A Texas Family Reunion (15 page)

“She’s watching television in her bedroom. We don’t like the same shows on Monday nights.”

“Good. Do you have a key to Susan’s room?”

“No, of course not. That’s one of June’s rooms.”

“All right. Thanks, Mom.” Alex left her mother’s side and moved down the hall to the room she guessed Susan must be in. It had been her childhood bedroom. She tapped lightly on the door. “Susan?” she whispered.

“Alex?” Susan whispered in return.

“Can you open the door?”

“No, she locked it.”

“Can you open a window?”

“I…I haven’t tried. It’s cold out.”

“My car is parked out front. If you can get out the window, come get in the car and I’ll take you to my place.”

“Okay, I’ll try.”

Alex detected hope in her cousin’s voice. She tiptoed back down the hall to the front door, opened it and went to her car. Once she’d started it and turned up the heater, she climbed out again and went around the house to the window of Susan’s room. She saw the window being raised, could see Susan. She waved and softly called encouragement. After all, it was a bit of a drop to the ground.

Susan shimmied through the window, and Alex helped her down by gripping her around the thighs.

“Come on, let’s get out of here,” Alex said, hotfooting it to the car. Susan was right behind her.

Once they’d driven off, Alex began giggling.

“What?” Susan asked.

“I never thought I’d be involved in a p-prison break!”

Her laugh was infectious and Susan began laughing, too.

“Me, neither!” After a minute or two, Susan turned serious. “Thank you for coming to my rescue…and not saying ‘I told you so.’”

Alex reached over and took her cousin’s hand. “We’re family, Susan. And you’re old enough to make your own decisions.”

“And suffer the consequences, I guess.”

Alex chuckled. “I guess so.”

“The consequence is that Pete doesn’t want me anymore.”

“Why didn’t you warn him about your mom?”

“I thought she’d be better if taken by surprise and presented with a fait accompli—I was already living with Pete. Dumb, huh?”

“Well, it’s pretty hard to believe your own mother is as prejudiced as she is.”

“David didn’t have any problem believing it.”

“He’s a man. I think they accept things as they see them. Women think they can change things. But I’m afraid Aunt June is a lost cause.”

“Yes, I know that now.”

“So why did Pete leave?”

“He…he thought I believed the same as Mom because I didn’t follow him out. But I wanted to stay to tell her how wonderful Pete is. I thought I could bring her around.”

“Oh, Susan. Well, don’t worry about it. You can stay with me as long as you want. And you’ll get a chance to explain things to Pete.”

“I doubt it. He’ll probably fire me.”

“If he does, maybe David can find you another job in a different department.”

She’d reached her place. She hit the button to open the garage and pulled in. Then the two of them went up the stairs.

When they entered the condo, they were both shocked to see Pete sitting at the kitchen table, having a cup of coffee with David.

“Pete! What are you doing here?” Susan asked with a gasp. Then, before Pete could answer, she covered her face and ran for Alex’s bedrooms.

Alex stood there, shocked by Susan’s behavior. Then she looked at David and Pete. “Well?”

David spoke. “Pete wanted to know if Susan was okay, so he came here. He thought we’d know.”

“You don’t hate her?” Alex asked Pete directly.

“No, of course not. I felt bad that I’d left her there. I called to talk to her, but her…mother refused to call her to the phone. Why did she run out just now?”

“I’ll go see if Susan will come and talk to us,” Alex said with a smile.

When she opened the door to her bedroom, she found Susan sitting on her bed, tears streaming down her face. “Susan, Pete’s here because he was concerned about you and felt bad leaving you at your mother’s. He even
called your mom and asked to talk to you. but she wouldn’t let him talk to you.”

“He did?” Susan lifted her gaze to Alex’s.

“Yes. And he wants to know why you ran past him just now.”

“I didn’t want him to see I’d been crying.”

Alex pulled Susan up from the bed. “Powder your nose and come to the kitchen.” She turned to go and then looked back at Susan. “If you’re not there in five minutes, I’m coming to drag you out there.”

The men stopped talking when Alex came back into the kitchen.

Then David asked, “Where’s Susan?”

“She’s fixing her face. She didn’t want Pete to know she’d been crying. She’ll be out in a minute.”

“Was her mother mean to her?” Pete asked.

“She locked her in a bedroom and wouldn’t let her out.”

David frowned. “I should’ve gone with you.”

“Could you have changed her mind?” Alex asked, already knowing the answer.

“Maybe not, but I think I could’ve shamed her into it.”

“You’re as delusional as your sister.”

“Come on, Alex, I am not!”

“Did Susan say she thought her mother would accept me?” Pete asked.

Susan was at the kitchen door. “Yes. I thought if I surprised her, she would accept you. And I didn’t follow
you out at once because I thought I could talk her into liking you when I told her how wonderful you are.”

Pete stood up and smiled at Susan. “I gather you weren’t able to.”

“That’s right. She adores my sister, Janet’s, husband. He sleeps around on Janet, claiming overtime keeps him from home. He’s a stockbroker! Overtime, ha!”

