Campaigning for Love Read online

  Gina harrumphed and waved the form at her. “I filled it out for you. All you have to do is sign right here.” She jabbed her finger at the red sticky tab marking the spot. “And, Ms. Paid Officer of the Court, I don’t recall you getting any compensation for the nights, weekends or holidays you spend at the shelters and halfway houses giving out free legal advice.” She paused only long enough to breathe. “Not to mention, driving a little boy to see his grandmother while she’s in the hospital. If anyone deserves an award for looking out for this community, it’s you. And while you’re at it, why don’t you think about running for public office? I heard there’s a seat open on the city council.”

  Couldn’t she catch a break today? Her body ached as if they’d all used it as a punching bag. The tea hadn’t worked its special effects. Her head was still pounding. “I told you, I’m not signing it. Now let it go.” In one fluid motion, she plucked the paper out of Gina’s hand, wadded it up, and tossed it toward the garbage can.

  Gina’s look as she salvaged her reusable sticky tab from the crumpled paper conveyed her belief Katherine had lost her mind. “I’m telling Judge Pierce you’re being stubborn. And, I made copies. Lots of copies.” She stalked back to her desk.

  “I’m always stubborn. That’s how I get my way in court,” she yelled toward the empty doorway. With a tired sigh, she rubbed at the ache in her temples and prayed she was wrong about God’s plan for her life.

  Chapter 2

  Katherine breathed a silent thank-you when Judge Pierce tapped his gavel at the conclusion of the afternoon session.

  “Miss Harper, my clerk requested some paperwork from you. Your assistant believes it will be turned in late.”

  She closed her eyes and bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry. It’s just that...” She heaved a weary sigh but straightened her spine, ready to argue. “I can’t see how it’s necessary to complete the paperwork at this time. There are plenty of other members in the community who are more deserving of the committee’s consideration.” She held her breath and prayed in silence.

  “You know I’m on the selection committee this year.” The judge’s voice held an inflexible edge.

  “I know. But I’m asking you to—” She would not beg. “Pick someone else this year.” She struggled to keep the sheen of tears from her eyes. She was counting on him remembering his offer of a continuance this morning. She hated pity. But she hated drawing attention to herself even more. And this ridiculous idea of nominating her for Citizen of the Year screamed, “Hey, look at me!” for sure.

  He folded his arms across his chest. “Each judge sponsors a candidate. I chose you. I want those papers completed and on my desk within the next week, young lady, or I’ll hold you in contempt!” He rapped his gavel with enough force the block jumped. He rose and strode out of the courtroom as regal as a prince.

  She gaped at his display of temper.

  “What was that all about?” Nick asked.

  She snapped her briefcase closed. “It’s personal.”

  “Yeah, judges ask about paperwork that’s personal while on the bench.” His voice dripped sarcasm.

  “It has nothing to do with the court. He and a bunch of his judicial friends serve on the board. He can make me talk about it here, but he can’t use the bench to force me to do what he wants.”

  He shrugged. “All my cases are processed at the courthouse downtown. I’m not too familiar with the annex. Is there a place around here that serves a good cup of coffee?”

  She grabbed her briefcase, ready to leave. “There’s a cafeteria on the ground floor. Sorry, I’m late. I’ll see you back here Tuesday.”

  Nick was blocking her path of escape. He held her gaze for a stalled heartbeat, and then moved aside. “I’ll catch you next time.”

  * * *

  Nick sat across from his father in the country club dining room. The gurgle of water trickling over the rocks in the fountain nearby muted the clink of silverware and glass. They had dinner here every Thursday night. His father used the meal to push whatever agenda he had in mind for Nick’s future.

  “How is family court going?” Edward Delaney asked.

  “Nothing like civil court. Those kids’ stories will tear your heart out. The advocate serving with Judge Pierce is great. She’s very involved in their lives and cares about what happens to them.”

  His dad let out a long sigh, waiting until the waiter left. “You need to focus on your image and link yourself with people who can boost your political career.”

  Nick’s appetite faded the longer his father spoke.

  “Abby Blackmon is single. She’s an attorney and her father is a U.S. senator. You’d have a lot in common.” He punctuated his words with jabs of his fork. “The Citizen of the Year dinner is coming up. I left a pair of tickets with your secretary. The press will be there photographing the who’s who of the city. A picture in the paper with Abby Blackmon on your arm would show the citizens of Pemberly you’re friends with the right kind of people. Powerful people.”

  Nick’s worst nightmare had come true. His father intended to pick his wife out for him. He took a drink of water to moisten his dry throat. “I appreciate your concern and your warnings, Dad, but I’ll find my own date. And, I’ll pick my own wife, if I get married.”

  “If? Look here, boy...” His father dropped his voice when the couple at the next table stared at them. “Do you know how hard it is to get elected if you’re single? Voters associate marriage with stability, with commitment.”

  “Maybe so, but I won’t choose my wife based on her pedigree. Or what she can do for my career, political or otherwise. I want someone who loves me for myself. Someone who makes me happy. Besides, you never remarried.”

