Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
“That was surprisingly fun,” Kara said when they were on their way back to Bertha’s with a box of leftovers Judith had sent to her mother and brother, along with another piece of cake for Dan to have before bed because he’d loved it so much.
“It was a very nice evening. I was glad to get the chance to see Kolby and Keenan, too. Who’s left for me to meet?”
“You’ll meet Kellen tomorrow. He’s second-in-command to my dad and Kendra at BBW.”
“So your dad and Kendra are like one person?”
“More or less. She speaks for him, and everyone knows that. She doesn’t want to be CEO or COO or anything like that. She wants to go to work, do her job and go home to her girls and family. But she and Kellen often disagree on the direction of the company. She didn’t want the government contracts, for instance. She thought they were taking on too much. Kellen argued that it was reliable money, and they couldn’t turn them down.”
“I can sort of see both sides of that.”
“I could, too, but it got bad between them for a while. Kendra says she doesn’t want to be the big boss, but she kind of is anyway.”
“Where was Hugo tonight?”
“He had a meeting with a new client in Boston and is staying overnight.”
“Okay, so who else is left?”
“Kingston. I’ll text him to see if we can see him at some point. You’ll also see Kyle, who runs the paint shop at BBW, and Kieran, who’s in charge of fiberglass, but you met them at the wedding. And then that’ll be everyone. Not that you’ve officially met Kelly…”
“I’m good with the limited exposure I’ve had to her. And by the way, eleven kids are a lot .”
Kara howled with laughter. “ Ya think? ”
“We can’t have that many. I don’t care how much you beg and plead for my seed, I ain’t doing it.”
“Eww, and don’t worry. That’s not going to be an issue. Number one, I will never ‘plead for your seed,’ and number two, I want to be able to give our children all the love and attention they need. That’s hard to do when the pot is split eleven ways.”
“I’m so glad you had Bertha, Buster, Kirby, Renata and the friends who meant so much to you.”
“I’m grateful to all of them every day for the roles they played in my childhood.”
“I have to say… I love seeing you having peaceful, happy, fun times with your family, though. I’ve wished for that for you for almost as long as I’ve known you.”
“I’ve been afraid to admit that I hoped for it, too. Coming home has been good for me. It reminded me that not everything here was terrible.”
“We’ll come here any time you want now that the seal has been broken.”
“Is it weird to be low-key relieved that my brothers gave us a reason to come home?”
“Yes, it’s weird,” he said with a laugh, “because the reason we’re here is terrible.”
“Don’t tell anyone I said that, but I’m glad we had a reason that couldn’t be ignored no matter how much I wanted to at first. And that it wasn’t some health crisis for Bertha or someone else.”
“Good point, but I won’t tell anyone you’re glad your brothers got arrested.”
“I never said that!”
She loved to make him laugh like that.
“Whatever you say, babe. I heard what I heard.”
“Stop trying to make me mad when I’m in a good mood.”
“How good of a mood are we talking about?”
“The best kind of mood.”
“Does the good mood extend to me?”
“It did until you started spewing fiction over there.”
“I’m very sorry. I take it all back.”
“Don’t ever let anyone say you’re not a shameless opportunist.”
“Guilty as charged.”
He pulled into Bertha’s driveway and parked to the far right so the Jeep wouldn’t block in Bertha’s truck. “Does that give them enough room?”
“Plenty,” Kara said.
Inside, Bertha was spiking a cup of tea with a shot of bourbon, which she said was good for her aching joints after a long day on the water. She smiled when Kara went right over to hug her as Dan went to change his clothes.
“How was dinner, love?”
“Surprisingly lovely. Judith went all out with homemade stuffies, seafood casserole and her chocolate cake, which someone—mentioning no names—had two pieces of and brought another home for later.”
“Her chocolate cake is to die for,” Bertha said.
“She sent you and Buster some, along with enough leftovers for dinner tomorrow.”
“That was nice of her.”
Kara had already filled in her grandmother on Judith’s visit and their conversation. “She seems to be really trying to be different.”
“I see that, too. I just hope it lasts.”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
“Who else came to dinner?”
“Kendra and the girls, Kolby and Keenan. It was a nice time. Dad invited us to come by the office tomorrow so Dan can check it out, and we’re going to lunch after.”
“I’m happy for you, sweetheart. I’ve long hoped to see you reconcile with them in a meaningful way. Estrangements are exhausting. Just ask your father about that.”
“Yeah, they are exhausting, and I’m glad, too.”
Dan returned to the kitchen. “Where’d you put that cake, hon?”
“I hid it from you.”
“I’ll find it. I can sniff out cake like a dog with a bone.”
Bertha laughed. “Take pity on him, Kara. He’s a growing boy.”
“Please, Kara. I need my cake.”
She rolled her eyes at him and went to get it from the hiding spot in Bertha’s bread box.
“Yesss!”
Bertha handed him a fork.
“Don’t moan to me that you’re getting a dad bod,” Kara said as she fixed herself a glass of ice water.
“You like when I moan to you,” he said around a mouthful of cake.
Kara gave him her sternest look. “Not in front of Bertha.”
