“I can’t let you go, Kit.”
“I can’t stay.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Please leave while I still have the courage to say it. Please, Cord—help me be strong right now.”
“Where will you go, exactly?”
“To my apartment.”
“Are you going back to work?”
“Yes.”
“Is the number you gave Gwen a cell phone number?”
“Yes.”
“Then I can reach you whenever I want.”
“I don’t think—”
“I do!” He cut her off abruptly. “Don’t try to avoid me, Kit. It won’t work.”
“MAGGIE? I’m outside your door.”
“Are you alone?”
Cord knew what she was asking. “Kit’s on her way back to California.” He clicked off his cell phone.
In a minute he heard footsteps rush to the door. After she opened it, he locked it behind them, then saw the question in his sister’s eyes.
“Kit says she needs time before we do something that will be irreversible.”
“That means she’s in love with you, otherwise she would have wanted to have had the tests compared right away.”
He’d felt Kit’s love so strongly while they were wrapped in each other’s arms yesterday. But he hadn’t heard the words he’d wanted to hear until a few minutes ago.
No man could have wished for a more satisfying declaration. It had come out unsolicited, unabridged. Cord was still reeling. The knowledge that her emotions ran as deep as his had enabled him to walk away from her. But only for a short while…
Maggie put her hand on his arm. “I think it was providential she asked for more time because I’ve had a chance to do some more thinking. Come into the living room.”
He followed blindly.
“As soon as I got here, I started pouring over my photo album with Grandma’s pictures. I still can’t say she and Kit are dead ringers for each other. What I’m trying to tell you is I’m afraid I got carried away by the power of suggestion.”
Cord picked up the album. He studied the pictures of their grandmother, Dorothy Adams Cordell McFarland.
If Kit’s classic features were superimposed on her face, anyone would have to admit there was a likeness between them. But as Maggie had just stated, you couldn’t say they were even close to being identical.
He put the album back on the coffee table. “When I first saw Kit out in back of the mansion, the image of Grandma never entered my mind.” All he’d seen was a natural beauty standing in the sunlight, smelling like fresh fruit.
“That’s probably because she’s not our sister. Do you want to know what I really think?”
His breath caught. “What’s that?”
“Another power’s at work here. The power of love. That old magic between a man and woman. My conference room was thick with it after you walked in and discovered Kit sitting there. The chemistry between you was something I’ll always remember.”
She searched his eyes. “Let’s forget this day ever happened, so you two can explore your feelings out in the open.”
Cord’s heart underwent another workout. “You really mean that?”
“Yes. I do. Our family has done enough grieving for several lifetimes. What they don’t know can’t hurt them. What you and I don’t know can’t hurt us.
“Kit said herself her mother suffered from hallucinations because of her alcoholism. Heaven knows how she heard about the kidnapping, but we all hear things in life that haunt us. Remember how I obsessed about the fire in that children’s home when I was a little girl?”
“Yes. You suffered over it for years.”
“I did, even though it took place on the East Coast. Maybe Kit’s mother heard about Kathryn’s abduction and it stayed with her. If she sensed her death was near and she was afraid for her daughter to be left alone, would it be such a stretch to see how she might have hallucinated such a scenario?”
Cord stared at his sister, wanting desperately to accept her reasoning.
“Kit’s already done a lot of research both in California and here to unravel this mystery. She’s come up with absolutely nothing. If she could find her father, she would probably learn she’s his child from another woman. Maybe Kit’s mother wanted Kit to believe she was her biological child, and that’s why she perpetuated the lie over the years.”
Maggie, Maggie. I know why you’re saying this and I love you for it.
“You and I agree Kit’s similarity to some family photos doesn’t make it true she’s related to us. She doesn’t resemble you, me or Ben. Do you honestly feel any familial connection to her whatsoever?”
Cord shook his head. “No. None at all. And if she were our sister, you would think there would be some physical characteristic she’d inherited from the folks.”
“But there isn’t. Nothing stands out, so I don’t see the point in belaboring this one more minute. You’d be surprised how many times this kind of situation comes up in court. The prosecution wants to prove something, so they try to make it work. But you can’t order something to fit if it’s the wrong fit.”
His sister was driving the point home like the great attorney she’d become. “Kit’s the wrong fit,” he murmured.
“For being your sister, yes. But not for whatever else you want her to be. I’m thinking of you, Cord. Love like the kind I can feel happening between you and Kit doesn’t come along very often in this life. I told you earlier, I like her. I really like her.
“Why not let me fly you down to California tomorrow so you can spend some time with her away from everyone? Get to know her. Find out if there’s a future for the two of you. This family could stand a little joy. Everyone will be crazy about her in no time.”
Maggie had convinced him. Now to convince Kit. “She’s already won Brock over.”
“You’re kidding. When was this?”
“Saturday, after the Little League game.”
She flashed him a smile. “You’ve been very secretive, but I’ll forgive you if you tell me everything now—”
She broke off talking when her house phone started to ring. “It’s probably Mom. I turned off my cell phone while I was in the meeting with Kit and forgot to turn it back on.”
