“Besides,” Kerry brushed aside the objection, “I’ve had about as much of Kyle’s slimebag presence as I’m willing to take in this lifetime.”
Cynthia remained silent for a moment. “His return was unexpected. Your father did depend on him so. He placed great value on him.”
“I know.” Kerry looked her right in the eye. “More so than on me. I remember that very clearly.”
Cynthia fell silent, visibly biting her lip.
“Excuse me.” Kerry stepped around her and walked towards the foyer. She met up with Angela and Michael as they came out of the library, almost as though they’d been lying in wait for her.
“Hey.”
“What a bitch of a day, huh?” Michael fell in at her side as they walked towards the stairs. “Think tomorrow will be better?”
“I don’t give a damn,” Kerry replied. “We’re out of here in the morning.”
152 Melissa Good
“Oh,” Michael murmured.
Angie put a hand on Kerry’s back as they started up the steps.
“If it’s any consolation to you, the snarky comments got nicer as the night went on. Even Marsha had to grudgingly admit you take grace under pressure to new heights.”
“Fuck them,” Kerry said. “They can all collectively kiss my ass.”
Her siblings maintained a slightly shocked silence for a few steps. “Well,” Michael finally said, “okay. But I bet Dar would start throwing them out the windows if they tried.”
“That might be fun to watch,” Angie said.
Kerry gave them both pointed looks, then she exhaled, her shoulders dropping and losing some of their tension. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay, sis.” Angie put her arm around Kerry’s waist, and Michael did the same from the other side as they walked up the steps together. “Did you know the governor knows Dar’s father?”
No, Kerry hadn’t known that. “Really? Small world, I guess.
Oh, wait. He’s ex-Navy, isn’t he?”
“Yeah,” Mike said. “He said Dar’s father is one of the scariest people he’s ever known.”
“Mm.” Kerry shrugged. “I don’t think so; not now anyway.”
“I like him,” Angie said. “And I like Dar’s mom. She’s so funny.”
“Funny?” Michael snickered. “You didn’t hear her talking to Uncle Edgar. He had no idea who she was. I mean, he knew she was a famous artist, but he had no clue. I guess he didn’t make the connection because she doesn’t look anything like Dar. So he’s going on and on about how horrible everything is, and man, she took him to pieces.” He moved his free arm in a slashing motion.
“Whack...whack…whack. Just ripped him to shreds. It was great.”
He laughed. “She told him having met him only confirmed her theory that you should have a license to enter the gene pool.”
Kerry felt a tired laugh emerging and she allowed it. “She’s really sharp. I know that’s where Dar gets it from, but Dar isn’t wicked like that. Ceci goes right for the jugular in small words she’s sure are going to be very clearly understood.” She smiled briefly. “I’m sorry they decided to go back to the hotel tonight.”
She glanced at the top of the stairs. “Maybe we should have too.”
“Hey,” Angie gave her a squeeze, “I know it sucks, Ker, but don’t begrudge us the few minutes we’ve spent with you, okay?
We do miss you, regardless of what the rest of these jerks say.”
They were at the top of the stairs. Kerry stopped and regarded them both, then she pulled them into a hug. “I miss you guys, too. I’ve hated losing that part of my life.” She swallowed back tears.
Thicker Than Water 153
They stood blocking the landing in a clump for a long moment, then they all released each other and exchanged glances.
Angie pursed her lips and put a hand on Kerry’s cheek. “Get some rest, sis.”
“Thanks. You too.” Kerry managed a smile, then walked away.
THE RINGING OF the cell phone made her jump. Dar turned from where she’d been standing at the window watching the odd snow fall and went to the side table. She picked up the phone, opened it, and checked the caller id before she put it to her ear.
“Evening, Alastair.”
Alastair released a long breath before he spoke, and that alone put ice cubes in her gut again. “Evening, Dar. How’s everything there?”
“Sucks,” Dar replied succinctly. “Her family sucks, my shoulder sucks; about the only good thing I can say is that her damn father’s dead.”
“Saw the news. They sure put a show on there, eh?”
“Jackasses. I had the Wall Street Journal sniffing at me about those damn contracts. I sent them to Ham.”
“Good thought. Guess they wanted a sound bite.”
“Guess they wanted me to admit I was glad he was dead.”
Alastair remained silent briefly. “Ah. Well, then, I’m sorry it has to be me to add more misery to your night, Dar, but this call couldn’t wait.”
Dar sighed. “Now what?” Her mind ran over the possibilities and she didn’t like any of them.
“Just got off the phone with the general,” Alastair said. “It’s gotten public that Stuart had that information.”
Dar’s eyes closed. “How did that happen?”
“Someone told someone, who told someone else. You know how it is.”
“Shit.”
“Mm.” Alastair sounded more resigned than upset. “I’d say that describes this entire situation to a T. But regardless, the deal’s off if that stuff’s still out there, and apparently the general’s heard it is.”
Dar was silent, her eyes focused on the soft pastel wall opposite her. “Well, it’s there somewhere, since I gave it to him and I doubt he burned it. Want my resignation in person or via a letter?
I can’t change what I did.” Her throat caught a little on the words.
“I’m not even sure I could say I’d do it any differently, even now.”
Alastair absorbed her statement in pensive quiet. “Any 154 Melissa Good chance you could get those papers back? I mean, you’re right there, Dar. I’m sure he kept them close. If those were recovered, the general said he’d be all right, I think.”
“He probably made copies.”
“Dar, don’t make it more complicated than it is,” Alastair said. “If he said he’d be satisfied with the damn papers, then let’s give them to him, all right?”
She accepted the fact that he hadn’t rejected her offer of resignation with a curious sense of personal loss, mixed with a rueful pride that at the very least, she’d done it her way. “I doubt I could find them, Alastair. People are crawling all over this place. I’m sure my rummaging through his office won’t be a viable option.”
“I see.” Alastair sighed. “Well, tell you what, Dar. Why don’t you come see me after this whole thing is over, hm? Just let Bea know when you’re headed out.”
Dar’s chest tightened. “Okay.” She managed to keep her voice even. “I will.”
“Goodnight, Dar. Take care.” Alastair’s tone gentled. “And give Kerrison my sympathies, too, hm? She looked a bit put upon on the tube.”
“Okay. I will. Thanks, Alastair.” Dar closed the phone and stared at it, then she simply shook her head and tossed it onto the table. Now what? She’d thought they were okay, and now…
Well, hell. “Screw it. Screw them, screw Gerry, screw it all.
This is one damned decision I refuse to regret,” she announced to the uncaring green walls. “All of them can kiss my ass.”
She walked to the window and watched the damn snow fall as she waited, trying to dismiss the conversation from her mind.
Kerry didn’t need to deal with all this now. Neither of them needed to. They’d get out of there, and go home and then…
There’d be plenty of time for them to think about it later.