“Calm down, honey,” Pete said. “It’s not your fault. Are you doing all right? She didn’t hurt you?” Since he’d opened his arms to her while he asked his questions, Susan told him she was fine. He hugged her tightly to him.

“I thought you hated me!” she exclaimed.

“I was angry at your mother, but I never believed you thought like her. But when you didn’t follow me out, I decided you wanted to stay.”

“After I tried to argue with her, she forced me into one of the bedrooms and locked the door. I had my cell phone with me and so I called Alex. That was all I knew to do.”

“I’m beginning to think,” David said to Alex, “that we’re sadly in the way.”

“They’ll just have to tolerate us—it’s my place. I’m going to make some hot chocolate. Does anyone else want some? David can tell you about the house he put in an offer for tonight.”

“I’ll have some chocolate, Alex,” Susan said, taking a chair beside Pete’s. He sat, too. “David, tell us about your house!”

“Pete and I will stick with coffee. Yeah, I put in an offer for a house. It’s wonderful. It has three regular bedrooms and a giant master bedroom.”

“Is it two-story or one?” Susan asked.

“Two-story, with a great backyard.”

“That’s so
we
can buy a big dog,” Alex said.

“We?” Pete asked.

“Alex offered to pay for half the dog, so I said she could call it hers, too.”

Pete gave David an odd look.

Susan clapped her hands. “Can I chip in, too, and call it my dog, too?”

“I’m sure David won’t mind,” Alex said with a laugh.

“It’s all right, David,” Pete said. “We’re going to get a dog as soon as I can find us a house.”

Pete’s words silenced everyone.

Finally David asked, “Are you and Susan planning on a future…together?”

“I am. I hope she is, too.”

“Oh, I am,” Susan said, leaning over to give Pete a kiss. “And we can have a dog, too? Oh, I love you so much, Pete.”

“Yes, but are you planning on marrying? As her brother, I have to ask.”

“Yes, of course!” Pete replied, seemingly surprised by David’s question. “Why would you think otherwise?”

“Well, the two of you were sleeping together without any mention of marriage.”

“Maybe not to you, but that’s the reason I went to meet her mom.”

“Well, if that didn’t scare you away, welcome to the family,” David said, extending his hand. Pete got up and shook it with a grin.

Alex stepped forward and kissed Pete’s cheek. “Welcome to the family.”

“Thanks to both of you.”

The four sipped their drinks and chatted companionably for the next thirty minutes or so until Pete said, “Well, I think it’s time we let you get to bed. Ready, Susan?”

“Yes,” Susan said, clutching his hand as he led her to the door. But before they left, she turned to hug Alex. “You truly are my family, Alex. Without you, I’d still be in my mother’s house, believing my life was ruined.”

“I’m glad I could be there for you. And maybe one day you’ll be there for me, too. That’s what family is for.”

Susan smiled and nodded. Then she took Pete’s hand again and said, “I’m ready.”

Alex and David followed them to the door and stood watching as Pete, after a brief kiss, helped Susan into the car and then got in behind the wheel and drove away.

“That was sweet, wasn’t it,” Alex said sadly.

“Yes, it was. So why do you sound sad?”

“Nothing,” Alex said, turning away and closing the door.

David followed her as she went back in the kitchen. Before he could speak, the phone rang. She motioned for him to answer it as she cleaned off the table.

When he did, he discovered his mother on the line. “David? What are you doing at Alex’s?”

“I’m living here temporarily because my condo burned down.”

“What? You can’t do that. You know you’re not really related, don’t you? I mean, we adopted you!”

“Gee, thanks, Mom, I didn’t know.”

“Oh, I should’ve told you. It never occurred to me that you would be attracted to Alex. She’s so…so independent.”

“Yes, she is. By the way, did I mention my condo burned down?”

“Yes, you did. I’m looking for Susan.”

“Why?”

“Because…because I’ve lost her.”

“Haven’t you noticed that she has her own place? I believe it’s been two years now.”

“I tried there. The phone’s been disconnected.”

“Well, don’t worry. I’m sure she’s all right.”

“Let me talk to Alex.”

“She’s busy.” He didn’t want his mother to disturb Alex.

“I insist!”

Alex took the phone from David even as he protested.

“Hello, Aunt June.”

“Bring my daughter back here! I know you took her!”

Calmly, Alex said, “Yes, I did. It was either that or call the police. You see, you’re not allowed to hold an adult against his or her will. I thought you would prefer that I just help her out rather than cause a scandal.”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“I’m afraid I would. I was a cop, you know.”

“Your mother would never forgive you!”

Alex smiled. “I think she would. I’m afraid she’d hardly notice the stir, except that it might interrupt one of her favorite shows.”

“Just don’t bother to come over here again!”

“I’ll be over to see my mother whenever I please. But don’t worry. We’ll go out.”

“Good!” Aunt June declared, and hung up the phone.

“You didn’t tell her where Susan is?”

“No, I didn’t. When she realized she’d almost been arrested, she forgot all about Susan.”

“That was brilliant, honey. We may not hear from her for several weeks.”

“Unless her plumbing stops up,” Alex said with a smile.

“Yeah. Want to talk?”

“About what?” Alex asked, looking blankly at him.

