A Wright Christmas

“We’re going to go to the board about this,” Bart threatened.

“By all means,” I said neutrally. Meanwhile, I was holding back the scream threatening to break free from my lungs.

“We’ll have your job,” Angelica snarled as she rushed toward the door. “We’re very powerful attorneys.”

“That is great to know. I’d be happy to hear what the board has to say.”

They each threw me one more glare before leaving my office. I collapsed back into my chair and groaned. My whole body was shaking with anger at the interaction. How dare they think that they could threaten me! How dare they come here and try to force my hand!

I took a few deep breaths and then jotted out a text to Kathy, letting her know what had happened. She responded instantly. Apparently, unsurprisingly, it wasn’t the first time this had happened. She would talk to the president of the board and with the executive director, Nick. I felt relieved that it wasn’t on my shoulders, but I felt an even greater need to shield Bebe. Katelyn was out for blood.

I still held my phone, debating on whether or not to say something to Bebe at the show tonight when it vibrated in my hand. I looked down in surprise at the text message from Katherine Van Pelt.

I finally have a moment to myself. Coffee? Please tell me there’s good coffee in this town!Coffee. God, that sounded good. I stared at the pile of paperwork I needed to get through, but I just didn’t have it in me after that fight with Katelyn’s parents.

Monomyth on Broadway. See you in ten?* * *Monomyth was an all-white brick building just off of the Texas Tech campus on a bumpy red brick street. The word coffee was labeled in large red letters down the side of the building, and the inside was just as adorable with a cluster of tables usually filled with college students pretending to study. The best part was the incredible aroma whenever you stepped inside. Divine.

I ordered a latte and then took a seat by the window to look at the clouds rolling in on the horizon. Katherine appeared a minute later, looking gorgeous with her long, flowing brown hair and somehow so out of place. She belonged on runways and in boutiques on Fifth Avenue and strolling through Central Park. She hardly looked like the type to come to a quaint college coffee shop in Lubbock. But here she was, in pencil skinny jeans, a tucked-in white button-up, and a red peacoat that matched her lush red lips.

I waved at her, and she came to sit down after she had some kind of skinny iced mocha concoction in her hand.

“Iced?” I asked with a laugh. “You realize that the weather is only getting colder as the day goes on.”

She shrugged. “When I was pregnant with Helene, all I wanted was iced coffee, but I gave it up entirely. I still can’t get enough of it.”

“That makes more sense.” I blew on my coffee, which was still too hot to drink. “I’m so glad you messaged. I was just dealing with the worst parents. Their daughter walked out of my class, and now, they think they’re going to come after me.”

Katherine practically cackled. “Yeah, good luck with that. Don’t they know who you are?”

“They’re small town, small-minded, and they don’t seem to care.”

“Well, thank God you and I will be back in New York City in a week then.” Katherine held her drink out to cheers, and I knocked mine against hers with a wince. But she was too perceptive and latched on to the twitch. “What is it? Aren’t you ready to go back? Don’t you miss the city streets and the crisp smell and shopping and food and excitement on every block?”

She was projecting. That was for sure. She clearly missed New York, which made sense since she’d grown up there. But I’d grown up here with wide-open spaces and cotton fields and family. It wasn’t as easy to go back to that life even if it was my life.

“I am. I do miss the city.”

“But…” Katherine offered.

I shrugged, not sure how to even begin to explain.

“Let me guess…a boy?”

“Am I that transparent?” I asked with a laugh.

Katherine grinned wickedly. “I can read people.” She leaned forward. “Now, tell me about this boy.”

“Isaac. You met him at the charity event a couple weeks ago.”

“Oh, right,” Katherine said, tapping her lip. “He was good-looking, quiet type, body of secrets.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Well, yes. You can read people, can’t you?”

“That’s my superpower.”

“We dated for three years in high school and broke up when I left for New York. Now, I’m back and he has a daughter and we…kind of hooked up last night.”

Katherine arched an eyebrow. “That is a lot. But…what do you think is going to happen in a week? He has a daughter? That’s serious, Peyton.”