The Contract (37 page)

I threw another piece of wood on the bonfire and crossed my legs. Katy curled up beside me, her head on my shoulder. I patted her knee. “Warm enough?”

She nodded, bringing the blanket tighter around her shoulders. “It gets cold when it’s dark now.”

“It is fall.”

“I know.”

“How much longer do you want to stay?”

She sighed, her fingers fiddling with the blanket. “I suppose we should get back.”

It had been three days since I arrived. It was the first time in my adult life I had no place to be—no office to head to, no meetings planned, no agenda. The one thing I had to concentrate on was Katy. Aside from the couple trips into town for supplies, we hadn’t left the resort. We walked the beach, made use of the small game room where I tried to teach her the game of checkers and failed miserably, and used the time to know each other better. We talked, often for hours at a time. She knew more about me than anyone in my life. She had a way of asking questions that made me want to tell her things I’d never shared with another person. She shared more stories of her life prior to and after she met Penny. Some of the stories she told, about the time she was alone and on the streets, made me hold her tight and thank whatever deity was listening for keeping her safe.

We made love, often. I couldn’t get enough of her. The body I once found unappealing was now my version of perfection. She fit me so well, and the passion I felt for her was paramount. Her lack of experience made her response to me even more erotic. I loved watching her discover the passionate side of her nature.

She was right, however. We did have to go back to our life, or what was left of it, and figure out what our future held.

“Why don’t we stay another couple days, then we’ll head back? I heard on the radio the weather is changing, so we’d be stuck in the cottage anyway. Not”—I grinned, leaning forward and kissing her—“that I’d object being stuck inside with nothing to do except stay in bed with you.”

“All right,” she agreed with a soft laugh, then turned serious. “I still have to scatter Penny’s ashes.”

“Are you ready to do that, sweetheart?”

Her eyes had a far-away look in them when she spoke. “The fall was her favorite time of year. She didn’t like the heat of the summer. She looked forward to coming here as much as I did. I think she’d like to stay here.”

“As long as you’re sure.”

“Tomorrow,” she whispered.

I lifted her over to my lap, pressing a kiss to her head. “Tomorrow.”

I woke up, the fluttering of panic fast in my chest when the spot beside me was empty. I sat up, throwing the blanket back and striding out of the bedroom. I relaxed when I spotted Katy on the beach. She stood, facing the water, holding something to her chest. I glanced over, confirming the fact Penny’s urn was gone from the mantle.

My wife was saying goodbye.

Returning to the bedroom, I grabbed my pants, tugging them on. I picked up my T-shirt and yanked it over my head as I hurried outside, crossing the beach. The weather system they had predicted was already making its presence known. The waves were higher, hitting the sand with loud slaps. The wind was picking up, and I knew, soon, the rain would follow, and the storm would make my wife nervous.

I reached her side, enveloping her in my arms.

“I was waiting for you.”

“You should have woken me up.”

“I wanted a little time. I knew you wouldn’t be far behind me.”

“Are you sure?”

She smiled up at me, the glimmer of tears in her eyes telling me the whole story. “Yes.”

“Okay, sweetheart.” I reached for the urn. “Do you want me to open it?”

“Please.”

I held the simple green container in my hand, running my fingers over the wildflowers that decorated its smooth surface.

“Thank you.” I murmured to Penny. “You won’t regret trusting me.”

Carefully, I opened the urn and handed Katy the small bag. She walked away from me toward the edge of the water. I let her go alone, knowing what a personal, emotional moment this was for her.

She was motionless. I could see her lips moving, and I knew she was saying her final farewell. She crouched down, opening the bag and letting the contents drain to the sand at her feet. She stood up, shaking the bag, the final remains caught and taken by the wind. Her head bowed, and she wrapped her arms around her waist, a solitary figure against the backdrop of the heavy skies.

I wanted to go to her, comfort her, but I was still unsure how to handle all the emotions I had when dealing with Katy. Should I leave her alone? Wrap her in my arms?

She solved my dilemma, turning and holding out her hand wordlessly. I grasped it and brought her close.

“Are you all right?”

She looked up, her eyes damp. “I will be.”

“Can I do something?”

“You already are.”

“I want to do more.”

“Take me home, Richard. I’m ready.”

“Okay, sweetheart.”

After we left the beach, it hadn’t taken us long to gather the few things she had brought to the cottage. I packed up the remaining food and threw it all in the trunk. I waited, giving her some privacy in the cottage for yet another goodbye.

The drive home was in direct contrast to the frantic pace I had set getting to the resort. Katy was beside me, her hand clasped in mine as we made our way back to the city. I drove leisurely, giving her a chance to relax. I stole glances at her frequently.

“I know you’re looking at me.”

“I like looking at you.”

“I’m fine, Richard. Really, I am.”

“Are you nervous about coming back with me? The difference in our relationship?”

She leaned her head back, looking at me. “Nervous?”

