Family Affair (7 page)

Nine

“C
leo’s having her kittens now!”

Lacey hurried into the apartment.

“Oh, my goodness!” She pressed her hands over her mouth and stared into the closet, where Cleo had made herself a comfortable bed in a darkened corner.

The Abyssinian meowed pitifully.

“Oh, Cleo,” Lacey whispered.

Cleo ignored her, rose from her nest, and walked over to Jack, weaving between his legs, her long tail sliding around his calf. Then moved back into the closet and cried again, softly, pleadingly.

“She seems to want you,” Lacey murmured, unable to disguise her amazement. It didn’t make sense that Cleo would be more comfortable with Jack. After all, Lacey was the one who fed and nurtured her.

“She wants
me
?”

“It wasn’t me she was crying for just now.” Didn’t anyone understand the meaning of commitment anymore? Lacey wondered. Even her cat turned to someone else in her moment of need.

Cleo was up again, seeking Jack’s attention. He squatted down in front of the open closet door and patted her gently while whispering reassurances.

“Should I boil water or something?” Lacey asked anxiously. The moment had finally arrived, but she hadn’t a clue as to what her role should be. She’d assumed Cleo would calmly give birth to her kittens one day while Lacey was at work.

“Boil water?” Jack asked. “Whatever for?”

“I . . . don’t know. Coffee, I guess.” She paced the carpet behind Jack in short, quick steps. Seconds earlier they’d been wrapped in an impassioned embrace, and now lovemaking was the furthest thing from either of their minds.

“How’s she doing?” Lacey asked, peeking over his shoulder.

“Great, so far. It looks as if the first kitten is about to be born.”

“How’s Cleo?” Lacey asked again, her fingertips pressed against her lips. “Is she afraid? I don’t think I can bear to see her in pain.”

Jack looked up at Lacey, reached for her hand, and kissed her knuckles. “She’s fine. Stop worrying or you’ll make yourself ill.”

No sooner had he said the words than Lacey’s stomach cramped. She wrapped her hands around her waist, sank onto the end of the mattress, and leaned forward. “Jack, I don’t feel so good.”

“Go make that coffee you were talking about earlier,” he suggested. “At this point Cleo’s doing better than you are.”

Cleo cried out and Jack turned his attention back to the closet.

“She just delivered the first kitten,” he announced, his pleasure keen. “Good girl, Cleo,” he said excitedly. “My goodness, will you look at that! Cleo’s kitten is the spitting image of Dog.”

Lacey hurried off the bed to look. Her stomach didn’t feel much better, but she understood the source of her discomfort. She was experiencing sympathetic labor pains. “He does look like Dog.” She squatted down next to Jack and studied the ugly little creature. “I don’t mind telling you, Jack, this unnerves me.”

“I could go for a cup of coffee,” he said. “Cleo and I are doing fine.”

Lacey hurried into the kitchen. Once she was there, she decided there was no need to rush. As Jack had so eloquently told her, he had everything under control.

“How’s it going?” she asked when she returned with their coffee.

“Great. I think Cleo’s just about ready to deliver a second kitten.”

Lacey wasn’t interested in viewing the birthing process, so she sat on the bed and let Jack play midwife.

“Here it comes,” he said after a few minutes, his voice elevated with excitement. “This one’s just like Dog too.” He turned with a proud smile as if he’d given birth himself.

Grumbling, Lacey sank onto the carpet next to Jack. Cleo was busy licking off her tiny offspring. As far as Lacey could tell the kittens were no bigger than fur balls and ugly as sin, but that didn’t keep her heart from swelling with a flood of emotions.

“Do you think she’s finished?”

“I don’t know,” Jack returned. “How long do these things usually take?”

Lacey laughed. “How would I know?”

“You intended to breed her, didn’t you?”

“Yes, before Dog so rudely interrupted my plans.”

Jack wiggled his eyebrows. “You’re pleased he did, aren’t you?”

