Mischief 24/7 (31 page)

They’d made love so many times, in so many ways. Hard, and fast, and fierce. Teasing love. Adventurous love. Even dangerous love.

Standing just inside the front door of his Virginia house, their clothes hanging off them, her back against the wall, because neither of them could wait for the climb up the stairs to their bedroom.

Their short honeymoon stay in Vegas. He, watching her learn him. She, watching her own reaction as his fingers drove her to ecstasy.

That rainy afternoon Jade had been looking in his library for a book to read and found a copy of the
Kama Sutra
Court thought had been thrown away after college.

They’d definitely had the passion, the carnal-pleasure portion of the program, down pat.

That hadn’t proved to be enough, for either of them.

But this was different. How he felt about Jade was different now; deeper, more a mental union, a sense of sharing, of caring, that had little to do with what had first attracted him to her.

He could exist without her. He’d proved that.

He couldn’t
live
without her.

Without words, he told her now how much she meant to him. With each touch, each slow, tender caress, he hoped she knew how much he loved her.

Fall into me,
his touch told her.
I’m here, I’ll always be here.

When he finally levered himself between her legs, his arms braced on either side of her so that he could look down into her face, it was to see tears in her eyes as she returned his gaze.

“I love you, Court,” she whispered, reaching up for him, to pull him down, to press her mouth against his.

He blinked several times, fighting his own emotions, his arms tight around her, glorying in the way she clung to him in turn.

And then they flew with each other, fell into each other, their simple, ages-old union—a man and his woman—at last making promises they both could keep.

To love, forever…

“S
ORRY TO KEEP
you waiting,” Sam said, walking into the foyer, where everyone else was already gathered. “That was Joshua Brainard on the phone.”

“How is he doing?” Jade asked. “No matter what, his father’s death must have devastated him. Suicide in a jail cell? Not exactly the way anyone would think the great, politically powerful Clifford Brainard would die, huh?”

“Personally?” Sam said, shrugging. “I think it was a relief for Joshua, not having to go through the horror of a trial. He’s already had to give up his political ambitions, and he just now told me that he’s leaving the state, moving permanently to the family ranch in Colorado, or wherever it is. He only phoned because he read about the graveside ceremony this morning and wanted to tell you all one more time how much he regrets what his father did.”

“He’s arranged for a scholarship for Kayla Morrison’s daughter,” Jessica informed them. “Did you guys know that? The last victim, after Tarin? We did a small piece on it on last night’s show. Kayla was the only one who left any children behind, and Brainard said he felt he owed the survivors something, because if his father hadn’t confused the investigation, maybe the Fishtown Strangler would have been caught before Kayla became a victim. He’s trying. I don’t think it’s working, but I’ll give him points for trying.”

Jolie looked at Jade, shrugging. “I still like him. He’s a likable guy, the perfect politician. But maybe more real now.”

“A hell of a way to get real, finding out your father is a monster,” Sam said, taking Jolie’s hand. “Come on. The three of you have been thinking about this day for a while. You don’t want to be late.”

Jade hung back with Court as the others headed for the cars. “Teddy wasn’t perfect,” she said quietly.

“None of us is, sweetheart. Teddy was a complicated man. He had his faults. But he did the best he could. It’s all any of us can do. Bottom line, Jade, he raised three pretty wonderful daughters.

Now come on, it’s almost eight o’clock. It’s time to say a real goodbye.”

“Jessica insisted on this ungodly early hour even after the wake last night that went on until the bar closed. She’s hoping for a morning mist. I don’t know why.”

“And you were afraid to ask?”

Jade smiled, her heart almost light. “You got it.”

The drive to the cemetery was uneventful, but as they passed through the gates and into the cemetery it was to a sea of blue uniforms lining either side of the roadway. Teddy’s honor guard, men and women he had worked with, fellow officers from Philadelphia and a half-dozen surrounding communities, all there to pay their belated respects to a fallen comrade.

“All right,
now
I’m going to cry,” Jade said as they approached the grave and she saw the color guard, the flags, the trumpeter waiting to play taps. But the crushing sadness was gone, the ripping grief that had not that long ago been so raw, so new.

Even Rockne, once more with his Notre Dame scarf tied around his neck, padded across the freshly cut grass with his head held high, Sunny scampering along behind him.

“Oh, look, Court. It’s Morgan.”

They walked over to Court’s cousin, who kissed them both hello, and then they introduced her to everyone, including Jermayne, who looked huge and nervous as he stood there in his new suit beside Ernesto, who had actually left his intricate calculator in his pocket as a show of respect.