Bertha rocked with silent laughter. “Oh, how I love you two.”
“We love you, too,” Kara said. “We’re coming up here more often going forward. I don’t want to go months and months without seeing you.”
“Don’t do anything on my account, love. I know you worry about me running out of years, but I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got a lot of living left to do.” She placed her hand gently on Kara’s baby belly. “And another great-grandchild to raise and teach our way of life.”
Overwhelmed with love for the woman who’d been her true north her entire life, Kara hugged her and blinked back tears. “You’d better be sticking around. I can’t raise this kiddo without you.”
“You won’t have to, love. I promise.”
“Did you know that cake makes me horny?” Dan whispered in the dark when they were tucked into bed.
“Hush. That’s not happening with my grandmother and uncle across the hall.”
“We can be so quiet.”
“You’ve never been quiet a second in your life.”
“That’s not true. I can be silent when needed.”
“I don’t trust you, especially when you’re hopped up on sugar.”
“You may be right, but let’s be honest. I’m not the weak link when it comes to being quiet during sex…”
Kara pinched his lips shut, which only silenced him for a second.
He wriggled free, like he always did. “If this situation drags on, we’re going to need our own place so we can get back to business as usual around here.”
“It’s not going to drag on, because my husband will tell you he’s an amazing lawyer who knows how to get things done.”
“That is true, but even he isn’t Superman.”
“Isn’t he? According to him?—”
Dan kissed her, making her laugh.
“The truth hurts, doesn’t it?”
“Shhh, I’m kissing my wife. I can’t hear you.” His hand slid up her leg, ducked under her T-shirt and over her baby belly to cup her breast before she could recall that she’d told him this wasn’t happening.
Though she was sure Bertha and Buster were dead asleep by now, she still couldn’t get past them being right across the hall in the tiny house. “Dan…”
“Hmm?”
“I can’t.”
“You can. Just relax and trust me.”
“I trust you to be loud.”
“I’ll be so quiet, you won’t even know I’m here.”
The thought of that was so preposterous that she started laughing and couldn’t stop, until he gently pinched her super-sensitive nipple and made her gasp.
“Shhh.”
How did he change her mind, which had been resolute a few minutes ago, with only a few kisses and caresses that set her on fire for more? Resisting him was futile when she wanted him desperately. He was a master at getting clothes off with a minimum of fuss and was inside her so quickly, she could barely prepare before he was kissing her to keep her quiet.
He was right. She was the weak link when it came to being noisy during sex.
His lips curved into a smile against her lips as he moved in her, making the bed creak and her heart race. How did he do that to her every time? Even when she’d planned to say no? Even when her grandmother and uncle were— hopefully —sleeping across the hall?
Ugh, the very thought of them close by was almost enough to ruin her chances of making it to the big finish but leave it to Dan to get her there. Every. Single. Time.
He muffled the sounds she made with another deep kiss as he joined her, panting and clinging to each other.
“Weak link,” he muttered as he nestled into the curve of her neck.
“Shut up.”
“Just sayin’…”
“Go to sleep, Dan.”
“Yes, ma’am. But first, I need to tell you that I love you more than anything in this whole wide world.”
“You’re forgiven.”
Kara fell asleep with her arms around her love and a smile on her face.
Dan’s first order of business—after a run and a cup of coffee—was to check in with Carter about where he was with getting video footage from the bar.
“I was just going to call you,” Carter said. “I’ve got the security film and am reviewing it now.”
“And you know who we’re looking for?”
“Yep, I got the photo Clarissa sent.”
“Great job. Thank you.”
“I’ll call you in a bit with an update. I also spoke with Tanya’s parents and brother yesterday afternoon, and they confirmed that the ex-boyfriend didn’t go quietly. They said she was handling it and there was no way he could ever have harmed her. They’d been together for years, he loved her so much, etcetera. Tanya and her parents had chosen not to involve the police because their two families are friends.”
Dan groaned. “That might’ve been a big mistake.”
“Your thinking matches mine.”
“If we can put him in that bar where she was dancing and kissing another man, this could be game over.”
“I agree. For what it’s worth, Tanya had never mentioned Keith to them or indicated concerns with anyone else in her life.”
“Keith said she didn’t mention him to them because they wouldn’t have approved of her seeing a much older man. Send me everything you have on the ex-boyfriend. I’ll get some people in my office looking into his whereabouts last weekend.”
“Texting it to you now.”
“Thanks, Carter.”
“No problem. I’m also talking to Tanya’s local friend Lauren this morning, to confirm that she was happy seeing Keith over the summer. I’ll be back to you as soon as I have you can use.”
“Great. Thanks again.”
The information Carter conveyed, combined with what they already knew and no new information from the prosecution, had Dan feeling optimistic about Thursday’s hearing. He sent a text to Chuck and Judith, updating them. At the end, he added, Please ask everyone to be there in support of Keith and Kirby. This is a time for a united front, and having the entire family there will send a message that you’re all behind them and believe in them.
Chuck wrote back right away. We’ll make sure everyone is there. Thanks for all you’re doing. I feel much better after reading your update.
Hang in there.
Thank you, Dan, Judith said. We’ll never forget what you’ve done for us.