Lacey wasn’t willing to admit anything of the sort. “You’ll note that once Dog had his fun with Cleo, he was on his merry way.”

“Perhaps, but with Cleo having Dog’s family—well, it sort of cemented our relationship, don’t you think?”

She suppressed a smile. “I guess it did.”

“You can breed her next time if you’re really serious about it.”

He was right; it would be foolish to claim otherwise. “I’ll get the pamphlet Dr. Christman gave me. That should tell us how long this process takes.” She left him momentarily and returned reading the material the vet had given her.

“I think Cleo might be finished,” Jack announced when Lacey walked into the bedroom and sat on the end of the mattress. “She’s lavishing attention on her kittens and not acting the way she was earlier.”

“It says here the birthing process generally takes a couple of hours,” she recited and glanced at her watch. It hadn’t taken nearly that amount of time for Cleo.

Before she could say as much, Jack said, “We don’t have any idea how long she was in labor before we arrived.”

“Right. It could easily have been two hours.” She felt a tremendous sense of relief that it was over. “She only had two kittens, but it says right here that Abyssinians generally have smaller litters and Siamese have larger ones. That’s interesting.”

“I guess we should thank our lucky stars Cleo only has the two.”

“Speaking of which,” Lacey said righteously, “you never gave me the name of the family taking your half of the litter.”

“I’ll give one to Sarah,” Jack said confidently. “A pet will do her good. Besides, she owes me big-time.”

“But does Sarah want a cat?” Lacey might think of Jack’s sister as family, but she didn’t want to foist an animal off on her if Sarah wasn’t willing.

“Of course she wants one. Dog and Cleo’s offspring are special. Besides, a kitten will keep her company while she gets over Mark.” He frowned as if he found speaking the other man’s name repulsive. “It shouldn’t take long for her to forget that rat.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Lacey told him. “I was married to a man who displayed many of the same characteristics. Be patient with her,” she advised again, and then added with a gentle smile, “As patient as you were with me.”

“You’ve spoken so little of your marriage.”

“If you review what happened with Sarah and change the names in the appropriate places, the story’s the same, with only a few differences,” she amended. “The biggest difference is that I was married to Peter. A couple of months after I moved here, I heard from a well-meaning friend who thought I should know that he’d married his blond cupcake and they were expecting a baby.”

“Some friend.”

Her smile was sad. “That’s what I thought. The news devastated me. Not because he’d remarried, but because he’d been adamant about us not having children when I wanted a family so badly.”

Jack drank from his coffee and seemed to be mulling over the information. “You’re over him now?”

Lacey wasn’t entirely sure how to answer him. Her hesitation appeared to give Jack some concern. He leveled his gaze at her and frowned darkly.

“Yes, I’m over him, and no, I’m not.”

The corner of Jack’s mouth jerked upward. “That’s about as clear as swamp water.”

“I don’t love him anymore, if that’s what you’re asking. The hardest part was having to let go of the dream of what our lives could have been like together.”

“Have you?” The words were stark and issued without emotion.

“Yes.” She wanted to thank him for the large part he’d played in the healing process, but he didn’t seem receptive to it. Although he’d asked her about Peter and her marriage, he seemed to find it uncomfortable to listen to the sorry details of her life with her ex-husband.

Jack stood and wandered into the living room, taking his coffee with him. When she joined him, she found him standing in front of the small window that looked down over the street. He didn’t turn around. It was almost as if he’d forgotten she was with him.

“Jack?”

He turned around and offered her a fleeting grin.

“Does it bother you to discuss my ex-husband?”

He shook his head, and set his mug aside. “Not in the least. I was the one who asked, remember?”

“Yes, but you seemed—I don’t know, upset, I guess. Peter was a part of my life, an important part for several years.

“The divorce was difficult for me, but I learned from it. I matured. Blaming Peter isn’t important any longer. I understand now that I played a part in the death of our marriage. I wasn’t the perfect wife.”

