Double Take (37 page)

“Dad,” Sam gasped, clearly at a loss for words.

“I want you to be happy, Sam. It’s what I’ve always wanted,” Trev said softly.

Sam stared. Kait tugged her on the shoulder. Sam flushed and walked over to her father and they embraced. “Dad... thanks,” she said huskily.

“Sam, I love you.”

“I love you too,” she managed, pulling away. She brushed away several tears and then smiled at Kait.

Kait smiled back. “Is Marni in her room?”

“She’s with Max, down at the stable.” Sam headed back upstairs to her room. “See you guys later,” she cried happily.

Kait found herself back in Trev’s arms. “How are you going to manage with what Elizabeth tried to do?”

He stroked her hair. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. I’m very sad, Kait. How do you feel about Lana escaping the police?”

Kait hesitated. “I don’t know. I’m sad, I guess, but I’m not angry anymore. I just want to go forward now—with you and the girls.”

“Can I second that motion?” Trev asked.

No charges were pressed against Elizabeth, and she remained at the New Haven Hospital in a psychiatric ward. Lana had not been found. Kait wondered where she had gone, and somehow felt that she had vanished somewhere in South America. It was just an instinct, but it was strong.

Kait refused to dwell on the past. She immersed herself in all of her new duties and responsibilities. Elizabeth had run Fox Hollow, and now Kait found herself doing so. She had grounds to keep up, a household to run, books to keep. She took Marni back and forth to school every day, began seriously training with Jim, and was given a gorgeous gray hunter from a grinning Trev. She bought Sam and Marni new school clothes, Trev a winter jacket, and she packed up all of Lana’s things—and stored them in the attic. She made breakfast every morning and supper every night—with Sam an eager helper. Several times a week Rafe joined them for dinner.

She went with Sam every day to visit Gabe in the hospital, and called on him and his mother several times at home. They were invited to Sunday dinner. It was a huge success.

And she and Trev couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other. The other day Jim had caught them in the hay room of the barn. They had both turned red like misbehaving teenagers. But they had christened his Dodge Ram, the kitchen, his study, and the bathroom. Now Kait lay in his arms in the huge four-poster bed in the master bedroom.

Trev stroked her hair and kissed her temple. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier, Kait.”

Kait smiled at him. “These past few days, I’ve never been happier, Trev. With every day that goes by, it gets easier and easier to let the past slip away.” She wasn’t thinking just about her charade as Lana, but the fact that Lana had once been Trev’s wife and the fact that she had disappeared without a trace.

“I know,” he said, with a smile. “Sometimes Ifind it hard to believe that I was ever with anyone other than you.” He sobered.

Kait sensed he was thinking about his first wife, Mariah, whom she knew he had loved. “You deserve happiness in the present, Trev.”

Their hands found each other. “So do you.”

“I didn’t know her, but I’ve seen her picture and I know Mariah would be happy for you, too.”

“Yes, she would.” He smiled and kissed her temple.

“I think I was afraid,” Kait said slowly, finally voicing feelings she hadn’t wanted to admit, not even to herself. “I think I was afraid that this wouldn’t work.”

“That we wouldn’t work?” Trev echoed, propping himself up on one elbow.

She cupped his cheek. “I said ‘was.’ ” She searched for the right words. “I think I was afraid that the past would haunt us. But these past few weeks have been seamless. It’s been so easy to slide into your life. Sometimes I forget there was ever a time when I wasn’t here and we weren’t together,” Kait said earnestly. “And one day, maybe yesterday, maybe the day before, I woke up and there was no fear; there was only happiness.”

He kissed her nose. “I was worried about the past too—until the day I went after you and brought you back. On that day, Kait, Iclosed the door on any fear. But I’m glad you’ve let go.”

Their gazes held. Kait thought about Lana then. “Let’s make a pact. This is the last time we will ever talk about the past—and about Lana.”

“I can agree with that.” He sat up against the pillows. So did Kait. “We won’t ever see her again. I’m certain of it.”

“Yes, I can actually feel it.”

He took her hand. “We may have to wait a long time before we can legally marry.”

Kait blinked. She was breathless. “Is that a marriage proposal?”

“I think I can do a bit better than that!” He was teasing. Then he sobered. “I already consider you my wife, Kait. That’s how much Ilove you.”

Kait wiped away tears. “I already consider you my husband, Trev.”

He stared at her. Then, “Would you ever consider having my child?”

Kait gasped. “I would like nothing more!”

He softened; he looked ridiculously pleased; he pulled her close again, and murmured, “Soon?”

She felt herself smile. “There is nothing I want more, other than to spend the rest of my life here with you and the girls, Trev—and to have your children.”

“Children? As in more than one?” He tilted up her face so he could look right into her eyes.

“I’m only thirty-two. I mean, we could have a couple of children—if you want.”

