Ties That Bind (41 page)

Bringing my bride home. He’d scooped her up like a new bridegroom and crossed the threshold with flourish…

She touched the door reverently before she opened it. The downstairs was empty, and cleaners had come in to spruce it up. The house smelled like furniture polish and lemon.

A huge room opened up to the left. High ceilings. Built in oak bookcases. And a fieldstone fireplace at one end…

Come here, Katie. I want to make love to my wife in front of the fireplace our first night in the house…

Kate crossed to the floor-to-ceiling structure. Touched the mantel, the uneven stones. Light reflected off of them from the expanse of windows across the front where they’d once hung pretty curtains.

The kitchen brought more memories…cooking together, late-night snacks when they couldn’t sleep…once making love on the table. That little indiscretion had been where Sofie was conceived. Kate solemnly walked to the bay windows where the beautiful oval oak table had been; the spot looked out at the backyard.

Reese came up behind her. Over her head, he could see that the boys were in the tree house he’d built, and Pa was pushing Sofie on the sturdy swing set she’d used until she was a teenager. “That’s good to see.”

His hands rested on Kate’s shoulders. “Too much?”

She covered a hand with hers. “No. I want to see it all. I want to remember.”

They toured the wing off to the left where Emily and the boys had stayed when they visited. Reese swallowed hard, picturing his sister, in the home he’d loved.

I could live here, buddy, it’s so big. Me and the boys.

Even then, he’d said, You can, honey. Anytime.

Kate linked her arm with his, reading the sadness in his expression. “Emily loved these rooms. You were a good brother to her, Reese.”

They took the open oak staircase up to the second floor. Sofie’s room was on the right.

Reese swallowed hard when they reached the doorway…

Reese, you’re putting the spindles on wrong; would you please read the directions. I don’t want her falling out of the crib…Then later, Oh, Reese, look at her sleep. She’s an angel…

Kate turned her face into his shoulder and he held her there.

The final stop would be the hardest, he knew. They walked slowly down the hall to their bedroom. Tears misted his eyes, and Kate cried in earnest when they stepped inside…

Why are we putting oak and skylights on the ceiling? he’d teased. I’d rather have mirrors.

Kate detached herself from him. She crossed to the built-in dressers, checked out the bathroom they’d had put in for privacy, went to stand where their big brass bed had been…

I love you, so much, Reese. Swear to God you’ll never leave me…

She was more composed after they’d seen everything. She faced him with an odd expression on her face. “You said you’d fight dirty. This is dirty.”

He jammed his hands in his pockets. “I want our life back.”

His heart rammed in his chest when a look so sad came over her face. “We can’t have it back, Reese.”

Oh, no…He’d been so sure this would work…she was almost there and he’d thought a final push would…

“But we can build a new one.” The odd expression turned into a thousand-watt smile. “You, me, Sofie, the boys and Pa. It’ll be even better.”

Relief caused his body to sag. She crossed to him. “Didn’t you think I’d say yes?”

“Thinking it and hearing it are two different things.”

She slid her arms around his waist. “Then hear this. I love you. I’ll never do anything to hurt you. I’ll protect you from others who want to do you harm. I’ll cherish every day we have together. I’ll give you everything I have and always put your needs above mine. I’ll stay with you no matter how tough life gets and rejoice in the good things.”

He was unbelievably moved at her reiteration of the wedding vows they’d made to each other.

She continued with new words of promise. “I want to marry you again, Reese. I want to be with you here or anywhere. And this time, I’ll support you no matter what.”

She was referring to the judgeship. Later, he’d tell her he’d turned it down. And that Sofie wasn’t going back to Connor Prep for school. But right now he didn’t want to cloud the moment.

So he said only, “Is that a pact?”

“It’s a pact.”

His head bent, he began to lower his mouth to hers when they heard a door slam downstairs.

“Mom? Dad?”

“Uncle Reese?” Twice repeated.

So instead of kissing Kate senseless, he hugged her close. Cocooned in the warmth and safety of the home they’d built together, Reese vowed that this time they’d make things work. He’d learned from his sister’s death that life was too precious to waste.

After another shout from below, he whispered, “Let’s go tell the kids, Katie.”

She buried her face in his chest and said, “You’re on, hotshot.”

*******