20. Catherine
Chapter twenty
Catherine
Waking up in George’s arms is nice.
The only thing I can think to compare it to is lying in a soft, warm cloud.
I smile to myself as I watch him sleep. He was my first kiss many years ago. Now, I have a sneaking feeling he’s going to be my last kiss, too.
I want to be in the house before Katherina and Grandma get up, though, so I gently shake George.
“Wake up. Time to get breakfast started,” I whisper to him.
George groans slightly. “Don’t need breakfast. Let’s just stay in bed all day.”
“It’s not much of a bed,” I point out.
With a grunt, George sits up. “Guess not. And now I have to use the bathroom.”
I laugh as I shimmy out of the little door to the treehouse. “Last one in’s a rotten egg.”
We race to the house, then tiptoe in like guilty teenagers. I give George a towel and soap so he can grab a quick shower while I get coffee and food ready.
Grandma and Katherina are still sleeping after he’s showered. I quickly clean off, too.
Then George and I sit down to our breakfast.
“We’re going to have to tell your parents we’re back together,” I muse. “And speaking of, we probably ought to tell them the full story.”
George shakes his head. “We’ll let them in on the secret slowly.”
“Why not just be honest?” I ask, lifting an eyebrow.
“For starters, they have to apologize to you and mean it before I share anything else,” George says emphatically.
Grateful tears prick my eyes. I look down at my coffee.
“Well. I’ll be gracious when accepting their apologies anyway,” I mumble.
George puts his hand on mine. “If they ever say anything like that again, you tell me, okay? Boundaries with my parents are my responsibility. It’s not up to you to grin and bear their remarks silently.”
“Thank you.” I sniff, feeling embarrassed by my emotions. “You really need to give me my ring back, though. I still can return it to the jeweler.”
“So you don’t want that ring for your real proposal?”
My heart jumps. “Are you planning on proposing?”
“I don’t know. It should be a surprise if I am, shouldn’t it?” he teases.
His green eyes sparkle with mischief. If he does propose, what will I say? It seems impossibly early to say yes…
We have been ‘engaged’ for weeks now already, though. Does it really make that big of a difference?
My phone starts to ring. I check it quickly, gasping when I see the company name flash across the screen.
“It’s the company I interviewed with,” I say excitedly.
I answer, standing up as I do so.
“Miss Catherine Hart?”
“That’s me,” I say.
“Excellent!” The woman on the other end of the line sounds extremely pleased with herself. “I’m pleased to inform you that we would like to offer you a job.”
My heart pounds. “Thank you. I’m very grateful that you’d want to hire me.”
She starts to explain the role. It’s not the one I interviewed for.
It’s even better.
One with more prestige and a higher salary.
“Fully remote?” I squeak. “You’re going to let me work from wherever I want?”
The woman laughs. “We take care of our employees, Catherine. We don’t care where you get the work done. And looking at your record, we would love to have you.”
“I… am going to need to think about it,” I say, feeling a little light-headed.
First George declares his love and now a high-paying job is offering me employment… as a remote worker.
“Of course. I’ll send you the package details. Just let us know by the end of the month one way or the other.”
“Thank you,” I say.
We hang up.
I turn back to George.
There’s a careful smile on his face.
“They’re offering me fully remote work,” I exclaim. “I could live here in Sandburrow and still work for them.”
“That’s excellent,” George says, nodding.
Oh. My eyes widen. I forgot entirely about applying for his social media job. I sink back to the table.
“I wouldn’t be able to do that job, your job, and volunteer at the museum.” The excitement I felt moments ago drains away. “Thinking about it, I won’t have much time to volunteer at the museum even. They’ll keep me very busy.”
George takes both of my hands in his. “If you’ll remember, I never formally offered you the job anyway.”
I search his eyes, uncertain. But when he grins, I know he’s teasing.
I relax. “Like I told them, I’m going to have to think about it. The paycheck is certainly tempting, but there does come a point where more money isn’t actually useful.”
“Take your time to consider what you want. I will hire you if you want the job.” He winks at me. “But you need to decide what will be best for you. Our relationship isn’t dependent on what job you work. Or even where you live.”
Gratitude swells through me. I lean forward, kissing him gently.
“I love you,” I say.
The words are sweet on my tongue.
George grins and nods.
He looks so silly that I have to giggle.
“Don’t laugh,” he says, his grin widening further. “That’s the first time you’ve said you love me.”
“Is it? No! I must have said it last night.” My eyes widen in horror.
I didn’t.
“I love you,” I repeat. “I love you, I love you, I love you!”
The door opens as I lean over and plant a kiss on George’s mouth.
“Ugh!” Katherina lets out a dramatic wail. She covers her eyes. “Not in the kitchen.”
“Oh, Kitty.” I roll my eyes while laughing. “No more kissing, I promise.”
