Chapter 18
Eighteen
Snow began to fall around three o’clock on Christmas Eve. Reid watched the darkening sky with a growing sense of anxiety. His first wife had been killed in a snow-related car accident. He wanted Kate home, and he wanted her home now.
He was about to call her when Jack walked into the stables, where Reid had been mucking stalls as an excuse to stay away from the house while Kate, her sisters and mother were out.
The kids had been playing football all afternoon, while others took long walks or watched Christmas movies or helped with the baking going on in the kitchen. Everyone seemed happy, or at least it seemed that way to him.
He eyed Jack cautiously, never sure what to say to him. “Feel like a ride, Jack?”
“No, thanks. Horses were never my thing. The girls have been crazy about them since they were little. Especially Kate.”
“She’s an amazing rider.”
From his stall, Thunder whinnied, seeming to approve of Reid’s assessment. “That’d be Thunder—her horse. He knows her name and always has something to say when he hears it.”
Jack walked down the row of stalls to make Thunder’s acquaintance.
“That’s Kate’s daddy, boy. Be nice.”
Thunder stood perfectly still as he and Jack sized each other up.
Reid produced a couple of sugar cubes from his pocket and handed them to Jack. “Butter him up.”
“Thanks.” Jack held out his hand with the sugar resting on his palm.
Thunder never blinked as he scooped up the sugar with his tongue.
“I think he likes you,” Reid said.
“That’s good.” Jack turned to face him but didn’t say anything.
Reid continued to rake, refusing to be cowed in his own home. “Something on your mind, Jack?”
After another long silence, Jack said, “I’m never, ever going to introduce you as my son-in-law.”
Reid stopped raking and tightened his lips to hold back laughter he knew Jack wouldn’t appreciate. “Fair enough. As long as you don’t expect me to introduce you as my father-in-law.”
“Please don’t.”
Reid finally gave in to the need to laugh and was relieved when Jack joined him. “I’m glad we got that resolved.”
“There’s something else… That day when you came to my office… I told you I’d think about what you asked me. And I have. Thought about it. A lot.”
Making an effort to hide his anxiety, Reid propped his arm on the closest stall and waited to hear what Jack would say.
“I’m fifty-six years old, and I’m still learning things.”
“Right there with you.”
Jack gave him a wry smile. “The thing I’ve learned this week is that I shouldn’t make judgments or reach conclusions without having all the information.”
“How do you mean?”
“Now that I’ve seen you and Kate together, as a couple, I understand it better. I can see that you love her.”
“I do. Very much so.”
“You’ll take good care of her.”
“Always.”
“Then you have my blessing.”
Reid shook his hand. “Thank you, Jack. That means a lot to me, and it’ll mean everything to her.”
“Do me a favor, will you? Let me tell her?”
“Whatever you like.”
“They’re back,” Jack said, nodding to the open barn door, where Kate’s Jeep was visible.
Reid expelled a deep sigh of relief inspired by multiple events as he accompanied her father out to greet the women.
Kate saw them coming toward her together and looked at him with questions in her gorgeous blue eyes.
He kissed her and took note of her pale complexion. “You look tired, darlin’.”
“I am.”
“Feeling okay?”
“I was a little dizzy earlier, but I’m good now.”
“You haven’t been dizzy before.”
“Who’s dizzy?” Jack asked.
“Kate is,” Reid replied, never taking his eyes off her.
“How come?” Jack asked.
“Why did I think I could keep this a secret?” Kate moaned.
“Keep what a secret?” Jack asked, looking to the others for info.
She turned to face her father. “Dad, you’re going to be a grandfather in June.”
Jack looked like he’d been hit by a stun gun. “Oh. Wow. A grandfather.” He glanced at Reid, who wondered if their fragile accord would be undone by this news.
“Are you going to faint, Jack?” Clare asked her ex-husband, her voice laced with humor.
“I don’t think so, but thanks for asking.” He reached for Kate, who stepped into his arms. Jack closed his eyes as he hugged his daughter. “Congratulations, honey. You’ll be a wonderful mother.”
“Thank you, Dad.” Kate had tears streaming down her face, and her hair was covered in snow by the time her dad let her go.
Reid slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get you inside and out of the cold.”
Kate’s arm encircled his waist and she leaned her head on his shoulder. Jack stayed back to help Clare and the girls with some bags they had in the car.
“Did I see you two coming out of the stables together?” Kate asked.
“You did.”
“And?”
“And I think it’s all going to be fine, darlin’. Your daddy and I have come to an understanding of sorts.”
“Is that right?”
