Eye of the Storm

Chapter

Forty-four

“MS. STUART, COULD you move over just a little?”

Kerry obligingly shifted slightly, peering up at the x-ray machine and trying to relax. It was hard, though, since the table was cold and her skin was warm and the machine was making weird little chuckling noises that made her jump.

“Okay, now hold still,” the voice called, and she heard a buzzing noise. “Thanks. One more.” Another buzz. “Okay.” The technician came over and helped her sit up. “There. That’s all for me. Now they said you needed to go,” she consulted a chart, “to CAT scan next.”

“Mmm, yippee.” Kerry sighed. “Do I have to? I don’t even have a headache now.”

“Not for me to decide,” the tech told her cheerfully. “I’m just a stop on the way. We can’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do, but if the doctor thought it was a good idea, it probably is.”

“I guess.” Kerry fastened her short, hospital issued little tunic thing up, which tied in front and was a vast, vast improvement over the old backless gown number. At least they’d let her keep her jeans on, since her lower body seemed to have taken good care of itself, and her sneakers which kept the cold floor from chilling her toes. “I wonder where my friend is?”

“Let me guess.” The tech ticked off her fingers. “Tall, dark hair, built like a brick we won’t say what, and with an attitude from hell?”

“Uh.”

“Clear blue eyes?”

“That’d be her,” Kerry admitted. “Did she give you trouble? She doesn’t mean it. She just really hates hospitals and after what happened yesterday, I’m not surprised she didn’t want to be messed with.” She paused. “I kinda made her get checked out. She’s probably really pissed off at me.”

“She’s more pissed off at the tech who was with her. He made a crack about her working for the WWF.”

“World Wildlife Foundation?” Kerry gazed at her, totally bewildered. “What brought that up?”

The tech scratched her chin. “World Wrestling Federation,” she muttered. “You know, the…”

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“Oh.” Kerry muffled a chuckle. “Yeah, I bet she was pissed. She hates that stuff. I can see why he asked, though.”

“Mmhm.” The tech cleared her throat. “Think she’s available?”

Kerry smiled. “Nope.” Then she walked out and ran her fingers through her hair to free its ends from her gown as she made her way down the hall towards the prominently labeled CAT scan area. She knew she should have waited for the wheelchair to come take her, but she was anxious to get the tests behind her and go visit Angie.

Then get out of there before she ran into her parents and get back to the hotel, where they had nothing more strenuous planned than an outing with a pay per view movie and a bucket of popcorn. Then tomorrow—a plane trip and by sundown she’d be home.

Home.

“Kerrison.”

Shit. Kerry almost didn’t stop. Almost didn’t turn. But she knew, in her heart, that sometime, someday she’d have to face her father, and maybe—who knew?—maybe she could head off whatever it is he wanted right now. She stopped and turned, but didn’t answer. Her father was dressed almost casually for him—pressed slacks and a sweater over his shirt and tie, and this close, she was struck by how much older he looked to her.

“Step inside there.” He pointed to a small room, used for consulta-tion. “I’d like a word with you.”

Kerry felt her heartbeat double, but she walked inside the chamber, going deliberately behind the desk to put some distance between them.

She sat down in the almost comfortable chair there and waited, in guarded silence.

Her father entered and closed the door, then leaned on the desk with both hands and gazed at her.

Kerry forced her own eyes to remain steady, refusing to allow his posture to intimidate her. “If you’re thinking about telling me not to see Angie, don’t bother.” She kept her voice low and controlled, like Dar had taught her. “That’s not your choice.”

“No, I can see you’re far too under her control.”

“Who? Dar?” Kerry could have laughed, thinking of her bullying her stubborn lover into getting examined. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Roger Stuart shook his head. “It’s you who’s being blind, Kerrison.

Can’t you see the path she’s led you down?”

Kerry studied him for a moment. “Why does it always have to be someone else’s fault?”

“What?”

“Why can’t you just accept that this is my choice? Dar didn’t do anything to me.” Kerry straightened. “If that’s all you wanted to say, I’ve got more important things to do.”

“How could it be your choice?” her father protested. “You were fine, up until the minute you met that horrible person and then you changed.”

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“I was never fine.”

“What are you talking about?”

