“I didn’t mean to upset you, or wallow in self-pity. It’s just that sometimes it really gets to me,” he apologized.

“I also cry during those sappy coffee commercials so don’t be too hard on yourself,” Katherine told him with a depreciating laugh.

“The years continued slipping away from us, one right after the other and all of a sudden we were adults and still had this strange distance between us, but added to that was a new competition. I was determined to beat him at anything. I wanted to watch him fall on his face, to see the all perfect Joseph Anderson fail. We saw you at the dance, and I overheard some of the girls talking about you, calling you the ice queen.”

At least he had the decency to cringe as he said it. Katherine still felt hurt about those days. Her shyness was taken as condescending. Her choosiness in men as snobbery. She hadn’t wanted to make the mistakes she’d watched her mother make.

“Before I thought about your feelings, I goaded Joseph. I bet him there was at least one girl at the dance he wouldn’t be able to make fall all over him. Since he’d never had that happen, he felt pretty sure in accepting the challenge. He hadn’t heard the girls talking. I pointed you out, and his eyes widened when he took you in for the first time. I think he was instantly smitten. As he approached you and asked for a dance, I had a smirk on my face, expecting you to snub him and walk away. When you accepted with a pure, sweet smile, I realized my mistake. No girl can fake that innocence. I instantly regretted the bet, knowing it was all going to go south. When you danced straight through the next three songs, and I saw the way you looked at him, I felt like the lowest of the low.”

Katherine didn’t even realize her cheeks were wet from her tears. As he talked about that night five years ago, it was as if she was living it all over again. She remembered it like yesterday, how she felt when the most eligible bachelor in the room had walked up and asked her to dance. How his laughter had brightened her world. By the end of the night she was half-way in love with him, by the end of the month, she was over the moon in love.

“When the two of you became a couple and you were at our home all the time, I got to know you, see why Joseph was spending every moment with you. I truly did love you as a friend. The bet was long forgotten, and you were starting to bridge that gap between my brother and me. Your insistence we do things together, your pureness, everything about you drew me in.”

George paused long enough that Katherine asked her own question. “Why didn’t you tell me about the bet?”

“I was afraid you would hate me. How did you find out about it, anyway? I never brought it up again.”

Katherine thought about making him suffer, letting his life-changing bet haunt him the rest of his life as it did her, but then she wasn’t that kind of person.

“You did bring it up, at least one more time. I overheard you and Joseph talking one day. After that, well, you know the rest…”

George’s eyes rounded as he thought back and remembered. “I’m sorry, Katherine, more than I could ever express. I know it doesn’t take anything back, but I truly am sorry,” he said.

“I guess it doesn’t matter anymore, George. It was years ago and I’ve moved on with my life. You may have regretted the bet, but a bet’s all I was to Joseph – a foolish prize to be won.”

“No, Katherine. I never before, and have never since, seen him look at someone the way he gazed at you that night and the months that followed,” George insisted.

She wanted to believe his words, but how could she trust him. She was scared to open that door again. Afraid to be hurt any more than she already had been.

“Why did it take you so many years to talk to me?”

Her question wasn’t asked in anger or even resentment. She was perplexed as she began to believe his words.

“I was a fool. I was so embarrassed about my behavior, I figured you were better off without me.”

“Then why come back now? Why not just continue staying away?”

“I moved to Chicago, fled was more like it. I was trying to outrun my demons. After a couple years, I realized they were within me and no matter where I went, they’d continue to be my constant shadow. Then, last year, I got married to a wonderful woman, who’s brought joy back into my life, and loves me enough to want all of me – not the shell of a man I’d become. She’s been helping me heal. I came home to make amends. I need to try to clear past wrongs and I needed to tell you the truth.”

Katherine looked at him, saw the truth in his eyes, and she knew she had her friend back.

“I’ve missed you, George.” She let it go. Continuing to hold a grudge against him for making a stupid bet before he knew who she was made her no better than the fool he was when he made it. His true colors had shown when he’d befriended her, spent hours talking to her and brought excitement into her life. He’d never been anything but respectful to her. She’d missed him.

“I don’t deserve your forgiveness, nor your friendship, but I’m not going to refuse it. I’ve missed you, too, Katherine,” he said as he moved over and engulfed her in a bear hug. She returned the hug, glad to have one wrong in her life fixed.

“Katherine, you always have been too forgiving,” George admonished, bringing Katherine back to the present, reality hitting her hard.

She looked at the bed where her husband was lying so still. He looked as if he was doing nothing more than taking a nap. If it wasn’t for all the monitors hooked up to him, she may be able to actually believe that’s all it was.

