Kasie nodded, "It is quite a shock, but I'll be fine. Wow!" she looked at him. "You're my half brother then," she said with a smile.
"Who raised you?" she asked curiously.
"My father and mother were John McKay, and Anne McKay. I had, or have a brother too."
"And you never knew?"
"No…I never had a reason to suspect anything. Oh…my brother and I didn't look alike and I didn't really favor anyone, but you know how families sometimes are. I learned to just think I was sort of an odd ball."
"And you're not a reporter. I'm glad of that," she asked looking from Lacey to Sam.
"No, and I’m sorry I lied. I just didn't know how to face you. It's not something you just blurt out, and yet I did. Didn't I?" Sam said with a sigh.
Kasie shook her head, her look of confusion stifled now and some other emotion replacing it. "A brother, after all these years."
"This Rosie, how come you think she might know something?" Sam asked.
"Rosie has known dad all her life. If anyone does know anything, it will be her. But I would think if she knew, she'd have said something to me, by now." Kasie smiled.
Lacey held Sam's hand in hers, and squeezed it, "See, this wasn't so bad, was it?"
Sam smiled at her, "No, I guess not."
Sam glanced about the place, out the window to the beautiful scene of forestry.
"Can you tell me any more about him?"
Kasie leaned back and relaxed, putting her feet under her now, "Dad had your complexion, even your eyes just not the coloring. They startled me a bit, when you first walked in, but I thought I was being silly for noticing. Dad was a very busy man, his business came first I'm afraid. I don't know why. I never understood it. Even when he married Margaret, he didn't have time for all of us. My mother was an actress an in some ways the two of them were just too much alike, it's no wonder they couldn't stay married. She had her career and dad had his. When he married Margaret, I thought he'd change, but not much. He was a workaholic. He didn't have time for family. Even though he managed to help most of the people in this area in one way or another. He just didn't have the time to spend with them. He controlled me tightly for years. Then I went back to live around my mom. When I decided I wanted to marry, Dad politely had me kidnapped. By Chayton. Chayton and I had a romance earlier and almost married. However, at the last minute I chickened out. After that I went to live with my Mom. However, thrown together again, we knew it had to be real to have lasted for eight years without seeing one another. We've been happily married ever since. I hope Rosie can tell you more, because I am sure you are just brimming with questions."
Lacey nodded, "He is…."
"Let me show you to your rooms upstairs and you can rest for a while. I forgot all about you walking up the mountain here. I know Chayton and Rosie will be here soon." Kasie started up the stairs and Sam seemed reluctant to follow.
"We really don't want to put you out…."
"Family is never an imposition." Kasie smiled. "And, it is nice to have a brother. Would you mind very much if I hugged you?"
Sam smiled, "Not at all."
They grabbed each other and held on for a long moment, then smiled into each other's face. "I have a brother," she cried aloud her smile broadening.
Finally Sam followed and motioned for Lacey to come with him.
"You can use this room, it's our only guestroom, and it's a regular size bed, I hope you two don't mind." she gestured.
Lacey started to object but Sam nodded, "This is great, thank you."
Kasie stared at him for a long moment, "I think I'd like another hug about now." Kasie chuckled and reached to pull Sam to her.
"I wish you had been around when I was younger, I always wanted an older brother."
Sam held her and smiled. Her warmth was so much more than he expected, and there was an unshed tear in his eye when she pulled away.
Kasie stared at him, "I'm so sorry, this has got to be hard for you."
"I'm fine, just didn't expect such a warm welcome." Sam explained.
"We Texas girls tend to be that way, so get used to it," she chuckled and hugged Lacey too.
"I've got some old movies of Dad, if you're interested in watching them after supper?" she called.
"That would be nice," Sam smiled at her.
When she closed the door, Lacey looked at him and shrugged, "They are nice people, Sam."
"Yeah, they are." Sam admitted.
He glanced about the room, looked out the window and then sat on the edge of the bed.
