Page 41 of Degrees of Acceptance
“Kate, Chase told me about your situation. He may have explained that Carlos is a good friend of mine; our families go back some time. I don’t know if your mom will remember me, but I was at their wedding. In fact, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it when we met in Chicago, but there was something about you that seemed familiar. You look a lot your mother did years ago. Carlos was devastated when she disappeared and turned New York City and half the country upside down trying to find her. Chase asked me if I would talk to him and smooth the way for a meeting between the two of you,” he said.
I glance at Chase, and he is watching my reaction. “I didn’t realize that Don, but I knew Chase was working on a plan so that I could meet him,” I explain.
“Kate, I’m not a man that beats around the bush. I’ve already spoken with Carlos, and I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t in a little bit of shock about the entire situation, but he wants to meet you. Chase was adamant about having the utmost security, so if you are agreeable, he can come to our home tonight. I sincerely do not believe you will need protection from Carlos. He would never do anything to disrespect my home or family. Chase has already filled me in on the fact that his family and colleagues may not feel any warmth toward Karissa, but I can assure you in my conversations with Carlos that he feels nothing but remorse for your mom’s fear and the situation you both find yourself in now. I do need to warn you, though, Kate. He is going to want to know how to reach your mother. I have told him that I am going to leave that up to you.”
“I plan to be present for those conversations, Dad. No one knows where Karissa is until we have a plan with Carlos to ensure her safety,” Chase says.
“Kate, do you want me to have your father come for dinner tonight?” Don asks.
“Yes, please. I can’t thank you enough for talking with him, Don. I hope it was not a strain on your friendship.”
“You’re more than welcome, Kate. I think Carlos is in a little state of shock, but nothing could have made him happier than to hear that the woman he spent half his life in love with is not dead and that he has a daughter who wishes to meet him. I’ll make the call and invite him to dinner,” he says.
“Thanks, Dad. Katarina and I are going to work in my office for a while. Then I need to meet with Brian to go over some of the contracts for the medical facility expansions. I thought we could do that in person while I’m here,” he says.
He guides me down the hall past Brian’s office that has Brian Carrington, COO inscribed on the nameplate outside of his door and into his own. The room is as large as the one he has in Chicago with a view overlooking the city.
“Have a seat,” he says, closing the door and sliding behind the large oak desk.
“Are you nervous?” he asks.
“I am, but I can’t help be a little sad, too. All this time, he thought my mom was dead, and he didn’t even know he had a daughter,” I say.
Chase nods. “I am sure it was quite a jolt. That’s why I asked my dad to talk to him. I wanted the news to come from someone he trusted, and that knew how much he cared about Karissa. We need to be prepared to answer his questions about your mom. He has spent the last twenty-six years loving a woman he thought was dead. He is going to want to find her. If I were him, I wouldn’t be able to stop searching until I did,” he says.
“I know, but it’s just not my decision to make. My mom has to agree to meet him if that’s what she wants, but she is terrified that members of the syndicate will try to hurt us if they learn about our existence. I don’t get it. What could my mom possibly know that would make them feel as though she was a threat?”
“I think you can only be honest with Carlos and tell him exactly what you’ve shared with me, Baby. If he wants to meet her and she agrees, then he’ll need to help us develop a plan to keep you both safe,” he says.
He stands up. “Brian, come in,” he says. I look up to see a tall man with shock black hair, bright blue eyes and a friendly smile in the doorway. “Good to see you,” Chase says, shaking his hand. “You remember Kate,” he says.
“Nice to see you in person again, Kate. Until you started working on the medical center project, I only had one person to deal with sending me email messages at all hours of the night. From the looks of my inbox, I now have two of you to deal with. Chase, I think you’ve finally met your match,” he says.
“Indeed,” Chase says, eyebrows upturned, watching me intently.
“Pull up a seat, Brian. I thought we could go over some of the contracts for the expansion since we’re here, and I believe it would be helpful for Katarina to be part of the discussions,” he says. The afternoon goes fast, but on the way back to his dad’s house my nerves begin to get the better of me.
“Chase, what if Mom is right and I lead people right to her?” I ask, leaning into the crook of his arm in the backseat of the limo.
“Katarina, I think you need to meet him and hear what he has to say. It’s been years, and things can change a lot with time,” he says, pulling me close.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Prestian senior homeis every bit as impressive as Chase’s with a long wooded drive into a private and secluded area outside of the city. The driver slows and talks with the man at the gate for a few minutes before the wrought iron gates lift allowing us entry into the estate just like at Chase’s. The home is a two story colonial style with large white pillars and looks inviting. He drives around the large semi-circular drive and stops outside the front door for us. Chase guides me to the door, enters a code into the keypad and guides me into a large foyer.
“Chase… welcome home. I thought I heard someone,” says a well-dressed petite woman with short blond hair who appears to be in her middle fifties. He gives her a hug and introduces the two of us.
“Emily, this is my girlfriend Kate, and this is Emily,” he says, turning to me.
“Nice to meet you,” she says to me. “Chase dear, make yourself at home. I was on my way out. You remember my granddaughter, Patrice?” she says.
“Of course,” Chase says.
“Well, she plays flute and has a recital tonight. I’m traveling into the city to hear her play and plan to stay the night with my daughter and son-in-law,” she says.
“Enjoy your evening, Emily. Next time we’ll provide you with a little more notice and we can have dinner. Where’s dad?” he asks.
“He got home about an hour ago and is still on the treadmill. I would imagine that he won’t be much longer. In the meantime, make yourselves at home.” she says, kissing him on the cheek as she heads outside towards the awaiting car.
