Remember Love (8 page)

Katrina shrugged
and turned to face the front of the church.

"Ladies."
Alec slid in beside her, the pew creaking beneath his weight.

Rachel scowled
and Katrina suppressed a surprising urge to smile. Rachel acted like a mother
bear sometimes, one who couldn’t see further than Alec’s wild teens.

Piano keys started
a soft rhythm, pulling Katrina’s focus to the singers assembling on the altar. Despite
the musical warm-ups, she wasn’t distracted from Alec’s body next to her. The
scent of his cologne, the heat of his arm a hairsbreadth away, dredged up
memories.

"Good
morning," she whispered, then felt a hot blush suffuse her face. What a
silly greeting, considering the pain between them.

"Morning, Katrina."
His elbow nudged her as he set a Bible between them. A twinge barbed through
her chest. This was too hard, being close to him. Hearing his steady breaths,
feeling his warmth so near, knowing they could never recapture what they’d once
had.

Because of her.

She glanced down
at his Bible. "Is that yours?"

"Yep."
His eyes crinkled, as if he knew she was remembering the wild heathen he’d
been.

She straightened
and looked away. When everyone stood for the worship song she sighed with
relief. At least any kind of conversation could be postponed until after the
service.

*****

Alec had
difficulty concentrating during the service, although periodically he caught
the words forgive and bitterness laced throughout Joseph O’Reilly’s message.
The former schoolmate had apparently stopped partying and started praying. It
had given Alec a jolt seeing Joe preaching on the altar.

But now his mind
and senses were deluged by the woman sitting next to him. This was how it
should’ve been for the last ten years. Her by his side, her curls brushing his
shoulders, her gentle eyes soothing the rough places of his soul.

His jaw clenched.
He’d forgotten the sight of her, the fragrance of her hair. He should’ve forced
an explanation from her on their wedding day. Instead, like a fool, he’d
followed her to vent his wounded pride, his rage, and then he’d peeled out of
the parking lot on his motorcycle. Months later, when he’d felt like he’d
punished her long enough by ignoring her phone calls and e-mails, he’d almost
contacted her, but then his uncle had offered him a job with amazing benefits. The
opportunity to earn wealth beckoned, and Alec made his choice.

He’d refused to
look back.

All of yesterday
he watched home movies, read the notes, studied the colorful pictures, trying
to understand how he hadn’t felt his son’s existence. To understand why the God
he’d just begun to trust would allow his son to die. 

Joey changed
everything. After ten years, he hadn’t expected the connection he still felt
with Kitty. He glanced at her soft profile. Despite the cutting sting of her
betrayal, some long-neglected part of him wanted the sweetheart of his youth
back.  

With a start,
Alec realized the pastor was closing the sermon with prayer. He bowed his head
and closed his eyes.

"Lord, we
thank you for those here today. Let their lives be changed by your love and, as
they leave, I ask that you would teach them to forgive and to love their
enemies. May you keep bitterness far from their hearts. We praise you and thank
you for all of your blessings. In Jesus’ name, amen." Pastor Joe concluded
and then the sanctuary buzzed with conversation as people filed out. Alec
stepped quickly out of the pew.

Katrina and
Rachel slipped by him and he followed them to the doors. Rachel hugged Katrina
before shooting him a venomous glance and running out into the rain-soaked parking
lot.

"Alec
Munroe." The pastor greeted him at the door.

"Party Joe."
Alec shook his hand, unable to stop the grin forming on his lips.

"Not
anymore." Joe shook his blonde head. "Gave that up right about after
you left. Are you staying around for a bit?"

Alec’s gaze
shifted to Katrina, who stood deep in conversation with an older woman. He
turned back to his former classmate. "I’m hoping to."

Joe nodded toward
Katrina. "She’s been through a lot since you left."

"I’ve heard."

"She’s
fragile."

"I’ll see
you later, Joe."

Joe got the hint
and smiled. "I hope to see you in here again."

Alec just nodded
and walked over to Katrina. She might have gentle eyes and Christian virtues,
but he wouldn’t put it past her to conveniently forget they were going to the graveyard
today.

She turned into
him as he walked up. He caught her shoulders, the subdued fabric of her dress
silk beneath his fingers. She shrugged away from him, expression sober.

His hands dropped
to his sides. "Are you ready to go to the graveyard?"