"I guess they don't care if we…" Sam smiled at her.
Lacey hesitated, "Yeah, I'm a little surprised at that."
"Come here," he called to her.
Slowly she moved towards him, he reached out and took her hand, looking at it for a long moment, and then looking up at her. "Thanks for coming with me." His voice was raw and husky.
"I promised I would," she faltered, but Sam was having a difficult time and she knew it. Her heart went out to him.
"What's wrong? They are wonderful people, so obliging and all. Why aren't you happy?"
Sam hung his head, and still stared at her hand. "It's much nicer than I ever thought it would be. However, .now I need to know how the McKay's got hold of me. What happened? Was it merely a mistake or was it deliberate?"
"Yes, that is strange, unless like I said you were accidentally switched at birth. I mean you see on TV all the time how it happens." She sat beside him on the bed.
"That would be the natural assumption. All I want to know now is, was it an accident or on purpose?" Sam said.
"You think it wasn't?" she gasped.
"I don't know. All I know is my mother went insane thinking I died at birth. I didn't die. And someone switched me with the baby that did."
"Sam, what you're suggesting is a crime." Lacey gasped.
"I know. And I'm sorry, but it caused a woman's sanity. It destroyed a life."
"Honey, don't go there. There's no proof whatsoever that it was deliberate." Lacey said.
"No, there isn't. But I do intend to find out."
Lacey felt herself weakening, if what Sam said was true then a crime had been committed when he was born. A terrible crime and Sam wasn't the kind to be satisfied until he knew.
She kissed his cheek, "Let's don't jump to conclusions."
He looked into her eyes and smiled, "You're right. It is wonderful to know I have such a sweet sister, isn't it?"
"Yes, a family to look forward to," Lacey encouraged trying to take him away from that dark suspicion. However, he had her worried.
What if it was intentional?
He pulled her against him, and buried his head against her shoulder. "You smell terrific." He whispered.
"Kiss me Sam," she begged.
He reached up to touch his lips to hers and she moaned as she went into his arms. The kiss was long, hot, and searing. His hands wandered over her, going under her t-shirt to find the hard pebble of her breast. He circled it with the palm of his hand after pushing her bra away.
She moaned again, as the motion created an erotic sensation through her.
She forgot her resolve to hold herself in check. When Sam kissed her, she forgot everything but the way his lips felt on hers. His tongue shot out to blend with hers, mating.
Lost in a world of their own, they were propelled to reality when a soft knock came at their door.
"Sam, Rosie is here…can you come down now…"
He cleared his throat, and pulled her bra back into place, "We'll be right down." He called.
"Later, baby," he whispered to Lacey as he kissed her hard on the lips one more time.
After they both checked themselves in the mirror, they went downstairs and met Rosie.
Rosie was a pleasant looking woman in her sixties and she took one look and shook her head. "Lord have mercy, its John all over again. You are his son. I'd know that no matter what."
Sam took the ladies hand and smiled. "I'm
Sam, this is Lacey."
"Sam, oh my. Come on, sit down here with me, and let me look at you. It's like looking back thirty or forty years. Susan's boy." She sighed heavily.
"Did, did you know my mother, too?" he asked, his face a mask of emotions.
"Oh yes, darlin', I knew her. We went to school together. She was a shy little thing, and so taken with your father. It was love at first site. You have her smile." Rosie reflected and her eyes misted.
She shook her head, as she seemed to be remembering it all for him, "They were so in love. She was John's first love. She was a poor girl, and he was rich. She was afraid of his family, afraid they would disapprove of his choice, and they did. However, that didn't bother John. He loved her so much he wanted to marry her. That got your grandfather in such a stir. He told him he'd disinherit him if he did. John was stubborn and very much in love. He married Susan and left home. He got a job in the lumber camps and they were so happy that first year they were together. It looked as though nothing would ever break them up. John had a good education, and he was a great help to the lumber boss. He moved up quickly, and before long, John was running the camp himself. Then Susan got pregnant. They were so happy. John threw a big party and everyone came. They bought furniture for their small house and John painted the room for the baby. Then…..Susan went into labor. She was on the mountain and John had to drive her all the way down to the hospital. She was in terrible pain, and when they checked her, they said you were in the wrong position and that they would have to turn you. They said if they didn't it would break your neck. Then several hours later, the doctor came out…and said she was fine, but the baby didn't make it.
