Waiting for You (26 page)

“Our big boys are off at work and our little boys are napping,” Kate explained. “So we’re sneaking in some girl time.”

“
Sorry. I didn’t mean to
interrupt
.”
Karise
wished
she’d simply called.

“You’re not
interrupting
,” Tara waved off her concern. “You’re a girl.”

“I was just coming to see if you wanted to swing by Aidan’s later.
He’s throwing something on the grill for dinner. Any time after two,
but we won’t eat until later. You’re welcome to come, too,” Karise added
as she directed her gaze to Tara. It felt wrong to exclude her and Jack,
and she’d have to learn to get along with Jack eventually.

“We’d love to.” Kate didn’t hesitate.

“That sounds nice,” Tara agreed. “And I hear congratulations are
in order.”

The c
onversation
turned to the wedding after that, and it took Karise
fifteen minutes more to extract herself. She wouldn’t have minded if
she hadn’t needed to clean the house before company arrived. On the
other hand, it made Karise indescribably happy to realize she had just
that: a house to clean before company came over.

She had the radio going and the windows open when Aidan got
back from shopping. He came in to find her rocking out with the vacuum
cleaner. He startled her by sweeping her into his arms, the vacuum
clattering to the floor as he whisked her into their own dance. She
laughed and pushed him away before going to retrieve the vacuum. Nonplussed, he turned to Zoe, who was a much more willing dance partner. Karise couldn’t help smiling at their antics.

By the time Devon’s rented SUV pulled down the drive, she had
the house sparkling. Aidan was busy setting up the cooler when Karise
greeted everyone on the front porch. She wanted so badly to ask Alex
what was going on and if everyone was okay, but she knew it was
none of her business. Still, she gave Lani a warm hug as she welcomed
her, taking the girl by surprise.

Aidan joined Karise for the grand tour; her obvious love for the
little farmhouse seemed to please him. Jane and Alex—though both
lived in palaces, virtual and literal – commented only on how lovely the home was, how pretty the rich wood door and window frames were, and how they envied the front porch swing.

Karise was tempted to show them the poppy field, but Gavin was
pulling down the driveway. When Jack’s family followed soon after, Karise did her best not to tense with his arrival.

After everyone had drinks, knew where the bathroom was, and
had settled into groups to chitchat, Karise and Alex finally got a chance
to talk. They wandered through one of the fields, admiring the lush
green and enjoying the peace.

“I’m sorry about last night,” Alex began, saving Karise the debate over
whether or not to bring it up.

“It’s okay. How is everyone today?”

“Better. Sad, but not quite as despondent as last night.”

“Tell me to butt out if you want, I get it, but who was that?”

“Aaron Johnston,” Alex sighed the name. “I knew when I first laid
eyes on that kid that he was going to give us trouble.”

“Is he that bad?”

“Aaron? No; he’s an incredible young man. I couldn’t love him more.”

“Sorry. I guess I’m not seeing the problem.”

“Aaron grew up in southwest Missouri breaking in mustangs. He’s
the epitome of cowboy. Now he rides the rodeo circuit – and just so
happens to be in town at the moment. Lani neglected to tell us that
little tidbit when she asked if she could come with us.”

“So you’re afraid the cowboy will break her heart?”

Alex nodded. “Even if he doesn’t mean to, it’s going to happen. She
is the reigning ruler of a small country. That’s not something she
can just chuck to traipse across the western half of this country, chasing after
some kid who likes to get thrown off of horses for a living. Although
I
think deep down, that’s exactly what Daniel is worried about – that he’ll turn aroun
d one day and she’ll just be gone. As cruel as it sounds, the queen of Tuwanga doesn’t have the luxury of being 17 and in love.”

“I was afraid it was something like that.”Karise frowned. “But
judging from Daniel’s reaction, I wasn’t entirely sure.”

“Daniel has been protecting Lani since she was a baby; he feels
responsible for her parents’ deaths, so that doesn’t help. I mean, it
wasn’t his fault, but he blames himself for not being able to save them.
And ever since,
he’s
been the only
father
she’s ever known. He’s warned
Aaron a couple of times to leave Lani alone, to let her heal. It’s her heart
he’s trying to protect this time, and he’s totally lost.

“I can’t help but think her heart is already broken. One memory to
take home and treasure can’t make things worse, can it?” Karise hoped
she was right.

“Maybe.” Alex mulled over the words.

“I do not envy you trying to navigate the teen years with all those
extra layers of complexity wrapped around them. I think that’s a hard
enough time under the best of circumstances.”

“You’ll have your hands very full when Zoe gets there,” Alex
predicted.

Karise had to agree; she’d thought the same thing before. Even if
she should leave well enough alone, she couldn’t seem to stop herself
from suggesting they go to the rodeo that night. “Maybe let her spend
a few days with him when you’re there to chaperone them. That’s got
to be better than her sneaking around to see him, right?”

“I’ll talk to Daniel.”

“I think that’s a good idea. If you want to tell me to shut up and butt out, that’s okay, too.”

“What’s the point of having a sister if you don’t take her advice?” Alex looped her arm through Karise’s as they circled back to join the others.

When they got there, it was obvious to Karise that Jack was no
more comfortable with Devon or Alex than he was with Karise. Calling
him out on it would be rude, but it did seem like the perfect time to ask
Devon the question she’d been trying to for weeks now.

“Hey Devon, did Dane McAlister ever live in this area? Someone
I met seemed to think he did.” Karise tried to sound nonchalant. Aidan
looked up from grilling to raise his eyebrows at her.

“I can answer that one for you.” Jack surprised them all. “I knew Dane when he lived here. I knew your mother, too.”

