Eye of the Storm

Chapter

Eleven

KERRY DROVE IN silence for a bit, casting the occasional glance at the tall, silent form slumped in the seat next to her. “Hey,” she finally said, tugging a fold in the knee of Dar’s jeans. “You doing okay?”

Blue eyes picked up a bit of the sun’s glare from outside. “Yeah. Listen, I’m sorry you had to get in the middle of all that.” Dar gave her an apologetic look.

“Well,” Kerry watched the signs overhead, and changed lanes, “I know how it is with families. And I remember how I felt when I went home for Thanksgiving.” A large tractor trailer whipped by, making the smaller rental car shake. “Jerk,” she muttered. “I couldn’t do much, but I was glad I was here.”

Dar covered her hand and rubbed a thumb over her knuckles. “Me too. Glad that’s over, though.” She faced forward. “You’ll like Richard.

He’s decent, even though he’s a lawyer.”

Kerry nibbled the inside of her lip, debating on touching still sensitive nerves. “Dar, can I say something kind of personal to you?”

Her lover lifted an eyebrow. “Um...sure.”

“Okay.” Kerry made a turn and merged carefully into fitful traffic.

“You’re going to have to give me more specific directions soon.”

“That’s personal,” Dar remarked, with a wary smile.

Green eyes flicked very briefly to her. “What I was going to say was...I know we were talking before we left and all and, I don’t know, Dar. I mean, I just met your mother, but I think I sort of figured out that I don’t think she hates you.”

Dar sorted through the statement, feeling it rub against her smarting defenses. She realized she really didn’t want to talk about the subject, but found it hard to brush Kerry’s obvious concern off. “No. I...” she fingered the envelope, still sealed, “I never really thought that.”

Kerry remained quiet.

“Maybe that would have been better.”

“Why?”

“Hate is a lot more powerful than indifference,” Dar murmured. “I felt like, after my father was gone, she was getting rid of an unwanted problem.” She paused. “Not hate. Just an indifferent dislike that made me feel pretty damn insignificant.”

94 Melissa Good

“So you went out and conquered the world.”

Dar consider that, then reluctantly nodded. “Yeah. Maybe.”

“I think she loves you, Dar.”

Dar shook her head. “No. She loved my father, Kerry. I was just a part of that. Once he was gone we had nothing in common, and all we did was hurt each other.”

“No,” Kerry disagreed stubbornly. “I don’t believe that, Dar. I think she was trying to find a way back to you.”

Oh yeah. Dar remembered the exchange they’d had. “Well, I’m out of relatives I give a damn about, so I guess she had her one chance.” She folded her arms over her chest and gazed out the window.

Kerry drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. “You could call her once in a while,” she suggested. “Just to say hi, now that you’ve seen each other and all.”

Dar sighed. “She doesn’t want me doing that.”

“How d’you know?”

“Kerry...”

“Dar. You know what? I think the problem is you guys are too much alike.” Kerry turned the wheel, paying attention to her route. “I saw her watching you and I don’t think she’s indifferent, honey. Honestly, I don’t.” She straightened the car out. “You’re not.”

Dar stared grumpily out the window, a half dozen retorts rising to her lips, only to subside unspoken. “Can we change the subject?” she muttered testily.

Kerry glanced at her. “Okay,” she agreed, as her shoulders slumped in reaction. “Sorry. I know I...I can’t fix my family and I sort of really like yours.”

Dar turned her head and traced Kerry’s profile with contrite eyes. “I appreciate that...and maybe you’re right, Ker.” She plucked at the envelope, pulling the flap up. “Her birthday’s next month. Maybe I’ll send a card.”

Ooo. Kerry refrained from smiling too widely. “We can both send one,” she offered. “I think she’d like that.”

“Mmm.” Dar pulled the small stack of envelopes out and set them on her lap. She turned the first over curiously and examined it. “Yeah. All right.”

