Rachel made a little squeak of alarm from the floor near Aidan. Her eyes were as round as plums.
What? Aidan asked.
I, uh… Her eyes flashed up to Kat. I'm just so glad my parents aren't here for this.
Loretta continued to howl. Riley said, Will somebody find out what's wrong with that damn dog?
It's probably just a squirrel, Matt said.
So you're my grandfather! Aidan looked across the room at Cliff and his face broke out into a huge grin.
Oh my God, Kat said. You're right. She looked to Cliff. Phyllis left me all that money because I really was her niece, didn't she?
Cliff's face softened. Sunshine, she left it to you because she loved you and Aidan more than anything in the world.
This is all good news, Nola said, perking up. Think about ityou don't have to go through any of the hassle of changing your name back to Cavanaugh or anything, because you really are a Turner.
Kat laughed in astonishment. I need a drink.
And you don't ever have to worry about Virgil again, 'cause he's nothing to you, Matt pointed out.
Kat stared at the fire, knowing there was something that gnawed at her.
It was Phyllis. Even Phyllis lied to me, she mumbled, incredulous. Then she spoke up, looking around the room. No wonder I went through most of my life unable to tell truth from lie. No wonder I could lie to myself so well that I could actually forget big hunks of my life! I come from a dynasty of bullshit! She looked at everyone in the room, then shouted, When I showed up here last month, I wouldn't have known the truth if it bit me in the ass!
That's pretty much what it did, hon, Nola said.
Barbara got up and gathered the grandkids. Now's a good time to have some pie, she said, practically dragging them out of the room.
I'll take a piece of the pecan while you're out there, Matt said. No whipped cream.
I hope you can find a place in your heart to forgive me someday, Kat.
Cliff's face was red and wet from tears. Try to forgive your mother and Phyllis, too. We just wanted the best for you and Aidan.
Riley squeezed Kat's hand to get her attention. Kat had almost forgotten he'd been right next to her. She looked up into his face and he gave her a private smile. Then he kissed her.
You know, Virgil knows I'm your father, Cliff added. We met once, before you were born. He told me if I ever showed my face around Persuasion again, he'd kill me where I stood.
Loretta's howls continued from the backyard.
What is /wrong/ with that dog? Riley asked.
There was a pounding at the front door.
I'll get it, said a woman who stepped out from behind the foyer archway.
Kat had no idea who she was.
Is that woman your aunt Rita? I'm totally lost, Jeff said.
No, Matt said, shaking his head and laughing. That right there would be Joanna Loveless, from the newspaper. /Joanna Loveless?/ Kat didn't know Joanna Loveless was there. She jumped to her feet in horror. How long had the newspaperwoman been standing by the door? Had she heard the whole sordid tale of Kat's existence? Had she even bothered to /knock/, for God's sake?
Kat didn't have time to explore those questions, because as soon as Joanna opened the front door, Virgil staggered in, supported by Carrie Mathis.
Look, before you say anything, I just want everyone to know that I am not intentionally in violation of my restraining order. Carrie glanced frantically around the room. Riley, help me get him to the couch. Matt, call EMS. You… Carrie blinked as she looked at Aidan. Oh my God!
Wow. You've got to be Aidanget some blankets.
Nobody fucking move! With a wild swing of his arms, Virgil clipped Carrie in the face with an elbow. She fell with a thud. In his left hand he held a gun, and though he swayed unsteadily, he aimed it right at Kat.
Everything's your fault, he said to her, and began to pull the trigger.
All that flashed through Kat's mind was, /I can't die. My life just started/.
Madeline knew it was a brazen thing to do, but she'd decided to walk on over there with this chocolate-cranberry torte, like a good neighbor, and wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. She dressed up her old metal tart pan with a bit of clear plastic wrap and a festive red bow.
Yes, she'd see Matt and Nola together, but truly, Madeline was exhausted from all the petty jealousy. That stupid catfight with Carrie in the kitchen had been a new low. Madeline was disgusted with herself, with both of them. It pained her to admit it, but Carrie was rightit was time to grow up and move on. Life was too short to spend it meddling in other people's affairs.
Besides, Madeline wanted to see how Joanna Loveless was coming along with her article.
Madeline walked briskly up the sidewalk, pausing only to give a quizzical glance at what was obviously Carrie's Volvo parked at the curb. Where had she gone? Madeline wondered if, after she'd kicked Carrie out of the buffet line, the poor woman had gone door-to-door through Persuasion, begging for a cup of green bean casserole. Madeline sighed, promising herself that if she ran into Carrie, she'd invite her back to Cherry Hill. There was plenty to go around.
Madeline headed up the walk. Oddly enough, the front door to Kat's house gaped wide open, so Madeline poked her head in and gave a polite holler to announce her arrival.
It was then she noticed a room full of people cringing in terror, Carrie's body sprawled out on the welcome mat, and an unsteady Virgil Cavanaugh, who that second whipped around in Madeline's direction. The wild insanity in his eyes and the gun in his hand was further proof that she'd come at a bad time.
Madeline screamed. She raised the tart pan in front of her face and winced. Virgil fired the gun. The tart pan bent from the zing of the bullet and clattered to the floor. So did Virgil Cavanaugh, who was then tackled by what looked like an entire football team's worth of men.
Matt Bohland topped the heap, using his cell phone to call for an ambulance and report a twenty-seven-eight in progress, whatever that was. Joanna Loveless fainted, and her spiral notebook slid across the foyer floor.
Thank you, Madeline. For everything.
Finally, after about six hours, Kat had stopped trembling. The cup of herbal tea Madeline just placed in Kat's hands already had begun to cut through the chill in her bones. Loretta lay snoring at her feet. I appreciate you opening up your home like this.
It's nothing. Half the group was staying here anyway, and you couldn't exactly relax in a living room roped off with police tape.
That was true. In fact, she didn't know when she'd be able to relax in that house, if ever.
Madeline once again disappeared into the kitchen, but the B and B buzzed with activity. The parlor and library swarmed with police of every jurisdiction, plus the county medical examiner, reporters from as far away as Morgantown and Charleston, evidence technicians, and a host of Persuasionites who had no reason whatsoever to be there except to share in the excitement and eat Madeline's leftovers.
Rita sat across the room, huddled with the funeral director. Kat had overheard Rita tell him how she wanted Virgil's remains cremated once the body was released after autopsy. Rita added that there was no need to select a style of funerary urn, because no one would be taking the ashes.
That's an unusual twist, the mortician said.
He was an unusually twisted man, Rita replied.
Virgil had died of a gunshot wound. The bullet from his own gun had apparently ricocheted off Madeline's baking dish and hit him right between the eyes, killing him instantly.
Everyone else who'd been in Kat's house was well and accounted for.
Carrie was fine. She was in the library at that very moment flirting with a TV reporter. Poor Joanna Loveless had been admitted to Davis Memorial for observation but was listed in good condition. The girls had been sleeping for hours, but Cliff and Barbara had only moments ago gone upstairs for the night. Cliff was a good man, simple and direct. He told Kat he'd understand completely if she hated him. With a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek, she assured him she didn't.