Her eyes widened,
her mouth formed a pretty pink O.

"Did you
forget?"

"I guess we
can go in the rain." Her tone was reluctant.

"That’s what
umbrellas are for." His jaw clenched at her tone. She’d take him or he’d
go himself. Either way, he’d go. It just seemed easier for her to show him
where the grave was, instead of him stumbling around headstones searching for
his missing son.

Alone.

"My umbrella
is at home." She sent a worried glance outside. The light drizzle was
getting heavier as they spoke, pounding against the roof and drowning out the
sound of chattering parishioners.

"Let’s go
then." He held her gaze.  "I’ll meet you at your house."

CHAPTER
EIGHT

"I’m going
to the graveyard." Katrina looked up at Sharon from the floor of the hall closet.
"Has Steve been back?"

"No."
Sharon pursed her lips. "He usually works Sunday mornings."

Katrina paused in
her rummaging. "He attacked you with a knife. I’m sure the police must’ve
picked him up by now. We need to get you somewhere safe." She squinted
into the corners of the closet. "Where’s my umbrella?"

"You keep it
in the garage."

"I do? How
do you know?"

"You had me
write down where you moved it, remember?"

"Uh, not
really." Katrina frowned at the closet floor. Was she really that
forgetful? Disorganized?

The door leading
to the garage slammed open, rattling a few cans on the closet shelves, and
Katrina jumped.

"Let’s go."

She looked up
from her position to see Alec towering over her. Her breath caught. He’d
exchanged his suit coat for a leather jacket. Rainwater plastered his hair to
his face. His lips were drawn in a tight frown. Was he nervous too? Or just
angry?

She cleared her
throat and stood, brushing the wrinkles from the front of her dress. "I
have to find the umbrella."

"Hi, Sharon."
Alec’s frown shifted into a small smile as he glanced to where Sharon stood
near the sink. "Those your kids in the front yard?"

"All three
of them." Her lips curved in that hesitant way she had of smiling.

Alec stepped
forward. "Who gave you the shiner?"

Sharon flinched.
Before she could utter a lie, Katrina snatched her keys off the counter. "Steve
did it. Are you ready to go?"

But Alec didn’t
even look at her. "Steve being your boyfriend?"

"Let’s go,"
Katrina said. Why couldn’t he leave the situation alone? If he was anything
like the boy she’d known, he’d bulldog Sharon into an admission.

"Steve’s my
husband." Sharon cowered, looking so ashamed that Katrina had to fight the
impulse to grab Alec by the scruff of the neck and drag him out of the kitchen.

They didn’t need
him to get involved with this. And he would. Injustice, abuse, those things had
inflamed him in the past. But what if someone got hurt? What if he bailed when
things got tough?

No, they didn’t
need Mr. Motorcycle-riding Businessman to take over.

"Alec, let’s
go." She grimaced at Sharon, facially apologizing.

Alec ignored her.
"Are you planning on leaving him?"

Sharon shot
Katrina a wide-eyed glance, as if unsure of the answer. It made Katrina want to
scream with frustration. Instead, she went around Alec and pulled Sharon to her
in a gentle hug.

"We’re
working on it." They’d talked about it yesterday evening. Though Steve
hadn’t returned since Tuesday night, Katrina had no doubt he’d be back once he
made bail. Assuming the police had picked him up. They hadn’t called. She
frowned as the realization hit her.

Steve could still
be out there somewhere. The only way she could think of to protect Sharon was
to get her out of town for a bit. But that held complications because of the
kids.

Alec’s expression
darkened just as a rumble of thunder shook the house. Before he could speak,
Sharon’s kids tumbled in from outside, t-shirts soaked and mud hanging from the
legs of their jeans.

"Aunt Kitty!
We saw a lightning bolt shoot right out of the sky, right into a big tree on
the road. It was huge, gigantic!" Paul’s four-year old face beamed and
Katrina pulled him into a hug, mindless of the wetness seeping into her dress.

"Sounds
exciting." She smiled down at him, loving the way his face burrowed
against her leg. "Why don’t y’all clean up in the bathroom real quick and
then I’ll make you some hot chocolate."

"Sorry
Katrina." Sharon ushered the kids down the hall. "C’mon guys."

