Providence (The Velvet Series Book 2) Read online

  “Nothing really. I might go biking tomorrow if the weather is nice. I took Monday off as well so I could have the extra day to recover and readjust to life here. I’ll probably end up seeing what’s playing at the movies. Tonight though, if it doesn’t involve my sweatpants, a blanket, and my couch then it isn’t going to happen.”

  “That sounds nice.”

  “Which part of it?”

  “All of it, I love relaxing nights at home. I didn’t know you’re into biking. Who do you go with?”

  “I’ll go alone, sometimes Catherine and Alex join me, other times Abby and her daughter. I have a few other friends that enjoy it as well. Just depends on who’s available when I go. Why do you bike?”

  “I do! I haven’t been out yet though.” This isn’t surprising since it is still cool out.

  “If you want to go tomorrow you are welcome to join me.”

  “That’d be great.” Katrina looks at my empty plate and then me. “More?”

  “I couldn’t if I tried, thank you. It was delicious. You really didn’t have to do all of this, but I really appreciate it.” Katrina stands up and starts to clear away the dirty dishes. “Let me do that, you already did all of the hard work.”

  “I’ve got it. You just go get your blanket and settle in on your couch. From the sounds of it, you’ve earned it.” I try to ignore her suggestion and grab one of the dishes to wrap it up and put it away, but Katrina swipes it out of my hands. “I mean it, you go and relax. I’ll get this cleaned up and be on my way.”

  “You don’t have to go. The only exciting thing happening here is going to be a movie night, but you’re welcome to stay.”

  “You sure? I don’t want to intrude on your plans.”

  “Of course I’m sure. I don’t have anything grand planned, hell I don’t even know what I plan to watch yet.”

  “Alright. You go get settled and find a movie, I’ll finish up in here.”

  I’m still searching for a movie when Katrina joins me in the den. “You still haven’t picked something?” I look over and find Katrina wearing a teasing smile.

  “Work in progress. Let me know if you see anything.” I can always find something to relax to, the issue is I have no idea what Katrina will enjoy. I scroll through the options, checking the details of the titles I’m unfamiliar with.

  “Ooh, Kill Bill is always great.” I remember mentioning to Katrina that I enjoy Tarantino’s work, so I wonder if she really does like it or if she’s saying so for my benefit. “You don’t agree?”

  “I do, I just know that his style isn’t for everyone.”

  “Yeah, Jill was never a fan of his, she hated the violence and the blood. I’ve always had to see his films with friends or on my own.” Sadness mars her features as she thinks about Jill, but she keeps it together. “Do you want a glass of water?”

  “I can get one.”

  “I’ll get it, you just start the movie.” I want to argue but realize she might just need a moment to herself. As she rises from the sofa, I stop her.

  “I should warn you, I don’t see volume one and two as separate entities. If we watch one, we have to watch the other.” She turns to face me, a smile plays at her lips but never reaches her eyes.

  “Of course. I had a nap earlier, I’ll be fine.”

  Katrina rises from the couch as the credits roll on volume one. “Brief intermission, I’ll be right back.” Knowing I could use the bathroom, more water and to simply stretch my legs, I head down the hall to the master suite. When I enter the kitchen to refill my water I find Katrina with her back to me, working on some task in front of her.

  “Need some help?” She jumps a little and looks over her shoulder at me, never fully turning around or giving me a glimpse of what she’s up to.

  “No. Almost finished. Go get the second half started, I’ll be right there.” I can feel my eyebrows contract of their own volition, and a frown settle in, but I simply refill my glass and return to the den. A few minutes later I hear Katrina approaching and look over to discover her holding a pair of plates, their contents just out of sight.

  “Intermission seemed like a good time for this.” She hands me one of the plates and my eyes bulge as my salivary glands go into overdrive.

  “Is this what I think it is?” Katrina grins at me.

  “White chocolate cheesecake with fresh strawberry topping? Yes, yes it is.” I hear Katrina giggle, but can’t tear my eyes away to figure out why. “I take it from the look on your face that you approve.” Unable to resist any longer, I greedily take the first bite. The intensity of the flavors flawlessly blend together as the sweet treat melts on my tongue, making me release a low moan.

  “Oh my god, this is amazing.” I close my eyes as I savor the flavor. “Please tell me that there isn’t a whole cheesecake in my refrigerator. I’m not sure I have the willpower not to eat all of it.” I shovel another bite into my mouth enjoying every ounce of richness it has to offer.

  “Well there is a whole one, yes, but it’s only an eight-inch cake. I have a smaller pan that I used.” I pause with the third forkful halfway to my mouth.

  “You made this?” Small wrinkles begin to crease her forehead as she flashes me an incredulous look.

  “Of course I did. Where did you think it came from?”

  “I don’t know, a bakery somewhere. Seriously, I’m going to have to work out extra all week because of this, but it’s so worth it.” I stuff another bite into my mouth, starting to feel sad that my plate is nearly empty.

