Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
PEN
I smile as Kat, makes her way towards our table. She turns and says something to the maitre d’, who stops in their tracks.
I stand up as she reaches the table, pulling her in for a hug.
“It’s good to see you,” I say, even though it’s only been a week since I saw her at Caleb and April’s wedding. Work has kept us apart a lot recently.
“You too. The wedding was crazy. I forget how many aunts, uncles, and cousins we have.” She rolls her eyes, making me chuckle. “Mum was determined to keep us all busy. No time for idle gossip . Lunch today, however, is fair game.”
I laugh as we take our seats. Kat’s eyes sparkle with mischief as she takes her napkin and places it on her lap.
“Did Kris make it back to the US okay?”
I nod. I’d called Kat to let her know Kris would not be joining us. “He did. He’s disappointed that he missed our lunch and apologises.”
“The joy of being engaged to a businessperson. Man or woman, we are first and foremost married to our professions.”
She understands that better than anyone. Like me, her social/personal life has taken a back seat to her business. Although I plan for this to change once Kris and I get married and start a family.
Kat’s a businesswoman in charge of the family’s international hotel chain. There’s never a off day. Unlike Mum and some of my other friends, Kris’s work commitment doesn’t faze her.
Kathryn Frazer and I have been friends for over fifteen years. Our friendship grew over the summers I spent at the Frazer’s home but was cemented when she pulled me half-drowned from their swimming pool. Her then dating and living with one of Elijah and my uni friends, Zach, sealed the deal.
“Did you speak to Zach at the wedding?” I ask, knowing how much she was dreading seeing him.
It may be nearly three years since they split, but it was an awkward breakup. He proposed, getting down on one knee, and announced he wanted them to start a family. Kat freaked. She later told me she didn’t want to, at least not with him. Nothing like realising you don’t love the person you’ve been living with for the past seven years.
Kat inclines her head. “It was strange. Five years of on-again, off-again dating, followed by seven years living together—still, I question it all. I can’t explain it. It was nice seeing him. He looks well, but there was nothing. No pang of regret.”
“And you were worried there would be?”
“I suppose so… My mind held a vague, fleeting idea, wondering if I’d been too hasty in turning down his proposal. I’m not getting any younger.”
I can understand her position. It’s one I’ve found myself in. We’ve spent so many years concentrating on building up our businesses that our private lives have taken a back seat.
“It wasn’t right. You said so yourself. It wouldn’t have been fair to either of you.”
“I know. It’s just. Starting over. It’s been nearly three years. I don’t have time to socialise, to meet anyone. I just worry it’s going to get dusty up here on this shelf.”
“Hey, the right person will come along. Look at me,” I say, winking across at her. “You just have to be receptive when he does.”
Kat groans. “Easier said than done. You know that. At least Kris and you have a lot in common. You know he’s not after your money, he loves and respects you. The last time I went on a date, I almost asked him if he wanted to take measurements. Who had the bigger dick?”
“Sounds like he was a dick,” I say, laughing as she pulls a face.
“And your wedding plans? How are they going?”
“Everything is coming together. Kris’s mum is doing the majority of the heavy lifting.”
Kat’s eyebrows draw together. “And you’re okay with that?”
I chuckle. “More than okay. She knows the venue, the florist, has organised the guest list, seating arrangements. She’s in her element. Who am I to step on her toes?”
“If you say so. It’s just not like you or any bride to relinquish all control.”
Kat is wearing a similar expression to the one Mum wore when I told her.
I shrug. “I’m getting in practice,” I say. “Preparing for a time when I have to loosen my hold on the reins.”
Kat doesn’t look convinced, but she lets it slide.
“And your dress?”
“I had my final fitting this morning. It will be ready for me to collect next week before I head over to visit Kris. I’m looking at potential office space.”
“So everything is full speed ahead?”
“It certainly is.”
It’s going to be hard setting up and working out of a new office. The London office is my home base. I know all the staff and have an amazing team. I’m going to miss them.
