Chapter 16

When they got back to the house, there was a big hullabaloo about where everyone was going to sleep. The first option was for Jarrod and Katelyn to stay at her place, but Katelyn insisted on being near her mother. So, she suggested that she and her mother go to her place. Wrong. It seemed that everyone wanted to be around Katelyn. Everyone except Katelyn herself.

She just wanted to get away. To be someplace where she wouldn't have to put on a front for a while. She felt like a favorite toy being fought over.

The final decision was made: Victoria would take the master bedroom; Katelyn and her mother would be in one guest bedroom; and the two brothers would share the other guest bedroom.

The rest of the evening seemed endless. Finally, Kate saw her escape when Victoria turned to her and said, "Dear, are you all right? You don't look well at all."

"I'm not." The first truth she'd uttered in days. "I'm sick."

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than she found herself being ushered to bed by two cooing mothers. But for all that, Kate was more weary than she'd ever been in her life - heart weary, soul weary - she couldn't sleep.

She spent a restless night sharing a room with her mother, thinking about Jarrod. Could he have feelings for her? Not love, at least not yet - but could he someday? But even the possibility that he could filled her with uncertainty and dread.

Because she knew what she had to do. She had to get up the courage to tell him how she felt about him.

The next morning, Katelyn made her way to Jenny's house. She hadn't had a chance to see her friend since before this all began, and she needed someone to talk to.

They were seated in Jenny's parlor, her mother having set out some tea and delicious tea cakes then left them alone. Katelyn told Jenny that Jarrod's mother and brother had shown up yesterday.

"So, your in-laws are here."

"They aren't my in-laws."

"Close enough. And maybe with any luck they will be someday," Jenny said impishly.

"Jenn, this is serious. Now I'm lying to his family, too."

"Ah yes, but apparently Prince Charming didn't tell them the truth, either." She seemed intrigued by this information.

"That's not the point."

"Oh Kate, lighten up! Why are you taking all this so seriously?"

"Why don't you take anything seriously?" Katelyn snapped back. "What am I going to do now? I never should have let you talk me into this."

"Fine, blame me," she said, holding up her hands. "See if I care. But answer me this, why did you take my advice if it was so awful? You could have told your mother the truth. I didn't exactly hold a weapon to your head and force you into this little charade." Jenny picked up a tea cup and sipped from it.

Katelyn opened her mouth for a retort...but there was none. Her friend was absolutely right. She was the one who'd given in to the urge to lie. She was the one who'd passed by opportunity after opportunity to set things right.

Nobody else.

Just her.

Jenny put down her tea cup and asked gently, "Is your mother improving or not?"

"Well, yes." It was true. Her mother had most of her color back, and she didn't need to sleep as much.

"Well, then, I rest my case. Clearly what you're doing is for the best. Besides, you've only got a few days and Jarrod's family will leave. Then soon your mother will go home and you and Jarrod can go back to your lives. No harm. No foul."

Jenn looked so pleased with herself that Kate didn't have the heart to argue. But deep inside - where she felt the constant struggle, the tug to do what she knew was right no matter how terrifying it might be - she knew her friend was wrong. Flat wrong.

There was a great deal of harm taking place. To Jarrod. To Kate's heart. Maybe even to her spirit.

She just didn't know what to do about it.

Nick and Jarrod had gone to lunch together. They hadn't seen one another in quite a while and Nick was looking forward to getting some information from his brother about Katelyn. Why the hurried wedding and why did he keep her a secret from the rest of the family? And why was there such a strain between them? Last night at dinner, when Nick had gone out to find them, Nick heard Katelyn mention something about lying and how it never works. Nick was concerned for his brother and wanted answers.

After the waiter had delivered their meals the brothers fell into easy conversation. Nick told Jarrod all of the happenings at the ranch and how Heath and Audra were doing. Both had wanted to come and see their lawyer brother, but Heath agreed to stay behind and tend to the ranch while Nick accompanied their mother. Audra had a charity dance she had organized for the orphanage and felt she couldn't miss it.

