Your wife—That lady is something else! She's a firecracker or, maybe, dynamite! I'm glad my attempt to kill her was thwarted. I don't know why she accelerated that night on the highway in Biloxi, but it saved her life. I had every intention of "arresting" her and taking her back to the old monastery to complete my mother's task. Deranged, wasn't I?
I never had a wife. However, the person I loved, loved you. I hated you for that, too. Although you never returned Robert's love, he wasn't free to give it to me. How I envy the love you must feel in the arms of your wife!
Your brother—Actually, he's a part of you. Over the last few years, I have glimpsed the same qualities in you though you guard yourself so much more closely. I'm glad I never got the opportunity to kill your brother. He makes you a better man. Without him, you could've become as bitter as I. You almost did. Oh, the irony of my mother bringing the two of you together!
Your children—I wish I could've had some, but, I suppose it's better that I didn't. Though you did not raise Parker, he is a true hero and a man of honor.
The incident with Christopher was meant to show you that you could not hide from me. That is a young man of the highest character. You should be proud.
Not only do you have the love and respect of your own children, but you also have the love and respect of Robert's children. Kimberly is much like her mother, strong and beautiful. She will one day marry Christopher, and thus, be your daughter. That would've made Robert quite happy.
Then, there's Kyle, my beautiful boy. I hurt him. For that alone, I deserve to die. Although Saul Blackwell has tried to do right by Kyle, you've been the father that he needed. Your Courtney is his strength. Continue to uphold him. He will be your son. How I envy you that, too!
I have hated you for so many things—my mother, my lover, my loss, my pain. I wanted you to feel the same. You were never in danger. I simply wanted you to feel agony. The funny thing is that even in my hatred, there was a measure of respect. You are a damned good detective. I have to admire that.
So, now, I'm leaving all of these people to your safekeeping. Revere those who gave you life and trained you to be the man you are. Cherish the woman who would kill or die for you. Never lose connection with the man who shares your DNA. Protect the perfect Rose Tattoo as his prize valued above diamonds or rubies. Nurture the young ones. Teach them how to love.
Raiford Reynolds, how I wish you could have been my friend rather than my foe! For all those you love, make me just a bad memory. Good luck.
Lloyd Descartes
(I am no longer ashamed or afraid to claim the name.)
Ray felt as if his heart had been torn from his chest. He asked himself: Has it really taken a deranged maniac to make me truly value the people in my life? I will never take a single moment with these people for granted.
Ray looked around at the people in his home. "I do love all of you. From this day forward, Lloyd Descartes Palermo is just a bad memory."
After having put Gigi Cockerill in her place on numerous occasions, Parker Reynolds called her to meet him. Gigi was completely shocked for he asked her to meet him at the first place she had ever tried to seduce him.
"Parker?" Gigi said as the maître'd showed her to the table where Parker waited. "I know this can't be personal. You've made yourself quite clear in that matter."
"No, it's not. It's professional. My dad promised you material so you can write a Pulitzer. He has you scheduled for an interview next Monday at ten at the house. Be there on time. Make your Pulitzer a book. You'll get rich, to boot. You deserve some recognition, but when you write it, the whole world will know which person in the media was in cahoots with Raiford Reynolds to catch a killer. Here it is." Parker handed her copies of five letters and a copy of a recording. "Oh, you might want a box of Kleenex while you listen and read. Do everyone involved justice, even Lloyd."
Parker stood. "I ordered your favorite chicken salad. Enjoy your lunch. Gigi, I suppose if I hadn't loved Sheena with every fiber of my being, you could've truly tempted me. You're beautiful and intelligent. Don't sell yourself short. Let's call this closure for us on every level. Good-bye and good luck."
Parker left the woman to write her own future, closing one chapter and opening another.
39
A Year Off
Two senior proms and two graduations went off without event. The Reynolds family packed for a long trip in Europe while the Gautier family packed for a short stay in the hospital.
After being put on bed rest for the last month, Neely excitedly planned the schedule for the next few weeks. June fourth was only a day away.
As he had the past two years, Raif made his visit to Chris's grave on June third. Three years seemed a lifetime.
