Ties That Bind (28 page)

“I do.” A small smile Jason’s face. “With you and with Aunt Kate. I remember.”

“Oh, honey…” Again, she looked to Reese. Should the boys be told the truth now? If they waited till later, would they feel betrayed?

He stared at Kate a minute, then said to the boys, “We can figure out the particulars later. Just know that Aunt Kate and I love you very much, and we’ll both take care of you, no matter what.”

Kate relaxed. That was a good answer. They could all deal with the particulars later. It was important to just get through one minute at a time.

KATE HELD HER breath as she closed the door to the boys’ room. Jason and Jimmy had finally fallen asleep when Kate and Reese lay down with them, one on each of their beds. Just ahead of her in the dim hallway of Emily’s house, Reese turned and looked at her. “Think they’ll sleep?”

“I hope to God they do.”

“I’m sorry about this.” He waved to indicate the house where they’d been forced into staying.

“I don’t mind.”

“Who are you kidding? You love five-star hotels.”

A small smile escaped her. Jimmy and Jason had thrown a tantrum when the Gates grandparents tried to take the boys home with them. They’d even resisted Bill Bishop’s offer to stay at his house. The only way they’d quiet was when Reese agreed to sleep at their own house with them. His features had gotten even more ravaged as he made the offer, and Kate knew being surrounded by Emily’s things would be excruciating. She was just about to suggest she go with him and the boys, when Jason attached himself to her waist and wouldn’t let go. “Aunt Kate, too,” he said stubbornly.

Which was how they ended up here.

He glanced down the corridor, where there were two more bedrooms. “I can’t…” He drew in a breath. “I can’t stay in Emily’s room.”

“You don’t have to. I will. Where do you usually sleep when you’re here?”

“After Charlie moved out, they turned his den into a bedroom for me.”

It made her heart ache to be reminded of how close Emily and Reese were. Had been.

He said, “I’ll get the bags.”

She watched him trudge downstairs to the foyer, where they’d dumped their suitcases earlier, come back up, and approach the bedroom to the right. He pushed open the door but didn’t go inside. Instead, he set her bag down at the threshold. “It’s stupid, I know. Cowardly.”

“It’s not, either. Give yourself a break, Reese.” She laid a hand on his arm. “Are you tired?”

“I guess.”

“Go on to your room. Unpack. Try to get some sleep.”

“I want to shower first.”

“Okay. I have to make some calls.”

Reese’s face hardened. “To Sloan?”

“To Jill…and to Tyler.”

Reese’s shoulders sagged, and he shook his head. “He’ll have a fit that you’re here.”

Reaching up, she caressed his jaw. “No, he won’t. He’ll pull through because this is a tragedy.” When Reese still looked skeptical, she added, “It doesn’t matter, anyway. I’m here for the duration.”

He grasped her hand and kissed it. Then he turned, picked up his suitcases and crossed into the room a few feet down the hall.

Kate entered Emily’s room and, after dumping her bags on the floor, shut the door sank down on Emily’s bed and closed her eyes. It took her a minute, but she gathered strength from inside her and began to unpack. When she went to the dresser to put away some clothes, and saw the pictures Emily had set out, her heart constricted so hard in her chest, with so much pressure, Kate didn’t think she’d be able to stand it. She traced her sister-in-law’s features: Emily with the boys, laughing. Emily with Reese, on a boat somewhere. But the sight of her as a child, holding hands with her big brother, overwhelmed Kate.

She heard the shower go on.

Okay, so it was safe.

Hugging the childhood picture to her breasts, she crossed to the bed, laid down, and let go. She sobbed into the pillows for Emily, for the boys, and especially for Reese.

Five minutes later—thank you God for letting Reese like long showers—Kate was calm again. She even felt marginally better. Enough to call Tyler at his hotel in Cancun.

Using Emily’s phone, she pressed buttons and waited for the overseas transmission. Hoping like hell he was in his room—she really needed his comfort tonight—she waited. And waited. Finally he answered. “Sloan.” He was a bit breathless.

“Tyler, it’s Kaitlyn.”

“Hey, gorgeous. I just got in. I’m so glad you called.”

“How’s the conference?”

“Really good, I gave my speech today.”

“Speech?”

“Yeah, I was the luncheon keynote, remember?”

No, she’d forgotten. “How did it go?”