He embraced her fiercely. “God, Kait, yes, I want! You have made me so happy these past few weeks.”

She pulled back. “So don’t strangle me! You’re only happy because we’re as insatiable as fifteen-year-olds,” she teased.

He kissed her cheek. “Well, there’s that, too.”

Kait smiled and sank deeper into his arms. “Let’s work on that baby, darling,” she said.

“I think that can be arranged... sweetheart.”

Seven Years Later

Their wedding guests were dancing to a seventies rock ‘n’ roll tune on the stone patio they had added to the back of the house several years before. The band was live. The dancing was beneath a mostly full and grinning moon on a hot July night. Waiters in white coats passed champagne and pieces of wedding cake. Kait was in her wedding gown, a simple but stunning strapless lace sheath. Trev remained the most handsome man she had ever seen, especially now in his tuxedo and dancing with Sam. At twenty-three, she was a tall, slim, and beautiful young woman. She was working for her Ph.D. in psychology at Princeton and she had come home on Friday for the wedding with a boyfriend Kait did not know. She and Gabe had broken up years ago, when she had gone off for her freshman year at Wesleyan.

Trev was not dancing alone with Sam—not exactly. Dancing with their father and their sister were dark-haired Josh and blond Lacy. Josh was five, Lacy two. They both had Trev’s green eyes and olive complexion. Josh was doing his best to imitate his father, and Lacy was trying to swing her hips like Sam and almost tumbling over in the process.

Kait bit off a laugh and her gaze moved past her immediate family to where Rafe was slow-dancing with his wife amidst the wildly gyrating guests. Six years and they were still behaving like newlyweds. Anna Leigh’s wild red hair was hanging almost to her waist, and she seemed to be trying to disappear into her husband’s body in spite of her huge watermelon-sized stomach. The baby was due any day now, but they seemed about to make love on the dance floor.

Kait smiled at the sight of the somehow still skinny redhead and then saw Max Zara sneaking off into the gardens with Canada Jones, the most beautiful woman in America, or so
People
magazine had once claimed. Love was most definitely in the air. Funny, how they had seemed to hate each other at first sight. The tabloids had had a field day with that marriage too—a down-and-out PI and one of Holly-wood’s most infamous actresses.

Kait’s smile disappeared. Speaking of family, where was Marni?

She glanced carefully at the two dozen dancing guests—they had decided to keep the wedding small and intimate. But her twelve-year-old daughter was nowhere to be seen.

Kait could imagine what she was up to, and worried, she hurried into the house. In amazement she halted in the living room, where their wedding gifts had been piled on the couch. Marni was with thirteen-year-old Blake, just as she had suspected, but they were not on the couch groping with their recently discovered adolescent hormones. Her beautiful daughter, who looked exactly like Kait except for her green eyes and olive skin, was arm wrestling the boy, and from the look of things, poor Blake was about to lose. But, then, Marni was already five foot four and a hundred pounds, while Blake hadn’t even started to grow yet.

Marni said, “Take that, sucker,” and she jammed his skinny arm down on the table and let out a satisfied and “in your face” whoop.

Blake flushed. “You might as well be a boy,” he said, leaping to his feet. “Bet you’re going to
like
girls when you grow up! Betcha you’ll
never
have a boyfriend, weirdo!”

“You’re just jealous because I’m stronger and faster than you,” Marni said, making a face. In her sapphire blue dress and with a touch of lip gloss, she was so pretty and feminine—except for the childish face she’d just made and the fighting words she’d just uttered.

“At least I really am a boy—and not pretending like you to be one!” Blake ran out in disgust.

Marni said, “Sore loser!”

Kait bit back a smile. Marni had all of Lana’s courage, recklessness, and athleticism. But unlike her biological mother, she could not tell a lie—no one was more sincere and honest. And except for Blake, whom Kait knew she had a huge crush on—when she was ten she had stated she would marry him when she grew up—she was kind and generous. But when Blake was around, she became her most tomboyish and insulting self.

“Oh, hi, Mom,” Marni said, standing and looking impossibly beautiful in her simple sleeveless dress. Her feet were bare. A pair of low-heeled black-patent pumps lay discarded by the small table where she and Blake had been arm wrestling. Marni was scowling now.

“You might try losing next time—if you want Blake to remain a friend.”

Marni said, “He thinks I’m a boy.”

“I don’t think so. I feel quite certain he sees you as the beautiful girl that you are.”

Tears rose. “But he hasn’t kissed me!”

“Marni!” Kait was aghast. “You’re twelve!”

“But Kendra’s been kissed five times already,” Marni said grimly. “I am never going to be kissed. I’ll die without ever being kissed.”

Kait hid a smile. “I doubt it.”

Marni started forward, barefoot. “I’m going to ask that stupid Paul Silva to dance.” She stuck her chin in the air.

