Chapter Eighteen

 

Lucinda was still on the staircase. Katie thought she heard a gasp come from her. Anna looked up and their eyes meet. Lucinda’s eyes seemed to burn right through Anna. Anna’s were apologetic.

Daniel broke the ice. “Good to see you, Lucinda. Best wishes on your wedding day. I’m sorry for intruding last minute. I just got in last night. Took me longer to clean up for your wedding than I thought!” he smiled sheepishly.

Lucinda continued staring. Anna turned to Daniel, grabbed his hand and said, “We best get a seat, looks like the wedding is about to start.”

When Katie finally gained her composure, she turned to look at Lucinda again and saw her sitting on the stair with a blank look on her face. Mr. Johansson tried to help her up but she held her hand up as a signal for him to wait. Then she stood up, smoothed out her skirt, and continued on down the stairs as if nothing was wrong.

Katie heard music drifting in through the back door. As they continued down the hallway, she saw Henry, Gil and Cliff all standing to the side of the gazebo.

Katie was first. It helped that she couldn’t really see the people in the tent as she walked down the path. A hand went up in the sea of people sitting out there, as Katie rounded the gazebo. She had to laugh as Drew continued to wave. Loretta came next and stood closer to the steps of the gazebo. Then Mr. Johansson and Lucinda came around and stopped in front of the stairs. Henry walked up to the couple and stood on the other side of Lucinda. She handed her flowers to Loretta, then Henry and Lucinda walked up the two steps to the minister. Everything was just as lovely as planned. There was a brilliant blue sky and white puffy clouds. The white tent shone in the afternoon sun. The gazebo was laced with white orange blossoms and roses.

Too perfect, Katie thought, and not like a fairytale at all.

The ceremony was short, Lucinda promised to love, honor and obey like many brides do and Henry beamed as he placed the ring on her finger. They had a quick kiss at the conclusion of the service and Henry held two fists up, shaking them like he just won first prize. Tears filled Katie’s eyes as she watched her aunt’s wedding first hand. The feeling was indescribable.

Afterward, everyone headed for the house. The wedding party stood on the large back porch, greeting guests as they headed inside. A late afternoon supper was served in the dining hall. The tent was cleared out so a wooden floor could be installed for dancing later in the evening. Katie’s head spun from all the new people she met. Finally some friendly faces reached her.

“Kate, this is Daniel,” Drew introduced her to his friend.

“I have heard so much about you.” Katie shook his hand.

“And I, you, lovely Kate. Andrew, you didn’t do her justice.” Daniel slapped his friend on the back.

Anna hugged Katie and whispered in her ear, “I’m so happy. Is Lucinda alright?”

Katie nodded. “She seems to be. Plus she went through with the wedding, didn’t she?”

“We’ll see you inside.” Drew lightly squeezed her arm.

The wedding party sat at a long table in the front of the dining hall. There were round tables of eight scattered around the rest of the massive room. Servers circulated the room with plates of food, pitchers of lemonade and water plus bottles of wine. It was all very festive.

Katie noticed one of the servers approaching Henry and then heard him say, “There’s a Mr. Jack Woods here to see you, Mr. Henry. He just wants to wish you well and tell you he’s sorry he missed the wedding. He didn’t want to come in since he wasn’t dressed for the occasion. He said something about fishing.”

“Nonsense! Tell him to come in and at least share a toast with us.” Henry was always so kind to everyone.

Jack Woods! The same Jack Woods I almost met at Kolb Studio. The one who looks like my father. Katie thought she better leave the room for some reason. She got up, excused herself and headed for the stairs.

When she was safely in her room, she looked out the window that overlooked the back porch and garden. There, standing talking to Henry, was her father...or Jack Woods. Katie sat on her bed and wondered how long she should wait.

She must have dozed off for a few minutes and was startled awake by voices outside her door.

“I don’t care what you say, Maya. That girl needs to go home now. This isn’t right. I was never for it and now I’m definitely not! It was just for the summer, I was told.”

There was silence and then it seemed someone else was talking. Katie couldn’t make out what the person was saying. Then she heard Jack’s voice again.

“I love her but I don’t think she takes this as seriously as I do. She never did!”

That voice definitely sounded like her father. He said Maya. That was Mrs. Johnson’s first name. Then silence again.

