What it Takes (35 page)

After Janelle got up, Patrick and Zach cleaned up the entryway so Patrick could show him some of the “ninja” moves Zach had been waiting for. From the wall under the steps to the columns of the living room was about eight feet, maybe a little more. Kelsey helped move the side table and plant into her office, giving them a nice empty space to play in. While in the office, she retrieved a script then returned to sit in the corner of the stairs to read while she supervised.

Patrick taught Zach a few kicks and punches, and Zach slowly copied him. When Zach had trouble, Patrick stepped behind him, took his wrists, and guided him through the move. When he was sure Zach understood, Patrick let him practice some of the punches and pretended they really hurt. Zoe sat on the step in front of Kelsey to watch, but when Zach “knocked” Patrick down, she jumped into the action. She and Zach piled on top of Patrick and held him down, trying to tickle him and laughing the whole time. Patrick retaliated by tickling them, and their squeals of joy almost hurt his ears.

Janelle called them from the kitchen and Zach and Zoe quickly scurried away for lunch, inadvertently landing little hands in Patrick’s chest and stomach. Patrick heard Kelsey’s soft laugh as she took the script back to her office and grinned. When she came out of the office, she held her hand out to help him up and, for a moment, he considered pulling her down to the floor instead, which led to thoughts of their love scene, which led to thoughts of a love scene of a different kind so he let her help him up.

He held Kelsey’s hand as they joined the others in the kitchen. As they ate their lunch, the kids chattered happily, but Patrick’s thoughts were elsewhere. Since the incident with Richard, Kelsey had been more affectionate with Patrick and more open to his affection. It gave him hope that this trip hadn’t been in vain, and they were finally reaching a comfort zone she’d maintain.

When the kids were finished eating, they went upstairs for their naps. As Kelsey and Patrick cleaned the kitchen, a muffled curse from Janelle came from the living room. Mary and George were pulling in the driveway.

“Oh no,” Kelsey muttered and closed her eyes on a sigh. She hadn’t spoken to her mother since the night of Patrick’s arrival.

Mary was less than thrilled about the way Richard had left the day before, and she expressed her displeasure the instant she entered the house. “What were you thinking? I mean, really Kelsey, you didn’t have to have him taken away by the police yesterday. I would’ve gladly picked him up if he couldn’t drive. Was calling Nathan really necessary?” she snapped but didn’t give Kelsey a chance to respond. “And Nathan, of all people. Why’d you call him? This is
his
fault,” she pointed toward Patrick. “You never would’ve gotten the police involved if it hadn’t been for him. I’ll bet you just made things up to get poor Richard in trouble.”

Kelsey rolled her eyes and lifted her sleeve. “I can’t make this up, Mother.” Her bruise was the perfect image of a handprint and Mary gasped. “Or my lovely planter outside that he ran over. I’m sure you saw that on your way in.”

Mary, staring at the bruise, remained silent.

“Where were
you
?” George asked Patrick angrily.

“Dad, calm down.” Kelsey stepped to Patrick’s side and took his hand. “He was inside with Zach.” Together they explained what had happened and George relaxed and began asking his own questions.

“See, I knew he had something to do with it,” Mary said, rudely interrupting Patrick as he explained why Kelsey had decided to call the police.

“Mary, that’s enough,” George snapped. Janelle and Kelsey exchanged wide-eyed looks. It was rare for their father to step in and silence Mary. “Kelsey did the right thing and I’m glad Patrick was here.”

Obviously offended, Mary wandered to the door and stood quietly. Kelsey could almost see her reforming her argument.

Janelle seized that opportunity to take over cleaning the kitchen. Kelsey gave Patrick’s hand a squeeze before joining her sister. George and Patrick continued their discussion near the pony wall to the dining room as Kelsey worked silently with her sister.

When Mary joined her daughters in the kitchen, she smiled sweetly at Kelsey. “Sweetheart, could you give me a moment with your sister please?”

