Now Until Forever (17 page)
Authors: Karen White-Owens
Disappointment gnawed at his belly. This was not the answer he wanted. Keir decided to give it another shot. “I'm not married to Saturday. If Friday or Sunday works for you, then let's go that route.”
Her forehead wrinkled into a frown, while her fingers nervously flirted around the clipboard in her hand. “No. Sunday's definitely out. I've got things to do.”
What things?
he wondered, watching her closely. They needed to talk and soon. Keir refused to allow outside influences to destroy the relationship they'd worked so hard to establish. Putting on his most appealing expression, Keir lifted a green leafy plant from the cart. “No problem. Where do you want this?”
he wondered, watching her closely. They needed to talk and soon. Keir refused to allow outside influences to destroy the relationship they'd worked so hard to establish. Putting on his most appealing expression, Keir lifted a green leafy plant from the cart. “No problem. Where do you want this?”
Ryan pointed to an end table. “Over there.”
Once they completed the set, Ryan muttered a soft thank you and went her way. Keir returned to the Eiffel Tower and moved swiftly across the carpeted floor to the desk.
Lips pursed, Keir switched on his computer and logged into the secure portions of One Leaf's database system. If Ryan refused to talk to him, he'd just have to find another way to help her. A twinge of guilt fluttered through his veins. Keir quickly banished the emotion and focused on learning the truth.
Ryan's employment application popped up, and he scrolled through the screens until he found what he needed. Nodding approvingly, he jotted down Helen Ford's name and telephone number.
Good,
he thought. After logging out of the computer, Keir leaned back in his chair and considered his next move. Should he make this call? Probably not. Unfortunately, the look of pain on Ryan's face made it impossible for him to think of anything else. She meant too much to him to allow her to continue like this.
Good,
he thought. After logging out of the computer, Keir leaned back in his chair and considered his next move. Should he make this call? Probably not. Unfortunately, the look of pain on Ryan's face made it impossible for him to think of anything else. She meant too much to him to allow her to continue like this.
Keir drew a thick black line under the name and then tapped the sheet of paper with the pen. Ryan's sister held the answers to all of his questions. He picked up the telephone and punched in the number, waiting impatiently for someone to answer the phone. After the fifth ring, voice mail kicked in, and he heard the voice of Ryan's older sister.
“Hello. This is Keir Southhall. We met at Ryan's last Sunday. If you get a chance, give me a call. I need to talk with you about your sister.” He paused, debating whether he should add anything more. “Call me on my cell. My number is 333-1580.”
Once he finished his call, Keir dropped the receiver into the cradle and shifted the chair toward the window. He hoped this intervention wouldn't blow up in his face. On more than one occasion, Ryan had instructed him to stay out of her business, let her run her life the way she saw fit. Keir couldn't do that. Ryan meant too much to him. If he had to take the hit for messing in her life, so be it. He refused to sit back and let her suffer in silence.
Chapter 24
Paper cup of coffee in his hand, Keir studied the dark rain clouds from the front window of Starbucks. A summer storm brewed, silently and deadly. If his luck held up, he hoped to be home before the heavens opened up and showered the area.
Keir checked the time. Helen still had ten minutes.
After nearly a week of playing telephone tag with Ryan's sister, he'd finally connected. Helen had responded to his call by leaving a voice message on his cell phone, suggesting they meet for coffee. He didn't care, as long as he got what he needed to help Ryan.
Ryan's older sister practically ordered him to show up at Starbucks. This meeting should be interesting because that idea didn't sit well with him. Keir seldom gave up control to another person. Unfortunately, his choices were few, and if he wanted information, this might be the only way to get it.
Keir chuckled nastily. He suspected Helen had her own agenda. She wanted to size him up. By meeting with him, Helen created an opportunity to get the skinny on him without Ryan's watchful eyes censoring her questions.
This discussion required finesse. Face-to-face provided more answers.
He finished the last of his coffee and tossed the cup in the trash, returning to the front of the cafe. Minutes later, Helen stepped into Starbucks, with an umbrella on one arm and a tote bag hooked on the other. She glanced around, found Keir, and marched across the floor toward him.
