“I wish you were coming with me,” whispered Nick.
“I know, but I need to go to home and face the music. After all it is Christmas.”
“I know. Sure you don’t want me to go with you?”
“You’re sweet, but no. I want you to go to LA and have a great Christmas with your family.”
“OK. I’ll miss you.”
“Me too like crazy. Now go catch your plane and let me get to my gate,” said Kat
“I will call you when I get to the house.”
“Better.”
They were in the Atlanta Airport. They had flown from Orlando to Atlanta together. However, from there they were taking different planes to see their families. Beth and Melissa had stayed a week after the last concert. Kat and Nick had enjoyed their time together, but it was Christmas and their families were expecting them to spend the holiday with them. Nick kissed Kat one last time and she watched him until he was out of site. She then found her gate. The flight home was uneventful. Too bad the same couldn’t be said for when she landed.
“Katrina dear.”
Katrina shuttered as she turned. “Why are you here Dean?”
“Your father asked me to come pick you up. I’m having dinner with your family tonight and Dad thought it only logical that I come get you.”
“Dean when did you become my brother?”
“Darling I didn’t. Now we have lots of events to attend this week. Starting with tomorrow night. You now it’s the Annual Christmas Eve Eve Charity Ball hosted by the JAYCEES. Then of course we will be spending Christmas Eve with your parents and Christmas Day with mine. They have missed you so.”
“Dean ever thought of inpatient treatment?”
“I don’t quite follow you.”
“Well you must be on drugs if you think any of this is happening. I am not going anywhere with you. Now if you don’t mind I will be going.”
“Katrina don’t be difficult.”
“You haven’t begun to see difficult. Get out of my way or I will make a scene and you do so hate scenes.”
“Fine. Let’s get your luggage and go home.”
“Were you not listening to me? I am getting my luggage, my car from long term and going to my home. You don’t live there. Dean give up. You have lost.”
Katrina stepped around him and went to baggage claim. Dean was smart enough not to follow her. He’s plan was to get home ahead of her. Dean figured he would eventually win. After all he had James won over. He intended on being the youngest VP of her father’s company and he needed Kat as his wife to accomplish that goal.
Katrina was still fuming when she got to the house. Melissa met her at the door and pulled her straight up the stairs to her bedroom.
“Dean is here.”
“I know. Do you know he came to the airport to pick me up? He had this whole week planned out. I’m gonna be sick!”
Melissa laughed, “If you do, wait until you can do it on him. He makes my skin crawl.”
“And he’s never even touched you or tried to kiss you.”
The sisters looked at each other making retching sounds then collapsed in laughter. They talked for a few minutes. Finally they had no other choice. Dinner was served. They walked down the stairs like they were going to the inquisition. Dinner was quiet except for James and Dean’s discussion of the Stock Market. The girls excused themselves saying they were going to see Beth and were out the door before anyone could stop them.
Nick arrived safely in LA. His father was there to greet him. It was safer to leave the family reunion for the house. They drove to the house where everyone was waiting. After hugs were passed out and Nick took his bags to his room, he called Katrina.
“Hello. Morgan residence.”
“Hello. May speak to Kat?”
“Katrina is not here. May I ask who this is and why you are calling?”
“This is Nick Carter. Who is this?”
“Katrina’s boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend? Where is Kat?”
“I’m afraid that is none of your business. I will tell her you called. Although we are quite booked up for the next few days with dances, dinners, and of course our engagement party on New Years Eve.”
Nick just hung up in shock. Engaged? How could that be? He wandered into the kitchen. His mother and sister took one look at him and became alarmed.
Jane Carter exclaimed, “Nick what’s wrong?”
“Um….I just called Kat.”
“And,” pushed BJ.
“The guy who answered said he was her boyfriend and their engagement party is New Year’s Eve.”
BJ said, “Nick you must have misunderstood him.”
“BJ, I know what I heard.”
“Nick that just doesn’t make any sense.”
“I know Mom but that’s what he said.”
“Well call back and ask for her again.”
“Mom he is not going to let me talk to her.”
“Then I’ll call. I’ll ask for her sister….Melissa. Right?”
“Yeah,” said Nick.
He picked up the cordless on the counter and dialed the number. BJ took the phone and waited for someone to answer.
“Hello.”
“Hello. Mrs. Morgan?”
“Yes.”
“Hi this Melissa’s friend Bobbie Jean. Have she and Kat left?”
“Yes. They are on their way to Beth’s as we speak.”
“Shoot! I was suppose to meet them at Beth’s, but I lost the directions.”
“Well I can tell you how to get to Beth’s house.”
“You could? Wonderful,” said BJ. She listened while Kat’s mom gave her the directions. “Great! I hate to do this but I need to ask one last favor. Do you know Beth’s phone number? It was with the directions. I need to let them know I’m running a little late and not to leave without me.”
BJ wrote down the number. After thanking Mrs. Morgan she hung up.
Jane laughed, “Where did you learn to be so convincing… a…fibber?”
“I want to be an actress Mom. Comes with the territory. There you go big brother of mine.”
Nick kissed her cheek and said, “Thanks sis.”
“Nick why aren’t you dialing the number?”
“What if it’s true Mom?”
“I highly doubt it, but you will never know until you call.”
“Yeah,” sighed Nick as he dialed the number.
“Hello,” greeted Beth
“Beth tell my sister it’s OK that she wasn’t there to get Nick’s call. He will call back,” said Melissa as she followed Katrina into Beth’s apartment.
