Coming Home (41 page)

Reid stopped raking and tightened his lips to hold back laughter he knew Jack wouldn’t appreciate. “Fair enough. As long as you don’t expect me to introduce you as my father-in-law.”

“Please don’t.”

Reid finally gave in to the need to laugh and was relieved when Jack joined him. “I’m glad we got that resolved.”

“There’s something else… That day when you came to my office… I told you I’d think about what you asked me. And I have. Thought about it. A lot.”

Making an effort to hide his anxiety, Reid propped his arm on the closest stall and waited to hear what Jack would say.

“I’m fifty-six years old, and I’m still learning things.”

“Right there with you.”

Jack gave him a wry smile. “The thing I’ve learned this week is that I shouldn’t make judgments or reach conclusions without having all the information.”

“How do you mean?”

“Now that I’ve seen you and Kate together, as a couple, I understand it better. I can see that you love her.”

“I do. Very much so.”

“You’ll take good care of her.”

“Always.”

“Then you have my blessing.”

Reid shook his hand. “Thank you, Jack. That means a lot to me, and it’ll mean everything to her.”

“Do me a favor, will you? Let me tell her?”

“Whatever you like.”

“They’re back,” Jack said, nodding to the open barn door, where Kate’s Jeep was visible.

Reid expelled a deep sigh of relief inspired by multiple events as he accompanied her father out to greet the women.

Kate saw them coming toward her together and looked at him with questions in her gorgeous blue eyes.

He kissed her and took note of her pale complexion. “You look tired, darlin’.”

“I am.”

“Feeling okay?”

“I was a little dizzy earlier, but I’m good now.”

“You haven’t been dizzy before.”

“Who’s dizzy?” Jack asked.
 

“Kate is,” Reid replied, never taking his eyes off her.
 

“How come?” Jack asked.
 

“
Why
did I think I could keep this a secret?” Kate moaned.

“Keep what a secret?” Jack asked, looking to the others for info.

She turned to face her father. “Dad, you’re going to be a grandfather in June.”

Jack looked like he’d been hit by a stun gun. “Oh. Wow. A grandfather.” He glanced at Reid, who wondered if their fragile accord would be undone by this news.
 

“Are you going to faint, Jack?” Clare asked her ex-husband, her voice laced with humor.

“I don’t think so, but thanks for asking.” He reached for Kate, who stepped into his arms. Jack closed his eyes as he hugged his daughter. “Congratulations, honey. You’ll be a wonderful mother.”

“Thank you, Dad.” Kate had tears streaming down her face, and her hair was covered in snow by the time her dad let her go.
 

Reid slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get you inside and out of the cold.”

Kate’s arm encircled his waist and she leaned her head on his shoulder. Jack stayed back to help Clare and the girls with some bags they had in the car.
 

“Did I see you two coming out of the stables together?” Kate asked.

“You did.”

“And?”

“And I think it’s all going to be fine, darlin’. Your daddy and I have come to an understanding of sorts.”

“Is that right?”

“It is.”

“When will I hear about this understanding of yours?”

He helped her out of her coat and hung it next to his in the mudroom. “As soon as he sees fit to tell you.”

“Is this some sort of guy thing?”

Reid propelled Kate through the kitchen and into their room, closing the door behind them. “I can understand how you might think so, but he specifically asked if he could be the one to share the details of our understanding with you. Since our agreement is rather, shall we say,
fragile
, I intend to respect his wishes.”

“You do know I have ways of torturing information out of you.”

“Which is why I was afraid to tell you there was information to be had.”
 

A fit of laughter overtook her as she fell onto the bed.
 

Delighted by her amusement, he stretched out next to her, propping his head on his upturned hand. “Have mercy on me, will you, please?”

Kate reached for his free hand and linked their fingers. “He took the news about the baby well.”

“I noticed that. I take it you told your mom and Maggie, too.”

“I had to when the dizzy thing happened.”

“What’s up with the dizzy thing?”

“No idea. It came on out of nowhere. I was fine one minute, and the world was swimming the next. Reminded me of when I had pneumonia.”

“Should we call the doctor?”

“I don’t think so. It only lasted a second.”

“You’re sure?”

She nodded, gazing up at him with love in her eyes. He’d never seen her looking so peaceful or serene. “What?” he asked, smiling at her.

“Everything. It’s perfect.”

“Yes, it is,” he said, leaning over to kiss her as her phone chimed with a text.

“I need to check that. We do have a houseful of guests.”

“Who can fend for themselves for five damned minutes while I kiss my fiancée.”

“You can kiss me around the clock when we get back to St. Kitts.” They were going for three weeks to close on their new house and to honeymoon in the sun.

“I’ll hold you to that.”

“I really wish you would.” She withdrew her phone from her pocket. “It’s from Maggie. She wants to talk to us for a minute.” Kate sat up and texted back, telling Maggie to come to their room.

Reid groaned and rolled onto his back. “So no more kissing?”

“In a minute.”

A knock on the door preceded Maggie into the room. “I’m so sorry to bother you guys.”

“It’s fine,” Reid said, waving her in. “Do you want me to go so you can talk to Kate?”

“No, I want to talk to both of you about the project. The women and kids.”

“What about it?” Kate asked.

In a rush of words, she said, “I want to be your director.” For Reid’s benefit, she said, “I double-majored in social work and sign language. I did a yearlong internship in a homeless shelter in the city. I understand the issues and the challenges. I know how to help them. And I want to be here, with my sisters.” Looking at Kate now, she said, “I really miss you guys.” Maggie stopped talking and took a deep breath. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’m dead serious about this. I’ll give it everything I’ve got. I promise.”