Hiding a smile, Keir watched the woman's approach. There were similarities and differences between the sisters. Gray sprinkled Helen's auburn, shoulder-length hair. Helen's sparkling brown eyes resembled Ryan's. But Ryan stood an inch or two taller.
Helen's strength of character and pride were visible and matched Ryan's. Although the years had added a few extra pounds to her small frame, Helen maintained a figure that turned heads. Ryan's older sibling made up a very nice package.
Helen stopped in front of Keir, taking a minute to do a slow examination of the man in front of her. Brown orbs probed him to his very core. When her gaze finally settled on his face, Keir felt as if he'd been stripped bare and examined like a human on an alien ship.
They made eye contact, and Keir felt the start of a new test. Every instinct inside him shouted, “Don't look away.” He intended to pass this test and any others she might initiate. After a moment filled with enough tension to keep a soap opera junkie glued to the television for a week, Helen turned away, with a soft grunt.
Relieved, Keir dragged in a deep breath. She must be dynamite in the classroom. Helen knew how to hold a person captive with just the gleam in her eyes.
“Thanks for meeting with me,” he offered.
“You're welcome.”
Turning away, Keir took a quick sweep of the small cafe before spotting an empty table near the back. That locale would buy them a bit of privacy. “Let's sit over there.”
With a curt nod of her head, she marched across the floor after him. At the table, Keir pulled out a chair, offering it to her. Instead, Helen moved to the opposite side of the table and sat.
Okay,
he thought.
This is going to be one interesting meeting
.
he thought.
This is going to be one interesting meeting
.
Helen took her sweet time settling down at the table. She placed the tote and umbrella on the chair next to her and then unbuttoned her sweater.
Keir sat patiently waiting as she completed her tasks. The woman had perfected the art of putting a man in his place while gaining the upper hand. Until he got what he needed, Keir intended to bow to her whims.
“Can I get you anything?” Keir waved a hand at the food counter. “Cup of coffee? Muffin? Cinnamon roll?”
“No. I'm fine.”
Silently, the pair sat. As if she'd come to a decision, Helen cleared her throat, leaned forward in her chair, and placed her linked hands on the table. “We might as well get down to business. What do you want?”
Straight to the point. Keir liked that. “After you left Ryan's house last week, she seemed upset, and I haven't been able to get her to open up about what happened between you.”
Eyes narrowing, Helen answered, “When I landed on Ryan's doorstep Sunday, my sister made it clear you were her priority. Doesn't she tell you everything?”
“Obviously not.”
She hunched her shoulders and smirked. “Sorry.”
Keir fought the urge to cuss. He stayed focused on his goal. “Please help me. Ryan's hurting, and I won't let it go on if I can help it.”
“What does Ryan think of you getting in her business?”
“She doesn't like it.”
Chuckling, Helen replied, “That's what I thought.”
He demanded, “Are you going to help me?”
She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. “No. I know my sister. If Ryan wanted you to know her business, she would have told you.”
No point in lying. The truth always worked better for him, anyway. “You're right. She doesn't want me to know what's going on. Ryan's very important to me. I want and need to help.”
Helen smirked.
“What?” said Keir.
“You are very different from her husband.”
Keir blinked. That was the last thing he expected to hear.
“Really?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Trust me, if Galen had lived, she'd never have looked at you.”
Okay, stick it to me. This isn't going the way I planned. I'll play along because I intend to get to the truth,
Keir thought.
Keir thought.
Helen didn't back down and said exactly what she meant. “For some reason, I don't see you being the type to take time to smell the roses. You're more the type to buy the flower shop and hire someone to run it for you. Mundane, everyday things don't interest you.”
“That's not always true,” he insisted. “I like the simple things in life.”
“No, you don't. That's why my sister appeals to you. She's rare. A unique flower that you won't find anywhere else.”
He liked the description. Ryan was unique. Special. “True. Let's get back to the problem at hand. Can you tell me what's bothering Ryan? She's withdrawn, and I'm worried.”