Karise sank into a nearby seat, shocked.

“Really?” Devon was the first to speak. “I knew they both lived here once upon a time, but I hadn’t realized just how small of a world it
was.
”

“Could you tell us about them?” Alex asked softly.

Jack shook his head, something other than irritation creasing his brow. “I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s not my place.”

By now, he had the full attention of every adult.

“Whatever it is, we want to hear it,” Karise prompted.

Jack took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. “I just get so damned
mad every time the media splashes her face around.”

Karise thought she understood what he was saying until he went on and she realized she’d completely misread the situation.

“Victoria McAlister, when I knew her, was the life of the party. She
was actually pretty good friends with your mom, Kate. I mean, they
were a few years apart, but their families were close. Maybe that’s why
you and Karise were drawn to each other.”

Devon’s face was tinged with sadness. “Mom’s smile could light up a room. I remember that about her.”

“That it could,” Jack agreed. “Everyone who knew her loved her, but nobody loved her more than Dane McAlister.”

Karise inadvertently winced. It always came back to that.

“I don’t want to speak ill of your father.” Jack looked from Devon
to Alex. “He was a good man in a lot of ways, but he never deserved her.”

“You just said he loved her more than anybody.”

“That didn’t stop him from treating her like he owned her, which
didn’t make it any easier for her to deal with his mercurial moods. He
showed the world his charismatic side. To Victoria, he was something
much darker. They hadn’t been married six months when the first
woman came between them. The pattern was always the same: Victoria
would find out and threaten to leave him. He’d break it off with that woman, only to replace her as soon as things settled down with their marriage. She did leave him once; he convinced her to come back. Of
course, the speculation was that Victoria was just being flighty. No one
dared believe Dane had done anything wrong.”

No one else spoke. Processing the story seemed to be as difficult for Alex and Devon as it was for Karise, probably more so.

Jack looked to each of them, silently asking if he should go on. “I
think he settled down after you were born, Alex. Your family had
moved out east by then, but she still wrote sometimes. I was someone
safe she could talk to, someone who knew her before and who wouldn’t
share what I knew. She told me that he loved you kids so much; his
focus turned from himself to raising you. Victoria knew he wanted to
repair the marriage, and she believed he wanted to make it work, but
he’d done a lot of damage by that point. He’d done things to her, things
she never told anyone else, and she’d never gotten over them. Dane wasn’t a man accustomed to being told no.”

“Things?” Alex looked pale.

Jack shook his head. “I’ve already rehashed more of this than she
ever wanted you to know. But I’ve watched the media rip her to shreds
for years. I didn’t want you kids to spend the rest of your lives believing
a lie. Her life was a living hell married to Dane McAlister. To the rest of the world, he was the perfect guy. It made her feel crazy. One day it just got to be too much, so she left. I’m not even sure she meant to
leave – she got in the car to go to the grocery store and just kept going.
I don’t think she ever forgave herself for it.”

“If he was so terrible, why didn’t she take us with her?” Again, it
was Alex who spoke. Devon’s face was darker than Karise had ever
seen it.

“Because she truly believed he would never hurt the two of you, and she knew he’d never let you go. She felt trapped by her world.”

“What about me?” Karise had to know. “Did she ever write to
you about me?”

Jack turned his attention to her, his face kinder than she’d ever
seen it. “She loved you, she did. And she loved Pablo. But by the time
you were born, she was so very broken inside. I only heard from her once after you were born. Then the letters stopped.”

Karise absorbed all she’d just learned. It was a lot to take in –
everything she’d founded her life on was turned upside down. Her
heart ached for Devon and Alex. It had to be so much worse for them.

“Why are you telling them this now?” Kate asked, speaking up for
the first time. “Why didn’t you say something the instant I brought
Karise here?”

“I’ve been trying
not
to say anything since you brought Karise here.
I’ve been wrestling with it nonstop. But I couldn’t keep quiet any longer.
Think of your mother what you will, but at least make an informed decision. Victoria deserved that much.”

“That’s why you’ve been so weird around me.” It clicked into place
for Karise. “I thought you hated me.”

“I didn’t hate you. I don’t hate you. I see a lot of Victoria in you, though, and I have to admit it’s unsettling.”

Aidan interrupted the stunned silence. “Dinner is ready. I’m sorry
if the timing is off…”

“No,” Alex stood. “It’s perfect timing. Feeding the kids will keep my brain from exploding.”

“I’ll help,” Daniel offered, never leaving her side.

Karise wanted to say something to comfort Devon, but Jane was
there, her hand resting lightly on his arm as she tried to get him to talk
to her. Instead, Karise poured the guests’ drinks while Aidan made Zoe
a plate. She found herself face to face with Lani.

The girl seemed so sad as she took the lemonade from Karise. When
she went to walk away, Karise found herself reaching out and placing
a hand on Lani’s arm to still her.

“If you ever need a non-parent to talk to, I’m here,” Karise blurted.
“And I’m really sorry. The whole situation sucks. You’re handling it better than I would.”

Lani’s face brightened a fraction and she inclined her head in
acknowledgement. “Thank you.”

Karise made herself a plate and snagged a spot at the picnic table beside Aidan. She couldn’t do more than pick at the food in front of her, though. Her stomach was an unsettled mess, rivaled only by the unsettled mess in her head.

Aidan cocked his head in her direction, the concern evident in his
eyes. “Are you okay?”

Karise nodded slowly. “Just processing. I’m worried about Devon and Alex, though. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if someone had just told
me Pablo wasn’t the man I thought he was. My dad’s good character
is one of those things I’ve counted on – like maybe I didn’t totally have
genetics working against me because of him.”