Katherine was thrilled that her mom was able to fly out for the engagement party, at least there would be someone there who was on her side. It wasn't that she disliked Joe's friends and family but she was a little overwhelmed at the thought of them altogether. She had a few friends of her own coming along but they were completely outnumbered.

She had to hand it to Mrs Cooper, she'd put on quite the party. Her home was lavishly decorated, and she'd hired outside catering and staff. Katherine had grown up in relative wealth but not like this, or if it was, her parents certainly didn't flaunt it.

'Well haven't you landed on your feet,' her mom, Marsha Travis, joked as she surveyed the scene around her.

'Joe doesn't live like this,' Katherine said feeling a little defensive. 'He might work for his dad but he doesn't get handouts.'

'I know, I'm only joking.'

'Sorry, mom.' Her mom hugged her and she tried to make herself relax.

'Hey Marsha,' Joe said coming over, and her mom embraced him. At least they seemed to like each other Katherine thought, she was never too sure that Joe's mom was very keen on her although she couldn't put her finger on why. She grimaced seeing Donnie and some of Joe's friends making a beeline for them.

'Hi,' she said quickly rearranging her face into something like a smile as they all exchanged pleasantries.

'Hey, aren't you Marsha Travis?' Donnie asked turning to her mom with a big grin on his face. 'I saw all your movies growing up, I had quite a crush on you.' Marsha laughed indulgently but Katherine cringed, almost certain Donnie was mocking her mother.

'You're making me feel my age, I've not acted for at least ten years,' Marsha said smiling.

'More like twenty,' Katherine interjected and her mom's eyes narrowed.

'But you were great, I know you never had the lead part but you always stood out to me,' Donnie said. There's the dig Katherine thought, but her mother seemed charmed.

'Joe I'm going to have to fly out here more often, you keep excellent company.'

'Ignore Donnie, he can't help himself,' Joe replied gently squeezing Katherine around her waist.

'Joe I'm expressing my admiration for your future mother in law,' Donnie said tongue in cheek. 'If you'd spent less time in Bible classes and more time watching cable you'd get it.'

'Is that a dig?' Katherine demanded, the words out of her mouth before she could stop herself. The smile left her mom's face and Donnie looked perplexed.

'Katie I was joking with Joe, I've watched your mom's movies and they're great,' he said seriously.

'Right, sorry,' Katherine said, not sure that he was being sincere but not wanting to hurt her mother's feelings if he wasn't.

'You need to circulate Kat,' Marsha said with a slight edge in her voice. 'It's your party and they're your guests so you should attend to them.' Katherine almost retorted that they weren't her guests at all but she took Joe's hand and followed her mom's advice not wanting to have a silly row.

~~~

Shannon walked into the party with her parents and instantly spotted Joe and Katherine. She couldn't miss Joe's dark wavy hair which he could never keep neat. Katherine was what she'd expected, tall, dark-haired, pretty but modest looking. Joe never liked girls who were too showy and she had a moment of doubt about her dress. The low neckline showed off a bit of cleavage without being too revealing. She knew she looked good but she didn't think Joe would like it.

'Shannon it's so good to see you,' Mrs Cooper said snapping her out of her reverie. She briefly embraced Joe's mom and was almost overpowered by her heady perfume.

'Thank you for inviting me,' she said trying to hide her nerves.

'Not at all, I'm so glad you're back in town. It's been hard for your mom with you jetting around the world all the time.'

'Well, I'm only doing internal flights with Delta. I think my days of globe-trotting are over.' She spouted her usual lines without admitting she got to see very little of the countries she went to. Usually, she spent most of the stopover sleeping.

'Have you seen Joseph yet?' Mrs Cooper inquired.

'No I'm sure I'll catch up with him, there must be loads of people he has to get around,' Shannon said with a smile. She was acutely aware of his presence but she had no desire to seek him out.

'I'll make sure he comes over,' Mrs Cooper assured her and Shannon wanted to say, no please don't. However, she plastered a smile on her face and said that would be lovely.

