Until Next Time (The Shooting Stars Series) by Michelle Maness Page A

me what to do!” she snapped.
    “Ms. Ellington, you must be awfully proud of your son,” Katherine spoke up. “He just made honor roll again and won an award for a poem he wrote. Mom says he has excellent manners; he says he learned that from you. He talks about you all the time, how you’ve been there and…” she stopped when Donna turned, entered the house and shut the door behind her.
    Adam was stunned. Kaitlyn had defused his mother. No one had ever defused his mother. It was quiet for a moment as they stood on the dim porch. Kaitlyn stood with her arms wrapped around herself; Adam stood watching her.
    “Did you need something, Kaitlyn?”
    “I wanted to take you out for a belated birthday dinner,” her voice was barely audible.
    “I’m sorry you had to witness that, Kaitlyn.”
    “I’m sorry that I barged in where I shouldn’t have.”
    Adam could hear the tears in her voice.
    He came to stand in front of her and took her by the arms. “As far as I’m concerned you’re always welcome. Mom runs every one off,” he lowered his head to meet her gaze.
    “How do you stand it?” she asked. Her voice was compassionate but held no pity; he was relieved as he wouldn’t have been able to stand that. Adam pulled her closer; her head tilted to look up at him.
    “She hasn’t always been this bad, just recently,” he assured.
    “Look, I’m sorry that I came at a bad time..."
    “Actually, if the offer still stands I’d like to get out of here for a while,” he told her. She smiled and nodded. Adam kissed her before releasing her and going to grab his things.
     
    A short time later they were seated at a table in a local restaurant and waiting for their order.
    “I have to tell you, Kaitlyn, you did something tonight that I didn’t think anyone could do. You defused my mother,” Adam told her.
    “All I did was distract her,” she shrugged.
    “It worked.”
    “She said some mean things.”
    “She always does. I suppose you’re wondering about the things she said,” Adam sighed; even though it had been a while, the memory still stung.
    “I'm sorry for the things she insinuated. The last person I got close to was a girlfriend in California. When she turned up pregnant she came to me. I would have fallen for it too; except that one of my friends fessed up that the baby was his. He had been seeing her the whole time, since before I started dating her and continued to behind my back.”
    Katherine was quiet. She’d known without being told, of course, that there had been others in his past. It still smarted somehow to have it confirmed and to hear about it.
    “I haven’t led a sheltered life, Kaitlyn,” he told her.
    “I know,” she admitted. And she had, he didn’t say it but it was true. She had been sheltered and raised in a conservative home. From what she had seen he had raised himself.

 
     
     
     
     
    Four
     
    Katherine stood in front of her full-length mirror and surveyed her appearance with a critical eye. She was wearing an ankle length red prom dress, the bodice and skirt fitted; the straps narrow and set wide on the shoulders. It was simple without beads or sequins, but decidedly elegant. Her mom had called it a classic dress. Her hair had been swept up on top of her head and artfully arranged in small curls and ringlets with a few framing her face.
    “Kattie, Adam’s here!” her mom called up the stairs.
    Katherine grabbed her evening bag and started down the stairs. She felt her breath catch when she spotted Adam standing in the foyer. She had yet to see him wear anything other than his baggy, mismatched clothes. Adam in a tux was a devastating sight.
    “Hi,” she smiled as she stepped off the last step.
    “Wow, you look nice,” he told her.
    “Thanks,” she smiled. “You look great yourself.”
    He helped her with her corsage and then her mom was asking for pictures. Once they were in his car and actually on their way, Katherine was, for once, tongue tied in his