Untangle My Heart (Tangled Hearts) (6 page)

“I know what you’re feeling, but at least you’ll get to see them.”

Nick reached for her hand. “I know you understand even though this is different than what you went through.”

Kate squeezed his fingers. “It’s still emotional and frustrating. It’s going to hurt for a while and you can’t do anything to avoid that. I’m here to talk if you need to. Okay?”

Nick nodded.

“How are they handling the divorce?”

“They seem to be fine.”

“And you?”

Nick got up and poured a glass of water. After drinking about half of it he turned to Kate. “I’m managing.”

Kate narrowed her eyes. “You’re full of shit. You look tired and have bags under your eyes to prove it.”

“I’ve been putting in a lot of hours at the station. I’m trying to make detective.”

Kate’s eyes lit up. “Great. I’m sure you’ll get it. You’re dedicated to your job.”

“Yeah. It only cost me my marriage,” Nick said with a shrug.

Kate crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s bullshit and you know it. You were a good husband and father. It’s not your fault poor taste in spouses runs in the family. Franny didn’t deserve you.”

Nick sat back down and put his feet up on the chair across from him. “Your opinion, runt, and I’d say you’re highly biased in my favor.” He bit into a biscotti. “But thanks. So what’s going on with you and your architect?”

Kate’s shoulders tensed. “He’s not
my
architect.”

“No, huh? So your hot summer fling with him has cooled off even though he’s moved to New York?”

Oh, and what a sizzling fling it had been.

She fidgeted in the chair and didn’t meet her brother’s gaze. “As a matter of fact, yes.”

“Come on, sis, you see him every day. He’s one of your bosses.”

“No shit. Tell me something I don’t already know.”

“I don’t think things are over between you.”

Kate snorted. “Shows you know squat.”

“Yeah, then why are you avoiding looking at me?”

Sometimes it sucked having a cop for a brother. Talking to him could be an interrogation. She’d become good at evading questions, or so she thought. But she could never fool Nick, and he called her on it every freaking time.

She blew out a breath of frustration. “He wants to resume the sexual part of our relationship. I do not.” Well, on odd days she didn’t. The jury was still out on the even days.

“Are you sure about that?”

Damn him for being able to read her so well. “Just because we had a few weeks of great sex doesn’t mean I have to fall over him now that he’s moved here.”
Regardless of the temptation.
“Besides, I don’t want any complications in my life.”

“Oh, give me a break. Aren’t you tired of the same predictable routine?”

Kate pushed aside the restlessness she’d been experiencing the past couple months. She shook her head. “No, I’m not tired of my boring, predictable life.”

“What about a family? Can you really say you don’t want another child?”

Kate snorted. “Having a child involves a man, and I know I can live without a permanent one of those in my life. Besides, with Meghan and Karen both having twins, I’ll have plenty of babies to fill my maternal need.”

“It’s not the same as having your own child.”

A shadow of sadness flickered across Kate’s face. She remembered all too well the feel and smell of a newborn baby.

She closed her eyes and fought to contain the sadness that could easily overwhelm her. “I know.”

“Look, I’m sorry for what you went through. But you don’t need a man to have a kid these days. There’s in vitro and even adoption. Maybe your hot architect will turn out to be a good baby-making candidate.”

“Ha. Edward is
so
not father material. He’s too much of a playboy and focused only on himself. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”

“Then find someone else. Someone who is worthy of you,” Nick said.

A part of her wished things were as simple as her brother made it sound. But, no, she’d learned the hard way and wasn’t about to repeat her mistakes by getting involved with the wrong man. The last thing she needed was to fall for a guy like Edward Weston.

“How about you? Would you consider getting remarried?” Kate asked.

Nick thought about it for a moment. “If the right woman came along, I would.”

“Even knowing the risks and with your divorce not even final yet?”

“I’m not saying I would marry someone the day after the ink on the papers dried, but I won’t close myself off to the possibility. I sure as hell would be more selective, though.”

Kate considered Nick’s words. Contrary to what she’d told him, she did want another child. But she wasn’t ready to deal with the whole relationship thing again.

“Have you started this search for your next wife?”