Katie cracked the door open to look around. Seeing no one, she walked quietly to the top of the stairs. Mrs. Johansson was just at the bottom of the stairs so Katie quickly stepped back until she was gone.

She was talking to my father or Mr. Woods. Katie planned on getting to the bottom of this but not now. She intended to enjoy every moment of this wedding and this day. She ran down the stairs, around the corner and back to the dining room.

“There you are!” Drew came walking toward her. “Would you care to take a stroll in the garden?”

Katie took Drew’s arm and they walked out of the house and into the evening air. The band started to play and music floated into the evening sky. Torches were lit throughout the backyard. Guests mingled in the garden and headed for the tent. Strings of lights hung inside giving it a magical glow. Katie wanted to distance herself from the wedding theme of the night and just pretend she was at a really great party, with a really great guy.

“A penny for your thought,” Drew said.

“A what...? Oh, um, nothing. I was just thinking this was a magical night.”

“Kate, I hope we get married on a night just like this, a magical night.” Drew pulled her close. She took a step back. “Am I scaring you again? Too fast?” he said with an impish grin on his face.

“No, you are not scaring me. Just slow down a bit and let me at least tell you...”

“...that you love me,” he finished for her.

Katie playfully pushed him and he pretended to fall down bringing her with him. They landed on a little wrought iron bench. “You knew that was there all along, didn’t you?” Katie couldn’t stop laughing.

Drew kissed her and said, “Would you like to dance?”

“Here? In the garden?” Katie saw that everyone was gone.

Drew took her in his arms and they swayed to the music. Soon they were joined by another couple.

“Aren’t you two ever coming down to the tent? We are so alone done there. Kathryn, I need you for support,” Anna’s voice traveled through the night air.

“If I must!” Katie said as dramatically as she could. Then she giggled, took Drew’s and Anna’s hands and headed for the tent.

It turned out to be a very enjoyable evening. Katie danced with Cliff, her partner, and then they cut in on the wedding couple. She was thrilled to be dancing with her Uncle Henry. She even danced with Mr. Johansson. She noticed Cliff slipped away and thought she saw him dancing with Frieda on the back porch. How romantic. It was like Frieda was Cinderella. Why was she seeing everything through the eyes of a fairytale? She needed to remind herself to be more tough and independent like Mulan or Pocahontas. Yet, didn’t even they fall in love?

Lucinda came up to her. “Kathryn, did you know that you are all staying again tonight? We will serve a big breakfast in the morning. Then Henry and I will be on our way. We leave Monday for our honeymoon in San Francisco and then the shore. I’ve never seen the Pacific Ocean before.”

“How are you doing?” Katie was dying to ask her that all night.

“Fine. I’m fine. I’m a married woman now with responsibilities.” Lucinda crossed her arms almost defiantly.

“Know that I’m always here for you and when I am not, you are in my heart. I love you, Lucinda.”

“I love you, too. You know, there is something special about you that I just can’t place my finger on. I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

“And I, you.”

The girls hugged and Lucinda wiped tears from her eyes. “Stop it now. See what you’ve done to my make-up.” She half-heartily laughed.

The guests began to leave and Lucinda was called to say good-bye. Katie walked away from the tent. She stood alone looking up at the evening sky.

“Are you looking at the man in the moon? If you are, I’m jealous.” Drew came up behind her. He pointed up in the sky. “Let’s say when you see him, that’s me, smiling down on you...wherever you are.”

“Why? Are you going somewhere?”

“Not tonight but we are both heading back to school. We need to make plans to write to each other.”

Katie didn’t know how she would do that. She tried to think of a way to get out of it without hurting his feelings. “Can we just make plans to meet back here? I’m not very good at writing. I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

“Whatever you wish,” he whispered in her ear.

“I wish to have you take this necklace off. It feels like it is choking me.” Katie touched the pearls that were around her neck as Drew undid the clasp.

“There, all safe and sound.” He patted his pocket as they walked around the side of the house. They were alone. Katie stopped, and turned to him. “Don’t leave tonight, Andrew.”

“This must be serious. You called me Andrew.” He took Katie in his arms and kissed her. He kissed the front of her neck and down to the top of her dress.

“Don’t stop,” she breathed. Right then and there she made up her mind that if this was going to be her last night with Drew, then it would be a special night. “Stay with me in my room.”