Kerry leaned back, flexing her hands and exhaling in mild satisfaction. One down.

THE STUDY WAS quiet, save the soft sound of a hard drive humming and the occasional rustle as the desk chair’s occupant shifted. Chino was curled up on the couch, her muzzle resting on the arm as she watched Dar work.

“Goddamn it,” Dar muttered, selecting a section of text, then copy-ing it. “That’s not what I asked for.” She pasted it into an email then typed furiously and sent the message with a savage keystroke. “And Eye of the Storm 95

you’d better have that in by Tuesday, mister, or I’m going to ram that IMUX in a place even extended cables won’t reach it.”

“Grr,” Chino agreed, yawning and poking her pink tongue out.

“Yeah.” Dar leaned back and rocked her head back and forth, rubbing her neck with one hand. She’d been crouched over her email for hours, trying to catch up on things that had been building all week. Kerry had gone out to pick up a few things off the island, and she’d taken the opportunity to concentrate on her project. “Okay. Next.”

She leaned forward and clicked on the next mail. “Ah.” This, at least, was moderately good news. Mark’s analysis of the data they’d recovered from Allison had turned up a copy of their friend’s online banking account and that had been sent to not only Duks and Dar, but to the corporate legal department as well.

Dar clicked on it to forward and typed in Alastair’s name. “There.

You wanted a smoking gun, you got one. The bastard was billing those customer’s a ‘management fee’ and pocketing it.” She hit send with considerably more satisfaction this time.

The next mail was from Ankow’s office, and she skimmed through it, making small disgusted noises. “Yeah, right. I’ll provide an onsite aide and escort for you, buddy. Right out the loading dock door.” With a sigh, she forwarded the mail to María. “This is a visiting board member. He thinks he’s God’s gift to ILS, please treat him accordingly.”

A bit of warm sunset trickled in, striping her forearms as they lay on the desk. It reminded her of just how long a day it had been and she surveyed her half full mailbox, then closed the window out and let the underwater scene she currently had as her backdrop replace it.

“That’s enough, Chino.” Dar let her head rest against the soft leather back of the chair. “I’ll do the rest of that later, okay?”

“Yawp.” Chino yawned sleepily, then climbed down, ambled over, and sat down on Dar’s bare foot and licking her ankle.

Dar picked the half grown puppy up and put her on her lap. She scratched her ears and smiled a little as Chino transferred her licking to the underside of Dar’s chin. “Hey. That’s cold.” Dar hugged the puppy and kissed her nose, glancing around a little guiltily as she did so. “You want to go for a walk? I think I need a walk, Chino. Your green eyed friend stuffed me like a pig with that spicy noodle thing she made for lunch.”

She stood and carried the animal into the kitchen to retrieve her leash, then put her down and opened the back door. “G’wan.”

Chino happily frisked down the steps and galloped over to the gate, then waited impatiently as Dar worked the latch, and they walked out onto the path heading towards the beach.

KERRY TUCKED THE bags she’d acquired under an arm and strolled towards the outside cafe at Bayside. The sun was setting and a cool breeze came off the water. She took a deep breath of the salty air and 96 Melissa Good found a seat, then tucked her purchases under her and leaned back against the railing. A waiter drifted towards her and she ordered a straw-berry banana smoothie, then settled back to wait.

It didn’t take long. She had her drink and was sucking contentedly on it when she caught a motion out of the corner of her eye and turned to see a tall, hooded figure casually making its way towards her. Right on time. Briefly, Kerry wrestled with her conscience, considering what she was doing was meddling rated a twelve on a one to ten scale.

On the other hand, she reasoned, as Andrew paused and watched a seagull before he continued. On the other hand, this is my family now, and I love them. Dar understood that, right? “Hi, Dad.”

“Hey there, kumquat.” Andrew dropped into the chair across from her. “Whatcha got in the glass?”

“It’s a fruit and yogurt milkshake.” Kerry pushed it towards him.