  “Speaking of working out, what about training with Jason? Can we do Thursdays together? I’ve been going a few times a week still. It totally kicks my ass, but I really enjoy it.”

  “Sure.” I can’t think of a reason to object, plus I do miss having someone I can spar with once or twice a week. Picking up new moves and learning to think faster during actual combat is much easier if you have an opportunity to practice more than once a week.

  “You know, his Tuesday nights opened up, if you want to go then too.” Is she reading my mind?

  “I think I can make that work. I should warn you that when I’m on-call I still try to make it, but sometimes I have to bail at the last minute or even in the middle of class.” Katrina smiles, and I see something shift slightly in her eyes.

  “Maybe I should warn you that I’m going to be better than you soon.”

  “Is that so?” I ask as I arch an eyebrow at her.

  “Yes, it is.” A suppressed giggle escapes her pursed lips, spoiling the conviction she tried to put behind her bold talk.

  “I think I should start the movie now.” I let a slight smile work at the corners of my mouth, just enough to let her know that I’m joking. All the while I can feel my overly competitive spirit kicking into gear.

  Chapter 10

  “Do you have everything that you need? Swimsuit, something a little warmer for later?” Catherine and Alex are hosting another warm weather get together at their place. Grilling dinner, games, swimming, music, drinks, and good company all enjoying the wonderful weather together. It’s early August, which means that we’re running out of opportunities for these gatherings.

  “I think so. How many people are going to be there?”

  “One never knows. At least six but probably less than 30.” Katrina’s look shifts marginally. I can’t tell if she’s nervous or scared, perhaps a little bit of both. “You’ll be fine. You can follow me over there if you’d like so you can leave whenever you want. I just thought it would be easier to pick you up.”

  “No, I’ll be fine. I think I have everything. Can you carry my bag while I grab the dessert?” I take the offered bag from her and look around as I wait for her to return from the kitchen. The once overwhelming interior is gone, boxes litter the den and the dining room, the colorful furniture hidden behind them. Katrina returns, and I hear the sound of her steps halt. She’s caught me taking in my surroundings. I wonder if my face has betrayed any of the sadness I feel for her situation. I l
ook at her, and she arches an inquisitive eyebrow at me.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” I doubt she will, but I still feel obligated to offer.

  “Not really, but I feel like you want to talk me out of it. Just know that I feel like this is the right thing to do. She’s been gone for six months. We bought this place together, built our life together here and now this place is haunted by her ghost. It doesn’t feel like home anymore. This isn’t an impulsive decision that I’ve made. I feel like I needed to sell the place for some closure. I’m doing the right thing for me, I promise.”

  “Ok. For the record, I don’t want to talk you out of it. I just hope that you won’t regret it someday. I trust that you’ve thought it through.” Katrina has been doing very well in the months since my mission trip. I initially worried that it was because she always seemed to be busy doing something. Tuesdays and Thursdays we have class, we typically spar, kayak and hike one day out of the weekend, I know she spends time with her other friends, and she and her business partner are in the process of expanding their business to accommodate some billion dollar corporation. Her anger now seems minimal, and her drinking appears to be well under control. I know she continues to meet with Dr. Sutton every other week, but I never press her on what they discuss. When she told me she was putting their house on the market, I thought she was backsliding, that she had lost her mind. It sold in three weeks though, and she’s been surprisingly steady about the decision.

  “Good. Can we go have some fun now?” She smiles at me as she turns me in the direction of the door and playfully pushes me toward it.

  We arrive at the house and make our way onto the porch and ring the bell. I’m shocked when Taylor answers the door. We give each other a hug, and I see her eyes run up and down Katrina’s body as I introduce them. That flirty look I’ve seen and received from Taylor in the past is ever present on her face. I look around for Nikki and see her just down the hall, fully immersed in conversation with Kevin and Derrick. I feel Katrina lean into me as we walk down the hall, followed by her warm breath near my ear.

  “Ok three things. One, it looks like there are more than just a few people here. Two, Catherine and Taylor look so much alike it’s sorta creepy. Three, why do I feel like I just got molested by Taylor?” I laugh heartily, I can’t help it.

  “Shall I address those concerns in order? First, there are a few people here, but everyone is great, so don’t worry. You already know Catherine, Alex, Abby, Nate, Jeff, and myself. Maybe even one or two others. Just relax. If it gets too overwhelming, we can leave. Second, yes Taylor and Catherine look quite similar, but I assure you that their physical similarities are where it starts and stops. Personality wise they’re nothing alike. Third, yeah, she was checking you out. She’s a massive flirt. Unless something has changed, she’s here with Nikki, so you should be safe. If she isn’t, just make it clear you don’t want her attention. She may be a flirt, but she does listen.” Catherine approaches us from the kitchen, bag in hand.

  “Hello!” She leans in and gives me a hug. “You know the drill, keys in the bag.”

  “Seriously?” I don’t even need to ask, I can see the collection she has already amassed. Without further protest, I surrender my keys and am rewarded with a wink and a smile from Catherine. She turns to Katrina, hugs her in greeting and looks at her expectantly.

