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CHAPTER SIXTEEN
‘WHAT’S HAPPENED TO US, Kimmie?’
‘What do you mean, “What’s happened to us?”’
‘You accuse me of never showing my feelings, but do you always show yours? Saying the words “I love you” is far easier than testing that love, isn’t it? I know,’ he added before she had a chance to reply. ‘I haven’t even gone as far as saying the words. I haven’t, because I didn’t want to lead you on, and I just couldn’t be sure that what I was feeling wasn’t a weird sort of triumph—not connected with providing an heir for Kaimos Shipping, but becoming a father. Knowing that, if all went well, I would become a parent, and could show my child the love my parents weren’t able to offer me, was immense. I was overwhelmed by it and, after a lifetime of suppressing my feelings, it took some getting used to.’
‘And now?’ she asked tremulously.
‘And now you come to ask me for a loan, and tell me you’re fine, when clearly that’s not the case. Who’s hiding their feelings now, Kimmie?’
When she didn’t speak, he added, ‘I can only imagine what it cost you to come here.’ The fact that she had nowhere else to go didn’t lessen the impact of a proud, self-sufficient woman like Kimmie throwing herself on his mercy.
‘It wasn’t easy,’ she admitted ruefully, ‘but if I don’t paint I don’t make money, and I need to start earning right away. To do that I have to buy supplies.’ Her lips pressed down in a sad little smile as she shrugged. ‘Will you lend me the money? I’ll pay you back every penny. You do trust me to do that, don’t you?’
‘I trust you with my life, and with the life of our child. You can have anything. You know that.’
Trust was everything to Kimmie. It was the rock she had always wanted to build her life on, but that rock had so often turned out to be sand.
And, much as he wanted to gift her the money, a handout wasn’t the answer. She wouldn’t want one. Kimmie had come to him because she needed to get back on her feet and for no other reason, unfortunately.
‘I’ll organise a transfer.’
‘Thank you,’ she whispered.
‘And set out the terms of the loan.’
She raised her head at that and when she said, ‘Thank you,’ this time her voice was firm and her eyeline was steady. ‘I’d appreciate that.’
‘I knew you would,’ he said, mouth tugging up at one corner in a smile. ‘Truce?’
‘Truce,’ she agreed. ‘And thank you again...for understanding.’
‘Of course I understand. You’re a successful woman who’s had a few bumps along the way. Haven’t we all? You’ll move past it. Life’s like that. And with the benefit of hindsight you might see that all this has happened for a reason.’
‘What reason?’ Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she grimaced. ‘And does it have to hurt quite so much?’
‘Rejoice that you’re feeling something. It’s been a long time...for both of us and, yes, as I said before, it takes some getting used to. I’ll make sure the transfer is in your bank right away. I’ll mail the details of the repayment plan. And now, if that’s all...?’
‘Oh, yes... I’m sorry. I realise this is a working day. I shouldn’t take up any more of your time.’
And now he felt bad. She looked stricken as she made for the door. He got there before her and barred her way. ‘Kimmie...’
‘Goodbye, Kris. I won’t forget your kindness.’
‘You’d better not,’ he warned, standing aside so she could leave. ‘Or our baby will have a rocky start to family life, and I don’t think either of us wants that, do we?’
Her eyes filled with tears. ‘No,’ she whispered, ‘that’s the last thing we want.’
It was as though her tears had finally broken through a barrier inside him. He had meetings that couldn’t be cancelled. Board meetings could be postponed, site visits rescheduled, team meetings delayed... Ambassadors offering huge contracts? Not so much.
He cancelled anyway.
‘You’re right,’ he called out, catching up with Kimmie as she was about to cross the road in front of Kaimos Shipping’s gleaming steel and glass totem to excellence.
‘Sorry?’ She whirled around.
‘You’re right about me and business,’ he explained. ‘There are more important things in life.’
‘Like what?’ she queried, frowning.
‘Like my love for you.’
‘What?’
He ushered her back into the building. Calling his driver, he arranged for the limo to take them home.
All the way back he held Kimmie in his arms. There was no need to speak. They’d said everything. Now it was time to turn those words into actions.
