Ties That Bind (27 page)

“Come on, let’s go to your bedroom.”

The huge master suite was lovely. Dray was a good decorator. God, what was Kate doing, thinking about room décor? Reese came in behind her. When he just stood there, she took his hand and led him to the bed. “Sit. I’ll pack for you.”

He dropped down on the bed, saying nothing. Just watching her. She ran a hand down his hair. His eyes were so bleak, she could barely stand it. But she beat back her own emotions. “Where are your suitcases?”

“The closet.”

Opening the louvered doors, she was momentarily startled to see Dray’s clothes hanging at one end and his at the other. A crazy reaction. The woman lived here. She found a large leather bag, a carry-on and a hanging suit cover on shelves at one end and dragged them out. Glancing over at Reese, she asked, “Want me to pick things out?”

He nodded then just sat there staring at the floor. Kate chose a dark suit, trousers and a sports coat. A few dress shirts. Wingtip shoes. Within ten minutes, she had one case packed. Setting it on the bed, she made quick work of getting underwear, jeans, shirts, from his dresser. She was in his bathroom scooping up toiletries when she heard, “Reese? What are you doing just sitting there?”

Kate came out of the bathroom.

Dray frowned at her. “What’s going on? Why are you in our bedroom?”

Setting down the small case, Kate crossed to Dray and grasped the younger woman’s arm. “Dray, something’s happened.” Kate could barely choke out the words, and when she did, Reese moaned, bolted off the bed, and crossed to the window, totally ignoring Dray—who began to cry right away.

After a moment, Dray crossed to him. “Reese?” She touched his arm. Tried to turn him around.

He flung her off. “Don’t!”

She stumbled back and looked to Kate for help. “He’s been quiet all the way here.”

“All the way here? Where was he? And why did he call you?”

Kate explained the situation.

Dray drew herself up. “I see. You can go now, Kate. I’ll take care of him.”

“No!” Reese whipped around. “No, Kate, don’t leave.”

She froze. Dray turned to him. “Reese, honey, it’s okay. I’ll do whatever you need to be done.”

His expression didn’t change but he cocked his head, as if he didn’t even recognize her. “Emily’s dead.”

“I know.”

His gaze transferred to Kate. “We have to go to North Falls.”

She didn’t respond.

“You have to come with me, Kate. You promised.”

“Reese,” Dray pleaded. “You’re not thinking straight. I’ll go with you.”

He looked at Dray finally. “Of course I am. The boys.” His voice cracked. “They’ll need me…and Kate.”

Dray stood there, dumbfounded.

Kate intervened. “Look, Dray, I can drive Reese to North Falls. You can come along—”

“No, she can’t.” He faced Dray again. “Your sister’s wedding is in two days.”

“I can miss that.”

“You’re maid of honor.” He nodded to already-packed luggage in the corner that Kate hadn’t noticed. “You were going to New York tonight.”

“I can’t leave you now.”

“I have Kate.”

Dray’s eyes widened. “No, no Reese. Don’t say that.”

“For God’s sake, Dray, don’t make this about us. My little sister’s dead. Can’t you for once think outside that box of yours?”

Again, Dray burst into tears. Kate crossed to her. “Dray, he doesn’t mean what he’s saying. Cut him some slack.” In truth, Kate was angry at the younger woman’s selfishness. But a catfight wouldn’t help Reese.

“He wants to be with you.”

“I know Bill. The boys.” Her own voice cracked and she felt tears welling up; once again, she quelled them. “Please, let me drive him home tonight. We’ll sort all this out later.”

Dray drew back. She watched Kate, and said, “Well, I guess you’ve won.”

“Nobody’s won today,” Kate said, shaking her head. “Can’t you see that everybody’s lost?” When Dray said no more, Kate shook her head. The hell with her. She’d tried to be kind. “I’m taking Reese to North Falls.” Picking up the carry-on and hanging bag, she crossed to Reese and said, “Here, take these.”

Rotely, he did.

Then she took the heavier one and led Reese out of the bedroom, leaving Dray standing alone in the middle of it. Kate blocked out the sight. She had more pressing problems than Dray Merrill’s insecurities now.

Like how on earth to help Reese through the next few hours when she herself was dying inside. She’d loved Emily, too.

o0o

REESE STAYED CLOSE to Kate as they walked out of his house into the garage. Before he rounded the car, he said, “Give me the keys.”

“Not on your life. I’m driving.”

