Chapter 3
Chapter
Three
Cat Townsend had been debating with herself all day long. She’d gone back and forth about whether to attend the anniversary party, but none of her excuses sounded even a smidge believable.
If she hadn’t shown her face tonight, everyone would have said she was either too stuck up or too afraid to face Tate. The latter might not be far from the truth, but that didn’t mean she wanted people saying it behind her back. Or in front of it.
She’d tried and discarded half a dozen dresses before her mother had helped her choose this one. It was one of her favorites, and she knew she looked good in it. For some reason, it was important to look attractive tonight.
Cat didn’t want to delve too deeply into why that was, but just being here tonight made it clear as to why she cared. She wanted to see that look in his eyes. She remembered it well.
After the effusive greeting from Josh and Rachel, she’d made the rounds to say hello and chat with several of her old friends from high school.
It had been awkward at first, but the conversation had smoothed out after a few minutes.
She had the distinct feeling that they were wondering what she would say and how she would act.
Was Cat going to act like a self-centered diva?
Perish the thought. My mom would kill me.
Even at the height of Cat’s modeling career, Grace Townsend hadn’t coddled her daughter in the least. She’d made sure that Cat never had any delusions of grandeur. She wasn’t better or worse than anyone else. End of story.
“Looks like Leo and Shelly are leaving,” Winnie whispered into Cat’s ear.
Winnie and Rachel were helping Cat look for a new home in Winslow Heights.
“Leo’s just had too much to drink,” Glen, her husband, replied dismissively. “The man can’t hold his whiskey. Never could.”
“I’m not sure that’s why Leo is leaving,” Winnie said. “He was arguing with Josh. Shelly was, too.”
“They’re partners,” Glen shrugged. “They probably argue. Not everything is a conspiracy.”
Winnie gave her husband a sour look but dropped the subject, turning back to Cat.
“Everyone is so excited about you moving back to town. How does it feel?”
Everyone? Cat doubted the statement.
“Quiet,” Cat replied after a long moment. “Very quiet. But in a good way. It’s nice.”
“Winslow Heights is no New York City,” Glen joked. “Or London, Paris, or Milan. Is quiet another way to say boring?”
“That’s not what I meant,” Cat explained. “Although I have nothing against boring. After the last year and a half with mom being in and out of the hospital and all the treatments, it’s nice that we’ve hopefully put all of that behind us.”
All Cat needed was people saying that she’d called Winslow Heights boring.
“I’m glad your mom is doing better,” Winnie said. “Did you know that before she left for New York City, Tate would send meals over to her every day, so she didn’t have to cook or worry about groceries? He’d even go visit a few times a week.”
“Mom mentioned that. It was very kind of him.”
That’s how Tate was…kind and thoughtful. She hadn’t realized how much until she’d been out in the world, where people weren’t always nice or friendly.
“If you wanted to say thank you, he’s standing out on the patio getting some air,” Winnie replied, giving Cat a little nudge with her elbow. “You should talk to him.”
She wasn’t ready. She might have rehearsed what she would say, but all the words had flown out of the window the minute she’d laid eyes on him. She was literally shaking in her expensive Italian pumps just standing there looking at him.
How could he affect her like this after so many years? It wasn’t fair.
Tate was standing on the back patio talking to Tyler, both men smiling and chuckling.
Cat distinctly remembered Tate’s warm laughter and the deep emotion in his green-gold eyes.
He’d looked at her with such love and care.
She’d been in other relationships over the years, but she’d never seen anyone look at her the way he had all those years ago.
She’d felt his love like a physical thing wrapped around her, keeping her safe from the outside world. When she’d left town, she’d missed that feeling keenly. She’d been out there on her own. No safety net. And the world was a cold, cruel place sometimes.
“Maybe later,” Cat replied, shaking her head. “He’s talking to Tyler right now.”
Except that Tyler had reentered the house, leaving Tate on a lounge chair outside. She didn’t have an excuse anymore.
“He’s alone now. You should go talk to him,” Winnie urged again. “How long has it been since you talked to him? Has to have been a few years, right?”
More than that.
Winnie and Glen’s expressions appeared puzzled as to why she wasn’t rushing outside to chat with Tate. Catch up and all that.
She wasn’t about to explain it, either.
“I guess I should say hello.”
