Page 54 of Be My Valentine

“Work, did you say? What job?”

“What I was paid to do: help Mrs. Cannon set up for the event.”

“Kate!” she said in mock amazement, “Where do you live? In dreamland? No one gets paid. It’s a charitable foundation. The time people give is on a voluntary basis.”

Emma walked out of the bathroom still disheveled.

“Why don’t you get lost?” She told her bluntly.

“I’m leaving,” she blinked emphatically, “I was just explaining to Kate what the word volunteerism means, by which I don’t mean that the Holmes & Arrow Foundation doesn’t write checks for those in need.” She put the emphasis on the last word and looked at Kate.

“I… I’ve been working, Emma, tell her.”

“Yes, Emma, tell me.” chirped Carson, imitating her “Were you hired, Donovan, with a contract? Or did they just give you a check? Try to be specific.”

Kate looked at Emma and her world fell apart.

“Is she telling the truth? There was no job?”

She saw the remorseful look on her friend’s face.

“You gave me charity?” The broken voice betrayed her.

“No, I needed you, this night wouldn’t have been possible without your help!”

“Hear that, Kate?” Annie Carson leaned close to her ear and her stomach contracted in disgust “she said: without your help, not: without your work. Alms, Kate, that’s what you and your family did, that’s what a charity does. They call them donations, but it’s almsgiving.”

“Shut your mouth!” Emma shrieked.

It had happened again, again she had trusted, again she had been betrayed. The realization hit her like a blast of ice water on an overheated body.

“Why did you do this to me?” She asked her friend in a hushed voice.

Annie Carson’s laughter scratched even the walls.

“She didn’t do this! You just don’t get it? How much did he give you in all? I hope you lived up to his expectations. The way he looks at you, he seems satisfied with the investment.”

She’s telling me I’m a prostitute.

“I trusted him.” Kate surrendered picking up the shreds of her dignity “I’m leaving now, tell your brother I’ll pay him back everything. I don’t need your pity, or anyone else to deceive me. I am quite irredeemable.” She shook her head. She walked out with steps so swift that Emma struggled to keep up with her.

Kate kicked off her shoes and darted behind the colonnade to reach the exit; she didn’t look back at Mark, but she knew he had seen her. He had never taken his eyes off her.

She heard her name called as she stepped outside, the cold biting through her light silk dress.

“Kate!” Yelled Mark grabbing her arm.

She took his hand off her, turned away with her cheeks wet with tears, and walked away as if he had touched her with a hot iron.

“How could you do this to me! I trusted you, I trusted you!” Her heart corroded by betrayal would not stop beating its fury.

“Come inside, let me explain.”

“No, your dear friend took care of that and told me the truth. You!” she said backing away as Mark tried to get closer “You gave me charity!” her voice broke “You lied to me! I asked you, remember that night at dinner? You told me it was a job, that your mother too…” she froze as she widened her eyes and swallowed the knot of bitter tears “none of it was true, your mother never hired anyone. It’s all a huge lie.”

“Come inside, you’re freezing.” Mark insisted.

“It was you, wasn’t it? You! It’s your money!”