The clock in Rigg’s office on Monday morning read eight forty-five and Rigg debated what to do; Kaitlin was late. He’d half expected her to be late because of her weary state the night before, but there was the remote chance she was not well and for that reason, Rigg couldn’t rest. He stood up, having decided to go check with Sean when he saw her rush through the front doors.
She was flustered and apologetic when she arrived in the office but she also looked well rested. Rigg told her that her rest was important and that he wasn’t at all upset. Kate didn’t believe him and continued to apologize and berate herself.
“All right,” he said quietly. “You’re docked a day’s pay.”
Kate halted and stared at him. He was dead serious and she told herself she’d asked for it.
“Do you feel better now?” Rigg asked quietly and Kate felt like an utter fool.
“Katie,” his voice was gentle and without rebuke. “I tease you at times but I think you’ll agree that I’ve never played games with you. I also know you well enough to know that you take your job seriously. I really don’t mind your being late.”
“Thank you.” Kaitlin’s cheeks were still heated. Thankfully Rigg had work to do downstairs and Kate was given a chance to calm herself.
Her pride had been involved this morning and it had made a fool of her. She’d been horrified to awaken and see how late the hour was and rather then come in and apologize, she’d carried on until she forced Rigg to threaten her. She didn’t think he would dock her but she had no business backing him into a corner that way.
Kaitlin prayed and was able to put the incident behind her. She could feel that she and Rigg were getting closer to one another every day but that didn’t change the fact that he was her boss and he had a business to run. She told herself that starting immediately she was going to show new respect to him.
Kate was making fast work of the account books for the year and Rigg was pleased with her progress. The morning flew by and Bill came over to say he’d treat at the hotel. Kate popped into the post office and found a letter from Scott Harper in Hawaii. She tucked it away to read after work.
Sean surprised Rigg and Kate by offering to fix supper that night, so as soon as he was finished with his work he left for home. Rigg had some last minute things to do, so Kaitlin passed the time by reading her letter. She sat on a bench by the back door, knowing Rigg would want to go home that way.
Dear Kaitlin,
Hawaii has not been the same since you left. I told myself that I would not carry on in this letter about the way I miss you. At the same time, I want you to know that it took a while for me to accept that you’re not coming back. I still think of you every day.
The work here prospers and we’re thankful to have your father with us, even temporarily. So much damage occurred during the hurricane that I believe God must have known we would need him. In spite of the losses there is a bright side, and I’m talking about the hearts of the people. History repeats itself and it’s exciting to see the revival that has begun in the wake of this disaster. Please continue to pray for us.
When I asked for your address I was surprised that you’re no longer in San Francisco. Why aren’t you? I thought you were living with your aunt?
I hope you’ll write to me but I’ll understand if you don’t. I’m praying this finds you well. My folks send their love and please tell Sean and Marcail I said hello.
As ever,
Scott
Kate had effectively put Percy out of her mind for weeks. There was no one here like him and that certainly helped. But the guilt she felt, that she had somehow been the cause for the way he’d treated her, continued to plague her. And now, a simple question in Scott’s letter brought the whole ugly episode back to mind as though it were happening all over again.
A shiver ran over Kaitlin when she remembered the way Percy had pulled her toward him. Her hand went to her throat when she pictured the way his head had bent toward her before Sean’s words had stopped him.
“Katie?” Rigg’s voice caused Kate to start violently and then pull away from the hand Rigg had placed tenderly on her arm. She looked up into his confused face and thought she could never explain. He wouldn’t want anything to do with her if he knew.
“Katie,” Rigg questioned her perceptively, “what is in that letter you just read? Is your father hurt?”
“No.”
“Your aunt?”
“No. No one, I’m just—” Just what? Kate asked herself, knowing that Rigg was waiting for an answer to his question.
Rigg watched the emotions run over Kate’s face. He was glad they were still inside the store because he had the strong impression she was about to run from him. After a short period of silence Rigg spoke softly.
“Who is the letter from?”
“Scott.”
“Who lives in Hawaii?”
Kate didn’t even hear his question.
