Chapter Twenty-Eight

 

Kate sat brushing her long golden brown hair, looking into an oval mirror with an ornate gold leaf pattern frame. Her hair was almost down to her waist. She had to swing it over one shoulder to brush it. Excitement grew inside her because today was her tenth birthday. Looking in the mirror again, she longed to see a more grown-up looking person. One that Mr. Martin would notice, maybe even fall in love with, although she knew it would never happen. He was already twenty-eight years old and his family was pushing him to marry a girl named Gia. If only he could wait, wait just six or seven more years she’d be old enough.

“Kathryn, are you almost ready? Guests will be arriving soon.” Her mother swooped into her room.

“Mother, do you think Andrew...um, Mr. Martin will notice me?” Kate swung around in her vanity chair.

“Of course he notices you, silly child. He’s coming for your birthday, isn’t he?” Her mother took the brush from Kate’s hand and continued to fix her hair.

“I don’t mean like that.” She pouted and crossed her arms.

“Then what do you mean?” Her mother had a strange look on her face.

“Like love me, want to marry me.” Kate was now defiant.

“Kathryn, you’re too young to have such notions in your head!” She kissed the top of her daughter’s head. “I have to go and check to see if Grandma Lilly has arrived. Your father went to get her hours ago.”

“And Uncle Albert and the boys?”

“Yes, they’ll be here soon.” Her mother left the room and Kate was again feeling anxious.

“Andrew, Andrew Martin, I could say your name a hundred times.” She twirled around her room, spinning round and round until she fell dizzily to the floor. Kate laughed at herself but then heard two laughs, one so familiar it reminded her of another time in her life, another lifetime ago. She picked her head up and Andrew was leaning on her bedroom doorframe.

“I’ve been asked to escort you to your birthday party.” He gave her his hand and helped her up. Kate was still a little dizzy and fell against him.

“Oops, sorry.” She giggled.

“I can wait,” he said softly.

“I can hardly wait,” she answered back.

* * * *

Kate sat up with a gasp and looked blindly around the room not knowing where she was at. “Drew!” she screamed.

“I’m here, Kate.” He sat up beside her.

“Where am I? What century is this?”

“The 21^st century.”

“How old am I?”

“Seventeen. Why are you asking all these questions?”

Kate was so disoriented she didn’t know what life she was living. Was she in the past in a different era? Was she really here in the present? Why did that dream seem so real instead of just a dream?

“Drew, it would have worked out.” Kate felt a light bulb go on.

“Now, I’m confused.”

“In my dream, I was ten years old. It was my birthday. You were invited, but were much older–like in your twenties. I knew I was in love with you already and when you came up to my bedroom...”

“Kate, stop! I’d never go into someone’s bedroom.”

“No, it was fine. You were escorting me to my party. You said you could wait for me...although I was dizzy.” Kate laughed. “Don’t you see, Drew? If we stayed in the past it would have worked out. Mom would have found Dad and you three would have stayed friends. I would have been born just like I said and you would have waited for me to grow-up!”

“That’s a nice dream.” Drew looked doubtful.

“No, it was a message. No matter what, we’d end up together.” Kate kissed him lightly on the lips.

“Point taken, I can buy that,” Drew said between more kisses. “Let’s get ready for the party in the here and now.”

“I’d like that very much.” Kate started to get out of bed, but Drew took her arm.

“First things first.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out her bracelet, the charm bracelet she gave him to remember her by. He placed it on her arm and closed the clasp. “Now you can get ready.”

* * * *

Kate pulled on some shoes and was heading down the stairs as the doorbell rang. Her dad rushed to open the door, greeting all the Campbells plus Charlie. “Welcome and happy New Year.” He said as he swung back the door. Her father seemed truly happy. Kate was glad some of the burdens were lifted from his shoulders.

“Kate!” She could tell Lindsey was so excited she could hardly contain herself. “Come and see my Christmas present.”

They ran into the family room where Drew was already waiting.

“Charlie, show them.” Lindsey clapped her hands, jumping up and down.

He removed his phone from his back pocket and started a video. A golden retriever puppy was romping on the grass and in the background was the Jenkins ranch.

“Charlie got you your dog! It’s still at the ranch? When will the puppy arrive?”

“Aunt Sue said she’ll keep her at the ranch for me. Isn’t she great? Then when I visit, my pup will be there. Plus the puppy will have the company of the other dogs at the ranch. I’ll be able to visit so much more when I’m at college.”

“College?”

“Yep, I’m going to UA, University of Arizona, I got accepted.” Lindsey took Charlie’s hand. “We wish you two would join us there.”

Kate looked at Drew. “We haven’t really picked a school yet, have we, Drew?”

“It will be out west, that’s one thing I know for sure.” Drew nodded his head. “Hey, Linds, have you named her?”

“Not yet, I’m hoping you guys will help me tonight.”

“Canyon is a good name.” Kate smiled.

“Isn’t that name already taken?” Charlie smiled a knowing smile.

Kate couldn’t resist. She gave him a big hug. “I’m so glad you know!”

The families talked and laughed throughout the night, bringing in the new year with champagne and sparkling juice.

Kate’s dad handed her a flute of sparkling cider saying, “I think you deserve this night. Without your determination and love for this family, we may not all be standing here tonight.”

“Maybe not here, Dad, but somewhere. We’d definitely be standing somewhere together.” Kate took the glass and kissed his cheek. Her father looked quizzically at her. “I’ll explain, but not tonight. Trust me.”

“Always, pumpkin, always.” He touched his glass against hers and headed over to her mom, kissing her for a very long time.

“Their love survived a lot.” Drew whispered in Kate’s ear.

She faced him and said. “Just like ours. Like father, like daughter.”

“You saved me again, you know.”

“How?”

“I couldn’t leave you. I stayed till the last possible moment. If not, your dad would have never found me.” He swept her into his arms and whispered. “I love you...pumpkin.”

“Hey...” Kate playfully gave him a push. “No stealing names.”

After everyone left, Kate and her mom told the men they’d clean up the mess and to relax. It was good to hear their voices coming from the family room as the two women worked in the kitchen.

“Quite a day.” Kate said to her mom.

“Want to make that days?” she said with a laugh.

“Mom, did you brush my hair when I was little?”

“Gosh, where did that come from? Yes, of course, I did. I brushed it until you wouldn’t let me anymore. You said you were grown-up and didn’t need me to do it.”

“How old was I?”

“Ten, I believe you were ten, sweetie. That’s a strange thing to be remembering tonight.”

“Not really, Mom. Goodnight.” She kissed her on the cheek, noticing the family room was now dark. “Looks like they beat us upstairs.”

Kate entered her bedroom and found Drew sitting at the desk, looking at his laptop. “Drew, there you are. I was hoping you didn’t go to bed yet.”

“Without say goodnight to you? I wouldn’t do that.” Drew chuckled almost to himself.

“I was thinking about something while I was helping Mom in the kitchen. I thought about all we’ve been through, plus the dream I just had. When we finally get married and have kids, what in the world are we going to tell them when they ask how we met?”

Drew turned around in the chair and looked thoughtfully at Kate. He rose up and came to where she stood. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear. “In a fairytale, Kate. We’ll tell them we met in a fairytale.”