Untangle My Heart (Tangled Hearts) (18 page)

Once in the car, Kate played back the scene in her head but still couldn’t figure out what Vinnie meant. Nor could she get the horrible feeling out of the pit of her stomach.

“You’re very quiet. Is everything all right?” Edward asked.

“I don’t know.” She took a breath. “I overheard you talking with my father and brother right before we left. Vinnie said something about you footing the bill. What was he referring to?”

His eyes were fixed on the road, but she saw his jaw tense and knew she wasn’t going to like what he was about to say.

“It’s nothing, really. Your father wasn’t able to extend the bank loan to include the cost of the new oven and the repairs to the refrigerator.”

“Won’t the insurance cover it?”

“It will, but the adjuster can’t get out to the restaurant until next week. By the time your father would have the money to pay for the repairs, and given the holidays, it would most likely not be until next year when everything is sorted out and the restaurant can open.”

“So let me guess. You rode in on your white horse and gave him the money.”

“I offered to lend your father the money until he received the insurance check. It’s really not a big deal.”

Kate sat in her seat and silently fumed. How could Edward and her father do this without telling her?

“If it’s not a big deal, then why all the secrecy?”

“I wanted to tell you. But your family didn’t, and I promised not to mention anything—for the time being.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, that’s just great. So now my whole family is conspiring to keep secrets from me.”

“I’m sorry, luv. I tried to get them to talk with you.”

“Well, you didn’t try hard enough. Instead, you went behind my back and did this even though you knew I wouldn’t approve. You knew my feelings about the business and keeping things in the family. You deliberately ignored that in making this decision.”

“Your family needed help. I had money to lend. It seems you’re put out because we didn’t ask your approval.”

“Damned straight.”

“Your father needed to make a decision—quickly I might add. It was good business. End of story.”

Yeah, end of story all right. They reached her parents’ neighborhood. As soon as Edward found a spot, Kate jumped out of the car and started down the block, opposite the house.

“Kate, come on,” Edward called out and ran to catch up with her.

He grasped her arm. She knocked it away more forcefully than she had intended. “Don’t touch me.”

“I don’t want to fight with you. I apologized for not telling you. What else can I do?”

“Nothing at this point. I need some space, some time to think.”

“Fine. You can think on the drive home.”

She saw the frustration on his face and didn’t care. She shook her head. “You go. I’ll find my own way back.” She turned to start walking again.

“Bloody hell. Don’t leave like this. I won’t see you all week.”

She paused, wanting to turn and go with him. But he’d tampered with the trust between them—trust she’d finally allowed herself to give in to. She blinked back tears and called over her shoulder, “Have a safe trip.” And kept on walking.

****

Edward finished his second whiskey and signaled the flight attendant for another.

“We’ve been in the air for over an hour. When are you going to stop brooding and tell me what’s bothering you?” Charles asked.

Edward stared out the small window at the dark sky. His temper, rather than cooling since his spat with Kate, only seemed to heat.

“I had a row with Kate before we left,” Edward said.

“Isn’t that pretty much standard for you two?”

“I suppose, but this was different.”

“How?”

“She kissed me Saturday at the orphanage Christmas party. And that night, we practically had sex on her parents’ couch. May have, too, if her sister hadn’t interrupted us.”

Edward accepted the drink the flight attendant handed him and took a sip.

“So things have changed between you?”

“She wants to ease into a relationship, not rush into anything too intimate for a few weeks.”

“Isn’t it rather late for that since you spent three weeks having sex over the summer?”

“Yes, but I agreed. And things were great until she overheard a conversation that took place after church.”

Charles raised an eyebrow. “You go to mass now?”

“I have been. Is that a problem?”

“No, I’m just surprised.”

At first, attending mass had been part of his plan to get closer to Kate, but remarkably he found it relaxing and soulful. There, he felt a certain peace he hadn’t experienced since having recovered from the cancer, and he found himself reflecting on his past and wanting to change from the shallow man of his youth.

