18. Catherine
Chapter eighteen
Catherine
The apartments in the city are… nice.
At one point in my life, I’d be thrilled to have the opportunity to live in such a sleek, modern space. Now it just feels cold and devoid of all character.
After the last disappointing viewing, I drive my car to a park. It’s tiny and the tall buildings all around me feel suffocating. I long for the open beach and ocean stretching as far as the eye can see.
This is what I wanted, though. I wanted a job in the city, a modern place to live, and all the excitement the city has to offer.
My shoulders slump as I watch a handful of pigeons strutting around.
I miss the sound of the ocean with its rhythm. Here, there’s just a steady background hum of vehicles.
Maybe there are new job listings. Ones that can be remote, or at least hybrid.
I pull my phone from my pocket and start to scroll through job listings. I’ve searched through them so often that I don’t expect to see anything.
My fingers pause as a new listing catches my eye.
Social media manager for a construction company.
My heart jumps to my throat.
Is this…?
My eyes land on the location.
Sandburrow.
I tap the listing. As the details load onto my phone, I’m left staring in shock. This is for George’s company. He’s looking for a social media manager.
Why?
Not why does he need one, but why wouldn’t he tell me? Why wouldn’t he offer me the job?
Does he think I’m not good enough to work for him?
As I carefully search through the requirements, another thought comes to replace the first one. The truth is, I’m vastly overqualified
More than that, when I think of our last few interactions, of course, he’s not going to offer me the job. It’ll just look like a desperate attempt to keep me around.
George is better than that. He cares too deeply.
I smile softly to myself as I stare at the listing. If I asked him to give me a shot, would he? I’d be able to stay in Sandburrow, close to Grandma.
On the other hand… well, I don’t want to give him even more mixed signals.
I close my phone and fold my hands on the table.
My feelings for George have grown deeper over these last few weeks. I can see myself as his wife. If I work at his company, I suppose technically he’d be my boss. Technically, I’d still be reliant on him for money.
But I’d be helping him build his business in a way that I know how. That way, I wouldn’t feel as though I was a burden, while still being able to do the work I love.
Before I get ahead of myself, though, I probably ought to talk to him about all of this.
I touch my lips, considering our last kiss. The one we shared before he told me he loves me.
Love.
He loves me.
My breath catches in my throat. Even though I still doubt whether he really knows me enough, the truth of those words hits me.
George Callahan loves me.
He really loves me.
He has no alternative motives. It’s not about his parents. It’s not about my reputation. It’s just about him and me.
I call his phone, but he doesn’t answer. He’s probably working.
It goes to voicemail, but I can’t think of what to say, so I only hang up again. Then, feeling like I’m floating through the air, I head for my car. Maybe I can wait at his place until he’s off work.
We need to talk. But I have a feeling it’s going to be a very good talk.
A hundred different things I might possibly say to him run through my mind.
The drive back is tedious, and I have to remind myself several times that going over the speed limit won’t bring George back home sooner.
I go to town first and grab what I need to make him dinner. That will help make my feelings clear, right?
After I’ve paid for the groceries, I start to doubt myself. I told him I needed time—I told him not to wait.
Won’t this back and forth be upsetting for him? What if he thinks—
“No,” I tell myself firmly. “He won’t think anything other than I’ve figured myself out. And I have. Because I love George Callahan.”
Saying it out loud, even to myself, sends a thrill through me. My heart starts to beat even faster.
At thirty-four, you’d think I would have fallen in love before now.
Maybe I have, but I can’t think of a time when I recognized that’s what I was feeling.
And now… now there’s a man I love in a place I love.
This is all such a rush.
A rush that vanishes when I pull up to his house.
Who’s there but his parents? They are putting a letter through the mail slot, but when they spy me their expressions darken.
I get out of the car. “Jason. Edwina. I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
Edwina folds her arms. “And after you broke our boy’s heart, we didn’t expect to see you.”
Surprise ripples through me. “Excus—”
“You gave him back the ring,” Jason interrupts. “You don’t think that will break his heart?”
I close my mouth and an unexpected pang in my chest. We’d agreed on a timeline for our breakup. Why had George jumped the gun on this one?
“You should go,” Edwina says. “I should have known better than to think anything good about June Hart’s daughter.”
Anything I could say in my own defense disappears.
My heart throbs in my ears.
“That’s not fair,” I whimper.
