First Class Justice (First Class Novels) (18 page)

“I’d made the decision weeks ago. If there was even the
slightest possibility that he could ever love me, I knew I would risk it all,
walk away from everything that was comfortable and easy to be with him. Not
because I need to have a man in my life, but because I need to have Mark in my
life.”

“So you’re sure?”

“I have never been more sure. You know when you’re at a
restaurant and you can’t decide between two entrees? So you order one and after
the first couple of bites you’d wished you’d ordered the other one? Well, this
isn’t like that.”

Dr. LaVaughn smiled. “Your analogies are always interesting,
Katy.”

Katy turned and went and sat in the chair.

“You were right,” Katy said.

Dr. LaVaughn nodded.

“About this
one
thing,” Katy added.

“What’s that?”

“That I was assuming that he felt about me the way I felt about
myself. In order for me to be in a healthy relationship I had to understand and
accept that what happened to me wasn’t my fault and that it didn’t make me any
less of a person. As soon as I did that, I was ready to let someone in. And
he’d been knocking the whole time. I just couldn’t see it.”

“That sounds very healthy.”

“I feel healthy. Emotionally and psychologically I feel the
best I have felt in years. Maybe even my whole adult life! I deserve to be
happy and I deserve a man who loves me. All of me, flaws, warts and all.
Because I’m worth loving.”

“Yes, you are.”

“So why not go? If I’m committed to him, which I am, heart
and soul, why do I have to stay here? I did give him conditions though.”

“And what are they?”

“Well, to start with, I am going to find at least a part
time job. I want to work. I
need
to work. And I’m not selling my house.
I am going to list it with a property management company and rent it.”

“Those are all good ideas. Rational too,” Dr. LaVaughn
grinned. “Anything else?”

“We agree that we don’t need a piece of paper to say we are
committed to each other. I mean, more than half of the marriages end in divorce
anyway. Look at me! So when he asked I said no.”

“He asked you to marry him?”

“Yeah.”

“And you said no?”

“Of course I did! I’ve told you about my marriage. I would
never
do that again!”

“Katy, let’s talk about that for a minute. Is Mark anything
like Brett?”

“Hell, no! Brett was an idiot and Mark is a gentleman. He’s
smart and kind and articulate and funny. He’s also gorgeous and rich, but they
don’t even top the list. He’s considerate and honest and everything I could
possibly want.”

“And you? Are you the same person you were twenty years
ago?”

“Not even close!”

“So if you are different now and the man is different, why
do you just automatically assume that your marriage will be the same disaster?”

“Why do you want me to get married?”

“I’m not telling you to get married, Katy. I am saying that
the circumstances are completely different. The people are different. There is
no common denominator. You shouldn’t unilaterally dismiss the idea of marriage
because the first one failed. You learned a lot from that marriage, I would
hope. If nothing else, what you
don’t
want. So use that knowledge to
make a decision based on relevant facts and not history.”

Katy thought about the doctor’s words. There was truth in
what she said.

“And I think a change of scenery would do you a great deal
of good. Start fresh. I can even recommend a good therapist in Manhattan. I
think you should continue to see someone.”

Katy agreed. As much as she hadn’t wanted to go to therapy,
it had changed her life.

“Okay. I guess I can keep seeing a shrink.”

Dr. LaVaughn smiled. “I’m proud of you Katy.”

“Oh, and I’d thought you’d like to know Shelby emailed
pictures last week. She lives on a farm and has her own horse now. She seems
really happy.”

“That’s wonderful,” Dr. LaVaughn said. “I’m really glad that
you keep in touch.”

“I feel kind of like her big sister. I think I would have
been a good big sister.”

“Yes, Katy. You would have been.”

When Mark and Katy stepped off the plane in New York, she
felt instant relief to be officially starting her new life. The last three
weeks had been like a whirlwind. There was so much to do and she wasn’t sure
she would get it all done in time.

First, she gave her two weeks’ notice at the hospital. Her
supervisor was sad to lose her but understood her decision and was excited for
Katy to begin a new chapter of her life.

