“I don’t mean to be disrespectful so don’t take this the wrong way. He might get angry, and he isn’t supposed to be getting upset.”
“So you think I got this far in business by not knowing how to talk with men like him? Daniel, watch and learn. I love you.”
Daniel knew there’d be no stopping his father.
Katherine sat in her motel room staring out the window. Why did he leave? She knew that once Daniel got to know her, he would run. Today it’s a different room, and tomorrow it’ll be a different state. It’s better this way, thought Katherine. She would have to go back to Prairie, and his life was in New York.
Her heart felt so heavy. She didn’t want him to leave. Opening the sliding door wall, Katherine stepped out on her balcony. She was alone. Just like she always ended up. Why should she go back to Prairie? Where did her responsibility end? If Uncle Andy chooses to jump off a bridge, do I follow him knowing how unsafe it is? He knows he shouldn’t be going back to that situation but chooses to do it anyway. If I follow him, my life will be nothing. Katherine continued to struggle. She felt an obligation to take care of her uncle at all cost, but didn't want to bury her dreams.
Katherine went back inside and put on her warm coat. She smiled when she remembered all the packages that Daniel bought and wrapped for her. She crossed the street and walked up to the cardiac intensive care unit. She found her uncle sitting up in bed, reading the paper. It was time for the two of them to have a heart to heart talk.
“Hi, Uncle Andy.” Katherine stepped up to the bed and kissed his cheek.
“Hey, Katherine, where’s your partner in crime?”
“I wanted to talk to you alone.” Katherine pulled up a chair and sat next to the bedside. She didn’t know how to begin. Her fingers began to gently run through her curls.
“Okay, spit it out, sweet one.” He knew when something was bothering his niece. She would pick at her fingernails or play with her curls. The last thing he wanted was to have her worrying about him. She always put herself last.
“Uncle Andy, I’m not sure if I can go back to Tennessee with you. I feel really bad about saying that.”
“You thought you’d have to come back with me? You thought I’d actually let you?”
“Who’s going to take care of you? How are you going to run the bar and get the building fixed? I have so much guilt.” Katherine tried not to cry, but a small tear ran down her face.
Daniel knocked on Katherine’s door for the fifth time and didn’t get an answer, so he got the office to check on her. She wasn’t in the room. He sprinted to the nearby restaurant and she wasn’t there either. Finally, he took off to the hospital. Daniel had a feeling he’d find her there. When he got close to Andy’s room, he heard two voices; Katherine’s tearful voice and Andy’s soft, comforting one. Daniel was surprised that the man could talk soft for any reason. He decided to stop and not enter the room. He didn’t want to eavesdrop but he needed to know that Katherine was okay by herself. Daniel knew the man could get a little brass and pushy.
“Katherine, you don’t have any reason to feel guilty. When you came to my house, shortly thereafter, your Aunt Patricia died. Even though you were young, just a little girl, you automatically assumed the role of caregiver. When I got pneumonia, you dropped out of college and came to take care of me. Now you want to do that again? I won’t have it. Besides, I love the folks in Prairie. If we could get some good things to happen in that town, it would be a great place. I know there’s not much left in Prairie, but it’s still my home.”
“Daniel has offered me the opportunity of a lifetime. But I feel I can’t be happy unless you are.”
Katherine let out a couple of soft crying sounds. It was breaking Daniel’s heart, but he knew he couldn’t interrupt; it wasn’t his place.
“Katherine, you have gone your entire life trying to please everyone but yourself. You should be in love, happy, enjoying your youth. You have to give yourself permission to be happy. I know this Daniel guy really loves you. I could see it in his eyes when he was in here, and I could see it in his eyes when he was looking for you at the bar.”
“Uncle Andy, we’re just friends. Daniel needs to be with someone who has their act a little more together than I do. All I am is a burden.”
“Do you love him, Katherine?”
“I really like him. He’s not the type of guy I thought he was. He has a really good heart, and he’s very kind to me.”
“Do you love him?”
“The whole time I was gone, I felt torn. I ran from Prairie because of my own fears.”
“Answer my question, Katherine.”
“Yes, I love him. I’ve loved him for a long time. I just didn’t want to let myself care about someone who would leave.” Katherine looked at her uncle with her water-filled eyes. “I just wish he loved me. I think he cares about me, but he isn’t in love.”
“You go be with him, Katherine. That’s what would make me happy.”
“What if he doesn’t want me? I would be devastated if he didn’t feel the way I do.”
“Daniel is a good man. You hold your beautiful chin up and stop fighting life. Don't waste time, Katherine, it's precious. Once it's gone, it doesn't come back. If you love someone you need to tell them. I have to get some rest so I can mend up and go home. Your home is in Daniel. So, Katherine, go home.”
Daniel left the unit and ran out of the hospital as fast as he could. His heart was pounding, and the smile on his face was huge. No woman had ever said they loved him. He didn't give them the opportunity. Daniel didn't stick around long enough.
Katherine went into her room and took her clothes off to soak in the tub. She didn’t even know which room Daniel was in. He could have left for all she knew. She doubted he was even concerned about it. She closed her eyes and let the tears blend in with the water that she wished she’d never have to get out of.
Daniel paced inside of his room. One thing he wasn’t prepared for was Katherine’s love. He felt like that was way beyond his reach. If she only knew how hard it was for him to get the room next door, especially when another couple was demanding the same room. But he had to stay close to her. That ended up being an expensive persuasion. He didn’t care. Daniel was willing to move mountains for this woman.
Katherine climbed out of the tub and put on her yellow robe. It felt so soft and warm. She needed to get some fresh air and hopefully clear her head. If she was going to tell Daniel what was in her heart, she’d have to find the strength to endure the painful words she didn’t want to hear. The sun had set, but there wasn’t much of a breeze when she stepped outside and took a deep breath.