“Hi, George, I didn’t hear you come in,” Katherine said with a fond smile.

“I had to sneak so I could listen in. I think you’re making me out too well, actually. I was so horrible back then,” he said with remembered pain in his eyes.

“I forgave you from that moment, George Anderson, and I’ve never regretted it. You’re a great man and you haven’t deserved the moments of unhappiness in your life. I’m so glad you and Joseph finally came around,” she told him.

“We probably never would’ve if it hadn’t been for you.”

“Why, what happened?” Cassie questioned, sitting on the edge of her seat. “Please tell me you’re not stopping again. You always leave us hanging.”

“Sorry, sweetie, but I’ve had enough remembering for one night. We’ll continue the story soon,” Katherine promised.

It was both joyous and painful to remember the past. Even though it had been many years ago, it seemed like only yesterday to her. She’d fought so hard to keep her heart safe from Joseph, when all along he only wanted to cherish her.

“We understand, Aunt Katherine,” Cassie replied, and the others in the room agreed as they rose from their chairs, each stopping and kissing Katherine on the cheek before they exited.

“Goodnight,” Katherine told them, then walked out on George’s arm. He was still a great friend, and support system in her life.

Chapter Eleven

“I caught the two of them kissing behind the garage last night. I almost stumbled right into them. Thank goodness I looked up at the last minute. I quickly ducked behind the wall. Then I was stuck there for about fifteen minutes while the two of them giggled in between kisses. They were acting like teenagers who’d gotten away with sneaking out of the house,” Lucas said with a smile.

The entire family had gathered to discuss the secret romance between George and Esther. The two of them wouldn’t admit they were a couple for some reason, and none of the family understood why.

“Why do you think they won’t tell us they’re dating? It seems pretty serious,” Trenton asked.

“I’d say it’s serious. Last night when I left the hospital, I found the two of them smooching in the stairwell. I had to quietly go back upstairs and then go down the elevator, so they wouldn’t know I was there,” Austin said.

“When’s the first incident any of you can recall? Let’s try and figure out how long they’ve been together,” Max suggested.

“The first time I got suspicious was about six months ago at Jasmine’s birthday party. They were giving each other flirtatious looks all night, and then went into the house to bring out some extra chips, and didn’t return for thirty minutes. It doesn’t take that long to open a bag of Doritos,” Amy said.

“Can anyone remember anything earlier than that?”

“Ooh, yes, I do,” Emily eagerly replied. “It was last year at Mom and Dad’s anniversary party. George leaned down and said something to Esther that had her turning scarlet. I thought it was kind of cute, so I watched as George gave her a wink then left the room. About two minutes later, Esther glanced around, so I looked away, and then when I looked up again, she was going through the same door. Neither of them came back until it was time for dinner. I think it was about an hour. A lot can happen in an hour.”

“That’s definitely suspicious,” Cassie said with an animated smile.

“Anything else?” Max asked.

The room full of siblings and cousins looked at each other while everyone shook their heads.

“Okay, so it looks like they’ve been dating for at least a year, probably longer if they were already sneaking out of the room for over an hour at a time,” Alex said.

“Then the big mystery to solve is why they’re keeping it a secret from us,” Jennifer said.

Everyone was silent for a few moments.

“You don’t think he believes we’d be upset because of mom, do you?” Bree asked. They looked at one another perplexed.

“No, I honestly don’t think that would be it. He knows we all adore Esther. I think he’s scared,” Mark said, quite enjoying his thought.

“You mean to tell me after all the grief both him and Uncle Joseph have given us, he’s afraid to take a walk down the aisle,” Trenton said in disbelief.

“Sounds like Mark might be on to something,” Max agreed.

“Well then, what are we going to do to get them to come out in the open?” Austin asked with evil delight.

“I think we start beating them at their own game. Instead of hiding when we run into them, let’s not give them a single moment of peace. Then we’ll see how much longer they’re able to keep things a secret,” Alex said.

“I love that. I’d hate to never get to be alone with Chad,” Bree said while clapping her hands. Chad leaned over, giving her a kiss, and she snuggled into his arms.

“Come on, you two. We’re trying to work here,” Austin grumbled.

He was the only one in the room without someone in his arms. Kinsey was working at the hospital and he was already missing her. He would’ve been there at that moment if his family hadn’t called an emergency meeting.

After another hour of planning, they had it worked out. If they didn’t have George and Esther come out in the open within a week, two at most, they’d come up with plan B. They didn’t see that happening, though, because what they had planned for the couple was going to drive them batty.