“About what happened tonight.”

“No. It’s late and I’m tired. I think I’ll just go to bed. You should, too.”

David didn’t agree, but he went, anyway. They could talk in the morning.

W
HEN
A
LEX AWOKE
, she didn’t get out of bed at once. In spite of what she’d told David, she had things to think about.

Not about rescuing Susan. She was glad she’d done that. And glad that Susan and Pete had made up. Her problem was David. She loved him. Not as a cousin, but as a man. And he thought of her as his cousin.

What could she do? Here he was living with her, and she wanted him to sleep with her. To have the kind of relationship Susan and Pete had. Would he think she was sick?

They weren’t blood related. They hadn’t even been raised together. Susan was the only one she’d had much contact with. She heard about David from Susan, but she didn’t spend time with him. Only after he took over the company did she get to know him a little.

Then, after she changed jobs, David checked up on her. Likely because her mother had mentioned her worry to Aunt June. With everything that had happened, they were thrown together. And influenced by the Barlows.

But that didn’t mean David loved her. They’d become friends. They were going to share the ownership of a dog. They weren’t lovers. And she didn’t think that would change.

Alex groaned. What could she do?

She shoved back the covers. She’d fretted long enough. Time to get on with life.

After taking a shower and dressing for work, she en
tered the kitchen. David was there and had made a pot of coffee. She poured herself a cup. “Thanks for making the coffee.”

“I couldn’t remember if you drank it or not.”

“Usually I don’t. But this morning I needed it.”

“Want to go out for pancakes?” David asked.

“Sorry, I don’t have the time.” She finished her coffee and set down her cup.

“Alex, I got the impression you were upset last night. Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?”

“No, David, nothing’s wrong. I’ll see you this evening. Oh, if you hear back about your offer for the house, call me at work.” She hurried down the stairs to her garage.

D
AVID STOOD THERE
for several minutes after Alex left. Something was wrong. Why wouldn’t she talk to him? He was willing to help her with anything. Maybe he should call Jim and see if there was anything upsetting her at work. Yes, that was what he’d do. As soon as he got to work, he’d talk to his brother.

And maybe he’d have good news for Alex. Maybe he could tell her he’d found a place to live and they could shop for that dog they wanted.

His telephone rang at his office a little after ten. The real estate agent had presented his offer to the owners and they’d accepted it. They’d also agreed to rent him the house. However, they insisted on a higher rent.

David agreed immediately. He told the agent he’d
drop by with a deposit for the owners and hoped the closing date would be at least within two months. He’d also pick up the keys.

Before he left, he received another phone call. This one came from the company’s contact in the government, letting him know they’d won the contract. That news almost made him forget the other. There were several things that had to be started at once. Their personnel department needed to run an ad for more programmers. And they needed a celebration party for those who’d had a part in preparing the bid.

First he hurried to Pete’s office. When he discovered Pete kissing Susan, he came to an abrupt halt and cleared his throat noisily.

“Oh!” Susan cried. “It’s my fault, David, not Pete’s.”

“Okay, I’ll fire you instead of Pete.”

“No! I don’t want to lose my job! You’re joking, right, David?”

“Yes, honey, I’m joking. Pete, we got the government contract!”

“We did? Terrific!”

“I also got my house. This is a magical day.”

“Oh! I want to see it!” Susan exclaimed.

“I’ll give you the address, and you and Pete can meet us there after work.” With a big smile, he turned away to leave. Then he remembered what else he wanted to say. “We can have the celebration party at my house, but someone needs to plan it. That might be
something good for Susan to do after you see it this afternoon.”

“I’d love to! And maybe Alex can help.”

“I’d like that, if she wants to.” As he turned to go, he added, “Don’t call and ask her until after lunch. I want to tell her myself.”

And in person. He’d decided to do that while he’d been talking to Susan and Pete. Returning to his office, he picked up the phone and dialed Greenfield and Associates.

He sighed in relief when Jim answered the phone. “Hey, Jim, it’s David. Is Alex there?”

“No, David, she’s out doing some legwork.”

“Do you think she’ll be in before lunch?”

“I think she’s planning on it. She gave Carrie money to buy her lunch when Carrie gets ours.”

“Could you tell Carrie not to buy her any lunch? I’m coming over to take her out. I’ve got some good news to share with her.”

“Sure, I’ll be glad to. And after you tell her, maybe you can tell me. I like to hear good news.”

“I can tell you now. I know you’ll keep my secrets. First of all, I’ve bought a house, and I’m renting it until the deal closes.”

“That’s great news! Did Alex see it?”

“Yeah, she went through it with me. The other good news is that we got that government contract, thanks to you and Alex.”

“Congratulations. We were glad to help.”

“I appreciate it. I’ll be there just a little before noon. Keep an eye on Alex for me.”

“Will do.”

David hung up and headed to the real estate agent’s office. He was anxious to get started on filling his house with furniture. And insurance. He needed insurance. He’d just gotten a check for all his belongings two days ago and had deposited it in his account, ready to use it to fill his new house.

After lunch, he would go by his insurance man’s office. Maybe he’d better make a list of things he needed to do. He could do that at lunch with Alex.