Deadly Reunion (12 page)

“You look terrific in a tux. Why don’t you wear one every day?” I teased.

“You didn’t look bad yourself. Of course, you always look great.” He nuzzled my neck. “I believe you were pressing yourself against me for that picture. Does that give you ideas?”

“Yes. I want to get rid of those damn shoes.”

He snickered, surely giving up on the idea of sex. “How about you and your friends? One person doesn’t look too happy.”

I spied photos that my classmates and I took together. In them, Sue and Jane and I looked fairly glamorous with our fancy dresses and big smiles. Tetter’s casual clothes did not stand out since she’d partially hidden behind me. Randy dressed nicely in a suit, but in each picture, he was frowning. He aimed his frown at me.

“Looks like Randy was really unhappy since I stuck myself between him and Tetter,” I said. “I told you he seems to want her.”

“It seems when she’s drinking, she tends to forget she’s happily married.”

“Well, look at you out of bed,” Sue said, striding toward us. In heels and snug black pants with a fluffy red turtleneck and dangling earrings, she looked fantastic.

I couldn’t believe a twinge of jealousy ripped up my spine.

“I tried to keep her in bed,” Gil said, “but she wouldn’t cooperate.”

Sue covered her mouth and giggled.

“Where are the others?” I asked.

“I’m going to meet them.”

“Then would you mind taking my patient with you?” Gil asked.

“I’d be glad to.”

I whipped my head toward Gil, not believing he wanted to get rid of me, not happy he’d pawn me off on my aunt. “You don’t like me anymore?” I asked. Surely he couldn’t be angry because I didn’t want sex at this moment.

“I still like you. I just have a few things to do.”

I watched him take long strides away and glanced up at Sue. She rolled my wheelchair toward other pictures.

“Did y’all have a good time last night? I sure wish I could have stayed with you instead of what I did,” I said and really grinned.

She glanced to the sides. No one was near. Her face came toward mine, a scowl erasing her beauty. “You did that on purpose.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You only twisted your foot so you could get to see the doctor.” Her face grew angrier, her tone bitter.

“Why would I do that?”

“So you could find out what happened to Jonathan.”

“Are you kidding? Is that why
you
went to see the doctor?”

“I cut my cheek and almost lost my eye. Does that sound like I was being curious?” she snapped, yanking my wheelchair and almost shaking me out.

“Stop. What’s wrong with you?” I shot a worried glance around, wishing Gil or another of my other classmates was near.

“I’ll tell you what’s wrong with me.” She wheeled me into a tiny alcove. “People think I’m some type of weird monster.”

“You’re gorgeous.”

“That’s just it.” Tears squeezed from her eyes. “I look like a beautiful woman—mostly. But I was created as a man.”

“Oh, Sue.” I reached up to hug her. She bent partway down, letting her cheek touch mine. My hands barely reached to pat her shoulders.

She straightened. “You have no idea what it’s like, all the things I have to put up with.”

“Like what? Did something bad happen to you on this ship?”

Her furious glare held on me. She peered toward the left at the stairwell, the long marble stairwell that wound two decks down. She stared at me.

Apprehension gripped me. Had I stirred up bitter emotions so that she wanted to get rid of me? Had she killed Jonathan and determined I knew? Her fierce look made me believe she wanted to shove my wheelchair off the top of that stairwell.

“Sue,” I said, arms straight as though I could block her if she tried anything. I wondered if I could hop out of my chair. There was no way I could get past her if she wanted to stop me.

Her gaze skidded to the left.

“So there y’all are. We’ve been hunting all over for you.” Jane and our other classmates arrived. “How are you today, Cealie?”

Confused. Sympathetic. Terrified!

Sue stepped away from me.

“You can tell she’s doing much better,” Randy said and smirked. “So you fell off your shoes, Cealie?”

“I did not fall off my shoes.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t wear heels so high. Young girls wear shoes like that—and Sue.” He sent an admiring smile Sue’s way and returned his attention to me. “You’re not getting any younger, you know.” His attitude made any good looks he had dissipate.

Tetter stepped closer. “Randy, stop it. Cealie has a right to wear anything she wants. Right, Cealie?”

“Right.” And what was that little grin she flashed at Randy as she supposedly took my side in this disagreement?