Kelsey wasn’t fooled by the pleasantness and recognized the ploy for what it was. Divide and conquer. Her mother’s favorite strategy.

Kelsey left but watched from the living room as she leaned against the back of the couch. She could hear bits and pieces of the conversation, enough to know how one sided it was. Mary was insisting that Richard was extremely sorry and it wouldn’t happen again. She was trying to convince Janelle to at least talk to him. As Janelle was continuing to reject any suggestion her mother was making, Mary turned a glare on Kelsey.

It was no surprise when she approached Kelsey a few minutes later. Kelsey stood silently and kept her arms folded across her chest.

“Would it really have been so bad to let him sleep it off on your couch? He just wanted to see the kids,” Mary snapped as she jabbed a finger at Kelsey. “You always have to antagonize him, don’t you?”

Kelsey shrugged.

“Don’t you have anything to say?”

To be honest, Kelsey was baffled by the vitriolic behavior Richard directed only at her. When she’d gotten pregnant, he’d welcomed her into his and Janelle’s home with open arms. He’d treated her as if she were his sister, not just his troublesome sister-in-law. It was only after he’d started drinking that he’d started to become nasty to her. Kelsey knew he blamed her for Janelle moving out, a belief that Kelsey was certain Mary had had a hand in encouraging. And whenever he’d needed money, Kelsey always gave it to him, it was only in recent months, as the amounts needed had grown, that he’d had to resort to blackmailing her, using her secret pregnancy against her, because she wasn’t as quick to agree.

However, Kelsey could pinpoint the moment her feelings for him turned south. It was the instant she’d seen the bruises on her sister’s face. But Mary wouldn’t really care to hear that, so Kelsey gave her typical response, “What’s the point, Mother? You’re going to take his side anyway.”

Mary held her daughter’s stare for a moment before she cast a fleeting look at Patrick. “Why is he still here?” Mary mock whispered. “Have you given him what he came for?”

Kelsey tensed a little and glanced at Patrick, now seated in the armchair closest to her. He was looking down, but she could tell he was trying not to laugh. The tension drained away and she turned back to her mother. “Do you really want to know?” Kelsey asked with an innocent air.

Mary exhaled sharply and narrowed her eyes. “George, it’s time to go,” she stated and left the house.

Patrick woke Sunday morning to the faint smell of bacon. After dressing, he peeked into Kelsey’s empty bedroom then followed the aroma downstairs. Along with the strengthening scent, the sounds of the kids playing grew louder as he descended.

Kelsey was standing at the stove, scrambling eggs, as he entered the kitchen. He smirked as he approached the coffee pot, which sat on the counter in the corner between the sink and stove.

“Good morning,” he whispered in Kelsey’s ear as he reached for a mug.

“Good morning.” She turned and grinned at Patrick.

He was awestruck by her smile and he realized he’d like it to be the first thing he saw every day. He shook the thought away as he reached for the coffee pot. “What, no Frosted Flakes this morning?” He poured the bitter brew into his cup.

She shook her head. “No. Sunday morning breakfast.”

“Is this typical or are you trying to impress me?” Patrick teased as he leaned against the sink and stirred sugar and cream into his coffee as he watched her cook.

“Sorry, this is normal.” She laughed quietly. “Does it impress you?” She turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

“You always impress me.” He leaned closer and lightly pressed his lips to her forehead. When he leaned away, her eyes were wide with surprise. “Sorry, I shouldn’t distract you. A trip to the ER probably isn’t on the schedule for the day.”

She narrowed her eyes and tried not to laugh. “Funny.”

Patrick chuckled. “So, what’re we doing today?” He leaned against the counter.

“Janelle’s getting the kids’ clothes ready. They’ll all eat and go to church—”

“Aren’t you going with them?” he interrupted.

She glanced at him as she put the cooked eggs into a large bowl. “I hadn’t planned on going this morning.” She placed the bowl on the island.

