Page 25 of Zane

Chapter 7

It was a ritual and one she had begun to hate. But Kara knew that after the stunt she had pulled, walking out of the church in the middle of the sermon (that was simply not done!), her mother would get involved, and the pastor as well.

She had walked back in when he was winding down from a prosperity message about sowing seeds and watching it grow, and she had seen his eyes tracking her progress.

Not to mention the fact that she had "embarrassed" William and left him sitting there while the congregants were staring at him. His words.

So the emergency meal at Serena's was arranged, instead of them having the meal at her mother's place.

And God forbid they have a discussion, especially one of such importance, before the coffee and dessert. So they were silently eating, the only sounds the utensils tinkling on the flatware, and her heart doing a series of jumps and dives.

They had come straight from the chapel in separate cars. For that, Kara had to be grateful. It would mean she could leave whenever she wanted. And she badly wanted to.

"Now." Katherine daintily dabbed at the sides of her mouth and laid the napkin in a precise manner beside her plate. "We will wait until the waiter has cleared the table." Brown eyes tracked to her daughter, taking in the outfit with a nod of approval. "Is there anything you want to say?"

"The veal was excellent as usual, and for a Sunday afternoon, the crowd is thin." Deliberately misinterpreting the question, Kara looked around the elegant room and spotted a few minor celebrities.

William cleared his throat and put away his glass of water, then patiently waited for their plates to be removed before saying anything.

"I don't think that's what your mother meant, my dear."

Turning to him, she gave him a wide-eyed stare. "It wasn't? Well, why don't you tell me exactly what she meant, since you're the expert on all things 'Katherine.'"

She was prepared for it and wasn't surprised at the stunned silence that followed her remark.

Her mother drew her shoulders backwards and lifted her chin, the look of disapproval in every line of her face.

"You're starting to unravel. Not only the scandalous outfit that you wore last night and leaving the function without so much as an explanation to William and me, but walking out of the sermon is unforgivable."

She picked up her glass of sparkling water. "It's working with that Abigail woman." She huffed. "She's a disgrace to that office. Married three times, and the rumor is that she's heading for divorce."

Katherine's gaze swung to William. "I also blame you. If you'd proposed in the timeline we planned, she would have been married by now."

William nodded, a look of contrition on his face. "I intend to rectify that mistake right now."

To her surprise, Kara was jolted out of her amused state when he reached for her left hand. Using his free hand, he took a small velvet box from his jacket pocket and snapped the lid, then ceremoniously took out the diamond solitaire.

"I think this is an appropriate time." He stared at her solemnly as if making the most crucial decision in his life, and she figured to him, that was true.

"Kara, my dear. It's time. We've been going on two years, and I would like you to do me the honor of being my wife."

With no doubt that she would gladly say yes, he started to open her hand to straighten her ring finger. From the corner of her eye, she caught the look of approval on her mother's face.

It was then she cemented her decision. She had stayed in the relationship because of fear of displeasing her mother. She had done things, or not done them, to gain the woman's approval. Well, no more.

"Kara?" her mother prodded. "Is there something you'd like to say?"

"Yes, there is."

William beamed a look of approval at her and waited in expectation.

"I cannot marry you."

To say that he was shocked would have been putting it mildly. If the situation weren't so serious, Kara would have found it laughable. He looked for all the world as if he had swallowed a trout.

"Pardon?" William said.

"What on earth do you mean?" her mother demanded.