He stopped kissing her and took her by the arms. “How could I do that?”

“We’ll sneak you in. You’re invited for breakfast, aren’t you?”

“Wearing the same clothes?”

“We’ll roll up the sleeves of your shirt and you don’t have to wear the jacket, no tie. It will work.”

“Are you sure about this?” Drew looked very solemn.

Then it dawned on Katie it was not the 21st century but the 1920’s. Good girls didn’t do these kinds of things. Well, neither did she. What was she thinking? She just decided that Drew would be her first and hopefully her one and only. She was not thinking rationally. Plus how did they have safe sex in this day and age? Her head spun and she took a step back. Andrew grabbed her, breaking her fall.

“Would it be alright if you just stayed with me in my room, nothing else?” Katie decided to clarify. “I don’t want to spend a moment away from you.”

“I think I can do that.” Drew pulled her to him. “Or at least try.”

They rounded the corner to the back of the house. Most of the guests were gone. No one seemed to miss them. Katie looked around for Mr. or Mrs. Johansson. They would be the hardest to fool, but didn’t see them. She looked at Drew in the moonlight, and wished he wasn’t a dream. She hoped she would wake up, and see him next to her in bed tomorrow.

They waited until the servers cleaned up and put out the torches. Then they both said good night to the newlyweds, then Loretta and Anna. Katie pointed to the window of her bedroom.

“I think I can get up there from out here,” Drew said.

There was a roof over the back porch. The plan was to climb up to it, then over to her window. They kissed and acted like they were parting ways for the night.

Katie ran up to her room. She quickly took off her dress and hung it away in the closet. She rummaged through the bag that Mrs. Johansson packed for her. She found something that was appropriate and casual to wear. No nightwear, not a good idea. Then she heard a light tap at her window. She ran over and opened the window. Drew slid into the room.

They stayed up talking for most of the night making plans on when and how they would meet again. Drew was determined to come to the canyon as much as he could his senior year. He was trying to get permission to do a field study here and receive credit for it.

“My parents aren’t too happy that I will miss Thanksgiving with them,” Drew stated. “I offered for them to come out here with me. I don’t think my brother and sister would like that very much. They are younger and their friends are in New York. I’m sure they have plans for the holiday week. My sister loves to shop. There really is no shopping here, is there?”

“No,” Katie laughed, “There’s not.” She couldn’t believe what a gentleman Drew was. She decided this is what it felt like to really be loved. That’s what Lucinda got, too. Love from a man that would do anything for her.

“Kate? Kate?” Drew waved his hand in front of her face. “I think I lost you for a moment.”

“I’m so sorry. What were you saying?”

“I asked you if you thought you could come here for Thanksgiving holiday.”

“Yes, most definitely. I will be here.” Katie really didn’t mean that because she knew she had to get her hands on a book. She wanted a book she could keep, not depending on anyone else, so she could come and go as she pleased.

They both fell asleep right where they were—Drew in the overstuffed chair and Kate on the bed.

* * * *

Katie woke with a start. Sun streamed in her window, and Drew was asleep in the chair. She was thrilled he was still there. She tiptoed out of the room to the bathroom, splashed water on her face, then gazed in the mirror. She still had some remnants of yesterday’s makeup so she scrubbed until it was gone, fluffed her hair and snuck back to her room. When Katie opened the door, she saw the chair was empty. Drew was gone.

She got ready for breakfast wondering how Drew woke up and disappeared so quickly. She looked out her window and saw guests in the garden. She decided to go down and join the others. Drew was already mingling with the other guests. He and Daniel were in a discussion with some men she recognized from the wedding. Drew had his white shirt on with the sleeves rolled up, just like she suggested.

Anna came up from behind her. “This time we are all sitting together!”

She took Katie over to where Drew and Daniel stood.

“Kate! Good to see you again.” Daniel called out. Katie realized that all of Drew’s friends would be calling her Kate. That’s how he referred to her so it made sense they would also.

The couples sat together and waited for the bride and groom to enter. The best man announced them. Everyone clapped as Lucinda and Henry came in. Henry had a large grin on his face. He beamed. Lucinda seemed a little more subdued but was smiling, too. Katie hoped they were happy and things worked out.

