"Your mother and I are seeing each other," he said with a nod.
Katie held up her hand. "It's none of my business," she said, looking away and trying not to smile.
"We can talk more about this over breakfast?" Vicky said, looking between the Judge and her daughter. "I'll go get Jacob settled in the guest room. I'm sure glad I bought that playpen," she said with a nervous laugh. Katie looked at her with a tentative smile. Vicky picked up Jacob's bag and whisked him away. The Judge nodded and turned to the stairs.
When he was out of sight, Will broke out in a huge grin. "Your mom and Judge Wainwright, huh?"
Katie gave a tired attempt at rolling her eyes. "Sarah had told me, so it wasn't that much of a surprise. She didn't know he was staying over, though." Secretly, she delighted in being able to call her sister and fill her in.
Vicky turned off the hall light and the living room was dim. She felt Will's eyes on her and turned away. "I'll walk you out," she said, opening the screen door.
It was slightly chilly. Will slipped off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. "Thanks," she said, pulling it closed in the front. They walked slowly to his truck, side by side. The air was thick with the memory of the kiss they'd shared, both wondering what it meant; neither ready to ask.
"I'm so glad you came back," she said. She wasn't used to having a hero. She imagined she could get used to it, however.
"I'm just glad you and Jacob were alright."
They stopped at the edge of the drive and stood across from each other awkwardly. The full moon cast shadows all around them and the small noises of night animals echoed from the woods.
A little part of Katie wanted to apologize for the kiss. A bigger part didn't. She expected him to ask her again about dinner, but he didn't. When they got tired of the unwieldy silence, he reached for the door handle.
"Good night, Katie."
Her mind raced. She wasn't ready for him to leave. "Thanks again," she said, feeling clumsy and stupid. As it was, they were small words for how she truly felt. And she worried she was being obvious.
He looked at her and she saw something was different. He was changed. And after the moment they shared in the kitchen, she had been too, if she were being honest. He opened his mouth to speak and then closed it quickly, with a small shake of his head. Before she could ask him what it was he had wanted to say, he leaned down and touched his lips to hers. Nothing like what they'd shared earlier, this was sweetly innocent and far too quick. Her eyes were still closed when he whispered, "If you need anything, you know where I am."
She opened them and he was getting in his truck. She couldn't help but think he looked just a little sad. He held his hand up. "Night, Katie."
Chapter 20
Katie hardly slept a wink all night. Between the attack, the kiss, finding out her mother had a lover and the sadness in Will's eyes that she couldn't understand, she tossed and turned, willing her mind to stop racing. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Kade, grinning down at her. She spent the night alternating between cold shivers and bouts of nausea.
She sat at her mother’s kitchen table, stirring cream into her coffee. Judge Wainwright walked in, said a cordial hello and went to the cupboard. Obviously, he knew his way around this kitchen. Katie could hear the shower running upstairs and knew her mother would be awhile. She smiled, remembering that her mother always took long showers when she was avoiding something. Didn't matter what time of day and it didn't matter what issue. Her father had to install a larger hot water heater because of it. She thought of Will. Never before had she been so confused.
The Judge sat down across from her with his coffee and a muffin. "Well, I guess the cats out of the bag now," he said.
"It's really no one's business."
"Yes, well, you know this town, Katie. We've managed to keep it a secret for a year now."
"Why should you have to keep it a secret? What kind of trouble could this possibly bring?"
In comparison to her own situation, she couldn't understand the need for secrecy.
"It's not that it would bring us trouble. Although it wouldn't be a good idea for this to be twisted into an affair scandal with elections coming. Of course, not being married, people would talk, but I don’t care a hoot about that. We liked keeping it a secret." He laughed and his eyes crinkled at the edges. She could tell he'd been quite the handsome devil in his time. "At first we wanted to keep it from our kids. We didn't know how they'd react. And we didn't know how it would go…if it would go anywhere. Then I guess it sort of became a game. It was fun to sneak around like kids and have something that no one else knew about." He shook his head. "Silly, I guess."
"No, that's sweet, actually. And if you guys are happy then that's all that matters."
"I'm glad you feel that way, Katie. Because now that you and Sarah know, I'll be telling my kids. And then I'm going to ask her to marry me."
He studied her, waiting for her reaction.
"Wow. Marriage? That's…"
"I know it seems sudden to you, but we've been together for the better part of a year and a half. I've been thinking about it a lot. Mostly when I was sneaking out at four in the morning." He laughed. "But trust me, it's more than wanting to be with Vicky and get a full night’s sleep," he assured.
"Well, I think it's great. I'm glad to know that she won't be alone, actually."
"Well, it's important to me that you are okay with it."
She smiled sarcastically and held her hand up. "If you know anything about my life, Judge, you'll know that I'm in no position to lecture others on how to live theirs."
He sipped his coffee and began to tear off bits of muffin. "I do love your mother. And I promise to do right by her. Always."
"That's all we can ask."
Vicky fluttered into the room with a towel on her head. "How is everyone this morning?" she chirped as she poured her coffee and replaced the pot.
"Fine. Just getting to know your boyfriend, here." Vicky and the Judge blushed.