~~~

Joe was instantly aware when Shannon arrived, for all her hair was lighter she looked the same. Taking Katherine's hand he moved them from group to group trying to keep a discreet distance from Shannon and all of the Slaters.

'Well, well look who's here!' Donnie's voice carried across the room as he greeted Shannon and Joe could not stop himself from watching the exchange. 'The last I heard you were a trolley dolly. So have you joined the mile high club?'

'Donnie McGillis you don't change!' Shannon laughed before hugging him.

'Well, you have, what happened to your hair? Donnie asked holding her slightly longer than necessary.

'Gentlemen prefer blondes,' Shannon teased.

Katherine looked at Joe questioningly and he squeezed her hand leading her towards Shannon. 'Kat, this is Shannon,' he said by way of introduction. 'Shannon, Kat.'

Katherine smiled, struggling to place the woman stood before her with the picture she'd seen. The light brown hair was replaced with a sort of golden blonde, and Katherine could tell by how natural it looked that it had to be an expensive dye job. However Shannon was smaller than she'd expected, despite the skyscraper heels, and Katherine realised she'd assumed she and Shannon were physically similar.

'Congratulations on your engagement,' Shannon said to neither of them in particular and Katherine forced herself to focus.

'Thank you,' she replied. 'Thank you for coming.' She cringed thinking she sounded like an overeager idiot.

'That's ok, I wouldn't miss it for the world,' Shannon said with equally forced enthusiasm. She kept her eyes on Katherine almost as if Joe wasn't standing right by her.

'So you've moved back here for good?' Joe asked Shannon his eyes flitting to her just long enough to be polite.

'Yeah, I didn't want to wind up with wrinkled skin, what with all that Californian sunshine,' she laughed. 'Oh sorry Katherine I was joking, I forgot you came from California.'

'Oh that's ok, I moved here as well,' Katherine said with a small laugh telling herself Shannon was probably nervous not snide.

'When did you move? I'm just thinking our paths might have crossed in California,' Shannon said and Joe's mouth twitched whilst Katherine humoured her.

'I doubt they would have. I moved to the east coast when you were in junior year, Joe's my toyboy,' she said and they both laughed like it was hilarious.

'I guess that's what I should do,' Donnie said. 'Find myself a cougar.'

Everyone but Joe laughed and he set his eyes on Donnie trying to silently communicate with him. Donnie glanced at Shannon and Joe nodded.

'Shannon why don't I get you a drink,' Donnie said taking her arm. 'How long have you been stood there with an empty glass?' She let him lead her away and Joe let out a deep breath.

'Wow that was awkward,' he said to Katherine once the coast was clear.

'I thought she seemed nice.'

'Yeah she is, or was, I don't know, she might not be now,' Joe said, relief making him babble.

'Well she seemed ok, and Donnie looks quite taken with her.' Joe could see that Donnie was now monopolising Shannon who seemed happy enough with the attention.

'Well they go back,' Joe said and Katherine raised an eyebrow in inquiry. 'My parents are friends with the Slaters so Donnie knows her through me.'

'Yeah but Donnie's a few years older than you, I wouldn't have thought he would have been that interested in your teenage girlfriend,' she said her brows furrowing.

'Yeah but he already sorta knew her, all our families are friends.'

Katherine looked at him her face perturbed. 'Right so Donnie's close to your ex-girlfriend? I'm not sure I like the sound of that.'

'Why not?' Joe asked playing dumb.

'It just makes me feel weird,' Katherine said shrugging. 'So any chance of something happening between them? They look pretty friendly.'

Joe glanced at Shannon who was looking up at Donnie and smiling. 'Maybe, I don't know,' he said feigning disinterest. Shannon was an attractive girl, and he was sure Donnie wasn't immune to her charms but would he actually make a play for his ex? The thought left a sour taste in his mouth.

~~~~

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