Edwina’s eyes widen but I don’t let her say another word.
I throw myself back in the car and rip out of there. Only after I’m back on the road do I fumble and put my seatbelt on.
Hot tears scorch my eyes as I drive to Grandma’s house.
Maybe George loves me.
But if we are together, what sort of life am I setting him up for?
Will I forever be a chasm between him and his parents?
Tears course down my cheeks. But before I reach Grandma’s house, I pull over.
I let myself have a cry, then stop myself.
I’m used to shoving my emotions down. This is no different—I’m not going to make trouble for Grandma by causing a feud between her and the Callahans.
It takes me a while to get myself under control, and longer to pat the redness from my eyes.
By the time I arrive home, it doesn’t look like I’ve been crying at all.
Surprise, surprise.
My day is about to get even worse.
If I was on a game show and they gave me three guesses, I’d only need one.
Of course, my mother has chosen today to come to Sandburrow.
“Catherine, Darling!” June cries.
She’s wearing the exact same outfit that I wore when Donny took pictures of me and George.
“Come here and see my ring,” June gushes. “Crimson proposed to me, you know. And you’re going to be my maid of honor.”
June, Grandma, and Katherina are all standing on the porch. It seems to me that June is trying to go inside but Grandma won’t let her.
Katherina looks like she’s about to throw up.
“Mom,” I say roughly. “I’ve had a hard day. I don’t want to talk about your engagement.”
June folds her arms, pouting. “But I drove all the way out here. Why are you being so rude to me?”
“I’ve had a hard day,” I repeat.
“It can’t be that hard! How much effort does it take to say congratulations?” June narrows her eyes at me. “And when I’ve just said you get to be my maid of honor. Well, no matter. When is your wedding? I want to make sure mine is first. It’s not fair for a daughter to steal her mother’s thunder.”
“Mom, now isn’t a good time. Why don’t you go into town and get a hotel room, and then I’ll come buy dinner for you?” I suggest with one eye on Katherina. How much was said before I arrived?
June wrinkles her nose. “At least there’s that. You’re not as ungrateful as this one.” She gestures carelessly at Katherina. “She’s such a disappointment.”
Anger flashes through me.
Katherina bursts into tears and takes off, running behind the house.
I open my mouth to start shouting, but Grandma beats me to it.
“June, you are going to leave Sandburrow and never come back.” Her voice is low, cold, and calm.
I’ve never seen her this furious. I actually take a step back, my heart jumping to my throat.
June stares at her. “What are you talking about? Can’t you see how these girls are acting?”
“You never deserved either of your beautiful daughters. I don’t know what I did to screw up raising you so badly, but I’m not letting you hurt them anymore.” Grandma draws herself up, her gaze like steel. “You’re going to leave my property now before I call the cops.”
“You’re the one keeping my daughter from me!” June shrieked.
Grandma pulls her phone from her pocket. “And I have everything we agreed to in writing. You said Katherina could spend the summer with me.”
June curled her hands into fists. “You old—”
“Leave, or I’m calling the police,” Grandma repeats.
June spits at her and kicks over a potted flower as she leaves. When she drives off, tires spinning, she deliberately crashes through the rose bushes lining the driveway.
Grandma lets out a shuddering breath. “I need to call the sheriff and let him know what’s happening.”
I nod, stunned. Did that really just happen?
Katherina must be devastated right now.
As narcissistic and neglectful as June was to me, she’d never called me a disappointment to my face.
I find my sister in the old treehouse. She’s wrapped in a tight ball, sobbing. I silently put my arms around her, holding her gently.
“You don’t… have to,” Katherina sobs. “I know I’m—not—worth—”
“You are worth it,” I tell her firmly. I rub her back softly. “I’m so sorry that she said that. It’s not true. You are beautiful and smart and kind. Grandma loves you. And I love you, too, Kitty.”
Katherina continues to sob, but now she leans into me.
Tears flow freely.
June Hart’s daughter indeed.
As I’m sitting here, I realize how much time and energy I’ve put into wanting to prove I’m not like my mother.
And I’m not.
I’m June’s daughter. I’m Lynn’s granddaughter.
If Edwina and Jason Callahan want to throw my mother in my face, I’ll take it.
I know who I am.
And I’m going to apply for George’s job. Because I don’t need to work with pop stars to prove my worth.
I can just be me.