Tropical Storm - DK1

by Melissa Good

  She navigated an interchange. “You know he’ll demand custody, and you know Father will just go crazy.”

  “Yeah,” Kerry acknowledged softly. “I don’t know, that seems really drastic, Angie. But I won’t lie to you and tell you I wouldn’t be glad to have you down there.” She smiled at her sister. “In fact, I know a nice apartment in Kendall that might be available sometime soon.”

  Angela darted a look at her. “Oh, really?” She signaled and turned off the expressway, heading into town. Low, brown brick buildings began to travel by on either side of the road. “That’s moving kind of fast, isn’t it?”

  Kerry leaned back and braced a knee against the dashboard. “It was just something Dar said, before I left. She said next year we’d have Thanksgiving on the Island. It surprised me, because she’s someone who really values her privacy, you know?” She exhaled. “But when we’re together, it’s like there’s no…personal space, if that makes sense. She doesn’t get on my nerves or make me uncomfortable to be around, and I don’t make her that way, I don’t think.”

  She paused reflectively. “I know that when I woke up this past Sunday, I realized I wanted to wake up with her next to me for a long time to come.”

  Angela slowed to turn into the church. “Well, don’t take things too quickly. I know you guys really like each other, but that’s a big step, Ker.”

  Kerry laughed gently. “I have to wait for her to ask, you know? It could take months, and I was trying to figure out how she’d do it. Probably really matter-of-fact… ‘You know, Kerry, it would be more cost efficient to use one car to go to work, and my place is closer. What about it?’ ”

  Angela laughed. “Really?”

  408 Melissa Good

  “Oh yeah, that’s Dar—no flowery speech or anything. She’s very practical and straightforward,” Kerry assured her, then paused. “Though I did come back from lunch to find a rose on my desk once,” she amended thoughtfully.

  Angela parked the car and sighed. “Sounds pretty darn romantic to me, Sis,” she commented wistfully. They got out and walked across the parking lot, joining several groups of other people heading for the church’s entrance.

  It was a tall, brick building with inset stained glass windows and mahogany pews burnished to a rich glow. Kerry joined Angela in greeting several long-time neighbors, and took some good-natured kidding about her suntan before they seated themselves to listen to the choir. The room featured a huge organ and a triple semi-circle of singers, who delivered a more than creditable performance of some old and well-known hymns. Kerry felt the familiar sounds relaxing her, and she was able, for a few minutes, to forget her surroundings and simply enjoy the music.

  “Nice recital,” Kerry murmured as it ended, the last booming tones of the organ echoing softly against the building’s interior. “I liked that last piece a lot.”

  Her sister smiled. “Me, too. C’mon, let’s go talk to Pastor Robert.” She edged out of the row and headed back towards the administrative part of the church, waving a little at several friends who waved back and called out greetings to both her and Kerry. She led Kerry to a small door and knocked on it.

  “Come in,” a soft, vibrant voice answered.

  Angela pushed the door open and poked her head in. “Pastor Robert?”

  “Angela. What a nice surprise, come in.” The pastor waved at her.

  She opened the door fully and pulled Kerry in with her. “Look who I brought.”

  The pastor stood. “Kerrison!” He smiled at her.

  Kerry moved forward, smiling back. Pastor Robert was a huge bear of a man, easily six and a half feet tall and perhaps two hundred and fifty pounds.

  His bearded face took on a look of delight as she came closer. “Hello, Pastor Robert.”

  “Kerrison, goodness, let me look at you.” He took her by the shoulders and beamed at her. “You look wonderful. I can hardly believe it.”

  Kerry smiled. “Thanks, you look great, too.” She patted his arm.

  “Um, I’m going to get some recipes Mrs. Van Ardyn owes me. I’ll be right back, Ker.” Angela was gone before she could even turn around, and she spared her sister a wry roll of the eyes.

  “Sit down, sit down,” the pastor was saying, motioning her to a bench next to the one he’d been sitting on, arranging sheets of music. “Are you home then for good?”

  “Just for a visit.” Kerry shook her head. “I’m…very happy down in Miami.”

