Melissa Good - Thicker Than Water

“Well you certainly look different,” her aunt said. “You definitely…filled out.”

Kerry refused to view that as the insult her aunt undoubtedly intended it to be. “Thanks. You look good yourself.”

“Yes, she certainly has changed.” A voice came from Kerry’s left, sending a chill down her back. She turned to find her worst nightmare looking back at her through cold, gray eyes.

“Hello, Kyle.” Her stomach lurched as she remembered the Thicker Than Water 141

last time they’d met. She felt someone brush lightly against her on the right side, but she remained in place, warily watching her old adversary. She honestly hadn’t expected this confrontation. Her mother had told her Kyle had been sent overseas months ago, and she’d figured… Damn.

“Yes, didn’t expect me, did you?” Kyle laughed. “I’ve just arrived. I’m so glad to see you.”

Kerry felt like throwing up. “Feeling’s not mutual.” She resisted the urge to look around for the comfort of Dar’s presence.

A thousand childhood fears reared their heads, a hundred memories of that smiling face echoed in places she’d thought well cleared. “Excuse me.”

“Oh, but we’ve only started to talk.” Kyle moved closer, very aware of the watching eyes. “Do tell me what you’ve been up to, Kerrison. I want to hear every detail.”

Feeling trapped, Kerry studied him to give herself a moment to think. “Nothing you’d be interested in, Kyle. I don’t think there’s much for us to discuss.”

Kyle put a proprietary hand on her shoulder. “Come now, is that any way to talk? Let’s—”

A hand covered his and removed it from Kerry’s arm with a power evident even in that brief contact. “Ah do believe this here young lady has other things she’d be liking to do.”

Kerry whirled in startled, disbelieving shock. She tipped her head back to take in the tall, grizzle haired man in a Naval uniform right behind her, his scarred face set in watchful stillness.

“Ya’ll might want to just let her get on with them,” Andrew drawled.

Kyle’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me, but I don’t think this is quite your affair…ah,” he glanced at Andrew’s chest, “Commander, is it?” Then he looked again. “Roberts. Ah.”

Andy put a long arm around Kerry’s shoulders. “Ah’d say you were wrong. This here young lady is very much mah business.”

Kerry exhaled her tension, and threw her arms around him in a hug. Kyle had truly rattled her, and to have Andrew show up at just the right moment… “Wow,” she whispered, squeezing him hard before she released him and turned back around. Kyle was watching Andrew with wary dislike, and the rest of her relatives were frankly staring at him. “Sorry. This was kind of unexpected.

This is my father-in-law, Andrew Roberts.” She almost enjoyed the flinches. “A very welcome surprise.”

“I’m sure,” Kyle murmured. “For you, at least.”

Andrew eyed him steadily for a moment, then looked around at the gathered relatives. “Hi there.” His Southern accent dripped 142 Melissa Good out like molasses. “Good t’meet y’all. This here’s mah wife, Ceci,”

he added, as Cecilia joined him.

“Hello.” Ceci smiled with charming frigidity at the crowd.

“Moments like this make even a rationalist like me seriously doubt Darwin.”

“Hi.” Kerry was hard pressed to restrain her glee at seeing Ceci, someone who could meet her relatives on equal footing and boot them in the rear with exquisite courtesy. It was seriously like having the cavalry riding over the hill. “When did you guys get here? Did you see… Ah.” She felt Dar’s presence at her elbow, and a warm hand touched her back. “Hey.”

“Hey,” Dar said. “Now the puppy-sitting makes sense.”

“Hm.” Kerry regained her balance. With Dar and Andrew bracketing her like a pair of sturdy bookends, life had gotten much better with startling rapidity. It wasn’t that she didn’t have confidence in Dar alone, but Kyle’s specialty had always been intimidation, and Andy simply was who he was, his scarred, yet potent strength making her old adversary seem almost childlike in comparison.

Maybe Kyle felt it. Certainly, he backed up a few steps, pretending to take more interest in obtaining a glass of wine from one of the servants. Then he looked up as a cluster of people approached and grimly smiled.

Kerry turned, only to be face to face with her mother and another pod of relatives. “Ah…uh…”

“Kerrison…Oh.” Cynthia Stuart stopped a little short, blinking at her unexpected guests. “Why, Commander, it’s good to see you. And Mrs. Roberts, how nice it is to have you here.”

Ceci’s eyebrows lifted almost imperceptibly. It wasn’t quite the reception she’d expected, given their last meeting. However, one took what one could get, and if she got caviar instead of fish turds, all the better. She dusted off her annoying company manners and presented them, knowing she’d get no help whatsoever from her beloved spouse. “Thank you so much for welcoming us in such a distressing time. We always do seem to be meeting under the worst of circumstances, don’t we?”

Cynthia pursed her lips. “You know, that’s very true. Perhaps we could invite you to a Christmas party or something in the future?”

“Well, I’m a pagan. Solstice, perhaps?” Ceci smiled charmingly and watched the comment fly over Cynthia’s head and splat against the white walls.

“Of course. Lovely,” Cynthia answered vaguely. “Ah…”

Dar was having an absolute ball watching the expressions on the faces of Kerry’s family. Their reactions ran the gamut from Thicker Than Water 143

puzzlement to outrage. Dar made sure she smiled at each of them.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kyle slip away as a curious cameraman approached, drawn most likely by Andrew’s tall, uniform clad form.

Having had enough fun for the moment, Ceci took Cynthia’s proffered hands. “We knew it was a rough time for everyone.

Glad we could be here to give you our sympathies in person. You have a beautiful home.”

A camera flashed.

“Why, thank you,” Cynthia replied warmly. “Oh, do come and let me introduce you to my brother Anthony. I believe he collects your work.”

“When he finds out who I am, hopefully he’ll continue to do so.” Ceci smiled politely and held a hand out to Andrew. “We’d love to meet him.”

“One less thing for you to have to worry about,” Kerry murmured, turning her head so that only Dar could hear her. “What a gorgeous surprise, and what perfect timing.”

“Mm,” Dar grunted, giving the press a polite smile. “I could use a drink of water, how about you?”

Amazing how dry that suddenly made her throat. “You bet.”

Kerry edged out of the view of the press, who seemed intrigued by their new target. “Dad looks great.”

“Yeah,” Dar whispered back. “I’ve never seen all those decorations before. I can’t believe Mom got him to wear them.” She eyed them and gave her father a pointed look before she gently steered Kerry through a nearby doorway and into a small alcove just off the reception room. Here there was a linen draped table with glasses and a pitcher of water. She poured two glasses and handed one to her lover.

For a moment, they sipped their drinks and regarded each other. Then Kerry sighed. “Night of surprises.”

Dar nodded. “Some not so good.”

Kerry stared into the depths of her glass and swirled its contents. “Yeah. Damn. I forgot how much I hated him.” She was surprised to see her hands shaking, then realized the rest of her also shook. “Wow.”

Dar took the glass out of her hand and put it down. She took Kerry’s cold hands in her own and warmed them. “It’s a little chilly in here.”