The Lives Between Us

by Theresa Rizzo

  “What’d you do before Edward was elected?”

  “Taught middle school science.”

  “A teacher? Do you miss it?”

  “Sometimes. But when we’re not campaigning, I’m busy with Jeff and his activities. I volunteer a lot. Speak at a few functions. I’m very involved with the Girls in Math and Science. I keep busy, so I don’t miss it.”

  “I forgot about Jeff. With Edward’s career, it must be hard—kind of like being a single parent.”

  Noelle shrugged. “No harder than other parents who have demanding careers or who have to work two or three jobs to pay the bills—or military families with spouses overseas.”

  “I guess.”

  Noelle looked at her. “Do you think about having kids?”

  “Me?” Skye reared her head back and slowed her pace. “Not really. Until recently I moved around a lot,” she said, somehow feeling inadequate at the admission. Kids equaled commitment. And heartbreak.

  “It’s a big change. But you’ll know when you’re ready. And then it’ll be the most wonderful blessing.”

  Skye wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready for kids, but Noelle spoke so wistfully, she didn’t know what to say. She looked at her watch. “It’s almost four o’clock. Maybe we should go back. I need to get checked in and unpack.”

  They turned around and headed back to the car. “Checked in?”

  “At the Stonebridge Inn. They had a last-minute cancellation.”

  Noelle’s face fell. She unlocked the car, and they slid in. “I assumed you’d be staying with us.”

  “That’s sweet of you, but I...” Staying with them would be awkward—too intimate. And Edward would hate the idea. They’d negotiated a truce for the holidays, but no need to stress it. “The reservationist said that the Inn was close to your condo.”

  “It is, but we’d expected you to stay with us. I’m sure that’s what Mark was thinking.”

  “I...”

  “You can have Mark’s room, and he’ll share with Jeff, if that’s what bothering you.”

  Skye felt heat climbing her neck. “I... Uh...”

  “I don’t mean to be pushy. You do whatever makes you comfortable. Here you were looking forward to a little privacy and alone time, and I badger you. The Inn’s very nice and only a two-minute walk.”

  “I... I don’t want to cause any problems.”

  “No problems. Let’s get you checked in and then see if the guys are back yet. We’ve got steaks for dinner.” Frowning, Noelle glanced at her, then back to the snowy roads as they rumbled across the bridge and left town. “You do eat meat, don’t you?”

  Skye laughed. “I love meat.”

  * * *

  Eight-thirty Christmas morning, Skye let herself into the Hastings’s condo. She pocketed the key they’d insisted she carry and followed sounds of soft Christmas music into the main room. She grinned at the scene before her.

  A rumpled Mark, dressed in a forest green T-shirt and baggy plaid pajama bottoms, slumped on the long couch, his feet near Noelle, who snuggled in a soft-looking white terry robe and cradled a digital camera in her lap. Mark yawned broadly, mussed his hair, and through slit eyes watched his godson sort the stack of presents by the fireplace.

  At the counter overlooking the living room, Edward, dressed in a matching white robe and navy pajama bottoms, whistled White Christmas while he poured three mugs of coffee. He liberally laced one with whipped vanilla cream and two tablets of sweetener, poured the remaining cream in another mug, and left one black—probably for Mark. He added the mugs to a tray with one lone cup.

  Edward looked up and gave her a welcoming smile. “Morning, Skye. Merry Christmas.”

  Skye moved into the room and put her packages on the counter. “Merry Christmas.”

  Lolling against the couch, Mark lifted his head to see her. “Merry Christmas,” he mumbled, as he lifted and dropped his hand on the couch seat next to him, inviting her to sit. Noelle turned her head to Skye and wiggled her fingers in greeting.

  Edward chuckled at their pitiful welcome. “Tea, Skye?”

  “I can get it.” She didn’t want him to wait on her.

  Edward waved her off. He snatched another mug, tossed a tea bag in it, and filled it with hot water from the dispenser before reaching into the cupboard. “Honey?”

  “Yes, thank you.” Skye tried not to be impressed that he’d remembered how she preferred her drink. It was part of his job to remember personal little things like people’s names, to trick strangers and acquaintances into thinking he cared.