Katrina looked
through the door that opened to the garage and watched the rain pelt the grass.
She closed the door. "I guess we’ll have to go later." She tried to
hide the relief because she didn’t want to hurt Alec, but going to see Joey’s
gravesite with him was too painful.

Alec eyed her
from where he stood between the kitchen and the living room. His toes rested on
linoleum, his heels on carpet. "You couldn’t share him in life and now you’re
hoarding him in death."

Shocked, she felt
rooted to the floor, a sapling beneath a hurricane.

Was it true?

No
. She couldn’t
be that kind of person.

A harsh noise
erupted from him and he spun around, his lean back stiff as he stalked into the
living room.

At first she
couldn’t follow. She hadn’t meant for things to turn out this way. Hadn’t meant
to keep Joey to herself. But she had. This was her garden, the fruit she’d
planted, the weeds she’d watered. She pressed her fingers against her eyes to
ease the pressure building behind them.

Too much. Oh God,
why? To blame Him for her decisions would be so simple. So wrong. Sucking in a
sob, she pushed her emotions deep and took a moment to compose her features.
When she thought she could handle facing Alec, she went into the living room.

He was examining
the pictures on her walls again, pausing every now and then to study a family
photo. At her entrance he lowered himself to the couch. He’d grown since high
school. Now he took up an entire cushion of a two-cushion couch, legs spread,
elbows on his knees, eyes dark. His hair curled a tad around his ears as it
air-dried.

He looked every
inch the rebellious heartbreaker he’d been in high school, down to his scowl
and leather jacket.

She settled in
the recliner, fingers fiddling with her church dress. "Since we’re not—"

Her throat dried
at the way his gaze narrowed on her face, hot, scornful. Trying to swallow, she
took a steadying breath. Better to stay off the subject of the graveyard. "Is
there something you wanted to discuss?"

"I’ve been
thinking about Kat’s Korner."

"I’m not
selling."

His brow arched. "No
kidding. I wouldn’t buy a store in the shape yours is in anyway."

Jerk. If only she
could call him that, but he was right. Kat’s Korner was on a downward spiral
and there wasn’t much she could do about it. Except one thing.

She’d been
thinking over Alec’s business skills for the last few days. Maybe she could cut
a deal with him, if he’d even be interested in working with her. She eyed him,
knowing he studied her in the same way. Working together could change
everything. The thought crept through her on bony fingers and she shivered.

He watched her,
mouth set in a grim line as though he debated his next words. She would speak
first. Take action for once in her life.

Deep breath. Be
brave and say what you think. "Alec, I . . ."

Cocking his head
to the side, he waited.

A rush of
thankfulness made her almost dizzy. "You have so many business skills, I
was wondering if you might like to make a deal."

His fingers
steepled and his elbows settled more firmly on his knees. "I’ve been
thinking the same thing."

Heartbeat
tripling, pounding hard beats against her chest, she forced an even breath.

"And?"

"Why don’t
you tell me your thoughts?" Alec leaned back on her couch and stretched
his legs out. In that moment, despite the hair in need of a trim and the worn leather
jacket, he sounded how she’d imagined a businessman would: smooth, savvy, in
control.

And she was
completely unprepared. Her hands fisted in her lap. "Maybe I could hire
you to give me some advice?"

That sounded so
lame.

"Hire me?
With what money?"

She cringed.

He leaned
forward, his thoughts hidden behind intent features. "Have you paid your
rent?"

"Yes."

"Ever been
late?"

"That’s not—"

"If you
have, there’s a good chance the building’s owner doesn’t have to renew your
lease."

"But I’ve
been there for years." An itch burrowed at her throat. She clutched her
neck.

Alec’s brow creased
and a strange play of emotions crossed his face. If she didn’t know better,
she’d think he looked torn with indecision. Not Alec though. No, he probably
had some kind of plan.

The thought eased
the scratch inside and she moved her hand away from her neck. "Will you
help me, even if there’s a chance the owner doesn’t renew?"

"That’s a
lot to ask."

"I know."
Because her lips trembled, because she couldn’t stand the shame of having to
beg, she looked down. Anything to save her store. If she had to get down on her
knees, she would.

"I’ll buy
half of the ownership of Kat’s Korner from you." His resolute tone lifted
her head. "I’ll take over the book-keeping and advertising. Who does the
accounting now?"

"I do."
This partnership might change her whole life.   