“Try it.”

He picked it up and sniffed it suspiciously, then took a small sip.

“Huh. That ain’t half bad.”

Kerry smiled, then leaned forward and cocked her head. “Did you get hurt?” A bandage covered half the shadowed face, almost obscuring his right eye.

“Naw.” Andrew returned her glass. “Some damn crazy stuff the VA’s doin’.” He cleared his throat. “Gov’ment gimme pig kinda thing.”

“Are they trying to fix some of the scars?” Kerry inched her chair closer. “That’s where the really bad ones were.” She peered curiously at him, noting the embarrassed glower that was the very image of his daughter’s. “Can I see?”

“No you may not, young lady.” Andrew growled at her. “So don’t you be looking at me like that.”

Kerry gazed compassionately at him.

“Stop that.”

She gave him her best sad puppy look, the one that always worked on Dar.

“I said stop that,” the tall man rasped. “Those damn green eyes ain’t workin’ on me, hear?”

She mentally counted to ten.

“Aw, shit.” Andrew scooted his chair closer. “It ain’t hardly nothing.

Damn doctors were just tryin’ t’fix it so it didn’t smart so damn much.”

Kerry lifted a hand up slowly and touched the fastener on the bandage, feeling the skin tense under her touch, as Andrew’s eyes closed in reflex. She pulled the white gauze aside, and leaned closer. “Oh. I see.”

The two large, knotted scars that had almost covered the right side of his face had been seemingly removed, replaced by what looked like a thin layer of reddened, tacked in place skin. “Is that a graft?”

The blue eyes opened and regarded her. “Fake. Some new stuff,” he muttered.

“Ohh. Artificial skin. Yeah. I saw a special on that.” Kerry gently put the bandage back into place. “Cutting edge technology. In fact, um,” she Eye of the Storm 97

laughed softly, “we administer the mainframes it was developed on.”

“Yeah, well, won’t look any prettier, but it sure damn ’nough feels better,” Andrew admitted. “Hurt to move the other way.”

Kerry brushed his other cheek with her fingertips, resisting the urge to give him a hug. “I’m glad. I know Dar will be glad to hear it too.”

“Mmph.” Andrew leaned back and stuck his hands in the pockets of his hooded sweatshirt. This was his summer version, she realized, as it had the sleeves cut off to expose his muscular arms. “How’s my kid?”

“She’s all right.” Kerry settled back too. “It was kind of a tough couple of days.”

“You go up there with her?”

Kerry nodded.

“Good girl.”

They were silent for a bit.

“She kind of knocked everyone’s socks off,” Kerry finally said, feeling her way very cautiously.

Andrew smiled, his eyes briefly glinting with paternal pride. “I bet.”

Then he fell silent again.

“I...got to meet your wife.” Kerry saw the flinch. “At the service and then we stopped by where she lives this morning.”

His eyes focused on something out on the horizon and he remained quiet, watching and listening.

Kerry took her time, wanting above all not to hurt him. “It’s...I’ve been wondering all day what I was going to say to you when I saw you.”

“She’s doin’ all right,” Andrew finally rasped. “Ain’t she?”

How to answer that? “No. I don’t think she is.” She spoke on an exhale. “She seemed really alone.”

He stared at her intently, devouring everything.

“I mean she lives in a nice place but,” Kerry clasped her hands to keep them from shaking, aware of how delicate a line she was treading,

“everything was very...stark, very plain and functional and it was so strange. There weren’t any colors.”

The waiter drifted back over. “Something for you, sir?”

“Whiskey,” Andrew answered in a clipped voice.

Kerry waited for the waiter to leave then put a hand on Andrew’s knee. “I’ll stop, if you want me to.”

“No.” He seemed tired. “G’wan. She wasn’t...sick or nothin’, was she? I mean...”

“I don’t think so, no.” She took a breath. “Just very alone.” Kerry steeled herself. “I think she really misses you.”