Being below sea level, the entire cemetery consisted of crypts. Raif had never been able to bring himself to unlock the door and actually go inside. The gardenia he had planted by the door the year before bloomed profusely. Its sweet aroma was peaceful and relaxing. It was time for his yearly conversation.
Raif checked the crypt for cracking and made sure the weeds were removed from around it. He pruned the English ivy that had begun to cover the structure. He would let it stay so long as it was controlled. It added an air of tranquility. The news he brought Chris this time was lighter and happier than in the years passed.
He sat on the bench in front of the door. "Let's see. First, I'm having another baby tomorrow. I always wanted more with you, but you were set on the three you had. That's okay. Neely and I have the girls. They're delightful. How did you know there were three little girls who needed a home? You told me three awaited a miracle. Now, miraculously, we're having a boy, and so far Neely is okay. She's been on bed rest for a month, but the cerclage is holding. Second, I wish you could meet Jenna, but I think you know. Patrick confessed that he's heard your voice." He breathed deeply as the gardenia wafted on the air. "She will definitely keep Patrick on his toes for a lifetime. They haven't made me a grandfather again, but I feel it coming really soon. Having Gram Thornton and Colleen living in the guesthouse is a blast. We just got Gran's paperwork for her immigration. You would laugh so much around those two characters." He laughed out loud thinking about the two women.
"Are you ready for this next tidbit? I hope you're sitting, even in Heaven." He paused as if to give Chris time to sit. "Ray has retired." He waited a long moment after the declaration. "I can hear you laughing. I don't see it lasting either, but he's taking off to Europe for half a year. He's running out on our family holiday scene this year! He'll be home the third week after the New Year. Christmas in Paris! Missing our birthday! The scoundrel! Audrey and Walter will be hosting. Of course, Larkin and Cherie are going with him. So are Courtney and Kyle. Robert will finally be a part of the family through his kids—both of them. Christopher already proposed to Kim, but they're planning to finish college before they get married. I will put money on Courtney and Kyle coming back hitched. Kyle has endured more than I could imagine. He's one tough kid. His PO has approved him to travel. I still find it hard to believe he was the one who brutalized Neely. He's really a good kid who finally feels loved.
"Trista and Townes are great! She's really grown up, and she's you made over. She's studying accounting and plans to manage my financial affairs at Gautier and Associates when they move back here. I bet no one will embezzle with her in charge."
He sat quietly for few minutes. "Last, Palermo exacted his own justice. He confessed via letters and a recording, but face-to-face with Kyle. Then, he killed himself. My feelings have been ambivalent about that. I wanted justice, but, Chris, if he was truly penitent, I hope he received a pardon. Nonetheless, it's over." He released a long sigh.
"I'm not crying today, baby. Things are good, really good, again."
Once more, Chris's voice came to him. "You need to go home. I'll always be right here in your heart, but right now, you need to go home. Next year, bring me a rose bush for the other side of the door. Now, go."
Raif's phon
e rang.
At the Gautier house, Neely packed the last of her necessities for a couple of nights at the hospital. The only thing left to go into her bag was her toothbrush. She packed Raif's case as well. Then, she checked on the girls. Both Colleen and Gram Thornton were in their room telling them all manner of fantasy stories.
"Well, at least my babies will be in good hands," laughed Neely as she caught the end of a story.
"Mommy, come hear a story," invited Lydia.
Neely started toward the sitting area. "Oh!" She stopped in her tracks. "Lydia, call Daddy, now! You know how to dial his number."
"What's wrong, chile?" asked Colleen.
"I'm in labor, and that's not supposed to happen."
"Are you sure, honey?"
"Oh, yeah. My water is trickling. Michael doesn't wanna wait until tomorrow."
Raif answered his phone, "Hello?"
"Daddy," said Lydia, "come home. Michael's not waiting."
"What?" Raif stared at the crypt. He knew in his soul something guided him. "I'll be there in a few minutes. Call Dr. Sullivan. Hang up and press thirteen on the keypad. Can you do that?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'm on my way."
Raif turned once more toward the crypt. "Chris?"
He heard distinctly, "This day will no longer be sad for you, but joyous. I love you, Raiford Lance Gautier, for all eternity."
