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Chapter 19
“Nick! What are you doing here?”
“I’m happy to see you too,” laughed Nick.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” whispered Kat before kissing him until a throat was cleared.
“Oops! Hi Jane.”
“Hi Katrina.”
“Good, you are here! I’m Dana Morgan. Come in,” greeted Kat’s mother coming to the front door.
“Hi Dana. It’s nice to meet face to face. I’m Jane and this is my husband, Bob. This bunch is Aaron, BJ, Leslie, and Angel. The big lug hugging you daughter you know.”
“Hi Mrs. Morgan,” said Nick while blushing.
“Hi Nick. Well let’s get you settled into the guest house,” said Dana. Then stepping to the door she yelled, “James just pull around to the back.” Turning back to the group. “Now if you will follow me. We will cut through the house.”
As they were unloading the Carter’s luggage, Kat pulled her mother to the side asking, “Why? How? What? Who? When? Dad?”
Dana laughed, “I’ve always loved your short hand. I called the Carter’s and invited them here for New Years Eve. The how is a plane and you father picked them up at the airport. The ‘who’ are Jane and I on Christmas day, which explains the when. Now the why, because you were moping around missing that young man. I called Jane and found out he was moping too. We decided to get you two together and also meet. This gives everyone a chance to get to know each other.”
“I can’t believe Dad agreed to it.”
“Dear I can be very persuasive when I want something.”
“True Mom. I love you,” said Kat kissing her mom on the cheek.
“Because I got Nick here?”
“Because you know me so well and yes you got Nick here!”
“Yes thanks Mrs. Morgan for getting me here,” said Nick as he walked up to the two women.
“It’s my pleasure Nick and call me Dana.”
“Thanks Dana.”
“Why don’t you two go for a ride? It will give us a chance to get to know your family Nick. Also I’m sure the Wilson’s would love to see you.”
“Thanks Mom. Let’s make a quick break before you brother, sisters, or my father see us.”
Dana watched the young couple head for the barn. She then looked at Jane Carter, who gave her a conspiratorial wink. Together they set about keeping everyone busy and gave Kat and Nick a chance to get away undetected.
“Woman come see what Kat has dragged in!”
“What are you on about? Nick!!! And Kat. Come in and give me a hug,” said Mrs. Wilson.
“Hi Mama Wilson,” said Nick hugging the older woman.
“And you young lady! Why didn’t you tell us this handsome fella was coming to visit.”
“I didn’t know until I opened the door. His whole family is here.”
“Well it’s good to see you boy,” said Mr. Wilson.
Nick and Kat stayed an hour with the older couple. They then rode to the waterfall. It was cold enough to make the air nippy. They stood and watched the water tumble into the pool below. Nick was standing behind Kat with his arms wrapped around her. He inhaled her scent.
“Nick I’ve missed you so much.”
“Me too Kitten,” said Nick.
Kat giggled, “Kitten? Where did that come from?”
“Oh hush. When you are like this you remind me of a little kitten. All warm and cuddly.”
“Aww Nick, you are so sweet,” she said.
“It’s easy with you.”
Kat turned in his arms to look at him. His hair had fallen into his eyes. She brushed it away.
“Nick I care about you so much. I can’t believe you are in my life.”
“This is not an…I can’t believe I’m involved with Nick Backstreet…is it?”
“No. Now part of what shaped you into the person you are is what you do for a living. I wouldn’t trade you being a Backstreet Boy for anything. Only, because it makes you happy and it helped make you the person I care about. Does that make sense?”
“I guess.”
“Also if you said right now I don’t want to do it anymore I would say OK. I would ask what do you want to do, then I would support and help you anyway I could.”
“That’s one of the reasons I care about you. You care about me.”
They looked deep into each other’s eyes. Nick leaned down and kissed her. They kissed for several minutes, when they finally came up for air they were breathless. It was getting dark so they headed back to the house.
After grooming the horses, they walked hand in hand into the house. They were greeted by laughter once they entered the kitchen. They followed it to the family room where they found not only the rest of the Morgan and Carter clans, but also the Wilson’s and Beth. They joined the group and soon found out they had plans for New Year’s Eve. The Wilson’s decided to throw a party. They had exactly two full days to pull it together. Mama Wilson, Jane and Dana were deciding the menu. Papa Wilson had decided there would be a hay ride for the youngin’s. Bob and James were bundling up the kids to take them with Papa Wilson over to the Wilson’s to see their horses. Beth, Melissa, and BJ were discussing decorations and music they should play. A Wilson party always meant two things, plenty of food and dancing. Nick and Kat were drafted to take the three girls to the Wilson’s to look at their guesthouse where the party was to be held.