  He added the drinks to a tray and set them on the coffee table. Jeff reached for his hot chocolate. Mark scooped up his coffee as if he were dying and caffeine was the life elixir that would save him. He took a long gulp.

  Edward handed his wife her drink. Noelle flashed Edward a quick smile and blew on her coffee before taking a long grateful sip. She closed her eyes and purred as a blissful expression crossed her face. “Thank God for morning people.”

  “You’re welcome,” Edward said.

  Noelle scooted closer to Mark, making room. Edward partially sat on the feet Noelle tucked next to her and stretched an arm across the couch behind her. He rubbed a lock of her hair between his thumb and forefinger, then smoothed her hair and lifted it away from her shoulder as he watched his son slide stacked gifts in front of them. Skye noted the casual gesture of affection, somehow not expecting it now that there was no audience.

  As they opened presents, Skye silently sipped her tea and observed them. Noelle cooed over the green scarf, mittens, and stylish beret from Mark, and Jeff seemed happy with the Stratego game and latest X-Men DVD Mark had given him. Noelle positively glowed and melted when she opened the exquisite garnet necklace Edward got her, explaining to Skye and Mark that she’d admired it at the Aspen Arts and Craft Fair last summer.

  Skye felt a little self-conscious when Jeff opened the Imagine Dragons CD she’d picked up for him.

  “You probably have a smartphone, but you can always download the songs to your computer and then load them,” she said. “I got it at Target. It won’t hurt my feelings if you want to return it.”

  Jeff sat cross-legged on the floor, studying the back cover. He flashed her a crooked smile, so like his dad’s that if he didn’t have a girlfriend yet, it’s just a matter of time before the girls swarmed the handsome teenager. “It’s great. Thank you.”

  Mark slouched with his feet on the coffee table flipping a puck signed by... Skye stilled his hand and strained to read the signature. “Who’s Steve Yzerman?”

  “Captain of the Detroit Red Wings.” Mark twisted it this way and that to catch the light as he examined the signature.

  Edward raised his mug, gesturing to the puck. “It’s real.”

  “How’d you work that?” Mark tossed the puck to Jeff.

  He grinned. “Connections.”

  Mark raised his eyebrows, in some silent question that went over Skye’s head, but apparently Edward understood.

  “It’s different. We met the owners at an amateur hockey fundraiser the Ilitches sponsored. When Noelle told Mike Ilitch what a huge fan Jeff was, he offered to send me a signed puck.”

  Jeff turned his puck over. “Todd’s gonna be so jealous when he sees this.”

  Edward picked up a hardback book from a stack. The dragonheads on the covers clearly conveyed it was a medieval fantasy. Edward turned Inheritance to face Jeff. “What’s this?”

  “A book. The last book in the series.”

  Skye hid a big grin behind her mug. That was the same smartass reply she’d have given to such an obvious question ten years ago. Never mind the fact that the adult was obviously trying to strike up a conversation.

  Edward gave him a “no kidding” kind of look. “What’re they about?”

  “Fantasy. Dragons, magic, and stuff. Eragon was made into a movie.”

  “Cool. Who got it for you?”

  “You and Mom.”

  “Oh, right.�
� Edward nodded.

  Skye looked away and threaded her fingers through Mark’s hand while trying to think of a comment to dispel the awkward moment. Mark’s thumb caressed the back of her hand.

  When Jeff reached for his last gift, Edward stilled and watched the boy from beneath hooded eyes. Jeff slowly unwrapped it, breaking out into a huge grin when saw it was a game, then his smile slowly faded. He turned it over and he shot his mom a “help me” look before turning to Edward. “Thanks, Dad, it’s great.”

  “You already have it.” Edward covered his disappointment with a sip of coffee, but the nonchalant tone gave him away. He sent his son a reassuring smile. “You can exchange it.”

  “I...” Jeff looked guilty. “I can always use two. In case I lose one.” He brightened. “Or I can leave one here, and I won’t have to carry it back and forth.”

  Yeah, cause it’s so big and bulky. Good try, kid.

  “It’s okay; you can exchange it for one you don’t have,” his father reassured him.

