CHAPTER 16: KERRY
I spent the rest of that afternoon in a kind of crazy whirl of excitement. I moved about slowly, lightheaded. I was just amazed. The fear had given way to the excitement, and I spent far more time thinking about the future than I did about the past. About the possibility that these crazies who had shot Brett knew where I lived.
Weirdly, that seemed completely insignificant, compared to the sweet excitement spreading through me now.
Who would ever have thought that I could have such a crazy thing happen in my life?
I had really thought that my exciting days were over. That I was stuck here, living day by day, never quite content because I missed my old life. Now, something much more remarkable and unusual had turned up. Instead of dancing romantic stories, I was now doing something super-romantic.
I was running away with the man I loved.
“Brett?” I called.
He had fetched a case of things and his car from the apartment, and then brought it here. Last time I saw him, he had been texting someone in the sitting-room. I was busy packing in the bedroom, wondering what to do next.
“Yes?” he asked. He was in the hallway, his head just appearing round the door as I turned to call him.
I smiled. He looked so boyish and handsome, so hesitant. I wanted to kiss him.
“I was just thinking,” I said, “that I should go in to work tomorrow, to explain things to my boss.”
He frowned. “You want some support?”
I sighed. “I wouldn’t say no, Brett.”
“Sure thing,” he said. “You came with me to the police-men.”
I chuckled. “Well, then. I can do that. Thank you.”
“Sure,” he said. “I couldn’t do anything less.”
He hugged me and I leaned against his chest. It was wonderful to feel so safe, so supported. It was, I realized, the first time in ages that I had felt I could turn to someone and get support. It might be the first time in my life. If I had thought my family could live with the idea of my career collapsing on me, I might have stayed in my hometown. I just didn’t think I could let them down like that.
“Brett,” I whispered. I leaned into him, my hand kneading his arm, my other arm holding him close.
He kissed me, a tender kiss. Then he smiled.
“Honey, if we stand here, I am going to stay here all day. And then what will happen?”
I giggled. “Well, not a lot.”
“Not a lot of preparing,” he agreed, “but a lot of action.”
I giggled and pressed closer to him. The way his hands were exploring me left no doubt as to the kind of action he meant. I could feel a slow heat rising in my body and I knew that if we didn’t move soon I would be tempted to take him to my bed and not let him out again all day.
“Okay,” I sighed shakily. “We need to get preparing.”
“Yes,” he said. His voice was a ragged whisper and he sounded about as reluctant as I felt. I chuckled and pressed my body to his, then stood back.
“Come on,” I said.
“Right.”
I was busy looking up flights—there were some for Tuesday that weren’t ridiculously expensive, though they were all indirect and would take a day. We would have to do those.
“Sweetie?” I called through the door.
“Yes? Oh, hang on…” he ran through, lifted the phone I could hear ringing from its place on the dining-table, and spoke.
I went back to the bedroom and contemplated contacting my mom.
While I was still phrasing the request in my head, turning it over to see how I could make it sound reasonable and still not put myself in a compromising position, I heard Brett laugh.
“Guess what?” he called.
“What?” I said.
“Dominic said there’s no problem. He’d be happy to sell my car for me. He’ll deposit the cash when he’s done, and he’ll come around tomorrow to check it, but he reckons it should sell pretty quick.”
“Wow,” I said. I grinned. “That’s awesome.”
“Isn’t it?” he was beaming. “I’m so happy.”
“I am too.”
With that being true, I felt ready to phone my mom. I went through to the bedroom and half-shut the door. There was sunshine coming in through the window now, making a big, glowing square on the bed, and splashing on to the floor like shining water. I sat in the sunshine, closed my eyes and thought.
“Mom?” I said.
“Honey!”
All my carefully-planned statements, stuffy and awkward and full of recrimination and excuses, flew out the window as I heard her voice.
“Mom!” I said. I was laughing. She was laughing too. I wondered if she was crying, because her voice was tight with feeling as she spoke.
“Kerry! It’s been ages! You have no idea how much I miss you! What is it?”
