Ties That Bind (30 page)

“Of course I’d come to get you. I’m your mother and no matter what you think, I love you more than anything else in this world.”

The thought comforted Sofie. Her mother was here. She’d help her dad and the boys. They could get through this. So she stood, but before she got her suitcase, she hugged her mother. “Thanks, Mama.”

o0o

AT ONE O’CLOCK, Reese was mindlessly putting out lunch fixings that a neighbor had brought to his father’s house when he heard the front door open. Sofie’s voice sounded, higher pitched than Kate’s. He bit his lip and prayed for the strength not to break down in front of his little girl. She’d need help through all this. He’d just put down the salad when they both appeared in the entryway.

“Oh, Daddy,” Sofie said rushing to him. “It’s so awful.”

He held her tight as she clung to him. “I know, princess. I know.”

She surprised him by drawing back. “Are you all right? How can I help?”

Over her head he saw Kate smile sadly. Their child had her mother’s grit. “Just you being here helps.” He caressed her cheek. “And you can be with Jimmy and Jason.”

“Oh, Daddy. What’s going to happen to them? Their father’s dead, too.”

Reese grinned. This was the old Sofie, who cared deeply about people and showed it. “They’re coming to live with us.”

“Us? You and Dray?”

“I meant you and me. Honey, your mom and I will take good care of the boys.”

“How can you? You’re not married anymore.”

Kate came up to them and touched Sofie’s arm. “Sweetie, Dad’s exhausted. And I’m starved. Can we table this now? Just know that we’re all going to take care of Jimmy and Jason as best we can.”

“Oh. Oh! That’s great. I always wanted a brother.”

Kate swallowed hard and averted her gaze. Reese squeezed her shoulder, silently telling her to leave the past in the past. Then he walked to the hallway and called out, “Hey, guys, lunch is ready.”

Noise sounded on the steps as Jimmy and Jason trundled down.

Reese said, “I got a surprise for you. A good one.”

“Sofie!” they called out simultaneously when they raced to the kitchen.

Sofie bent down so she could hold on to both boys.

Together, the three of them cried. Reese went to stand by Kate, and put his arm around her, tugging her close. She leaned into him.

The back door opening made everybody draw back. Sofie stood and saw her grandfather, who never looked as old or vulnerable as he did today. Reese thought about how he’d feel if he lost Sofie and emotion for his father clogged his throat.

Sofie flung herself at her grandpa. “Oh, Papa. I’m so sorry.”

Bill Bishop cried again, this time in his granddaughter’s arms. Jimmy and Jason looked on solemnly.

Once the moment passed, they all made their way to the table for lunch. Though somber, they felt the comfort of having family around. Kate and Reese volunteered to clean up while Sofie and Bill took the boys to a nearby park for some fresh air.

“She seems okay,” Reese said as soon as they were alone.

“She’s got her dad’s heart. It’s nice to see again.”

Leaning against the counter, he grunted. He was wearing blue jeans and a golf shirt, but he was pale, and his eyes were grim.

“How did it go this morning?” she asked.

“It was horrific.”

She touched his arm.

“We picked out a pretty…” He couldn’t finish. Memory of the oak casket with blue lining, Emily’s favorite color, ambushed him.

Kate reached up and put her arms around his neck.

He held on, shocked at his sudden weakness. Shocked at the strength this woman gave him. When he was composed, he pulled back. “I thought I was better. I’m still a wreck.”

“It will come and go. Just accept it.”

He nodded, but grasped on to her arm when she tried to pull away. “Kate? Last night? It meant a lot to me. And it’s helping me through all this.”

“I’m so glad.”

He cocked his head. “That wasn’t just why you did it, was it?”

“No.”

“Good.” He turned and began loading the dishwasher.

“What’s the time line, Reese?” she asked as she arranged glasses on the top shelf.

“Just what we thought. The calling hours won’t be until Saturday. And Catholics won’t bury on Sunday. So the funeral will be Monday.”

She put soap in the compartment while he washed some pans in the sink. “Are you going to call Dray?”

“I hadn’t thought about it.” He stilled. “I know I treated her badly when I left.”

“She should understand.”

“Did Sloan?”

“Truthfully?”

“I think we’re past anything else.”

“He was really angry I wasn’t coming to Cancun.”

“He should understand, too.”

“I know.”