Kerry exhaled, too tired, still, to be frightened of him. “I was never fine. I was headed towards a life I had no interest in.” She looked up.

“Every time I tried to change that, I got punished.”

Roger stared at her in bewilderment. “What the hell is that all about?

Change what? You had everything any child could have wished for, you ungrateful piece of—”

“Like I said.” Kerry stood up. “I’ve got better things to do than this.”

She paused. “You never did listen to me before. I don’t know why I bothered now.”

“Just you hold on a minute—” Her father lifted a hand towards her.

“Don’t you even think about it.” Kerry’s temper flared unexpectedly.

“I’m not the little dishrag you tossed around in Michigan. You touch me and I’ll hurt you.”

Roger drew back. “Is that how you speak to your father?”

“You’re not my father,” Kerry spat back. “You made that crystal clear.”

Slowly, Roger nodded. “All right,” he murmured. “So I did.”

They stared at each other. “You know, I risked my life and the lives of some of the people I love most in the world to make sure you got out of that building,” Kerry said. “So if you think I owe you anything for having brought me up, I don’t.”

“You owe me an explanation,” her father replied. “Why? Why did you abandon and betray your family?”

“Why?” Kerry sat down on the edge of the desk. “Because I was angry.” She exhaled. “Because you hit me and held me against my will and you would have had me drugged senseless all because I told you the truth.” He opened his mouth, but Kerry held a hand up. “Because it was very satisfying to expose such a hypocrite after I’d spent my whole life trying to live up to your ideals.”

Her father wasn’t stupid. Kerry could see the thoughts going on right behind those gray eyes. “And here I thought I was working to give you a decent life.”

“Your idea.”

“Of course, my idea,” Roger snapped back. “I raised you, put you through school, gave you every advantage, so you can sit there and call me a hypocrite?” He shook his head. “Last year, I made the mistake of believing if you could just be talked to…explained how taking the path you were on was so wrong, you’d just wake up, and realize the truth. I was wrong. There is something very evil in you.”

“You’re the one who won’t realize the truth.” Kerry felt nauseous.

“You’re so sure you’re right, you won’t even consider how I feel, will you? How I felt when you banished my friends and told me what I could think, or look like. What my limits were.”

“It’s my right to bring you up properly.”

“Or being told my chief value to the family was as breeding stock, Eye of the Storm 413

because I’m better looking than Angie.”

“That’s ridiculous. Your mother merely complimented how nice the two of you were together.”

Kerry could feel tears rising, but she ignored them. “Or what it was like to be told not to do too good at school so I wouldn’t make Michael look bad.”

“We were trying to help him excel.” Roger looked annoyed. “Surely you wanted to help your brother.”

“How it felt when you had my dog poisoned.”

Her father stared at her.

“Kerrison.”

“How it felt when your bodyguard raped me and you made me apologize to him.”

“We’re back to that story, are we?”

“Maybe I should have just had my gynecologist call you.”

He went silent for a long, tense moment, just watching her.

“I didn’t think of it then. I should have,” Kerry whispered. “But I was too ashamed to tell her my father didn’t believe I was raped.”

For a moment, she thought she might have reached him, might have shaken that bullheaded wall of belief. Then his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“Is that what this is all about then? This is your reaction to…that?

You went off and found this woman?”

A wave of disgust rolled over Kerry. “You’re so clueless.” She got up. “No.” She was curiously relieved though, having said what she had to say. “My falling in love with Dar had nothing to do with Kyle or Brian, or you, for that matter. It was just between the two of us.”

“You understand you’re going to Hell, if you don’t put a stop to this, don’t you?”

“I spent twenty-six years in Hell,” Kerry answered. “Dar was my ladder out of that and it’s been wonderful living in the sunlight.” She walked around the desk and put her hand on the door latch. “I spent all that time trying everything I could to make you proud of me and it was never enough. Now the only one I have to worry about making proud is myself.” She turned the latch and opened the door, keeping eye contact with him. “And I am.”

The door closed behind her and she leaned against the wall for a long, sick moment. Then she pushed off and walked unsteadily towards the first doorway she saw, ducked inside a small waiting room and sat down quickly, trying to control her rebelling stomach.

