by Melissa Good
C’mon.”
They got out and Ceci pulled the lapels of her coat closer as the cold wind chilled her skin. After a second, Andy was next to her, and he put a hand on her back to steady her steps as they 138 Melissa Good headed up the icy walk towards the house. “Stuffy looking, isn’t it?” she commented as they rang the bell.
“’Bout what I expected,” Andrew grumbled as the door opened. The staff member immediately retreated and allowed them to enter, offering to take their coats with a quiet word. They accepted the offer, and continued towards a large, crowded room off to the left.
Ceci checked out the house with a knowledgeable, patrician eye. The Stuarts occupied roughly the same social class as her own family, but there were differences. This was conservative, stolid, Midwestern money, concerned with presence and stability and tradition.
Ick. Ceci had a sudden, almost irresistible urge to throw a bucket of paint over the stately white walls. With an effort, she controlled herself and concentrated on studying the room full of dignitaries, searching for familiar faces. It was tough, being the height she was, but she managed to find Dar’s tall, elegant form almost immediately. She had her back to the door and was speaking to a tall, silver haired man. “There’s one.”
“Yeap. Easy to spot. Prettiest girl in the room,” Andrew noted with complete seriousness.
Ceci chuckled softly. Then she stopped laughing when she saw Kerry off to one side, ringed by a number of older men and women.
“That don’t look so good,” Andrew said. “Think I’ll go scout.”
“I’ll go clue in our daughter,” Ceci replied, and they moved off in opposite directions.
“WELL.”
Dar turned her head and found a most unwelcome sight. Kyle Evans was standing there with a slightly mocking expression on his face. “Ah. What rock did you crawl out from under?”
One silver eyebrow lifted. “Not even a pretense of civility?”
“Not for you.” Dar met his gaze evenly. Of all the members of the late senator’s staff, this was the one she had the most reason to hate. And she did, with a completeness that allowed for no mitigation. Kyle had been Kerry’s persecutor, the man who had carried out her father’s rigid policies, and a nightmarish tormentor who had scarred her gentle lover’s psyche in ways it horrified Dar to think about.
“Well.” Kyle examined the room with cool eyes. “Finally got what you wanted, didn’t you?”
“No. I’ve always had what I wanted.” Dar met his sudden Thicker Than Water 139
look with an icy smile. “But he finally got what he deserved.”
Kyle didn’t answer. Instead, he continued to study the room.
“Pity I was out of the country,” he purred. “I’d have made sure you didn’t join this little family reunion.” He turned and smiled at her with no humor at all. “But look, there’s the little prodigal. Let me go pay my,” his lip twitched, “respects.”
“I don’t think she wants them,” Dar said.
“I’m sure she doesn’t.” Kyle smiled again. “Maybe we can talk over…old times.”
He turned and glided away, leaving Dar with an icy facade over wild inner turmoil. She felt her blood pressure rise, sending a surge of warmth to her skin and muscles as her body interpreted the emotion she felt with uncanny accuracy. Her hands twitched, and it was only by the barest of margins that she held herself back from going after him.
“Dar?”
Her head snapped to one side, and it took a few seconds for her rational mind to recognize the voice and register the sudden, completely unexpected appearance of her mother at her side. Her glare melted as she took a breath and blinked. “Mom? What are you doing here?”
“Well…” Cecilia eased closer, now that the impending erup-tion seemed to be under control. “Up ’til now I’d have said we were here just to piss everyone off and give you two some friendly faces.” She studied her child with concern. “But after that little scene, I’m not so sure that moral support is the only kind you need. Who the hell was that?”
Dar’s eyes darted over the crowd. “Dad’s here?”
“Yes,” Ceci said. “He was heading over to thump Kerry’s relatives a moment ago. Why?” She put a hand on Dar’s arm. “Dar, are you all right?”
Dar closed her eyes and took firm control of herself. “Yes.
Thanks.” Now that she knew they were safe, one worry was done away with. And she had another to take its place. She finally turned and regarded her mother. “I’m glad you’re here.” She drew a deep breath before addressing the question. “And that was Kyle Evans. He’s…he was Stuart’s chief bastard and whitewasher.” Her lips twitched. “His personal assistant.”
