11. George
Chapter eleven
George
The next day at work, I try not to think about dinner at the Hart house.
It was… rough.
I understand where Catherine is coming from. Her mother isn’t good, and after abandoning her for Lynn to raise, having a sister that June decided to keep has to hurt.
Yeah, June’s age plays a huge part in being able to be a mother to Katherina.
But still.
That poor kid, too. From the way she kept glancing longingly at the food while serving herself minuscule portions, I imagine she’s been at the harsh end of her mother’s judgment, too.
The one memory I have of meeting June Hart was when Cat and I were in high school. We had a group project together and June showed up while we were working.
Looks like you’re getting fat, were the first words out of June’s mouth.
I shake my head. Yeah, even though Katherina’s a string bean, I bet she gets that same treatment. Catherine was a string bean, too
There’s not really anything I can do about that.
“Yo, boss,” one of my crew, Russel, calls. “You got flowers.”
Flowers?
I frown as I jog over to him. He carries a beautiful arrangement while grinning like he won the jackpot.
“They said they were for you,” Russel says as he puts them down.
“Huh.” What was going on?
“Who’s sending you flowers?” he teases.
A card sits atop the bouquet. I pluck it out and open it.
To the most beautiful woman in the world. I’m lucky that you chose to wear my ring on your finger. Love, your George.
Okay, that’s unexpected. But, I have an inkling as to what is happening.
The rest of the crew is starting to gather around. I put the card back and heave out a heavy sigh.
“Sorry to disappoint you, boys, but they’re not for me,” I say.
“Awwwww don’t be a bummer. Men can get flowers,” Russel says.
I laugh. “Yeah, but these aren’t for me. I ordered them for Catherine. I guess they messed up where to send them. You boys good while I take them over to the museum?”
We’re working in Sandburrow today. I suppose that’s why Lynn kept asking me all those questions last night about it all.
Russel cranes his neck toward the card. “Really? You got them for her?”
“Dumbass,” I say, nudging him out of my way.
Russel shrugs.
Not sure why he was so excited about the idea of me getting flowers delivered to the job site. I put it from my mind as I load them up into the truck.
Catherine is at the museum, sitting at the front desk, and hard at work.
When the bell chimes, she glances up. Then does a double-take.
“George?” she jumps to her feet. “What the heck is that?”
Ginny poked her head out from a room in the back.
I put the bouquet onto her desk. “Oh, I was just thinking about my talented, beautiful fiancé and wanted to let you see something that was beautiful, too. Alas, these flowers don’t compare to your beauty. Next time, I’ll just bring a mirror.”
Ginny smiles and goes back to her work.
Catherine, on the other hand, blushes deeply. Her eyes sparkle as she giggles.
“That was a good line,” she says. “You certainly are romantic today. What did I do to earn such an arrangement?”
I glance behind her, making sure Ginny isn’t listening in.
“Actually, I have to admit that I dropped the ball,” I say, not wanting to disappoint her but still needing to be honest. “I didn’t buy the flowers.”
Catherine’s shoulders slump.
“Although I should have,” I say, making a mental note to actually send her flowers at least once over the next few days.
I describe how the flowers arrived at my work. She agrees with me that it’s most likely Lynn.
“I don’t think we’re causing enough of a stir for her,” I admit.
“Either that, or she wants to distract me from the drama in my own life,” Catherine grunts.
“Hey.” I move closer. “I know that things are rough right now, but we’ll get through it, okay? Nothing like this lasts forever. And now that I’m closing the deal on the beach house, maybe you can move into it for a bit if you need space.”
Catherine shakes her head. “It’s not that at all. Or maybe it is. I don’t know. But thank you,” she adds quickly. “That is sweet.”
I wish I’d come up with the whole flowers thing on my own. It’s not fair that she was the one that bore the brunt of this disappointment.
Maybe there’s something I can do to make it up for her.
My parents are still in the city. They have a couple days left at the hotel.
Which means, I won’t have to deal with them showing up at my place unannounced.
I grin as the idea forms in my head.
“You know what? I’m going to treat you to dinner tonight,” I tell her. “My place. Candlelight and soft music.”
She gives me a doubtful look.
I lean in a little closer. “Listen. Do you want a safe place to talk about how things have gone upside down? I can be that safe place.”
“I don’t know, George. With Katherina in town now, I think Grandma is going to need me more,” Catherine hedges.
I put a hand over hers. “Cat. What’s the real reason?”
Catherine grimaces. “I don’t want Katherina to think I’m avoiding her. I mean, I am. But I don’t want her to realize how much I don’t want her around. It’s not her fault.”
I let my thumb trace over the smooth skin of her knuckles. “No, it’s not. But maybe that’s why you need some space to talk through your feelings? So you have a better idea of how to handle them at home?”
“Well… we are engaged.” She lifts her hand, letting the diamond catch the light. “And I had the thought this morning we should film the proposal so that we can share it with people. Trying to tell Katherina last night, there are so many blanks I don’t know how to fill.”
“Right.” I nod, determined. “Leave it to me.”
Catherine searches my eyes. “Are you sure about this? I mean… it’s a lot of last-minute notice.”
I only grin at her in return. “Cat, you’re worth the effort.”
Something changes in her eyes. For a moment, I think she’s going to kiss me. I’m more than happy to let her.
But as we shift closer together, a sudden bang from a back room interrupts us.
“Ow,” comes a surprised exclamation.
Catherine and I hurry back. We find Ginny sitting on the floor, the ladder collapsed near her.
“What happened?” Catherine asks.
Ginny looks up sheepishly. “I was trying to get into the vents.”
I glance up. Sure enough, one of the air vents is wide open. “What for?”
“Um…” Ginny shakes her head. “To check how dirty it is.”
She was going to try to eavesdrop on us. I burst out into laughter.
Catherine gives me a dirty look as she helps Ginny to her feet. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“There’s no need… those are very beautiful flowers,” Ginny sighs as they limp away.
I shake my head as I quickly tidy up the mess.
It seems I have a dinner to plan. Not just a dinner, though…
I have to plan how I proposed to Catherine.
No pressure, eh?