“You say you don’t love him anymore?”

She gestured weakly. “Let me put it like this. I don’t hate him. My happiness doesn’t hinge on what’s happening in his life. My happiness hinges on me and the choices I make, and I’ve decided to live a good life.” She hoped it would be with Jack. With all her heart, she prayed he felt as strongly about her as she did him.

He smiled. Lacey swore she’d never seen anyone more beautiful. It was strange, she realized, to feel that way about a man. It wasn’t so much his looks, although heaven knew he was handsome. What she found so appealing about Jack was who he was as a person. He was trustworthy and generous. He’d helped restore her faith in love and life. His love had been a precious gift for which she would always be thankful.

“Jack,” she whispered, “what’s wrong?” Something was still bothering him.

He walked over to Lacey and tenderly gathered her in his arms. He rested his chin against the top of her head, and she heard a sigh rumble through his chest.

“You got your raise from Mr. Sullivan?” he asked.

“Yes.” Lacey was sure she’d told him, but they’d both been so wrapped up in helping Sarah that he must have forgotten. “A very healthy one.”

“Good.”

Lacey eased away from his chest and met his gaze. “Why are you asking about Mr. Sullivan?”

“You love your job, don’t you? Especially now that you’re getting the respect and the money you deserve?”

“Yes, but what does that have to do with us?”

He brought her back into his embrace. “I love my job too. I’ve worked for California Fidelity for nearly ten years. Last Thursday I was given a promotion. This is something I’ve worked toward for years, but I never dreamed it would happen so quickly. It took me completely by surprise.”

“Jack, that’s wonderful.” Stepping up on her tiptoes, she kissed him, so proud she felt she would burst. “Why didn’t you say something sooner? We could have celebrated.”

“My promotion means something else, Lacey.”

“I’m sure you’ll have added responsibilities. Oh, Jack, I couldn’t be more pleased for you.”

“It means,” he said, cupping her shoulders, “I have to move.”

The blood rushed out of her face so fast, Lacey felt faint. “Move? Where?”

He sighed and looked away from her. “Seattle.”

Ten

“S
eattle,” Lacey echoed, stunned. “When did you intend to tell me, before or after you had your way with me?” Stepping away from him, she pushed the hair away from her head, leaving her hands there, elbows extended. “You’re no better than Dog!”

“What’s Dog got to do with this? You’re being ridiculous.”

“I’m not. You were going to make love to me and then casually mention you were being transferred?” It was all clear to her now. Rainwater clear. Just like the tomcat he called a pet, he was going to take what he wanted and walk out of her life.

“I didn’t plan anything of the sort. You don’t have any reason to be so angry. Besides, nothing happened.”

“Thanks to Cleo. And for your information, I . . . have every right to be angry.” Her fragile voice wobbled with emotion but gained strength with each word. “It’d be best if you left.”

“Not until we’ve talked this out.” He planted his feet as if to suggest a bulldozer wouldn’t budge him before he was good and ready.

She pointed her index finger at him while she gathered her thoughts together, which unfortunately had scattered like water-starved cattle toward a river. “I’ve heard about men like you.”

“What?” He stared at her as if he needed to examine her more closely. “Lacey, for the love of heaven, stop right now before you say something you’ll regret.”

“I most certainly will say something.” She walked over to the door and held it open for him. “You . . . you can’t drop a bombshell like that and expect me not to react. As for regrets, trust me, Jack Walker, I’ve got plenty of those. It’ll take years to sort through them all.”

“All right, all right.” He raised his hands in surrender. Actually he posed as if she held a six-shooter on him. “Please, close the door. Let’s sit down and talk this over like two civilized people.”

“Are you suggesting I’m not civilized? Because I’m telling you right now, I’ve had about as much as I can take.”

“Sit down,” he said calmly and gestured toward her sofa. “Please.”