Forehead crinkled into a frown and lips pursed, Helen contemplated Keir. After a long, silent moment, she came to a decision. “What has she told you?”
“Nothing.”
“Do you know anything about her husband?”
“He's dead.”
Dislike flashed from her eyes, and her words were sharp and cutting. “You've got that one correct. Word of advice. A little empathy won't hurt.”
“This has been going on for almost a week. I don't have time for niceties. What can you tell me?”
“Galen was a med student, soft-spoken and easygoing, very caring. He wanted to save the world.”
Fascinated, Keir watched Helen's face become transformed. Her expression softened as she described Ryan's husband. This was the first crack in her armor Keir had noticed since she'd entered the coffee shop. A spark of jealousy surged through him. Had Galen been that perfect?
Her eyes narrowed to minor slits. “Why should I tell you anything?” she said.
“You don't want to see her suffer any more than I do. That's why you came over Sunday, isn't it?”
Studying the pattern in the carpeting, she admitted, “No, I don't. She's my baby sister. I promised our mother I'd watch over her.”
Keir took a risk. He reached across the table and captured Helen's hands between his own. “And now it's my job. Help me take care of Ryan.”
“Why?”
“Because I love her,” he responded. Shocked by the truth of his declaration, he leaned back in his chair and uttered softly, “I love Ryan.”
Helen smiled and nodded. “Okay. Now we're getting somewhere. I would never reveal my sister's personal business to just anyone. You had to have a vested interest in her life and future for me to say anything.”
“Thank you.”
“Needless to say, I keep up with my sister. I visit a lot. Since you've been around, I can barely get her on the phone.”
“We have things we do together,” he muttered.
“Yeah, I got that. The truth is when Galen died, I didn't believe she'd recover. No surprise, Ryan loved the man dearly. But she pulled herself together and went back to work. She does well until her anniversary or Galen's birthday rolls around. She pretty much falls to pieces. I stopped by her house to check on her and found you and your family.”
“Which is it?”
“His birthday is Sunday.”
“What does she normally do?”
“Goes to the cemetery and cries her eyes out.”
A current of protectiveness surged through Keir. Poor baby. She needed him. Keir glanced across the table at Helen and noted the expectation in her eyes. “It's my turn to reassure you.”
“I'm listening.”
“I love her. And I'll fight anybody that gets in the way of her happiness.”
Giggling, Helen asked, “Interesting. Does my sister know about this alpha male attitude of yours?”
“She's learning,” he answered. “And she doesn't always like it. But it's my job to take care of her. Protect her. Love her. And that's what I plan to do.”
Chapter 25
The sun beat down on Ryan. Perspiring, she blew a strand of hair from her eyes. It had been a while since she'd visited, and it showed. An empty yellow potato chip bag, twigs, and leaves brown from age littered the grave site.
Ryan deposited the trash in a black garbage bag at her side and then leaned back on her haunches, studying the area. She nodded approvingly at her handiwork. “There. That looks better.”
A family of ducks quacked as they waddled past her on their way to the man-made pond. The wind stirred, creating a gentle breeze. Ryan tilted her head, enjoying the cool air as it caressed her hot skin. “I'm sorry I haven't been here in a while. I started this new job, and I really like it. But, it's keeping me busy.”
She paused. Her stomach churned, cramping. She always told Galen the truth. Clearing her throat, she amended her previous statement. “That's not completely true. I do have a lot of responsibility on this job. Other things have kept me away.”
Sadness overwhelmed her as she gazed at the computerized image of her husband etched into the black marble headstone. Fresh tears threatened to fall. Galen James Mitchell had died far too young.
The impact of his death had deeply affected and permanently scarred Ryan. How had she survived without him? The answer was simple. She'd done it for her husband. Galen would have wanted her to get on with life, to enjoy everything the world offered.
“It's a different studio, with lots to learn. I'm on a weekly television series again. Set designer. You'd be happy to hear I get to do sketches. Sometimes I even use one of those computerized programs to create the sets. It's nothing like designing clothes, but I enjoy using my artistic abilities.”