"No wonder
you’re sinking." His arms crossed. "You need a professional. Why
would you even attempt to balance the books? Have you paid your taxes?"

She bristled. "You
act as if I don’t know anything. My accounts are in perfect condition."

Alec snorted.

"Fine."
Katrina tamped down her frustration at his cocky attitude. He was the expert
here, she was desperate and that was the only reason he’d get to touch her
books. "You can partner in with me but you’re only getting twenty-five
percent of the business. And I make all the major decisions."

"Good."
His quick acceptance took her aback. It didn’t smack of the business shark
she’d heard of throughout the years. "We’ll go over a contract later.
Let’s talk about Sharon." He leaned forward and his relaxed posture
slipped away, replaced by an astute concentration. "You rescued her."

Katrina squirmed
at the admiration in his words. "No, not really."

"When I saw
you the other day, that’s what you were doing."

"She just
needs a place to stay. For now."

"You didn’t
used to be so generous."

Shame, insidious
creature, tried to make her blush. "I’m different now."

"I see."
He leaned back and threw his arms behind his head.

Did he believe
her? She couldn’t tell.

"What are we
going to do about Sharon?"

"We?"
She raised her brow at him.

"You don’t
have the funds to take care of her."

A soft scuff
against the carpet took their attention. Sharon inched into the living room. "I
hope you don’t mind, Katrina, but I put the kids in your room to watch a movie."

"That’s
fine." She glanced away. Had Sharon heard Alec’s last words?

 "Sit down."
Alec patted the space beside him and Sharon shuffled over, keeping her black
eye turned away from him. She sat near him and his face was soft when he looked
at her. Envy, ugly and unexpected, turned the taste of Katrina’s mouth sour.
She looked down at her hands until the illogical feeling passed.

"Something
needs to be done about your husband, Sharon."

"I know."
Sharon peeked at Katrina beneath lowered lids.

Katrina frowned. "I
didn’t tell him anything else."

"Sharon."
Alec’s baritone sounded like a gentle croon. Sharon looked at him, her face
twisted, scared. "We want to help you, but you need to admit your desire
for help."

Katrina stiffened
at his words. Pushing things already. She glared at him, until she saw Sharon’s
lower lip quiver.

"I need help,"
she said, voice shaking so badly Katrina could barely make out her words. "I
married an abusive man and in my foolishness, I stayed with him. My kids have
suffered for it."

Katrina’s eyelids
stung.

Sharon took a
visible breath. "I need to find a place to stay where I won’t be putting
my friends in danger. He came the other night and if Katrina hadn’t called the
police I’m not sure what would’ve happened." She glanced to where her
hands twisted in her lap. "I’m weak where he’s concerned." 

Katrina swallowed
the lump in her throat, humbled by Sharon’s vulnerable admission. Sharon had a
lot on her plate. Her worries about Kat’s Korner paled in comparison to
Sharon’s problems.

So what if she
had to share the store for awhile? At least she didn’t have to fear for her
life. At least she had the comfort of financial income, however measly it
seemed at times.

She stole a look
at Alec and melted against the chair. Compassion had relaxed his mouth, put
warmth into his granite features. Despite the creases by his eyes, he almost
looked like the boy she used to love.

A quick movement
and he cupped Sharon’s hands within his. "I know this is sudden, but I
have an empty place in New York I’ve been trying to rent."

*****

"You don’t
belong here."

Alec turned at
the confident voice. "In church or in town?" He’d returned this
afternoon from getting Sharon and her family settled in New York. After
checking into his hotel, he followed an odd impulse to come to Wednesday
evening service at Katrina’s church.

"You know
what I mean." Rachel stood before him, a red-headed rock blocking the flow
of traffic down the church hallway. "In Katrina’s life."

"Maybe you
should move." He gestured towards the people weaving around her, then
turned back to the nursery window, effectively giving her his back.

She didn’t like
that. In a swift move, she cut to his side. "I know you’re up to
something, and I always find my answers."

"It’s
admirable you want to protect your friend, Rachel."

A suspicious
quirk twisted her eyes into a squint. "Are you trying to disarm me with
some kind of business psychoanalysis?"

He chuckled
because the idea that he’d even care about her plans was ridiculous.

"You laugh
now but—" Her face paled. "Are you watching Katrina?"

Nosy. "You
haven’t changed."