The Katherine Tree — Nan Morrison

Burnt Child...
Kathy Gilhousen had always had a genius for self-deception, At six she had convinced herself that her father could not possibly love her because he wasn't really her father -- as she'd discovered by cruel accident -- but her stepfather. Now with Bert Gilhousen dead and Kathy the only child still living at home, she decided it was up to her to "take charge" of her lovely, fragile mother. But "fragile" Miriam Gilhousen had a will of her own and wanted nothing from her daughter except to see the girl happily married -- to the right man. Unfortunately she didn't believe too handsome, spoiled Michael Young, whom Kathy had set her mind on, was that man. Neither did redheaded Ernie Walker, in love with Katherine ever since she'd first come to work at his real estate office. But could these two who cared so much save Kathy from her deceiving self, before she broke her heart...?