When they finished cleaning up, Reese took Kate’s hands in his. Leaning over, he kissed her gently, possessively, as if he had a right to. A knock startled them. The kitchen door had a glass window at the top. They looked through it and saw Jillian Jenkins on the other side.

o0o

KATE BARELY MADE it to the car before she burst into tears. Ostensibly going out for coffee, Jillian had taken one look at Kate and made excuses to get her away for a respite as soon as Bill and the kids returned.

She wept in Jill’s arms. “You didn’t come down here for me to cry all over you.”

“That’s exactly why I came down. I know you. You’ll be strong for everybody else and nobody will take care of you.” She held on to Kate, and smoothed down her hair. “Like you did when I had cancer.”

“Oh, Jill, it’s so awful.” More sobs.

“Of course it is.”

After a few moments, Kate calmed, and felt a lot better. She sat back and leaned against the seat. “What a nightmare this has been.”

“Tell me.”

Kate filled her in on the call from Pa, the terrible drive to North Falls, the tense exchanges with Tyler and Dray. “About the only good thing that happened was Sofie rising to the occasion. She’s really put all her rebellion aside to help her dad.”

Jill drove the car down the quaint street, heading for a coffee shop. “The only good thing?”

A pause. “You saw Reese and me together.”

“Looked pretty chummy to me.”

“We made love last night.”

“Wow!”

“It wasn’t just a mercy fuck, either.”

Jill chuckled. “I don’t imagine it was. How are you feeling about it?”

“It was like coming home, Jill. I know that sounds like a cliché, but it was…spiritual almost. Like we’d broken a sacred bond and for a little while, we were able to mend it.”

“You did break a sacred bond, honey. Vows you made in marriage.”

“I guess.”

“You don’t seem too upset.”

“How can I when being with him was so wonderful?”

Jill didn’t respond.

“I know I’ve done an awful thing to Tyler, something I said I’d never do. But it’s hard to see it that way since I feel like I made love with my husband.”

“And being with Tyler was always a little like cheating on Reese?”

“Oh, hell. That’s pretty complicated.”

“Nothing about your relationship with Reese Bishop has ever been simple.”

“I know. I feel so bad for him, Jill.”

“What’s going to happen with Dray and Tyler?”

“I have no idea. And I decided this morning that I’ll deal with that after Monday.”

“Sounds sane. What can I do?”

“Nothing more. You coming here today was a godsend.”

“I’m glad. I’ll be down for the funeral. And I’ll take Sofie back to school when it’s all over, if you want.”

“Maybe. Let’s see what happens.”

“One last thing? What are you going to do if Tyler and Dray come to the funeral?”

“Tyler’s in Cancun. Dray’s in New York. They won’t come.”

“Ah, well, just in case. Prepare yourself.”

Kate blew out a heavy breath. She’d given no thought to that occurring at all.

“I HOPE WE’RE doing the right thing.” Dray glanced across the front seat of Tyler’s Blazer as he drove down Interstate 90. Commiserating with her, worrying with her, was wearing thin on both of them.

“We are.” He shook his head in disgust, squelching his resentment, in light of the tragedy that had happened in the Bishop family. Still some remnants remained—he and Kaitlyn should have been walking the hot beaches of Cancun now. “I feel bad about how I reacted when Kaitlyn told me she was in North Falls with Reese the night Emily died. I was a jerk about it.” He tugged on the striped tie he wore with a navy blazer and tan slacks. “I gave her ultimatums.”

Dray squeezed his arm. “I’m sorry. If it’s any consolation, I reacted badly, too. I cried like a freakin’ baby, while Kate was stalwart and strong.” She shook her head. “She always outshines me, no matter what the circumstances.”

“No, it isn’t any consolation at all. You’re usually so unselfish. This whole thing with Reese and Kaitlyn has made us both so fragile. And needy.”

Leaning back into the leather seat, she smiled sadly. “Funny, I don’t picture you as fragile. You’re so successful, so sure of yourself.”

“Not always.” He drove for a bit then asked, “You talked to Reese after he left, right?”

“Uh-huh. He called me a couple of times—and told me not to come until today, to stay with my family for the post-wedding celebrations.”

“And that hurt?”

“Of course it did. I could have flown down early Sunday morning. He didn’t want me there, but I’m sure he won’t let Kate out of his sight.” She swore. “Oh, shit, Tyler. I hate being like this. Emily’s death isn’t about me. I know that. I feel so stupidly selfish.”

Glancing in the rearview mirror, Tyler signaled and pulled into the outer lane. “When faced with losing someone you love, Dray, people tend to act selfishly. I do, too.”

