Part 32 (1/2)
”Debi!” Ashton called down the stairs. ”Quit playing fan girl and send them up.”
Debi's face turned bright red. ”Right this way.”
”Don't listen to him,” Kate whispered. ”I never do.”
Debi giggled and stepped aside so they could head up the stairs.
”That was nice of you, darlin',” Reid said when they were out of Debi's earshot. ”You made her year.”
”She and people like her made my career,” Kate said with a shrug. ”Where would I be without them?”
”It's fun to watch you with your fans. I've never gotten to see that before.”
Kate hadn't thought about what it might be like for him to experience her fans for the first time with Bertha's family and now with Debi.
His hand on the small of her back fortified her as they stepped into Ashton's office.
Jill rushed over to hug Kate, who held on to her sister for dear life. She'd been fine until she saw her sister, and then the roller coaster of emotions she'd experienced over the last week had tears flooding her eyes as Jill's familiar fragrance filled her senses.
”Good to see you,” Kate said, blinking back tears.
”You, too.” Jill drew back to study her. ”You look good.”
”So do you.”
”Vacation agrees with us,” Jill said. ”Scandal, on the other hand...”
”I know, believe me. This is Reid. Reid, my sister Jill.”
Jill shook his hand. ”Nice to finally meet you after all this time.”
”Likewise. Thank you for taking such good care of Kate when I wasn't around to do it.”
”Oh,” Jill said, seeming surprised-and charmed. ”It was certainly my pleasure.”
”Sorry about the mess at home,” Kate said.
”Buddy was just suggesting we send some of his security guys over there to move them away from the gate,” Jill said.
Kate sent her mentor and friend a grateful smile.
Buddy got up and came over to give her a hug. ”Every time you come within five feet of this guy, you get yourself in trouble.” Buddy released her to hug Reid.
”That's why we figured we ought to get married,” Reid said.
Kate watched as he sought out his son across the room.
Ashton was standing, watching them warily.
Reid went over to hug his son.
Ashton returned the embrace with equal enthusiasm, which was a relief to Kate.
”So what're we going to do about this fine mess you've gotten yourself into?” Buddy asked as he returned to his post behind Ashton's desk.
”Are you a guest in your own office these days, son?” Reid asked Ashton.
”It appears that way,” Ashton said dryly.
Buddy sent them one of his famous s.h.i.+t-eating grins.
Reid and Kate settled into chairs that Ashton got for them. She appreciated that Reid sat right next to her and reached for her hand the minute they were settled.
All eyes landed on her.
”I've made some decisions in the last few days,” Kate said haltingly. She glanced at Jill. ”I should probably talk to you privately before I tell everyone else.”
”It's fine,” Jill said. ”Your plans affect all of us, so it would save us some time if you told us at the same time.”
Grateful for her sister's clear, unemotional thinking, Kate steeled herself to say the words, to step away from the career that had defined her life. Perhaps for good.
Reid squeezed her hand and smiled at her, filling her with strength and determination. For him, for them, she was willing to do whatever it took to ensure they had a somewhat normal life. With that in mind, she met the golden gaze of Buddy Longstreet and said, ”I'm done.”
Buddy sat up a little straighter, but his feet remained planted on Ashton's desk. ”With?”
”The music. The business. The career.”
”Wait a minute,” Jill said.
Ashton crossed his arms and shook his head, seeming disgusted and annoyed at the same time. Kate expected nothing less than both from him.
”Hear her out,” Reid said, his gaze never leaving Kate as she struggled to find the words.
She tried to stay focused on her goal of a real, authentic life. ”I've given this career everything I've had to give for a very long time. I've sacrificed any semblance of normal life, and you have, too, Jill. I don't enjoy it anymore, and I haven't in a very long time.” She paused and looked at Reid. ”I did it because I didn't have anything better to do. Now I have other things I want to do. I want a home and a family and the simple things most people take for granted. I want out of the whirlwind, off the treadmill, off the stage.”
Buddy stared at her as if she were speaking a language he simply couldn't understand.
”I'm sorry to disappoint you,” she said, looking again at Buddy. ”You've done so much for me. You've made everything possible. But this is the right move for me now. I really believe that.”
A pervasive silence hung over the room.
”Please,” Kate finally said, glancing between Buddy and Jill. ”Say something, will you?”
”You're the boss,” Jill said flatly. ”Whatever you want is what I want.”
”I think you're a G.o.dd.a.m.ned fool,” Buddy said in a tone Kate had never heard from him before.
”Buddy...” Reid's voice held a note of warning.