Chapter 24 Kat
KAT
“It already is.”
Oh my gosh, what does that mean?
I should be focused on the kids racing toward my table, and I am, but those three words have been ricocheting around my head as I smile, nod, and scrawl my name—and theirs— across the pages. We take pictures along with hugs and high fives.
Whatever they’re comfortable with.
Because I want this to be one of the best days of their lives. I want them to reread their book at bedtime and then tell their teachers and friends at school on Monday that they met a real-life author.
I want those little creative minds to leave believing that they too can be here behind this table living their dream…that anything is possible.
Because today, it is.
The store is packed, the crowd of eager kids and parents winding through the brightly lit stacks. There’s laughing and a fair amount of “racing” going on—games of tag and adults trying to wrangle their children as the line moves slowly.
Bethany, my assistant for the day, does her best to keep things moving smoothly, and a silly part of me wishes Tom was the one helping me instead. Thankfully there’s not too much time to dwell on it.
Hazel’s table is just as busy, her aunt hovering over her shoulder, and suddenly I’m thankful that Tom and the rest of the guys are mostly out of sight.
I don’t need the distraction.
“Hi!” the next little girl says brightly, her hands clutching a well-loved book. I know these events are supposed to be store focused but there’s something so genuinely humbling about seeing my books in the hands of kids like this. “I’m Natalie!”
“Hi, Natalie,”—leaning forward, I hold out my hand—“I’m Kat.” She shakes mine with a little giggle. “What do you have there?”
“It’s my favorite,” she says, giving the book another squeeze before holding it out to me. It’s the one where Lulu and Poppy become mermaids and go on an underwater adventure.
“Can I tell you a secret?” I whisper conspiratorially and she nods. “It’s my favorite too.”
“We’ve read it so much I think I have it memorized,” her mother says and I chuckle, my heart about ready to burst out of my chest.
I needed this.
Being at the schools was amazing, but this time is priceless. Parents and guardians who look at me fondly even though they can recite the story in their sleep. It’s humbling just knowing that they’re trusting me to be part of their lives and routine.
I chat with Natalie and her mom for another minute, offering to take a picture and bracing for a nearly tackling hug that has me laughing as I catch my hand on the edge of my table to steady myself.
Her mom mouths thank you to me as they leave and I’m practically floating as I return to the other side of the table.
But just as I reach my chair, my gaze collides with Tom’s across the room. It’s intense.
Smoldering.
And my heart skips a beat in my chest.
I force myself to look away because this is not the time.
Running my palms over the skirt of my dress, I’m just about to sit when my eyes snag on someone familiar, and my stomach does a slow drop to the floor. What are they doing here? There are several people in line before them so I can’t see who they’re with.
It could be completely innocent.
It could be a coincidence.
But it’s too weird.
Right? Why would they come here?
Tom told me to alert him if anything felt off.
And this does.
Guilt and paranoia threaten to swallow me. What if I make a mistake? I hesitate, but keep my smile in place as I sink back into my chair, my decision already made, as my hand finds the pen, and as nonchalantly as I can, I knock it off the table.
TOM
“Everyone stand by,” I murmur quietly, a round of affirmatives echoing in my ear as I watch Kat’s body language change from carefree to restrained panic.
Her gaze is locked somewhere about a third of the way into her line, and even though her smile is the same, I can tell by the set of her shoulders that something is wrong.
Come on, Kat.
At a glacial speed, her hand finds the pen and I’m halfway to her before it hits the floor.
Good girl.
Bending next to her, I replace the pen as she asks the next family for a moment before turning her head toward me.
Her perfume hits me like a ton of bricks, her smooth cheek brushing against mine as she turns to whisper in my ear. “There’s a man here from the fire. He was one of the police officers.”
“Do you remember his name?” I ask quietly so only she can hear.
“Samson, maybe? I think that’s his last name; I didn’t get his first. But it was an hour from here and maybe it’s nothing but…”
“We’ll check it out. Do you need a break?”