  “Oh.” He seemed surprised. “But I thought your mother…well, never mind.” He sat down and patted her knee. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m doing fine. I got a new job, that I really like, and a whole group of really good friends. It’s been great,” Kerry answered quietly. “How about you?”

  Tropical Storm 409

  He lifted a large hand and let it drop. “As always, the seasons turn, it gets colder, gets warmer, but it’s my favorite time of the year, so I can’t complain.”

  He sighed and leaned back. “Things are good in the congregation—prices are steady; we’re not at war. All in all, not bad.”

  Kerry regarded him. “That’s good to hear.” She hesitated, then searched his eyes. “Pastor, can I ask you something?”

  He nodded. “Yes, of course. Are you having trouble finding a community down there? Can I help? You know you’ve always been one of my favorite people, Kerry.”

  She settled her elbows on her knees and interlaced her fingers. “I remember when you used to preach on Sundays, every once in a while you’d talk about…um, something you called soulmates.” The word rolled around her tongue in utter familiarity.

  “Yes. In fact, I discussed it at pulpit just last week,” he agreed. “The old fable of each person being born with two heads, and four arms and legs, then being split in two to roam the world ever after looking for the other half.”

  “Mmm, yeah.” Kerry rubbed her thumbs together. “Do you believe in that story?”

  He paused a moment before answering. “Yes, I do. If what you mean is, do I believe in that special kind of love in which two people seemed to be destined to be a part of each other, yes. Not that I’m rewriting the creation history, you understand.”

  Kerry smiled wryly. “I understand.” She patted his arm. “But, how do you know if you’ve been lucky enough to find someone like that?” she asked.

  He reached over and tipped her chin up, gazing into her eyes somberly.

  “Because when you look at them, you see everything you need in this world to complete yourself.”

  Kerry closed her eyes. “Oh,” she uttered softly.

  “Have you found someone like that, Kerrison?” His voice was very gentle.

  She opened her eyes. “Yes, I think I have.” She exhaled. “It’s someone I met not too long ago, but who I’ve become very close to. And it’s like you said, when I look at them, it’s like I feel their hands closing very gently over my heart.” She paused. “Holding it safely.”

  “I never knew you for a poet, child.” A slow, sweet smile crossed his face.

  “But it’s not my friend Brian, is it?”

  “No,” Kerry replied softly. “He’s one of my best friends, and I love him, but…no.”

  Pastor Robert blew a long breath out. “And you haven’t told your parents, I take it? No, of course you haven’t. Your mother still thinks… Ah, what a web of tangles we have here.” He pondered. “Well, perhaps you should consider explaining as you have to me. I’m sure your parents, once they get to know this person, will be happy for you.”

  Kerry shook her head sadly. “No, Pastor Robert, they won’t. They won’t accept this person.” She looked down again. “Except for my sister, I’m not close with my family, but this will put something between us I don’t think any amount of time will heal.”

  He sighed. “God has a way of healing even the worst of wounds, my 410 Melissa Good friend. How bad can this person be, that they would give up a daughter?”

  Kerry hesitated, then took a deep b
reath. “She’s not a bad person at all,”

  she stated simply and let the comment fall between them.

  He went quite still for a few breaths, then reached up and tugged on his beard. “Ah.” His voice was quietly reflective. “That’s a toughie.”

  Kerry found herself smiling in reaction. “You have any advice? I’m willing to listen—half of me wants to just get it over with, and the other half is scared to death to even start.”

  “Hmm.” He cocked his head. “Well, it’s the coward’s way out, I suppose, but what I’d do is wait until you’re ready to leave to go…home.” He smiled at her. “And just tell them then, just a flat statement, and then leave. Get someone else to take you to the airport and just go.” He clasped her hand.

  “The holidays are a very emotional time; it’s hard for people to cope with situations while they’re under that kind of stress. Especially on Thanksgiving, which is so family oriented.”

  She considered that. “You know, that’s good advice,” she admitted. “Just play along until then, it’ll make the weekend a lot more pleasant.”

  He nodded. “That’s what I did,” he told her softly, then put a finger up to his lips.