A nurse found her there. “Oh, there you are, Ms. Stuart. We thought we’d lost you.”

Kerry took a deep breath and straightened up. “No…I um,” she put a hand over her stomach, “was feeling a little queasy, that’s all. Thought I’d better sit down for a minute.” She stood up. “Sorry.”

“That’s okay. I’ll walk you down to the CAT scan room. Unless you’d rather have a wheelchair? You look sort of pale.” The nurse put 414 Melissa Good hand on her arm, her tone concerned.

“I’m okay.” Kerry managed a smile. “Lead on.”

“Great.” The nurse kept hold of her and eased out of the waiting room. “Listen. Your friend is giving us a little trouble. Maybe you could talk to her and calm her down?”

Like a light switch flipping, Kerry gladly turned her thoughts from one problem to another. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“Well, they want to scan her back. The doctor’s a little concerned about something he saw on the x-ray, but she’s refusing,” the nurse explained. “Of course, we can’t force her.”

“Mmm. They strap you down for that, don’t they?”

“Yes, to keep you from moving, for the pictures, but…”

Kerry sighed. “I’ll see what I can do.” In the state she knew Dar was in, she had her doubts. “Maybe we can compromise?”

Something her father lived with in public life, but would never suc-cumb to in his private one.

“HI, ANGIE.”

The woman in the bed looked up and her eyes widened. “Ker!”

Kerry slipped around the door frame and entered, tugging her dour and grumpy companion with her. “Boy, it’s great to see you.” She released Dar’s hand, went over to her sister, hugged as much of her one armed as she could reach.

“Same here. Hello, Dar.” Angie glanced shyly at her. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Dar rested both hands on the bed rail. “Thanks. It’s good to see you made out all right as well.” She gave her partner’s sister a smile, just glad to be finished with a brief sojourn into one of her worst nightmares. Five minutes, she’d finally granted the technicians, and no straps. Five long minutes only made marginally bearable by Kerry’s grip on her hand and an iron self control that still hadn’t been enough to keep the twitching from starting, as they hastily pulled her out of the machine and got out of her way as she bolted off the table.

She hoped they got what they needed, because there wasn’t any second chances at that. She’d calmed herself by talking to Kerry as the blonde woman took her turn on the platform, lying quietly as they took pictures of her head and shoulder.

And she felt kind of stupid, really. After all, it’s not like the machine hurt, not nearly as much as her back did, at any rate.

“What’s wrong with your arm?” Angie asked Kerry. “I’m glad you came now. They’re about to bring the baby up.”

“Well, I dislocated my shoulder,” Kerry explained. “They just took x-rays.”

“Ow.” Angie made a face. “The labor is mostly a blur—they’d started to take me out and down to delivery, when the explosion happened. We were actually inside the elevator, and I thought I was going to Eye of the Storm 415

give birth right there I was so scared. But somehow, the power stayed on and we just kept going down and right out the emergency entrance in the back. It was horrible. Everyone was screaming and no one knew what to do. And I was so scared, knowing you guys were all up there.”

“It was kinda rough, yeah,” Kerry replied quietly. “But we managed to dig ourselves out and get to where they could get us down.”

Angie held Kerry’s good hand and she rubbed the fingers with her thumb. “You got the folks out.”

Kerry and Dar exchanged glances. “Yes, we did,” Dar said.

“Mom told me.” Angie searched her sister’s face. “She’s pretty shook up.”

“Yeah, well. I had a run in just now with him,” Kerry told her.

“Maybe that’ll be the last one.”

“You didn’t tell me that,” Dar interjected, her brows creasing.

“When?”

“You were a little preoccupied.” Kerry gave her a faint smile. “It was before I met you in the imaging room.”

Dar scowled. “That was more important than the stupid machine.”

They turned at a rattle in the door and found a nurse there, holding a neatly wrapped bundle. “Here you go, little man. Say hi to mama.”

“A boy?” Kerry asked.

“Yes.” Angie took the bundle and cradled it, showing off her new baby. “Isn’t he sweet?” The tiny, prune faced infant burped. “I called Richard. He’s thrilled.” She and Kerry exchanged wry glances. “I tried to call Brian, but there was no answer at his place. I’ll try him again in a little while.” She glanced at the baby. “Want to hold him before he latches on to the milk bar?”