Raif returned to his house twenty minutes later. Neely waited in a rocking chair on the porch. She started down the steps. Raif snatched her up. "I've got you," he said.
"Hurry," said Neely. "I'm bleeding, so hurry. Dr. Sullivan will meet us there."
Raif threw the bags into the trunk and raced to the hospital with his emergency flashers on. He carried Neely into the ER where Dr. Sullivan waited.
Dr. Sullivan performed a quick exam and sent Neely to surgery. In the surgical suite, he gave last-minute information and instructions to the couple. "All right, Neely, because you want to be awake to welcome this baby, I'm giving you a spinal initially. You already know there will be no more babies. The damage is just too great to risk it. It's a miracle you're having this one. We've already agreed to the partial hysterectomy. As soon as you've held your son, I'm putting you out and finishing this. Raif will be here long enough to get his son out. Then, he'll be out of here. He'll meet you in recovery. Are there any questions?"
With no questions, the anesthesiologist administered the spinal. Fifteen minutes later, Dr. Sullivan handed Raif a healthy, plump baby boy. Raif stroked the baby's face with a gloved hand. "Come meet your mommy, so we can make sure she's okay." Raif laid the baby in Neely's arms.
"Oh, he's beautiful," whispered Neely.
"Just like his mommy," Raif said.
"No, like his daddy."
"No arguing," said Dr. Sullivan. "He's beautiful, period. Raif, take your son to the nursery with the nurse. She'll escort you to recovery to wait for Neely." Dr. Sullivan nodded to the anesthesiologist, and Neely was asleep.
Ray and Larkin peeked into the recovery room where Raif waited. "Hey," Ray said.
"Hey. Did you stop by the nursery?" asked Raif.
"Yes," said Ray. "Michael Gautier looks just like his uncle," he teased.
Raif laughed. "I'm ready for them to bring Neely in. She has to be all right, Ray."
"She'll be fine," assured Larkin. "Dr. Sullivan is the best."
Even as Larkin spoke, Neely was rolled into her recovery cubicle. Dr. Sullivan came in a couple of minutes later. "She's fine," he said immediately. "She'll be awake within the hour. Then, we'll get her to her room and bring in Michael. She'll be able to nurse him just like she wanted. In a couple of days, barring infection, you'll take both of them home. Then, for two weeks, no stairs, no driving, no lifting anything heavier than the baby. For six weeks, no housework, no strenuous exercise, no sex. Absolutely no sex until after her checkup."
Raif blushed as Neely groaned. "Ah!" said Dr. Sullivan. "My favorite blonde awakes."
Neely opened her eyes. Dr. Sullivan tested her pupils. "You look great, darling," he said. He put a switch in her hand. "If you hurt, push the button. It's Demerol. It won't bother the baby through breast milk like morphine would."
Neely pushed the button. "Okay," laughed Dr. Sullivan. "She's definitely responsive. Let's get this hot momma to her room."
Neither Neely nor Michael had any complications, so they came home on June fifth, one week before the other Raiford was to leave for Europe.
Bright and early on June twelfth, Raiford Reynolds and company dropped one cat at his "uncle's" house and went to the New Orleans airport. The entourage arrived in Heathrow. They would be in London for two weeks with jaunts to Ireland and Scotland before a week in Moscow, Russia; Oslo, Norway; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Copenhagen, Denmark. After the Scandinavian countries, they would be hitting Berlin, Germany; Warsaw, Poland; Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary; Bucharest, Romania; Prague, Czech Republic, and Athens, Greece, with a week cruising the Greek Isles. Next would be Naples, Rome, Florence, and Venice, Italy. That would be followed by a week in the Swiss Alps before a stop in Brussels, Belgium and Amsterdam, Netherlands. Then, Ray planned to visit Lisbon, Portugal and Barcelona and Madrid, Spain and end the tour in Paris, France for a month. The European excursion totaled thirty weeks.
While in the United Kingdom, the family actually spent two nights in a Scottish castle that had been converted into an exclusive hotel. They rode horses across the castle's vast grounds. They visited the normal tourist attractions in the U. K., such as The Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, The British Museum, Canterbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben, plus Scotland Yard just for the cop who could not quit. Their last night in London, they took in a Shakespearean play in the newest Globe Theater.
