He climbed out of his car and made his way to the front door, and it was then that he noticed it was Katherine in the doorway. She was no longer wearing the same clothing she had on at the party. She was in sweats and a t-shirt, and her face had been washed clean of all makeup. He’d thought it was impossible, but she was even more beautiful. Her fresh face made her look more angelic than before.
“Joseph?”
Joseph took a few steps to meet her at the door.
“Hey. What are you doing here?”
He noticed she was trying to avoid eye contact as if she was embarrassed.
He moved closer and held out her handbag. “You forgot your purse.”
Still, with no eye contact, Katherine grabbed her purse. “Thank you,” she said softly.
Joseph didn’t at all like her behavior. He didn’t know Katherine very well, but she seemed strong and powerfully intelligent every time he was in her presence. Not at all like this timid woman scared to look him in the eye.
“Do you want to come in?” she asked, stepping to the side.
Joseph nodded. “I do.”
He crossed the threshold and looked up at the tall ceiling and giant crystal chandelier as he waited for her to close the door.
“Follow me,” she instructed, leading him across the foyer.
They took a hall and walked through an archway that led to a large room with plush leather furniture, a big wooden bar, and oversized leather chairs that could’ve been found in an ultra-exclusive gentlemen’s club.
“Would you like a drink?”
Joseph followed her to the bar and took a seat on one of the fancy stools while Katherine walked behind the bar to fix drinks.
“What’s your poison?” she asked.
“Any bourbon will do,” he responded, realizing she probably had the best.
She pulled a tumbler from an overhead rack and placed it in front of her. “Ice?”
“No, ma’am.”
After a two-finger pour, Katherine slid the glass over. She poured herself a glass of red wine, the whole time still not looking him in the eye.
“Katherine, I insisted on bringing your purse because I was worried. Are you okay?”
She sighed and practically inhaled the entire contents of the glass. When she finished her wine, she placed the glass on the bar and looked him in the eye for the first time that night. When she opened her mouth to speak, her focus shifted to something over his shoulder, and her entire expression changed. All of a sudden, she was the same scared girl on Nate’s bathroom floor.
Joseph turned and looked over his shoulder just as a pudgy, older man in a tacky satin robe entered the room. His thinning hair was a mixture of black and gray. Joseph placed his glass on the bar and stood to greet the man he assumed was Katherine’s father.
“What’s this?” the man asked.
“Dad, this is Joseph Storm. He goes to my school,” Katherine introduced.
Her shaky tone prompted Joseph to turn and look at her. She appeared unstable, almost to the point where Joseph wanted to pull her into the protectiveness of his arms. Reluctantly, he tore his eyes away from her and walked over to her dad with an extended hand.
“Joseph Storm,” he repeated.
Katherine’s dad looked him up and down and stared at his hand a few seconds before accepting. “Robert Chase,” he returned.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Chase.”
Katherine’s dad had a firm handshake, but it felt forced—like the insecurity of the smaller man.