Kate glanced at him, seeming astounded by her sister’s speech. “We need to talk it over.”

“No, we don’t,” Reid said. “As far as I’m concerned, the job is yours if you want it.”

Maggie gasped. “You mean it?”

“If Kate agrees,” Reid said, looking at her. “We were hoping to find someone who’d be passionate about it.”

“I agree,” Kate said, drawing a scream of delight from her sister. “You’re sure you want to leave New York?”

As Maggie nodded, her eyes flooded with tears.

“What is it, honey?” Kate took Maggie’s hand and urged her to sit between them on the bed.

“There was a guy in New York, but it’s over now. I could really use a change of direction as well as scenery. And if I have to translate the details of one more disgusting murder, I might commit one.”

Kate laughed and hugged Maggie. “We’d love to have you here with us. Wouldn’t we, Reid?”

Seeing Kate surrounded by the people she loved warmed his heart. “Absolutely.”

“Thank you,” Maggie said, wiping her tears as she stood. “I’m sorry to barge in on you guys. I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing.”
 

Kate poked her sister in the ribs, making her laugh.
 

Maggie left the room, closing the door on her way out.

“Well, we can check interviewing for a director off our to-do list,” Reid said.

“Are you sure you’re okay with Maggie doing it?”

“If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have said I was. One thing you need to know about me, darlin’, is I never say anything I don’t mean.”

She lay back on the bed and held out her arms to him. “Can we do some more of that kissing stuff we were doing before?”

“By all means.”

Christmas Day passed in a whirl of food and presents and laughter and music. A foot of snow fell overnight, delighting the younger members of the family, who spent most of the day outdoors. A snowman was built and everyone but the seniors participated in a massive snowball fight after dinner.

Kate was completely exhausted but happier than she’d ever been in her life. She’d waited all day for a moment alone with her dad, but he’d been outside with the twins for most of the day. She hoped they’d get a chance to talk before the wedding tomorrow.

They were gathered by the fire in the great room, relaxing after the busy day when the jingle of bells outside had the kids running for the windows.

“Oh wow,” Rob cried. “It’s a horse and sleigh! Two of them!”

Kate looked at Reid, who shrugged, but his mysterious smile gave him away.

“Who wants to go for a ride?” he asked.

“I do!” Olivia and her twin, Owen, said in stereo.

“We do, too,” John said, pushing and shoving his twin Rob to get to their coats first.

“How fun,” Andi said. “Count me in.”

“Me, too,” Frannie said, grabbing Jamie’s hand and dragging him off the sofa.

“Each sleigh can take ten at a time,” Reid said. “So we can go in shifts.”

As everyone suited up and rushed out the door, Kate went up on tiptoes to kiss Reid. “Thank you.”

“I thought it would be fun.”

“Hey, Dad,” Ashton said. “Can I reserve one of the sleighs after everyone else has had a ride?”

“Sure. We have them until midnight.”

“Great, thanks.”

“Any specific reason?” Reid asked his son in a teasing tone.
 

“None of your business,” Ashton said with a good-natured smile. “Kate, could I borrow you for just a minute?”

“Um, sure.”

“Don’t keep her too long, son.”

“I won’t.”

Kate followed Ashton into the kitchen, wondering what he might have to say to her. They’d gone out of their way to be polite to each other in the weeks since she and Reid had been home, but they hadn’t spoken one-on-one.

“I wanted you to know that I’m going to ask Jill to marry me tonight.”

“Oh! That’s amazing! Do you think she knows?”

“No, I’m quite certain it’ll be a total surprise to her.”

“Wow, I’d love to see that. It’s really hard to surprise her. She’s always one step ahead of everyone.”

“Don’t I know it. The thing is… I can almost guess exactly what she’s going to say when I ask. That we can’t upstage you when you’re getting married tomorrow.”

“Oh please! Tell her there’s no one in the world I’d rather share the stage with than her. She knows that.”

“I had a feeling you might say that. I’ll tell her.”

“Good luck. For what it’s worth, I hope she says yes.”

“You do? Really?”

“Yes, really,” Kate said with a laugh. “She lights up when you’re around. I’ve never seen her look at any guy the way she looks at you.”

“That’s good to hear. I’m a little nervous that she might say no.”

Kate took pity on him and squeezed his arm. “She won’t.”

“Um, listen, Kate… I told Jill this, but I should tell you, too. I’m sorry about what happened way back when. I have a lot of regrets about that time, what I said to you that day in the parking lot and the role I played in breaking up you and my dad. He’s so happy since you guys have been back together. Seeing him happy makes me happy, too. I wanted you to know that.”

“And I’d like you to know that other than the bumps at the end of our friendship, I always thought you were a great guy and a good friend. I’m thrilled that you might also be my brother-in-law.”

“Sounds a lot better than stepson, huh?”

Kate tossed her head back and laughed, and then she hugged him. “Much, much better. Thank you for apologizing. I’m so sorry we lied to you. That never should’ve happened either.”

“It’s all in the past now. Let’s leave it there.”

“Deal.”

“Can I ask you something else?”

“Sure.”

“I sort of thought my dad might ask me to stand up for him tomorrow, but he didn’t.”

“You’ve been pretty cool about us being back together. He didn’t want to push his luck with you.”

“Huh,” Ashton said, rubbing at the stubble on his jaw. “I didn’t think of it that way.”