The Contract (27 page)

“I saw how busy you’ve been.”

“Do you like it?” Her voice was shy and hesitant.

I dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Good job, Mrs. VanRyan.”

She giggled into her pillow. “I’m glad you’re pleased, Mr. VanRyan.”

I tucked her closer. “I am. Go to sleep. I’ll tell you everything in the morning about the trip.”

“Okay.” She hummed sleepily. “Night.”

“Night.”

Katharine stared at me over her coffee and picked up the contract again. “Just like that? He canceled your trial period?”

I nodded, my mouth full of scrambled eggs. Chewing, I swallowed and grinned. “I have an idea Jenna’s little visit may have had something to do with it.”

She chewed on the end of her nail, and I reached over, smacking her hand. “Stop that.”

“Why do you think Jenna being here had anything to do with it?”

“Think about it, Katharine. Think of what she saw. Us in the same bed, me all over you. We got along well. She even knew we had a fight and made up. I’m pretty sure she told Graham he was wrong to have any doubts.”

“Makes sense, I suppose.”

“Plus, he said I’d done a great job—I surpassed expectations. It was his way of rewarding me.” I took a sip of coffee. “Well, the end of my probation, and a generous bonus.”

Her smile was warm. “I knew you’d blow them away with your work. It doesn’t surprise me. You’ve always been brilliant with your ideas.”

Her praise did strange things to me. I rubbed my chest, as if I could move around the warmth radiated by her words, and I smiled at her, my voice sincere. “You’ve always been supportive. Thank you.”

The smile she returned was wide and open. I looked down at my plate, as the normalcy of our situation registered. Was this what marriage was like? A real marriage? Small moments of sharing that made you feel whole—connected.

I dug in my pocket, and slid the small box her way. “For you,” I said gruffly, picking up my mug.

She made no move to touch it. I had never met a woman like Katharine. My wealth had always been a magnet for the women I dated. They would be all over me for gifts—wanting them, dropping hints, showing me items on the internet. Practically ripping any offering from my hand if I decided to purchase something. Not Katharine, though.

“
Your
bonus,” I insisted and nudged the box closer. “Open it. It won’t bite.”

Her hand shook as she reached for the box. She hesitated once it was in her palm, as if anticipating the moment of opening the lid. Appreciating the mystery. I liked watching her expressions as they flitted across her face.

Her eyes grew round as she looked at the ring inside. As soon as I saw it, I knew she would love it. Small and delicate, the diamonds were set into different shaped frames. Tiny squares, ovals, circles, and rectangles made up a ring as unique and different as her. It wasn’t the most expensive ring the store had, and certainly not the biggest, but it suited Katharine. Even Graham had nodded his approval the second my finger tapped on the glass case.

“That one, please. I would like to see that one.”

Katharine looked up at me. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s a gift, Katharine.”

“Why?”

I shrugged. “Because you deserve it.” I touched the contract envelope. “None of this would have happened without you. I wanted to say thank you.” I added, completely sincere. It was important she believed me—that she knew I was aware of how much she had done for me.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Put it on.”

She slid the ring on her right hand and twisted her wrist in the way women did when admiring a ring on their finger. “It fits!”

Reaching over, I took her hand and studied it. It fit well and it suited her perfectly. I set down her hand on the counter, patting it awkwardly.

“Do you like it?”

“It’s . . .” Her voice was thick. “It’s gorgeous.”

“I was thinking of earrings, but I noticed Jenna and Laura have rings on their right hands, so I thought you’d like one, too. We could get earrings, if you prefer.”

She shook her head. “No. It’s perfect.”

The air around us swirled with emotion. She kept looking at her hand and blinking fast. Oh God—was she going to cry? Over a present? I wasn’t sure I would be able to handle it if she started crying. Emotion like that made me extremely edgy.

I clapped my hands. “Good choice, then. I’ll save the earrings for another time. Maybe a six-month anniversary or something. I’m sure the Gavins celebrate milestones like those. I’ll have to keep up.”

She cleared her throat and slid off her stool. “I guess so.”

I was shocked when she stopped by my chair after dumping her coffee in the sink. She cupped my cheek and pressed her lips to it, lightly. “Thank you, Richard,” she murmured, then kept walking.

I turned in my chair to watch her climb the steps. It was only when I shifted back that I realized my hand covered my face where her lips had touched, as if I was holding her kiss to my skin.

How odd.

RICHARD

I GLANCED OVER AT PENNY
with a frown. I had been excited the same jazz trio we’d seen before was doing an encore performance this evening, but she’d been off the entire night. More than once, she had lifted her hand, wiping away a tear as it rolled down her cheek. When I asked, concerned, if she was all right, she waved me away with an impatient hand.

“I’m fine.”

Yet, she seemed to be anything except fine.

I wheeled her back to her room, hoping the treat I had waiting would pick up her spirits.

Katharine mentioned Penny wasn’t eating well the past couple days and seemed tired. Tonight, her caregiver told me she picked at her dinner and had only eaten lunch because Katharine fed it to her.

