CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Katie absentmindedly pulled on a random string at the corner of her crimson duvet while listening intently to Clay go on and on over the phone. He sounded excited, filling her in on the past couple of days rehearsing with his new tour band and sound checking at the famous Ryman. Her mind inadvertently wandered to the past few days in Atlanta which had been atrocious, the highlight of the week drowning her sorrows in way too many gin and tonics with her best friend, Stacey. Breaking the news to him wasn’t going to be easy, for sure. Stace begged her to follow her heart, imploring her to make the right decision. She made it sound so easy. But it wasn’t.
After her initial confrontation with Mr. Taylor, Katie had gone back into his office the next morning stating her case with purpose and passion. It was all to no avail. Not even her impressive list of accomplishments and accolades and a promise to work overtime for the next year could persuade him to change his mind. Apparently, some of the bigwigs of the company were going to be there, and he didn’t want to chance any mistakes that could embarrass the southeast division. “This is the most important conference of your career,” he told her. He wouldn’t budge, seemingly irritated at her persistence, and put his foot down, demanding she attend the conference or to start looking for another job which was entirely out of character for the man. She thought it must be an important conference if he was going to sink to this new low.
Poor Dale was just as upset when he found out about the double-booking. He knew how hard she had worked to get to where she was—that her career meant everything to her.
“Dale, you of all people should know I can’t just quit to follow something that might or might not work out. You know how hard this industry is. Do you see a ring on my finger? And what about Clay’s new tour? He hasn’t promised me anything. What if he forgets about me the first month he’s on the road? I want to be there for him, so badly. But give up my whole career for one show?” The guilt she struggled with was real because shehadmade a promise; a promise to be there for him on the most important night of his life.
Dale was at a loss for words. No matter what advice she received from her friends, the final decision was all hers, and hers alone.
“You’re so quiet, baby. You still feelin’ under the weather? I shouldn’t have let you stay in that cold lake for so long.”
A small smile grazed her lips as Clay’s sexy baritone voice tinged with concern brought her back to the present moment. She had been faking a cold all week to cover up her emotional state making him believe she wasn’t feeling well. Thoughts of their time together at Lake Burton crept into her mind, her skin prickling with goosebumps as she remembered the contrast of the cold, icy water and the warmth of his bare skin as he held her in his arms. Clay had pulled her out of the lake with bulging biceps and wrapped a towel around her naked chest. They warmed up in the giant shower of the master suite before they made love for hours, working up an appetite. He insisted she relax in the comfortable hammock with a glass of wine while he prepared dinner, grilling steaks, and setting a lovely table on the back deck overlooking the water. The gold flecks in his eyes danced like the flames of the votive candles he had put in the center of the table as they fed each other Betty’s famous carrot cake, laughing and talking about anything and everything. They left the dirty dishes in the sink and ended the day with a sunset cruise around the lake, Clay pointing out all the magnificent homes owned by local celebrities and wealthy business leaders. The colors of the sky were a tapestry of sweeping pinks and oranges swirling among the clouds, making her stare wide-eyed at the horizon. She felt safe in his arms, sitting in his lap as he steered the boat, gliding effortlessly along the smooth, glassy surface of the water, the wind blowing through her hair.
Knowing that might possibly be the last romantic getaway with him rocked her to the core. How could he ever forgive her for not showing up? She couldn’t bear to burst his happy bubble and bit her lip to hold back tears, memories of their time together fading like the last golden orbs of the shimmering sun at dusk on Lake Burton.
“Katie? What is it?”
Sniffling, she took in a deep cleansing breath before answering. “I’m just…”
“You’re just what, Pretty Girl?”
Every single time he called her “Pretty Girl,” her heart skipped a beat. Listening to him say it now only added to the angst during the toughest week of her life. “I’m just…so proud of you,” she managed to utter.
“Oh, baby. I’m proud of you too.” He paused, and she could hear him talking to someone, muffling the phone with his hand. “Katie? Buddy’s calling after me. He wants me to meet another Warner rep who’s flown in for the show. I’ll see you tomorrow at the Ryman, okay? Don’t forget, your name is on a guest list so just tell the guy at the stage door who you are, and they’ll bring you to my dressing room.”
It was now or never. It was time to break his heart and tell him she wouldn’t be coming. She hesitated not wanting to ruin his excitement, the words caught in her throat. Her heart pounded in her chest as she blinked back tears, the mere act of breathing difficult.
“It’s going to be a hectic day tomorrow, so I may not be able to call you. Text me if you need anything, okay?” He paused. “I’m so glad you’re with me on this journey, especially tomorrow night. You have no idea what it means to me.”
Katie could feel her heart shattering, the pain unbearable. “I know….”
“Goodbye, Pretty Girl.”
“Goodbye.”
The line went dead, and she stared at the phone in her hand, wishing the situation was different. This was going to crush him—she knew it. How could she let him down? What if he panicked and couldn’t go through with it? It would be her fault! He was going to be performing in front of a live audience for a televised event, streaming into millions of people’s homes. To put him at risk of a panicky, stuttering attack would be cruel after he specifically asked her to be there for support. How could she go through with it? But she couldn’t get fired either, not after every rung of the corporate ladder she had fought and clawed her way up. She was going to have to lie to him—texting him that she was on her way—making up a story about traffic, or a death in her family—anything but the truth.
The phone slipped out of her hands and she fell to the floor, an agonizing sob bubbling up from deep within. Her body ached for Clay—it ached for what might have been. Choosing between her career and Clay was the hardest decision of her life. She teetered on the fence, desperately wishing she could choose both, knowing that wasn’t an option. Shaking her head, she realized she had to go with her gut and not her heart—she’d worked too long and too hard to get to where she was. When the dust settled, she hoped Clay would ultimately understand. But the thought of hurting him; breaking her promise and lying to him, not showing up at his performance was something only a coward would choose to do. And that is what she was—a big, fat, ugly, workaholic coward! She would never blame him for turning his back on her and prayed that wouldn’t actually happen. But if it did, she vowed the rest of her life would be nothing but all work and no play. She could never allow herself any pleasure after what she was about to do.
“Baby girl? What is it? What happened?”
Her brother, Hart was kneeling in front of her trying to look at her face, cupping her cheeks flooded with tears. He must have heard her cries through the bedroom walls. She lunged at him, clinging to his chest sobbing uncontrollably.
“Katie? Katie, please! Stop crying and tell me what’s going on!”
She couldn’t bear to look him in the eye. Hart peeled her off by the arms and had such a look of genuine concern and love; she couldn’t keep the tears at bay.
“Oh my god, you’ve got to calm down!” He hoisted her over his shoulder and walked quickly to the bathroom, setting her down on the lid of the toilet. She was crying so hard she thought she might throw up.
“Lean forward,” he requested, pushing her long hair over one shoulder. The touch of the cold compress he placed on her neck made her jump. Their eyes met as he knelt in front of her. His face was ashen as he swiped the last of her tears off her cheek with a towel.
“I’ve never seen you like this? Tell me, what happened?”
Her groveled voice filled with emotion. “I…I can’t be there for Clay’s show tomorrow,” she stuttered. “I have to go to… California.”
Hart’s brow was knitted with concern. “Wait a minute. I thought you took vacation days so you could go to Nashville?”
