Carol Steward - Courting Katarina

She set her plate on the table and Alex immediately pulled out her chair. She chose her seat so that he would sit on the side of her good ear.

Kevin’s twin sisters and another brother were catching up with each other’s lives, laughing and having a good time when she sat down. Alex waited for the chatter to quiet, then went around the table making introductions. By turning her head slightly, Katarina didn’t think she would miss anything.

Alex reminded his family that Katarina had been instrumental in pulling together the wedding decorations at the church and the reception with less than a week’s notice. Everyone showered her with adoration. She wanted to fade into the woodwork. True, she had a knack for decorating or she wouldn’t have celebrated her fourth year as owner of Kat’s Kreations. Yet the attention her talent received still made her uncomfortable. “The credit really goes to Emily. She and Kevin picked it all out. I just put it together.”

“Kevin helped?” The laughter roared, and Katarina realized they probably couldn’t imagine their brother in a flower shop, let alone that he cared to help with wedding plans. Alex smiled apologetically. “Forgive us, Katarina. We haven’t been together much in recent years to see this side of Kevin.”

Still Mr. Nice Guy.

She shifted in her chair and felt as if the seat was sinking beneath her. Katarina’s slim-fitting dress bound her legs tighter, and she raised herself slightly to pull the fabric loose, then sat back down.

With a loud snap, the chair collapsed, and Katarina slid as if on a chute under the table. All she could see were legs. And feet. The tablecloth draped itself over her shoulder, and Katarina ducked her head under the table completely, welcoming the shelter from her embarrassment.

She tried to turn over and crawl out, but her spike heel caught inside her skirt. She was stuck.

I can’t believe this. She squirmed the other way, and made matters worse. Why did this have to happen today, of all days? Katarina closed her eyes. Taunting voices from her childhood haunted her. Klutzy Katarina.

Beyond the veil of linens she could see pieces of the plastic chair in a tangled heap on the ground. Katarina relished the haven from her humiliation. At least she was away from probing gazes.

Feet scuttled around, concerned faces replaced the legs. She saw mouths move and she covered her face, oblivious to what they were saying. She didn’t want their pity or their help. She only wanted to hide.

Katarina again tried to untie herself from the human knot of her twisted body. She rested her forehead on her knees, wrapped her arms around her head and began to giggle nervously.

Only she could get herself into such a ridiculous situation.

Her sister’s new in-laws would probably agree with the playground nickname, “Klutzy Katarina.” Suddenly she was a sickly child again, wishing the jeers of her classmates would stop. “Go away. Just go away,” she whispered. When Katarina opened her eyes, she saw the kitchen doorway just past the table and pulled herself forward. If she could just scoot to the kitchen without drawing any more attention…

The dress tied her legs together like a mermaid’s.

Alex’s younger brother lifted the tablecloth in front of her and took hold of her ankle. Then her calf. Startled, Katarina pulled back. “Just leave me alone,” she begged. So much for a silent escape.

“I’ve got her.” A strong arm wrapped around her waist from behind and slid her out from under the table and into the spotlight. “Are you deaf?”

She looked over her shoulder to see the sun-bleached hair of her handsome rescuer. Alex. Trying to fend off the memories of children’s cruel teasing, she forced herself to focus on him. He didn’t know she was truly deaf in one ear. And only a select few knew the degree of her hearing loss in her “good” ear. Katarina laughed. “Silly me, I must have forgotten my hearing aid today.” Struggling to free her foot, she felt Alex hoist her off the ground. “Wait!”

Before she could explain, he let go and she fell against him. “My heel is caught.”

The warmth of his hands pressed into her upper arms. “Sorry, why didn’t you say something? Here, have a seat while I try to do something.” He helped her over to the chair. Alex knelt on one knee and struggled with her shoe. “You did a dandy job snagging that heel somewhere in there. Maybe we should take it off?”

“Excuse me?” Her voice squeaked.

“The shoe.” As he tugged, she heard the satin rip, and her leg straightened.

He held up her pump. “I’m sorry about the dress.”

Stunned, Katarina stood and turned to look at the tear, then took her shoe from him. No one had ever flustered her like this. The words caught in her throat.

“I’ll replace the dress.” One eyebrow rose as Alex looked at the rip.

It’s over. Just laugh, Katarina. That always helps. “Don’t worry about it.”

Emily rushed over, white lace flowing behind her. “Are you okay, Kat?”

“I’ll be fine.” She twisted to the side to examine the damage to the dress. “I wondered how this would look with a slit.” She lifted her foot and twirled on the other so the bride could see, noting that Alex also watched. Then she straightened the dress and slipped her other shoe off. Glancing up, Katarina saw a smile teasing Emily’s lips. “I don’t want to hear about this again.”

The bride excused herself from her guests to help Katarina and led the way down the hall to the bride’s dressing room. Emily’s concern was genuine. “You are okay, aren’t you, Kat?” Once inside, Emily could no longer restrain her laughter.

“Other than my bruised ego, I’m fine.”

A light tap on the door, followed by their younger sister’s voice, startled Katarina. “Is there a damsel in distress in here?” Lisa opened the door just enough to slip inside with Katarina’s other outfit.

The facade of Katarina’s humor faded. She tossed both shoes into her bag and sighed. “Why do these things always happen to me?”

Lisa turned Katarina around and unzipped the gown, then helped tug it over her shoulders. “What things? It’s not your fault the chair broke into smithereens.”

Katarina buttoned the flowered rayon skirt at her waist, pulled the camisole over her head, then slipped into the coordinating sweater. “Like when I fainted at the all-school concert in sixth grade. Like tripping over the base in kickball. Like dropping my brand-new hearing aid into my punch at the prom. Why is it always me… Klutzy Katarina?”

“This isn’t the same, Kat. Your ear infections were to blame for most of that.” Emily smiled as she gave her sister a hug. “If you wanted to meet Alex, why didn’t you just ask? We’d be glad to set the two of you up.”

“No, thank you.” Her sister’s medical explanation soothed her ego, and she felt the fear subside. “That’s not the issue, and I don’t want to hear about this again.”

Her sisters’ smiles returned. “Well, you can dream on. This is a classic. The tall, rugged, single and not to mention drop-dead-gorgeous hero hauls you, the ‘heart specialist,’ out from under the table, stands you up and you collapse into his arms.” They giggled harder.

Lisa and Emily did a poor imitation of the accident. “You looked like a flamingo balancing on one foot,” Lisa added.

Quelling her own laughter, Katarina crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her sisters until they quieted. “Ha ha ha.” Though she tried to remain cross, just the sight of their fake restraint made her see the humor of the entire situation.

“Why did it have to happen in front of Alex, though?” she whispered, shaking her head.

The room turned silent. Realization hit Lisa. “Ah, yes, Alex.”