don't forget that when we see flash forwards and flashbacks, we only see a snippet and then the scene cuts off...i think that the show's writers do that on purpose so that we think things have gone a certain way. i have a teeny little spoiler with regard to this point...
with regards to this and kate's crappy homecoming, we don't really know that no one showed up. we are just left with the shot of her face staring out at nothing...