“Anyway, there was a break-in at the restaurant early Friday morning. The place was wrecked, the oven ruined, and some damage done to the refrigerator. Repairs were going to be rather expensive. Kate’s father, Joe, couldn’t get his business loan increased so I offered to loan him the money until the check from the insurance company came through.” He shifted in his seat. “I wanted to tell Kate, but her father thought it would be best if I didn’t.”

“And now she’s found out and she’s steamed?” Charles asked.

“More like irrational. I explained what happened, but it didn’t matter. She won’t listen to reason. She’s the most infuriating woman.”

“How did you leave things with her?”

“She refused to come back to New York with me. I needed to leave to make our flight so I just left. I’ve called and texted her, but she won’t respond.”

“If you’d like, I can ask Meghan to call her.”

“Fine.” He swirled the liquor in his glass. “And the worst is that she still doesn’t even know everything. Her sister, Vicky, asked for help coming up with a business plan for a bakery and café she wants to open when the pizzeria closes. I’ve been working with her on the side regarding that.”

“Kate doesn’t know about that either?”

“No one does. Vicky has self-esteem issues when it comes to her family. She’s always lived in Kate’s shadow and wants to prove to her family she’s not the fuck-up they think she is.”
Very similar to what I’ve been trying to prove to you, dearest brother.

“If I were you, I’d tell Vicky to talk to her sister before you help her further. When Kate gets over this, you don’t want something else causing another rift between you.”

“Assuming, that is, she ever gets over this.”

“Are you doubting your ability to charm your way out of this?”

“My charm doesn’t work on Kate. Her stubbornness is a real obstacle between us. She likes things done her way and doesn’t always see other viewpoints.”

“Give her some space and she’ll come around. Maybe send her some flowers at the office on Monday.”

“I’ll see.”

Somehow, Edward suspected flowers wouldn’t be all it would take to smooth things over with Kate. She’d probably take his intention the wrong way. As strong as she appeared to the outside world, it masked a vulnerability she strived to protect. He understood that, understood her. Tomorrow, he needed to contact Joe and Vicky and enlist their help in saving Kate from herself.

****

Kate snapped her laptop shut, grateful to see the business day end. It was only Tuesday, yet it felt like she’d already worked a full week. Although she hadn’t spoken to him, Edward sent her emails with things he needed done for work. The tension in his emails didn’t help improve her disposition.

As she packed up her laptop, her eyes fell on the dozen red roses that had arrived that afternoon. Without even looking at the card, she’d known they were from Edward. She’d wanted to throw them out, but they were too beautiful. What really annoyed her was that she’d never been one to fall for flowers as a way of apologizing; however, she had to admit some of her anger dissolved when they were delivered.

After a lingering glance at them, she gathered the rest of her belongings and set off for the lobby. Vicky called earlier and asked if she could spend the next couple days at Kate’s place while she attended a workshop in the city.

A quick peek at the time showed Kate had enough time to stop by the market on her way home to figure out what to make for dinner. The meals in the DiFrancesco household had always been planned for the week, and her mother bought all the ingredients in advance. Living alone and cooking for one, Kate tended to plan for meals as she needed them.

It was about forty-five minutes later when she arrived at her apartment. After changing into sweats, Kate started a pasta and shrimp dish. When Vicky buzzed fifteen minutes later, the scent of garlic filled the air.

“Mmm. That smells good,” Vicky said, removing her coat. “I brought dessert.” She held up a small white box. “A new recipe I’m trying for napoleons.”

“My hips and ass will hate you tomorrow, but thanks. I took out a bottle of wine if you want to open it.”

While Vicky located the corkscrew and focused on opening the bottle, Kate studied her. Something was different about her sister. A maturity and confidence in the way she held herself. It pleased Kate to see these subtle changes, though she wondered what brought them about.

“Do you want me to start on the salad?” Vicky asked, handing Kate a glass.

“Sure. Everything’s in the fridge.” Kate added tomatoes to the pan on the stove and stirred. “So tell me about this workshop you’re attending.”

Vicky looked a little uncomfortable. “It’s on starting your own business.”

“I didn’t know you were interested in that.”