After breakfast, Anna told Katie they had to pack and get ready to go back to the boardinghouse. Katie couldn’t believe it was time already. Everything was over. The dream was over. She had to go back to reality, but not before she told Drew she loved him. That was on her list and nothing was going to stop her. She tried many times to tell him but something or someone always got in the way of the moment. She touched the necklace Drew gave her. Kate would never take it off. She would wear it every day.

“I will see you later back at the boardinghouse before I leave.” Drew told her.

“Before you leave?”

“I’m afraid I leave before you this time.”

Kate hoped to make him feel better. “Then I will come to the train station with you.”

“Sounds good. I will pick you up.” Drew squeezed her hand.

The Johanssons were packing the Buick when Katie came to the front of the house to go upstairs. Molly and Ruthie were already in the car. Anna ran down the stairs. “We got your things, sweetie. Let’s go.”

Everyone was pretty quiet on the ride home. Katie thought of all the events that led up to that point. It wasn’t over yet and she planned to make the best of it.

“I’m going to see Drew off at the train station when we get home,” Katie announced.

“He’s finally going back to New York. Good for him. He’s a nice young man, but his life is there.” Mrs. Johansson seemed to know more about him than she let on.

“He’s planning on coming back here. He wants to study here and even find a college close by.”

“Really?” Then Mrs. Johansson got very quiet.

When they got back to the house, everyone helped unpack the car. Katie couldn’t wait to get to the room to see if her book was still there. She slid open the drawer and there it was. She took it out and hugged it to her chest. “I wish I could make you all mine,” she said to the book. Now I’m talking to a book, she thought, I must be going crazy!

She gazed out of her window until Drew came for her. As soon as she saw his horse she ran outside.

“Now it’s time for me to ask you where your bags are,” Katie teased.

“I had them sent ahead to the train station.” He pulled her up behind him.

She hugged him tightly. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She was glad Drew couldn’t see her crying. They arrived at the station and the train was ready to go. It was all so final.

“Don’t forget all our plans. Don’t forget everything we said to each other and everything we have felt. Keep it here.” He pointed to her heart. “I know I will. I love you more each day. It’s painful to leave.”

Katie flung her arms around him. They kissed for one last time. Then they heard the call, “All Aboard!”

The train started up, and people hurried to get on.

It was hard to talk after she was crying but Kate knew she must. “Drew...”

“There’s Thomas,” Drew pointed. “He will take you home.”

Thomas smiled at her. Kate was glad to see a friendly face but how could she tell Drew she loved him in front of Thomas? That would be a little awkward. She walked with him to the steps of the train. Thomas walked right with them. Thomas and Drew shook hands.

“I will see you soon, Thomas.” Drew then turned to Katie. “And you, too.” He quickly stepped onto the train.

“I love you,” Kate said softly, knowing he didn’t hear her.

Thomas and Katie stayed until the train pulled away. Katie ran beside it until she couldn’t keep up. She saw Drew’s face in the window, hoping it wouldn’t be the last time she’d ever see him.

Back at the boardinghouse, Mrs. Johansson was busy making dinner and everything seemed to be business as usual. Anna, Ruthie and Molly said their good-byes to Katie.

Anna had tears in her eyes. “You’ve been a good friend to me and to Lucinda. I don’t know how I can ever thank you.”

“I hope you don’t think I was trying to take your place as Lucinda’s friend. It just happened.” Katie wanted Anna to know. “You’re my best friend here. The person I trust the most.”

The two girls hugged. “You’re so special to me, Kathryn. You’ll never know how much. Now I better let you get ready to go.” Anna left her at the bedroom door.

Katie went into her room. She looked out her window and knew she had to wait for dusk. She also wouldn’t have any problem sleeping. It had been quite a weekend. Katie walked over to the drawer, took out the book and placed it in the bed. Then she slipped on her nightgown and touched her necklace. I will never take this off. She promised herself as she drifted to sleep.

The first thing Katie did when she woke up was to reach for her necklace. It’s gone! Where is it? She searched around in the bed, lifting the pink sheets and looking on the nightstand. She screamed and then cried.

Mrs. Johnson flew into the room with Carl Jr. right behind her. “Katie! What’s wrong?”

“I was wearing a necklace. It’s a gold chain with a sapphire...oh, please help me find it!”