“No,” she says, sitting up straight. “I’m fine.”
I have the urge to say yes, you are but thankfully find enough control to stand slowly, squeezing her shoulder with my hand before moving back from the table.
“Did you get that?” I murmur quietly so everyone can hear and receive affirmatives in response.
“Nico Samson. Single dad. Two daughters under six. Recently divorced. Wife was cheating on him with one of his coworkers. His mom helps take care of the girls when he’s on duty,” Royce chirps in my ear.
“He’s approaching the table now,” I murmur, noting the sheepish expression he gives Kat as his girls bounce up and down on the other side of the table.
Kat laughs as an older woman rushes over with a stack of books in her hands and the girls squeal. Samson rubs the back of his neck with his hand as he watches them, and I can only imagine what that stack of books in the grandma’s arms costs.
“He checks out on my end,” Royce says.
“How green?” I ask, because he’s young but that’s not saying much considering I’ll be fifty in a few years. At this point, everyone looks young to me.
“Older than me. Seven years on the force and looks like he’s been job hunting according to his search history.”
“You’re not supposed to do that.” Ozzy chuckles.
“It’s called fact finding,” Royce fires back as my lips quirk up.
“Play nice,” I tell them, leaving my temporary post and returning to Kat’s side as she takes a picture with his daughters.
Kat’s eyes widen when she sees me, but I give her a slight shake of my head before glancing intentionally at Samson and back at her. Swallowing hard, she makes the introduction. “Nico, this is Tom Oakden.” Motioning toward me, she says, “He’s been helping with things since the fire.”
“Tom,” I say, offering my hand and he shakes it, introducing himself and glancing back at his family. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“I’ll just take the girls over here,” his mother says and Nico gulps, his Adam’s apple bobbing. The guy looks exhausted, but it just might be his lucky day.
Checking to make sure Kat is settled, I lead Nico over to a shelf filled with cookbooks and position myself so I can still see her table.
“I apologized to Miss Harrington for showing up like this,” he says, rubbing his sternum like he’s uncomfortable with the admission.
“I didn’t recognize her name on scene but when I got home that night, I saw those Poppy books all over my living room and wanted to kick myself.
Life has been hell for me and them, but I try not to miss bedtime, you know?
I swapped my shift with one of the guys today so the girls could meet her. ”
“Can we keep him?” Jace says in my ear, and I mentally add keep mic communications professional to my list for the debrief.
“Agreed,” Royce chimes in and I sigh, reaching into my pocket to grab a business card.
“If you’re looking for something new, give me a call.”
Nico’s eyes widen as he stares at me and then at the card, slipping it from my fingers as he looks at it quickly before taking his wallet out and placing it carefully inside.
You can tell a lot about a man by how he keeps his wallet.
And this looks like a good sign.
“Thanks. Wow.” He laughs in a way that’s filled with relief, a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “I guess books really can change your life.”
“We’ll see what we can do.”
“Excuse me, everyone!” the store manager yells, waving her arm in the air as she hustles toward Kat, her cheeks pink and her eyes wide. “They just announced the winner of the Chicago Children’s Outreach Award!” With a dramatic pause, she adds, “Congratulations, Miss Harrington!”
The room erupts as Kat stands, hugging the manager before turning back to the crowd and placing a hand over her heart. I can’t hear the words she says but everyone cheers and claps as Kat wipes at her face. Hazel pulls her into a hug, the two of them rocking back and forth in celebration.
I can’t see their faces but from where I’m standing, it appears genuine. Even Amelia’s expression is warmer than I expected given her initial interaction with Kat when she arrived.
Could it be possible we’re barking up the wrong tree?
Or is this all for show?
Nico gives me a nod, excusing himself as his words replay in my mind. “I guess books really can change your life.”
They can, but it’s just a matter of time before I find out just how much.