“He wanted to know why we aren’t living in San Francisco.” Kate hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
If Rigg had been unaware of the reason she’d left San Francisco he’d have had no idea why Scott’s question was so upsetting. As it was, he believed he knew exactly what was going through Kate’s mind.
“Katie, there’s something I want you to know. Sean told me why you left your aunt’s.” Rigg’s words, though gently spoken, had a traumatic effect on Kaitlin. Most of the color drained from her face and her eyes dilated with hurt and betrayal.
“He had no right.” The words were choked out.
“He needed to talk. He was very upset about your cousin’s actions and didn’t think it had bothered you very much. He didn’t feel he could come to you.”
“He didn’t think it bothered me?” Kate was astounded.
“That’s what he said.”
“I guess Sean’s never done anything he’s ashamed of or he would know why I never brought it up.”
“Kaitlin.” Rigg’s voice was tenderness itself. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I must have encouraged him.” Tears filled her eyes and Rigg felt something akin to violence for this faceless cousin who haunted the woman he loved.
“Katie, that’s simply not true. You’re a beautiful woman but that gives no man the right to touch you against your will.”
Kate continued to fight her tears even as a single question haunted her.
“How long have you known?”
“Since the first night Sean stayed with me,” he admitted quietly.
Humiliation washed over her anew to think that Rigg had known all along about Percy. And then another question came to mind and Rigg watched a look of horror cover Kate’s face.
“Who have you told?”
“No one.” Rigg uttered the words softly, almost to himself, and Kate shook her head as though to clear it.
“I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry.”
“Let’s go to the house. You and Sean need to talk and I think I would like to be there if no one has any objections.”
Kate wondered how she got through the meal Sean fixed. The food looked wonderful but everything tasted like sawdust in her mouth. Sean noticed how quiet his sister and Rigg were and wondered, as they all worked on the dishes, if they’d quarreled.
Sean didn’t know what to do with Kaitlin anymore. Didn’t she know Rigg was in love with her? Didn’t she see what a nice guy he was? He told himself that when he found the right girl, he was just going to tell her outright that they had to get married, then and there. None of this unsureness for him; none of this tiptoeing around in order not to scare her away.
Sean had worked himself into a tumult of emotions when Rigg spoke and brought him abruptly back to earth.
“Kate and I were talking before we left the store, Sean, and I think she needs to share with you what we talked about.”
It was an awkward beginning but Rigg felt all of this should have been said long ago. Awkward or not, it was time to get their feelings out in the open.
“I got a letter from Scott today, Sean.”
“Is Father all right?” Sean came completely out of his chair and Kate was quick to reassure him.
“Yes, I’m sorry I scared you.” Kate waited until Sean was reseated and then went on. “The letter wasn’t about Father and Scott didn’t say anything upsetting, but he did ask me why we weren’t in San Francisco.
“It made me start thinking and—” Kate couldn’t go on so Rigg spoke up.
“When I came down and found Katie so upset I asked her about the letter. I then told her that I knew why you had left your aunt’s. She told me she thinks the whole thing is her fault.”
“Oh Katie, no! It’s my fault.” A look of near desperation crossed Sean’s face and tears came to his eyes. The agony he felt on that day began to crowd in on him all over again.
“Sean, that’s not true,” Kate told him urgently. “I’ve never blamed you. And I didn’t know until Rigg said something that you were that upset by what happened.” Kate’s voice faded on these last words. Brother and sister stared at each other. After a time Sean moved next to Kaitlin who sat on the sofa. Kate put her head against Sean’s arm and sobbed. Through her tears she shared every awful thing she’d been feeling. From feeling badly about leaving Aunt Maureen to wishing she had no figure at all to be attracted to.
Rigg entered into the conversation when he felt a need and even though both Donovans were completely spent in the process, an hour later all was out in the open.
There was no longer any guilt between them or even anger toward their selfish cousin. The three of them would probably have talked all night if Kate hadn’t noticed the time.
“We’ve got to get Marc.”
“I can go get her,” Rigg offered. Sean thanked him and said he would stay home, but Kate said she was in need of some air and went with him in the wagon. Rigg knew that she’d had a painful evening but there was one thing he needed to know. As the wagon moved toward his folks the setting sun bathed them in an orange glow. He couldn’t think of a better time or place to ask her.