"Well, I guess it would have gotten out sooner or later," she said as she sat down next to him and put her hand on his leg.
Desperately trying to take the attention off herself, she grinned at Katie. "Tell me about that handsome young man who brought you here last night?"
"Oh, he’s just a friend," she said, casting her eyes down. Katie was amazed at how she and her mother had fallen back into comfortable conversation after the fallout. Amazed but grateful.
Vicky looked at the Judge with devilish eyes. "We were just friends."
"No, really, he's…" She sighed heavily. "He had asked me out, but I said no."
"Why?"
"Well, there's the little issue of being newly widowed, having a small child, the town already erupting in talk about us…oh, and don't forget I'm still a 'person of interest' with the police.
"I wouldn't worry too much about that, Katie."
She looked up at the Judge. "Why not?"
"I can't say specifically. Details are delicate, but let's just say, hypothetically, that there was a murder in a small town and that person was known to be of less than stellar moral character. If the police had someone that they could appear to be focusing on, then there's a better chance that the real criminal would get comfortable and slip up."
"So, you're saying they don't really think I did it?"
"Are we speaking hypothetically still?"
"Sure. Hypothetically, they know I didn't do it?"
"I read in a novel one time, purely fiction, of course."
Katie dropped her hand on the table and teasingly glared at the Judge.
"Hypothetically, no. They're looking into leads and waiting. But you didn't hear that from me," he said with raised eyebrows, sipping his coffee.
"Well, that's the first little bit of good news I've had in weeks."
"You should celebrate by going out to dinner."
Katie shook her head and then looked up at the ceiling. "I already said no."
; Her mother bit her lip, and quietly gasped. Katie's neck was covered in light blue finger width bruises.
"What?"
"Your…" She motioned to her own neck and tried to hide her look of horror.
Katie's fingers trailed over the sides of her throat and she swallowed hard.
"I’m so glad Will was there," Vicky said. The lightness of the morning was gone and now it was silent. Vicky shook her head. "I guess I didn't fully understand." Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Understand what?"
Vicky reached out and touched her daughter's battered neck. "How bad it was."
It's true; her mother hadn't asked many details. Add that to her embarrassment over the Judge and the gravity of what nearly happened seemed to have flown right by her.
"Well, I'd like to just forget about it, really. If I could just stay here a few days I'm sure I'll be fine."
"Stay as long as you like." She nodded firmly and dabbed at her eyes. "In fact, your old room is available. You don't have to leave at all."
"Thank you," she said, seriously entertaining the thought.
Vicky stood and began digging around the refrigerator. "Eggs anyone?"
"Sure, thanks."
"Over easy please," the Judge said.
Jacob began crying and Katie jumped up.
"Katie."
She turned to her mother.
"I know this may be none of my business. But you've been through a lot lately. I think it would do you good to get out for a bit and just…relax. Please, think about it."
Katie pulled herself up with a hint of irritation. "I don't understand. The last time I lived here, you did everything in your power to keep me away from boys. And now, only weeks after Tom and a day after being attacked you're shoving me off to date someone you don't even know!"
"Actually, missy, I know he's well known and well liked in the town. What I didn't know, the Judge here filled me in on last night after we went back to bed. Never married, clean record and one heck of a generous gentleman. Give me some credit, Katie. I wouldn't try to shove you at anything if I didn't think you needed it. If I didn't think it was good for you." Switching the subject quickly, she said, "Why don't you give your sister a call. Invite her over for lunch." She looked at the Judge. "Might as well tell her, too."
Jacob was wailing now and Katie hurried out of the room.
Sarah did her best to look surprised. It wasn't good enough and her mother cast her a harsh look. "You knew."
"I did," she admitted with a smile. "But I wanted to let you tell me." The Judge reached over and took Vicky's hand. She blushed like a young girl.
Katie leaned in close. "But you didn't know they were getting it on," she whispered. Sarah erupted in giggles.
"What's so funny?" her mother asked.
Katie shook her head. "Sister joke."
Outside the taboo issue of it being her own mother, she didn't see why that wouldn't be the case. Her mother was still thin and healthy; she took good care of herself. Faithful about touching up her roots and getting manicures, she had a distinguished air about her. Stubbornness was her strongest quality; Katie could see that she'd applied that trait to aging and was fighting it every step of the way and she was winning. Her face seemed to lit up when she looked at the Judge, washing away even more years. And though the loving glances made Katie miss her father, she was happy for her mother. No one should be alone.
That thought nagged at her for the next several minutes and she missed the ongoing conversation completely.
"So, how's that sound, Katie?"
"I'm sorry, what?"
"A big Sunday dinner next week. We thought we'd get all the kids together. So we can all get to know each other." She looked excited and scared.
"Sure."
"We could do a big barbeque, even. The deck is all cleaned up. It'll hold everyone."
Sarah nodded, indifferent. "Well, I have to get going. Ian has the night off and we're going into town for a long overdue date."
"Have fun, dear." Sarah bent down and gave her mom a kiss on the head.
"Congratulations, you two."
Vicky made a playful scowl.
“I can't believe you knew."
"It's hard to keep secrets in this town, Mom."
