Ryan's Return (9 page)

Ryan swallowed hard. Dirk had tossed him in jail once before for fighting in back of Loretta's bar. He had been seventeen then, and he had spent the night in a cell, waiting for his father to pick him up. Jonas had made him wait twenty-four long hours.

"Can't stay out of trouble, can you?" Dirk asked. He glanced over at Andrew, who looked pale and stricken with guilt. "And you, Andrew. I didn't expect this from you."

No, Dirk only expected it from him, Ryan thought cynically. Once a sinner -- always a sinner.

Dirk tipped his head toward the broken fence. "Anyone want to tell me what happened there?"

"He did it," Andrew grumbled.

"You took off first."

"You gave me the signal."

"I was warming up the car."

Dirk grabbed their arms as their fight escalated.

"Get in the car," he ordered. "We're going downtown."

"Jail?" Andrew's mouth dropped open. "I can't go to jail. I'm supposed to be decorating the rec center."

"Me, too," Ryan said. "I'm helping Kara."

"She doesn't need your help," Andrew said.

"Then why did she ask me?"

Dirk sighed. "Get in the car, boys." He pushed them over to the patrol car. "Mr. Miller wants to press charges. Said he's tired of all the drag racing down this road. Afraid one of his ducks is going to get hit."

"It's his ducks that caused the problem," Ryan said.

"Nevertheless, we have paperwork to fill out and a fence to pay for before anyone goes anywhere. Not to mention assaulting a police officer."

"Look, I'll pay for the fence," Ryan said. "It was my fault. I take responsibility. And I'm sorry I hit you."

"No, I'll pay for the fence," Andrew declared. "This is my town."

"Fine, you pay."

"Not that it was my fault," Andrew reminded him.

"Then I'll pay."

"Holy Mary ..." Dirk shook his head. "If you two don't quit arguing, I'm going to handcuff you together and throw the key in that pond over there. Now get in the car."

"You can't lock me up, I'm the guest of honor," Ryan said as Dirk started the car.

"And I'm the press," Andrew declared.

Dirk smiled as he started the motor. "I can do any thing I want, boys. I'm the sheriff, and I've got the keys to the jail."

Kara checked the clock on the wall at the recreation center for the sixth time in an hour.

"A watched pot never boils," Josephine Parker Willis Caldecott Kelly stated as she placed the last floral centerpiece on the table.

Kara sighed, watching her aunt fiddle with the flowers so that each blossom could be seen from every angle of the table. In less than an hour the multipurpose auditorium had been turned into a glowing bower of flowers, candles, and polished silver. The tables were set. The crepe paper was hung. The balloons were gathered in nets along the ceiling. The room was ready. Everything was going according to plan, so why did she feel so worried?

"You've been a lifesaver, Aunt Josephine," Kara said. "I couldn't have done this without you."

"Sure you could. You can do whatever you set your mind to. Why, just look what you've done to the Gatehouse."

"It looks good, doesn't it?" Kara asked, unable to resist boasting a little. "My homemaking talents are paying off after all. Michael always said I wouldn't be able to support Angel, that I didn't have any skills. Not that he cares enough to send his child support on time."

"Michael Delaney is a loser," Josephine said flatly. "He's not worth as much as his Italian suits."

"I know. But he is Angel's father. She wrote to him again yesterday." Kara met her aunt's perceptive gaze. "He never answers her letters or returns her calls. He's breaking her heart, and there's not a damn thing I can do about it."

"The man should be shot. Maybe you ought to invite him up here for hunting season." Josephine's eyes lit up with mischief. "I've been known to miss once in awhile."

Kara couldn't resist a laugh. "You're terrible. I'm surprised Ike lets you out of the house."

"As long as I leave my shotgun at home, he's happy."

"And your crystal ball, your tarot cards, and your extra-strength vitamin syrup, which we both know is really whiskey from Bud Brodie's still. You know, Prohibition is over. You can actually buy liquor at the store now."

"Don't be smart with me," Josephine chided.

"I'm sorry." Kara checked the clock again. "I can't imagine where Andrew is. It's almost noon."

"I don't think Andrew is the one you should be worrying about."

Kara sighed. "I'm worrying about him, too."

