“Odd, isn’t it?” she murmured. “Oh, well.” She lifted her shoulders and managed a sincere smile. “Try to hurry home….”
His sudden and powerful embrace surprised and baffled her. His arms held her closely, tightly, as if he were afraid she might disappear. His strength imprisoned her, and she could hear the hammering of his heart, belying his calm exterior of a few moments before. His breathing was labored and uneven. She couldn’t see his eyes as her face was crushed, almost savagely, against his chest. There was anger in his strength and passion in his words. They were torn from him as if his admission were painfully traitorous.
“God, but I’ve missed you, Erin,” he breathed, and the pressure against the curve of her spine increased. “I’ve had dreams about you, ached for you…”
“Shhh…” Before he could utter another word, Erin checked his speech by placing a trembling finger against the warmth of his lips. “Later,” she whispered, cocking her head toward the open doorway to his apartment. “I’d better go inside and check on Krista.” Erin knew that she was shaking from the intensity of his passion, but she controlled the urge to reach up and trace the angled contour of his cheeks with her fingers.
Kane reluctantly let his embrace loosen and an unreadable, agonized expression passed over his face. “I won’t be gone long—it should only take a minute….”
“Don’t be too sure,” she laughed hollowly as she stepped back toward the apartment. “Computer problems tend to be complicated….”
“That they do,” he whispered cryptically, and let his eyes rove over her face searchingly. What did he expect to find? Finally he tore his gaze away from her and threw open the door before stepping into the night. If only Erin could guess the real reason that he had been summoned to the bank on this black, rain-drenched night, Kane thought sardonically. If only she knew that he was aware of the fact that another three thousand dollars had slipped out of the dividend account during his absence. Oh, Erin, he thought as he drove toward the winking lights of Seattle. His grip tightened on the steering wheel, and the tires of the black sports car screamed against the pressure of a corner taken too recklessly. Why, he wondered—oh, God, why?
Erin straightened her shoulders before she entered the tiny apartment and let the door whisper shut behind her. At the sound of the soft noise Krista stirred and looked longingly at the door with cold disbelieving eyes.
Mentally Erin fortified herself. She could tell that the upcoming evening was going to be a test of will between herself and Kane’s stubborn daughter. And although Erin was an adult, and the old Victorian house was “her turf,” she felt at a distinct disadvantage to the blond girl who had folded her arms defiantly over her small chest. Erin dreaded the argument that she knew was simmering in the air. Forcing herself to appear more collected than she felt, she walked back to the table and ignored Krista’s wounded look as she spoke softly to the child. Erin’s voice was friendly but firm.
“Is there anything else I can get you?” she asked the girl, and motioned to a basket of sourdough rolls at her end of the table.
Silence.
Erin gritted her teeth together in frustration and noticed that Krista hadn’t touched any of the food on her plate. Once again Erin attempted to communicate. “How about a glass of milk?”
Nothing.
“Krista,” Erin said, commanding the girl’s attention, and bracing herself for the inevitable confrontation. “I’d like it very much if we could be friends.?
?
Cold fearful blue eyes surveyed Erin as if seeing her for the first time. Pouty pink lips pressed into an insolent line. “I don’t like you!” Krista hissed in a trembling voice.
Erin sucked in her breath but bravely continued the stilted conversation. “Why? Why don’t you like me? Is it because I’m a friend of your father’s?”
“I don’t want to like you—and I won’t!” Defiance and anger were evident in the tilt of Krista’s finely shaped chin.
Erin sighed wearily and sat down in the chair opposite the rebellious girl with the fearful eyes. Their gazes locked and Erin found herself folding and refolding the napkin in her lap, while contemplating a way to bridge the gap that existed between her and Kane’s daughter. She took in the challenging look on the girl’s face, the proud carriage of Krista’s head, and then Erin’s gaze touched upon the empty wheelchair. Compassion washed over Erin. Krista was bearing a heavy cross.
“You don’t have to like me,” Erin stated simply, and a look of astonishment softened Krista’s defiant features. “It’s up to you.”
Once again Erin paid full attention to her meal and hoped it seemed that she was enjoying her food, while all the time her stomach was twisting into knots of revulsion against the meal. It took all of Erin’s will to finish the cold and suddenly tasteless meal.
It was several minutes before the silence was broken. Krista’s small voice trembled and Erin politely looked at the girl. “They were getting back together, you know!” Krista announced, and toyed with the food on her plate.
“Pardon me?”
“Mother and Daddy. They were going to get married again. Mother told me so!” Krista’s face was set for the denial she expected from Erin.
“Were they?” Erin asked calmly.
“You bet!” the girl nearly shouted. “And it would have been soon too. And…and…we were all going to be a family again!”
Erin listened intently, not knowing exactly how to respond to Krista’s outburst. She studied Krista and saw the turbulent play of emotions that was contorting the beautiful child’s face.
“We were going to be together again. We were!” she proclaimed, tears glistening in her round eyes. “If only Mama hadn’t died…I know we would!” Her frail voice caught and tears began to flow freely down her cheeks.
Erin’s heart bled for the small girl at the other end of the table. Dropping her fork onto the plate, she got up and hurried to Krista’s side. She let her hand touch the sobbing shoulders.
“I’m so sorry,” Erin whispered.