Just about a year ago, Katy had watched Janie sort through
her house and decide what to keep and what to store and what to take with her
to her new life in New York City. Now it was Katy’s turn to do exactly the same
thing. Mark had stayed with her for a few days after they returned from Seattle
but had left for a week to take care of some things at home. Katy had teased
him he needed to clean his apartment before she got there. He’d arrived back in
Portland a few days before she moved and had been a huge help in hauling pieces
of furniture and boxes to a storage facility. Katy knew she wouldn’t have been
able to accomplish the monumental task without him. And he’d arranged the boxes
she was keeping to be sent to his apartment in New York.

“I can’t believe that you have enough shoes they require
their own box,” he had said, seriously flabbergasted.

Katy had just smiled and was thankful he didn’t know there were
actually
two
boxes of shoes.

So when the morning came that she was really moving out of
her house, she was incredibly relieved that Mark was there for emotional
support, as well as free labor.

“I don’t think I’ll need to hit the gym for a few days,” he
had teased. “You’ve kept me working so hard I think I’ve lost a few pounds.”

They spent their last night in Portland at The Monaco Hotel.
After they had made love, Katy had to fight the tears off.

“Are you regretting your decision?” Mark had asked.

“No, not at all,” she had replied. “I think I’m just letting
go emotionally of everything, so that when we arrive in New York tomorrow, it’s
a clean slate, our fresh start.”

Mark had cradled her in his arms and she had fallen asleep,
knowing that tomorrow really was the beginning of her happily ever after.

So here she was, in New York City, her house in Portland
already leased, her personal items waiting for her at Mark’s apartment, and a
new life to begin. As they retrieved their luggage from the carousel at the
baggage claim, Katy felt calm and peaceful, happy and optimistic for the
future.

Stepping into the early April air, Katy inhaled and closed
her eyes, cherishing the moment, which was rudely interrupted as she was
tackled from the side.

“KATY!!!”

She grinned at the sound of her name and dropped her bag to
embrace her best friend. Janie refused to let go and the two women stood on the
sidewalk, oblivious to the world around them, as Mark, Matt, and Ray loaded
their luggage into the trunk of the black BMW parked at the curb.

“How long do we let them stand there?” Mark asked his older
brother.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past several
months, it’s to not ask questions,” Matt grinned.

*****

Matt and Janie dropped Mark and Katy of at Mark’s apartment.
He had lived in Greenwich Village for the past few years and loved it. He hoped
that Katy would love it too.

The elevator took them to the tenth floor and Mark unlocked
the door and anxiously let Katy in.

“It’s two bedrooms, right?”

“Yep,” Mark said.

To the right was an open kitchen with modern appliances and a
long counter that divided the space from the dining area. To the left were a
powder room and an alcove where Mark obviously worked. There was a computer and
printer and a bookshelf full of binders and books and file folders. Straight
ahead was the living room. It was a big open space with comfortable furnishings
and floor to ceiling windows. Katy walked between the two leather sofas and
stood looking out over the Hudson River.

“Water,” she smiled.

She turned to Mark who was standing just behind, waiting to
hear what she thought.

“Let’s see the rest,” she said.

Mark showed her the guest bedroom and its adjoining
bathroom.

“It will work for Derek, don’t you think?” Mark asked.

Katy smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Yeah, it will work
just fine.”

Across the hall was the master bedroom. Mark pushed open the
door and the first thing she saw was the king-sized bed against the wall. There
were two bedside tables on both sides and a long bench at the foot. The color
scheme was neutral; tans and creams with a touch of brown. There was a chair
and reading lamp next to the door and long curtains that were drawn across the
windows. Mark hurried over and pulled on the cord, revealing a similar view to
that of the living room, only there was a small balcony that held two chairs
and a small table.

“A nice place for coffee in the morning or a cold beer in
the evening?” he asked.

“Oh, yes,” she grinned.

There was a luxurious bathroom and a walk-in closet to
complete the suite.

“Well?” asked Mark. “What do you think?”