  Mark leaned close to Noelle, whispering so Skye had to strain to hear. “Let me guess; he doesn’t like pickles or Shirley Temples either.”

  She tipped her head till it touched Mark’s. “Only dills, and he moved on to Dr Pepper last year.”

  Skye stifled the twinge of sympathy. Apparently you couldn’t be a famous senator and a great dad, too. She peeked at Edward, who was reading the back of the Stratego game. For a man who served his friends and family drinks Christmas morning, who welcomed his best friend’s girlfriend into his home, sharing precious vacation time with a woman who hadn’t treated him too nicely in the past, his mistake had to hurt.

  “He only has three games, Edward. If you’d called, I’d have told which he didn’t have.” Noelle murmured, then louder to Jeff, “You can get Madden now.”

  Skye didn’t miss the told-you-so look Mark shot Edward. She poked him and raised her eyebrows.

  He leaned into her shoulder whispering, “Later.”

  Edward stretched. “So after brunch, who dares to challenge me to Stratego?” At least at that he had a chance of winning. He should have called Noelle to see if Jeff had the game but he hated having to check with his wife on everything that related to their son.

  Edward felt guilty that he didn’t know these things, and Noelle’s annoyance at mishaps like this made him feel worse. Hell, he was a busy man. He had a demanding career. Just because he didn’t memorize all their personal preferences and current likes and dislikes didn’t mean he didn’t care.

  Joseph would have known, his conscience whispered. Well, his father-in-law was the perfect father and grandfather; bully for him.

  After they ate Noelle’s huge brunch of sausage, eggs, pancakes, and juice, the five of them spent the following two hours playing Stratego. Not surprising, Jeff and Noelle were driven out within the first hour. Skye lasted thirty minutes longer, but then was defeated, leaving the men to battle for control of the world. Always competitive in college, Mark hadn’t mellowed any more than Edward had. They both loved to win.

  Later, he and Mark cleaned the small kitchen together after Christmas dinner. Mark rested his hips against the cabinets, with a wistful expression on his face. Hands resting on the countertop, Mark stared into the living room or beyond out into the softness of the black night.

  Edward handed him a Heineken. “What’s up?”

  Mark shook his head as if to clear it and took the proffered beer. “Nothin’.”

  He stood next to his friend and looked in the same direction, wondering what Mark had been thinking.

  “It’s just...” Mark paused and took a swig of beer. His gaze returned to the same spot, to where Noelle, Jeff, and Skye relaxed, watching a movie on the couch under a large chenille blanket. He sighed and nodded at the trio. “That looks good.”

  Edward looked at his family. Though their life wasn’t always easy—it was ridiculous to expect it to be with three forceful personalities and a demanding career that worked to splinter the strongest of families, but he was blessed.

  And though he and Skye had started out at professional loggerheads, on vacation, she’d put aside her personal feelings and melded into their family seamlessly. She proved to be quick-witted and kind. And she was a morning person. Mark needed that. Skye hit it off with both Noelle and Jeff—seemingly effortless.

  When Mark had told them he’d invited Skye along, Edward’s first thought had been to protect his family from a reporter, but from the minute Skye walked into their condo, not a hint of the reporter remained. She honored their unspoken agreement and had simply been Mark’s girlfriend.

  He hadn’t talked to Mark about not wanting to read an article detailing their vacation under her byline for fear of offending his buddy. But after having spent a few days with Skye, he doubted he’d ever regret that decision.

  Chapter 16

  Two days after Christmas, Skye swept through the hospital’s front door, barely noticing the ornate Christmas tree in the lobby and Hanukah menorah decorating the information desk. She’d spent so much time in the hospital these past months that the hustling staff and smells that used to bother her now seemed commonplace.

  Escaping to Colorado for Christmas might have been cowardly, but it’d saved Skye’s sanity. Spending the holiday in Snowmass with Mark and the Hastingses allowed Christmas to slide by without painful reminders of Niki’s death.

  Skye hadn’t had to endure the holes left behind by their family’s tragedy. Poor Peter had had to wake in that house—alone, with no wife at his side to whisper Merry Christmas, with no Christmas tree and festive decorations, no prancing, squealing daughter waking at the crack of dawn begging her parents to open presents Santa had left. No big breakfast or traditional church service shared with his loved ones had awaited Peter this year.