He halted abruptly. It was important to stay in control. He needed to snap out of this daze. If he let himself feel, think, he would only…Oh, God, his little sister was dead. Sucking in a breath, he said, “No you’re not.”

She bypassed him and got in the car; he swore vilely. But he slid into the passenger side. When they pulled out onto the street, and she took a left instead of right, he frowned. “What are you doing?”

“Going to the interstate.”

“We have to drive to your house first. Get your things.”

“Reese…”

“You’ll need stuff for several days.”

She drew in a breath. “Are you sure you want me there, to do this?”

“Don’t you want to be?”

“Of course I do.” Her voice was raw and he realized she was hurting.

“Please, Katie, don’t argue about this. You have to come with me. We’ll get through it together.”

“I will. I want to. We’ll stop at my place.”

She turned the car around and headed toward her house.

“Do you have a black dress?” He didn’t know why he asked that. “For the funer…oh God, oh, Christ…” He buried his face in his hands.

The car swerved and jolted to a halt. He felt her hand on his back. “It’s okay, Reese, let it out.”

He shook his head. “I can’t.”

“You have to.”

“I need to be strong. For my dad and the bo…” He couldn’t finish. Just the thought of Emily’s boys, alone now, destroyed him. Kate’s hand went to his neck, and she must have somehow come up on her knees because she pulled him to her chest. He buried himself there, just for a minute. She crooned, “It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Once more he broke into sobs. He didn’t know how long later, he pulled back. Drew in a heavy breath. Shook his head. Okay, so he had lost it with her. With Kate. That was all right. “Let’s go. I’m better.”

She kissed the top of his head, slid back behind the wheel and started to drive. At her house, she insisted he come in. Mindlessly he walked into the foyer with her. He’d followed her upstairs before he asked, “Jesus, what am I doing?”

She grasped his hand. “You just need human company.” She started to pull him to the door to her bedroom.

He tugged her back. “I need your company. Is that all right?”

Her gaze was penetrating. “Yes, I wouldn’t want to be with anyone but you at a time like this.”

“We’ve done it before.”

“When my dad died. And your best friend from college. Remember that. We’ll get through this again, Reese, together.”

Soothed by her calm assurances, he sat on her bed while she packed. His mind whirled. Funeral…his dad…Jimmy and Jason…Kate staying with him.

“I’m ready.” He looked up at her. “You need to call your dad, Reese, and your office.”

Yes, he needed to do both. “I can’t. Will you do it?”

“Of course.” He gave her Greg’s number. “Tell him what happened, that he has to take over the Crane case. Tell him to give the details to Yolanda. Tell him…”

“Shh, I know what to do.” He heard her punch in numbers. Talk to Yolanda then to Greg. Then she called his dad.

“Bill, it’s Kate.” A pause. “Yes, I told him. No, he doesn’t want to talk to you yet.” She turned her back but he could still hear her words. “I think he needs to gather himself before he talks to you. Of course I’m coming with him.” A sniffle. “I loved her, too, Pa.” Silence. “Uh-huh. We’re leaving right now. An hour, max. No, of course I won’t speed. I promise I’ll be careful.”

Once they were on the road, Reese laid his head back and closed his eyes. That was a mistake. Pictures ran through his mind like a filmstrip and he couldn’t stop them.

“Will it help to talk about what you’re thinking?”

“Nothing will help.”

“Share it, anyway.”

In a voice he didn’t recognize, he began to speak. “I remember the day Mom brought her home from the hospital. She was so tiny. I was six and felt like a giant…She didn’t want to go to kindergarten. Mom had gotten sick by then, so I had to walk her to school before I went to sixth grade. My buddies teased me, but I held her hand all the way…” He swallowed hard. “The night Mom died, I let Emily sleep in my bed. I told her I’d always be there for her…always.” He swiped at his cheeks. “Fuck.”

“You kept your promise, Reese.”

“I suppose. I know this was out of my control.”

“Of course it was.”

Leaning back, he closed his eyes again, reached over and took Kate’s free hand in his. The next thing he knew Kate was shaking his arm.

“Reese, we’re here.”

He startled awake. “What?” He looked over. “Kate, what…where…” Then he remembered. Emmy. Dead. His head fell back. “Oh, shit.”

She’d pulled into his dad’s driveway, and cut the engine. He said, “Wait a sec, okay, before we go in.”