“Kaitlyn, what’s wrong? You sound odd.”

A few tears escaped. She swiped them back. “Something’s happened.”

His tone was tense. “What?”

“Tyler, Reese’s sister, Emily, was killed in a car accident today.”

“Oh no. Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s awful. Reese is beside himself with grief. Jimmy and Jason are confused and crying all the time. Bill Bishop’s walking around like a zombie.”

A silence. “Jimmy and Jason? Bill Bishop? How do you know all that? Did Reese call you?”

“Um, no. I’m in North Falls with him.”

An even longer pause. “Why is that, Kaitlyn?”

“We were on our way to Longshore when he got the call from Pa about his sister’s death. I couldn’t let him drive down here by himself.” Which was a bit of a lie.

Tyler was quick to catch on. “Where was Dray? Had she already left for her sister’s wedding?”

Odd that he should know about the wedding. “No.”

“No?”

“It’s a long story. Tyler, please, this is so awful. I need some support from you.”

“All right. What’s the plan?”

“Plan?”

“When’s the funeral?”

“They’re going to see the undertaker tomorrow. Bill thinks calling hours will be Saturday and the funeral on Monday.”

“I see.”

The cold tone angered her.

“Ty, I can’t come to Cancun.”

“Of course you can. It’s only Wednesday night. Stay with the boys and the Bishops all day tomorrow, then drive back to Westwood and catch your plane Friday morning like you planned.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why?”

“Well, for one thing, somebody’s got to go get Sofie.”

“Let someone else do it.”

“Tyler, she’s my child. Her aunt just died. She loves those boys like they’re her brothers. I have to be here for her.”

“Just for her?”

She didn’t answer.

“You want to stay there, don’t you?”

Kate said, “Yes, I want to stay. I loved Emily, too.” Her voice broke on the last word.

When Tyler didn’t say anything, tears leaked from her eyes, out of frustration, and pain, and loneliness. Damn it, she needed comfort, too, and expected to get it from him.

Instead, he asked, “Where are you staying?” Again no warmth in his voice.

“What?”

“Where are you? Right now.”

“I’m at Emily’s house. I told you, the boys are overwrought.”

“And is Reese there?”

“Yes.”

No response.

“Tyler, please.”

“Please what? Give you carte blanche to sleep with your ex-husband so you can comfort him? Well, you know what, Kaitlyn. Go ahead. Seal the deal. Console your ex. I’m done with all this.”

“How can you be so callous? A lovely, thirty-nine-year-old, woman is dead. Everyone is beside themselves with grief. Including me.”

Still, no answer.

“Please, Tyler.” Now she began to cry in earnest. “Don’t do this!”

But he’d already hung up.

Leveled, Kate just sat on the bed and stared at the phone in her hand. The water was still running in the bathroom, and after a while, she got up, got out some necessities and headed downstairs. Charlie had put in a small bathroom off the kitchen, and she showered quickly, forcing her mind to blank like she had after the divorce from Reese. Dressing in red cotton pajamas, she came out of the tiny space under the staircase and caught sight of the kitchen. “I need a drink,” she said aloud.

She rummaged around until she found Reese’s favorite brand of scotch. She poured herself one, then glanced upstairs, noticing the sound of the water had gone off. “What the hell?” she said, and poured another.

Back on the second level, she saw Reese’s door was closed. She crossed to it and knocked.

“Just a second.” She waited. “Come on in, Kate.”

He was standing by the window, dressed in a light knit robe she’d packed for him. It was dark green and paisley. She’d wondered if Pollyanna had given it to him. He nodded to the drinks. “Is one of those for me?”

She smiled and approached him. “Here you go.”

He took the glass and grabbed her waist with his other hand. “Do you have any idea what this means to me, that you’re here?”

“I want to be here.”

“I know. And that means even more.”

“Drink your scotch.”

He sank down into a stuffed chair, and she sat on the edge of the bed. After a few sips, he looked over at her, his green eyes narrow. “You okay?”

“As well as can be expected.”

“You look like you’ve been crying.” He rolled his eyes. “Of course you’ve been crying.” He shook his head. “I’ve been selfish in my grief.”

“I’m fine, Reese.”

He angled his head. “Did you call Jill?”

“Um, no.” Truthfully, she’d forgotten after Tyler’s unkind words.

“Sloan?”