Katy turned and left the room and headed back into the
living area.

“I thought you and Matt were partners?” she asked.

“We are.”

“Yet, he has a sprawling apartment with thirty bedrooms and
marble over every square inch and you’ve got what? Fifteen hundred square
feet?”

Mark’s eyes opened wide and he felt a little panicked at her
tone.

“It’s two thousand square feet, but if you want to move, we
can. I’ve lived here by myself for a long time but we can buy something else.”

Katy studied him for a moment and then burst out laughing.

“Just kidding!” she ran into his arms and hugged him
tightly. “It’s perfect! I love it!”

“Fuck, Katy. You scared the shit out of me!” Mark sighed,
relief flowing through his body.

“Matt and Janie’s apartment doesn’t have thirty bedrooms,
anyway,” she teased. “I believe there is only seven. Maybe eight.”

Mark laughed. “You’re sure? You can live here happily?”

“I can live in a box happily,” she smiled. “As long as I’m
with you.”

*****

Katy spent the next few days unpacking her boxes that had
arrived and organizing her new home. Mark had given her free reign to do as she
pleased. He had also given her a credit card to buy whatever she wanted. She
could change furniture, décor, anything. He didn’t care. He wanted her to be at
home and comfortable.

Janie joined her for lunch several times and invited them
over for dinner the following weekend. Matt was out of town on business for a
few days otherwise it would have been sooner.

“But I’m sure you don’t mind,” Janie had teased.

“Mind what?” Katy asked.

“Mind staying in at night, alone. Just the two of you.”

Katy grinned. She didn’t mind at all.

Mark and Katy had developed a routine very quickly. They
worked out in the gym in their apartment building and then had breakfast.
Sometimes it was at the little café across the street and sometimes, if it
wasn’t too cold, they ate cereal or bagels on their little balcony. Then they
showered, together, and Mark went off to work. Katy worked on the apartment,
reorganizing and shopping because Mark’s kitchenware was seriously lacking, and
she looked in the paper and online for a job.

A few days later, Katy had just finished her thirty minutes
on the treadclimber in the gym as she watched a woman, Katy guessed to be in
her early seventies, working with some two pound weights.

“I don’t mean to intrude,” Katy said, “But I have been a
nurse for a long time and have seen some injuries, especially in older people, because
they do these wrong. Would you mind if I helped you for a minute?”

“Oh not at all,” the woman smiled.

Katy showed her how to do some simple upper arm exercises.

“Thank you,” the woman smiled. “That
is
more
comfortable. And it doesn’t hurt my neck.”

“And it will do more for you too. I’m Katy, in apartment
1005. If you’d ever like me to help you, just call.”

The woman thanked her and Katy headed to the stationary bike
to cool off a bit.

“That was really well done,” said a man sitting on the bike
next to Katy. “You know what you’re talking about.”

Katy smiled and climbed on the bike.

“You’re a nurse?” he asked.

“Yep. Although not working right now.”

The man stopped cycling and hopped off the bike.

“I’m Alan. Alan Rainer. Dr. Alan Rainer,” he said and held
out his hand.

Katy shook it. “Katy,” she replied.

“This could be fate,” he smiled.

“What?”

“Meeting you, like this.”

“Thank you, but I’m not…”

“No!” he interrupted. “I’m not interested like
that
,”
he frowned.

Katy grinned.

“Oh, that did not come out right,” he sighed. “I’m sorry.
Can I start over?”

“That’s okay,” Katy laughed. “I’m too old for you anyway.”

Alan grinned and held out his hand. “Hi. I’m Dr. Alan Rainer
and I am older than I look,” he winked. “But,” he continued, “I am an
orthopedic surgeon and I specialize in geriatrics. Well, anybody over fifty,
really.”

Katy smiled and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“I think you are just what I have been looking for. I need a
nurse to help with post-op and sometimes a little bit of rehab, not physical
therapy, but answering questions and offering suggestions to patients when they
ask. I watched you with Mrs. Landry and you’re a natural.”

“Really?” Katy asked.