Treading Water: Coming Home Part 28

Again, she held her tongue and let the silence speak for her.

"She wants us there for Christmas."

"I told you that days ago."

He glanced up at her. "What do you think?"

"It's up to you. The boys and I will do whatever you want to do. If you want to go to Nashville, we'll go with you. If you'd rather stay home, we'll do that, too."

"And you won't think I'm a horse's a.s.s if I decide not to go?"

"Never. I meant it when I said you have a right to your feelings, even if others don't agree with them."

"You make a good point about when we were first together. I don't know what I would've done if people like Jamie and Frannie or my kids treated me like I was a monster for wanting to be with you."

"Kate might appreciate the same courtesy from you."

"Of all three girls, she was the most willing to go along with you moving here."

"Is that right? You never told me that, but it doesn't surprise me. She was the friendliest to me when Eric and I first arrived."

"s.h.i.+t," he said with a moan. "I totally screwed this up. I said all the wrong things to her."

"You're a wonderful father, Jack, and you're allowed to screw up every now and then."

"You never do. You never screw up."

"That's because I'm the mom. We can't afford to screw up with you crazy dads around to mess things up."

"Very funny."

"You can always call her back to fix it."

"True."

"Is that what you want to do?"

"I think it might be."

She kissed the back of his hand and released it. "Then I'll leave you to it." She got up off the desk.

He stood to stop her from escaping. With his hands on her shoulders, he took a good long greedy look at her.

"What?"

"I love you so much. I hope you know that."

She rested her hands on his chest. "How could I not know when you show me every single day?"

He drew her in close to him, comforted by her unwavering love. Their bond had been unshakable from the very beginning, and he wouldn't have survived without her. He drew back from her, just far enough that he could kiss her.

"Thanks," he said many pa.s.sionate minutes later.

"Mmm," she said, taking one more taste. "Definitely my pleasure."

"Can I get back to you and your pleasure at bedtime?"

"It's a date. Do you want me to stay while you talk to her?"

"You don't have to."

"I do need to make sure Robby finished his math homework."

"His name is Rob."

"Right. Keep reminding me." She left him with one last kiss. "Good luck, love."

"Thanks."

Chapter 12.

The arriving storm woke Kate from a nap late that afternoon to wonder when Reid would be back. She hadn't expected him to be gone this long and suspected he'd been delayed by the storm.

She tried to call him, but his phone went right to voice mail.

Wind whipped through the trees and shook the windows as she thought about the stretch of water between the two islands. What if he couldn't get back to her? What if something happened to him?

That thought drove her out of bed and down the stairs, where she found Bertha in the kitchen, enjoying a cup of coffee and a magazine. "Oh, Ms. Kate," she said, jumping up when Kate came into the room. "I was just taking a short break."

"Please don't let me interrupt."

"Is there something I can get for you?"

"I was wondering whether Mr. Matthews will be able to get back because of the storm."

"I'm told he's on his way."

"Oh. I tried to call him, but he didn't answer."

"Probably can't hear the phone in the wind."

"That's true."

"I sent one of the cars down to meet him. They should be back any time now."

"Thank you," Kate said, relieved to know he was fine. Just running late. "Please enjoy your break. I have no doubt you've earned it."

Bertha's smile lit up her face as she sat. "I like to think so." She paused before she said, "If you don't mind my asking, what's it like to perform on a stage in front of all those people?" She stopped herself. "I'm sorry. You're on a break yourself. That's probably the last thing you want to talk about."

"I don't mind talking about it." As she slid into a chair across from Bertha, Kate said, "It can be scary, especially when you're new to it. But after a while, you get used to it and it becomes more routine."

"I can't imagine how that ever becomes routine."

"Two hundred nights a year. That's how."

"That many?"

"On a slow year."

Bertha laughed. "My lord. No wonder you're in need of some rest and relaxation. How long did it take you to get used to it?"

Settling into the conversation, Kate thought about that. "I was terrified for a full year, and now... Now it's a thrill. The highest of highs. An adrenaline rush. All those things." And she was giving it all up because she was ready for thrills of a different sort, the simpler kind.

"Your voice is simply magnificent."

"That's kind of you to say."

"My favorite song of yours is 'I Thought I Knew.'"

Kate smiled. She heard that often from her fans. "Want to know a secret?"

Bertha propped her chin on her upturned fist and leaned in. "Lay it on me."

"That song was written for Reid, ten years ago when we were first together."

Bertha's eyes widened. "The same Mr. Matthews who's staying with you now?"

"One and the same. We were together for a short time ten years ago. I wrote the song then. It's still my biggest hit."

"If you don't mind my asking..." Bertha seemed to think better of the question and stopped herself. "I'm sorry. It's none of my business."

Coc.o.o.ned in the cozy kitchen while the storm howled outside and rain beat against the windows, Kate tried to keep her mind off where Reid might be and whether he was safe. Talking to Bertha helped. "Please, feel free to ask whatever you want."

"I just wondered how your mama feels about your relations.h.i.+p with an older man." Bertha blushed and let out an unsteady laugh. "See what I mean? None of my business."

Kate laughed along with her. "My mama is a lot more understanding than my papa."

"Ah," Bertha said, her eyes dancing with mirth. "I suppose that's to be expected."

"He and Reid were friends in college. When I moved to Nashville, he asked Reid to keep an eye on me. We became good friends, and one thing led to another. I was very much in love with him. There was quite an uproar when my dad found out about our relations.h.i.+p."

"I imagine so."

"We spent ten years apart, wis.h.i.+ng every day we were together. We only recently found out that we both felt the same way." Kate placed her hands over her face, which was suddenly heated.

"That's a very sweet story. Love is so hard to find, and lasting love... Well, that's something most of us only dream about. I've certainly never found it." Bertha frowned as she said the words but rebounded quickly. "But, I have lovely children and grandchildren who absolutely adore your music. Wait until I tell them I met you. They'll be so jealous."

"Are they here? On Nevis?"

"My whole family is here."

"If you'd like to invite the kids over, I'd be happy to meet them."

Bertha's eyes bugged. "You don't have to do that!"

"I'd really love to, if they don't mind venturing into the storm."

"Are you kidding? Those kids will absolutely drag their parents over here. Do you mind if I call them?"

"Go right ahead."

Bertha scurried into the kitchen, and Kate chuckled when she heard the older woman's excited conversation. She returned wearing a huge smile.

"They insisted on bringing dinner, and the kids are beside themselves. Thank you so much, Miss Kate."

"Please, just call me Kate."

Bertha beamed at her. "They say a lot of mean things about you in the paper. I've never believed any of them."

"That's nice of you to say." Kate wondered if Bertha had heard about the video, or worse yet, seen it. Ugh, she couldn't think about that. "We'll do a little jam session, and the kids can sing with me."

"That's so very kind of you. I can't thank you enough."

"It'll be fun." And it would be, she decided.

The slam of a car door had Kate scurrying from the kitchen to the front door. When she saw Reid running through the rain, she went out to meet him. Until she saw him, she hadn't realized just how fearful she'd been of something happening to him in the storm.

She bolted down the stairs and met him halfway, leaping into his arms.

He caught her, lifting her right off her feet. "You're going to get all wet, darlin'."

"I don't care," she said, kissing his face and then his lips. "I was worried about you."

"I'm fine." He tipped his face to kiss her again, more seriously this time.

With her arms tight around his neck, Kate thrust her tongue into his mouth while his hands gripped her bottom.

As the rain beat down on them, she couldn't stop kissing him. "Missed you," she said when they came up for air many minutes later.

"So I see," he said with a chuckle. "Should we go in?"