Happy to help.
He got up, stretched the muscles that’d gone rigid while he was sitting and went to check on his sleeping beauty.
With her hands together under her cheeks, she looked like an angel.
Dan stretched out next to her and ran a hand over her bare arm.
“Mmm. Is that my husband or some random guy who’s come to ravish me?”
“Is that a fantasy or something?”
She opened her laughing eyes. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Yes, I actually would like to know.”
“Don’t start your foolishness first thing in the morning.”
“It’s almost noon. I’ve been up for hours.”
She sat straight up. “It’s noon ?”
“Nah,” he said, chuckling. “Just a little after nine.”
She walloped him with a closed fist to the shoulder.
“Ow.”
“That was a mean thing to do to your pregnant wife.”
“It was kind of funny.”
“Not even a little bit funny.”
He pinched his fingers together. “Little tiny bit.”
“We’re in a fight as of right now.”
She got up and left the room, slamming the bathroom door.
Dan would have to do some groveling to come back from this, but that was okay. Groveling with her—anything with her—was more fun than anything he’d ever done before. His phone rang with a call from Kendall James, the attorney covering for him on Gansett Island.
“Hey, Kendall.”
“Hi, Dan. How’s it going up there?”
“We’re making some progress and hoping for good news at the preliminary hearing on Thursday.”
“Keep us posted. Everyone here is asking after you and Kara.”
“That’s nice to hear.”
They reviewed a number of pending cases that Kendall was handling in his absence, including the estate of Jim Sturgil, who’d died during the hurricane.
“I heard you had some history with him,” Kendall said.
“You could say that. He stabbed me at my engagement party.”
“So I heard.”
“He was pissed that I took over his practice after people quit him for being a dick to his ex-wife and daughter. It was one of those reap-what-you-sow things. He showed up at the engagement party drunk and looking for trouble, and he found it.”
“Damn, where’d he get you?”
“He sliced my palm wide open with a carving knife.”
Kara returned to the bedroom as he said those words. Her eyes went wide with questions.
“Oh my God! Was he disbarred?”
“No, because no one involved in the incident wanted that, including me. We just wanted him to leave us alone, which he mostly did after he returned to the island following a few months in jail while the legalities played out.”
“Wow, and here I thought nothing much of anything went on out here.”
“A lot goes on there.”
“That’s what I’m finding.”
“How are your sons settling in?”
“They love it so far and have made some friends at school. We’ve agreed to give it this year to see what we think, and then we’ll decide if we want to stay.”
“Watch out for Gansett. It gets under your skin very quickly. I never thought I’d permanently relocate to a tiny island off the Rhode Island coast, but it’s home now.”
“My brothers love it here, and I like living near them again. We’ll see what happens.”
“Thank you for covering the practice for me while I’m away. You showed up right on time.”
“Happy to help. I’ll update you by email in the next day or two.”
“Perfect. Have a great day.”
“You do the same, and good luck in court.”
“Thanks.”
“Who were you talking to about Jim Sturgil and the butcher knife?” Kara asked.
“Kendall James. She hadn’t heard the whole story.”
“I hate that story.”
Dan glanced at the thin white line across his palm. “Ancient history.”
“Not ancient enough for me.” She shuddered. “I’ll never forget that day.”
“I remember the good things. The way you tended to me and kissed it better was the part I recall.”
She brushed her reddish-blonde hair until it was a shiny waterfall down her back. “You would remember that.”
“Let’s get some breakfast into you, and then I’ll take you to see Kirby before we meet your dad at the office. I’m looking forward to seeing this company I’ve heard so much about.”
“Yes, me, too.”
“Why do you sound less than enthusiastic about a visit to the company?”
“Do I?”
“Uh-huh.” He put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a gentle massage, startled by the tension he felt in her rigid muscles. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
“Nothing. I’m fine. Really…”
He turned her to face him. “Talk to me.”
“There’re a lot of emotions tied up in the company—some good, some bad, some truly awful.”
“We don’t have to go there if it’s too much for you.”
“I want to show it to you. It was a big part of my life here. It’s definitely something you should see.”
“Not if it causes you pain.”
“I’m okay. I promise, and I’d like to see everyone there. It’s been a minute.”
“If you’re sure.” He kissed her and tucked a strand of silky hair behind her ear. “I’m going to grab a shower while you have something to eat. Bertha left you an egg sandwich if you feel up to it.”
“That sounds good. I can’t believe how much better I’ve felt since I had that IV.”
“I’m so glad about that. I hate to see you suffering.”
“It’s a small price to pay for our little miracle.”
“I hope she looks just like her gorgeous mama.”
“I think he is going to look just like his handsome daddy, and he’s going to talk as much as you do, if not more. In fact, I may need to invest in earplugs to survive you two.”
“You really think we’re having a boy?”
“I honestly don’t know, but it’s just a feeling I have. And the desire for earplugs has been growing along with the baby.”
“You think you’re so funny with that, don’t you?”
“I only speak the truth, my love.”
Dan smiled. “If my son is one-tenth the orator that I am, he’ll have a very successful life.”
Kara rolled her eyes. “God help me.”