“After what happened today, it’s just as well.”
The answering machine clicked on and they moved into the study to listen to the message.
Maggie? It’s me.
Cord hardly recognized their sister-in-law’s voice.
Ben’s in Deer Valley. He got home from Zurich a day early. He just phoned and wants to come to the house to talk to me.
Julie didn’t sound well, and it wasn’t only because of her bronchitis. Cord exchanged a worried glance with Maggie. Who knew what was going on in their brother’s mind at this point?
We can’t do it in front of the children. They don’t know he’s back and I don’t want them or Mom and Dad McFarland to know. Could I bring the children to the penthouse?
Before Maggie could reach the phone, Cord had grabbed the receiver and picked up. “Hi, Julie. I’m here with Maggie. Don’t worry about a thing. I’m coming right now to get the kids. Tell them I’ve been planning a surprise sleepover. They’ll need their pajamas and sleeping bags.”
She broke down crying. “You’re a lifesaver, Cord. What would I do without you and Maggie?”
“That’s what families are for. I’m on my way.”
The second he hung up, Maggie said, “I’m going with you.” They left for Federal Heights in Cord’s Land Rover.
A few minutes later they drove up their brother’s driveway. Brock came running out of the house first, carrying his bedroll and backpack.
“Aunt Maggie—what are you doing here? I mean…” He looked at Cord. “Where’s Kit? I was hoping she’d be with you.”
Cord could tell Maggie was trying to hold back her laughter. “Climb inside and I’ll tell you.”
Katy hurried toward them with her sleeping bag.
A pale Julie waved to them from the front porch. “I owe you two. Thank you!”
“It’s our treat. See you tomorrow,” Maggie called to her.
Tomorrow Cord planned to be in Venice Beach to surprise Kit.
He looked over his shoulder. “Does everyone have their seat belts fastened?”
“Yes!” the kids blurted in unison. They hated it when he reminded them, but the talk with Maggie had transformed his mood to the point he felt like teasing them.
His niece leaned forward to peer between the seats. “Are we going to sleep with you, Aunt Maggie?”
“Yes, sweetheart.”
“Goody.”
“Is Kit coming, too?” her brother pressed.
Cord shook his head. “Afraid not, Brock.”
“How come?”
“She had to fly down to California, but she’ll be back.”
“Do you feel bad she’s gone?”
“Yes,” he answered honestly.
“I thought she was homeless.”
“Kit has a friend she’s going to stay with.” It wasn’t a complete lie. Her relationship with Janene appeared to be a close one.
“Did you two have a fight?”
He frowned. “No. Why would you think that?”
“’Cuz Mom and Dad quarreled before he moved to our cabin in Deer Valley.”
“We’ll be in front of Robbin’s any second now,” Maggie interjected. “Who wants to stop for ice cream?”
“I do,” Katy said immediately.
“What about you, Brock?”
“No, thanks.”
Cord eyed him in the rearview mirror. Much as he wanted to reassure his nephew everything would be all right where his parents were concerned, he couldn’t. Ben had come home from his trip to Zurich a day early for a reason, but only he knew what it was.
The situation with Kit was different. Cord knew why she’d left Salt Lake. No matter how late the hour, he planned to get her on the phone tonight and assure her they were going to have a future together.
Maggie had given her blessing. That was good enough for Cord.
CHAPTER TEN
“I’M GLAD YOU’RE SLEEPING over tonight, Janene. Besides wanting to talk to you, it’s hard to come home and know Mother’s not here.”
“I can imagine.”
“I’ll make up a bed for you on the couch. But first I need to get my cell phone from the bedroom and turn it on. If I leave it off, I wouldn’t put it past Cord to show up at the door in the morning, demanding to know why. I don’t dare give him an excuse to come near.”
“You two are way past that stage, Kit. He’s a man in love—he’s past excuses.”
“Don’t say that.” She came back in the living room carrying a sheet and blanket from the linen cupboard.
Janene helped her make up the couch. “Kit, you couldn’t be a McFarland or you would have noticed something that linked the three of you genetically.”
“That’s what I keep telling myself, but you know what he said about my resemblance to their grandmother.”
“It’s only natural. They’ve been searching for their sister for years. The power of suggestion caused them to arrive at that conclusion. If you want my opinion, it’s too big a reach. My mom and dad have been taken for brother and sister before. Go figure!”
“You have me convinced.”
“Then fight for him while you can!”
Kit eyed her friend with compassion. Janene had just found out her fiancé’s tour of duty in the Middle East was going to be extended another six months. The couple had planned to be married in August. Now it would be January at the earliest, if he made it back at all. Those were Janene’s words. Kit had rushed to reassure her that Tony would eventually come home and everything would be fine.
Until Janene had confided this new worry, Kit had thought nothing in the world could be worse than her own problems. But fear for a loved one’s life was another matter entirely. It would be one thing to have to be apart from Cord, and quite another to know that she could never, ever see him again.
While they were deep in conversation, her cell phone rang. She checked her watch. It was twelve-thirty. Kit’s heart began to race.