His lips curved in a cocky smile. “Not specifically for a wife, but I’m not lacking female company.”

Kate was certain women were knocking down his door now that he was separated. Growing up, she’d lost count of how many of her girlfriends wanted sleepovers at her house hoping for a glimpse of Nick in his underwear, or fresh out of the shower clad in only a towel. He’d been handsome as sin back then and was even more so now at thirty-six. And a nice guy to boot. Her future ex-sister-in-law was definitely an idiot for leaving him.

They both turned at the sound of the front door being opened and muffled voices in the living room. Vinnie peeked into the kitchen.

“It’s all clear,” he whispered behind him and pulled his girlfriend, Angela, into the room. “Babe, you remember Nick and Kate, right?”

They exchanged greetings and Vinnie swiped the last two biscotti off the plate, handing one to Angela.

“Ma asleep?” he asked, casting a questioning glance at his siblings.

“She went up a little while ago so the coast should be clear,” Kate said.

Nick got up and stretched. “I’m heading up to bed myself.” He nodded to Kate. “Are you coming, runt?”

“Goodnight, kids,” Kate said and followed Nick out of the room.

Nick doubled back. “I almost forgot, Vin, Ma wanted to know if Angela likes pancakes in the morning because she’s going to make them for breakfast.”

Kate stifled a laugh before pulling a grinning Nick toward the stairs.

****

Kate sat in the pew in St. Christopher’s church and tried to force her mind to focus on Father Dave’s sermon. It wasn’t working.

She kept remembering yesterday afternoon and the awkwardness around Edward. Everything had been fine while they were at the restaurant, but they were both silent on the ride back to her parents’ house. The lack of sleep from the night before had her feeling bitchy, and she hadn’t wanted to start another argument with him.

Although she’d invited him to stay for dinner, he declined, claiming he had plans later that evening. Kate wondered what type of plans he had and with whom. Clenching her hands, she tried to block out images of Edward with another woman. What right did she have to be jealous? None. Besides, maybe it was for the best if he had other distractions.

Following mass, she waited with her mother in the foyer until most of the congregation had left. Father Dave was talking with some parishioners, and her mother was lighting a candle. After a few minutes, the priest approached them.

“Carmen, Kate, thank you both for staying,” Father Dave said.

“We’re glad to be here, Father,” Carmen said.

“Let’s go to my office so we can talk,” he said.

They followed him through a side door that led to the back of the church.

“As you know, we often do various fundraisers to support St. Vincent’s orphanage. This year, in addition to the food drive, we want to have a toy drive and host a Christmas party for the kids.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Carmen said.

“How can we help?” Kate asked.

He paused at outside his office door and gave Kate a gentle smile. “Exactly the question I hoped you’d ask. Come, there are some people I’d like you to meet.”

They followed him into his small but tidy office. Prominently displayed behind his desk was a portrait of Jesus that appeared hand-painted. A stained-glass window cast light onto several small statues of the Blessed Mother surrounded by flowers. The light scent of incense permeated the air, and Kate had to fight to keep from sneezing.

Two adults and a child sat on the couch and rose when they entered the room. The man was tall with dark hair that stuck up in a cowlick in the back, reminding her of an adult Harry Potter. The woman came up to his shoulder and had long light brown hair.

“Carmen, Kate, I’d like you to meet Father Dominic and Sister Theresa from St. Vincent’s Orphanage. Father, Sister, this is Carmen and Kate DiFrancesco.”

They exchanged greetings and shook hands. The child had risen, too, and was hiding behind the sister’s skirt.

“And this little guy is Lucas Black, a resident at St. Vincent’s,” Father Dominic said.

“Come say hello, Lucas,” Sister Theresa encouraged, grasping his arm and easing him alongside her.

“Hello,” he mumbled, keeping his eyes on the ground.

“Hi, Lucas. I’m Kate and this is my mother Carmen. It’s nice to meet you.”

He gave her a timid glance before staring at the floor again and moving closer to Sister Theresa. Kate cringed at the emptiness in his eyes.

“I asked you all here today to discuss the plans for the Christmas Party,” Father Dave said. “As I started to explain, this year we’re going to host a Christmas Party at the orphanage complete with food, a pageant, and presents for the kids.”