She could barely feel her legs as she walked outside to the patio where Tate was relaxing.
His gaze was on the night sky, sprinkled with stars and the bright moon.
Her heart pounded against her ribs as she approached him, thinking of all the reasons she should turn and sprint back inside the house, find the bathroom, and lock herself in.
She could blame the chilly weather. Spring was around the corner, but it hadn’t yet arrived.
That was a lousy plan, however, and she forced herself to paste on a fake smile as his head turned at the sound of her high heels on the concrete.
“Tate.”
“Cat.”
She’d known this man so well. All of his moods and thoughts.
Right now, he wasn’t giving anything away, deliberately keeping his expression bland and uninterested.
Clearly, he wasn’t surprised to see her.
The others must have filled him in that she’d be attending the party.
If their friends hadn’t, the gossip mill would have done the job, too.
“Getting some fresh air?”
What a stupid question. She must sound like a rocket scientist.
“It’s a nice night.”
Okay, he wasn’t going to make it easy for her. Perhaps he was still holding a grudge. She didn’t blame him, but she hoped she could at least apologize. He deserved one.
“Spring is my favorite season,” she said. “But I know that autumn is yours. Or it was.”
“Lots of things have changed. Like you being home. How long are you staying?”
“I’m here,” she replied. “I mean that I’m staying here. I’m home for good. Rachel is helping me look for a house.”
“I’m sure your mom will like having you close.”
He didn’t say that he would like it, but then she didn’t expect that he would. Yet, there was a spot deep inside of her heart that wanted him to be happy for some crazy reason. They hadn’t been a couple in over a decade, so she wasn’t sure why she cared. Ego?
“She does, although she swears she liked New York City. I think she’s just saying that to make me feel better.”
“I saw her a few weeks ago at the supermarket. She looks to be in great health now.”
“She is,” Cat said. “We’re all so relieved.”
“I’m glad she’s doing better. Your mom has always been a terrific person.”
Yes, she was. During all of the treatments, Cat had been scared to death about losing her mother.
“I heard you sent over food and visited. That was so thoughtful of you. I know my mom appreciated it.”
“I was happy to do it.”
Since they were talking about parents… This was the time. She wasn’t going to get a better setup, and this was something she needed to do. She should have done it years ago.
“I want to say that I’m sorry that I never reached out to you when your mom disappeared. Your mother was always so sweet to me and treated me like family. I should have called or sent a card or something. I’m sorry that I didn’t.”
Tate didn’t say anything for a long moment, and the time seemed to tick away as she waited for his response to her apology.
“Yes, you should have.”
Cat didn’t know what she’d expected, but she hadn’t anticipated that he’d agree. She couldn’t argue, however, because she’d been in the wrong.
“That’s why I’m apologizing,” she explained, fumbling for the right words. “I feel bad about the whole thing. I was out of the country when it happened, and I meant to do something, but then some time passed, and it just seemed too late.”
“That’s fine,” he replied with a shrug. “You were working.”
She wasn’t sure how to deal with his unemotional state. The Tate she’d known would have either assured her it was okay or told her he was angry. Not this in-between stuff.
“I really am sorry. Truly.”
“Okay. I believe you.”
Tate didn’t appear angry. That she could have handled. If anything, he appeared…slightly amused.
“You don’t seem to. I’m apologizing here.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“Are you? You’re not acting like it.”
“How do you want me to act?” Tate had tilted his head in question. “Do you need me to say some specific words? Do you need me to help you feel better about yourself and the decisions you’ve made? Because I’m not going to be doing that, Kitty Cat. You’re going to have to do that all by yourself.”
Kitty Cat . The nickname he’d given her about a hundred years ago. No one else had ever used it. Just him.
The mere words from his lips were like a dagger to her heart. In the past, he’d said them with love and laughter - now, it was more like disdain.
“I don’t need you to make me feel better,” Cat denied. “It’s just clear you aren’t accepting my apology.”
“Is it important to you that I do? I’m puzzled by that.
Clearly, what was happening back here wasn’t all that important to you, right?
After all, you could have sent an email or a text.
You could have sent a letter or used the phone and called me.
You could have sent a card or a basket of muffins.
You chose to do none of those things. Let me use that word again, Cat.
Chose. It was your choice of what to do. You made an active choice.”
Choices. Being an adult and making choices sucked.