Her friend flashed her a knowing smile. “Go ahead and talk to him. I’ll watch TV.”
She nodded before rushing into the bedroom with her phone. “Hello?”
“Good. You’re home safe.” Kit felt Cord’s vibrant male voice resonate within her.
“Yes. Janene picked me up.”
“Is she there now?”
“In the other room.”
“The second I left you, I went over to Maggie’s. We had a long talk. After studying the photos of our grandmother, we’ve reached the conclusion that you’re not our flesh and blood.”
“Say that again?”
“You don’t resemble anyone else in the family, living or dead. The likeness to our grandmother is too vague. There’s no reason to compare your DNA to Mom’s and Dad’s.”
Kit gripped her phone tighter. “Are you absolutely sure about this?”
“Yes. Otherwise I wouldn’t be having this discussion with you. The FBI will keep working to locate your father. My sister assures me they’re going to be looking into the records of California’s state agencies. Something could surface that might yield information about your mother. In the meantime, I’m flying down after work tomorrow to spend the rest of your vacation with you.”
“Really? I can’t believe it.”
“I can’t wait to hold you all night.”
“It’s all I can think about,” she confessed.
“Meeting you has made me feel reborn. I want to experience everything with you.”
“I want that as much as you do.” But the sudden change in the situation seemed too good to be true. “You honestly believe that we’re not related?”
“Yes, Kit. The matter’s settled. The only thing important here is for us to be together as soon as possible. We haven’t begun to get to know each other yet. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes!” The talk with Janene had foreshadowed this moment.
“That’s all I need to hear. We’ll play tourist. It’s been awhile since I spent time at the ocean.”
“When was your last real vacation?”
“I can’t remember.”
This was all happening so fast. “Do you know your flight yet?”
“The minute I take care of some pending business, Maggie will fly me down. I’ll rent a car.”
Kit blinked. “She’s a pilot, too?”
“Our mother wishes she weren’t.”
“I can understand that,” Kit murmured. Mrs. McFarland had already lost one daughter. To lose another one prematurely was unthinkable. “Will Maggie be staying over?”
“No. She has foundation business in Cedar City. A kidnapping took place there a few days ago.”
Kit shuddered. “How ghastly.”
“It is, but I don’t want to talk about that right now. I want to focus on us. You and me.”
“So do I. In case you’re worried, my apartment complex is easy to find.”
“That’s good, because I’m going to be in a hurry.”
Oh, Cord.
“When you leave the L.A. airport, get on the Pacific Coast Highway going north. You’ll come to Venice Beach. Turn right on Washington Boulevard. Travel about a mile and you’ll make another right on Bromley Court. I’m in the first cluster, number two.”
“Got it. I’ll call you when I leave Salt Lake.”
She closed her eyes tightly. “Tell me I’m not dreaming.”
“Does it matter as long as we’re in the same dream?”
“No,” she answered in a tremulous whisper. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I wish it were right now.”
“So do I.”
“Kit?”
“Yes?”
“There’s so much I want to say.”
“Me, too. Just hurry and come. It’s going to feel lik
e a lifetime until you get here.”
“Do you have any idea how I felt when I discovered you’d left the cottage for good?” The emotion in his voice was a revelation to her.
“You know why I did it.”
“I know, but I still haven’t recovered. I need you to hold me until I’m convinced you’ll never do that to me again. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes! I adore you, Cord. You have no idea how much. Please, fly safely.”
“Always. Good night, Kit.”
“Good night.”
CORD COULD HEAR the padding of little feet. Someone had just entered the guest bedroom of the penthouse.
“Katy? Is that you?”
“Yes!” She climbed up on his bed and gave him a hug.
He glanced at his watch. “Katy? It’s only seven in the morning!” For once he’d felt like sleeping in. The knowledge that he’d be seeing Kit soon had acted like an opiate.
“But I couldn’t sleep.”
Obviously. “Is your aunt Maggie awake yet?”
“No. I sneaked out of her room. Will you fix me some cereal? I can’t reach the cupboard.”
“Sure, honey.”
He rolled out of bed and stretched before following her pajama-clad body to the kitchen. “Does Brock want some, too?”
“I don’t know.”
“Run in the living room and ask him.” Brock had slept in his bag on the couch.
“Okay.”
Cord reached for the box of breakfast flakes and found some bowls. He might as well eat with the kids and let Maggie have her rest. She deserved it. If the truth were told, the entire McFarland clan suffered from workaholic’s disease.
But Kit’s advent in his life was already changing him. Being with her for the last week had made him take a whole new look at the world around him. When Cord was with her, he wanted to savor each moment. He couldn’t believe how differently he felt about everything since they’d met.
“Brock’s not in there.”
Cord had just finished pouring milk over the cereal. “Then he’s probably bothering your aunt. Go find him and tell him to come and eat. Be very quiet.”
She gave him one of her sweet smiles. “I will.”
Katy was a cutie. Ben was really missing out on the most important things in life by working and traveling so much. If he’d gone to Brock’s ball game, he would have been proud of his son’s performance.
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