Family (20 page)

Katy didn’t either, but she was tired and frazzled, too much to enjoy herself another minute. “So we wait?”

“Awhile.” He led her back to the couch. “It’s ten o’clock. Let’< watch TV, and in an hour I’ll go out and see if anyone’s stirring.”

“Okay.” She settled next to him and pulled the blanket up around their chests.

“I’m sorry about all this, the trouble I’rr causing.”

“It’s not you.” He put his arm around her and ran his finger; through her hair.

“I told you before, this is about me.” j || J”But you’re used to them.” She snuggled closer and rested he

head on his shoulder. “If I didn’t care about staying out of th<

tabloids, we could do what you said earlier. Smile and wave an( that would be the end of it.”

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“No, Katy. Where paparazzi are concerned, there’s never an end to it.”

He turned on ESPN and they watched SportsCenter. She nodded off for part of it, and when she opened her eyes, he was watching country music videos. “I think I fell asleep.”

“You did.” He kissed the top of her head again. He seemed more interested in protecting her than making a pass at her.

Katy was glad. “We haven’t talked about what happens next.”

“We don’t have to.” Dayne held her close, easing her head back to his shoulder.

“If you run, I’ll follow you.” There was a smile in his voice. “Just like earlier.”

A mellow song was playing on the television, and she nodded off again. The frenzied feeling from earlier faded. It felt nice, sitting beneath a blanket, her head on Dayne’s shoulder. As another hour passed, the last thing she wanted to do was leave. Even if the paparazzi had packed up and gone home.

Eleven became midnight, and sometime later she opened her eyes and realized what had happened. Dayne had turned off the television, and he was asleep, leaning on the arm of the sofa. His hand was around her waist, and her head was still on his shoulder. His breathing came in slow, even measures.

Panic grabbed hold of her. They’d lost track of time, and now what? She was about to wake him up when she realized there was no point. He wasn’t going to take advantage of her. They were simply two people who’d been chased from late afternoon on and needed a chance to get beyond their exhaustion. She settled her head back against his shoulder, and within minutes she was asleep again.

The next time she opened her eyes, sunshine was streaming through the cracks in the blinds.

Dayne must’ve sensed her being awake, because he stirred and opened his eyes. In a rush, his eyes opened wider than before, and he leaned up on his elbow. “Katy!

It’s morning!”

“I know.” She smiled, watching him react to the situation the 162

same way she had. “It’s okay.” She rubbed her eyes. “I didn’t want to go anyway.”

The couch was comfortable enough that they’d slept soundly, without ever stretching out. But now she felt his body ease in along hers. “Can I tell you something?”

“Mmm.” This was wrong, lying here with him now that they were both awake. It was probably wrong to do so last night when they were only sitting. But she couldn’t help herself.

“I didn’t want you to leave either.” He played with a strand of her hair, and for the sweetest moment he kissed her. But then, as if something had struck him deep inside, he tossed the blanket to the floor, stood, and stretched. “I’m making coffee.”

Katy let herself sink into the sofa. She felt humiliated, angry at herself. She never should’ve allowed herself to fall asleep on his shoulder. In the middle of the night she could’ve woken him and asked that he take her home. What must he think of her now? That she wasn’t the person he thought her to be?

He returned with the coffee before she could berate herself anymore. “Hey …

sit up.” His tone was kind, his eyes filled with a warmth that relieved her guilt.

She did as he asked, and she took one of the cups. “I shouldn’t have stayed.”

“Nothing happened.” He sat beside her and leaned his forearms on his knees.

“You’re right. I should’ve taken you home.’ He cast her a look, and his eyes warmed. “But I’ve never felt more right in all my life, being there with you sleeping on my shoulder.” He blew at the steam coming off his coffee. “I never wanted morning to come.”

“Me either.” She looked at the front door. “But what sort of trouble are we in now?”

“The paparazzi?” Concern tightened his expression. “I know. I’ve been trying to figure a way out for both of us.”

They talked about the issue for the next few minutes before Dayne came up with a plan. He would call Joe Morris and tell

163 him what happened, that the photographers were so aggressive he didn’t feel safe leaving the house with Katy. Only now they would feel they had proof of an affair, because what other reason would there be for Katy to spend the night?

