Hold Me (10 page)

While she wanted to try to forget the man, she couldn’t seem to let go of his words about her sister. That Starr didn’t technically have a home to retreat to. That there was no place she called her own.

Destiny didn’t know how to fix that problem, but she knew how to offer a distraction. In the time-honored tradition handed down by generations, she cooked.

First up was a pie. Grandma Nell had taught her the secrets to a perfect crust. She’d used first-of-the-season blueberries. Now the pie was cooling on a rack on the kitchen table.

She’d bought chicken for frying and ingredients for salad. Because there weren’t many problems that couldn’t be fixed with fried chicken for dinner.

“I’m back,” Starr called.

Destiny walked into the living room. The teen looked happy as she dropped her bag onto the sofa and collapsed next to it. Destiny sat across from her.

“How was it?” she asked, then mentally crossed her fingers. Please let the report be good.

Starr grinned. “Great. I’m really tired, but in a good way, you know? The camp is huge. There are all these classrooms and different areas. I’m with the drama and music kids. There’s some tech classes and lots of sports stuff, too. It’s busy and loud and fun. We had lunch in shifts, which was good because with that many kids, it would be totally impossible.”

She paused to breathe. “There are kids that come in for a couple of weeks. They stay up there. They’re from, like, Los Angeles. The inner city, one of the counselors said. I talked to this girl who had never been to the mountains before. She’d never seen a forest! She said there were, like, eight trees in this tiny park by her house. She’d counted them.”

Starr shook her head. “I’ve never met anyone like that. She was so fun and had an incredible voice. But everything is different for her. Her family doesn’t have any money. I didn’t know it was really like that for some people.”

“I’m glad she’s able to go to camp.”

“Me, too. I met a lot of kids who live in town. Some of them are my age.” She ducked her head for a second. “Felicia’s son is nice. Carter. He has friends he wants to introduce me to. He said we could hang out.”

Destiny had been nodding along with the conversation, but right then she got stuck.

“A boy?” she asked, wondering if the fear and outrage showed in her voice.

Starr stared at her. “Duh, most sons are boys, so yeah. We’re friends. It’s cool. He’s nice. I like him.”

“Like him how?”

Starr rolled her eyes. “What are you worried about? I’m fifteen. It’s okay for me to like a boy. It’s what teenagers do.”

Destiny told herself to stay calm. That this could be managed. “I get that,” she said slowly. “But you have to be careful. We both do.”

“Careful? What are you talking about?”

“It’s in our genes. Like having red hair. And an interest in music. You get that from your dad, right?”

“Okay,” Starr said cautiously. “What does that have to do with Carter?”

“Other traits can be inherited. Things like falling in and out of love. You saw what happened with your parents. Do you want that for yourself? These are decisions you need to think about. Because if you don’t think, you might act. Sex is dangerous.”

Starr turned away. “Don’t say that to me. I don’t want to talk about it. I’m
fifteen
. I know some kids are doing...that, but I’m not. Who do you think I am?”

“I think you’re Jimmy Don’s daughter. Believe me, I’ve wrestled with the same thing. You have to be careful around boys.”

“Is that why you’re not married? You’re being careful?”

“I know what I’m looking for. I simply haven’t found it yet.”

Starr frowned. “You mean you have a list or something?”

“Yes. I do. I want to make a sensible decision about the man I spend my life with.”

“Love isn’t sensible,” Starr told her. “Even I know that.”

“You’re right. Love is words and chemistry. It has little value. Better to make a decision based on reasonable, understandable criteria. That’s lasting.”

She wasn’t sure if Starr would see her point or call her an idiot. What she didn’t expect was for the teen’s eyes to fill with tears.

“Is that what you really think?” Starr demanded, coming to her feet. “There’s really no love? That my mom didn’t love me?”

Destiny wanted to slap herself. She stood. “No! Of course she loved you. I don’t mean the love between parents and a child. I was talking about romantic love. Your mom treasured you.”

“You don’t know anything,” Starr yelled. “She only cared about my dad and her drugs. She didn’t love me. She abandoned me over and over again, and then she died. I know my dad doesn’t care. Obviously. He barely knows who I am, and he sure doesn’t want me. I’m only here because you got stuck with me. I get it, okay? I get it.”

Her voice rose with the last three words.

“I know I don’t have anywhere to go. I know that no one wants me. I get it!”

She took off at a run and bolted into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. The harsh sound reverberated through the house.

Destiny sank back onto the chair and covered her face with her hands. The distance between what she’d wanted to say and what had come out of her mouth was so great, it couldn’t be measured. She’d only been trying to protect Starr. Instead she’d hurt her.

She stood and walked to the closed bedroom door. After knocking, she spoke.

“Starr, honey. I’m sorry.”

“Go away.”

“We need to talk.”

“No, we don’t. If you don’t believe in love, then knowing I hate you won’t matter at all. I hate you, Destiny. Leave me alone.”

There was a sharp click as the lock was engaged, followed by a few seconds of silence, then sobs that tore through Destiny’s heart. She sank onto the floor outside her sister’s bedroom door and tried to breathe. Honest to God, she had absolutely no idea what to do.

* * *

B
EFORE
MOVING
TO
Fool’s Gold, Kipling had never had anything to do with city government, or government of any kind. He’d assumed the day-to-day running of a location simply happened. Like most people, he’d groused about laws that seemed an unnecessary interference. He hadn’t known there were so many complex steps that ended with a seamless stream of services that affected people’s lives.