Then they made their whirlwind tour of Scandinavia with one night in Hammerfest to experience the Northern Lights. Under the mesmerizing Aurora Borealis, Ray began to question bringing Kyle with them as he watched Kyle and Courtney together.
Ray put his arms around Larkin and whispered, "Are you sure they're not sleeping together?"
"Ray, don't start. You agreed to this arrangement."
"I don't want a repeat of Trista."
"Ray, stop it. We have to trust them." She rolled her eyes. "And I believe you already gave them condoms."
"Yeah, I know. Help me here. I'm having a hard time letting my little girl go."
"I'll talk to her alone. Don't you dare say a word to either of them."
The group moved on to Eastern Europe. Ray made sure they visited the area that had once been known as Transylvania. He hoped to scare his elder daughter a bit. He did—right into Kyle's embrace.
Ray sulked in bed that night. Larkin scolded him. "I told you to leave it alone. Damn it, Ray! You can't always have everything your way. They haven't had sex, but if you keep this up, they will."
On the Greek Isle cruise, Ray put the women in one cabin and bunked with Kyle. The boy could only laugh. "Would you like me to put a ring on her finger?"
"What?" snapped Ray.
"Maybe I'm waiting for Paris. It's supposed to be a romantic city."
"Am I that transparent, Kyle?"
"Yes. You don't have to worry. Chill out and enjoy this trip."
"All right. Sorry. I guess I'm a little protective."
"It's okay. Just remember I do love her, too."
The Italian stop was much more relaxed. The Coliseum was fascinating. But best of all was that Ray insisted on separate gondolas in Venice. He actually wanted a romantic night with his wife.
Skiing in the Swiss Alps was spectacular, and Cherie gorged on Swiss chocolate. Then, they moved to the lowlands. In Amsterdam, Kyle and Courtney made their own plans.
"Where are you going?" asked Ray.
"Daddy, don't ask because you already know. Maybe you should try it, too. It might make you mellow like Uncle Raif."
"Are you telling me that Raif tokes?"
"I'm not
telling you anything. It's legal now, you know."
"At eighteen."
"Daddy, I'm eighteen. We'll be back later. Don't wait up."
Ray scowled as the door closed. Larkin slipped her arms around his waist. "Want to try it?" she asked.
"I'll stick to beer, thank you."
"It won't damage your kidney like beer."
"I don't drink that much beer."
"Not usually."
"Do you wanna try it?"
"Been there; done that."
"When?" he asked turning around to look at his wife.
"You used to work too much."
"Who with?"
Larkin cackled. "Whom do you think?"
"Raif?" he asked, his eyes enormous.
She dipped her chin in affirmation. "And others, like Lindsay, Dupree, and Chris."
"What did you think?"
"If you can get past the taste, relaxing."
"Who would watch Cherie if we went out?"
"The hotel au pair. Do you want to go?"
Ray shrugged. "When in Rome…"
"This is Amsterdam," Larkin teased.
"Smart aleck!" Ray said as he popped her behind. "How does it affect, you know?" He arched an eyebrow. "Sex?"
"I guess we're about to find out." Larkin called the hotel au pair for two hours, and she and Ray experienced life in the Amsterdam social scene.
When they arrived back at the hotel, Cherie was sound asleep and Kyle and Courtney had not yet returned. Ray had just a slight case of the munchies and snagged an apple from the fruit basket as Larkin led him to their bedroom. Ray was ecstatic that their indulgence only enhanced their physical chemistry. Romance ruled the night.
They moved on to Portugal and Spain. Finally, they arrived for their month in Paris.
Paris is known as the City of Love. In the Reynoldses' case it certainly proved to be true. Ray and Larkin took the opportunity to act like newlyweds although their daytime excursions always included a third party, Cherie, as they visited The Louvre, The Eifel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Musee d'Orsay, The Sorbonne and the Latin Quarter, the Arc de Triomphe, The Champs-Elysees, Sacre Coeur and Montmartre, Pere Lachaise Cemetery, the Centre Georges Pompidou, the Beaubourg Neighborhood, and the Moulin Rouge and took a boat tour on the Seine.
Broken (The Raiford Chronicles #3 Book 1) Page 28