“It’s all changed now, Katy. We’re going home as a real married couple. For starters, as soon as we get home, your things are coming to my room.
Our room
. For good.”

“I know. You get to snuggle me every night.”

“And you get to listen to me snore.” Then I became serious. “We have a lot to face together.”

“And we’ll do it.” She hesitated. “Are
you
nervous?”

“In some ways, yes.”

“Why?”

I pulled over to the side of the road, draping my arm over the back of her seat. “I’m still me, Katy. Deep inside I’m still the same asshole. I have a temper. I’m not perfect—not by a long shot.”

“I don’t expect you to be perfect, Richard. But I don’t think the asshole inside is the same as the one you used to be.”

“You have a great deal of faith in me.”

“I’ve seen the change in you.” She smiled. “Plus the fact, I love you.”

“I’m worried I’ll let you down.”

“What about when I get mad at you and I act like an asshole?”

That made me chuckle. “Since I’m sure it will be justified, when it happens, we’ll deal with it.”

“We’ll deal with it all together, Richard. Asshole behavior included.”

“I swear I’ll try to be better.”

“I know you’ll try, and even more, I know you’ll succeed.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“Because you love me.”

Running my knuckles down her cheek, I nodded. “I do, sweetheart. Very much.”

She covered my hand and kissed the palm. “We all have our moments, you know. Even me.”

“Is that right?”

“I used to get angry at the way you’d talk to me when you were being more . . .
dickish
than usual.”

“You hid it well.”

“I got even, in my own way.”

“Now you’ve piqued my curiosity. Do tell me, how did you get even with me?”

The ghost of a smile played her lips.

“Katy?”

“On the days you were extra pissy, I would swap out your low-fat cheese and mayo for the full-fat version on your sandwiches. I never cut the fat out of your foam in your lattes—ever actually. I just let you think I did.”

“What?”

“I forgot to ask one day when I was getting your sandwich and you never noticed. It was my own silent revenge.”

“
That
was your way of getting even?”

“I figured if your pants got tighter, you might have to work out a little harder. Maybe sweat the asshole out of you.”

I started to chuckle. That turned into laughter. Deep, belly laughs that made my eyes water.

“Such a vindictive bitch you are, sweetheart. I’m glad you’re on my side now. My treadmill trembles over your immense wrath.”

“Go fuck yourself, VanRyan.”

Leaning over the console, I kissed her. She had no idea how incredibly endearing she was in this moment, or how much my love for her increased every time she uttered those words. Once spoken in anger, and now in jest, they were a reminder of how far we had come together.

“Take me home, Richard.”

“Okay, sweetheart.”

I pulled back onto the road, my nerves gone and a smile on my face.

RICHARD

THE CONDO WAS SILENT WHEN
we arrived. I set down our bags and looked at the mess I had left behind.

“I should have cleaned up. I was anxious to get to you.”

She walked around, picking up a couple bottles. “You need to stop drinking so much scotch.”

The words were out before I could stop them. “You need to stop leaving me.”

Her eyes widened.

I tugged on my cowlick. “
Shit
. Home five minutes and the asshole comes out.”

“I’m going to give you that one. I shouldn’t have run. I should have stayed and talked it out with you.”

Reaching out, I brought her into my arms. “You had no reason to trust me, then. I’ll make sure you won’t have that excuse next time. Not,” I added, “that there is going to be a next time.”

She nuzzled close. “No.”

“Then we’re good?”

“Yep.”

Glass crunched under my feet when I moved, and I looked down with a grimace. “Careful.”

“Another asshole moment?”

“A big one,” I acknowledged. “I was angry at you—but it passed quickly.”

“I think you were allowed.”

“I’ll get someone in to clean up.”

She shook her head with a grin. “It’s not bad. We can get it done fast.” Bending, she picked up her bag. “But you’re ordering dinner and doing the dishes.”

I grabbed my bag, following her through the condo. “There you go—issuing orders.”

“Get used to it.” She turned her head and winked.

I swatted her ass, causing her to yelp and try to hurry ahead of me. She tripped, almost falling on the steps, except I lunged, catching her around the waist. “Sorry, sweetheart. I forgot about your leg. Are you okay?”

She wrapped her arms around my neck. “I’m fine. You can carry me the rest of the way, though.”

Lifting her, I captured her mouth with mine and kept it there all the way to our room. Inside the doorway, I set her on her feet, releasing her lips. “Welcome home, Mrs. VanRyan.”

She smiled up at me, running her fingers along my jaw. “You’re scruffier than normal.”

“I’ll shave later.”

“I kinda like it.”

“Then I’ll leave it.”

Rising on the balls of her feet, she pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Okay.” She glanced around. “Where do you want to start?”

I sat down on the mattress, pulling her beside me. “I didn’t change the sheets. They smelled like you—like
us
, and I couldn’t . . .” My voice trailed off. “I couldn’t.”