But since the move, he’d attended monthly city council sessions. At first he’d worried about being bored, but now he looked forward to the details of what went on behind the scenes. Mayor Marsha ruled her town well, and she had a lot to contend with. Thanks to the constant flow of tourists, the growth of the town, a major university and dozens of successful businesses, all with different interests and needs, there was always a crisis, a problem and something incredibly funny going on.

At today’s meeting, the comic relief was supplied by Eddie and Gladys, who wanted to host a cable access show—the same two old ladies who had wanted to sign up to be volunteers at his recent HERO meeting. Mayor Marsha was doing her best to discourage them, and while Kipling would normally put his money on the mayor, she didn’t seem to be making much headway against a very determined Eddie and Gladys. The ongoing conversation made him wish he’d brought popcorn. Talk about entertainment.

“You can’t stop us,” Eddie said, leaning in as she spoke. “This is a free country. I know my rights. The community access channel is just that. For the community. Gladys and I will include everyone on our show.”

“Especially the men.” Gladys cackled.

“That’s what has me concerned.” Mayor Marsha studied them both. “There are strict laws about nudity.”

Eddie’s eyebrows rose nearly to her hairline. “Are you implying I’d have naked people on my show?”

“We should be so lucky,” Gladys muttered.

“Yes,” the mayor said firmly. “Or pictures. I’ve been in touch with my friends at the FCC, and they’re going to be watching you two.”

Patience Garrett, the owner of Brew-haha, sat next to him. Now she leaned close. “It’s always dangerous when Mayor Marsha starts talking about her friends anywhere. If I were Eddie and Gladys, I’d be shaking in my shoes.”

“They wouldn’t really have nudity, would they?”

“In a heartbeat. A couple of years ago there was a calendar done as a fund-raiser. A bunch of male models flew in and did a photo shoot. Naked. Eddie and Gladys were front and center, watching the show.”

“They look so innocent.”

Patience grinned. “Don’t confuse old with innocent. They could so take you.”

“Those two?”

“Sure. You’re a nice guy. You’d never fight back.”

“Point taken.”

He returned his attention to the ongoing discussion, then allowed it to slide to his left. Destiny sat a few rows in front of him. She’d come in late and had found a seat off to the side.

At first he’d wondered if she was avoiding him. While he’d found their last conversation intriguing, he thought maybe she’d been embarrassed. Maybe she didn’t want him to know she was attracted to him. She was a little tightly wound. But as he watched her now, he wondered if something else was going on. She seemed tense in a way that had nothing to do with him. She’d barely glanced in his direction.

If he had to guess, he would say she was upset about something. Not work related. He received an email update every morning, and they were right on track. So it had to be something else. Family, maybe?

He looked back at Mayor Marsha and did his best to pay attention to what she was talking about, all the while keeping tabs on Destiny. He wanted to speak to her before she left. If there was a problem, maybe he could help.

The meeting wrapped up after about an hour. Kipling had thought Destiny might bolt, but she stayed to speak to a few people. He made his way over to her. Everyone else left the meeting, and by the time he was standing in front of her, they were alone.

“How’s it going?” he asked.

Destiny shook her head. “Badly. Starr and I had a huge fight last night. It’s my fault. I totally screwed up. She talked about a boy she liked, and I overreacted.”

“She’s dating?” Wasn’t Starr too young?

“I hope not. I told her that love was just chemicals and words, and she misunderstood. I was talking about romantic love. She thought I was saying no one loved her.” She turned away. “I want to say she’s wrong, but I don’t know. Our father hasn’t seen her in months. Her mother’s dead, I’m her temporary guardian and I barely know her. She’s lost, and I’m the last person to know what to do.”

He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “That’s not true.”

“We have the same father. Believe me when I say I don’t come from an emotionally stable family situation.”

“You had Grandma Nell. She was stable. She loved you and made you feel safe. So do the same for Starr.”

She felt good tucked against him. Feminine and warm. He wanted to step between her and whatever was going wrong so he could make it right.

She relaxed against him for a second before stepping away. “You’re right. I need to think like Grandma Nell would. This morning Starr wouldn’t even speak to me. She’s too young to be dealing with all this. I have to find a way to help her.”

“What about your dad?”

Destiny sighed. “I talked to him after I heard from his lawyer about Starr. Jimmy Don is touring in Europe this summer. He has no plans to come back before October. As for Starr, he’s sure she’ll be fine.”

Kipling felt a familiar anger stirring. Not all abuse came from a fist. “In other words, he doesn’t give a shit.”

“Not exactly how I would have phrased it, but yes. Famous people don’t have to clean up their own messes. There’s always someone ready to step in and do it for them. Not that I’m calling my sister a mess. You know what I mean.”

“I do. What are you going to say to her?”

She looked up at him, her green eyes wide with emotion. “I have no idea. The truth, I guess. That I made a mistake. That I care about her and want her to know that.”

“She needs to know she’ll always have a place with you.”

Destiny nodded slowly. “I know. But I haven’t figured out how to make that work yet. My job requires me to travel all the time. I can make sure I have an assignment that covers most of the summer months, but then I’ll be moving on.”

“Which makes boarding school practical,” he said. “Does she like it?”

“She hasn’t really said. You’re right. We need to talk more so she can feel safe. The whole conversation about Carter really threw me.”

“I’m sure they’re just friends.”

“That’s what she said. Six weeks ago I barely knew who she was. Now this. It’s too much.”

Instinctively, he pulled her close. She went easily into his arms and hung on to him.

They fit well together. He breathed in the scent of her hair and enjoyed the warmth of her body. When she stepped back, he let her go.

He knew not to read too much into her willingness to get close. She was hurting, and he was an available shoulder. But he found he liked being Destiny’s shoulder to lean on, at least for the moment. Because like her, he was always moving on. Emotionally if not physically.