"You think the whole town knows?" she asked, panicked.
"No, I'm teasing. Bye everyone."
The table turned quiet, with the Judge and Vicky holding lingering smiles.
"Thanks for not mentioning, you know, last night."
"You know she'll find out about it sooner or later."
"I know. I just don’t want to deal with it right now. Frankly, I want to forget about it." She covered a hearty yawn.
"You want to take a nap? If Jacob wakes up, I can see to him."
"I just might."
She stood, stretched and felt very sleepy indeed. "What a lazy Saturday," she said with a yawn. It was true; she and her mother had mostly talked all morning, with the Judge sitting in on the conversation every now and then. He wasn't the type to sit still and so he would pop in for a bit, and then get up and wander out, finding a bit of housework or yard work to do.
"I'll see you in a bit, Mom." She tilted her head. "Say, don't you have a first name? Or does everyone call you 'the Judge'?"
He laughed. "Everyone pretty much calls me 'Judge'. But my first name is Samuel. Sam will do. Or Judge. Makes no matter."
She lay down in her old room, on her old bed and stared at the ceiling. Instead of counting sheep, she counted mistakes and fell asleep around twenty.
She realized she was standing in the forest. It was dim; sunlight filtered in patches through the trees. So quiet that every breath sounded like a scream. Her eyes grazed over the serene picture of nature. But she was afraid to turn around. Every fiber in her body wanted to run. With a timid shaking glance behind, she saw them. They stood together, staring at her. Richard Emery with his oozing sores and crazed eyes, Kade with his lazy smile and sinister eyes and Tom. His head was misshapen; dried blood covered half his face. She tried to scream but couldn't. Her legs were like lead. She began to run.
They walked in unison with their eyes pinned on her. The faster she ran, the slower they walked and yet they were still catching up to her. There was no sound but her own desperate, ragged breathing. She begged for help in her mind. Her voice was mute.
She slammed into something hard and unyielding. She pushed and punched at it, trying to get away while jerking her head back to see them getting closer still. When she looked up, she saw Will's face, fiercely protective as he stepped in front of her. Richard Emery screamed and bared bloody teeth, lunging at Will.
Katie woke with a violent start. Shaking and sweating, she rolled to sit on the side of the bed, holding her head in her hands, trying to get control of her breathing. She heard her mother's voice, echoing from the living room and Jacob's intermittent squeaks and squeals. She glanced at the clock. She'd been asleep for four hours. Assuming they were content enough for her to take a shower, she rummaged through her bag for something to wear, trying to shake the frightening images from her head.
Her mother smiled as she walked into the living room. She wore her favorite white dress with the small red dots. It was young and playful and made her feel the same. She sat down and began to brush out her wet hair.
"Don't you look nice."
"Thank you." She focused on the floor, gently working out a tangle. "I don't suppose I could take you up on your offer to watch Jacob if I decided to step out?"
"Of course." She didn't have to look at her mother to see she was smiling. "Did you change your mind about tonight?"
Katie didn't answer. "Where's the Judge?"
"Oh, he had to go home and take care of a few things."
"Will he be back?"
"Not until nightfall." She flashed a wicked smile. "Until then it's just me and the little man," Vicky smothered his face in kisses and Jacob grabbed fistfuls of her hair.
Katie pulled into
the driveway, still questioning herself, still questioning everything. His truck was backed into the barn and as she drew near, she could see him offloading hay. He lifted another bale and hoisted it onto a stack. His shirt was rolled at the sleeves and she watched his muscles contract and ripple with the effort of lifting. Her throat went dry. He caught sight of her as she stepped into the cool shade of the barn and stopped working.
"Hey, Katie." Tossing the bale off to the side he walked towards her.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
"Not at all."
His lips curled at the edges, and he looked the slightest bit victorious. "Did you change your mind about dinner?"
"I hope it's not too late."
"It's never too late," he said with meaning beyond the obvious.
She bit her lip and looked down, self-conscious of his stare; worried for his judgment.
He lifted her chin. "I'm glad you came." His eyes traveled down to her neck and he frowned. He traced one of the bruises with his fingers.
She crossed her arms and tilted her head to make the marks less visible. "I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but thank you again. For last night." She realized she was standing rigid and wondered if it was tension…or something else.
He shrugged it off as they turned toward his cabin. "I thought I'd put some steaks on the grill."
"That sounds fine."
She was acutely aware of his hand on the small of her back as they walked up the stairs to his front door.
The cabin was clean; very clean for a man living alone, she noted. The great room was sparsely decorated with older furniture. She wondered if it could have been the furniture that came with the cabin. The living area flowed into a kitchen where a round table surrounded by rough cut chairs sat in the middle. Two doors along one wall were closed. Besides a small loft and a fireplace, that was it to the place.
"If you don't mind, I'm going to take a quick shower. I smell like work."
She looked over his sweat ringed shirt and smiled.
"Make yourself at home. I'll be out in a minute." He peeled off his shirt as he left the room and Katie cocked an eyebrow in appreciation. With the image of a strong back and narrow waist seared into her mind, she felt very flushed and went to the refrigerator, digging around for something to drink.
Reclaiming Katie Page 14