“Uh huh.” Ceci relaxed a little. “Tight-assed looking creature.
Sorry about the surprise. We saw you two on television last night and you looked like you could use a little support.”
“I tried to call you earlier.” Dar felt her pulse slow. “Colleen said you’d gone out of town, but she didn’t know where.” She scanned the crowd again and immediately found her father’s tall form as he slid into place beside the unsuspecting Kerry, just as 140 Melissa Good Kyle approached from the other side of her.
An unexpected smile crossed Dar’s face, which vanished just as quickly. “It’s been a rough couple of days. Most of her relatives are giving her hell.”
“So I gathered,” Ceci murmured. “Shall we go rescue her?”
Dar glanced around the room. It was full of dignitaries, most of whom were watching the cluster of people around Kerry with thinly disguised interest. She watched a camera flash and saw the reporter angle for a better shot of Kerry’s face as she stood holding her ground against her various aunts and uncles. She was tense; Dar could see that in the way she held her body and in the careful, controlled hand motions as she fought to remain civil.
“Yeah,” Dar said. “Let’s go do that.”
KERRY RETURNED THE thin smile from her youngest aunt.
Viciously polite. That was the term she was looking for. So far, though, she’d done all right. Even her uncles, aware of the cameras and the outsiders’ stares, were behaving themselves. “Sorry, what was the question?”
“What’s the social life down there like for you?” Marcia repeated. “I’m sure you participate, don’t you?”
“Not really,” Kerry replied quietly. “I do on a corporate level, naturally, but we have other interests besides parties.”
“Oh, really?” Her aunt was a slim, hawk faced woman with silvered dark hair. “Like what, cooking?” she asked with a touch of sweet sarcasm.
Keep cool, Kerry, she reminded herself. “I dabble in it, sure.
But mostly outdoor sports, really. Diving, underwater photography, that kind of thing.” She smiled. “And a little distance running and martial arts.”
“Funny,” Aunt Marcia sniped. “You were never interested in those things before.”
“Well, you know, there’s a limited amount of scuba diving available in Lake Michigan,” Kerry replied. “Miami’s a little more climactically friendly to outdoor sports. It’s been great for me. I’m having the time of my life.”
“Well you certainly look different,” her aunt said. “You definitely…filled out.”
Kerry refused to view that as the insult her aunt undoubtedly intended it to be. “Thanks. You look good yourself.”
“Yes, she certainly has changed.” A voice came from Kerry’s left, sending a chill down her back. She turned to find her worst nightmare looking back at her through cold, gray eyes.
“Hello, Kyle.” Her stomach lurched as she remembered the Thicker Than Water 141
last time they’d met. She felt someone brush lightly against her on the right side, but she remained in place, warily watching her old adversary. She honestly hadn’t expected this confrontation. Her mother had told her Kyle had been sent overseas months ago, and she’d figured… Damn.
“Yes, didn’t expect me, did you?” Kyle laugh
ed. “I’ve just arrived. I’m so glad to see you.”
Kerry felt like throwing up. “Feeling’s not mutual.” She resisted the urge to look around for the comfort of Dar’s presence.
A thousand childhood fears reared their heads, a hundred memories of that smiling face echoed in places she’d thought well cleared. “Excuse me.”
“Oh, but we’ve only started to talk.” Kyle moved closer, very aware of the watching eyes. “Do tell me what you’ve been up to, Kerrison. I want to hear every detail.”
Feeling trapped, Kerry studied him to give herself a moment to think. “Nothing you’d be interested in, Kyle. I don’t think there’s much for us to discuss.”
Kyle put a proprietary hand on her shoulder. “Come now, is that any way to talk? Let’s—”
A hand covered his and removed it from Kerry’s arm with a power evident even in that brief contact. “Ah do believe this here young lady has other things she’d be liking to do.”
Kerry whirled in startled, disbelieving shock. She tipped her head back to take in the tall, grizzle haired man in a Naval uniform right behind her, his scarred face set in watchful stillness.