Josephine positioned the last carnation within the centerpiece. "There, what do you think?"

"It's perfect, thank you."

Josephine's smile lit up her pale, thinly lined face. She was a small woman, barely five feet, but her heart was as big as the whole town. She loved most people, some better than others, which was probably why she was on her fourth marriage. Not that the others had ended in divorce. No, all three men had died, the first in the Korean War, the second of a heart attack, and the third in an automobile accident.

Although Josephine had mourned each loss, her innate sense of survival had always brought her chin back up. She was a survivor, and six months ago she had married Ike Kelly, a man of her own age, a man of strong opinions.

Personally Kara thought them a perfect match. Ike's common sense kept Josephine out of trouble. Which was a relief to Kara, who always had a feeling that her aunt was just seconds away from blowing a hole through the roof, whether she was mixing her magic love potions or practicing her shooting.

Josephine sat down and pulled out a chair for Kara. "Now. Sit down and tell me about Ryan Hunter."

"I have too much to do, Aunt Josephine. I have to finish tying the ribbons on the favors, and I should check the wine. Loretta said sometimes her supplier cheats."

"Sit down," Josephine ordered.

Kara sat down, knowing it was futile to argue with Josephine. "What do you want to know?"

"Do you like Ryan?"

"He's okay." She turned away from her aunt's sharp eyes. Josephine had a way of reading Kara's mind that gave her goose bumps.

"Okay? Goodness, girl. Most people in this town have a hundred words to describe that boy, but okay has never been one of them."

"What do you want me to say -- that he's tall and strong and built like an athlete, that he has a sexy smile and incredible green eyes and a way of looking at a woman that makes her feel like she's the only one in the room? Is that what you want me to say?"

Josephine sat back in her chair and nodded approvingly. "Just as I thought. You like him."

"He's good-looking, but he's not my type."

"And Andrew is."

"Definitely. Andrew is solid. Dependable."

"Boring."

"Aunt Josephine."

"I always tell the truth, Kara, and I'm telling you now that Andrew is not right for you or for Angel."

"Don't bring Angel into this."

"She's your daughter, and her spirit would be broken in a second living with a man like Andrew."

"Her spirit?" Kara asked with irritation. "Angel is fast becoming a pathological liar. Andrew is exactly what she needs, not someone like -- like Ryan, who thinks it's fun to encourage her tales." Kara got up from her chair and paced around the table. "Angel is driving me crazy, Aunt Josephine. Every time I try to talk to her, she makes up a story. She's living in a dream world, and I don't know how to pull her out of it. She has to face reality."

"Why? She's only eleven. Let her dream."

"So she can be disappointed over and over again?"

"It doesn't have to be that way."

"Show me where it says that."

Aunt Josephine shook her head. "Kara, how can you say that? You had a dream of restoring the Gatehouse, and you've done it."

"I've restored the Gatehouse, but I haven't made it a success. If business doesn't pick up, I'll lose it to the bank. I'm mortgaged up to my neck, and I'm sinking fast."

"You'll make it. The centennial will put us all in the black. You're booked for tonight, aren't you?"

"Yes, and for the entire weekend. I wish it could be like this every weekend."

"Keep the faith, Kara. That's all any of us can do."

Kara squeezed Josephine's hand, reminded of how much grief her aunt had suffered and how she had always come out fighting. "I wish I had your courage."

Josephine laughed and stood up. "Personally I'd rather have Barbra Streisand's voice, but we've got what we've got. Now I'll see to the wine."

As Josephine disappeared into the kitchen, the front door to the rec center flew open. Beverly Appleborne stormed in with Margaret Woodrich following just behind her.

More trouble. Kara's gut instinct had been right.

"Ladies," Kara said. "Can I help you?"

"We're giving you one last warning, Mrs. Delaney," Beverly Appleborne said. "If you dare to honor that scoundrel, we will walk out of this dinner with our friends, and we do have a lot of friends."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Mrs. Appleborne, but as I said before, Mr. Hunter's part in the dinner is very small, just a five-minute speech, a few photos, and then the mayor will give him the keys to the city."

"The keys to the city, are you out of your mind?" Beverly asked.

Kara sighed. "It's just a token gift. It doesn't mean anything."

