Chapter 21
almost mine
Practically the entire town of Hamby was currently in the town square.
If someone needed to get somewhere by car, it would be a lost cause, as people crowded the streets and leisurely walked towards the new diner.
Television news crews, photographers, and patrons all stood outside of Aunt Mae’s, waiting for the celebration and unveiling to happen.
Kayden was at Spence Hotel getting dressed in Lana’s hotel room, and Maureen didn’t question why he was there, as it made sense for him to be close when it came time for the festivities.
Tonight, they would unveil the new diner, and Aunt Mae’s would be serving the masses.
After the photo ops and interviews, he could finally handle the other piece of business he had with his mother and Kim—then he could focus on the future.
Lana helped him put on his tie, which completed the suit he was wearing.
Vera Wang for men, and boy, did he look good in it.
He kissed her on the lips once his ensemble was complete.
“You look very dashing, Mr. Capshaw,” she said, smiling brighter than a noon sun.
“I wish it were you up there with me tonight,” he replied as he smoothed the tie down his stomach.
“I know, but I won’t be far,” Lana replied.
“I hate that I have to stand there all night and pretend that my mom is Mother Teresa, too.”
“I just don’t want Kim all over you,” she said and raised an eyebrow to him.
There was a knock at the door, and Kayden walked over to the peephole. It was Paula, and he opened the door, and she slid in quickly.
“Mom anywhere in sight?” he asked.
“Nope, she’s already outside holding interviews, you know how she is,” Paula replied and closed the door behind her.
“Yeah, unfortunately,” he stated.
“You ready to do this?” she asked.
He looked over at Lana as she walked over to him and held onto his hand.
“You got this, baby,” Lana said, and he kissed her again as Paula rolled her eyes.
“Seriously, guys with the saliva fest,” she teased.
“I’ll be in the crowd, and I’ll make sure I keep an eye on Kim and your mom. I’ll be fine,” Lana said to Kayden.
They walked to the door, and Kayden spun around once more and kissed her.
“Love you,” he said, then closed the door behind him.
Lana leaned against the door and smiled.
She would wait until Kayden made it over to the restaurant, then would make her way over there, concealing her presence until it was all over.
She walked over to the snow-frosted window as fresh flurries began to fall once again.
Never-ending, she thought, walking into the bathroom.
On the sink was a pregnancy test, something she kept from Kayden and Paula, and planned to take it before heading over to Aunt Mae’s.
She was late and wasn’t sure whether it was just the stress of the last month, but she needed to know either way.
THE PEOPLE IN the street, gathered in front of the diner, began to turn around and clap as Kayden and Kim walked towards the crowd.
The photographers practically pushed people out of the way to get a photo of him.
Kim, of course, pushed her way through as well and slipped her arm around his to pose for a few pictures.
They looked like a power couple standing side by side.
The thought of Kim touching him made Lana feel nauseated.
She’d better enjoy herself while she can, she thought, because life was about to get even more interesting for them all.
Suddenly, in front of all the photographers, Kim slipped her left hand out into the crowd, showing off a massive diamond ring.
People started clapping and hooting, and the flash from the cameras was going off at a rapid pace.
It was an engagement ring. She had to give it to her; she was a clever bitch.
Lana pulled the heavy coat around her even tighter as the frigid air was starting to become too much to handle.
Kayden finally made his way to the entrance of Aunt Mae’s, and Kim was clinging to him like a fabric softener sheet.
Aunt Mae and Joseph were already there, smiling, waiting, and clapping as he arrived.
Taylor Taylor from Taylor and Associates outstretched his hand for a shake.
Kim let Kayden go reluctantly as he walked towards them, but put on a smile and clapped with the crowd.
Maureen stood in the front, flanked by Heathcliff, and Kim slithered next to them, asserting herself amongst them.
Maureen smiled at her and leaned into her ear.
“You’re doing it again,” she said through her teeth as Kayden spoke with Aunt Mae and the local television news station reporter.
“Doing what?” she replied.
“Overstepping. That stunt you pulled with the ring could have very well been the nail in the coffin.”
“I thought it would make it harder for him to deny me later and ruin our plans.”
“It doesn’t matter now. You’ll be heading back to New York with me tonight.”