“Sure.” Kerry carefully took the baby and cradled him with her good arm. “Oh, he’s adorable.” She grinned. “What a cute nose.”

Angie smiled. “I think so.” She glanced up at Dar. “Were they taking a scan of you, Dar? Is everything okay?”

“Mostly,” the dark haired woman answered grudgingly.

“Nothing a little bed rest and chocolate won’t cure,” Kerry amended.

“Poor Dar unfortunately had to drag me around for a while and tore two muscles in her back.”

“That’s not when it happened.”

“Uh huh. Anyway,” Kerry shifted the baby and smiled, “the doctor prescribed a couple of days of rest and some painkillers. About the same thing he suggested for me.”

“You guys should go off somewhere on a vacation,” Angie advised.

“Otherwise you’ll get all tied up in that stuff you do.”

Hmm. Kerry chewed the inside of her lip, then impulsively handed off her wriggling bundle to Dar. “Here. Say hello.”

“A…bu—” Dar brought her hands up and took the baby in an instinctive gesture, then stood there staring nervously at him. “Yeah, he’s cute. Here.” She tried to hand him back, but Kerry made a show of straightening her sling. “Kerry…”

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“Just hang on there for a minute.” The green eyes blinked innocently at her.

Dar sighed, then brought the baby closer and examined him curiously. Babies weren’t her thing, generally, though she had nothing against them. This one was a fairly good size and was kicking inside his covers, probably hungry, she figured. He had a wrinkled face, with tiny, pouty lips and a bitty nose, and his head was covered in a little white hat.

He gurgled. Dar raised an eyebrow, then tentatively touched a clutching hand with one fingertip. The baby grabbed at her with surprising strength, causing the other eyebrow to raise.

Kerry watched in amused fascination. “What did you name him, Angie?”

Her sister sighed. “I haven’t yet.”

Both Dar and Kerry looked at her in surprise.

“I know, I know. Nine months, you’d figure I’d have a name already.” Angie laughed wearily. “To tell the truth, I was really expecting another girl, so I had a bunch of names picked out that wouldn’t really suit him.” She paused. “What would you name a little boy, if you had one, Dar?”

“Andrew,” both women answered together, then chuckled.

“Yeah, you got me there.” Dar unbent a little and relaxed, playing idly with the baby’s hand. “Dad would pretend not to like that, but he would.”

“Your parents seem really nice.” Angie smiled. “Your mom really helped me out last night. I hope I get a chance to thank her.” She held out her hands as Dar returned her baby to her and she cradled him. “You hungry, little man?” The baby yawned, and smacked his lips. “I guess so, huh?”

“Well, we don’t want to hold up dinner.” Kerry smiled and rubbed her sister’s arm. “We just wanted to stop by and say hello. We’re leaving to go home tomorrow.”

“Are you?” Angie looked surprised. “Is it over?”

“For now,” Dar replied. “Hopefully for good.”

Angie glanced at Kerry, whose lips tensed. “I know that was really tough for you to do, Ker. But I’m really proud of you for doing it.” The dark haired woman gazed at her newborn son for a moment, then looked back up at her sister. “I’m sorry I went along with them at the hearing.

You didn’t deserve that.”

Kerry’s eyes dropped. “Maybe not,” she murmured. “But I’m glad everyone got out of that hospital okay. I don’t think I could have lived with myself otherwise.”

“Kerry, it wasn’t your fault.” Angie frowned.

“I know.” Her sister exhaled wearily. “I know. But it doesn’t stop me from feeling the way I do, Angie, because if this whole hearing thing hadn’t happened, you’d have been home.” She looked up. “I can’t escape knowing that.”

Dar put a hand on Kerry’s shoulder in mute comfort.

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“Not to mention how I would have felt if anything happened to you.” Kerry turned and met Dar’s eyes.

“Well, it didn’t,” Dar said, simply. “We’re all okay, and you’ve got a cute new nephew.”

“Right,” Angie agreed quickly. “Everything turned out fine.”

Kerry regarded them both for a moment, then smiled. “Yeah,” she admitted. “I guess maybe sometimes old fashioned prayer does still work.”