from the start. He always kept the parts of his life carefully separated. Physical attraction in one corner, business in another, family in still another. Kathryn had managed to spill over into all three. He hadn't thought much of it at first. He was too busy dealing with the immediate problems facing him. When he did get a few moments to think about it, he realized how special Kathryn had been to him.
He'd been of two minds about her from the start. He hadn't want to get involved with a woman who had abetted Cynthia in running away from home. He'd wanted to bring the whammy down on her good and proper, but a few hours' consideration - maybe it had taken only a few minutes - had convinced him he was strongly attracted to Kathryn. No red-blooded man could be around her and not be attracted. She was just too pretty, too vital, too... He wasn't sure what word to use, but it was impossible for him to be indifferent to her.
But it hadn't taken him long to realize that behind that facade she was as unhappy as the rest of them. Every time they had come close to talking about her family, she changed the subject, a dead giveaway something was seriously wrong. He intended to fix it. That was the least he could do after what she'd done for Cynthia and the rest of these girls.
He looked around the room. Cynthia and Leigh were talking to Betsy's family. It was a shame the girl was so shy and nervous...or just plain scared.
Maybe the boy had given her the feeling he understood her, that he would stand up for her. He could see how she would reach out to anyone who gave her the sense of importance her family didn't. He'd have to have a long talk with them. Now that she'd gotten the courage to break away, Betsy wouldn't go back unless things changed radically.
He couldn't help but wonder if Cynthia had felt that way about him. He'd done everything he could to make sure she felt loved and cared for, but he was learning things that mattered to him didn't necessarily matter the same way to other people.
He wondered what was at the bottom of Julia's disaffection from her family. Her parents seemed exactly what you'd expect in professional and social circles, and genuinely interested in their children.
They said they would do anything that might bring Julia home, yet both parents were in earnest conversation with Kathryn while Julia shifted her weight from foot to foot looking bored and angry. They needed to learn to talk with their daughter rather than just about her.
Could the same be said of him? He thought he'd tried to talk to Cynthia during the last few years, but had he really talked to her, really listened to her, or had he just thought he had? Whatever the case, he'd have to do better. It was hard watching her be so animated, so open, talking to Betsy's family, when she was so closed and withdrawn when he tried to talk to her. He would have to count on Leigh and Kathryn to help convince Cynthia he'd changed, that he really did love her and want to learn to make her happy.
It was hard to stand back and wait for someone else to do the work for him. All his life he'd taken the initiative, sometimes despite active opposition from people who should have been helping him. He was aggressive, decisive, hardheaded, confident, consistent and knew exactly what he wanted. He'd have to learn to make these attributes appear positive in Cynthia's eyes.
In Kathryn's, too.
In the meantime he'd better make sure his brilliant idea of a weekend retreat was a success. Lisette's family was next. Lisette was a pretty girl with a very engaging personality, but he didn't understand how a boy like Kerry could have fallen so desperately in love with her. He would have thought they'd drive each other nuts. He was relieved to see the Saunders family actually appeared to welcome his approach.
"This is an absolutely beautiful place," Mrs. Saunders said when he reached the group. "Thank you for inviting us." She looked uneasily at Lisette, who was snuggled up against Kerry. She appeared to be using him as a barrier against her parents. "It's been good to be able to spend a few minutes with Lisette."
"I hope you'll have more than a few minutes together before the weekend