Page 35 of Keep On Loving You

“Why is that? I mean, I know you missed me and all.” He laughed and clinked bottles with his friend.

“Things with the shop have really picked up,” Craigsaid. “And now that Lucy and I…well, you know how it is when you couple up.”

He didn’t. When Andy didn’t say anything, Craig continued. “Well, anyway, we’re all so busy with everything that I’m a little worried about Kat right now and the pressure she’s under.”

“I take it that has to do with the meeting you all just had?”

Craig nodded. “She was given a list of things to do instead of just one thing.”

“A list?”

“But the thing is, we don’t know what’s on it.”

The argument Andy had walked in suddenly made a lot more sense.

Craig took a drink from his bottle before he continued. “Anyway, I think it’ll be good to have someone else to talk to who isn’t one of us. Besides, we’re not allowed to help.” He shook his head. “Anyway, you’re like a brother to Kat. You’ve always been close.”

If only he knew.

Andy nodded while he drank to avoid making eye contact.

“I know you’ll probably have a lot to do, what with moving back and starting a new job, but if you?—”

“Consider it done, man.” Andy agreed before he could think better of it. “Don’t give it another thought. I’ll be there for her.” He swallowed hard. “Whatever she needs.”

The moment she walked into her apartment, Kat knew she’d made the right decision not to open the letter in front of her siblings. The quiet welcomed her, and she went straight to the kitchen to make a cup of tea before she took her envelope into the living room, where she pulled her fluffy knit blanket over her legs and settled in.

The little two-story space over her hair salon wasn’t big and it wasn’t fancy by any means. But it was hers. And it was peaceful. Free from the bickering and clamor of her siblings, who were no doubt still at the big house debating how they could force her to tell them all what was on the list their father had left her.

Kat smiled a little to herself with the knowledge that they were probably all going crazy because she’d slipped away.

There was very little doubt in her mind that she was going to share the contents of her letter and the list with the rest of them. But at least for now, she could have the space to process things on her own first.

She turned the manila envelope over in her hands and took a deep breath. “Okay, Dad. What have you got for me?”

Kat exhaled slowly as she slid her finger under the envelope flap and slid the papers from within. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of her father’s handwriting. She’d known it was coming. All her siblings had their personal letter from Michael Carlson; of course she’d have hers, too.

Still.

Holding it in her hand felt different as it all became very, very real.

Kat. My baby girl.

I’m sorry I had to save you for last. I’m sure the last few months have been hardest on you while you waited your turn.

You were never very good at that.

She shook her head with a laugh. He wasn’t wrong.

But there was a very good reason for that and I think you’ll agree, because this challenge might be the hardest one yet. At least for you, kiddo. First, I want to make sure that you know how proud I am of you.

Her chest tightened, and Kat pressed a palm against her heart. She knew her father was proud of her, but she couldn’t remember ever hearing the words come out of his mouth. She blinked back tears as she continued to read.

I never said that enough, did I? Or maybe not at all. And for that, I’m so sorry,kiddo. Because I am immensely proud of your talent and your hard work. You’ve always been so driven and known exactly what you wanted. And then you’ve gone after it. What you’ve created with your shop at such a young age is nothing short of incredible and a true testament to all your unrelenting hard work.

A swell of pride rose up inside her. Even from beyond the grave, her father’s words impacted her deeply.

You’re so much like me in so many ways, kiddo. I’m afraid that not only did you inherit your exceptionally high drive to succeed and ability to focus on a goal from me, but also your workaholic tendencies. It took me a long time to learn that there needs to be a balance in life, and truthfully, I wasn’t always good at achieving that balance, especially after your mother died and I threw myself into work as a way to cope with losing her.

---