  “Oh, we rode together.”

  “Very well then. Fix yourselves a drink, dinner should be ready soon. Are you planning on crashing here? I’m sorting out rooms for people if you are, but you would have to share.” Katrina shoots me a surprised look. I just shrug. “You know the rules, Sara. If you’re drinking, you’re staying or getting a sober ride home.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know. Just keep my keys and hold a room until we figure it out. Mind if I give Katrina a tour?”

  “Of course, sorry I can’t be a proper host and do it myself. I’d avoid the guest apartment, I’m pretty sure I just saw Taylor and Nikki head down there.” We both laugh and Catherine heads back into the crowded kitchen. We follow and deposit our dinner contributions on the bar with the rest of the food.

  “Shall we?” I look at Katrina and feel a sense of uneasiness; like there is an elephant in the room we can both see but refuse to acknowledge.

  “Let’s.” I lead Katrina through the house, hoping to find a quiet spot to address the issue of drinking.

  As we make our way down the hall, Alex exits the master bedroom and wraps me up in a welcoming hug. “Mind if I borrow your bedroom for a second,” I whisper in her ear as we embrace. I pull away and watch as she greets Katrina with a similar hug. She gives me a questioning look but slightly tilts her head toward the door giving me permission. Anxiety takes over my stomach as I prepare to broach a subject that might result in an argument between us. Since my return from Ghana, I haven’t seen Katrina drink much of anything. That doesn’t mean I know what her plans for tonight are. Katrina looks around the room, taking it in while I try to figure out a way of broaching the subject without setting off an argument.

  “So, uh, this rule Catherine has, is she serious?” I am relieved to know that I’m not the only one wondering what we should do about the situation.

  “Yeah, she is. I forgot about it. I usually just crash here. Were you planning on drinking?”

  “I was planning on having a few.” She looks at me for a second. “Not getting wasted or blackout drunk.” She says it like it’s an afterthought for her; like I need some reassurance. “Were you?”

  “Same as you, not planning on getting trashed, in all likelihood I’d still be ok to drive.”

  “But Catherine won’t allow it, will she?”

  “No, it’s a firm rule for her. Honestly, with the trauma work she does, I can’t blame her.”

  “So we have a good time, or we stay sober and get to leave.”

  “Yep.” I’m deflecting, I know I am, but I don’t want to force Katrina’s hand on this matter.

  “Good time then?” She smiles at me, seemingly at ease with her choice. I have to trust that she will control her drinking, she hasn’t given me any reason lately to doubt her.

  “Sure. Now that we have that settled, want to finish the tour then get a drink?” Katrina’s smile is radiant, clearly settling the dilemma has made both of us happy. “Ok. Just one last thing to show you.”

  “The pool?” I nod and grin, her excitement is contagious. I lead her to the pool, the smell of chlorine giving its existence away before we actually get to it. I watch as her eyes expand and her mouth gapes open when she finally sees the pool. “When are they breaking ground on yours?” I laugh, her question and her expression are too much.

  “I have to finalize the plan this weekend. There are two options. I’ve been stuck on the fence when it comes to choosing one. I should get someone else’s input I think.”

  “I’ll take a look if you want.” My face must register the shock her volunteering has levied on me. I’ve never found looking at design plans to be that interesting, and frankly given some of her comments regarding Jill’s profession, I never thought she did either. She starts to chuckle, and I begin to think she has been messing with me. “Of course I’ll take a look at them. The sooner yours is built, the sooner I’ll have access to a pool as well.” Of course, I laugh and shake my head, unable to believe how I could’ve forgotten that fact.

  We rejoin the rest of the party and make our way to the bar. I make myself a whiskey sour and Katrina makes something that looks quite fruity. I’m determined not to keep track of how many drinks Katrina has, to trust her to know her limits. We start making our way around the party, and I introduce her to the people she hasn’t met before. I’m drawn into catching up with Shannon when I notice Katrina is no longer with us. Shannon and I chat for a few more minutes before she excuses herself to use the bathroom, the exasperated look she wears tells me she’s already tired of being pregnant. I look around for Katrina and see her talking to someone I don’t recognize from behind. She catch
es me looking and smiles, never disengaging from her conversation.

  “So, new girlfriend?” I recognize Taylor’s voice coming from behind me. I turn to face her and discover that Nikki is with her. We greet one another and fill each other in on life as we know it. “Why aren’t you telling her about your new girl?” Taylor doesn’t like it when she isn’t the center of attention.

  “She isn’t my girlfriend. She’s a mutual friend to a few of the people here, your sister included. Besides, if she were my girlfriend we’d be having a discussion about you eye fucking her before she made it through the front door.” Nikki looks at Taylor and shakes her head, but doesn’t leave her side. “Sorry, Nikki.” I feel bad for putting Taylor on blast like that in front of Nikki. At least Taylor has the grace to look a little embarrassed about the situation.

  “Oh, I know how she is. I don’t know what she’s going to do when I’m out there full-time.”