I knew Katharine was worried. She had considered canceling her yoga class, but I encouraged her to go. I reminded her only two classes remained, then she could join us every Tuesday. I would miss my time with Penny, but the classes started again a month later, so it would be back to us at that point. My favorite part of the night was listening to Penny tell stories of Katharine. There were so many—some Katharine herself had undoubtedly forgotten. They often contained humorous, embarrassing moments that made me chuckle.

I sat beside Penny, sliding the pizza box open with a smile. “Voila!”

When I discovered, next to cheeseburgers, pizza was her favorite food, I started bringing it to her regularly. It was fine with the home, and I made sure I had plenty for the staff on occasion. One day I brought enough pizza so any resident who wanted some could enjoy it. I was a hero that day.

Today, however, it was only for Penny.

She took a slice yet made no move to eat it. With a sigh, I took her slice back and returned it to the box. I wrapped my hand around her fragile wrist, rubbing the delicate skin of her palm.

“Penny, what is it? What’s wrong?”

She heaved a deep exhale of air, the sound drained and resigned. “I’m tired.”

“You want me to get Connie? She can get you ready for bed.” Tami was off tonight, but she liked Connie.

“No. I don’t want to go to bed.”

“I don’t understand.”

Withdrawing her hand, she rubbed it over her face in a weary manner. “I’m tired of all this.”

“Your room?” If she wanted a different one, I’d get it for her.

“Of being here. In this . . .
life,
if you can call it that.”

I had never heard her talk this way. “
Penny
—”

She reached out and wrapped her hand around mine.

“I forget things, Richard. Time goes on and I don’t know if it’s the same day that it was only a moment ago. Katy comes to visit and I can’t remember if she was here hours ago, days ago, or if she just left the room for a minute. Some days, I don’t recognize anything, and I’m scared. I know there are days I don’t know
her
.” Her voice shook, eyes glimmering with tears. “I don’t know myself most days.”

“She’s here. Every day, she comes to see you, and even if you forget
her
, she knows
you
. She stays and sits with you.”

“I’m a burden to her.”

“No,” I insisted. “You aren’t a burden to her. She loves you.”

“You must resent me.”

“
What
? No. Not at all. I love spending time with you. You’re part of my family now, Penny. You became that when I married Katharine.” As the words left my mouth, I realized I was telling her the truth.

“She should be doing other things, traveling, having babies, making friends, not babysitting an old woman.”

“Why are you talking like this? You know Katharine would do anything for you. So would I.” I lifted her hand up and pressed a kiss to the thin skin. “Please, Penny, if she heard you . . .”

“I miss Burt.”

“I know,” I soothed. “You were married a long time. Of course, you miss him.”

“Forty years. We weren’t rich, but we had love.” She smiled softly. “I loved watching him cook. He was a chef—did you know that?”

“Yes, you told me.”

“I was a teacher. We had a good life. When he died, I didn’t know how I was going to carry on. But then, I found Katy. She became my reason.”

“She needed you.”

“She doesn’t need me anymore.”

“You’re wrong. She does.”

“Will you look after her?”

“Don’t. Don’t give in yet, Penny. Katharine—she’d be devastated.”

She shut her eyes as her shoulders sagged. “I’m just so tired.”

I panicked when I realized she wasn’t referring to wanting to go to bed. She was tired of life and being trapped in a body that no longer worked, with a mind that left her confused and forgetful.

I bent close, lowering my voice. “I’ll look after her. I promise. She won’t want for anything.” I could promise her that. I would make sure Katharine was all right. “Don’t give up. She
does
need you.”

Her eyes opened, her gaze drifting past me. “Can you give me that picture?”

I turned and handed her the picture to which she pointed. After coming clean about being married, Katharine brought her a picture of us on our wedding day, and one Tami had snapped when we were visiting. Katharine was holding her hand, Penny was tweaking her nose and laughing, and I sat beside them, smiling. We looked like a family.

She traced our faces. “She’s been my life since I lost Burt.”

“I know.”

“She is everything I knew she would be—smart, loving, strong.”

“I agree. Beautiful, too. Tough as nails. You had a lot to do with that, Penny.”

That made her smile. The first real one I’d seen tonight.

She stretched up and patted my cheek. “You’re a good boy.”

Those words made me chuckle. No one had
ever
said them to me.

“When you get older, Richard, you realize life is made up of moments. All sorts of them. Sad ones, good ones, and great ones. They make up the tapestry that is your life. Hold on to all of them—especially the great ones. They make the others easy to take.”

I covered her hand with mine. “Stay,” I urged. “For her. Give her more great moments, Penny.”

With a sigh, she nodded. “I want to go to bed now.”

Turning my face, I kissed her palm. “I’ll get Connie.”

She met my eyes, a fierce gaze that trapped and held mine. “Love, Richard. Make sure you surround her with love.”

I could only nod.

She tweaked my nose. That was what she did to Katharine—her way of saying, “I love you.”

My eyes stung all the way to the desk to get Connie.