Then he would ask Joe to make an announcement to the press. That Katy Hart was sick of being chased, and she was staying in her hotel room until the pressure let up. They could ask about the woman with Dayne at the beach, and Joe would plead ignorance. He could only speak for Katy, he would tell them. And she hadn’t left her hotel room since arriving there Tuesday evening.

The story was a lie, but it was all the paparazzi deserved. Especially .after they’d hunted Dayne and her like animals. The two of them had needed a day of privacy, no matter what they had to tell the press.

Dayne made the call, and when he hung up he nodded at Katy. “Joe thinks it’ll work.”

“But what if the cameramen in the helicopters got a close-up of my face?”

“They didn’t.” Dayne walked toward the front door. “They may have gotten a picture of two people standing in the surf kissing, but it would be impossible to tell for sure that it was you in my arms.” He held his hand up. “I’ll be right back.” He stepped outside, and after a few seconds he returned. “It looks clear if we go now.”

She picked up her bag and followed him toward the door. God couldn’t have been thrilled with either of them, falling asleep the way they had done and not making a better attempt to get her back to the hotel. But Dayne was right.

Nothing had happened. Now they needed to pray that the press believed Joe’s story. Otherwise it wouldn’t matter what actually took place last night in the beach house.

The world would never believe for a minute that all they’d done was sleep.

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165

Ashley hadn’t stopped hearing from her siblings since her father spread the news. She’d spent almost all of Wednesday talking to them, hearing their concerns and anxieties on the topic, listening to them walk through the details as they tried to

convince themselves that having an older brother was even

possible.

Now it was Thursday morning, and she’d already r a a apered baby Devin, already laid him back down for h Ś 1

Cole was off to school, and Landon had a day shift 1 c
p>

3”ut at the fire station. The house was quiet, and she wanted more yUtW

to take her baby and his bag and head for her fathe ‘ h He would already be at work, but her painting Was still standing in her old upstairs bedroom, and after a day of in u her unknown brother, she could hardly wait to Ś k h paintbrush and get back to work. A few more sessiOns and she’d be finished, the idea in her mind had transferred Ś

lu to canvas in a

way that was beyond satisfying.

She made herself a plate of eggs and sat at the kitchen table 166

Earlier Cole had picked up on her mood. Over his bowl of Cheerios he’d cocked his head and squinted. “You have a lot of thoughts in your head today, don’t you, Mommy?”

“I do.” She’d sat across from him, her arms folded. “And what about you, Coley?

What thoughts are in your head?”

He made a face. “Spelling test. Remember? The words you practiced with me last Friday.”

“Well, good. You know those.”

“Still …” He slurped up a mouthful of cereal. “Spelling tests are never very good for my head.”

“I suppose.”

His eyes lit up. “Now, frogs … and fish! And having an adventure in the backyard with Daddy!” He gave a serious nod. “Those are good thoughts.”

Cole made her smile. She missed him when he was gone all day to school, but it was almost summer, and then they’d take day trips to the lake and haul out the old ice chest so he and Landon could find their favorite fishing spot and make more wonderful memories. This time she’d bring Devin and sit nearby, letting summer work its lazy magic on her heart and soul.

But for now there was the issue sending aftershocks through their family, the idea that sometime in the next few months they might meet a man who was their full-blooded brother. She’d had longer to get used to the idea, but she understood the concerns her siblings were having.

Luke had called late last night from Los Angeles. They’d talked a couple times since their dad broke the news. “I guess I still can’t believe it, like maybe the whole thing is Dad having a nervous breakdown from missing Mom.”

“No, Luke.” Ashley had kept calm through phone calls from Kari and Erin and Brooke. She made a point to remain calm for her younger brother too. “I already told you. I saw the letter, the one Mom wrote to him.”

167

“Okay, but how do we go our whole lives and miss something like that? Shouldn’t there have been a sign, a clue along the way?”

“You have to understand, back then they convinced people that giving a baby up for adoption was like never having that baby.”

Luke hesitated, then exhaled hard. “Still, they should’ve told us.”