But marriage is about compromise.
If the truth be told, I’ve handed the plans over to Kris’s mum because she knows the lion’s share of the guests. My wedding party is pretty small. I’m not having any bridesmaids and Mum is giving me away. Darra did not want Lottie pulled out of school, so without my goddaughter as a bridesmaid, I decided to forgo any, especially when she only made the announcement after my save-the-date cards had been sent out.
Lottie was devastated, but I told her it was her mother’s prerogative. That she could come and stay with Kris and me the following summer.
“Well, you’ll be pleased to hear your hen weekend is all organised,” Kat says, grinning.
I shudder. “I hate to think what you’ve planned,” I admit.
Especially after the hen parties we threw for Leah and April.
“Revenge is sweet, according to April and Leah,” Kat says, and I groan.
Our waitress appears and takes our order.
“A bottle of Champagne. We’re celebrating,” Kat tells her.
She scurries off.
I raise an eyebrow, and Kat wrinkles her nose.
“To our last lunch… without pre-planning. Another couple of weeks, we’ll be scheduling our lunches to coincide with you or me flying across the Atlantic. Today, I’m making the most of spending time with my friend. But we’re also celebrating your future. I’m happy for you. May all your dreams come true, as Mum would say.”
“Thank you.”
An ache forms in my chest at her words. Our friendship has drifted, as all do when you allow work to get in the way, but we have started to reconnect in recent years. Firstly through Leah and Gabriel and then through April and Caleb.
“As long as you’re happy, Kris has my vote. And if he doesn’t, then I’ll come and kick his ass.”
I laugh. Professionally, Kat projects an icy demeanour known throughout the industry and media. However, she has a warm and protective side with friends and family. A Frazer trait. Like me, Kat is a successful woman at the top of her game, under pressure, fighting against the establishment and coming out on top. We both know and understand each other.
“Don’t worry, he treats me like a princess, and it’s time I settled down. I’ve focused exclusively on work for too long. Now I want to play for a bit,” I say, shooting her a wink.
Kat sighs. “I know. I just wish you weren’t moving so far away. It feels like we’ve only just reconnected.”
“Me too. But I’ll be back regularly, and you’re always flying across the pond. We probably won’t notice the difference.”
Our Champagne arrives, and the waitress serves it before placing it in a cooler and taking our food order. When we’re alone, Kat looks up.
“Did you speak to Eli?”
I shoot her a sad smile. “I did, briefly. He seemed?—”
I stop, struggling to find the right words. Our relationship is merely cordial these days.
“Lost?” Kat says.
I nod.
“I hope he can mend his spirit now Darra is out of his life. Release his burden of guilt. I have to be honest, her departure has made me very happy.”
Never a truer word spoken.
Despite what I said by the pool, everyone has spent years knowing that he was trapped in a toxic and loveless marriage, but the more anyone tried to help, the more he withdrew.
“I’ll never understand why he didn’t divorce her years ago. The woman is toxic,” Kat says.
“I know,” I say, knowing exactly how toxic she could be.
In the early years, my frustrations stemmed from my inability to help him, but I had no right to speak out. I’d failed him too, so who was I to judge?
“All we can do is support him, show the stubborn fool he’s not alone,” Kat says.
I hear the sadness in her voice, and it pulls at something in my chest. Something I suppressed a long time ago.
Kat looks up, her face brightening.
“Anyway, I didn’t bring you here to discuss my brother.”
She grabs her glass and holds it up. I follow suit as we clink them together.
“To celebrate or commiserate. You leaving for fresher pastures. May this move and your marriage bring you every happiness. If anyone deserves it, it’s you, Penelope Dawson.”
My breath catches, and I choke back the tears that threaten.
“ Shit , I told myself I wouldn’t get emotional,” Kat says, getting up and pulling me in for a hug and squeezing me tight. “Don’t be a stranger.”
“Never.”