“Ya’ll might want to just let her get on with them,” Andrew drawled.
Kyle’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me, but I don’t think this is quite your affair…ah,” he glanced at Andrew’s chest, “Commander, is it?” Then he looked again. “Roberts. Ah.”
Andy put a long arm around Kerry’s shoulders. “Ah’d say you were wrong. This here young lady is very much mah business.”
Kerry exhaled her tension, and threw her arms around him in a hug. Kyle had truly rattled her, and to have Andrew show up at just the right moment… “Wow,” she whispered, squeezing him hard before she released him and turned back around. Kyle was watching Andrew with wary dislike, and the rest of her relatives were frankly staring at him. “Sorry. This was kind of unexpected.
This is my father-in-law, Andrew Roberts.” She almost enjoyed the flinches. “A very welcome surprise.”
“I’m sure,” Kyle murmured. “For you, at least.”
Andrew eyed him steadily for a moment, then looked around at the gathered relatives. “Hi there.” His Southern accent dripped 142 Melissa Good out like molasses. “Good t’meet y’all. This here’s mah wife, Ceci,”
he added, as Cecilia joined him.
“Hello.” Ceci smiled with charming frigidity at the crowd.
“Moments like this make even a rationalist like me seriously doubt Darwin.”
“Hi.” Kerry was hard pressed to restrain her glee at seeing Ceci, someone who could meet her relatives on equal footing and boot them in the rear with exquisite courtesy. It was seriously like having the cavalry riding over the hill. “When did you guys get here? Did you see… Ah.” She felt Dar’s presence at her elbow, and a warm hand touched her back. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Dar said. “Now the puppy-sitting makes sense.”
“Hm.” Kerry regained her balance. With Dar and Andrew bracketing her like a pair of sturdy bookends, life had gotten much better with startling rapidity. It wasn’t that she didn’t have confidence in Dar alone, but Kyle’s specialty had always been intimidation, and Andy simply was who he was, his scarred, yet potent strength making her old adversary seem almost childlike in comparison.
Maybe Kyle felt it. Certainly, he backed up a few steps, pretending to take more interest in obtaining a glass of wine from one of the servants. Then he looked up as a cluster of people approached and grimly smiled.
Kerry turned, only to be face to face with her mother and another pod of relatives. “Ah…uh…”
“Kerrison…Oh.” Cynthia Stuart stopped a little short, blinking at her unexpected guests. “Why, Commander, it’s good to see you. And Mrs. Roberts, how nice it is to have you here.”
Ceci’s eyebrows lifted almost imperceptibly. It wasn’t quite the reception she’d expected, given their last meeting. However, one took what one could get, and if she got caviar instead of fish turds, all the better. She dusted off her annoying company manners and presented them, knowing she’d get no help whatsoever from her beloved spouse. “Thank you so much for welcoming us in such a distressing time. We always do seem to be meeting under the worst of circumstances, don’t we?”
Cynthia pursed her lips. “You know, that’s very true. Perhaps we could invite you to a Christmas party or something in the future?”
“Well, I’m a pagan. Solstice, perhaps?” Ceci smiled charmingly and watched the comment fly over Cynthia’s head and splat against the white walls.
“Of course. Lovely,” Cynthia answered vaguely. “Ah…”
Dar was having an absolute ball watching the expressions on the faces of Kerry’s family. Their reactions ran the gamut from Thicker Than Water 143
puzzlement to outrage. Dar made sure she smiled at each of them.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kyle slip away as a curious cameraman approached, drawn most likely by Andrew’s tall, uniform clad form.
Having had enough fun for the moment, Ceci took Cynthia’s proffered hands. “We knew it was a rough time for everyone.
Glad we could be here to give you our sympathies in person. You have a beautiful home.”
A camera flashed.
“Why, thank you,” Cynthia replied warmly. “Oh, do come and let me introduce you to my brother Anthony. I believe he collects your work.”
“When he finds out who I am, hopefully he’ll continue to do so.” Ceci smiled politely and held a hand out to Andrew. “We’d love to meet him.”
