The Autumn Prince

12. Magnolias

Katherine stood on the corner wearing the skirt and jacket she'd laid out that morning, hugging a backpack full of books. She didn't look up as I approached, and when I pulled alongside, she slid into the passenger seat without comment. I checked the rear view mirror to make sure no cars occupied the road behind us, then turned to her.

"Are you okay?"

"Take me to your apartment. I want some answers." Her voice was cold and dead.

"Katherine—"

"Now!" She shouted, staring straight ahead. I put my foot on the gas and pulled away from the curb. The tension between us built for more than a minute while she hugged her books in silence.

"Did you drug me?" she asked suddenly.

I had no idea what to say, so I froze.

"Did you drug me!" she bellowed so loud my ears rang.

"No, but—,"

"Stop the car!"

I continued driving and tried to explain, "It's complicated."

"Screw complicated and screw you! Take me home!" She shouted again, and my heart rammed against my ribs. I pulled over, afraid she might throw herself out of the passenger door. I hadn't known she could get that angry.

"Katherine, I—"

"You bastard asshole liar, I hate you! I hate you! Take me home!" She struck the dash with her fists, then at last she turned to face me. Her eyes were dark and veined with red. "What else did you do to me?"

"Nothing, I didn't drug you!" I finally got a clue and told her what she needed to hear, praying it wasn't too late to salvage the moment.

"Don't lie!" She fumed but made no effort to get out. I took that as a good sign.

"I'm not," I said as calmly as I could, "it really is complicated if you want the whole truth. I'll explain everything, but I need you to see something first." Any version of the truth would be meaningless without evidence, and I didn't think to bring anything with me.

"What do you need me to see?" She asked savagely, "your sex dungeon?" Though her tone didn't relax, the comment was ridiculous, and she had to know it.

"I won't ever lie to you, Katherine, but I can't tell you all the truth, not all at once, or you won't believe me." I sounded just like Miss Gold. Maybe it helped me understand her better. Maybe it made me more afraid of what she hadn't yet told me.

Katherine had visibly softened, but she still snarled her words through the tears streaming down her face. "I want to trust you, but something is wrong and all I know is it has something to do with you."

You don't know the half of it, I thought, but I kept that to myself. Instead, I said, "Let me show you and you can decide. If you believe I deliberately hurt you in any way, I will drive us both to the police station and you can tell them anything you want. I won't deny it."

"I don't want to do that." She huffed.

I watched her for a few more seconds. Tears still glistened on her cheeks, but she wasn't sobbing or shrieking. Tentatively, I took my foot off the brake and when she didn't protest, I drove the rest of the way to my place.

When we arrived just a few minutes later, she looked more tired than angry, and she waited quietly for me to open her door and took my hand when I offered it, though she flinched slightly at my touch. We ascended the stairs without speaking, and I held the door for her as she walked through.

She dropped her blazer over the back of a dining chair, set her backpack on the seat, then marched into the living room and slumped onto the sofa, folding her arms in front of her.