He was totally motionless for a long moment. “Thought she’d have started over by now,” he answered in a remote voice. “S’what she said she’d do. Find her someone who wouldn’t run off on her like I done.”

Kerry took his hand in hers. “That’s not what she did.” She took a breath. “I think she lost the most important thing in her life and there was nothing that could replace that, so she didn’t even try.”

The waiter came and delivered Andrew’s shot. “Get you folks an 98 Melissa Good appetizer or something?”

“Um...a basket of Cajun shrimp,” Kerry told him, just to make him go away.

The shadowed eyes regarded her in bleak shock. “Dar tell her about me?” Andrew finally asked bluntly.

“No,” Kerry replied quietly. “She promised she wouldn’t and I know she’d never break a promise to you.” She took a folded piece of paper from her shirt pocket and put it in the palm of his hand, closing his fingers around it. “And I didn’t think I had the right. Not without talking to you first. But I did write down the phone and the address.” Her eyes searched his face. “If you wanted to use them.”

His hand tightened around the paper and he sat very still, blue eyes shifting in intense thought. “She didn’t forget about me, huh?” he asked, at last, in a mild wondering tone.

The awful tension gripping Kerry relaxed. “I don’t think anyone who met you could forget you,” she murmured. “You’re a very special person.” She leaned back, emotionally exhausted, then deliberately picked up the shot of whiskey and downed it in a single gulp. “Brr.” She shuddered as the alcohol burned its way down, sending a relaxing flow through a body not accustomed to the hard stuff.

Andrew blinked at her in surprise, then drew his hand back and opened it, looking at the piece of paper before he tightened his fist and stuck it into his pocket. “Yer pretty damn special yourself, Kerry,” he remarked in a gentle voice. “I can see why my kid’s so stuck on you.” He watched her lick her lips. “You want ’nother one?”

Kerry rubbed her nose. “Um. No. I don’t usually do that. I was just a little wound up. Sorry. I’ll have him get another.”

Andrew snagged her smoothie glass and sucked on that instead.

“Naw. This is all right.” He looked up as the waiter put the basket down.

“Can you get me one more of these damn things?”

“Um, sure.” The man looked confused but willing, and left, after marking down something on his pad.

Dar’s father leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “How’d my kid handle it?”

Kerry took a shrimp, examining it. “It was rough. I think what happened really hurt her.” She booted the bags next her lightly. “I got her some treats. Just to cheer her up a little.”

Andrew peeked into the bag. “Lord.” He managed a slight grin. “Got you enough chocolate there?”

Kerry smiled back. “Want to come help administer it?”

The answer came back surprisingly fast. “Yeap. I think I’d like to do that. Need to talk at her about a few things anyhow.”

Kerry put a bill down on the table and picked up the styrofoam plate of shrimp. “C’mon.” She offered him a spicy nugget. “Share?”

“I’d better take custody of them bags,” came the gruff reply, as Andrew joined her and they walked down the patio into the setting sun.

“No sense in risking good chocolate. You might trip or something.”

Eye of the Storm 99

“You sound just like Dar when you say that.”

“Doncha mean she sounds like me?” Andrew countered, tasting a shrimp. “Jesus H. Christ in a Humvee, girl. What the hell are you eating there?” He swallowed a mouthful of the drink he’d taken along.

“Um. It’s kinda spicy, huh?” Kerry smiled sheepishly. “Sorry.

Shoulda warned you. I’ve gotten to like things a lot hotter since I’ve met Dar.”

“Heh.” Andrew chuckled.

“Hmm?” Kerry gave him a puzzled look and saw the amused twinkle in his eyes. “Ow.” She realized what she’d said and groaned.

“Daaaadd.”

“Heh. Tips of yer ears turn pinker than a pig’s butt, y’know that?”

Kerry reached her free hand up and covered her ear in reflex. “Ugh. I know, I know.”

