Coming Home (39 page)

“Why do you ask?”

“Because Jill hates football, and that was one hell of a tackle.”

Kate wilted under Andi’s stare. “Um, well. . .” Her relationship with Ashton was, after all, Jill’s news to share when she saw fit.

“I knew there was something,” Andi said smugly.

“Why don’t you ask her?”

“I believe I will.” She leaned in closer to Kate. “She’s not the only one keeping secrets, is she?”

Kate stared at her beloved stepmother. “What’re you, some sort of witch or something?”

“I know my girls. That’s all.”

Kate smiled at her, a flood of memories assailing her from the most difficult time in her life after her mother’s accident and the long coma that took her away from them for three years. Andi had come along during those years, offering friendship and warmth and support to Clare’s daughters that none of them had ever forgotten.

Kate enveloped Andi in a spontaneous hug. “Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, honey. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks. I wish Dad was, too.”

“He’ll get there. Give him some more time. Be patient with him.”

“I will.” Kate happened to look up at the football game to see Jamie and Reid having an intense conversation off to the side of the yard. “Excuse me,” Kate said to Andi and walked over to the two men. She didn’t bother to listen to what was being said. Rather, she took her uncle by the arm. “Take a walk with me.”

“I’m not done talking to him,” Jamie said.

“Yes, you are.” She ventured a glance at Reid and found his face tight with tension that made her ache. Wrapping her hand around Jamie’s arm, she led him away from the gathering. They walked toward the stables in silence as Kate thought about what she wanted to say to him. Since the words weren’t coming, she took him inside to see the horses and introduced him to Thunder.

“He’s a beauty,” Jamie said, extending a hand to caress the horse’s soft hair.

“Reid gave him to me.”
 

Jamie withdrew his hand.

Kate turned to face the man who’d been her father’s best friend since before she was born and her uncle since he married Aunt Frannie eleven years ago. “Do you know what my first memory of you is?”

Jamie jammed his hands in the pockets of his jeans and shook his head. He was tall and blond and handsome—and pissed. That last part was patently obvious. Despite his anger, Kate pressed on.

“The time you brought me ice cream after I had my tonsils out. Remember that?”

Jamie looked at her, incredulous. “I can’t believe
you
remember that. You were like two or three.”

“I was almost four, but I remember it vividly. I remember that and so many other things—pool parties, holidays, first communions, graduations, vacations, sailing, swimming, your wedding to Frannie, your twins being born, the way you and Frannie propped us up after my mother’s accident. You’ve been a part of my everything, Jamie, and I’ve been a part of yours.”

He stared down at the ground, kicking at the dirt with the toe of a well-worn running shoe.

“I’ve loved you as much as it’s possible to love anyone.”

“Shit, Kate,” he muttered, and she was stunned to see tears pooling in his eyes. “Don’t do this to me.”

“I know you think he took advantage of me the first time we were together. I need you to hear me—one adult to another—when I tell you that couldn’t be further from the truth. Every single thing that happened between us happened because
I
wanted it. Sometimes I think I wanted it more than he did.”

“He should’ve controlled himself. He was a forty-five-year-old
man
, Kate. You were just a kid.”

“I stopped being a kid the day that car hit my mom right in front of me, and you know it. You were there. You know that’s true.”

He shrugged and shook his head. “Still…”

“I’m asking you to put aside what happened ten years ago and focus on what’s happening right now. I’m about to marry the only man I’ve ever loved, and I want my Uncle Jamie to be happy for me. I’ve never asked you for anything, but I’m asking you for that.”

“You’re asking an awful lot.”

“I know.” Because he seemed to know she needed it, Thunder nuzzled her neck and let out a gentle nicker. Kate rubbed his nose, grateful for his unwavering love.

After a brief period of silence, Jamie reached out to stroke Thunder’s nose. “For the longest time, I was convinced I’d never have kids of my own, but I was okay with that because I had you and your sisters. You were my kids.”

“And we always knew that. Always.”

“It was hard for me when a man I once considered a good friend did what he did with you. It was a bitter pill, especially because I was the one who suggested your dad reach out to him when you decided to move here.”

“Then I owe you a debt of thanks.”

“Really, Kate,” he said with a laugh. “You’re as exasperating at twenty-eight as you were at ten.”

Taking advantage of the lighter moment, Kate rested a hand on his arm. “You know how much you love Frannie?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s how much I love Reid. Not one day passed when we were apart that I didn’t think of him or wish I were with him or wonder what he was doing or if he was happy. Imagine what it was like to find out he felt the same way. I know we might only get twenty or thirty good years, but I’ll take every one of ’em. I’ll take every minute we get and be thankful I’m spending that time with the man I love.”

Jamie sighed deeply. “I guess I owe him an apology.”

“I’m sure he’d appreciate that. I know I would.”

“I
am
happy that you’re happy, Kate. Of course I am. How could I not be? It’s just…”

“What?”

“I wish it wasn’t him.”

“Well, it is, so I need you to put aside all the old animosity and draw upon all that love you’ve always felt for me.”

“You don’t play fair,” he said gruffly as he pulled her into a hug.

“I need you to love me more than you hate him.”