“It is.”
“When will I hear about this understanding of yours?”
He helped her out of her coat and hung it next to his in the mudroom. “As soon as he sees fit to tell you.”
“Is this some sort of guy thing?”
Reid propelled Kate through the kitchen and into their room, closing the door behind them.
“I can understand how you might think so, but he specifically asked if he could be the one to share the details of our understanding with you. Since our agreement is rather, shall we say, fragile, I intend to respect his wishes.”
“You do know I have ways of torturing information out of you.”
“Which is why I was afraid to tell you there was information to be had.”
A fit of laughter overtook her as she fell onto the bed.
Delighted by her amusement, he stretched out next to her, propping his head on his upturned hand. “Have mercy on me, will you, please?”
Kate reached for his free hand and linked their fingers. “He took the news about the baby well.”
“I noticed that. I take it you told your mom and Maggie, too.”
“I had to when the dizzy thing happened.”
“What’s up with the dizzy thing?”
“No idea. It came on out of nowhere. I was fine one minute, and the world was swimming the next. Reminded me of when I had pneumonia.”
“Should we call the doctor?”
“I don’t think so. It only lasted a second.”
“You’re sure?”
She nodded, gazing up at him with love in her eyes. He’d never seen her looking so peaceful or serene. “What?” he asked, smiling at her.
“Everything. It’s perfect.”
“Yes, it is,” he said, leaning over to kiss her as her phone chimed with a text.
“I need to check that. We do have a houseful of guests.”
“Who can fend for themselves for five damned minutes while I kiss my fiancée.”
“You can kiss me around the clock when we get back to St. Kitts.” They were going for three weeks to close on their new house and to honeymoon in the sun.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“I really wish you would.” She withdrew her phone from her pocket. “It’s from Maggie. She wants to talk to us for a minute.” Kate sat up and texted back, telling Maggie to come to their room.
Reid groaned and rolled onto his back. “So no more kissing?”
“In a minute.”
A knock on the door preceded Maggie into the room. “I’m so sorry to bother you guys.”
“It’s fine,” Reid said, waving her in. “Do you want me to go so you can talk to Kate?”
“No, I want to talk to both of you about the project. The women and kids.”
“What about it?” Kate asked.
In a rush of words, she said, “I want to be your director.” For Reid’s benefit, she said, “I double-majored in social work and sign language. I did a yearlong internship in a homeless shelter in the city. I understand the issues and the challenges. I know how to help them. And I want to be here, with my sisters.” Looking at Kate now, she said, “I really miss you guys.” Maggie stopped talking and took a deep breath.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’m dead serious about this.
I’ll give it everything I’ve got. I promise. ”
Kate glanced at him, seeming astounded by her sister’s speech. “We need to talk it over.”
“No, we don’t,” Reid said. “As far as I’m concerned, the job is yours if you want it.”
Maggie gasped. “You mean it?”
“If Kate agrees,” Reid said, looking at her. “We were hoping to find someone who’d be passionate about it.”
“I agree,” Kate said, drawing a scream of delight from her sister. “You’re sure you want to leave New York?”
As Maggie nodded, her eyes flooded with tears.
“What is it, honey?” Kate took Maggie’s hand and urged her to sit between them on the bed.
“There was a guy in New York, but it’s over now. I could really use a change of direction as well as scenery. And if I have to translate the details of one more disgusting murder, I might commit one.”
Kate laughed and hugged Maggie. “We’d love to have you here with us. Wouldn’t we, Reid?”
Seeing Kate surrounded by the people she loved warmed his heart. “Absolutely.”
“Thank you,” Maggie said, wiping her tears as she stood. “I’m sorry to barge in on you guys. I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing.”
Kate poked her sister in the ribs, making her laugh.
Maggie left the room, closing the door on her way out.
“Well, we can check interviewing for a director off our to-do list,” Reid said.
“Are you sure you’re okay with Maggie doing it?”
“If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have said I was. One thing you need to know about me, darlin’, is I never say anything I don’t mean.”
She lay back on the bed and held out her arms to him. “Can we do some more of that kissing stuff we were doing before?”
“By all means.”
Christmas Day passed in a whirl of food and presents and laughter and music. A foot of snow fell overnight, delighting the younger members of the family, who spent most of the day outdoors. A snowman was built and everyone but the seniors participated in a massive snowball fight after dinner.
Kate was completely exhausted but happier than she’d ever been in her life. She’d waited all day for a moment alone with her dad, but he’d been outside with the twins for most of the day. She hoped they’d get a chance to talk before the wedding tomorrow.