DAR WAS SPRAWLED on the beach, her butt firmly perched on dry sand and her legs stretched out into the surf, glistening as the incoming tide washed over them. She leaned against a piece of up thrust coral rock and tossed bits of broken shell lazily into the water, watched alertly by a curled up Chino next to her.

She wiggled her toes and watched the long shadows cast by the setting sun behind her flicker, the warmth on her back and shoulders combined with the somnolent salty air coaxing her almost into sleep.

The waves moved in softly with their familiar rush and hiss, and the faint tinkle of shells being left behind for lucky hunters to find. Dar closed her eyes and enjoyed the peace, sorely needed after the past few days.

At least she had a whole day tomorrow to relax before the new week started. She ran through a list of possible activities, then decided to ask Kerry if she’d like some time underwater. A nice trip out on the boat.

Maybe they’d picnic…

Dar opened her eyes and gazed out at the empty horizon. “Damn, my life has sure changed, Chino.”

“Rrfh.” The Labrador licked her chops and put her head back down on Dar’s thigh.

“I used to work all weekend.” She stroked the dog’s soft ears. “Or sleep. If I’d finally worn myself out enough. I definitely never looked forward to Fridays before.” Now, she not only did, but also resented when meetings or conference calls kept her late at the office, and she wondered briefly just how much that had impacted her job performance.

Probably a lot, she admitted privately. She knew she used to keep up on every minute detail, sometimes startling staff members with her sharp questions. That…just didn’t happen anymore. She had let a lot of things slip, left a bunch of issues resting on her crew, and mostly on Kerry’s shoulders, trusting them to do their jobs, and hoping it didn’t come back to bite her in the butt.

100 Melissa Good It felt so strange.

But so far…so far, no major disasters had happened, amazingly enough. Little things, sure, but they always did anyway, and she’d come to realize lately that maybe, just maybe she’d been a touch too involved.

“Bet I drove everyone out of their cotton picking minds, Chino,” she confessed. “I’m lucky they didn’t toss me off the fourteenth floor balcony.” She stifled a yawn and tossed a last shell into the water. “We’d better go back. See what your other mommy’s been up to, hmm?” She leaned over. “Where’s Kerry?”

The milky ears shot up and Chino raised her head, cocking it to one side.

“Go find Kerry,” Dar urged with a grin, watching as the puppy scrambled to her feet and ambled off. She pulled herself up and dusted her shorts off, then followed, digging her toes into the warm sand with a feeling of distinct pleasure.

“HMM.” KERRY DUCKED into the kitchen. “She must have taken Chino for a walk.” She put her packages down, slipped the chocolate out and set it on the counter. “She loves to run on the beach.”

“My kid or the dog?” Andrew asked, leaning on the counter.

“Yes,” the blonde woman answered, with a smile.

“Mmph. She always wanted a dog.”

“She told me,” Kerry replied quietly.

The tall man pushed off the counter and went to stand by the sink, gazing out at the water. “Wasn’t easy for a kid. The way we lived.” He paused. “Moving round all the time. Dar didn’t make too many friends.”

“Moving doesn’t always cause that.” Kerry moved over and leaned next to him. “I lived most of my life in the same spot. I knew a lot of people, but I figured out pretty early on that most of the people who wanted to be friends with me had a motive.”

Andrew nodded a couple of times.

“It wasn’t that bad, really. I had a lot of fun growing up. I think it was best before I was old enough to realize what was going on with my family,” she mused. “I was a pretty happy kid.”

They stood in silence for bit. “Miss yer family?” Dar’s father finally asked.

Kerry had to think about that. “I miss my sister…and my brother. We were close.” She paused. “My aunts and uncles…we used to have big gatherings. They’d all be there, with all my cousins. We’d get pretty rowdy sometimes.”

Andrew merely listened and watched, a natural state with him.

