Page 4 of Promise Me, Katie (Bennett Sisters #1)

“If you think about it, it’s like me giving you a gift.”

“That’s okay, Mads. It’d be a waste anyway. Between cooking and gardening, they’d just look like this again.”

“So go back for regular visits,” Maddie insisted before Katherine could find the words to turn her down again. “You know, men really like women with pretty hands. One might even put a ring on it.”

At that uncomfortable bombshell, the chickenpox conversation abruptly ended, and everyone turned to look at Katherine.

“O-kay…” She blushed, yanking her hand free from Maddie’s and reaching for a menu.

“Anybody hungry?” As Katherine studied the menu like she’d never seen it before, she could feel everyone staring at her.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, Zach and I concocted a new special. Is anybody up for giving it a try? It’s a good one. ”

In silence, they continued to stare as she babbled.

“Mom? What about you? Don’t you want to know what it is?”

“Darling, are you alright?” her mother finally asked, a concerned look on her face. “What’s all the rush about?”

“I’m not in a rush. I’m just hungry.” Katherine’s eyes darted back and forth at the faces surrounding her. “Besides, if lunch is anything like breakfast, I’ll have to get back to the kitchen sooner rather than later. Zach can only handle so much on his own.”

Seemingly satisfied with her reasoning, everyone picked up their menus as Katherine breathed a sigh of relief.

“When are you planning on making Nan’s homemade chicken and noodles again?” Ellie asked after several moments of silence. “Can’t you just make it a regular item?”

“No.” Andie reached across the booth and whacked Ellie with her menu. “Nan’s noodles are special. They’re comfort food and better in the fall when the weather turns or the winter when there’s snow on the ground. How many times do I have to tell you that?”

“Wow, Ells, major food fail. Has that dusty old library got your brain cramped again?” Georgie smirked, taking her turn at giving Ellie a whack with her menu.

“Cut it out!” Ellie scowled at Georgie.

“See what you started!” she snapped at Andie.

“Girls…” their mother softly reprimanded from the other side of her menu. “We’re in public. Please try to behave yourselves.”

“For your information,” Ellie began, her voice soft and sweet again, “that dusty old library, as you call it, is up for the Best Small Library in America award.”

As the table exploded with excitement, Katherine forgot her worries.

“That’s amazing!” Georgie said with uncharacteristic enthusiasm.

“My sweet girl, you’re practically a celebrity,” their mother cooed, hugging Ellie before sharing the good news with the surrounding tables.

After more congratulations, a “good going, bookworm” from Andie, followed by a promise to help get camera-ready for any events or photo opportunities from Maddie, they finally settled down to order.

“Anything else?” Beth Ann asked, her gaze settled on Katherine. “Maybe something sweet and spicy? New and exciting?”

“No.” Katherine’s back straightened. “We don’t need anything else.”

“Not even something a little sweet?”

As Beth Ann’s smile morphed into downright mischievousness, Katherine could feel all eyes at the table were back on her again.

“No, Bethie!” she snapped as Beth Ann took a cautious step back. She must’ve sensed how much Katherine wanted to maim her.

“Okay then.” Beth Ann let out an exaggerated sigh. “I guess I better go make sure Zach finished Frank’s order. You know, since he and Bella need to be going soon.”

Watching Beth Ann walk away, Katherine fought the urge to throw a napkin-wrapped bundle of silverware at the back of her head.

“Baby girl, stop scowling and be nice,” her mother scolded. “You’re lucky to have Beth Ann around. She’s a lovely girl who’s done nothing but make your life easier since she came to Windsong.”

When her sisters agreed, a pang of guilt stabbed at Katherine’s heart.

She felt bad for getting so annoyed with all the teasing since what her mother had said was true.

Beth Ann had brought her fair share of goodness to The Copperwall.

And despite her endless obsession with wanting to set Katherine up, she really was a good friend.

Following a pleasant lunch with a thoughtful analysis of the latest special, and no more mention of Bella Vaughn, Katherine’s sisters excused themselves to go.

Kissing their mother and baby sister on the cheek, the four elder Bennett sisters departed in a cloud of conversation, leaving Katherine alone with the insightful eyes of her mother.

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because you seem bothered about something.”

“Not at all. I’m fine. But how are you? And hey, how’s Daddy? I haven’t seen him in a while.”

“As you can see, I am perfectly fine. And as always, your father’s doing well, aside from being extremely busy. Did you know the department is hiring someone new?”

Katherine hadn’t heard about anyone joining the police force, but she also couldn’t let the topic of anyone new invade their conversation.

“No, I haven’t. But I did forget to ask about that cold you had. You sound a lot better. Did you see Dr. Evans? Or was it Charlie? Has he finally taken over his dad’s practice? It’s been such a long time coming but I think he’ll do a good job, don’t you?”

“There you go again with that nervous rambling,” her mother said with concern on her face as she set a soothing hand over Katherine’s. “Darling, please tell me what’s wrong.”

Katherine froze. Her mother knew her far too well.

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Are you sure? Because you seemed bothered when Beth Ann mentioned Frank and Isabella. I must say, I was surprised to see her here. I didn’t think she had the nerve to come around anymore. Has she done something to upset you?”

“You mean aside from the time she splashed my personal life and tragic loss all over the local news?” Katherine sneered, oozing with sarcasm. “Nooo... she’s been great.”

As hurt and disappointment washed over her mother’s face, Katherine realized that maybe the subject of a replacement for Isabella might’ve not come up, and the knot in her belly eased as she hurried to soften her words.

“Bella only comes in when she has Frank as a buffer. Probably because of her guilty conscience. And even then, she goes out of her way to avoid me, which I’m sure you can imagine doesn’t exactly hurt my feelings. Still, Frank is one of our best customers.”