Jermayne was going to be all right, Jade and Court would see to that. They’d walked him through the system, and when he gave the police the names of the three boys who had given him the gun to hold for them, he’d been told to go home, he’d done enough. One of the boys, now a man, had been arrested the next morning, and the other two were already in jail on other charges.

All three had been convinced to plead guilty in favor of a lesser charge, although they could have been tried for murder for having given the gun to Jermayne in the first place.

The Scholar Athlete case was closed. Jermayne started trade school in three weeks.

“Court told me about the ceremony when we spoke the other day,” Morgan said as she smiled at Sam, a cousin she had not yet met till now. “I couldn’t resist. I hope nobody minds? Besides, this way I can make a personal appeal that you all come visit me at Becket Hall.”

“Close your mouth, Denby,” Jade overheard Jessica tell Matt. “We already know she’s beautiful.”

“Hey, I’m engaged, not dead,” Matt answered, and Jade bit her bottom lip as Jessica warned him that he’d
pay for that remark later.

It was amazing how different a person could feel standing in the exact same spot they’d all stood in just a few weeks earlier. Three women, alone. Rockne, grieving. That day they’d buried Teddy in disgrace. Today they would figuratively lay him to rest in glory.

Here we are, Teddy, your girls, your babies. Don’t worry about us, please. We ’re going to be just fine. Jolie’s with her Sam, and Jessica is going to drive Matt happily crazy. And Court, Teddy. I’m so glad you two were able to talk, come together, get to know each other a little. He loves me, Teddy, and I love him. We ’re going to be all right. We ’re all going to be all right. We love you, and we’ll never forget you. But it’s time for us all to put that one foot in front of the other the way you always told us, and get on with our lives. God bless, Daddy, and Godspeed.

“Sweetheart?” Court whispered. “Are you all right?”

“Oh, yes, I’m all right.” She smiled up into his beloved face. “We’re all just fine. I love you, Court.”

“I love you too, sweetheart. And I’m so proud of you. I’m proud of all three of you. Teddy’s girls, doing right by their dad. You’re a pretty remarkable bunch.”

Father Muskie arrived and kissed each girl, and then hugged Jermayne, having to stand on tiptoe to do so, before he took up his place behind the newly laid brass marker and indicated that they should all make the sign of the cross.

He spoke about Teddy’s booming laugh, made a joke about those horrible Hawaiian shirts. He told a quick, funny story about a time they’d gone fishing together in Canada, and the day Teddy had kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland.

He spoke of Teddy’s love for his daughters, the contributions he had made to the community in his long years of service with the police force, and his dedication to the victims he represented.

Jade stood very close to Court, his arm around her waist. Occasionally he’d lean down to kiss the top of her head or murmur something comforting into her ear.

They all flinched involuntarily at the rifle salute and shed a few tears as the honor guard presented Jade with a folded American flag.

And then, at last, it was over. She’d made a promise, they’d all made a promise, and they’d kept that promise. Teddy could now rest in peace.

Jade turned to leave, but Jessica grabbed her arm. “Wait. One more thing. And we’ve even got the morning mist rising from that creek over there. Remember, Jade, Jolie? Remember what Teddy always said he wanted?”

Jolie nodded. “A blanket of red roses like he’d just won the Kentucky Derby and a piper playing ‘Amazing Grace’ on the bagpipes. He said, if we were lucky, a good stiff breeze would come along and lift the piper’s kilt a little, just to take the edge off everyone’s sorrow. How could we forget?”

“I don’t know how,” Jessica said, smiling up at Matt. “I didn’t.”

And then, as if on cue, a piper dressed in full regalia stepped out from the line of blue uniforms and began playing “Amazing Grace.”

He walked past the headstone, nodded to Father Muskie and then proceeded past everyone, heading for the slight hollow in the distance, leading down toward the small stream of fresh-flowing water that was still shrouded in morning mist.

Jade took the handkerchief Court pressed into her hand and wiped her tear-wet cheeks. When

she looked up again the piper was nearly gone; the symbolism of him moving off, alone, impossible to ignore.

The pipes, faint now, could still be heard.

Her mind put the words to the music:
I once was lost, but now I’m found…

Jade closed her eyes as a feeling of great peace filled her. As if he could sense the change in her, Court put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, pressed a kiss against her temple.

No, Jade realized with a sigh and a smile, she was not just found… she was
home.