CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
The cold air blasted downward from a tiny spout in the ceiling of the Delta plane directly into Katie’s face, keeping her nausea at bay. Dale sat beside her, chatting ninety-miles an hour on his cell phone to a friend he was looking forward to seeing while they were on the West Coast. She numbly watched each person as they entered the plane, wondering why they were going to California and if they were happy they were going there. She most definitely, was not.
Shifting in her black pencil skirt and crossing her bare leg in the more than ample space in front of her first-class seat with her pointy, patent-leather shoes, she picked up her Tanqueray and tonic that was in a real glass and took a long pull. Alcohol was absolutely going to be on the menu this weekend and she was starting early.
“Hey. How are you holding up?” Dale shifted so he could look directly at her. He was impeccably dressed and sipping on a mimosa in a champagne glass. When he found out they were traveling together, flying first-class, he insisted on picking her up in the car service he always used so she wouldn’t have to go it alone to the airport. He promised to be by her side, even offering to stay in the same hotel room if she needed him to.
Sighing, she managed a tiny smile, glad that he was such a good friend. “I’m numb,” she uttered before the waterworks started again. She had cried at least three times before they were seated on the plane, nervously checking her phone over and over for a message from Clay, the mere mention of his name sending her into an emotional tailspin.
“Kathryn, please. Don’t start again.” He picked up his cocktail napkin and gently dabbed at her face. “There’s still time.”
“No,” she interrupted, shoving her cell phone in the seatback in front of her. “Please, it’s over. I’ve made up my mind.” She grabbed the napkin and held it to her mouth trying to regain her composure. Texting a lie to Clay earlier to let him know she was on her way had been one of the hardest things she’d ever done. She still couldn’t quite get to that final moment when she would have to break the news to him that she wasn’t coming at all.
People kept piling on the plane while several babies screeched, and the attendants talked loudly over the speakers, explaining how to get luggage into the overhead compartments quickly and efficiently. It felt like she was in an obnoxious, loud nightmare. Her hand trembled, bringing the glass up to her lips again, wishing the alcohol would kick in sooner rather than later.
“It’s not worth it, Katie.”
He had never called her Katie before. She looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise. “You never call me that.”
Looping his arm with hers, he snuggled against her. “You know that I love you, right? You’re my work-wife and I would never do anything to hurt you or guide you in the wrong direction.”
“Okay…”
“I thought long and hard about this last night. Screw Mr. Taylor and his ultimatum. You’ve been a tremendous asset to this company and he knows it. I can handle the conference. You need to handle your life. There’s still time.” He picked up his phone off the tray table and showed it to her. “With a couple of clicks, I can get you on the next plane to Nashville. I can have a rental car waiting for you and you’ll be in Clay’s arms before the show starts…”
“Dale, please.” She jerked back, her heart pained by his offer, looking away in anguish. Her mind was reeling, the urge to throw caution to the wind for once in her life very real. The crossroad was before her—Dale was right. There was still time. She could feel him smoothing the nape of her bare neck below her tight, over-sprayed corporate bun.
“I’m dialing the number now.”
Keeping her face turned away, she didn’t dare move listening to him speak to a Delta gate agent on her behalf. Her heart was pounding out of her chest and she froze to the chair. She didn’t stop him. Even though she was a nervous, emotional wreck, she was somehow glad Dale had taken over the situation. Was she really going to do the unthinkable and give up her job?
Her eyes followed a young couple who had just boarded the plane—they looked to be college age, fresh-faced and energetic with their hands all over each other. They obviously didn’t have a care in the world. The line was backed up out the door as they stood right next to her, the young man nuzzling the woman from behind and whispering something into her ear making her giggle. Katie stared up at them, yearning to be that couple at the moment, her mind racing with snapshots of her and Clay in happier times.
“I like your necklace,” the young woman said, startling her out of a daydream. Katie quickly fingered the jewelry around her neck, the smooth silver achingly familiar. It was a gift from Clay; a simple piece made by a local silversmith on the mountain. He had surprised her with it on their last morning together at Lake Burton, clasping it around her neck while they lay naked in bed. She had touched it often in the past week, often rubbing it between her fingers as if it were a magic lamp hoping a genie would appear granting whatever her heart desired in one fell swoop.
Their eyes met. “Thank you,” she whispered, aware that her fingers anxiously caressed the small silver heart attached to a simple, black string. No genies appeared, but in a split second, Katie realized she was about to dodge a morbid arrow into her own heart. Cupid’s arrow came down hard hitting her square on the head. ShelovedClay Watkins. She loved him and no job in the world was going to keep her from the man of her dreams. She eagerly smiled back at the couple who had no idea that their love had brought her back into the light, out of the darkness that had almost kept her from making the biggest mistake of her life. Bolting upright, she grabbed her purse and downed the remnants of her cocktail with purpose. Dale was right beside her quickly giving instructions on where exactly she needed to go to catch the next plane to Nashville.
“I’ll text you with the rental car info. Don’t worry about your luggage—I’ll get it when we land in California. Guess you’ll have to do some shopping with Clay?” His grin was infectious. She grabbed his face and surprised him with a hard kiss on the mouth. His astonished expression was priceless.
“I love you, Dale – my sweet work-husband! I love you so much!”
“I love you too, Katie!”
***
Backstage at the Ryman teemed with media, label executives and famous country music artists, eagerly awaiting the Nashville Warner Music televised anniversary special. Buddy was leading Clay down a wide hallway adorned with giant photos of country music royalty, taking him to his private dressing room when he recognized a familiar face.
“Hey, Heather!” he yelled over the top of the crowd milling about in the corridor.
Heather Spade turned toward him and smiled brightly with appreciation.
“Buddy, give me just a sec.” Weaving through the mass of people, Clay approached her and gave her a quick hug. “Hey, how are you?”
“Hey yourself, Georgia Clay. Damn! I’m diggin’ the new look!” Her ice-blue eyes were still an amazing contrast to her vibrant purple hair as she grinned at him from behind her thick glasses. “You went and signed a record deal after telling me that would never happen.”
Clay nodded. “Yeah. It kind of happened pretty quickly. I’m part of the Warner Music family now. I’m performing tonight.”
“That’s what I heard and one of the reasons I’m here. There’s a lot of buzz about you in this town. A ton of people are stoked that you’re gonna sing and play your own songs. It’s about time.” She fingered the guest pass attached to a lanyard of media credentials hanging around her neck. “I’m gonna have to do an addendum to the article that just came out inSong Writing Universe Magazine.” She raised a thin eyebrow playfully.