“Why did you leave before Nick called?”
The sisters answered, “Dean!”
“Say no more. Kat just call Nick.”
“Gee, hadn’t thought of that! One problem, I don’t have the number!”
Beth laughed, “Problem.”
Just then the phone rang. Beth answered then doubled over laughing. She handed the phone to Kat.
“Hello,” said Kat.
“Hello,” said Nick.
“Hi sweetie! How did you get this number,” asked Kat and got no response. “Nick? What’s wrong?”
“Are you engaged Kat?”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“No! Why did you ask that?”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“That depends on you?”
“Me?”
“Yes. Are we boyfriend and girlfriend? That will give you your answer.”
“So the guy who answered the phone at your house isn’t your boyfriend?”
“Dean! I’m going to kill that bastard,” screamed Kat as she dropped the phone.
“Kat where are you going,” called Beth as Kat grabbed her purse and keys and headed out the door.
“To kill daddy’s favorite!”
Melissa picked up the phone and said, “Nick? Give me the abridged version. Why is Kat going to kill Dean?”
She listened as Nick quickly told her about his conversation with Dean. She got his number and told him they would call him after they stopped the murder. She and Beth ran to Beth’s car and tore out for the Morgan house.
Katrina came in the house looking for Dean. She passed her mother. Dana recognized that look in her daughter’s eyes and followed her to the study. Dean walked toward Katrina and she punched him dead in he nose. She then kicked his feet out from under him and sat on him on the floor.
“That was for lying you bastard.”
“Katrina Renee Morgan get off him,” bellowed her father.
“No! Tell them what you did Dean,” order Katrina.
“Get off me bitch,” said Dean as he shoved her off him.
“What did you call me daughter,” asked James in a deadly tone.
“I’m sorry James.”
“Yeah you’re sorry alright,” said Katrina. “Tell them what you did Ass!”
“Young lady watch your language,” cautioned her father.
“Screw my language!”
“Katrina,” yelled her father
.
“Dean please explain why my daughter is so upset,” said Dana taking control of the situation.
“I don’t know,” said Dean.
“Bull,” said Melissa as she walked in with Beth. “Woah! Kat did you do that to his face? Cool!”
“Melissa I’m not pleased,” said James.
“So you finally see this slug for what he is, a slimy piece of flesh.”
“No. I’m not please with either of my daughters’ behavior.”
“That’s it! I’m gone,” exclaimed Katrina
“Everyone shut up and sit down,” shouted Dana. “Thank you. Now Melissa I want you to tell me what happened.”
“Nick called Katrina after we left. Dean answered. He told Nick Katrina was his girlfriend and their engagement party was New Year’s Eve.”
“Is this true,” Dana asked Dean. “Don’t lie to me either.”
“Well. I was just playing around.”
“You are such a liar,” screamed Kat.
“James I was only doing what you wanted me to do.”
“What does he mean father,” asked Kat.
“What I wanted? Please explain Dean.”
“You said you wished Katrina and I were together and she would forget about this singer. I was just helping that to happen. We’ve talked about my dreams. To marry Kat and become your right hand man.”
“That’s it,” exclaimed Kat. “You were never in love with me. You were in love with my father or rather what you get from my father.”
“Katrina!”
“James she’s right. I’ve had a bad feeling about this young man for some time now. Dean I think you should leave my house and never come back. I have no control over what my husband does with the company, but I do have control over my house. Now out!”
“Want us to help you,” asked Beth as she, Lissa and Kat stood up.
“No I’ll go,” said Dean as he made a hasty retreat.
“Well that was interesting,” said James Morgan after Dean was gone.
“It’s about to get more interesting! Dad I feel I need to make some things perfectly clear to you.
I love you. However, I am going to live my life, because it is my life not yours. Maybe you finally realize what I have been trying to tell you about Dean. Also that singer you want to keep me from is named Nick Carter. He’s a very successful singer. He’s talented, funny, smart, 19 and gorgeous. More importantly, I like the person I am when I’m around him. He treats me like I’m special. He thinks I’m beautiful. That’s right and he told me. So leave him alone. Now I am going to stay at Beth’s. Lissa want to come?”
“Sure.”
“Thanks Mom,” said Kat as she kissed her mother’s cheek.
“Anytime for my baby girls. We will talk tomorrow.”
“Sure Mom.”
They all said good night and left. Kat called Nick when she got back to Beth’s. She had Nick laughing so hard he couldn’t breath while she was telling about laying out Dean. Then he just wanted to hold her when she talked about her dad. When they said good night, he promised to call her every day they were apart. Katrina was glad she had Nick to talk to, because he listened and made her feel better. She drifted off to sleep wishing he were there.
Katrina balanced the tray as she opened the bedroom door and stepped inside. She was greeted with her face. She stifled a giggle as she realized she was looking into a mirror. She looked around the room. The blow up palm tree was so Nick. The whole room was really. Looking back at the mirror she let her eyes wander down to the figure in the bed beneath it. Nick was sprawled on his stomach in the middle of his king size bed. One arm was under his head and the other was flung out beside him. The sheet was down to his waist exposing his bare back. Katrina walked to the side of the bed. She looked down at his face. He looked like a little boy. She couldn’t resist the urge to touch his hair. It was as soft as she imagined. Nick shifted and swatted at her hand. Her laughter woke him up. 
