I thought about this and decided to also do a chapter from at least Katie and Hannah's perspective. I kind of like writing from different points of view in this story but I am not sure how reader friendly it is.

Reunion

Chapter 10-Katie

Katie checked the brisket and pulled pork that she had cooking. Everything was going to be perfect. Her salads were done, twice-baked potatoes and vegetable and fruit trays were finished. She was used to feeding huge groups of people and loved that Sasha Cooper had chosen a simple menu. It made her life easier. There was also a variety of desserts, including cakes, pies and cookies. Katie loved to cook and bake and figured she would be spending her life in the catering kitchen. Now that her dad and stepmom were on the scene, her possibilities were endless, but Katie was conflicted.

Hannah and Gavin both wanted to move to Texas and Katie wanted to spend time with her dad and stepmom. She wanted to get to know the triplets. But she didn't want to be in debt to anyone. Not even her own father. She was thirty-four, barely. She had been supporting herself and her younger siblings since she was eighteen and the one thing, she had learned was that no one really wanted to help her. They used her, except for Hannah and Gavin. Given time, her own father and stepmom would too.

She understood what Doctor Miller had said about taking a breath, but she had responsibilities. She needed to save up money so Gavin could go to college and provide both Hannah and Gavin a home-base. Katie had been told for years that she was used goods. Al Smith had told her that every time he had forced her to have sex. The chances of her meeting someone, falling in love, getting married and having a family of her own was nil. The only thing that Katie was good at was cooking and baking, a skill she had learned from her mother.

Katie had read every book and magazine article on her father, stepmother and the triplets. She had read in several articles that Susan was an accomplished cook and businesswoman. Even copied a couple of her recipes out of one of the articles. Susan was everything that Katie was not. Educated at Baylor University, beautiful in an understated way, independent and confident. Surely someone like Susan wouldn't want anything to do with someone like Katie. Katie only had a seventh-grade education, hadn't worn a dress since the Father/daughter dance just before her dad had left for Arctic twenty some odd years before, had allowed herself to be taken advantage of and only knew how to cook. And Katie also knew, that her father would never be proud of Katie. Hannah and Gavin were accomplished but not Katie.

As Katie rechecked the list of foods that Sasha had asked for, she remembered she would have to make her sweet tea that the hotel kitchen advertised as St. Louis' best. The bartender was working on the other drinks, but Sasha had asked for non-alcoholic options since there would be several children present. Katie began brewing the tea and looked around at 'her kitchen' as the head chef had named it. As she worked on the tea, she heard someone at the door. She looked up figuring it was Hannah or Gavin but was shocked to see her father.

"I'm not sure where Hannah and Gavin are, if you're looking for them?" Katie said. Before the Arctic, she and her dad were close, but there were times he favored Hannah and Lucas. It was like he wasn't sure what to do with her.

"I was actually looking for you. Is this all for the reunion tomorrow?" Mike asked as he looked around.

"Yeah." Katie answered simply.

"It looks good. So, Sue told me that Hannah is trying to get you to move to Texas. Do you not want to?" Mike asked as he put his hands in his pockets.

"Not sure what I want. I don't want to inconvenience you all." Katie said as she stirred the pot of tea and added more sugar and the little bit of brown sugar.

"You wouldn't be an inconvenience at all, sweetie. We want you there." Mike stated.

"But…catering is the only job I can do, and I don't know if I could ever do that anywhere else without a high school diploma and I won't not work." Katie argued.

"We have a lot of employees that Susan frequently cooks for and so you could help her with that. Hannah also mentioned that you loved kids?" Mike asked.

"Yeah." Katie agreed simply.

"Well, we have the triplets and there is also a lot of other kids around. Belong to the cowhands and such. We will have lots for you to do. We have a home kitchen, but we also have a fully set up commercial kitchen for our dinners for the employees. The home kitchen is more…home like, but its nice. We also have lots of room for you, Hannah and Gavin. You can come and go as you please." Mike explained.

"Hannah said that once this news comes out, the media will be all over us, especially me?" Katie asked. She had backed up against one of the cabinets and had her arms crossed over her chest.

"Chances are good. If you decide to stay here, you will have a Secret Service agent with you at all times. If you go to Texas, even on vacation, we can keep you safe from them there." Mike told her.

"I'm more worried about Al Smith." Katie remarked. She wasn't even sure if her dad had known what had happened. If he did, he would be terribly ashamed of her. No daughter of his would be taken advantage of like that.

"If he gets out of jail, he won't be able to get to you. We live in the middle of a ten-thousand-acre ranch. He would have to get through the Secret Service, the ranch hands and then me. His odds are not good. Honey, I understand why you would be nervous about him; but you will be safe. I can better guarantee your safety on the ranch, but you will be safe here too, if you so choose to stay." Mike told her. It did make sense.

"If I move there, will the Secret Service follow me everywhere?" Katie asked as she stirred her tea.

"No. They don't follow me everywhere on the ranch. Honestly, the only time they do is when I am away from the ranch. They do vet all our employees thoroughly. I come and go as I please on the ranch. Susan too." Mike answered.

"That wouldn't be so bad." Katie commented. She still had reservations about moving. She didn't want to take advantage of her dad and Susan, and she didn't want to be regarded as the poor, dumb daughter that got herself taken advantage of.

"Katie, I won't force you to move if you don't want to. I desperately want all three of you there. What's really holding you back?" Mike asked.

"You…I have a seventh-grade education and let myself be…whatever I was to Al Smith. You are ashamed and if you aren't you should be." Katie explained.

"Oh, sweetie. Ashamed is not even close to what I am where you're concerned. I am proud of how you persevered and kept yourself and your younger siblings together. It was done at great personal cost. As far as what happened with Smith, I am so very sorry for that. If I am ashamed, it is only at myself for allowing him into my circle. I was warned and didn't listen. I want you to think about all this. I don't expect a rush decision. I love you, sweetie and I have missed you so, so much." Mike answered before crossing the room, kissing Katie on the top of the head and then leaving. Katie knew then that she really needed to move to Texas.