Kim’s face lost its color as it filled with terror. After all she had done, she was being cast aside like yesterday’s trash.
“You have to give me another chance,” she pleaded as a tear formed in her eye.
“Prove to me you can follow my instructions and compose yourself, and we will see.”
Kim dabbed the near-tear from her eye and put a huge smile back on her face as another photographer approached them.
“A picture of the beautiful Capshaw women?” he asked.
“Of course,” Maureen said, smiling brightly. She linked her arm into Kim’s, and they smiled as the flash went off on the camera.
Lana was still in the back of the crowd, close to the street, watching the entire fiasco unfold.
If she hadn’t known them all better, she would think everything was fine and that everyone was as happy as a tick on a deer.
However, she was well accustomed to Maureen and how she could annihilate you with all thirty-two of her teeth showing.
Briskly, the city Mayor walked up to Kayden as the news crew ended the interview with him and Aunt Mae, and Lana thought Kayden never looked sexier. The wind was beginning to pick up now, and the noise was deafening, but he was as calm and collected as ever.
“And now for the grand reveal,” Kayden boomed into the microphone.
The crowd quieted a little as Taylor, Kayden, Maureen, and Kim reached up to the canopy and began to pull on it.
It fell away, and in bright lights, Aunt Mae’s sign began to flicker on, and the crowd erupted in cheers, clapping and whistling.
Lana couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.
It was a mix of a retro diner and the home accents from the blueprints he had shown her a while back.
The building had chrome accents on the corners, with brick inlay, and the new double-door entrance was beyond grand.
The huge panes of glass now showed the entire interior of the diner. Before, it was mostly blocked by half windows, but now it was simply outstanding. The mayor brought over the giant oversized scissors, and he, Aunt Mae, and Kayden all cut it at the same time.
The cheers went on as they shook hands, and the camera flashed with what seemed like endless pictures. Kayden and Aunt Mae hugged, and she held him as tears ran down her face. You could tell she was absolutely in love with all the work he had put into the space.
“And now, let’s eat,” Aunt Mae exclaimed into the mic, and everyone began to make their way inside.
Maureen, Kim, and the Capshaw Realty group moved inside along with a few photographers, KDN’s crew, Taylor, Kayden, and the Mayor.
Lana made her way out of the crowd as they all surged like waves of the sea to the diner.
The car service they ordered from Shelby pulled up at exactly eight fifteen, and Lana made her way through a few people to get to it.
It wouldn’t be long before everyone would be up at the house, and she needed to be ready.
As she made her way to the car, she felt a tug on her jacket and turned around.
It was the librarian she spent most of her time with at the local library.
“Aren’t you coming inside, sugar?’ She asked so sweetly that it made Lana a little warmer in the brisk cold.
“No, it’s too crowded. I’ll come back tomorrow when things have calmed down,” she replied, then hustled into the warmth of the waiting car before her cover was blown.
She looked at the diner and could see them all inside.
Everyone was talking and laughing, sitting at the new booths; it looked like a real family affair.
It’s what she loved most about the town.
No matter who you were or where you were from, you became family almost instantly.
Her cell phone started to vibrate in her pocket.
She pulled it out, and Paula’s name flashed on the screen, with a text message:
PAULA: Did you leave already?
Lana began to type back.
LANA: Headed over there now
PAULA: Perfect!
LANA: See ya soon
PAULA:
THE DINER LOOKED spectacular, and Aunt Mae could barely contain her excitement.
The irresistible aromas drifting out of the kitchen were enough to stir anyone’s appetite, and the flood of incoming orders showed no sign of slowing.
Aunt Mae had her apron on as she was back to ordering the staff around, and they were happy to do her bidding.
Everyone was amazed at the way the diner turned out.
Kayden watched as Lana’s car pulled down the street and couldn’t wait to see her later.
When this night was behind them, life was going to be different, and he welcomed the change on the horizon.
Kim was clinging to his side, although she made no more grandiose gestures of their “engagement.” He couldn’t wait to rid himself of her and hoped she would find some peace and happiness in her life and leave him be.
His mother was another obstacle altogether.
As much as he loved her, what she did sickened him, and he wouldn’t forgive it easily.