Melissa Good - Thicker Than Water

heavy and determined—headed in their direction. “I think that problem’s going to have to wait.” Kerry rolled off the bed.

Dar got out after her and followed her across the carpet, but stopped when Kerry paused and put her hand out, touching Dar’s chest. “What?”

“They’re my family.” Kerry intently searched Dar’s face.

“Please. Let me take a stab at handling them. Stay back for now.”

128 Melissa Good Dar frowned.

“Please?” Kerry brushed Dar’s lips with her own. “I have to face them sometime, Dar. You can’t beat them all up for me.”

“Why not?”

“Dar.”

Dar sighed. “Okay.” She opened the door for Kerry. “Go get

’em.” She gave her a pat on the butt, and watched until she disappeared around the edge of the corridor leading to the stairs. She waited an additional moment, then slipped out, padded to the landing, and cocked her head to listen.

CYNTHIA STUART SAW the broad back go past her, and she hurried after it. “Edgar?”

Edgar stopped, then turned and looked at her. “Cyndi, I heard you had that whore under this roof.” He stared accusingly at her. “We had a bargain.”

“Edgar,” Cynthia frowned, “this really is none of your business. If I choose to—”

“Cynthia, it is my business,” Edgar said flatly. “Roger was my brother, and you know how he felt about that woman and the godforsaken way she chooses to live.”

“Yes.” Cynthia sighed. “I am well aware of how he felt.”

“Then how could you?” Edgar asked. “How could you invite her in here, push her in all our faces, when we all know how he felt, how that ate at him. Good Lord, Cynthia, what the hell’s wrong with you?”

“Edgar, listen to me.” Cynthia was upset. “I know you have strong feelings, but—”

“Strong?” Edgar’s voice rose. “No, you don’t understand. I hate her. I hate her and everything she stands for, and I hate what she did to this family and to my brother.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Cynthia snapped back. “You don’t nearly know the truth of that.” She stepped closer. “Do you think Kerrison simply decided to turn against Roger for no reason?”

“There is no reason that can explain what she did.”

“Yes, there is.” A quiet voice interrupted them. Both turned to see Kerry standing there, watching them with wary green eyes.

“But you know what? I don’t owe you any explanations.”

“Kerrison,” Cynthia put up a pacifying hand, “please, let me handle this. I’m sure—”

“Mother, this has to stop somewhere.” Kerry looked her uncle in the eye. “What is it you want from me, Uncle Edgar?”

Edgar stared at her, his nostrils flaring. “I want you to go to Hell,” he said softly and bitterly.

Thicker Than Water 129

“Edgar!”

“It’s all right, mother,” Kerry replied softly. “Uncle, tell me something. Do you want me to burn in Hell for exposing my father’s illegal activities to the press, or because I’m gay?” She held his eyes, her body shaking inside and her guts churning. Part of her regretted asking Dar to stay behind, but she knew she had to face this, one way or the other.

A flicker of indecision crossed his face, then his jaw firmed.

“You’re a disgrace to this family and an abomination in the eyes of God!” he yelled, then turned, walked down the stairs, crossed the foyer, and exited into the study.

Kerry released the breath she’d been holding, and relaxed her shoulders.

“Kerrison...” Cynthia lifted a hand, then let it fall.

“There’s nothing you can say,” Kerry said. “I’m sure there’ll be a lot more people here tonight that feel that way.” She looked at her mother. “But you know what? I don’t care.” She drew in a breath. “I can’t change what I did, and I can’t change who I am.”

Cynthia hesitated, then twitched Kerry’s sleeve straight.

“This is so difficult. I wish I had a simple answer to this quite horrible situation, Kerrison. But I will tell you that despite how hard it has been, I’m very glad you decided to come here.” Her eyes intently searched Kerry’s face.

Kerry blinked, then gazed at the railing on which her hand was resting. “It…wasn’t an easy choice.” Her voice was a little husky. “I didn’t really want to face this.” Now she looked up.

“But you’re my family. I can’t change that, either.”

Cynthia pursed her lips and shook her head a little. “We should sit down and talk. I think that’s been sadly lacking in this entire situation.”

The doorbell rang. “Guess that’s the start of it.”

Cynthia sighed. “I suppose it is. I was hoping…” She let the thought die away. “Perhaps after the reception we can speak further.”

“Sure,” Kerry said quietly, knowing it would never happen.

“I’ll go change.” She turned and went back up the stairs, deeply immersed in sober thoughts. She rounded the last bend before the landing and crashed into Dar. “Oh!”

Mild blue eyes regarded her as Dar steadied her with a quick grip.

“Thought I told you to stay behind,” Kerry murmured.

“I did. You just didn’t specify how far behind I had to stay.”

Giving Kerry an unrepentant look, Dar indicated the staircase.

“That jackass was lucky he decided to give up and leave.”

“Dar, don’t you think I can handle my own family?” Kerry 130 Melissa Good asked with a touch of annoyance.

“No,” Dar replied calmly. “I couldn’t handle mine and needed your help.” She laid a finger on the tip of Kerry’s nose.

“Don’t think I didn’t hear you at my grandmother’s funeral, making sure they all knew how their poor ragamuffin relative from down South had made good.”

Kerry smiled faintly at the memory. “That’s true.” She relaxed a bit. “C’mon, we’d better get dressed for this thing. People are starting to show up.”

Dar circled Kerry’s shoulders with one long arm as they went back to the green room. “You were the main reason my father decided to ask me to help him recontact Mom; you know that, right? And if I recall, a certain drawing exhibition…”

“Okay.” Kerry held up a hand. “I get the point, Dar.” She gave her a quiet look. “I guess I’m quite the little meddler, aren’t I?”

“Yep.” Dar pushed the door open and stood aside for Kerry to enter. “So don’t you dare give me a hard time for doing the same thing.” She followed Kerry inside and closed the door. “Speaking of which, let’s talk strategy.”

Kerry paused with her hand on her bag and turned. “Strategy?” She unzipped the bag and removed her dark suit. “For what?”

The room was darkened by the weather outside; only two lamps shed butter colored light across the room, and it splashed over Dar as she walked to Kerry. “What’s your goal here, Kerry?

What outcome do you want this evening to have, when it’s all over? Is this where you tell your family to kiss your ass, or do you want to try to mend fences?”

Kerry blinked at her in total bewilderment. “Dar, what are you talking about?”

“Think,” Dar replied, as she laid a hand on Kerry’s cheek.

“Everyone has their opinion of who you are. Do you want to change that?” There was only silence as Dar watched thoughts chase themselves across Kerry’s expressive face. “Are you proud of who you are?”

Blonde lashes flickered. “I don’t know.” Kerry inhaled. “I should be, shouldn’t I?”

Dar gazed intently into her eyes, allowing her own powerful personality to surge to the surface. “You have to believe in yourself before you can get anyone else to buy into that. And yes, you should be very proud of who you are.” A faint smile curved her lips. “I know I am.”