Catherine Lanigan - Katia's Promise

“What about your family?” Daisy asked.

“I’m alone,” Katia replied, intending to sound neutral. Instead, the word came out of her mouth with a great deal more feeling than she’d planned. Again, she had no idea why her emotions kept overwhelming her at such inopportune times. It was as if they had a life of their own, and the steel-edged control she’d always maintained had sprung a leak. “What I meant was I’m not married, and I don’t have to worry about children and schools and all that.”

“I know what you meant,” Daisy said. “Housing is hard to find here in Indian Lake. Good luck with that.” Without another word, Daisy turned and trounced toward the kitchen.

Glancing up the stairs one last time, Katia felt a strange pull to ignore her company’s mission and go straight to Austin’s bedroom and demand to speak with him, but she chickened out.

Katia forced herself to move into the dining room. The buffet table was centered with a huge bouquet of sunflowers, bronze chrysanthemums and yellow roses. The guests were laughing and discussing the impact of the car museum on Indian Lake tourism. The tourism board members were tossing around ideas about ad campaigns, and she heard two of the city council members chatting about potential problems with traffic and parking.

“Katia,” Liz called from the far side of the room. “Come join us.”

Liz was standing with Mrs. Beabots and Maddie next to a dessert table that was laden with dozens of exquisitely iced and decorated cupcakes. Mrs. Beabots sipped a small glass of white wine.

“Those are gorgeous,” Katia gushed as she inspected the desserts.

“Thanks,” Maddie replied. “I wanted them to be a bit over-the-top for Austin.”

Katia’s head jerked up. “Why’s that?”

“If it weren’t for Austin being my first investor, my café here in town would never have existed and I wouldn’t have dreamed of building my business into franchises.”

Katia was surprised. Austin might be a recluse, but he obviously had a head for business. “He did that?”

Maddie smiled broadly. “He’s a strange duck, I’ll give him that. He’s never set foot in my café, can you believe that? I still bring him seven cupcakes every Friday morning at eight. Just like clockwork. Although I mix up the flavors for him so he can try my new recipes.” She rocked back on her heels, seeming both proud and grateful. “He’s been a very good friend to me.”

“I should say so,” Mrs. Beabots added. “I’ve known Austin and his family since I was a young girl.”

“Really?” Katia and Maddie chirped in unison. Katia swallowed back a guilt-edged lump in her throat. She remembered Mrs. Beabots as the kindly older lady down the street whose gardens she always admired. She also recalled Hanna talking about charity committees she served on with Mrs. Beabots. Since Mrs. Beabots had known the family for decades, she would have heard all about Katia and her former relationship with Austin. Mrs. Beabots could be a very good ally for her.

Liz handed Katia a glass of white wine. “Try this chardonnay, Katia. It’s a new reserve for us. Aged eighteen months in French oak barrels. I value your opinion.”

Katia sipped the wine and smiled. “It’s so buttery and smooth. I love it.”

“I thought you would.” Liz beamed and then noticed Maddie and Mrs. Beabots staring at her. “What?”

Mrs. Beabots patted Liz’s arm. “Katia was just about to tell us why she’s come back to Indian Lake. Weren’t you, dear?”

Katia nearly choked on the wine. Maybe Mrs. Beabots wouldn’t be the best ally after all. She cleared her throat. “I-I’m relocating my company to Indian Lake as soon as I can find an appropriate office.”

“That is so cool!” Liz interjected happily.

“How large of a space?” Maddie asked perfunctorily. “Do you plan for many employees? Will they be moving here with you?”

Mrs. Beabots placed her hand on Maddie’s cheek and looked at Katia. “She gets excited. Now, Katia, there’s a lovely upstairs loft across from the courthouse that had a rental sign in the window. I saw it just last week. Let’s see...” She glanced around the room. “Yes. There’s Sharon Goodman. I’ll introduce you. The space would be perfect for you. It’s got a beautiful view and two walls of glass. You’ll like that.”

Maddie shot a curious look at Mrs. Beabots. “How do you know what she’d like?”

“Why, it’s obvious. She’s been working in Chicago with all those lights and city amenities. She and her boss will never stand being on the outskirts of town for a minute. They’d go stir-crazy. That intersection is the busiest in the county. It’s only a block to the deli. A block and half to Enzo’s. The bank is on the corner and—” she stared pointedly at Katia “—it’s only six blocks to my house.”

“Your house?” Katia asked.

“That’s a great idea!” Maddie exclaimed. “Mrs. Beabots has an entire third floor that was renovated into a very nice apartment a year ago. It used to be a ballroom. Luke Bosworth and his two children lived there before he married Sarah Jensen next door.”

“Sarah Jensen? Do I know her?” Katia asked Mrs. Beabots.

“She’s a bit younger than you, but you might remember her mother, Ann Marie Jensen. She died a couple years ago. Cancer. You might recall that Ann Marie planted the flowers along Maple Avenue. Sarah lives in the family house now with Luke, Annie and Timmy.”

A hundred memories of being a little girl flashed through Katia’s mind. Walking along this street to go to school, to church or into town with her mother to shop. Happy memories. Loving memories. Suddenly, Katia’s life in Chicago dissipated like fog lifting off a hill as it rose out of a valley. She did remember Ann Marie kneeling on the November cool earth of the boulevard, planting tulip and iris bulbs. Mrs. Jensen had taught her how to plant a bulb. She’d shown Katia how to place the bulb in the earth with the flat side down and the tiny shoots pointing upward. It hadn’t been the kind of information that would change anyone’s life, but the kindness, tenderness and concern she’d shown Katia, who had been all too aware that she was only a housekeeper’s daughter, had stuck with her.

“I would like to meet Sarah,” Katia told Mrs. Beabots. “We have a lot in common, both having lost our mothers.”

“Consider it done,” Mrs. Beabots assured her. “And I insist you move in with me. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“It sounds lovely...” Katia hesitated.

Maddie nudged Katia with her elbow. “Trust me, there are no high-rises here. No doormen. There aren’t any complexes at all, if you remember. That much about Indian Lake hasn’t changed. The best apartments are in the houses along Maple Avenue. Mrs. Beabots’s is the prettiest and the biggest of all.”

Katia’s eyes widened. “How big?”

“Very,” Mrs. Beabots cut in. “Two bedrooms, large bath, living room and kitchenette. When Luke lived there, I usually cooked for him and the children. Then there are formal gardens in back for reading and contemplating. Lester MacDougal does all the yard work now. Except for the spring planting. I do most of that myself,” she said proudly. “I’d be happy to show it to you this afternoon.”

“I would love to see it.”

Mrs. Beabots clinked her glass against Katia’s. “You will find, my dear, that securing office rental in Indian Lake is child’s play. Residential housing is nearly impossible. You can walk six blocks, can’t you, dear?” Mrs. Beabots asked.

Katia grinned widely. She wasn’t sure if her mother was watching over her and putting all these puzzle pieces of her life together, but there was no question that today was fortuitous. This was so far beyond lucky that it frightened her.