Part 6
An hour later, Kathryn was settled in bed, propped up against the antique brass headboard with a book resting on her knees. Any other night she would be deeply engrossed, enjoying the time and space away from her hectic life. But tonight, tonight her mind was racing and the memories assailed her from every direction. Thirty-six hours ago her life had been safe and predictable, but in the space of an instant, everything she’d achieved had been turned inside out. Her mind spinning with bits and pieces of the day, she finally closed her book, turned out the light and gave in to the memories.
Nick had been such the media darling five years ago. Suddenly appearing on the movie ‘scene’, he’d been brash, cocky, utterly beautiful, and Kathryn had fallen for him the first time he’d smiled at her. She knew better, of course, than to allow any of her feelings to show. Actors were fleeting acquaintances that breezed in and out of your life in the space of a six-week shooting schedule and then moved on to charm the next set of hired help. No, the further away she stayed from Nick, the easier her life would be once he was gone.
Kathryn tucked her hand beneath her cheek and chuckled as she burrowed down beneath the antique quilt. Her life had been anything ‘but’ easy.
The phone call had come, as do all life-altering calls, in the middle of the night. Sophie Garrison was as close to hysterical as Kathryn had ever heard her, and she was calling from the emergency room of Vancouver’s best hospital.
“It’s his heart,” she’d said, with tears in her voice, and it was in that instant that the focus of Kathryn’s world changed. Within two hours she was on a flight out of town and out of Nick’s life. What had been a whirlwind movie set romance, would now become nothing more than a treasured memory. In the weeks to come, as she nursed her grandfather back to health, she made the decision to move to Canada permanently. Vancouver was beautiful, and she had no desire to be away from her only remaining family. Her grandfather, while outwardly appalled that she’d be willing to give up her life and career, was secretly thrilled to have Kathryn there, and doted on her.
He made it abundantly clear that she’d never need to work another day unless she wanted to, and that for as long as he had left, she was to be his companion. It was an arrangement that suited Kathryn perfectly. As he became stronger they took long walks, and Stanley Park became a regular haunt for the old man and his beautiful granddaughter. His halting steps became more sure with every outing and there finally came a day when Vincent Halloway could walk faster and further than Kathryn. It seemed the more he healed, the more frail Kathryn became.
When stark realization dawned, he’d held her like a child as she cried. He tried and tried to convince her to go back to the States, to set things right, but Kathryn had inherited his stubborn streak. She flatly refused. He threatened to cut off her inheritance, and she refused. He threatened to toss her out into the street, and she refused. He threatened to contact her young man, and still she refused. She was nothing, if not determined, and so he did the only thing he could.
He loved her. He loved her and took care of her; and in taking care of her, he introduced her to Jamie. Jamison Kendall, his attorney. Jamison Kendall, her best friend. Jamison Kendall, her late husband.
Kathryn tossed and turned, punching her pillow as she tried to get comfortable, but just like every other night when her thoughts took control, it was hopeless. Resigning herself to another sleepless night, she finally gave up, tossing the comforter back and reaching for her robe. The misty rain of earlier had become a full force, driving storm and she determined to watch it from the bay window in the attic and enjoy every rattle of the creaky old windows.
One short detour to the kitchen and she was set for the night. After setting her steaming mug of tea on the narrow table in the hallway, she tugged on the ceiling chain to release the drop-down ladder that led to the attic. Once at the top, she shivered at the damp cold and reached for the quilt that she kept close by. Wrapped up in her cocoon of patchwork, she held the steaming mug to her lips and sipped wearily, sighing at the sweet warmth that began to permeate her body.
Now, where had she been? Right, Jamie. Kathryn smiled as she remembered his gentle way, the soft laughter in his eyes and his unswerving devotion to her and to her son. From the moment they’d been introduced, it had been like connecting with a treasured old friend. Her grandfather, although he’d never admitted it, had set them up from the very beginning.
“Kathryn, you have to get your affairs in order you know. Now that you’re with me, we need to see to it that you have a will, too. Once I’m gone, you need someone to help you manage my millions,” he’d chuckled.
“Grandpa,” she’d groaned, rolling her eyes.
“And for other reasons too, Katy May,” he’d added softly, thoroughly befuddled when she’d burst into tears and fled the room.
Within a week’s time, she had a Last Will and a new confidant. To her grandfather’s delight, Jamie had become her best friend, and two months later, her husband. Their connection was instantaneous. He was witty and charming, and fabulous to be with. He’d been by her side through it all, including when her water broke in the middle of downtown Vancouver’s fanciest department store. Jonathan had made his entry into the world a scant two hours later and for the next seven months life was idyllic.
Tears streamed down her face as Kathryn remembered the last time she’d seen Jamie.
“Chocolate chocolate chip,” she called out as he grabbed his keys off the hook by the door.
“That’s what I bought LAST time,” he laughed.
“You did not,” she called back as she fastened Jonathan’s sleeper. “You bought vanilla with chocolate chips.”
“Same difference,” he teased as he wrapped his arms around her and planted a kiss on her neck.
“Daddy is hopeless,” she said to the tiny squirming body that was trying to kick its way out of the confining night clothes. “Maybe you and *I* should go shopping instead, you think?” she asked the baby as he smiled and kicked even harder. “Make sure your daddy gets the right stuff.”
“Daddy can manage just fine,” he’d insisted. “Besides, Jon doesn’t need to be out tonight. It’s cold and wet. I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.” He pressed an affectionate kiss to her cheek and looked down at the chubby baby. “Take care of your mom.”
Kathryn settled into her favorite chair to give the baby his bedtime bottle and the sounds of twisting metal, breaking glass and sirens could be heard all the way in the back of the old house. Cold fingers of dread wrapped themselves around her heart and she knew. She just knew.
Thunder rumbled and Kathryn jumped, wiping her face on the quilt and doing her best to stifle the sobs that came late at night when she allowed the memories of Jamie to surface. As her cries began to fade, the sounds of another’s cries carried up the rickety ladder to where she sat huddled.
“Mommy! Mommy, where are you?”
Her tea and quilt forgotten, she was by his side in an instant, and just in time for his bedtime snack to make a second appearance. All over his bed.
She resisted the urge to throw up right alongside him, and gritted her teeth as she cleaned up the mess and got him changed. As she helped him into clean pajamas, he looked up at her, his face the picture of abject misery.
“I’m sick.” His face was flushed with fever and his body was cold and clammy.
“I know, baby. Come sleep with mommy tonight, okay?”
“ ‘K,” he answered, and Kathryn knew that while he might sleep, there would be no sleep for her this night.