“Aww, honey, I do. I love you that much and more.”

“Thank you.”

“Sorry to be an ant at the picnic. I don’t want to ruin anything for you.”

“Then don’t. Help me to celebrate and be happy for me. That's all I need.”

He kissed her cheek and hugged her again. “Okay.”

Buddy, Taylor and their kids joined them for dinner that consisted of lasagna Kate had made herself. Afterward, the group migrated to the great room, where the twelve-foot-tall Christmas tree sparkled with white lights and a roaring fire filled the stone hearth. Clare suggested a sing-along featuring Kate on the guitar and Aidan on the piano. Kate had always loved playing with her stepfather, and this time was no different. It took considerable cajoling to get Buddy and Taylor to join them, as they didn’t want to intrude on a family event.

“You
are
my family,” Kate said simply, which seemed to win them over.

“I’m feeling a tad bit intimidated,” Aidan said to laughter from the entire room.
 

Turned out he could more than hold his own with three superstars, and Kate was glad Maggie was videotaping their “show” on her phone. It was a memory Kate wanted to be able to revisit often in the future.

She ended the sing-along alone with her guitar, singing “I Thought I Knew” for Reid in front of everyone they both loved, declaring her love for him to anyone who might still harbor doubts.

I thought I knew

what love was,

but then there was you…

I thought I knew

how it would be,

but now I see,

And now it’s true…

I didn’t know

until there was you…

Until there was you…

Until there was you…

I thought I knew

And now it’s true…

I thought I knew

what peace was,

then there was you…

I thought I knew

what dreams were,

then there was you…

I thought I knew

how it would be,

but now I see…

A hushed silence hung over the room as Kate created a moment she hoped they wouldn’t soon forget. She had a surprise for her fiancé—a new verse she’d recently written.

I thought I knew

What love was

But then I lost you

Then I lost you

And now I know what love is

Because I found you

Because I have you

Because I love you

Reid stared at her, clearly moved by the new addition to the song that had defined them so long ago.

Kate pushed through the rush of emotion to finish the song.

I thought I knew

what love was,

but then there was you

Then there was you…

In the back of the room, Jack stood alone and watched his daughter serenade the man she loved. He couldn’t deny the obvious love and devotion between the two of them. He’d watched them closely since arriving earlier and noticed that they were never far from each other. If they were together, they were holding hands, sharing smiles or otherwise glowing with happiness.

He who had never expected to spend another minute in Reid Matthews’s presence now had to concede that the man seemed completely smitten with Kate, and vice versa.
 

As if he needed further proof, Kate’s song cemented the deal. He hadn’t known she’d written “I Thought I Knew” for Reid. Or he supposed he’d never bothered to think about where the song had come from. Now it made sense that her biggest hit had come from her greatest love.

“Excuse me, Jack.”

Rustled out of his musings, Jack said, “Hey, Ashton.” He’d been surprised to see Ashton at Kate’s house, knowing there’d been no love lost between the two of them after Ashton alerted Jack to the affair between Kate and Reid.

“I, um, I wondered if I might have a word with you? In private?”

Oh God
, Jack thought.
What now?
“Sure.” He followed Ashton into the kitchen, which had been abandoned after dinner.

Ashton held up a bottle of bourbon. “Drink?”

Suspecting he might need the fortification, Jack nodded.

Ashton poured them each a couple of fingers of the amber liquid and handed one to Jack.
 

That was when Jack noticed a slight tremble in the other man’s hand. “What’s on your mind?”

“Jill.”

Okay, he sure as hell hadn’t seen that coming. “What about her?”

“I’m in love with her. I have been for a very long time, and I’d very much like to ask her to marry me.”

“You… You love Jill.”

Ashton never blinked. “I love Jill.”

“She’s never mentioned you.”

“I’m sure she hasn’t,” he said with a laugh as he ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s relatively new. The relationship, that is. The feelings—not so new.”

“I had no idea.”

“I think your wife knows. She’s been watching me like a hawk all day.”

That drew a laugh from Jack. “I have no doubt she tuned in to whatever is going on about five minutes after we got here. I have to run to keep up with her.”

“I know I haven’t given you much reason to respect me—”

“Why do you say that?”

“After what I did, calling you about Kate and my dad…”

“I appreciated that. They probably didn’t, but I did.”

“That call caused a lot of heartache for everyone involved, you included, I’m sure. If I had it to do over, I wouldn’t have done it. My dad was very unhappy after he and Kate broke up. I bore a big part of the blame for that unhappiness.” Ashton seemed to make an effort to shake off the unpleasant trip down memory lane. “Anyway, I hope we can get past all that because I’d very much like to marry your daughter. I love her more than anything, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to ensure her happiness.”

“Does she want to marry you?”

“I sure as hell hope so, but I guess we’ll find out when I ask her.”

Jack was intrigued to realize Ashton honestly didn’t know what to expect from Jill. “She won’t make it easy on you.”

“Ah, believe me,” he said with a laugh, “I know. May I count on your blessing?”

“Yes,” Jack said, shaking Ashton’s hand. “Yes, you can.”

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.”

“Don’t call me sir. Makes me feel ancient.”