“I don’t miss checking myself in the mirror six times before leaving my room.” A distant look entered the green eyes. “Or never being quite good enough.” Her head cocked to one side thoughtfully. “Being here on my own was such a change. I’d go back there for holidays and wonder how I ever lived like that for so long.”

Eye of the Storm 101

The outer gate clanked, audible even through the closed windows, and they peered out to see Dar entering with Chino bouncing around near her knees. A smile crossed Kerry’s face in unconscious reaction at the sight, as the crimson rays turned her lover’s tanned skin a burnished golden hue. She wore a very brief, cut off sleeveless sweatshirt and a pair of ragged denim shorts and there certainly was a lot showing to admire.

“Good Lord,” Andrew complained. “Think she’s living in the streets with them clothes.” He shook his head and stomped to the door, flung it open, and put his hands on his hips. “Whatcha think ye’re doing out there half naked young lady?”

Dar’s dark head jerked up from where she brushed off the sand from her knees and she blinked. “Dad?”

“J’think it’s the mail man talkin’ t’you like that?”

His daughter straightened up and mimicked him, putting her hands on her hips, then glanced down her long frame. “Half naked? This isn’t half naked.” She paused, then grinned and pulled off the sweatshirt, leaving nothing but her sports bra and muscle tone. “This...is half naked.” She spread her arms cheerfully. “See?”

“Lord have mercy.” Andrew clapped a hand over his eyes. “Git in here.” He pointed off to his right. “And you stop laughing.”

Kerry was leaning over the sink, trying to catch her breath from giggling. “Oh god. I can’t.”

Dar trotted up the steps with Chino scrambling next to her and entered. “C’mon, Dad. It’s not like you’ve never seen my in my underwear.”

One blue eye appeared. “There was a lot less of you t’see when you were six and running round without yer clothes on, I’ll tell ya that,”

Andrew groused. “Or when you were a tot and pulled yer diapers off all the time.”

“Dad.” Dar rolled her eyes.

Kerry felt a new set of giggles coming on.

“Damn good aim you had,” her father went on, irrepressibly. “Used them things like a slingshot.”

“Dad!” his daughter got out an outraged squawk.

“Heh. Teach you to sass me, won’t it?” But the blue eyes twinkled gently. “Didn’t figure back then, though, such a scrappy little thing’d grow up so damn pretty.”

It caught Dar off guard. She produced the most tongue tied, bashful look Kerry had ever seen on an adult human being and she sorely wished she had the digital camera to capture it forever. “I’m not surprised.” She distracted Andrew from his blushing offspring. “Look who she takes after.” She winked at him, then laughed. “Oh. Neat. Now I can say I made a sailor blush.”

“Sonofabiscuit,” Andrew muttered.

“I’m going to go get some email sorted.” Kerry slipped past them and diplomatically left the two alone. “Come get me when you feel like dinner.”

102 Melissa Good Dar watched her go wistfully, then took a breath and ducked into the laundry room, retrieved a white cotton T-shirt and pulled it on. “Better?”

She gave her father a wry look.

He grunted, but his mouth twitched into a grin.

“Thirsty?” Dar went to the refrigerator and retrieved a pitcher of grape juice. She could feel the unspoken emotion between them and it was making her a little nervous. “Wasn’t expecting you to be by. You in the neighborhood?”

He took the glass she offered and held it. “Not really. Kerry done gave me a call. Had a few things to say.”

Dar was a little surprised, but she nodded. “Want to go inside?” She led the way into the living room and staked out a corner of the couch, watching him settle into the corner of the loveseat at right angles to her.

They were both, she realized, a little uncomfortable. “What’s the Band-Aid about?”

He reached a hand up and touched it. “Just some stuff they’re doing to make it hurt a little less.”

“Mmm.”

They were silent for a bit.

“Tough up there, huh?” Andrew asked, after several sips of juice.

“Wasn’t the most pleasant experience I’ve ever had, no.” Dar squared her shoulders and faced him. “But I’m glad I went.”