On New Years Eve, everything was ready. Nick waited for Katrina in the family room. Everyone else was already at the Wilson’s. Kat had stayed later at the Wilson’s taking pictures of everything, which put her behind in getting ready.
“Nickolas you can stop channel surfing, I am finally ready,” chuckled Kat.
“I was just look….”Nick trailed off.
“What’s wrong Nick,” asked Katrina as she looked down at her clothes.
“Nothing. You’re beautiful,” he said.
Kat smiled, “Thank you. You look very handsome. Shall we go?”
“Yep.”
As the young couple entered the Wilson’s guesthouse all heads turned. Mrs. Wilson was standing with Dana Morgan and Jane Carter. She voiced everyone’s thought.
“They are breathtaking together.”
“Yes they are,” agreed Dana as she looked at her daughter.
“They are like sun and moon,” observed Jane
Nick had fixed his blond hair the way Kat liked. It was parted off center and gelled back with a few wisps of hair falling over his forehead. His blue eyes peered out from behind his glasses. His was wearing a dark gray suit with a heather gray sweater underneath. Nick was also wearing Kat’s Christmas presents. Her grandfather’s gold wedding band was on his thumb to match the one she wore on her thumb, which was her grandmother’s wedding band. He also had on the new bracelet she had seen him looking at in Orlando. Kat’s dark, curly hair was cascading down her back her wispy bangs framing her green eyes. Her smoky makeup accentuated her features. She was wearing a white knit sweater and skirt. The sweater was long sleeved with a scooped neck and came to just the top of her skirt. The skirt hugged her hips then slightly flared from the knee to the hem. She was wearing white pumps. Around her neck and in her ears were Nick’s Christmas presents. A diamond solitaire pendent necklace and matching diamond stud earrings.
The main room had been cleared of furniture to allow for dancing. One of the bedrooms had been turned into a sitting room. The kitchen was overflowing with food and beverage. Kat introduced Nick to several of the friends gathered. Suddenly Aaron and Angel followed by several other children came running into the room.
“Nick! Kat! Come on. They are getting ready to start the hay ride!”
“Hang on airboy. I don’t think we are exactly dressed for a hayride.”
“Come on Nick. Please,” begged Angel.
Mrs. Wilson interrupted, “Kat come to the house with me. We will get blankets for everyone. You’ll need them to stay warm anyway. You all can wrap yourselves in them. Besides RJ used clean straw, which never hurt anyone.”
“True,” agreed Kat. “Nick you round up everyone who wants to go. We’ll meet you outside with the blankets.”
“Deal,” he said.
Within 15 minutes, everyone was loaded on the wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were riding up front. Nick and Kat were snuggled up in a blanket with Angel on one side and Aaron on the other. They looked at the stars and talked. Kat could truly say she was happy. Having Nick with her had become as natural as breathing. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed him until he was standing on her doorstep two days before. It scared her how strong this feeling was. She had dated and even had a serious boyfriend for a while in college. She had thought Brad was her first love, then he cheated on her. Nick was different from anyone she had ever met. He was young and goofy, but also sensitive and caring. He was very passionate and strong. Kat realized that whenever she thought about the qualities in a man she never thought about looks, but about personality. Nick had all the qualities she was looking for and to top it off he was gorgeous.
“Why are you smirking,” Nick whispered into her ear.
“I was thinking how lucky I am to have you in my life,” she whispered back.
“I feel the same way,” he agreed. They continued the ride in silence.
Once back at the guesthouse, they danced and played with the kids. Even Katrina’s father had to admit they were good together. Just before midnight horns and streamers were handed out. Papa Wilson had all the adults pair up then he explained a Wilson family tradition. It seems that after the midnight kiss you were supposed to say the first thing that popped in your head. The countdown began and at midnight the kids blew their horns and threw streamers on the adults as they kissed.
Nick and Kat ended their kiss and at the same time said, “I love you.”
Nick watched Kat closely before saying, “Kat don’t run from me now. I’m scared too. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I didn’t even realize it until I said it, but I’m glad I said it. I’m glad you said it too. Please trust us enough to give it a shot.”
Nick watched Kat’s face soften as she spoke, “I am scared, but I would be more afraid not to have you in my life. I trust you and that’s enough for now.”
Nick kissed her. As the music began again he pulled her out onto the screened in back porch. Their bodies swayed with the music. They were in their own little world and everything was right.
