After the Rain by Lilian Darcy

Author:Lilian Darcy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, contemporary romance, enemies, enemies to lovers
Publisher: Tule Publishing Inc

Chapter Eleven

Kira hadn’t considered that she might see Kate Pearce at the exhibition opening. As the Vice-Principal at Marietta High, Kate was on the mailing list along with several other key staff members, because the school’s art and history departments both made field trips out to the Haraldsen ranch from time to time. But Kate had only come to an opening once before, since Kira had started working here.

Tonight, though, she and her husband must have both had a free evening, because here they were. Both in their early fifties, they were still a very nice-looking couple and they looked quietly in tune and content with each other, Kate with her dark honey bob and black-framed glasses toning with the fall color palette of her dress, and Harrison in dark pants and a rather stiff-looking shirt.

The beautiful June weather and late daylight had brought a good crowd for the event, not just locals but those from farther afield who were interested in Benno Haraldsen’s vision. Kira was kept very busy making sure that their biggest benefactors and supporters received the right attention.

Then she saw Kate talking to Casey, and he caught her eye and motioned for her to come over. She and Kate exchanged a quick hug, with their wine glasses held aside for safety, then Kate got right to the point. Kira guessed she and Casey must have been talking for a while, before she’d noticed.

“This is a face from the past, isn’t it?” Kate said. “Casey has filled me in.”

“I… uh…” It was a helpless reply, more hesitation than speech.

“Look, we won’t talk about it now. I told him maybe tomorrow in my office at school, if that works for you?”

“Does it work for you, though, Kate? I know how busy you must be, winding up the school year.”

“We’re all busy. But if questions have come up, then I’d like to help answer them, if I can. I’ll talk to Harrison, too.” She looked around, finding him on the far side of the gallery space, talking to Nate Vaughn. “I know he still thinks about that night. Too much.”

“Tomorrow would be great,” Kira said.

“Four o’clock? Is that too early?”

“We always have a pretty quiet day here, after an opening. I don’t think there’s anything that will stop us from getting away.”

“Don’t think I’ll be driving by tomorrow,” Casey said. “Is that okay, Kira? You’ll have to drop me back here, afterward.”

“That’s no problem.” Mom would keep Jake as long as Kira needed her to.

Mom would have questions of her own, when Kira came to collect him.

Harrison Pearce was waving at his wife from across the room. “I think he’s had enough art for one night,” Kate said cheerfully. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She squeezed Kira’s hand before she moved away, and suddenly Kira felt as if she was fourteen years old again, with Kate’s comforting presence the only thing keeping the universe knitted together. Kate had come to visit a couple of times in the months after Neve’s death, Kira remembered.

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