“Not their daughter, for change. Reese said Sofie’s being a doll.” She waited a beat. “That makes all this worse, doesn’t it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Their whole family is reunited.”

“I guess.” When she said no more, he decided to change the subject. “Speaking of family, how was the wedding?”

“It was terrific seeing Phoebe and Lacey made a beautiful bride. Phoebe was fascinated by what I told her about your work.”

“That’s nice.”

“The service and reception were lovely.”

“But…”

“All I could think about was would I ever have a wedding with Reese.”

“It’s not out of the question.” Briefly he glanced at her. “I’m not ready to give up on Kaitlyn. She’ll be back in Westwood soon. The Bingham thing has to end—they found the journal, did you know that?”

“What journal?”

“Anna Bingham kept a journal in prison. The warden called Reese on Wednesday. He and Kate were heading to Longshore when they got the news.”

“No, I didn’t know any of that.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Just another piece of evidence, Tyler. We’re not getting them back.”

“Yes, we are.”

Tyler’s statement echoed in his mind as he pulled into the parking lot of St. Mary’s Catholic Church a half hour later. His resolve was mostly for Dray’s sake, as every conversation he’d had with Kaitlyn since the initial one when she’d called him in Cancun, had been stilted. It might have been from grief, but she sounded so distant. He wondered if that’s how she got when something really bad happened. Or if she was removed only from him out of anger. Was she was confiding in Reese?

“Ready?” he asked as he shut off the engine and opened his door.

“Yes.” Dray soothed down the black suit she wore. “Thanks for listening to me, Tyler, and driving today.”

“You’re welcome.”

The church was long and high-ceiled, though well lit. Emily’s casket had already been brought in, and occupied the space just where the pews ended and before the altar began. The church was nearly full and they were early; but Tyler could see down the aisle clearly.

The tableau halted his steps and dented his confidence. Lined up in the front pew was Emily’s family. Bill Bishop sat in the middle, Jason and Jimmy flanking him. Then Sofie and Reese off to the left. Kaitlyn was on the other end. Organ music played softly in the background.

“Where should we sit?” Dray asked.

“I’m going to let Kaitlyn know I’m here. You do the same with Reese. Take your cue from him.”

“I don’t want to intrude.”

“You live with Reese, Dray.”

She shook back her hair. “You’re right.” She headed down the middle aisle and he strode down the one on the right side.

When he reached the family pew, he saw that all of them were holding hands. Sofie was crying softly on Reese’s shoulder. Kaitlyn had Jimmy’s hand in both of hers. When she looked up at Tyler, he saw that her face was haggard. Surprise showed in her expression. “Oh.”

From the corner of his eye, he saw Reese startle, too. Then he stood and hugged Dray.

As Tyler inched into the pew, Kaitlyn stood. “Ty, hi. I didn’t expect you.” A great big hug. He felt her tremble. Though her words made him angry—she didn’t expect him to come—he held her close and said only, “I’m so sorry, honey.”

She hung on tight as if she needed his strength. “I know you said you’d come. I’m glad you did.”

He saw Jimmy tug on the jacket of her navy suit. “Aunt Kate? I need you.”

“Go ahead.” Tyler told her. “I just wanted you to know I was here.”

“Sit with us.” She indicated an empty seat in the pew. “Here.”

He smiled and dropped down next to her. He noticed Dray had also been invited to join the family. Maybe this was a good idea after all, he thought, taking Kaitlyn’s other hand. Reese took Dray’s, too.

But Tyler’s confidence wavered when he saw Reese stare down the pew, and Kaitlyn look over at him. A lot transpired in that silent exchange.

o0o

“AMAZING GRACE…”

The mournful hymn filled the church. Standing, gripping Sofie’s hand, Reese choked on the words. He focused on the casket where his little sister lay.

The smell of incense…

The instrument clanked as the altar boy released the holy scent into the church.

The flickering of candles…

“Emily Bishop Gates was a lovely woman. A member of our church…”

The priest’s low voice rumbled through the pews as he praised the life Emily had led. As Reese let himself absorb the eulogy, tears fell unchecked, and the constriction in his heart tightened. He closed his eyes to contain the reactions, to be able to breathe. But images of Emily had been haunting him through the brutal calling hours, the prayers before the funeral, and now the final good-bye. He pictured his sister laughing with her boys last summer when she and the kids ganged up on him with water balloons…How she sat up with Reese the last time she visited, and they watched horror movies until the early hours…How she’d taken up ice skating in the winter and was getting pretty good at it.