Hands covered in dirt, she rubbed her cheek. “Oh, Galen. It's what I've worked so hard for. It's great. The money's pretty good. I've been saving. And I plan to do some improvements on the house. I think I'm going to start with the kitchen. Have new cabinets installed. Those are good things.”
For several minutes, she cleared away trash so she could add a new batch of fresh flowers. “And, of course, there's bad stuff. There's always a drawback or two. Unfortunately, the show shoots all times of the day and night, and a member of the design team has to be present.”
Ryan halted, drawing her tongue across her dry lips. This part was hard to say. But, she had to. She owed him that much.
“That's not the only reason I'm here.” She cleared her throat and began to speak. The words quivered on her lips. “There's something I need to tell you. I've met someone new. It's nothing like what we had,” Ryan rushed to say. “This relationship is very difficult to describe.” She laughed softly as an image of Keir filled her head. “He's very different from any man I thought I'd be with. Go figure.”
“First of all, he's a divorced man. And he's the boss. The big cheese. He owns the studio where I work. It's not all good.” Ryan worked the soil as she continued. “And my supervisor, Glo, gives me a lot of grief about Keir. She doesn't like the fact that I'm involved with the boss. Honestly, I still have my problems with that. It's not the way I like to handle my business. You know that. I walk a fine line to keep the two parts of my life separate.
“This stuff makes me nervous. I'm a bit worried about what other producers will think and how it will affect my career. I don't want my reputation to take a hit because of my involvement with the boss.” She laughed. Pride edged her words. “As if I would agree to sleep with someone to boost my career. You, above all, know how important it is for me to succeed on my own.
“That's another story. I want to talk about this new man in my life. His name is Keir. Keir Southhall. It's weird. When I first met him, I thought he was cute in an interesting sort of way. This is California, so you know what I mean.” Ryan dug a spot for new flowers. “Everyone is beautiful and tanned, with perfect bodies. Something in his eyes beckoned me and made me look beyond the handsome face to see a man with ideas and morals.”
Shaken by what she'd just revealed, Ryan sat silently for several minutes before continuing. “I don't like the boss thing. You know how I feel about my work. I like a clear division between work and home. Keir doesn't give a damn. He threw that particular issue right out the window the first time I mentioned it, just like he did my objections about his children. I wasn't sure if I wanted that complication in my life. The next thing I knew, I was having lunch with Keir and his kids. It didn't make a difference to him. He encourages me to enjoy the benefits of being involved with the boss. A man with a great deal of power doesn't understand making it on your own. I've worked too hard to have my accomplishments sabotaged by gossip.”
Ryan sat there, enjoying the sense of peace surrounding her. It felt good to unburden herself and talk things out. “Keir's tolerant and yet ...” She paused, searching for the proper words to describe this new and unique man in her life. Hands covered in dirt, she moved them aimlessly in circles as she conjured the perfect description. “When I wanted to keep our relationship private, he used logic to change my mind. That's not quite right. He shows me a different way of viewing things.”
She pulled absently at the weeds surrounding the headstone. “I have no idea where we're headed. Certainly not marriage. But ...” She sighed, remembering how wonderful it felt to be in Keir's arms, the sense of security he brought to her life. “I love being close to someone again. It's been a long time since I've had you with me. I miss having someone to talk to, confide in, and to rant and rave with. And believe it or not, I still miss you. He didn't take your place. That will always be yours. Keir created his own place in my life. His alone.
“What we have is for us. I didn't want to get tangled in his family and then things don't work out between us. And he's almost ten years older than I am. So there are some major differences. Ex-wife, kids, and studio. Can you imagine us as one big, happy family? That's one of the reasons I don't think marriage is an option. I just go with the flow and enjoy what the day brings.
“Well, I didn't come here to dump all my problems. I'm here to say happy birthday and tell you how much I miss you. I love you.” Rising from the green pallet she'd used for her knees, Ryan gathered her gardening tools and tossed the empty flower cartons in the trash bag.
She dropped the bag in a stone receptacle at the end of the path and then started down the walkway to her car. There was no other car in sight. Next to her car stood Keir.
