Page 49 of Hers to Marry
Kat sucked in her lips so she wouldn’t laugh. No, her mother wouldn’t want her to be a homewrecker, although she would’ve had a good reason to be one herself. Her recently deceased husband hadn’t been the kindest man to her or Kat and her sisters. His death had unfortunately been a relief to all three and most of all to his wife.
“But…if I had the chance to do it all again…” Her mom sighed, and a ghost of a smile appeared. “I’d take the chance. I’d go after Steven and not let Elnora have him.”
Kat sat agape. “Whois Steven?” she whispered.
“Don’t mind me.”
“Oh no, Mom. You don’t get to drop that kind of a bombshell and not follow it up. Who is Steven? Tell me!”
“Aren’t you bossy?” She let out a wistful sigh. “Steven is the first boy I ever kissed. My…soulmate, if they exist.”
They definitely existed, if you asked Kat. Drew was hers. She knew it from the time they met, although she didn’t understand what was behind her desire to be with him all the time.
“Soulmate? Mom! Tell me more. What happened?”
She frowned. “Steven wanted to be with me, I think, but…he was dating Elnora at the time.”
Kat’s hands flew to her mouth. “You mean to tell me you werestealingSteven away from Elnora while they were dating?”
Her mom’s face turned stern. “No! It…it was one kiss. A moment of weakness.”
Kat cocked a brow. “Or a stolen moment of desire?”
“What are you, a romance writer?”
Kat laughed loudly. “Tell me more! Why didn’t he leave Elnora? Probably because he was an idiot, right? Men are…men are idiots.”
Mary sighed. “Yes, they are. Steven was wild talking about us being together, but I was so torn up with guilt over our kiss—Elnora was one of my best friends—that I told him no and…and then I met your father not long after.”
Kat sat in silence.
“Your father was quite a charmer, and I was besotted almost immediately.” Her voice sounded sad.
“Do you regret your decision?” Kat whispered. “Telling Steven no? Not going after him?”
“Every day of my life,” her mother said softly. “I don’t regret having you and your sisters, don’t mistake me. But…I regret not marrying for the love I knew existed. I regret not giving you three the father you deserved. I regret lost happiness.”
A tear slipped down her cheek, and Kat wiped it away. “Thanks, sweetie. Anyway”—she wiped her other cheek—“I say all that to say that you have to go after what you want. If people get hurt in the process, then…well…” She shrugged.
Kat figured her mother now no longer cared about her relationship with Elnora. Kat had never heard the woman’s name before today. “You and Elnora aren’t still friends?”
“No. Not after high school. I heard Steven married her and they moved away. I…I always did wonder if he regretted his choice. Probably not.”
Kat rubbed her mom’s arm. “Why would you say that? I think he would’ve regretted losing you.”
She shook her head. “That’s nice of you, Kat. You were always my sweet one. I don’t think he would’ve liked who I’ve become.”
Kat’s blood heated. Gregory Kaye continued to leave his mark even in death. “That wasn’t entirely your fault.”
“No, but enough of it was.” She looked quickly at her daughter before her gaze went back to the road. “That’s why I want you to fight for what you want. If you want that bakery, then go for it—again. If you want your man, then…”
“Steal him from Parker?” Kat sputtered a laugh. Her mother was right; she was too sweet of a girl to do that.
“Eh.” She shrugged. “Maybe that’s more Parker’s style.”
Now that was true.
They turned onto a dirt road alongside an open field. Kat noticed the Civil War trail sign that marked important sites in many of the states. For another mile or so, they traveled the bumpy road until they saw a large number of cars parked off to the side in a cleared area.