"The look on Johns face was as black and thunderous as any man I've ever seen. He jerked the doctor up by the collar and demanded to see the baby. Everyone in the hospital was scared, because he was so mad and so upset.
"He had to tell Susan, and Susan went out of her mind. It was as if someone pulled the switch and killed her. She wouldn't eat, wouldn't talk, and wouldn't do anything. John tried and tried to take care of her. However, every day she got worse. She couldn't accept the baby's death. She said she knew you weren't dead, she felt you right before she delivered you. She wouldn't accept it. It went on like that for months. Finally John decided there was nothing left to do but put her in a sanitarium. So he did. He visited her for a while. Then one day she died and John changed so after that."
Rosie reached for Sam's hand. "I don't know what happened, but I do know you are his son. Lord, I wish I could turn back the clock and fix this..."
Sam's tears spilled silently, as Kasie came to sit in front of him, her hand going to his as she cried with him. "I'm so sorry..."
Chayton stood close by. Lacey was sitting beside Sam on the couch, and no one said anything for a long moment.
Sam nodded, "I wish you could turn it back too."
Then something struck Sam, "My dad's folks didn't like Susan?"
"It's not that so much as they didn't think she had the social class that John needed. Her family was terribly poor."
"Did they help my father and mother when this happened?" Sam asked.
"No, they weren't on speaking terms. It was many years later that they made some sort of peace." Rosie remembered so much of it now.
"Did anyone else help them?"
"Oh yes, hon, a lot of people in the area, the lumber camp, they got together and chipped in money so your father could afford the Sanitarium. They helped take care of her for some time. Nevertheless, it was impossible after a while. She couldn't even feed herself. They thought she might starve to death. It was such a shame, because she was a sweet little thing." Rosie explained.
"You never told me about that, Rosie?" Chayton came to put his hands on her shoulders, knowing it was emotional for them all. However, Rosie was older and had been his friend so long; he wanted to comfort her too.
Sam looked at Rosie, and held her hand a moment, "I want to thank you for coming up here and telling me about this. You don't have any idea what it means to me. I'd give anything if it had been different."
Rosie took him against her and they both cried for a moment.
To break the emotion, Kasie got up and finished fixing supper and they gathered about the table. She said the blessing and added Sam and Lacey to her family roll call.
"Rosie, is my grandfather still alive?" Sam asked.
"No darlin' he died fifteen years ago. Why?" she asked.
"I would have liked to talk to him, is all." Sam tried to smile.
Rosie set her spoon in her bowl and looked over at him, "But the doctor that delivered you is still alive. You could talk to him. It's only right you should know what happened. How you came to be who you are."
Sam's eyes lit up and he smiled, "Thank you…" he covered Rosie's hand again.
After supper Kasie played several home movies for Sam and Lacey and Rosie was able to call out every name in the movie. Sam saw a side of his father, saw the resemblance, and knew he had found his real family. Relief and sadness joined his heart.
Chapter Eleven
That night Sam and Lacey went up to their room, weary from the emotional pull of the day. At least a lot of questions were answered and Sam knew he had found his true beginnings.
"So now what do you think of your sister?" Lacey asked as she threw on her t-shirt and joined him in the bed.
His arm came around her shoulders automatically, his fingers moving softly over her arm. She couldn't think when he touched her. Already she felt a fire flaming to life.