  How had Angela known? Kerry blinked at him in mild shock. “Oh.” She got a pat on the cheek. “I see.” Her eyes darted around the room.

  “But…you…”

  “Yes, and if they knew, I’d be out of a job,” Robert said quietly. “So I know what it is to live with a secret, Kerry, but there are things in life worth risking that for.” He paused. “A soulmate is one of them.”

  Kerry slowly nodded. “It’s worth risking everything for.” She let out a breath. “Thank you, Pastor Robert.”

  He gazed at her fondly. “I wish you all the joy in the world, my friend. I’ll pray for you, and for your parents’ understanding.” He stood and waited for her to stand as well, then hugged her. “Be well.”

  She smiled and patted his side. “You, too.” A knock at the door made her look up, and it pushed open to reveal Angela’s face. “C’mon in.”

  “Silvia Cessnes wants to know if we want to sit down and have coffee with them. You up for it?” Angela asked.

  “Yeah, that would be nice,” Kerry agreed. Silvia Cessnes was one of her favorite high school teachers. “Happy Thanksgiving, Pastor Robert.”

  “Same to you, Kerry…and you too, Angela. Thanks for stopping by.” He led her to the door and waved at them before closing it at Kerry’s back.

  “Everything okay?” Angela asked in a whisper.

  Kerry smiled. “Everything’s great. Come on, I bet they have fresh Linzer tortes at the coffee shop.” She tugged on Angela’s sleeve and led her down the corridor.

  Never seeing the tall, dark form that watched her go, then walked off in the opposite direction.

  “WASN’T SHE A trip?” Kerry laughed as she and Angela climbed up the stairs to the room they’d shared the previous night. “She hasn’t changed a Tropical Storm 411

  bit.” She pushed the door open and walked inside, then stopped. It wasn’t obviously messy, but someone had been going through her things.

  Angela stopped too, seeing the papers strewn around Kerry’s laptop case.

  “What’s going on?”

  Kerry’s heart hammered in her chest, and she walked over, looking inside the zippered compartment with shaking fingers. “Oh shit.”

  “What?” Her sister peered over her shoulder anxiously.

  “The pictures,” she breathed. “How could I have been so stupid?” In pure reflex, she reached for her cell phone, then stopped. What am I going to call and tell her, how dumb I was? “Shit.”

  Angela blew out a breath. “Man, I can’t believe they came in here and rifled through your stuff. Kerry, that’s disgusting.”

  “I should have remembered. It was standard operating procedure when we were in high school, remember? Looking for god knows what.” Kerry pushed her hair back and tried to think. Were the pictures that incriminating?

  A few of the island, pretty innocuous. The boat, also could be anywhere. The two of Dar in her suit… Well… Then she sighed. And the last one, which she’d had Colleen take of them together in her apartment on the couch. Dar’s arm was draped over her shoulders and Kerry’s left leg was slung over the taller woman’s knees. Both of them were smiling, Dar’s eyes on her in unmistakable affection that even the camera had caught. Oh shit.

  “What are you going to do?” Angela murmured. “He’s going to go insane, you know that.”

  “I know,” Kerry murmured. “I guess I’ll just have to be honest. But Angie, I might need to get out of here.”

  “I’ll take you, don’t worry,” her sister replied instantly. “And Brian will be here in a little while, too.” She rubbed Kerry’s back gently. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think about them doing this.”

  Kerry closed her eyes. “Me, either, and I should have—I know better, especially after what happened the other day.” She turned around and leaned on the desk. “My place got broken into, turned upside down and searched, and someone poisoned my fish.”

  Angela stared at her in shock. “You don’t think…”

  “Kyle visited, coincidentally, the next day,” Kerry replied shortly. “Dar was there. She was going to keep out of sight, but he started…pawing at me, and she…” A pause. “She stopped him.”

  Angela digested this. “Kyle can be really scary. Brian thinks he’s half nuts or something, ever since that military thing.”

  “Dar can be scary, too,” Kerry responded. “She’s as tall as he is, and she doesn’t look like someone you want to mess around with too much.” She considered. “She probably kicked him right in the ego.”

