One Night (20 page)

“
There’s a letter
from your mom and dad,” Carrie said. Kyle walked out of the bedroom, holding their six-month-old daughter in his arms.

Carolyn Marie yawned sleepily as her mother reached for her and sat in the rocker. By the time she’d bared her breast, Carolyn was fussing, ready for her lunch. The baby latched onto the nipple and sucked greedily.

Carrie’s heart ached with love for this child. She brushed a strand of fine blond hair from the cherublike face and rocked gently. She was surprised when she looked up to find Kyle watching her.

“I remember the night Carolyn was born,” Kyle said.

“Trust me, so do I,” Carrie teased.

“The nurse put her on the scale, and she reached up and grabbed my finger and captured my heart. I don’t think I’m ever going to get it back.”

“Only now do I appreciate my parents’ love.”

“I want to be Carolyn’s knight in shining armor, her hero.”

“You’re already mine.”

His eyes met hers, and she was engulfed in the depth and strength of his love for her. “Carolyn’s an angel on loan.”

“I have the feeling we both may have second thoughts about that when she becomes a teenager.”

Kyle chuckled, and then the laughter left his eyes. “I’ve been thinking,” he said. He came farther into the room and sank into his leather recliner. His responsibilities were heavy, now that he produced the news of the ABC affiliate television station in Kansas City. He loved his job, but he worked long hard hours.

“Are you worried about the station?” Carrie asked.

“No. Everything’s going well there.”

“Then why do you look so troubled?”

“I’m not. I was just thinking about Mom and Max and the incredible set of circumstances that set everything in motion. All because you thought driving the interstate to Dallas would be boring.”

“If anything, that should convince you to listen to me more often,” she said, knowing there wasn’t a prayer of that happening anytime soon.

“I still think of Richards every now and again,” Kyle murmured absently.

“I wonder what went wrong for him to do the things he did,” Carrie said, rocking their daughter as she nursed.

“The Secret Service people want to know the same thing.”

“And why did Nelson kill him?”

“I don’t think we’ll ever have the answer to that. I suspect Richards told him he’d have the key, and when he didn’t Nelson got impatient.”

“Shooting him was a bit drastic, don’t you think?” Carrie said.

“Perhaps it was what he intended all along. Max has a theory about that. Max thinks Richards gave Nelson a phony key, just to get him off his back, never suspecting Nelson intended to kill him,” Kyle speculated. “He was buying time, and instead he sealed his own death warrant.”

“It’s sad, isn’t it.”

“Greed does that to a person.”

“You should know,” she said, glaring at her husband.

“Are you saying I’m greedy?”

“In a manner of speaking. Between the sexual demands you make on me and the baby needing my time—oh, well, I might as well tell you. I think I’m pregnant again.”

“What?” Kyle’s legs shot out away from the chair as if he’d received an electrical shock. “But…I thought you said that since you were nursing…”

“Apparently I was wrong.” She lowered her gaze, not knowing herself how she felt about having a second baby so soon after the first. If Kyle was upset, Carrie was afraid she’d burst into tears. Her emotions were all askew as it was.

“Carrie, sweetheart.” He walked over to her, leaned over, and kissed her thoroughly until it was all Carrie could do to remember she had the baby in her arms.

“Are you sorry?” Kyle asked.

She shook her head. “Not if you aren’t.”

“I couldn’t be more pleased,” he said, a smile radiating from his eyes. “I’m just a little surprised is all.”

“My dad’s going to love you all the more,” Carrie muttered. As it was, her parents thought Kyle walked on water. Presenting them with a second grandchild barely fifteen months after the first would only increase their admiration.

“I’ll write and tell Mom and Max,” Kyle said. “By the way, what did they say in their letter?”

“Just that they’re happy.”

“Who wouldn’t be, living on a Caribbean island? Your mother’s thinking of starting her own business.”

“You know, I couldn’t help wondering if their marriage was going to last,” Kyle said, pulling out the ottoman and sitting down next to Carrie.

“Why not? They’ve been in love with each other for years.”

“True, but sometimes reality falls decidedly short of the dream. I’m pleased for them both. For a while I was afraid Max was going to get bored, but I was wrong. He’s got his hand in a dozen different projects.”

Carrie knew Kyle wasn’t pleased when she made father-son comparisons, but as a matter of course the two proved to be more and more alike with each passing month.

“He looked good when he was here for the trial, didn’t he?”

“Wonderful,” Carrie murmured. “I don’t mind telling you I sleep better at night knowing Nelson and his group of hoods are behind bars.”

“It’s over, Carrie. We don’t have anything to worry about now.”

“Unless of course we take another road trip and the car happens to break down. In which case we can count on meeting a cast of unruly characters, spending time in jail, and arguing like cats and dogs.”

“Why take a trip,” Kyle asked, “when I’ve got all that right here in the comfort of my own home?”

“Kyle!”

He chuckled and leaned forward to kiss her once more. “I haven’t drawn an easy breath from the moment I met you. The thing is, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

There’s a story behind every book.
One Night
began over lunch with my good buddy Linda Lael Miller. We started talking about the television show
Unsolved Mysteries
. At the same time I was thinking it was time to write a humorous story. Somehow the two, which have nothing in common, merged in my mind and the idea for
One Night
was born. As they say, the rest is history.

As always, my heartfelt appreciation goes to the people who made this book possible. Karen Solem and Carolyn Marino are a joy to work with at Harper. Next in line is my agent, Irene Goodman, who listens to my frustrations, soothes my ruffled feathers, and flatters my ego. My good friends Linda Lael Miller and Darlene Layman have faithfully stood by my side through the years. Thank you one and all.

Cover illustration by Jim Griffin. Cover photograph by William Warren/Westlight and Pelton & Assoc./Westlight