Ashley was quiet for a moment, giving Luke time to think about his statement.

“What would it have proved? He belonged to another family. Knowing about him only would’ve made us wonder and want to meet him.”

“The way you and the girls feel now.” Resignation filled Luke’s-voice. “I can’t really see him as a brother at this point. He’s a stranger who shares our blood, you know?”

“He is.” Ashley pictured their father, the way he looked when he talked about his older son. “But Dad’s made a connection with him, and pretty soon we’ll need to think about whether we want one too.”

“What if I want my family the way it was two days ago, before I knew about this?”

“Not knowing wouldn’t have changed the truth, Luke.” Her tone was even gentler than before. “Mom and Dad had six kids. It’s up to us to help each other deal with that.”

“You sound like Reagan.” His voice lightened some, and he took on his wife’s tone. “‘Adoption has many faces. Your parents had no choice in the matter, so thank God someone was willing to open their home to your older brother.’Just like that. All matter-of-fact.”

Ashley chuckled. “Sometimes wives know a thing or two.”

“I guess.” Luke yawned. “I need some sleep. Closing arguments might come tomorrow.”

“Okay, little brother. Love you.” ,; “Love you too.”

168

Of course the situation troubled Luke more than the others. Guys were funny that way. Even if their older brother wanted to meet them, Ashley guessed Luke would take a while to warm up to the idea. Today he’d be wrapped up in court proceedings and closing arguments, probably bringing Katy and Dayne back into the courtroom.

Ashley opened the newspaper and searched for the most recent story. The Bloomington reporters were aware that their local sweetheart Katy Hart was at the center of the nation’s current big trial. Starting with Tuesday morning’s paper, they’d included a box adjacent to the trial coverage with a banner headline that read “Local Angle.”

Talking to her siblings about their older brother had made Ashley almost forget her friend suffering through such scrutiny on the West Coast. She scanned the article and felt a rush of relief. So far there wasn’t much that would’ve upset Katy. They had identified her as the mystery woman with Dayne on the beach the night of the attack, and yesterday’s paper detailed Katy’s testimony.

But the article was clear that Katy and Dayne had been together that night for business reasons and that they were colleagues, nothing more. Today’s story said only that Katy and Dayne had spent the day away from the courthouse while medical doctors and psychiatrists testified about the mental abilities of the defendant.

Ashley tapped the open page. “All right, Katy,” she whispered, “where did you and Dayne disappear to?” She smiled. Katy wouldn’t have let herself get into trouble, not with Dayne and not with all of America watching. Still, she couldn’t wait for the chance to catch up with her friend and find out how they’d managed to escape the press for an entire day.

She was cleaning the kitchen when Erin called.

“Do you think Mom tried to give me a sign, and I was too busy 169

with my own situation to see it?” The unrest in Erin’s voice was stronger than in all their other siblings combined.

“Erin, no.” Ashley dried the frying pan and slipped it back into the cupboard.

“Mom didn’t want to admit the truth to herself; she certainly wasn’t trying to give you a sign.”

“I don’t mean an actual sign.” Erin sighed, and the heaviness of it stayed between them even over the phone line. “I mean, maybe she hinted at the possibility that she’d given a baby up for adoption. Maybe she wanted me to ask her about it, and I blew it.”

“You didn’t blow it.” Ashley picked up a dirty plate and began to rinse it. “Mom and Dad promised each other to keep their firstborn son a secret. There was nothing any of us could’ve done to figure it out.”

Erin sniffed. “I just keep thinking … poor Mom. Her oldest child out there and all those years never knowing where to find him.”

Ashley set the rinsed dish aside, opened the dishwasher, and began unloading the top rack. “But at least she got to meet him before she died.”

“I guess.” Erin’s voice held the beginning of hope. “I wish we could’ve talked with her about it.”

“Me too. Dad says they had an hour together, and she told him everything she’d always wanted to say.”

A relieved sigh came from Erin. “I have to hold on to that, I guess. I just wanted to make sure there wasn’t something I’d missed. I couldn’t … I couldn’t forgive myself if I’d let Mom down that way.”