Vicky took a swallow of wine. “I want to convert the pizzeria into a bakery and café.”

Kate glanced up to see if Vicky was serious and met her sister’s intense gaze. Definitely serious—and nervous.

“You’ve been giving this some thought, haven’t you?”

“I’ve been working on plans to alter the pizzeria and have applied for a business loan. Edward’s been helping me with the papers and building a financial case for the business.”

Ah, now the recent whispering between her sister and Edward made sense.

“Do Mom and Dad know?”

“No. Only Edward and Vinnie. And I didn’t even want Vinnie to know, but the bastard snooped through my stuff and found my paperwork. Not surprisingly, he thinks it’s a stupid idea.”

Kate snorted and added the shrimp to the pan. “Yeah, that figures. Vinnie couldn’t care less about the planning part of a business.”

“He sure as hell likes the profits you get from it, though,” Vicky said.

“Just not the work involved in making it successful. But you’ve always had a flair for knowing what would work and what wouldn’t.”

“You really think so?”

Kate stopped stirring and focused on her sister. “Yes, I do. You’ve always had so much potential. And it’s frustrated me because you sat back and let Vinnie lead you to his way of thinking, rather than take control.”

“It’s taken me a while to figure out what I wanted. For a long time all I knew was that it wasn’t the pizzeria. Once Dad said he was going to open a new restaurant, I knew I couldn’t work there. Then idea for the café came to me and I can’t stop it now. I want this like I’ve never wanted anything in my life.”

“I’m glad. I think it’s a great idea.”

Vicky gave her a wary glance. “You’re not mad Edward’s been helping me on the sly? I asked him not to say anything.”

It looked like her entire family asked Edward to keep secrets. And like a nice guy, he’d obliged. A small part of her felt guilty for treating him so horribly the other day.

“No, I’m not upset you went to him.” She paused to add pasta to the boiling water. “But why didn’t you come to me?”

Vicky sighed and sat on one of the stools. “I was afraid to. You’re so confident about everything, and I needed to figure out a lot of stuff. I wanted to do it on my own, to prove to myself that I could. If I asked for your help, you would have figured it all out for me.”

“Oh, Vick. Is that how you see me, as controlling and take charge?”

Vicky shrugged. “Sometimes. And most of the time that’s good. But whenever you take charge, it gives me an excuse not to. Then I slack off until I don’t think I can do anything as well as you.”

Kate clenched the tongs she’d been using to flip the shrimp. “That’s so not true! You’re smart and can do anything you set your mind to. I never meant to make you feel otherwise.”

“Thanks, but I didn’t see it. I’m still not sure that I can, but I’m working on it.”

“Being in control doesn’t mean knowing all the answers. It often means knowing how to network and having the balls to take a risk.”

“Then you must have a lot of balls.”

Kate laughed. “I’m not nearly as confident as you think I am. I doubt myself constantly, but I hide it well.”

“Maybe you can tell me your secret.”

“I spend a lot of time thinking and planning before I act. I need to work things out in my head before I execute on them. That doesn’t mean it will always work. But, if it doesn’t, I’ll know I tried my best.”

“What if you can’t afford to make a mistake? I mean, I can’t afford—literally—to mess this up.”

“You talk with people, like Edward, who’ve started their own business. You ask a lot of questions and get as much information as you can from people who have expertise in what you need to know.”

Kate handed Vicky napkins and silverware and then dished out their meal.

Vicky added Romano cheese before twirling her spaghetti. “This is fantastic. You could’ve been a chef if you wanted to. I think you’ve improved Mom’s recipe, not that I’d admit that to her face.”

“Thanks. I promise not to tell her.”

“Maybe I can show you my plans after dinner?”

“I’d like that.”

Over cappuccino and napoleons, Vicky explained her concept for Decadent DeLites. Kate listened, impressed with Vicky’s ideas and vision. The business had a shot at being a success.

“This is fantastic,” Kate said, gesturing to the papers. “As are the napoleons. You’re a genius.”

“I’m glad you think so. It feels good to talk to someone about it. It doesn’t seem real yet.”

“When are you going to tell the family?”