“I imagine he is,” Mrs. Bennett said with a sigh. “Bella never was very domestic.”

“I’m sure. But we’re always happy to have him around.” Katherine smiled. “Don’t you remember it was Frank who came up with the double-everything version of Granddaddy’s Brown Lace Bagel?”

“I remember,” Mrs. Bennett said with a wistful smile, clearly at odds with her lingering frustration toward her old friend.

As for Frank, he always was and always would be a true friend.

But Bella’s betrayal of the Bennett family for the sake of her career still lingered, even though forgiving her was something Mrs. Bennett had tried to do more times than she cared to admit.

“He’s a good man. But if I’m being honest, as far as Bella goes, loyalty was never very high on her list of qualities.

Still, I’m glad you can see the good in Frank. ”

“How could I not? He really is a good egg, and he’ll for sure be missed around here. Zach, Beth Ann, and the girls all swear he’s the funniest person they’ve ever met. I’m sure they’ll be heartbroken when they retire and move away.”

“Retire? Those two?” Katherine’s mother scoffed, leaning in to whisper. “They’re not retiring. Isabella got a better offer from a television station in Miami, and Frank is selling his business to invest in a company that builds swimming pools for celebrities and members of Miami’s elite.”

“Wow!” Katherine said, not caring if her voice rose above the whisper her mother was attempting. “What is with her? She can tell everyone else’s business but then be so secretive about her own. Why not just tell the truth?”

“Theyaretelling the truth. Bella said she was leaving WDSG, and Frank said he was selling his business. If people assume something else, then so be it.”

“But why be so secretive?”

“That’s just it. They’re not being secretive. They’re setting boundaries. They don’t have to explain their entire lives to everyone. Where they go and what they do is for them to decide without other people’s opinions or input.”

“How doyouknow so much about it?”

Katherine watched as her mother scanned the room before leaning in even further. “Frank came by the house a few months ago, eager to share the news with your father, and made us swear to secrecy until their plans were set in stone.”

“If it was such a big secret, why tell you and Daddy?”

“Well, I suppose because your father and Frank are still close, even though Bella and I haven’t been since she put her career before our friendship,” Mrs. Bennett said.

“I’ll be the first to admit she had no right to report on your life the way she did.

If you ask me, chasing down all those stories about Max was unforgivable. ”

Katherine sensed that her mother losing her friendship with Bella would always sting a little, especially when Isabella Vaughn was the first friend her mother made after moving to Windsong as a teenager.

“I’m sorry, Mom.”

“I’m not.” Ginny smiled, touching Katherine’s cheek. “Life is about choices. I have a wonderful family, and Bella has her career.”

Katherine smiled back, relieved to hear that her mother wasn’t disappointed with her choices and the path those choices led her. She knew first-hand how painful making wrong choices could be.

“Frank also said WDSG is hiring a new reporter. Although the name escapes me.” Ginny pondered for a moment before continuing.

“Anyway, what I do remember is that Bella’s position will go to someone who already works there, and the new reporter will take over the stories for the ten o’clock news.

So, you never know. Maybe someone lovely will move here and fill the void of a lost friend. ”

Katherine looked lovingly at her mother—Ginny Bennett—ever the optimist.

“Oh, look at the time. I must be going,” Mrs. Bennett said, gathering her things. “I’ll let your father know you want to see him. Although, I’m not sure when he’ll have time to come by.”

Walking her to the door, Katherine kissed her mother’s cheek and said goodbye. She was more than ready to escape to the refuge of the diner’s kitchen. Worry and emotional exhaustion had only added to the physical exhaustion she felt when the day started.

** *

As dinner service slowed down long before the eight o’clock closing, Katherine felt completely drained of energy.

“I think we should call it a night,” she informed Grace Chen, drawing her attention away from the history book she was huddled over. Grace, the daughter of Suzie and Mr. Chen, worked at The Copperwall after school and every Saturday. “I’m fading, and I’m sure you’d rather study someplace else.”

“Okay,” Grace said, closing her book. “I’ll get started on clean-up.”

As she cleaned the coffee brewer and wiped down the counter, Katherine went into the kitchen and prepared Grace’s favorite meal to send her home with.

“Thanks, Katherine!” Grace beamed, knowing the box handed to her was filled with fries and a grilled cheese sandwich.

“Don’t you ever get tired of eating the same thing?”

“Never,” Grace laughed, reaching under the counter to grab her backpack and stuff her history book inside. “What I get tired of is Chinese food.”

“Impossible.”

“Maybe for you,” Grace said, reaching for the grown-out strands of her bangs and giving them a disgusted sniff. “But I swear the smell never goes away.”

“I know what you mean,” Katherine laughed, pulling a loose curl from her temple to her nose. “Except my problem isn’t Chinese food. It’s French fry smell.”

“That’s not a problem. That’s the dream,” Grace laughed, throwing her heavy backpack over one shoulder. “Well, that and being the first female President.”

“You got my vote,” Katherine said, walking her to the door.

“Great. One down. Millions to go.”

“You’ll get there.”

“I know.” Grace smiled, popping the to-go box open and grabbing a handful of fries for the road. “See you Monday.”

Standing just inside the doorway, Katherine watched as Grace got into her car.

She marveled at how young, intelligent, and confident Grace Chen was.

A good girl with good parents and a good life ahead of her.

And it made Katherine wonder why her life had gone in such a spectacularly wrong direction.

Later, when she climbed into bed, she was too tired to dwell on the disappointment of being lonely or alone and the wrong choices she had made. And when she drifted off to sleep, exhaustion took over and Katherine slept better than she had in a long time.