Nick congratulated himself for waiting as long as he did before bringing the subject of Katelyn up.

"So, this thing with you and Katelyn seems sudden."

Jarrod, who had been cutting into his thick steak, slowed his movements. He had hoped that Nick wouldn't try and get answers to questions Jarrod knew he couldn't and wouldn't answer.

"Well, you know how these things go," was all he said.

"I can't help but wonder why you never mentioned her before. And would it have been so difficult to at least let us know beforehand that you were going to be getting married? We would have liked to have been there."

Jarrod looked at Nick, seeing the hurt expression on his face tore at his heart. He hadn't expected this reaction from his younger brother, though he should have. Theirs was a close family and although Jarrod rarely talked about his involvement with the fairer sex, he knew Nick felt somewhat betrayed that Jarrod had not shared this most important event in his life with his family...again.

And yet, Nick really hadn't missed anything...really.

"I'm sorry, Nick. But trust me when I say we had our reasons for doing what we did and those are reasons I can't share right now."

Nick narrowed his eyes and then spoke the first thing that popped into his mind.

"You haven't gone and gotten that girl into trouble have you?" Nick asked and Jarrod's head snapped up.

"Lower your voice and no. Katelyn's not in any trouble," he said.

"At least not that kind." Jarrod muttered.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Nick asked.

"Nothing, forget about it."

"Well, something isn't right between you two."

Jarrod held his hand up. "I don't want to discuss it anymore Nick. Just leave things alone." Jarrod's stern voice then turned to a plea, one that Nick couldn't refuse. "Please."

Nick nodded, but Jarrod knew his brother was not happy with him. He would let the matter drop for now, but was determined to find out what was going on.

Nick and Jarrod parted company after lunch. When Jarrod returned home, he found Katelyn and their mothers in the kitchen, fixing dinner. Nick was sitting at the table, telling them all an amusing story about something that had happened on the ranch. The scene before Jarrod warmed his heart.

He came up behind Katelyn and kissed her on the cheek and held out a long, narrow, velvet case to her. She stopped chopping mushrooms and stared at the box. Slowly she set her knife down and took the box. Turning, she looked up at him.

"What's this?"

"It's a present for you."

She looked down at it, then back up at him with a confused expression on her face.

"Why?"

"Because he loves you, dear. Now open it," her mother said.

"It's for our two month anniversary," Jarrod said, watching her closely.

"That's not for eleven more days."

The fact that she was keeping track, even in make believe, pleased him. "Open it." He was careful not to sound demanding, but he couldn't help sounding eager.

She seemed to prolong the act of lifting the lid. Or was he just anxious to see if she liked what he'd brought her?

"It's beautiful," she breathed out. Then she did it. She looked up at him and gifted him with the most beautiful smile; her expression was warm, her eyes glowed...surely this was true affection he saw reflected in their depths? In any case, she enchanted him with that single look. It seemed as though they were the only two people in the room.

Jarrod carefully removed the gold locket from it's velvet case. "Let me put it on you." He held it up by its delicate gold rope chain and reached around her neck to fasten it.

She fingered it reverently as her tear filled eyes swept up to his face. "Thank you," she whispered.

Though the others mistook her tears for joy, he could see a touch of sorrow in her eyes, and it broke his heart.

Why are you sad, Katelyn? This was supposed to make you happy.

Would he ever figure this woman out? He hoped so. And he hoped it happened before he lost everything that really mattered to him.

Katelyn stood before the mirror in the guest room she and her mother shared, fingering the beautiful locket. She removed it from around her neck and continued to admire the beautiful piece of jewelry.

"It's beautiful," her mother said as Katelyn carefully placed the locket in its velvet case.

All this attention from Jarrod felt wonderful...until reality came crashing in. Appearances. That's all it was. His actions were calculated moves. She should be grateful he played his role so convincingly, but with each passing day, she found it only broke her heart.

"He loves you very much," Carol said, watching her daughter carefully.

"Yes, so it seems." She touched it one last time before turning down the lamp.