Page 5 of Be My Valentine

“I do!” she had replied giving him a playful elbow “Try to be nice, maybe as you get to know her, you’ll find she’s nice too.”

“She’s reserved, she seems to be hiding who knows what… maybe that’s why I’m curious about her.”

“Go ahead and tell all the lies you want!” she had laughed at him “You’re thinking with a part of your body that isn’t called your brain, it’s as simple as that.”

“I’ll keep that part at bay and keep ranting at her. I’m not taking any chances.”

His sister Emma had accused him of being a masochistic, overworked, unromantic jerk. And it was the truth. He smiled for a moment as he thought about how Emma had managed to sneak away from meeting his staff manager, Annie Carson. Annie was the second thorn in his side. She had made it clear to him that she was available to the point where the only thing she needed to do was walk around with a sign hanging around her neck that read: take me to bed. Theoretically, Annie Carson would have been his type: easy-going, efficient, and a skilled conversationalist, but although she was a beautiful woman, he had never been attracted to her. Kathryn Donovan, however, was a different story, one he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear yet.

He opened the door to his apartment overlooking Central Park and poured himself a drink. The evening had ended in the worst possible way. After yelling at Kathryn Donovan, even though she obviously hadn’t done anything wrong, he had exasperatedly asked her to tie her hair back… maybe that’s what distracted him, and the damn girl had obeyed and showed up with her face uncovered and hell… she was even more beautiful than before. He had to get her out of his sight fast. And so, he had come to hold in his hands a rubber band with strands of her hair, torn out badly. He had hardly been able to restrain himself from the instinct to shove it into his pocket. What was happening to him?

Chapter 4 / Kate

There is nothing more humiliating

than not being able to find

a powerful response to a powerful attack.

(Milan Kundera)

Sarah Donovan descended the stairs on a single crutch. Kate clapped her hands from the kitchen and ran to hug her.

Mother and daughter looked alike, although Sarah’s Irish ancestry, with green eyes and red hair, was much more pronounced than her daughter’s. Kate had always loved the emerald color of her mother’s eyes and knew she had inherited her hazel from her father. She’d tried to ask about him since she was a little girl, and by the age of eighteen she’d learned the truth. Nothing special, really. Her father, or rather, sperm donor, had disappeared after learning that the girl he was dating was expecting a baby. He had simply disappeared. It didn’t matter if he stayed in New York or flew to Timbuktu, the result was the same. With herculean courage Sarah had given birth to her daughter and raised her, and Kate hadn’t hesitated a second to rush to help her after the accident. They took care of each other, it had always been that way and they would be fine, as usual.

“You look tired, you don’t have to get up early in the morning.”

“I want to drive you to therapy.”

“That way I don’t spend money on a cab.” Concluded the mother.

“It’s the most reasonable choice for now, you know.”

“As soon as I go back to work this will all be over, and you will resume your studies.”

“I know, Mom, take it easy.”

“I’ve taken in a couple of my suits so you can change more often, in the office.” She saw her daughter’s reproachful look “I can work sitting down, don’t look like that, I want to make myself useful.”

“Alright, you’re right, I’m just scared, I don’t want you to compromise healing progress.”

“You worry too much; I should have raised an irresponsible daughter.” She said looking at her with pride.

At two o’clock on the dot, after cleaning, shopping and cooking so her mother could have a decent meal without risking tripping over frying pans, Kate made her way into work. And she was floored. Laughter. Someone was laughing in Attorney Arrow’s office. It was the stuff of miracles.

“What’s going on?” Asked Meg as she quickly got to her desk.

“A big boy meeting. I think they’ve almost finalized the merger with that company in Philadelphia… oh… you never know… I mean, the negotiations had been going on for months, it looks like they’ve finally come to some sort of agreement. They’re staying a few days in town to celebrate.”

“I thought lawyers never went on vacation!”

“They don’t, but today is Friday, they’re staying Saturday and Sunday.”

“That explains the mystery.” Kate laughed.

“This suit fits you like a glove!” Complimented Meg.

“Do you like it? It was my mom’s, she repurposed it for me. She’s always taken care of my clothes, ever since I was little.”