In the dim light from the driveway lamps, he saw her smile sadly. “We can wait as long as you need.”

His hand dropped to her knee. “I slept.”

“Self-preservation, I guess. You’ll need your strength to face that.” She nodded to the house.

“I’m not sure I can do this. Say the right thing, take care of the boys. “

“Mostly, you just have to be with them.”

“Are you sure?”

“Hey, I’m a judge. I know from whence I speak.”

“I made you come to North Falls with me.”

“No, I wanted to.”

“Your job…Sloan…” He hit his head. “God, you’re supposed to go to Cancun Friday.”

Leaning over, she kissed his cheek. “I’m not going anywhere, love, but into that house with you.”

Maybe he could do this. If she was there with him. If he had her for support. “All right, let’s go in.”

o0o

IT WAS ALL bravado. Kate hung on to Reese’s hand, needing him as much as he needed her. Her heart hurt so much for him, for the boys, for Pa, whom she loved as much as her own father. But she’d do anything to help them through this, even pretend she had the strength to do it.

The side entrance door to the kitchen still creaked when it opened. The house still smelled of coffee and the homemade bread Emily often baked for Pa. Kate heard a low rumble of voices and got a glimpse of people at the old Formica table in the corner before anyone noticed them.

“Oh.” An older woman Kate vaguely recognized saw them first. “Bill.” She nodded to the doorway.

Bill glanced over his shoulder, then threw back his chair. He strode to Reese and enveloped him a big bear hug. “Pa…Pa…”

Bill said nothing. He just sobbed in his son’s arms. Kate could see the struggle on Reese’s face. He was trying so hard not to give in to the grief again. Finally, he lost the battle. He cried as hard as he had earlier, with his arms locked around his dad.

When they pulled apart, Bill wiped his eyes, blew his nose, then turned to Kate. He yanked her to him. “Kate…my baby…”

“I know, Pa. I know.” Much as she’d done with Reese, she patted his back. Tears misted in her eyes but she battled them back.

Bill finally pulled away. Reese was at the table talking to the older couple there. “Kate, come here.” She approached Reese; he slid his arm around her waist and leaned into her. “You remember Nat and Merle Gates. Charlie’s parents. This is my wife, Kate.”

Kate said, “Sorry to see you again under these circumstances.”

“Me, too.” This from Nat. She glanced at Reese. “I thought you two were divorced.”

A blank look came over Reese’s face.

“We are,” Kate said. “I’m his ex-wife.”

As if that explained things.

“Emily was like another sister to me.” She was amazed at how strong she sounded. “I loved her very much.”

“Where are the boys?” Reese asked.

“In the den. I put on a video.” Merle shook his head. “They’re dazed.”

Reese looked toward the sound of cartoons. “I want to see them.”

Bill shot Kate a worried look.

“I’ll go with you.” Kate knew this would be the hardest of everything—seeing the kids for the first time, finding something to say. Again, she held Reese’s hand as they walked into the other room. His grip was so tight it hurt.

The boys were on the couch, arms entwined, covered with a blanket. Jimmy was sucking his thumb, a habit she knew he’d given up long ago. Jason held a stuffed bear at his side. They both looked up when they saw someone enter. “Uncle Reese,” they said simultaneously and, again together, they both burst into tears.

Kate said, “Take one,” as she circled to the left side and Reese to the right. Jason leaped into her arms. Jimmy threw himself at Reese. “Uncle Reese, Mommy’s dead. She’s gone to heaven, Papa said.”

Reese held Jimmy close, his face layered with anguish. “I know, buddy. I’m sorry.”

Jason burrowed into Kate. “Aunt Kate, I want my mommy.”

She held him tight and stumbled back into a chair. “I know, honey. I do, too.”

Reese took a seat with Jimmy still in a headlock, and for a long time, they just hugged the kids, who finally cried themselves out.

When they were done, Jimmy drew back. “Who’s gonna take care of us? Grandma Gates says we’re orphans now.”

Jason scrunched up his face. “She says we’re gonna go live with them, Aunt Kate. I don’t want to.”

For this she looked to Reese.

“No,” he said so firmly, it even comforted her. “You’re going to live with me.”

Kate knew Emily had named Reese as legal guardian. Actually, she’d named both of them, though Em had changed her will after their divorce.

Reese straightened and became the competent adult. “Look at me, both of you.” When they did, he said, “I know your mom talked to you about this. She said if anything happened to her, you would live with me. Remember?”