Melissa Good - Thicker Than Water

Military histories. He’d loved them, she recalled, and now, thinking that, she remembered his reaction to Dar’s father and a little puzzle seemed to click into place. He’d always admired sol-diers, heroes. His most prized appointment had been to the Military Appropriations Committee. Surely, he’d taken the time to research Dar’s family. Kerry wondered what he’d decided about them. Had he changed his mind? Would he have ever changed his mind about her? About Dar?

With a sigh, she walked to the desk and gingerly sat in the chair, expecting but not getting a protesting squeak from the antique springs. She was reaching for the first drawer when a flash of color to her right caught her eye, and she half turned to look at the desk top.

Pictures were balanced along the back edge of the desk. To her utter surprise, she found herself looking back from one of the frames. Nestled between pictures of Angie and Mike, to one side of a smaller framed shot of her parents together, was not only a shot of her, but a recent one.

Dumbfounded, Kerry brought it closer as if to verify the evidence of her own eyes. She recognized the picture as one she’d had taken of herself for the corporate newsletter on her promotion 176 Melissa Good to vice president, so her expression was appropriately business-like.

It was an original. She could see the softly matted sheen, very different from the print in the glossy catalog. How had he gotten it?

She put it down again, a little shaken. It took all her will-power to turn her eyes from the photo and pull open the drawer to look inside it.

DAR’S CELL PHONE rang. She gave everyone an apologetic look, then stood and stepped outside the room to take the call.

“Hello?”

“Well, hello, Dar,” Alastair said. “Any luck?”

If there was any consolation to be found, Dar took it from the anxiety she could hear in Alastair’s voice. “No. Alastair, those papers could be anywhere. I’m sure he didn’t leave them just lying around his house, for God’s sake. They’re probably in a vault someplace.” She hesitated. “Listen, just…We should be home tonight. Have Bea book me on the first flight Tuesday.”

Alastair sighed.

“I want a day or so to get things settled,” Dar said. “And to give Kerry a few days. She’s pretty shaken up right now.”

“I’m sure,” Alastair murmured. “Take your time, Dar.”

Dar leaned against the wall and tried not to feel sick to her stomach. “Hey, Alastair?”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry.”

Alastair was silent for a moment. “Well, you know, Dar, jobs are jobs, but family is the important thing in life.” He hesitated.

“Right?”

It didn’t make either of them feel any better, Dar suspected.

“Right.” She heard soft footsteps coming down the hall and glanced up to see Kerry approaching. “I’ll call you later.”

“All right. Bye.” Alastair hung up just as Kerry came within earshot. Dar clipped her phone to her leather beltlet and reached out to give Kerry’s arm a gentle rub. “No luck, hm?”

Kerry shook her head. “He has…I mean, he had a little private office. I tried there.”

“S’okay.” Dar produced a smile for her, warm and genuine.

“C’mon. I think your aunt was about to tell us funny stories about you and a birthday party.”

Kerry rolled her eyes, but allowed herself to be bumped towards the doorway. Just shy of it she stopped and waited for Dar to come up behind her. “He had my picture on his desk, Dar.”

Thicker Than Water 177

Dar’s eyebrows shot up in honest surprise.

“I just don’t understand.” Kerry sighed and continued on into the room, giving her family a smile she didn’t really feel.

KERRY WAS GLAD Aunt Penny had stopped by, even though she did tend to tell embarrassing stories about her. At least one of my relatives, she reflected, actually likes me and doesn’t mind saying so. “We just took a walk up to the hill,” she said, in answer to her mother’s query. “I wanted to show Dar my old sledding spot.”

“Goodness, do you still have that Flyer around here, Cyndi?”

Aunt Penny asked. “I quite remember young Kerrison here doing battle with a tree on it years ago.”

“Ouch.” Kerry rubbed her nose in memory. “No, that one’s been gone a long time.” She spared a sad thought for its passing.

“Dar was going to chop down a tree and make one, but I convinced her we didn’t have time.”

Everyone looked at Dar, who looked back with devastating innocence. “Tell you what. We’ll go up to Aspen and I’ll make it up to you. You can watch me take out a few trees.”

Kerry grinned. “You’re on. After your shoulder heals, that is.”

“Oh yeah. Get that cleared up just in time fer her to break a laig.” Andrew chuckled.

Everyone laughed along with him, even Dar, who folded her arms over her chest. “I wasn’t the one who took out six ski instructors and a sled dog. Or that tent.”

“Mm…I remember that.” Ceci grimaced. “That dog was really mad.”

Cynthia leaned forward, placing her hands precisely into her lap. “That sounds very interesting. Do you ski, Commander?”

“Not very well.” Ceci ignored the snort from her husband.

“Between him and Dar, they cleared the slopes.”

Another chuckle made its way around the small circle. “Well, isn’t that fun.” Aunt Penny patted Kerry on the knee. “Sounds like you have your work cut out for you, dear.”

“Yes,” Cynthia agreed quickly. “Do stay for lunch, will you, Penny? It’s almost served.”

They all got up to go into the dining room. Kerry brought up the rear and was surprised when her mother held out a hand, slowing them both down. “What’s up?”

“Kerrison, could I speak with you, briefly?” her mother asked. “Alone?”

Ah. Kerry ran over the list of possible subjects and decided it was probably safe, unless her mother was going to give her “that 178 Melissa Good speech,” and it was a little too late for that. “Sure.” She waved at Dar, who was waiting in the doorway. “G’wan. I’ll catch up.”

Dar studied her for a moment, then nodded and slipped out of the room, leaving them alone together. “So,” Kerry turned and leaned against one of the large planters, “what’s on your mind?”

KERRY WAITED FOR the voice to stop, keeping her eyes fastened on the shifting sun outside the glass panes. Then she turned. “I can’t believe you’re asking me that.”

“Kerrison,” Cynthia held up a hand, “please, at least consider it. You would be excellent in this role.”

“Mother,” Kerry took a breath and held her temper, “I’m very happy with the life I have. I’m not changing it.”

“I’m not saying you aren’t, dear,” Cynthia said. “And certainly, I realize you’re very attached to your friend Dar, and she would be welcome here, as well.”

Kerry regarded her for a moment. “You really don’t get it, do you?” She sighed. “No, mother, I won’t accept a position here.”

She paused. “For one thing, you can’t afford me. Dar pays me a hell of a lot better than father ever paid anyone.”

“But…” Cynthia stopped. “Well, I’m sure…” She stopped again. “It’s not just the money, Kerrison. We want you to come back here and be part of your family. Surely you can understand that.”

“For another thing,” Kerry went on as though she hadn’t heard, “I don’t like Michigan.” She absorbed her mother’s slightly shocked look. “I love living in Florida.”

“But—”

“Dar and I have a wonderful life together, mother. Why would I want to change that?” Kerry asked in frustration. “Don’t you understand yet? This isn’t some passing phase I might grow out of.”