He gave Tetter a wider smile. “Yep, and Cealie fell on her funny bone. I’ll bet that didn’t make you laugh too much, did it?”

I refused to humor him with a response.

“Look, more pictures are up. Let’s go check them out.” Jane started toward them.

I opened my mouth to say I’d already seen them but glanced back. Sue aimed a scowl at me. She might tell them we’d both seen the pictures and then take me away to somewhere sinister.

She started toward me. I wanted to get away from her. Did she believe that when I went to the doctor, I discovered some evidence to let me know she killed that man?

I needed to calm down. Even if she wanted to hurt me, she wouldn’t do it in front of everyone.

“Tetter,” I said before Sue reached me, “would you mind giving me a hand?”

“Sure.” She glanced at Randy as though asking his permission.

Depending on others was too difficult. I wanted to walk, but my ankle still ached so much I knew it was too soon to try.

“Do you hear that we’re landing in Skagway after while?” Jane asked me.

“Yes. My son and his family will meet us there.” Excitement fluttered through my chest.

“We’ll be glad to see them.” Tetter wheeled me in front of the myriad photographs.

“There we are,” Jane said. “Don’t we all look great, especially Sue, all glamorous?”

We agreed, and Sue lowered her eyes and shook her head. Mock modesty? Or was she sincere? It had been so long since I’d really known her, or possibly I had not known her at all. I’d known the statuesque person standing near me as a teen boy the last time I’d seen her. No wonder she’d been so confused. I certainly was.

“Cealie and I already saw these pictures.” Sue stepped around my chair and bumped into my extended foot.

Knife-like pain shot up my leg. I yelped.

“I’m sorry.” Sue patted my knee.

I held my breath, dreading that she might
accidentally
bump me again. I reminded myself of the positive aspect of this day. Our ship would dock and I would see Tommy, his sweet wife Ramona, and my grandkids, little Tom and Kim.

Passengers swaggered past us, heading for elevators. Glancing over the handrail, I spied groups of people waiting to disembark once we reached shore.

“We won’t be in town as long as was planned, though,” Jane told me, “and our time in Glacier Bay tomorrow will be shorter, too. This afternoon passengers won’t have enough time for most of the tours, so if you scheduled any, you’ll get a refund.”

“The only thing I had scheduled in Skagway was spending time with family. I’m getting giddy, I’m so anxious to see them.”

“Ah.” Randy moved to another wall of pictures. “Check this out. Cealie and her dude look mighty cozy.”

Our group shifted over to see. I held Sue’s gaze, making sure she knew I watched her so she wouldn’t hurt me again. She moved behind us. I would’ve needed to turn all the way around to watch her.

“Hot stuff here.” Jane touched her fingertip on Gil’s midsection pressed behind mine.

“Cealie.” Tetter spoke in a quiet voice. “How long has the relationship between you two been going on?” She stared at our photo, expression pensive, nothing suggestive about her tone.

Randy watched her, admiration in his eyes.

I felt the ship slowing to a stop and wanted to concentrate on my loved ones. But Tetter waited for a response. “We’ve been together and apart for quite awhile. We fell in love. But I try to leave Gil alone until I know exactly what I want from the rest of my life.”

“And how can you know that?”

I thought a moment and shook my head. “I’m really not sure. I can only try.”

With a thoughtful expression, she nodded.

Oh, darn. I didn’t want to suggest that what Gil and I had been going through might mimic a relationship Randy wanted to start with her. Probably I should listen to Gil and stay the heck away from their situation and let her work things out for herself. Except she was asking me things now. Maybe I was progressing in getting her to trust me again.

Randy ran his gaze down her backside.

“Good grief.” Jane stepped farther along the wall of photographs. “Why are y’all being so serious? I came on this cruise to play. Don’t you want to have fun?”

“Yep, I’m ready to have fun,” Sue said. “Let’s go ashore and play.”

“I can’t wait to introduce you all to this part of my family,” I told everyone.

“Great. And then I want to shop.” Jane hefted her purse. “Let’s get in line.”

We took an elevator down and waited in the long line for the ship to dock, the heavy ropes to be tied, and the finalization of all of the ship’s other tasks.

Enthusiasm built inside me so much I couldn’t stop smiling.

Jane noticed and gripped my arm, smiling with me. She, at least, seemed to understand my elation.