“One less thing for you to have to worry about,” Kerry murmured, turning her head so that only Dar could hear her. “What a gorgeous surprise, and what perfect timing.”
“Mm,” Dar grunted, giving the press a polite smile. “I could use a drink of water, how about you?”
Amazing how dry that suddenly made her throat. “You bet.”
Kerry edged out of the view of the press, who seemed intrigued by their new target. “Dad looks great.”
“Yeah,” Dar whispered back. “I’ve never seen all those decorations before. I can’t believe Mom got him to wear them.” She eyed them and gave her father a pointed look before she gently steered Kerry through a nearby doorway and into a small alcove just off the reception room. Here there was a linen draped table with glasses and a pitcher of water. She poured two glasses and handed one to her lover.
For a moment, they sipped their drinks and regarded each other. Then Kerry sighed. “Night of surprises.”
Dar nodded. “Some not so good.”
Kerry stared into the depths of her glass and swirled its contents. “Yeah. Damn. I forgot how much I hated him.” She was surprised to see her hands shaking, then realized the rest of her also shook. “Wow.”
Dar took the glass out of her hand and put it down. She took Kerry’s cold hands in her own and warmed them. “It’s a little chilly in here.”
“Yeah, it is.” Kerry felt lightheaded. She took some deep breaths and the shakiness subsided as her racing pulse slowed and steadied.
Dar noted the pale tinge to Kerry’s normally golden complex-ion. “You all right?”
144 Melissa Good
“Yeah.” Kerry nodded, relaxing a bit. “It was so good to see Mom and Dad.” She smiled at Dar. “When we heard they’d left Miami, I should have guessed they’d be coming here.” She turned her head and spotted a nearby bench. “Sit for a minute?”
Dar took a seat next to her, and they let out simultaneous sighs. “Here.” Dar handed Kerry back her water and watched her take a swallow. “Tough crowd.”
Kerry rolled her eyes.
“They make my family look like the Waltons,” Dar continued.
“On Thanksgiving.”
Kerry snickered, almost spitting out some of her water.
“If one more of them had made one more snippy comment about your weight, I was getting ready to spill a glass of that disgusting dry champagne down their backs,” Dar went on.
“Especially since the last time most of them saw a gym was high school.” Another snicker from Kerry encouraged Dar to add,
“And even then, they probably just danced in it.”
Kerry cleared her throat. “Very true. They’re not much into the physical fitness scene; that was one subject that never really came up. It was fine and accepted to starve yourself into rapier thinness, but to actually consider…ugh...sweating, forget it.”
“I think you’re very cute when you sweat.” Dar crossed her ankles and swallowed some water.
“Let’s not go overboard,” Kerry replied, giving Dar a wry look. Then she sighed. “Okay, I’ve had my Dar break, I’d better get back out there. I think my other cousins just got here.” She stood up and twitched her dress straight. “Want to come meet them?”
Dar put her glass down and joined Kerry near the doorway.
They paused and looked over the gathering, spotting Andy and Ceci near a cluster of older guests. As they were about to step forward, Dar felt Kerry hesitate, and she glanced around to see what the problem was. Kyle was watching them from near the elegant bar, his arms crossed as he spoke in a low voice to two men in dark suits. “I don’t like the looks of that.”
“Me either. C’mon.” Kerry deliberately turned and walked in the other direction, towards two younger women looking self conscious and trying to be casual in black lace dresses neither did any justice to.
THE STUDY WAS very quiet, almost somber. Kyle ignored the ghosts watching from the corners and strode across the rich carpet, swung behind the desk, and sat in the leather chair with stolid arrogance.
Thicker Than Water 145
For a moment, he hesitated and laid his hands on the surface, then he shook his head and opened the center drawer. There were a few papers on top, and these he pulled out, impatiently flicked his eyes over them, and then tossed them on the desk, one after the other. “Nothing there.”
He put the papers back into the drawer and closed it, then went to the first file drawer on the right hand side. Inside, a series of hanging files were lined up in a typically neat row, labeled with the senator’s projects.