  Peter hadn’t gotten to escape, to breathe lightly without heartbreaking truth and loss weighing him down. But Skye would make it up to him. She’d find a way to lighten his burden. She’d find a way to help him find joy again—as Mark had helped her get through what would have been a depressing holiday.

  Skye’d had four wonderful days where Mark had coaxed her into the fantastic Colorado sunshine and brought light and joy back into her life. They’d skied, taken long walks, and spent hours talking. The Hastingses had generously opened their home to her. She’d made meals, done dishes, watched DVDs, played endless rounds of Hearts and eaten hundreds of M&Ms—which always accompanied any card game they played—an unspoken, but definite, prerequisite to game playing in the Hastings family.

  She and Mark slipped away from the family for a romantic night at a wonderful dinner theater in Aspen. He’d spent that night with her at the Inn making love well into the early morning, then snuck into the condo before anyone awoke.

  Skye had been back just one day, and already the gray Michigan winter pressed down on her. Skye tried to shake off the depressing funk, telling herself that she had every right to be down and to miss Niki—and Mark—but that didn’t cheer her any. She’d visited Niki’s grave, and though she talked to Mark several times a day, she missed him. She sighed. Three more days before he’d be home.

  Skye juggled her purse and the bag that held Faith’s favorite treat from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, freeing a hand to push the elevator button. She was still puzzling over her bad mood when she entered Faith’s room and came to an abrupt halt just inside the doorway. Faith sat up in bed, brightly chatting to Mark, who turned around when her sister’s glance met Skye’s.

  Mark smiled, his warm gaze bringing a guilty flush to her cheeks—as if her mind had conjured him up. Skye blinked several times, but he was still there sitting in that ugly turquoise chair near Faith’s bed. She’d left him in Colorado. She’d just spoken to him a little while ago, and he’d been in Colorado.

  “What’re you doing here?” The white paper bag crinkled to protest her stranglehold. “You’re supposed to be in Colorado.”

  “Surprise.” Mark jumped to his feet a
nd offered his chair to her.

  She ignored him and remained standing. “What’re you doing here?”

  His grin melted into uncertainty. “You weren’t home, so I thought I’d catch you here. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Of course she doesn’t mind. Ignore her.” Faith smiled as if she was happy to see the two of them together. “Skye’s not good with surprises—never has been.”

  Skye blinked several times. “You’re supposed to be skiing.”

  “I came back early. I missed you.” Mark closed the distance between them and enfolded Skye in his arms.

  She relaxed and hugged him back. The feeling of taut, warm muscles under her fingers eased her from the shock. Skye snuggled close, enjoying the familiar smell of him. He was back.

  “That’s so sweet,” Faith cooed.

  Embarrassed for her sister to catch her clinging to Mark, Skye inched away from him and turned to Faith. “Guess what I got you?”

  Faith’s eyes were drawn to the white bag with a brown logo and lettering that Skye dangled before her. “I know what you got me. Did you get it already cut?”

  “Of course.” Skye raised her eyebrows. “How else could you share it with me?”

  “Would you like a slice of chocolate covered apple?” Faith asked Mark.

  “Sure—if there’s enough to share.” Mark accepted the candy apple Skye handed him and turned to Faith. “How’re the twins? I saw their pictures posted outside the NICU on the way up. They’re pretty cute.”

  NICU was hardly on the way up. He’d have to pass Faith’s floor to go to the NICU. Popping an apple slice in her mouth, Skye settled on the end of Faith’s bed and prepared for Faith to smile and launch into a doting dissertation on her babies, but instead a frown lined her forehead, and her face drooped.

  “They’re fine. They’ve gained a little weight, so they’re almost back to their birth weight.”

  “That’s good isn’t it?” Skye asked. “Why the sad face?”

  “It’s good. I just wish I could spend more time with them.” Faith flashed them an embarrassed look and then stared at her hands clasped in her lap. “They only let me visit once a day for a half an hour.” Lips trembling, she looked at Skye. Tears bathed her eyes. “They won’t even let me hold them.”