Authors: Layne Macadam
“Geezus.” Hawk touched his shoulder. Wolf glanced from one man to the next, their thoughts mirrored his own. The mission hadn’t been a total fuck up but could prove costly yet.
Chapter 23
As the days progressed, Kathy realized Shane was taking their separation to the nth degree. She’d honestly thought he’d drop by the next day if only to see how she was coping, but he had been conspicuous in his absence. The week had almost passed and still he was a no show. Then the unthinkable happened, and she received another twist of the knife.
Wearily climbing the stairs after a tiring day at work, she was stunned when a woman sauntered out of his apartment as if she owned the place. Six feet tall, bodacious, with a mane of jet-black hair and a figure to die for, the sight of the other woman fazed her, and she gaped transfixed as a mass of thoughts, none of them good, raced through her head.
“Take a picture love, it lasts longer,” the woman’s taunts were brazen.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to stare.”
“Whatever.”
“It’s just, I haven’t seen you around here before.”
“I used to be a regular, but it’s been a while.” She shot over her shoulder and stomped down the stairs.
At her door Kathy fumbled for keys, an avalanche of emotions pummeled her brain leaving her raw and exposed. If she didn’t get inside soon she’d be in danger of losing it right there in the hall. To think she’d actually believed Shane would knock on her door and make everything right. Well, that pipe dream was well and truly down the tubes now.
Kathy wiped her eyes with resignation, indulging in self-pity was pointless and never solved any problems. Shane had moved on with his life, and so must she. The sight of the other woman had confirmed that as sure as if she’d been harpooned straight through the heart. The baby was her priority now. She gathered her reserves and would channel all of her energies into focusing on that, and that meant going home to Louisiana.
The following day, Kathy put Principal Edwards on notice she wouldn’t be renewing her contract, citing stress from her ordeal with Len as her reason. Principal Edwards, in a compassionate moment, released her at once, saying she understood Kathy’s need to go home to heal. Kathy did not enlighten her on that illusion. After that meeting, she telephoned the real estate agency and terminated her lease. The property manager was more than fair, he had a couple eager to move in so only charged her the difference until they moved in. By the end of the day, she was booked on a bus leaving San Diego Monday morning.
The weekend ahead loomed long and lonely, but she filled in the hours sorting her belongings and cleaning the apartment. She’d rented it fully furnished, so it was only her clothes and a few knickknacks she had to pack. She thought about calling Sarah and the guys, but they were her friends by default, so she dismissed the idea with a heavy heart.
* * * *
Kathy took one last look around the apartment. Two tired and battered suitcases stood side by side in the hall waiting for the cabbie to collect them. Her time in Coronado had come to an end. She was moving on with her life, and a new chapter was about to begin.
Shane’s betrayal had been swift and cruel. Sure, she’d agreed to casual, but after months together, she hadn’t expected—off with the old and on with the new—quite so quick. It was as if their time together had meant nothing. If she lived to be a hundred, she’d never trust another man with her heart again.
Twenty minutes later, three months pregnant and Louisiana bound, Kathy arrived at the bus terminal. It wasn’t how she’d envisaged her home coming, potbellied, defeated, and alone. If she’d thought about it at all, it was as a fleeting trip to attend Rachel’s wedding, triumphant and all aglow with Shane on her arm and a permanent teaching position under her belt, not a baby. Now that she’d adjusted to the pregnancy, she was anticipating the birth with joy. It would probably be the only child she’d ever have. As for Shane, well, she hadn’t yet decided when to tell him. The news would hit him like a landslide, but every child deserved a mother and a father, and she’d never deny their child the love and security he would give their baby, regardless of his lack of feelings for her. Once he got used to the idea, he’d make a great father.
The Greyhound chewed up the asphalt and spat out the miles. The lush green countryside whizzed by, the bus was running on time, and Kathy was anxious to get home. Liz would be at the terminal to meet her. Kathy hadn’t seen her for months. Like a true friend, she’d wanted to come after the Baker nightmare even though she was in the middle of a trial, but Shane had discouraged the visit, claiming it was unnecessary. He insisted he was more than capable of taking care of her and promised to bring her home for Christmas. Thrilled with Shane’s response, she had discouraged Liz, agreeing to come for the holidays.