“What do you need us to do?” Carmen asked.

“I need someone to coordinate the food drive, the food for the party, decorations, and gifts. Sister Theresa is working on the pageant but probably can use some help with costumes.

“I know it’s asking a lot, Carmen, but I was hoping you could coordinate this with help from a few other members of the parish I’ve recruited.”

“I’d love to, Father. This is a wonderful idea,” Carmen said. “And I’m sure both Kate and Vicky will be able to help.”

“Of course,” Kate said with a glance at Lucas. He had sat back down and was swinging his little legs that hung over the couch but didn’t quite reach the floor.

While her mother started her barrage of questions, Kate slipped over to sit next to the boy. His faded jeans had a hole in one knee, and he wore a Star Wars sweatshirt. His sneakers were scuffed and had seen better days. Kate watched him tense when she sat on the couch, careful not to get too close to him.

“Are those Star Wars characters?” she asked, pointing to the figures of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo.

Lucas nodded and grasped the toys tightly.

His small hands reminded her of another pair of tiny hands she remembered all too well. Her stomach clenched at the memory.

“My brothers used to have figures like that all over the house when I was growing up. My sister and I would hide them in our Barbie house. It used to drive them crazy.” More like pissed them the hell off, she thought, and wondered if any of that stuff was still up in her parents’ attic. Her mother was a notorious pack rat.

Lucas sat staring at the figures and swinging his feet. Kate struggled to find a way to reach out to him.

“What do you think about the Christmas party? Would you like to help us? I’m sure you could give us some good ideas.”

At the question, he raised his head. Large brown eyes gazed up at her from behind a dark fringe of lashes and studied her intently. His hair was light brown and shaggy with long bangs that were badly in need of a trim. She placed him somewhere around five or six, but his eyes appeared much older, as though he’d already seen too much for his age.

“Will Santa be there?” he asked.

“I’m sure he will. Santa loves all little boys and girls,” Kate replied.

“I’m not sure he likes me very much. He didn’t get me everything on my list last year.”

Kate smiled because he reminded her of her nephew who said pretty much the same thing every year.

“Well, Santa can’t give every boy and girl everything they want or he won’t have enough gifts.”

He shrugged and she hoped her answer satisfied him.

“How old are you?”

He sat up straighter. “I’m six. I’ll be seven on my next birthday. But that’s not until May.”

“Mine’s in August.”

“Do you have any kids?”

Her heart lurched whenever she was asked this question. She studied his face, pondering whether to tell him the truth or not. His eyes drew her in and she couldn’t help feel a tiny part of her that she’d closed off to the world open a bit.

“I had a son named Tony. He died when he was two. He would have been your age.”

“I’m sorry he died,” Lucas said. “Did you love him a lot?”

Kate couldn’t help the tears that welled in her eyes. “I loved him very much. I was very sad when he died. I still am.”

Lucas nodded like he could relate to her grief. “My parents and big sister died when I was four. There was a car accident. I wasn’t with them or I probably would have died, too.”

His words lacked emotion, as though he were telling her about characters in a book. Her heart ached for his loss and made her want to wrap her arms around him but figured that would scare him away.

“I’m sorry about your family. I’m sure they loved you very much.”

He didn’t reply and went back to playing with the figures.

She wiped at the tears on her face. “Would you like to be my special helper for the party?”

“What would I have to do?”

“Nothing too hard. Help make decorations and flyers, hand out presents.”

His eyes lit up. “Do you think Santa would let me help give out the presents?”

The anticipation on his face tugged her heart open wider. “I may be able to convince him.”

“Cool.”

She held out her hand. “Come, let’s go see what we can get started on.”

He looked down at her hand and after a moment’s hesitation placed his small one in hers. She’d forgotten the warmth and smoothness of a child’s hand. Giving him a smile, she led him to the table where the others had started the planning.

****

Kate burst into Meghan’s brownstone. Her friend’s new digs must be nice, if the tree-lined street and brick-faced building in Chelsea were any indication. Much more residential than the upscale penthouse Charles had owned near Central Park. This area seemed more suited to raising a family.