I sighed a bit happily. “Oh, Mom, I have a favor to ask.”
“Sure!” she sounded genuinely pleased, which amazed me. I had always had the impression that I was a nuisance, but she sounded eager to help.
“Um, I don’t know, Mom,” I cautioned. “It’s a big favor.”
“Ask away,” she said.
“Well,” I paused. “I want to fly down to Miami tomorrow, but I can’t…”
“Your father and I are paying,” she said instantly. “No question! Baby! I’m so excited! How long can you stay? When will you arrive? Have you found flights?”
“Mom!” I laughed, feeling a slow, giddy joy spread through me like the bubbles in water rising to the surface. “Mom! Slow down! I’ve got flights. Can I send you the details?”
“Send it to me,” she demanded. “I’ll fill it out and pay it. Should I send the tickets to your email?”
“Mom!” I couldn’t believe how helpful she was being! I felt bad. How had I cut her out for all this time? “That would be awesome,” I said.
“Baby! It’s nothing.”
When we eventually terminated the call, I sat on the bed, amazed. There were tears running down my cheeks and I barely noticed. I had never, in a million years, thought Mom and Dad cared that much about me. I had thought I would never be good enough for their approval.
And now—after pushing myself to the top of my career, then damaging my ankle beyond repair—I discover they loved me anyway?
I wanted to laugh. I was crying, laughing, shaking my head. If that accident had to happen so that I could see this, I could even say it was worth it.
How could I have gone through my whole life without ever noticing how loved I was?
I vowed to myself that I would never do that again.
I stood and went out to the kitchen. I wanted to see how Brett was and what he was up to. At least we had one less expense for our crazy, amazing trip.
“Brett?”
“Kerry? Kerry!” his face fell from amused to worried in an instant. “You’re crying.” He ran over and wrapped me in his big, strong, arms. Laughing, I fought, ineffectually, to escape him.
“Brett, it’s okay,” I said, laughing. “I’m happy! Brett—let me go!”
He laughed and soon we were engaged in a pleasant battle of strengths that ended with us both laughing, lying side by side on the couch in the sitting room together.
“So,” he said as we sat up. I leaned against his shoulder and his hand covered mine, warmly.
“So?”
“You all set?”
I nodded. “Just have to see my boss tomorrow.”
“Great,” he said. “I’m all set too. Except for the flight. You must send me the details. I’ll book on the same plane.”
“Perfect.”
We sorted that out, and then we were ready. I looked at the time. It was well and truly lunchtime.
“So,” I said. “You prepared for a culinary adventure?”
“Adventure?” he asked.
“Well,” I said with a shaky laugh, “we have to finish everything that’s in the fridge. That means that between now and breakfast tomorrow, we have a lot of mismatched ingredients to go through.”
He laughed. “Wow! Well! That sounds fun.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” I grinned.
Surreal and wonderful, the afternoon passed us by. We made hamburgers—well, vegetarian ones, made with leftover butternut squash, onions and cheese—and then we went to my bedroom.
We were in bed together when the doorbell rang and Brett jumped up, flushed.
“Sorry, Kerry,” he said sheepishly. “That’s my friend from the garage, to look at the car.”
“On Sunday?” I said.
He nodded. “The faster I go down and sort things out, the faster he’ll go.”
I grinned. I kissed him.
“Off you go,” I said.
He was still red and surprised as he pulled on his trousers again and hurried downstairs. I lay where I was, watching him, a smile on my face.
He came in with a bigger grin. “He said he’ll take it: he expects to sell in the next two weeks.”
“Heck,” I said. “He’s confident.”
He laughed. “I’m just so glad,” he murmured.
“I’m glad too,” I agreed. “And I’m very glad about something else too.”
“What’s that?” he asked. I thought, though, feeling my body heat up as I looked at that smile, I could see he was thinking the same.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here, right now, right close…” I said, reaching to stroke that dark hair.
He shivered and pressed his body close to mine, then, in a gesture that brought tears to my eyes, he lifted my hand to his lips. “So am I,” he said.
We were together, we were happy. And we were leaving on Tuesday.