‘Why did I get myself into such a mess?’ she asked, not expecting an answer, he guessed, as they entered the house.
‘Do you think I’ve never blundered? You learn by your mistakes,’ he said, guiding her into the library, his favourite room in the house. ‘It’s part of the game in business.’
‘But this isn’t a game,’ she whispered. ‘This is my heart.’
‘And you feel as if it’s been trampled on so many times there’s no point in trying to revive it? Come on, Kimmie, I know you better than that. We’ve both come a long way since we met on that beach,’ he added as he ushered her towards a comfortable sofa in front of the log fire. ‘I’ve not quite perfected the art of being romantic, but I’m working on it.’
‘By drawing up another contract?’
‘Yeah. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?’
‘Absolutely,’ she confirmed, but there was tension in her voice.
‘I’m still open to offers to repay the loan in kind.’
‘I bet you are,’ she said, loosening up as she gazed at him.
‘And yes, people are supposed to be nice to each other, but that doesn’t always happen.’ He shrugged. ‘We both know that. We’re not children cowering in a corner as we used to, waiting to see how things turn out. We make things happen now.’
‘Is that what you’re doing?’
He ignored the question. ‘You know how to grab hold of life and ride that wave,’ he insisted. ‘And you’ll do so again, though next time I predict you’ll take more of an interest in the business side of your career.’
‘I might need some help with that.’
‘I’m offering. Drink?’
‘How can you turn in a flash from an offer that has to be priceless in the world of commerce to something as mundane as a drink?’
‘Try this for a switch-around.’ Getting down on one knee on the rug in front of the fire, he brought out a ring box, for the third time and hopefully final time, although he knew he’d ask her as many times as it took to get the answer he wanted. ‘I think you know what I’m going to ask, but I’m going to ask it anyway. Kimmie Lancaster, I love you with all my heart, and I promise never to stop you doing anything you want to do, and that includes borrowing money from me—though if I don’t get the right answer this time I might decide to charge interest on the loan.’
‘Retrospectively?’
‘Whatever it takes.’
‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘How about yes?’
‘Seriously?’ Slipping down onto the floor in front of him, Kimmie raised her chin. ‘Can we do this?’ she asked in all seriousness.
‘Of course we can. We can do anything we want, so long as we remain true to each other.’
‘I don’t want your money.’
‘Fortunately, that’s not what I’m offering.’
‘What are you offering?’
‘My name, as well as something far more valuable than cash in the bank.’
‘Which is?’
‘My experience in business. As a successful artist—and, yes, you are successful, and are going to be even more so—it?
?s your duty to become familiar with how commerce works. I’m not offering you a handout, or even an easy path. It will be hard work repaying my loan. I’m a relentless taskmaster. You’ll pay me back in full, and every penny I receive will go straight into the scholarship fund you’re trying to build. That will be your incentive. The fund will be a success and so will you. I believe in you. Now believe in yourself.’
She was quiet for quite a while, and then she mused out loud, ‘Mandy said something similar.’
‘Then listen to us.’
If Kris had offered pity or an unconditional loan, she would probably have thrown everything back in his face, but she realised he knew her too well for that. And he’d admitted that he loved her. That was a colossal thing for him.
‘I love you too,’ she said, which was still a colossal thing for Kimmie to say, even though she’d already told him once before. They deserved each other, she concluded as Kris smiled with fierce satisfaction. ‘With all my heart.’
‘For ever and always,’ he confirmed.
And then he kissed her and held her as if he would never let her go. She didn’t want to go anywhere. She was home.
* * *
The sale of a large canvas of Kyria Demetriou staring out to sea in thoughtful mood paid off Kimmie’s loan to Kris, and added a hefty sum to her scholarship programme. There had been a vast increase in demand for her paintings, and this last sale had prompted a new exhibition.
‘I’ve got something for you,’ she said.
‘You do choose your moments,’ Kris remarked, precariously balancing on the top of a ladder to adjust one of her paintings.
‘Can I give it to you now?’
‘Can’t it wait?’