Katherina wrinkles her nose as she inches in, peeking suspiciously through her fingers.
“Are we painting more this morning?” she asks. She hurries to grab some breakfast, and her eyes light up.
Apparently, she’s over the PDA already.
“Not this morning,” George says, shaking his head. “Catherine and I have some stuff we need to take care of.”
“What sort of stuff? Can I come?”
“Not this time.” George ruffles her hair. “It’s boring adult stuff, like talking to my parents.”
Katherina’s expression falls but she nods.
I smile at George, grateful that he’s able to so easily diffuse the situation.
And his suggestion that we go talk to his parents is another way for him to say that it doesn’t matter what job I choose.
He still wants me, regardless of my employment.
It occurs to me that he’d never see me as a burden. No matter what our circumstances were.
Even if those circumstances are difficult. He’ll always stand by my side and make sure I know I’m loved.
How did I get so lucky?
Breakfast is lively. Afterward, George and I go to talk with his parents.
Nerves clench in my stomach.
Parents have always disappointed me. Knowing that George’s parents have apologized to him about their behavior, though, gives me hope.
“I don’t think my relationship with my mother can ever be fixed,” I say on the drive. “Even if she did change, I’m not sure I can ever forgive her.”
George takes my hand, his eyes not leaving the road. “And perhaps that will never happen. You have to protect yourself, even if it’s against someone who should be on your side.”
I lean back into the seat. “I just worry that I’m the problem. And that, somehow, I’ll infect your relationship with your parents.”
George laughs. “You’re not a typhoon Mary. Look at it this way. June has problems with you, Katherina, and Lynn. What’s the common denominator. Spoiler alert, it's not you.”
I squeeze his hand. “Thanks.”
“I’m here for you, Cat. Always know that.”
***
A purple storm blows in from the ocean that night.
I stand at the kitchen window, a shawl wrapped around my shoulders. The events of the day turn over in my mind.
The talk with Jason and Edwina went far better than I could have hoped. Even before we explained the situation with my mother, Edwina burst into tears. She hugged me and apologized about a dozen times.
Apparently, they were determined to turn a new leaf and be better parents.
A crash of thunder makes me jump.
Grandma hurries over and closes the curtains. “Don’t stand in front of the window. I had a friend who was standing in the window during a thunderstorm, and she was hit by lightning.”
“Don’t you have a lightning protection system?” I ask, letting her lead me away.
“There’s no point in tempting fate.”
That’s fair enough.
“Where’s Katherina?” I ask as she goes to the living room. All of Grandma’s things have been put back in order, making it feel complete.
“Reading in her room. Apparently, storms are the best time to read horror novels.” Grandma snorts and shakes her head.
She’s twitchy, her head turning toward the window every time there’s a burst of thunder.
I never knew Grandma was afraid of storms before.
I cast about for something to distract her. “I might have a new job lined up. Actually, I might have two.”
Grandma gives me a surprised look. “Oh? Where at?”
“One of them is remote. The other is Sandburrow.” I explain the situation.
Grandma listens intently, a furrow in her brow.
“Working for George means I’ll be able to help his business and have the time to help with the museum,” I say when I’m done. “But working for the music company means that I have more money to do other things.”
“And less time to actually do them?” Grandma supplies.
I nod. “Something like that.”
Grandma pats my hands. “Of course, I would love to see you stay in Sandburrow. But most of all, I want you to be happy. I’m sure you’ll pick the path that will bring you the most joy.”
“Any words of wisdom?” I ask.
Grandma taps her cheek. “Intelligence. Insight. Knowledge. Sagacity.”
I laugh.
Another thunderclap sounds outside. Grandma winces and clears her throat.
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. I might need your help with some legal matters,” Grandma says.
“Legal matters?” I repeat, my eyes widening.
“Katherina asked if she could stay with me until she graduates high school. I told her I would see what I can do.” So much sadness crosses over Grandma’s face that it hurts my heart. “I might need help fighting for custody if it gets that far.”
Determination sweeps through me. “Of course.”
Grandma gives me an uncertain look. “Are you sure? I know it’s asking a lot from you. I’m getting too old to take care of a teenager all by myself.”
I hug her tightly. “Grandma, you saved me from growing up the way Katherina did. I’ve resented her for so long for things she had no control over. If I can be part of her support now and give her a more stable home, then I want to do it. No child should be forced to live with a parent who calls them a disappointment to their face.”
“You’re a good girl,” Grandma says. She sounds exhausted. “Thank you, Cat. Thank you for Katherina’s sake.”
In a way, hearing this has made my choice of job very simple.
I smile to myself but then focus on Grandma as the thunder grows closer and louder. I can tell George later. Right now, it’s time for me to take care of my grandmother, the way she’s taken care of me for all these years.