She didn’t mean to be a matchmaker, but knowing where Marni’s heart lay, she said softly, “You could ask Blake.”

“Never!” Marni cried, flushing, and she started to race to the patio doors. Then she whirled and ran to Kait and hugged her. “I forgot to say congratulations, Mom. You’re so beautiful tonight.”

Kait smiled at her daughter. “Not half as beautiful as you.”

The flattery seemed to go right over Marni’s head. “Do you think I’m ready for a motocross bike?”

Kait sighed. Even Marni, who did not have a selfish bone in her body, knew how to manipulate. “No.”

“But why not?” she wailed. “I won’t break my neck! I’ll be really careful! Please!”

“I’ll think about it.”

Marni grinned and hugged her again. “You’re the best.” She ran outside. “Hey, Dad! Mom’s inside!”

As Kait watched Trev cross the patio, their eyes met and her heart tightened.
God, they were now man and wife.
They had waited seven years for Lana to be declared officially missing and dead. Seven long, long years, and now it was official at last.

She had married the man of her dreams, her very own Prince Charming.

He quietly strode across the room. “What are you doing?” He slipped his arm around her. “Are you crying?”

“I thought I might find Marni in here making out with Blake.” She sniffled. “I’m so happy.”

“I know. No such luck?” He was amused.

“She whipped him in arm wrestling.”

Trev chuckled. “Poor Blake. Or should I say, poor Marni? She’s so besotted! If she weren’t such a tomboy, I’d be worried.”

“She thinks she’ll die without ever being kissed.”

Trev chuckled again and reeled Kait in. “I’ll settle for sixteen.” They kissed and groped for a long time. Finally Trev whispered, “Let’s go upstairs.”

“But we have guests.”

“They won’t care,” Trev murmured. “But I do.”

Kait knew he did so she touched him. “Insatiable.”

“Only for you.”

They started for the stairs when Trev halted her. Kait blinked. “What is it?”

He sent her a smile and, without a word of warning, lifted her into his arms. Kait cried out, then was deliriously thrilled. “Silly man,” she chided.

“I’ve waited seven years to be able to do this,” he declared, carrying her up the stairs.

Kait looked at his face. “Good God. You’re not even huffing!”

“I have the kind of wife that keeps me in shape,” he said smoothly.

She tickled his neck.

He burst out laughing. “That may backfire, wife! I may drop you!” Kait ceased her antics and Trev paused on the threshold of their bedroom. Years ago Kait had redone it—the walls were a warm yellow now, the bed a pale but rich pine, the coverings and upholstery all shades of orange and gold. Kait clung to his neck and Trev stepped inside. “I love you, Kait Coleman,” he said.

“I love you,” Kait began, and then she saw the box wrapped in brown postal paper on the bed. “Trev, what’s that?”

She expected him to grin secretively, but he was as confused as she. “I have no idea,” he said, setting her down.

“You didn’t put that there?”

“José told me we had a package this afternoon, but in the rush of getting ready for the wedding, I guess I forgot. He must have decided to bring it upstairs,” Trev said.

Kait went over to the bed. The package was addressed to her—Mrs. Kait Coleman. “It’s for me. It’s not a wedding gift.” She looked at the return address. There was no name—just an address. “It’s from Rio de Janeiro,” she said, puzzled. “I don’t know anyone in Rio.” And she became utterly still.

There had not been a single word or note from her twin, not in all this time. Kait had refused to believe that she was dead, but there had always been some doubt. Now Kait stared at the package and she knew.

Trev looked at her with wide eyes and she glanced up at him, too. “Maybe you do know someone in Rio,” he said. “Maybe we do.” Clearly, he was on her wavelength, too.

Kait breathed. Then she tore open the brown paper and opened the medium-sized box. Inside was white tissue paper, and for one moment she thought that was all. But then she found a small, flat black jeweler’s box. “Oh, my God,” she said, not touching it. Her heart seemed to have stopped. “It’s from Lana.”

Trev was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Open it.”

Kait wet her lips and reached down and opened the small, flat box. She did not gasp. Inside there lay a magnificent diamond necklace. A tier of pear-shaped diamonds dangled from end to end, forming a glittering collar. It was clearly worth a fortune.

She looked up at her husband.

“She’s alive,” Trev murmured, meeting her gaze. “And up to her old tricks from the look of it. There’s a card.”

Kait was filled with relief then. After all of these years she now knew where Lana was and that she was, after all, alive. Suddenly Kait could picture her on a beach in front of a five-star hotel in Rio, sipping a pin˜a colada, Colin Farrell at her side. She inhaled and set the necklace down. Her name had been scripted on the white envelope in hand-writing that Kait recognized. Inside the envelope was an equally plain white card.

“Well?” Trev asked, hushed. “What does it say?”

Kait took his hand. “ ‘Congratulations,’ ” she said. “That’s what it says. It says ‘congratulations.’ ”