  A flash of pain so brief he could have imaged it crossed his father’s face, chased away by a belligerent growl.

  Nick regretted the remarriage comment and drew the conversation back to his father’s favorite topic with a confident grin. “Besides, I have an election to win. I don’t have time for a personal life these days. But if I did, I’d find my own date to the dinner.” The image of green eyes sparking with temper from across the courtroom stole into his mind.

  His father’s jaw flexed. But the determined edge in Nick’s voice held him in check. Their biggest disagreements revolved around women. Their difference of opinion had surfaced when Nick was in high school. His father had encouraged him to date girls from prominent families. But if someone’s lineage hadn’t measured up to his father’s high standards, he’d hounded Nick until it was impossible to continue any type of contact. There would be a fight when his father discovered Katherine Harper, the attorney, was Kat Jenkins, former foster kid.

  “You can’t afford any distractions, not when you’re this close to the first big step in your political career. I’d give anything to trade places with you. To have the opportunities you have available for your future.”

  Edward Delaney’s favorite words. Nick managed not to roll his eyes. Anytime he hesitated about going along with his father’s vision, out came those words. He understood his father’s drive. Respected it, and even accepted it—most of the time. He wanted to tell his father that he could receive as many blessings for himself if he opened his heart to Christ. His father wouldn’t receive the words the way he intended them. Instead, he would mock Nick’s faith.

  Despite the grief his father would give him, Nick wanted to renew his friendship with Katherine. To get to know her, find out why she’d run away, and what had made her decide to practice law. He hoped that maybe all his talk about law school had influenced her career choice. He was so glad their paths had crossed. That it had happened at all just proved God’s continued blessings on his life.

  By the next day, Nick questioned his optimism. Unavailable, again. How could she be out of the office every time he called? He’d left several messages with her as
sistant. The woman sounded polite, but after the second call, he knew Kat was there. The ever-efficient Gina stumbled over an excuse instead of putting him through. He tried her cell. Four rings, then voicemail. He just wanted to talk to her without a three-foot-tall munchkin present.

  * * *

  It was almost lunchtime before Katherine came into the office Monday. While she was out, Gina had papered her desk with phone messages. One was from Nick with the notation “personal” checked. She wadded up the blue strip of paper and aimed for the trash.

  Gina ordered lunch in and they went over progress reports due to the court for each of the children assigned to her office.

  The conference room phone rang. Gina reached for the handset. “Katherine Harper’s office. Yes, she is. May I ask who is calling?” Gina pressed the hold button. “It’s Nick Delaney. I put a message from him on your desk.”

  Katherine kept her eyes on the pages in front of her. “Tell him I’m unavailable.” She ignored the growing silence that spread between them.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but Miss Harper is unavailable. Yes, I would be happy to let her know you called. Thank you, goodbye.”

  After Gina hung up, she leaned across the table. “What gives?”

  They’d worked together for five years and they were friends. Gina’s brazenness meant Katherine’s personal life was as open for discussion as the files laid out in front of them.

  Katherine avoided direct eye contact. “Nothing, he’s the attorney for the state. We don’t have any issues that he needs to discuss with me, and I’m busy. I don’t have time for small talk.”

  “How do you know it’s small talk?” Gina’s eyes widened. “Wait. Is he the Nicholas Delaney, heir to the Edward Delaney corporate attorney mega firm?” Her voice went all breathy and she wiggled her eyebrows in a very bad Groucho Marx imitation.

  “Yes, he is.” There was no telling where this conversation would go after she admitted that piece of information.

  “How’d he end up in family court?”

  “Judge Hawthorne cited him for contempt. He’s serving out a two-month sentence.” She gathered up the files on the table, intent on making her escape. She’d finish her work in her office. Across the hall. Away from Gina. And avoid further talk about Nick.

  “Realllly?”

  The way Gina strung the word out didn’t bode well for a speedy exit. Katherine shot her an impatient glare, which Gina ignored.

  “I bet Daddy’s furious over the timing of this little side trip.”

  Already regretting feeding Gina’s penchant for gossip, the words tumbled out of Katherine’s mouth. “What are you talking about?”

  With a very pleased smile, Gina spilled. “The chatter at lunch among us lowly assistants is that Daddy wants Nicky Boy to run for city council. He’s expected to go public with his announcement any day now.”

  The words stalled Katherine in the doorway. “I guess he’ll get his wish,” she said more to herself than Gina before going into her office and closing the door.

  Her cell phone rang. Nick’s number popped up on the display. She pressed “ignore” and set the phone face down on her desk. He’d figure out not everyone jumped when a Delaney beckoned.

  * * *

  Tuesday morning, Nick stood waiting outside the courtroom twenty minutes before the start of session. Katherine came out of the elevator holding a little girl’s hand. They stopped outside the restroom. She leaned down and spoke to the little girl before she went inside. Alone.

  He walked up behind her. “Katherine.”

  She spun around, her eyes wide, her hand over her heart. “Oh, Nick, you startled me.”

  “Sorry. You are one busy lady. I’ve been calling you since Saturday and haven’t been able to reach you.”