The scenery flashed by in a blur of shapes and colors. One town merged into the next. Day became night. She was tired, her eyelids were drooping, and the motion of the bus lulled her into a deep sleep. She woke early next morning when they stopped for fuel and a change of driver. She took the opportunity to stretch her legs and get something to eat. All too soon, the passengers were back on board. As the journey continued, she lost count of the stops along the way and closed her eyes again.
Kathy awoke a little chilled and cloaked in darkness. She pulled her coat closer. She hadn’t felt the bus coast into the terminal, it was the stirring of people lifting down their hand luggage from the overhead compartments that had jolted her awake.
She took her time getting to her feet then eased out the kinks with a stretch. Now that she’d arrived, she was eager to see Liz and peered out the window. Her friend was easily recognizable, her stature and bright red hair stood out in the crowd. Collecting her hand luggage, Kathy shuffled down the aisle behind the other passengers, impatient to be on her way.
At the doorway, she waved before stepping onto the pavement. Liz spotted her right away and beamed a welcome. In that moment, it hit Kathy—coming home was indeed the right decision. The love reflected in her friend’s eyes was real, and everything was going to be A-Okay.
“I’m so glad you could visit, I’ve got heaps planned.” Liz clamped her arms around her kissing her cheeks.
Nervous hysteria vibrated in Kathy’s throat. She controlled the urge to weep by stooping to lift her luggage that had been unloaded from the bus.
“Gosh, you sure don’t pack light. I’ll bring the car around.” Liz left her standing with the bags and disappeared into the parking lot. A few minutes later the blue BMW pulled alongside, Liz flipped the trunk release and jumped out to help stow the gear.
Kathy climbed in, pulled down the visor, and stared into the attached mirror. She looked pale and miserable. The slump of her shoulders and downtrodden expression invited its own tale. Liz had tried to warn her Shane was out of her league, but she wouldn’t listen. Still, no one ever did die of a broken heart, and, in time, she’d get over him.
Kathy sagged into the soft leather upholstery. “I’m glad to be home.”
Liz switched on the headlamps, pulled into the evening traffic, and dispensed with the preamble. “So honey, what’s wrong?”
Liz read her like a book. Kathy had rehearsed how she’d break the news, even anticipating Liz’s reaction. At first, her friend would be furious at Shane’s betrayal and then her practical lawyer brain would cut in, and she’d try to take over, arranging custody and child support, through the court system. But Kathy didn’t want lawyers involved. This was strictly between Shane and her, and things had to be amicable. But after all her worry and rehearsing, the words didn’t fall into place and she simply blurted out, “I’m pregnant.”
*
Liz braked and brought the car to a screeching halt by the side of the road and cut the engine. Of all the things she’d been expecting Kathy to say,
I’m pregnant
, wasn’t one of them. Kathy was naive not stupid, so how had this happened? The big guy didn’t strike her as someone who’d take chances, or shirk his responsibilities. Hadn’t either of them heard of condoms for goodness sake?
“And,” she prompted, wanting details.
“And it’s over, he doesn’t want me. He’s got someone else.”
“He’s got someone else?” Liz parroted. “Two weeks ago he was bringing you home for the holidays. I can’t believe it, you tell him you’re having his child, and he tells you he’s got another woman, what kind of a jerk is he?”
Kathy sniffed loudly, her brown eyes a luminous pool of sadness.
“It is a woman isn’t it?” she asked tongue in cheek, hoping to bring some levity to the moment.
Kathy looked blank for only a second then laughed aloud. “I can always count on you to see the gravity of the situation.”
“I try, Kathy, I try.” She gurgled and restarted the engine. “Let’s go home and we’ll discuss my godchild over herbal tea and chocolate cake.”
Chapter 24
Ice remembered very little from the time he was wounded until he woke in hospital three days later. Frosty, asleep in a chair beside him, looked like shit. Crutches propped against the wall told their own story. Vague visions flitted across his memory. The guys coming and going, someone jabbing him with needles, taking his blood pressure, doctors talking over him in muffled voices, if it was a dream or real, he couldn’t say.