He nodded slowly.

“Family’s the same.”

His lips twitched.

Dar studied the tile, tracing the grout lines intently. “Mom’s doing all right. I guess. I…um...” She shook her head, “I wish you’d call her.”

She had to force the words out, in a quiet mutter. “It was hard as hell to see her and not say anything.” She exhaled unhappily, then glanced up.

Andrew shifted uncomfortably. “Been so damn long. I don’t know…can’t just call…”

It would be a shock, true. “You could write,” Dar suggested softly.

“Never was much good at that.” He sighed, and stared at the bit of paper. “You…really think it’ll be… She won’t just tell me to go t’hell or something?”

Dar considered the question very seriously. The fear she understood only too well. “I think she’s in a lot of pain.” She almost felt her father flinch at that. “And I think you’re the only fix for that, Daddy.” Now, she looked up, putting all the sincerity she could into her voice and eyes.

“That’s what I honestly believe.”

He was very still, only the pale eyes flicked around the room as he thought. Finally, he let out a tired little sigh. “I miss her.” He paused.

“Damn, I do.”

Dar had to clamp her jaw down hard. “I know,” she said, after a moment for the lump to go down.

“The whole damn thing with the family though… I don’t know if I can fight that fight again, Dar.” Andrew closed his eyes. “Can’t ask her to Eye of the Storm 103

give that up again. You know they won’t put up with me.”

Dar got up and went to her study. She returned a moment later holding an envelope and sat down again. “To hell with them,” she stated softly, holding one hand out to him. “C’mere.”

Hesitantly, he leaned forward. “What?” He watched as she put the envelope into one hand and curled his fingers over it. “What is that, honey?”

“Your pension.”

Andrew’s brows, almost obscured against his scarred skin, drew together. “What?” Puzzled, he opened the envelope and took the papers out, unfolding them, and running his eyes over their contents.

Then he stopped.

And his face went totally blank in utter shock.

“Paladar Katherine Roberts, what in the name of God is this?” he asked in a strangled whisper.

It was a very sweet moment. Dar absorbed it and tucked it away down deep. “May’s trust fund came due,” she answered calmly. “I signed it over to you and had Richard put it in your name.”

“M…” He simply stared at her.

“I think May would have liked that.” Dar smiled wistfully. “I know I did.” She looked up. “You gave me so much. It felt great to give something back.” A tear escaped and she wiped it away impatiently. “Don’t say you won’t take it, because it’s too late for that.”

He folded the papers up and leaned his forehead against them, too overcome to say anything at all.

“I knew if I asked you it’d be no.” Dar ticked a finger off. “If I offered, you’d refuse. If I gave you a chance to turn it down, you would.”

Her jaw jutted out. “So I didn’t.”

He gazed at her.

Dar smiled and glanced up to see a pair of green eyes peeking at her from the stairwell. “Kerry, could you get Dad more juice? I think he’s about to cough up a kidney on the floor here.”

“Sure.” The blonde woman ambled down the stairs and ducked into the kitchen, then reappeared with the pitcher, pouring some in Andrew’s empty glass. “You okay?” She put a hand on the silent man’s shoulder.

“No, I am not okay,” he managed to rasp. “Did you know about this?”

“Sure.” Kerry sat down next to him on the loveseat and put an arm around him. “I thought it was the most incredibly great idea I’d ever heard.”

“Did you?” Andrew seemed to still be in shock.

“Yes, I did.” Kerry didn’t feel any resistance to her touch, so she scratched his back between the shoulder blades, where his daughter always liked it.

He fingered the papers. “Can’t think of a damn thing to say,” he muttered at last.

Dar smiled and regarded her now empty, clasped hands.

104 Melissa Good That meant he wouldn’t say no.

May would have definitely approved. And as for the rest of the family... Dar’s eyes glinted in the dusky light.

They can most certainly kiss my ass.