“Yep.”

“I’ll bet this went over big. You coming here.”

“Don’t worry about Tyler.”

“Kate—”

“Shh, Reese. Just try to relax.”

They made small talk about what would happen tomorrow.

“While you’re making the arrangements,” Kate told him, “I’ll go get Sofie. Unless you want me to come to the funeral parlor with you.”

“No, Pa and I can do that.” He took in a deep breath. “Should we call Sofie first?”

“I don’t think so. I want to be with her when I tell her.”

His mouth thinned. “She’ll be devastated.”

“We all are, Reese. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her.”

He finished the last of his drink, set the empty glass on the table and laid his head back against the chair. “I feel so bad. Even worse than I did after the divorce. I never thought anything could hurt more than that.”

Kate watched him wrestle with his feelings. She had a quick flash to the past, to times when one of them was hurting so badly, they thought it would never stop. And what they did for each other, to briefly extinguish the pain.

She finished her drink, set it on the nightstand and switched off the light, so all that illuminated the room was a small lamp on the dresser across the room. Without thinking, without considering the ramifications of her actions, she went to stand before him. He opened his eyes and looked up at her.

Long moments, full of meaning, passed. Then he reached out his hand and tugged on hers. She shook her head, and instead knelt before him.

“Kate—what…”

“Shh,” she said softly sliding her hands up his thighs. “You remember.”

An anguished chuckle. “Oh, man, of course I do. When something bad happened. One of us would…”

“Comfort the other.” She brushed a hand across his groin. “Like this.”

“Sometimes I pretended that I felt rotten, just so you’d do this.”

“You did not!”

An easier chuckle. “No, but I was tempted.” He stroked her hair. “Sweetheart, are you sure?”

Was she? Staring up at him, seeing the grief etched in his face, remembering the past, she gave him a sad smile. “I’m sure. At least right now.”

Then she reached for the belt of his robe.

o0o

NUDGED FROM OBLIVIAN by a sound, Reese opened his eyes to semidarkness and the smell and feel of Kate in his arms. He snuggled into her back. They were sleeping together? In his bed? It took a split second for him to remember. No, no. Emily was dead. The cold weight of grief returned. He’d been overcome with its slicing pain. And as Kate had done in the past, she’d comforted him with physical release.

And it had helped. Afterward, he asked her to sleep with him, and she hadn’t refused. Burying his face in the flowery smell of her hair, he let himself breathe in the feminine scent of her. He heard the noise again; reluctantly, he eased away and slipped out of bed. Putting on a robe, he found his way to Jason and Jimmy. They were in one bed, their backs against each other, seeking contact and comfort. Jimmy was moaning.

Swallowing hard, Reese crossed to them and knelt down. He brushed back Jimmy’s hair, kissed his forehead, and stayed there until the boy quieted. He watched them for a few seconds, overcome with despair. Emily. Dead. He just couldn’t believe it.

Finally he went back to his room. Kate was asleep on her side. He smiled at her, all wrapped up in red cotton. Her hair was tousled, her breathing even. He sat on the edge of her side of the bed and simply watched her chest rise and fall. And in that stark moment of life and death, of recognition of his mortality, and of hers, he admitted some things to himself.

He was in love with her. He’d never stopped loving her. Everything they’d done to each other hadn’t been able to destroy the tie between them.

And he believed she felt the same.

Yes, they had Sofie to consider. Yes, they’d done perhaps unforgettable damage to each other. But in the early hours of the morning, blanketed by sorrow, Reese couldn’t dissemble. He wanted her back as his wife. He wanted Sofie home, and Emily’s boys with them. Maybe even his dad.

He drew in a breath. This was a big deal. Not one to be made lightly, maybe not in the midst of unendurable grief. Kate shifted, and he brushed his hand down her cheek. She opened her eyes. Slumberous, and sexy, she smiled up at him, grasped his hand and brought it to her breast. His fingers flexed on the supple flesh. “Hmm. I love when you touch me.”

She didn’t remember where she was, or when it was. “Katie…”

Moving to her back, she held his hand on her, and came awake by degrees. “Oh.” Awareness dawned about Emily, first, given the sadness that flushed her face. “I forgot.”

“I did, too, when I awoke.”

“Are the boys okay?”

“I just checked.”

She looked down at his hand. He didn’t remove it. “Are you all right?”