His throat was parched, he was hooked up to an intravenous line, and he had considerable pain when he moved. “Where am I?” he croaked, the rough scratchy voice was foreign to his ears.
Frosty’s eyes snapped open. “Singapore. How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been hit by a truck.” He winced as he shifted his weight in the bed.
“Don’t you ever do that again. Hell, you scared the living daylights out of us.”
“How long have I been here?”
“Three days.”
That couldn’t be good, three whole days unaccounted for. “What’s the damage?” he asked in his usual unemotional blunt no nonsense way.
Frosty slumped back in his chair, taking a moment before answering. Ice knew what his friend was struggling with, the succession of thoughts showed on his face as he weighed his options. How to answer a question like that? With the truth and risk a relapse, or bluff it out until the patient was stronger? Fuck that. Ice spared him the decision and demanded, “The truth. No trimmings.”
“The sniper’s bullet lodged in your right lung. You lost a shit load of blood, Wolf pumped four units into you before we got to the hospital.”
“And the rest?”
Frosty pursed his lips on an exhale. “They had to remove part of the lung, buddy. They did the op here in Singapore—it was the best option.”
Ice slammed his eyes shut. It was the death knock for his career in active duty. The SEALs had been his life for so long it would take some adjusting to.
“Why did you do it man?”
There was no need for pretense. Frosty’s meaning was clear. “Simple really. You’ve got a wife and three kids, and how would I face Sarah, if I let anything happen to you?”
“You’re lucky to be facing anyone, you almost died.”
“Better me than you.”
Frosty’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m humbled man, you put your life on the line for me, and I’ll never forget what you did, I…” He snapped his mouth shut.
Ice was uncomfortable with Frosty’s gratitude and slid a get-over-it look his way. “You’re making too much of this.” Frosty was family. Family was everything, simple as that. Nothing to get choked up about, you watched out for family, no big deal.
Cutting his bud some slack, Ice changed the subject. “What’s with the crutches?”
“Popped a kneecap, hurt like a bitch at the time.”
“And the guys?”
“Yeah, no prob, they’re around here somewhere. The kid’s taking it bad though, feels he let you down, it’s his fault you got shot.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“Yeah, I know it, but you’ll have to talk to him and set him straight.”
“I will. When are we shipping out?”
“Soon, I imagine. Now that you’re awake, I’ll find out.”
Frosty shoved the crutches under his pits and hobbled from the room. The sooner they were stateside the better. This mission had cost him dearly, but he was smart and would explore all his options. Frosty had talked about a partnership, maybe it was time they pooled their resources and gave that plan a nudge.
* * * *
Five days later, Ice was stateside. When Kathy didn’t visit in those first few days he was edgy and sent the kid to check on her. She filled his waking moments, invaded his dreams. The near brush with death had reinforced the decisions he’d made earlier. He wanted her as a permanent fixture in his life, and if that meant buying a wedding ring, so be it.
Hawk was driving him nuts, hovering over him like a mother hen. He was still carrying bullshit guilt feelings that were pointless and should have been laid to rest. Sending him to check on Kathy got him out of his hair and gave the kid something to do. It was a stroke of brilliance on his part.
He was surprised though, when Hawk wandered in later that afternoon looking like he’d lost his best friend. “Cheer up kid, it’ll probably never happen.”
“She’s moved out,” Hawk baldly broke the news. “Someone else is living there, she left no forwarding address. The boys are onto it though.” The words tripped out in a rush and were meant to be reassuring. “Wolf’s checking the airports. Havoc’s covering the bus terminals. Don’t worry, we’ll find her and I’m…”
“Don’t sweat it, I know who she’s with,” Ice interrupted the outburst, leaned over and scribbled on an envelope. “This is the name of her best friend—she’s an attorney for Brownlow and Wilkins at their Baton Rouge office. Find out what you can.”
“I’m on to it, consider it done.”
Ice shook his head as Hawk bolted out the door. He reached for the phone beside the bed, dialed directory assistance, and asked for the telephone number of Brownlow and Wilkins’ Baton Rouge Office then placed the call.
“This is Shane Jackson, put me through to Liz Ellis please,” he spoke with quiet authority to the prissy voiced receptionist who answered his call.