"I think she's pretty swell actually. I never expected her to be so friendly and cordial. Or him either. I like Chayton too. And Rosie…dear Rosie, how sweet of her to tell me so much about my folks. I'm so glad I came. However, there is something I want to check into." Sam said, his hand moved to cup her breast through her t-shirt, circling the nipple with his thumb, absently. She squirmed restlessly. Didn't he realize what he did to her, how his touch ignited her?
"What?" Lacey asked wondering when he would be satisfied and if he would make love to her tonight. She wanted him to, needed him to, even though her heart broke every time she thought about going home.
"It was something Rosie said about my grandparents." Sam tried to lean back and relax, but feeling the hard nub of her nipple made him slip his hand under her t-shit. She sighed happily. "I think I know what is behind it all now, but I want to be sure."
"Behind what?" Lacey looked into his face and moved a little closer so he could have all the room h needed to pet and cuddle with her.
"Lacey, I got the impression that my grandparents might have done anything to break my parents up. If that's true, then the crime we were speaking of lies with them." Sam said as he bent to nibble against her belly. She laughed.
"So, what exactly are you going to do?" Lacey asked wishing he would relax, and quit worrying about it right now.
"Noting right away, I'm going to enjoy my sister and brother-in-law for a few days and then…I'll have to go back to work. But I aim to check it out."
"Honey, have you thought about just letting it all lie….It's been years. You can't help your mother, and you can't do anything to your grandparents, they are dead." She insisted, as his hands searched her out more thoroughly...
"You don't think I should pursue it?" He glanced at her.
"I don't know what good comes from stirring up something that happened so long ago? Your father is dead your mother is dead. It won't bring them back…"
"I guess I need closure of some sort…." His tongue went inside her belly button and he blew hard making a loud sound.
She giggled. "Stop that…"
He moved down her leg to her feet and cradled a foot in his hand. Lacey almost laughed again, but when his mouth came around her toe, she jumped with reaction. "Isn't it enough that you have a nice family to cling to?" She wiggled her toe and he grabbed another.
"It is nice…and they answered so many questions. However, it's like some mystery that
goes unsolved. Solving it, puts closure to it all." Now he was paying attention to her feet and massaging them, then sucking on a toe. She moved restlessly on the bed. Never had she had a man suck her toe, and never in all her life would she have dreamed that it felt so erotically good.
"Maybe your right, but I can't concentrate on it, while you touch me like that…I want you," she pleaded.
He smiled and turned all his attention on her.
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear. I'm sure glad they gave us this room, otherwise I might have to stroll through the house to find you."
Reminded of the end of their vacation Lacey realized that although they had made love, the end was in sight and she was gong to have to gear up for that. She might never know what he was going to do now and sadness griped her.
When he turned to her and kissed her, she tried to harden herself to him, so he couldn't keep taking the advantage, but he'd been through so much today…he needed her. Because she loved him she let herself be swept away again.
But this new manipulation stimulated her differently. She hadn't expected it.
"Have I ever told you, how bad I have a foot fetish?" he asked huskily as he eyed her then took her toe into his mouth and twirled his tongue around it, pulling gently with his teeth, then sucking. He was so slow and thorough it turned Lacey's insides to jelly.
Lacey couldn't stop the laugh, but what he was doing was terribly erotic and he knew it, judging by his expression.
Slowly he kissed her foot, all over, sending little signals to her libido that melted her heart. "No one's ever—.done that," she threw back her head and tingled as his tongue ran slowly up and down the pad of her foot. Sensations washed through her.
Her breathing grew labored, especially as he began to work his way upward over the calf of her leg, behind her knee, and up her thigh.
Then he put his hot tongue over her briefs and gave her a wet kiss. She sighed down into the bed, like a piece of slowly melting chocolate. He breathed against her there and she reached for his shoulders.
"Clothes are nice, but we don't need them," he whispered, as his fingers reached to pull her panties down. Another erotic move, she watched him in some sexual fascination, as he inched them slowly down her leg, kissing as he went. Then they flew to the floor, and he kissed his way back up.
Sweeter Than Wine Page 11