  “He’d try to get back at her for that,” Angela said softly. “He’s really smart, Ker, and he’s got a lot of tricks up his sleeve. I bet he’s the one who went through your stuff.”

  Kerry stood there breathing a moment, then she flipped open her cell phone and punched a button. “Hey,” she said quietly when Dar answered.

  “Hey.” Dar sounded surprised. “Didn’t expect to hear from you again so soon, not that I mind. What’s up?”

  412 Melissa Good

  “I’m an idiot,” Kerry admitted softly. “I did something very stupid. Dar, I left those pictures I’d taken in my laptop case, and someone went through my stuff here and found them.”

  “Ah.” The executive’s voice sounded thoughtful. “So the cat’s out, eh?

  Well, I hope they like my suit.”

  Kerry paused, feeling a calming wave pass over her. “You don’t think I’m a total fool?”

  Dar hesitated. “Why’d you bring the pictures?” she asked quietly.

  “Um…” Kerry blushed. “To show you off to my sister.”

  A soft chuckle warmed her. “And I’m supposed to think that’s foolish?

  Nah, bad luck, but…keep your head together, and if they’ve got questions, just answer them. Don’t let them rattle you.”

  “All right.” Kerry squared her shoulders a little. “Thanks, Dar.”

  “Let me know what happens, okay?” her friend urged gently.

  “Yeah, I will,” Kerry reassured her. “Bye.” She closed the phone and tucked in onto her belt. “Dar says, just stay cool and see what happens.”

  Angela put an arm around her. “She sounds like a good friend, on top of everything else.”

  Kerry nodded absently. “She is. I know I can count on her.” She carefully put her things away. “Okay, let’s change and go downstairs. The rest of the family should be arriving, that should give me a grace period over dinner, at least.” She unbuttoned the soft flannel green shirt she’d worn to town and tugged it from her jeans, pulling off the shirt and folding it neatly before she tucked it inside her bag. “I could just make them explode by wearing jeans to dinner, I guess.”

  Angela removed a beige, pleated skirt and a long-sleeved shirt from her own bag, along with a pearl-embroidered pink wool sweater. “Kerry.�
�

  She smiled. “Just kidding.” Her jeans followed the shirt into the bag, and she removed the blue-green skirt and jacket outfit Dar had picked out for her in Macy’s. The silk blouse followed, and she pulled out her good shoes.

  “There, they can’t complain about that.”

  “Wow,” Angela commented as she changed into it. “That’s very nice, Ker.”

  Her sister tucked the silk blouse into her skirt neatly and zipped it, then settled her jacket over her shoulders. “Thanks, it’s one of the new ones I got for work when I changed jobs. I really like it.”

  Angela finished changing and walked over, brushing a speck of dust from Kerry’s lapel and straightening the sleeves a little. “Nice pin.”

  Green eyes glanced down, then back up. “A gift, though I didn’t know it at the time. Dar picked this one out as a favor—she was along so I’d know what kind of stuff to wear to the office.” She grabbed her brush and set to work on her wind-blown hair, arranging it to her satisfaction, then removing a small bottle from her bag and putting on a touch of perfume.

  “Mmm, what is that?” Arlene sniffed.

  “Polo,” Kerry answered absently.

  “I like it,” her sister approved. “C’mon, let’s go downstairs.”

  Kerry gazed at herself in the mirror, the soft lamplight in the room highlighting her pale hair and making her green eyes glitter. “All right, let’s go.”

  Tropical Storm 413

  They walked down the stairs together, hearing a low murmur of voices in the hall, and stepped out onto the landing, heading for the dining room. Eyes turned as they approached, and Kerry felt her back stiffen as she spotted her father’s face, set and angry, where he was standing next to Kyle. She lifted her chin and turned her attention instead to her other relatives, as her aunts and uncles bore down on her. Across the room, she spotted a very nervous-looking Brian, and she managed to catch his eye and smile at him, winking lightly. He visibly relaxed.

  “Why, Kerrison, don’t you look lovely.” Her Aunt Agatha tottered over.

  “What a charming color on you, my dear. You look so grown up!”

  “I’m twenty-seven,” Kerry told her kindly. “I thought it was about time.”