Lacey debated whether she should do as he asked or not. She crossed her arms under her breasts and glared at him. “I prefer to stand.”

“Will you close the door?”

She hadn’t realized her foot had continued to hold it open. “All right,” she said stiffly, as if this were a large concession. Chin held high, she moved, and the door closed with a decidedly loud click.

“This is what I thought we’d do,” Jack said, pacing in front of the window he’d been staring out only moments earlier.

“We?” she asked, wanting him to think she resented the way he automatically included her.

“Me,” he amended, casting her a sour look. “I’m going to accept the promotion, Lacey. I thought about it long and hard, and I can’t let this opportunity pass. The timing could be better, but I can’t change that. I worked hard for this, and just because—”

“Of me?” she finished for him. “You don’t need to worry, Jack, I wasn’t going to ask you to turn down such a wonderful opportunity.” Despite the shock and the betrayal she felt, maintaining her outrage was becoming difficult. Her voice softened considerably. “I wouldn’t ever ask such a thing of you.”

“I thought I could fly down for a weekend once a month,” he suggested.

Once a month, she mused, her heart so heavy it felt as if it had dropped all the way to her knees. After having made such an issue of standing, she felt the sudden need to sit down.

Slumping onto the edge of the love seat, she bit her lower lip. So this was what was to become of them. Once-a-month dates. Lacey wasn’t foolish enough to believe it would be otherwise. Long-distance relationships were difficult. They’d both start out with good intentions, but she noted he didn’t say where these monthly meetings would lead.

Jack motioned with his hands. “Say something. Anything. I know it’s not the ideal solution. It’s going to be hard on me too.”

“Expensive, too,” she said. Already she could see the handwriting on the wall. He’d fly down for visits the first couple of months, and then he’d skip a month and she wouldn’t hear from him the following one.

“We can make this work, Lacey.”

Blinking back the tears, she stood and walked over to stand in front of him. His features blurred as her tears brimmed. She pressed her hands against the sides of his face, leaned forward, and kissed him. The electricity between them all but crackled, and it was several moments before Lacey found the strength and the courage to pull away.

“I . . . asked Sarah why you wanted to date me.” She found it almost impossible to speak normally. “She told me you’ve been like this all your life. You find someone hurting and broken, someone in need of a little tenderness, and then you lavish them with love. What she didn’t say was that once they were strong again, you’d step back and wish them a fond farewell.”

Jack’s brow condensed with a thick frown. “We aren’t talking about the same thing. If you must know, you did represent a certain challenge from the moment we met. Until you, I’d never had much of a problem getting a woman to agree to go out with me. As for this other business, you’re way off base.”

“What about Dog?”

The frown darkened considerably. “What about him?”

“The lost and lonely alley cat you found and loved.”

A hint of a smile touched his lips. “I don’t think Dog would appreciate that description. We more or less tolerated each other in the beginning. These days, we share a tentative friendship.”

“You took him in, gave him a home, and—”

“Hold on just one minute,” Jack said sternly. “You’re not suggesting that my friendship with Dog has anything to do with us, are you?”

It was apparent he didn’t understand or appreciate the similarities. It would be one of the most difficult things she’d ever do to say good-bye to Jack, but despite what she’d claimed, she’d do it without regrets. He’d given her far more than he’d ever know. With Jack’s love and support, she had learned to let go of the past. His love had given her the courage to move forward.

“Thank you,” she whispered. She dropped her hands and stepped away.

“What are you thanking me for?” he demanded. “And why does it sound like another way of saying good-bye?”

She didn’t so much as blink. “Because it is.”

He paled visibly. “You don’t mean that,” he murmured.

Lacey couldn’t think of anything more to say. Arguments crowded her mind. It would be easy to pretend that nothing would change after he moved to Seattle, but she knew it would.

Within a few months, Lacey would become little more than a memory of someone he once cared for. As he said, he didn’t have a problem finding women interested in going out with him.