“Why not?” He walked to the cabinet and retrieved the plates.

“I was going to stay here with you,” Kelsey said as she laid a paper towel on a plate. She put the bacon on the plate and set it beside the eggs. She looked into the living room. “Zoe, come eat. Zach, go get your mother please.”

“As nice as that idea is,” Patrick said and her cheeks turned pink, “I’ve got another suggestion. I can go with you.”

She laughed and he feigned offense. “Why would you want to do that?” She took the potatoes out of the oven and put them on the counter with the rest of the food.

“Why not?” He spooned eggs onto a plate as Zoe sat down. “You’d go if I weren’t here.”

“But you are here. You’re going to be recognized.”

“So?” He set the plate in front of Zoe. “It’s no big deal, Kelsey. Are you ashamed to be seen with me?” he asked lightly, hoping to hide his apprehension.

“No.” She laid her hand on his arm. “I’m not ashamed of you, but people like to talk.”

He closed the distance between them by a step. “Let them.” He took her hands. “We’ve got nothing to hide, and if they make assumptions, that’s their problem, not ours.”

As she looked into his melted chocolate eyes, she debated with herself. They had nothing to hide, but taking a male friend to church was a big deal. It was a small church; the parishioners had either watched her grow up or grown up with her. Bringing someone who was “just a friend” to church was tantamount to bringing them to a family reunion. That was something you only did if you were serious about the person.

Janelle entered the room behind Zach. “He’s right, Kels,” she said as she sat between Zach and Zoe. “What’re we talking about?” She spooned food onto Zach’s plate as Kelsey squeezed Patrick’s hand before she dropped it.

“Patrick wants to go to church with us,” Kelsey replied.

Janelle laughed but quickly stopped when she saw Patrick’s serious expression. “Really?” she asked, still trying not to laugh. “Mom would love that.”

“I’m sure,” Kelsey muttered.

“She might actually have to be nice to you for a change.”

Kelsey gave a small smile in response as she followed a vein in the marble countertop with her eyes. The idea of having Patrick go to church with them was frightening and exciting at the same time.

“Kels, really? What’s the problem?” Janelle asked. Kelsey considered her as she took a bite of potatoes and eggs. The kids were busy eating and weren’t paying attention. Patrick’s plate was still empty. “You aren’t worried about Mom are you?”

“No,” Kelsey replied, putting a spoonful of eggs on her plate and passing the bowl to Patrick.

“Kelsey, if it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll stay here,” he said. “But you don’t have to stay too.” His brow was furrowed, disappointment etched on his face.

“Patrick,” Kelsey started with a smirk. “What kind of hostess would I be?” she repeated his words from the first movie night they’d had in Tennessee. He relaxed a little but still looked hurt. “I can’t leave you here alone. It wouldn’t be polite.”

“Don’t you trust me?” He winked as he put a forkful of food in his mouth and chewed it slowly.

Kelsey nodded and laughed, looking at her plate.
More than you know.

“Kels, if he were a girlfriend, you wouldn’t hesitate to bring him with us,” Janelle argued. “I mean, you
are
just friends, right? So what’s the difference?”

Kelsey glared at her sister’s mischievous countenance and chewed slowly. Janelle held her gaze and their expressions changed simultaneously. Kelsey knew Janelle had a point, and she could tell Janelle knew that she knew. For every reason Kelsey could come up with, she could almost hear her sister’s argument against it. Without saying a word, Kelsey realized Janelle was right, and if she was going to pretend that all she and Patrick had was a friendship, she needed to act like it.

Kelsey nodded her concession, and Janelle laughed and looked at her plate.

“Okay, you’re right,” Kelsey agreed.

“So, you don’t mind if I join you?” Patrick asked.

Kelsey saw the grin on his face and shook her head. “It’d be nice to have you there,” she said and realized she truly meant it.