"It means we've forgotten Becky Lee. It means we've forgiven Ryan," Margaret said with a shaky voice.

"The centennial is not about Ryan; it's about this town, about moving forward," Kara replied, trying to distract them from the issue of Ryan. "Surely we can all work together -- for the good of the town."

"Unlike you, we're very happy with this town exactly the way it is," Beverly said. "My husband has practiced medicine here for thirty-five years. Our children grew up in the beauty and tranquility that is Serenity Springs. We don't want video arcades and drive-through restaurants."

"With all due respect, Mrs. Appleborne, three of our merchants went out of business last year because they could no longer make a living," Kara replied. "There are people in this town who are struggling."

"Then they should go elsewhere," Beverly declared.

"Can't we compromise, ladies? Can't we have some progress, carefully watched over so we don't disturb the uniqueness of our town, but at the same time give everyone here a chance to earn a living?"

"Humph." Beverly tilted her nose in the air.

Margaret clutched her black patent leather purse to her bosom. She looked as if she wanted to say something but wasn't sure where to begin. Finally her mouth opened, her lips trembling.

"You have a daughter. You should understand," Margaret said. "That man is responsible for Becky Lee's death. I can't stand to look at his face. It hurts me here -- in my heart." She put a hand to her chest.

The simple gesture moved Kara more than words. She did understand a mother's sorrow. She knew that if anything happened to Angel, she would never be the same.

"I'm sorry," Kara said. "Truly. I had no idea when I invited Ryan here that you thought there was some connection between him and your daughter's death. Andrew never said anything. No one ever said anything."

"It's not something we like to talk about."

"Your ignorance is not an excuse," Beverly said. "You should have consulted with us before you made such a radical decision. I still can't believe Andrew let you do this."

Kara bristled at that implied insult. "I didn't ask Andrew for permission. I'm a grown woman. I'm also the president of the chamber of commerce. I make my own decisions."

"Bad ones, apparently."

"That's enough," Josephine said, interrupting their conversation. She walked toward them, her mouth set in a grim line, her eyes promising retribution. If anyone could intimidate Beverly Appleborne, it was Josephine.

"I didn't see you there," Beverly said.

"Obviously not. You can take your insults and go. Kara doesn't need grief from you. And Margaret, I can't believe you're blaming Ryan for everything. Becky Lee had a mind of her own, and you knew that better than anyone. If she left Andrew, it was her decision and no one else's. That girl never did anything she didn't want to do."

Margaret shook her head. "It was him, Josephine. She loved him so much, she couldn't think straight."

"Then she shouldn't have married his brother."

"Becky Lee was hurt. She was upset. She was just a baby herself." Margaret's shoulders began to shake.

Josephine softened. "Now, don't be doing that," she said. "This town can't take any more tears. The river's already high."

Kara smiled at the analogy. In Serenity Springs everything came down to the river.

"It's time for healing," Josephine continued. "Long past time. I, for one, am glad Ryan has come home. We could all use some excitement around here."

"You want excitement, you've got it," Beverly said. She spun on her heel and stalked out of the room, Margaret following quietly behind her.

Kara shot her aunt a worried look. "What do you think she's planning?"

Josephine's eyes glittered with anticipation. "I haven't a clue, but I hope it's good."

"Aunt Josephine, I have two hundred people coming for dinner."

"That's good. Every show needs an audience."

"I don't want a show."

"Then you shouldn't have invited the devil to your party."

"Do you think Ryan is as bad as they say?"

Before her aunt could answer, the phone rang, surprising both of them. Kara ran over to answer it. "Rec center," she said.

"Kara, it's Andrew."

"Andrew, where are you?"

"I'm -- I'm in jail."

"You're where?" she asked in astonishment.

"In jail. It's a long story, but 1 need one hundred dollars to get out, and I don't have my checkbook. Could you go to my house and get it?"

"Sure, of course. I'll be right there." Kara hung up the phone. "Andrew is in jail."

"No." Josephine actually looked shocked. "I don't believe it. That boy never broke a rule in his life."

"Why do I have a feeling this has something to do with Ryan?" Kara groaned as the phone rang again. "I don't have a good feeling about this."