Shocked to find him there, she halted in the center of the road, speechless. After a moment, she found her voice and asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I thought you might need me,” Keir answered.
“Thank you.” Ryan didn't care how he got there. All she knew was she was happy he'd found her.
Keir stepped away from the car, removed his shades, and shoved them into the pocket of his shirt. He opened his arms, and Ryan stepped into his embrace, allowing Keir to gather her close. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. Inhaling his scent, she snuggled closer. It felt so right to be here with him, in his arms.
Other feelings emerged, taking charge, demanding release. Pain and sorrow welled up, and tears fell. Once they started, they were impossible to control. She cried silently for all she'd suffered and lostâthe death of her husband, the fight to build a life after Galen died, and the pain and loneliness of three long years.
Through all of it, Keir held her, rocking her back and forth while whispering soothing words of love into her ear. She began to heal. After a few minutes, she gained a level of composure.
“You okay?” Keir asked as he took a step back, examining Ryan's face.
Embarrassed, Ryan wiped at her dirty cheeks with her hands. She succeeded in smearing the dirt and stains.
“Here.” He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at her cheeks. Kissing the top of her head, he said, “This may not be the right moment. But I want you to know I love you.”
Ryan's heart swelled with happiness. She raised her head and said, “I don't know if it's the right time, but I like hearing it. I love you, too.”
“I'm glad to hear it. That makes life easier. Come on. Let's get you settled.” With a hand on each of Ryan's shoulders, Keir guided her around her SUV, opened the passenger door, and helped her inside. Once he shut the car door, Keir started toward the grave site.
Puzzled, Ryan asked, “Where are you going? I thought we were headed home.”
“In a minute,” he called over his shoulder. “I want to talk with Galen.”
“Galen?”
“Yeah,” he answered.
“Why?”
“We've got a few things to clear up. Sit tight. It'll only take a sec.”
Following the path that Ryan had used, Keir searched for the proper area. He found the grave and hunched down to look at the image on the headstone. It was the handsome face of a man who had died too young. Such a shame. Right now he had things to say to Galen.
“Hey, man. I'm Keir Southhall. I think Ryan told you about me.”
He stooped to one knee in front of the headstone, gathering his thoughts. He'd never done anything like this before. But he believed it was the right thing. “I don't know how much of this truly works. If you can hear me. I hope so. If our roles were reversed, I would want you to come to me and tell me what's on your mind. I'm here for Ryan. So that she has a sense of peace about you and the years you spent together.”
Keir glanced around. It was so quiet here. Peaceful. He refocused on his reasons for being there. “I love Ryan. Truly love her. Rest easy. I'll always cherish and take care of her. Everything I have is hers.”
Swallowing loudly, he brushed the back of his hand across his forehead. This wasn't easy to do. But, he needed to do this for Ryan.
“I'll do all I can to make her happy. To make our life good. She deserves that and so much more.”
Now what?
“I know she needs to come here and see you sometimes. I won't interfere. I think I understand why she needs to visit.”
Now what?
“I know she needs to come here and see you sometimes. I won't interfere. I think I understand why she needs to visit.”
Keir got to his feet, looked down at the grave. “We'll be back, I promise.”
Returning his sunglasses to his face, Keir moved along the walkway to the car. Ryan sat where he'd left her. He got behind the wheel and held out his hand for the keys. She dropped them into his palm.
“What was that about?” she asked.
“I wanted Galen to know that I am here for you. That he could rest knowing I would always take care of you.”
“Oh,” she muttered softly.
He shifted, facing her. “Are you all right with that? Can you let me help you when you need it? I don't want to run your life. I love you. So I want to be available when you need me. Okay?”
“Okay.” Ryan studied the landscape around them. “Keir, where's your car?”
“At home.”
Frowning, she asked, “How did you get here?”
“Phil Berger dropped me off.”
“You are amazing.”
“Remember that when we get home.” Keir started the engine and put the transmission into drive, slowly pulling away. His free hand eased over the gears and captured hers. “We've got stuff to talk about.”
Smiling at him, she nodded. She felt strong, confident that she could weather a deep discussion about the future.
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