Joey died, I blamed everyone. The driver, my mom, you and myself. God."
She pushed a wayward strand of hair from her cheek. "I read a book and the
author referenced the verse. So I looked it up, found it in Isaiah and then
again in the book of Matthew as a prophesy fulfilled. I didn’t cling to it
then, but now I find myself longing to believe it could be true."

Alec reeled his
line in and set the pole beside him. "Why?"

"Because it
means my Savior is gentle, kind, and good. That he doesn’t want me to hurt and
he won’t let me break." Katrina’s voice caught. "Don’t worry, I’m not
going to cry."

"I can
handle a few tears." Alec swallowed the lump stuck in his own throat. All
this time, while he’d been discovering God, she’d been losing Him.