Finally we moved along with other departing passengers, going through security into salt-scented air.

“Stop a minute and get your picture taken,” a photographer near the gangway said.

Wanting to find family members, I said, “No, thanks.”

“This’ll just take a minute.” Randy drew my wheelchair to our group.

“Smile,” Jane urged.

I glanced onshore, searching the scads of people for a young girl and her smaller brother, both with their mother’s shiny black curls. Their mother would be with them and my handsome son Tommy.

Excitement swelled when I spied Tommy.

He waved at me, a meek smile on his lips. No kids tugged at his sides. And I didn’t see his wife.

“Hey, Mom.” He rushed to me as I rolled ashore. “What happened to you?”

“I just twisted my ankle. Where’s your family? They came, didn’t they?” I kissed him and shared a tight hug, pleased with the feel of my son. Lifting my chin, I searched farther into the distance, my classmates stopping around me.

“Yes.” Tommy spoke almost apologetically, making apprehension spike up my spine. “My family is here.”

A blond Viking-type man strolled forward.

“The others quit talking to me,” Tommy said. “Mom, meet my life partner, Patterson Vanderhorn.”

Chapter 11

“Patterson what?” I asked and then said, “No, Tommy, do not tell me this man is your life partner. Ramona is your partner.”

Sue, who had transformed from my uncle into my aunt, stood beside me and snickered.

“This is not funny, Sue!” I whipped my head toward her from my wheelchair.

“It’s okay, Mom.” Tommy touched my shoulder. “Don’t blow a fuse.”

“I’ll blow a fuse if I want to—and if it’s needed—and right now, it’s needed.” Unusual for me with one of my children, I nudged my arm away from his touch. “Stop trying to be clever and tell me where she is. And you can quit playing around and get the kids to come out. That was funny. Ha ha, now get them here.” I pushed up as high as I could while seated and twisted my head in an attempt to find them.

Unsuccessful, I leaned back in the wheelchair and studied Tommy’s face. He was gifted with his paternal grandfather’s red hair and a smattering of freckles. His tight-lipped expression held. He had to be kidding.

I kicked aside the footrests on my chair and shoved up to my feet. “Yow,” I cried, falling sideways.

Tommy caught me. “I don’t think you can stand, Mom. Be careful.” My son slid his arm around my waist and supported me with a tight grip. Reminding me of times I’d helped him stand when he was a toddler who sometimes fell, he sat me back on the chair.

I slid a teary-eyed glance toward my school friends. Jane, Tetter, and Randy looked shell-shocked. That’s how I felt. Their confusion could only be a fraction of mine.

Patterson stepped closer, his hand sliding forward to meet mine in greeting.

Unable to shake hands with him, I kept my hand down and eyes diverted.

“Tommy, where are they? Where are the wife you promised to love and honor for the rest of your life and the beautiful children you two created?”

He hung his head. I never wanted to see my child sad. This time was different. This time he meant leaving the rest of the family he’d given me and I had grown to cherish. My Tommy could not have replaced that adored wife and children with a man.

He looked away. “Ramona’s gone to stay with her parents.”

“She and my precious grandchildren I’ve been dying to see are out near the Grand Canyon?”

He nodded, a sad, withering nod.

“I hurt,” I said, grabbing my leg. “My ankle hurts. I need to go back to my room.” Hating to exchange gazes with my friends, I said, “Jane, would you mind taking me?”

“Sure.” She came to my wheelchair. “Are you ready? Or…?” She glanced at Tommy, but I could not look him in the eye any longer.

“I’m ready,” I said.

Jane pushed me toward the gangway.

“We’ll wait for you here, Jane,” Randy called.

“I won’t be long,” she yelled back to the group.

“I love you, Mom,” Tommy called out.

His words drifted into and out of my consciousness. I sucked my child’s sentiments into my soul and vacuumed them out of my mind. I could not envision my son and his family apart.

Jane and I sent our purses and cameras through X-ray and gave our sailing cards to security members. She maneuvered me into an elevator, going up. “Cealie, I’m so sorry,” she said, stooping beside me.

“Oh, no problem,” I said with a shrug. “Whatever he wants.”

We ascended more decks in silence. My thoughts cried out to my son
. I adore your wife. I cherish those kids—and you. You can’t do this to them and me and yourself.