  “Was there a case we needed to discuss?”

  No admission of avoiding him, but she didn’t meet his gaze. “I wondered if you had time to talk. Catch up on what’s been going on since high school.” No need to tip his hand or scare her away, but he needed more than two minutes outside the courtroom to do this right. They could be setting the foundation for the renewal of their friendship.

  His confidence in his plan wavered as her expression morphed from wary to cool then outright angry, leaving her cheeks tinged with pink and her nostrils flaring.

  “Catch up on old times?” Her voice took on a frosty edge. “There’s nothing to catch up on.”

  The little girl came out of the ladies’ room and wrapped her arms around Katherine’s leg. She reached down and smoothed her dark hair. “We have to get going. I wouldn’t want to be late. Judge Pierce doesn’t cite contempt very often, but he is touchy about tardiness.”

  “So I’ve heard.” He followed them into the courtroom.

  “Just be honest with me.” He spoke to her back as she settled Susan into the booster seat. “Why won’t you take my calls?”

  She shot a quick glance at him before she pulled a princess coloring book and crayons from her briefcase. “We don’t have anything personal to say to each other. It’s not like we were friends.”

  “Are you kidding me?” They’d spent hours in the library after school, not just solving calculus problems, but arguing about pizza, discussing the latest movie or talking about music or books they’d read. Where was this coming from? What had turned her against him?

  And of course, Judge Pierce chose that moment to walk in and take his seat.

  Unable to hide his growing frustration, Nick dropped his voice to a harsh whisper. “Come on, Kat, we need to talk.”

  “Don’t call me that! She doesn’t exist. I don’t have time to talk to you, and I don’t want to.” She spat the words at him.

  “Miss Harper and Susan, it’s good to see you this morning. You too, Mr. Delaney.” The judge greeted them.

  “Thank you, Your Honor,” they both said.

  Katherine gave background on Susan’s case and made her recommendations. But Nick had studied Susan’s file. He presented alternate housing and placement solutions and questioned her recommendations. Apparently, the “Unreachable Katherine Harper” didn’t like having her choices questioned. Well, she’d see he took his job as the state’s representative as seriously as she took her position as the child’s advocate.

  “What are you doing?” She hissed after his latest counter-suggestion.

  “My job. That’s why I’m here.”

  “You don’t have a job here. You’re doing penance!”

  The venom in her voice had him jerking his head around to face her. “Maybe so, but I care about these kids just as much as you do.”

  The derisive roll of her eyes had him praying for patience.

  * * *

  The insistent tapping of the gavel forced Katherine’s gaze away from Nick in time to catch the frown on Judge Pierce’s face. Great. What had she missed?

  She followed the judge’s gaze toward Susan. The little girl had her doll clutched to her chest. Her lower lip was quivering and her big blue eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

  Burning shame washed over Katherine. She scooted over and pulled Susan into her lap, cradling her in her arms. “Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s okay. Everything is fine.”

  She glared at Nick, who at least had the decency to look shamefaced.

  Disgust rolled within her for losing sight of what was most important and upsetting this sweet little girl. “I’m so sorry, Your Honor. I don’t know what came over me. I lost my focus. I won’t let it happen again.”

  “Your Honor, it was my fault,” Nick interrupted. “I tried to speak with Miss Harper about something that could have waited until after session. I apologize for distracting her and disrupting your courtroom.”

  His attempt to deflect blame away from her was unexpected. She glance
d over at him before she looked back at the judge.

  The judge watched both of them, his eyes searching, assessing, before he spoke. “Bailiff, please bring Mrs. Davis in and ask her to take Susan back to Trinity Care. We’re finished with her hearing for today. Miss Harper, you and Mr. Delaney meet me in my chambers in ten minutes.” Bam!

  They both jumped.

  Katherine ignored Nick. She didn’t answer him when he called after her on the way down the long hall to Judge Pierce’s office. She walked as fast as she could without breaking into a full sprint, putting as much distance between them as possible.

  That scene in the courtroom. She’d never been so out of control. Forgetting what she was doing. The child’s welfare came ahead of everything else—always. She’d been so engrossed in taking Nick down a peg, she’d forgotten where she was, what mattered most. She’d forgotten about Susan.

  “Kat. Katherine, wait. Talk to me. Why are you so upset?” He was gaining on her.

  She paused in front of the judge’s door and let him catch up. “My life has been just fine for the past thirteen years without you in it.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t see any reason to change that. What could we have to say to each other after all this time? I mean, seriously, Nick?”

  Before he could respond, the door swung open.

  “Come in, Katherine, Nick. Take a seat.”

  Once they were inside, Judge Pierce pinned both of them with a heated glower. “Would someone like to explain to me what just happened in my courtroom?”

  “Well...”

  “You see...”

  He held up a hand. “One at a time, please. Better yet, I’ll start. Do you two know each other?”

  She looked at Nick, unable to keep her temper from flaring. “We, um, we went to the same high school for part of a semester our senior year. We haven’t seen each other since then. Not until last week in your courtroom.”