With all this talk of get-togethers, Lacey noticed, he wasn’t offering her any promises. But to be fair, he hadn’t sought any from her either.

“So it’s over, just like that?” he said stiffly. “It was nice knowing you, have a good life, and all that rot?”

It sounded cold and crass, but basically he had it right. Unable to look him in the eye, Lacey nodded and lowered her head.

“In other words, once I walk out that door, that’s it?”

“It’s better this way,” she whispered, the words barely making it past the lump in her throat. She prayed he’d leave before she disgraced herself further by weeping openly.

“Easier, in the long run. I’d rather end this now and be done with it. The woman I love is ordering me out of her life. It doesn’t make sense.”

“Exactly what are you offering me, Jack?” she asked defiantly. “A weekend once a month . . . for how long? Two months, maybe three? It isn’t going to last—”

“Why not? For your information I’m hoping it doesn’t last more than a month or two myself.”

His words stung as sharply as a slap across the face.

“Maybe by that time you’ll be miserable enough to be willing to marry me—”

“Marry you?” Lacey wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly, and if ever things had to be crystal clear it was now. “Of course,” he snapped. “You can’t honestly believe I was planning on making this commute every month for the rest of our lives, did you?”

“Well, yes, that’s exactly what I thought,” she whispered.

“I figured it might take a couple of miserable months apart for you to realize you love me.”

“I know I love you now, you idiot. Why else do you think I turned down a hot fudge sundae? I told you how I felt this very afternoon.”

He glared at her suspiciously. “No, you didn’t.”

“Jack,” she said impatiently, “you were driving the moving van back to the rental company, and I looked you right in the eye and said it.”

“What you said was you were crazy about me. There’s a world of difference between crazy and love. If you love me you’re going to have to make it abundantly clear, otherwise there’s going to be a problem. You already know I love you.”

“No, I don’t,” she argued. “You’ve never once told me how you feel about me.”

He shut his eyes as if he were seconds away from losing his patience. “A man doesn’t say that sort of thing lightly, especially if the woman has only admitted to being crazy. Besides, you must know how I feel. A blind man on the street would know I’ve been in love with you from the moment you knocked on my door and demanded that Dog do right by Cleo.”

“You . . . never said anything.”

“How could I? You were as prickly as a cactus. It took me weeks to get you to agree to so much as a date. Just when I was beginning to think I was making some progress, along comes this promotion. What else am I supposed to do but pray you miss me so much you’ll agree to marry me.”

“I do,” Lacey whispered.

Apparently Jack didn’t hear her. “Another thing. You just got your raise, and I’ve never seen you so happy. You aren’t going to want to uproot your life now, just when you’ve finally gotten what you wanted.”

“I don’t think you heard me, Jack. I said I do. Furthermore, if I’ve been happy lately, did it ever occur to you it might be because I’d fallen in love with you?”

“You do what?” he demanded impatiently.

“Agree to marry you. This minute. Tomorrow. Or two months down the road, whatever you want.”

He squinted his eyes and stared at her as if he wasn’t sure he should trust her. “What about your job?”

“I’ll give two weeks’ notice first thing in the morning.”

“Your lease?”

“I’ll sublet the place. Listen here, Jack Walker, if you think you’re going to back down on your offer now, I’ve got a word or two for you.”

He stood and walked all the way around her. “You’re serious? You’d be willing to marry me just like that?”

Her grin widened, and she snapped her fingers. “Just like that. You don’t honestly believe I’d let a wonderful man like you slip through my fingers, do you? I can’t let you go, Jack.” She threw her arms around his neck and spread happy, eager kisses all over his face.

Jack wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground. Their kiss was slow, tender, and thorough. By the time they finished, Lacey was left weak and breathless.

“I’ll never let you go, Jack Walker.”

“That’s more like it,” he said with a dash of male arrogance, and pulled her tightly against him again.

It was exactly where she wanted to be. Close to his heart for all time.