The Burning Point (32 page)

"I thought you were into celibacy," Laurel said. "That it was empowering."

"If a man with Sean Connery's voice shows up, I'll show you how empowered I can be. He won't stand a chance!"

Then it was Kate's turn to tell them about Kenzie Scott, who actually did have a voice rather like Sean Connery now that she thought about it.

When Rachel and Laurel went off to the restroom, Val pulled a sheaf of papers from her voluminous purse. "Here are the results of the search you asked for. Sorry it took so long. If you ask me, either of these clowns could rationalize vandalism if he felt provoked enough."

Kate read the papers, frowning. Burke had been a political activist since his college days in the late '60s. In fact, he'd been a member of a student protest group linked to bombing a university laboratory, although he hadn't been charged in the case.

Joe Beekman was a decorated Vietnam combat veteran who knew something about explosives and weapons, and had learned to kill for his country. Now he ran a community drug rehabilitation program. A valuable man--but might his anger over his mother's eviction make him hark back to the violence of his younger days?

Probably the investigators on Sam's case had already considered the protesters, but it wouldn't hurt to pass the information on. "Thanks Val. Things have calmed down at Concord Place, but if there's more trouble, we'll know where to start looking."

"Any time."

Kate noticed Val's colorful, gypsy-like jewelry. "I like the three gold ear hoops. Are you doing body piercing in any less visible spots?"

"I've considered it," Val admitted, "but thinking about what might happen if a navel ring got caught in a zipper always freaks me out."

Kate's gaze fell on a pendant hanging among Val's multiple necklaces. Dangly beads with amber, and very familiar.

"Pretty, isn't it?" Val said. "Actually, it was one of a pair of earrings but the other got lost, so I put this on a chain."

A woman with a dramatic sense of style.
Donovan and Val, together in that bed. Kate felt as if she'd been kicked. She wanted to cry, But you were my friend first! Instead, she counted to ten, then said, "This is your lucky day. I found the lost earring this morning. Under Donovan's bed."

Val's face went rigid. "I...I don't suppose there is any yarn I could spin that would convince you of anything other than the obvious explanation."

"You don't have to. I mean, it's hardly any of my business who either of you were sleeping with."

"Maybe not, but you're human. Heck, we're all far, far too human. I broke the Good Girlfriends' Code by sleeping with your ex-husband."

"Hardly. I hadn't laid eyes on the man for almost ten years. He was up for grabs." Then, hating herself for wanting to know, "How long did you go out together?"

"About a year and a half. We ran into each other one day and got to talking, and, well, you know." Val shrugged uncomfortably.

"Recently?"

Val ran her fingers through her curly mop, looking like Little Orphan Annie on a bad hair day. "Yeah. He came to say goodbye after finding out about Sam's will."

Wondering if that had been the same day he'd taken her out to Brandy Lane and persuaded her to stay in Baltimore, Kate moistened her dry lips. "He must have wanted PDI a lot to break up with you to get it."

"We didn't have a big serious thing going, Kate. It was just fun. Company. Donovan is a hell of a nice guy, and he treated me so well that I couldn't remember why I've put up with what I did from so many jerks over the years. But it was no grand passion on either side."

Telling herself that maturity was definitely in order here, Kate said, "I'm sorry my coming back messed things up for you. But I'll be gone again in a year. Less now. "

"Your return didn't make that much difference." Val began twining red curls around her forefinger. "I'll admit I wouldn't have minded if things had developed further, but Donovan didn't want more, and if there's one thing I've learned to spot in my checkered career, it's a man who isn't interested in a deeper relationship. If anyone has the key to his heart, it's you."

"I threw it away years ago." Kate tried to look composed since Laurel and Rachel were returning. "And I don't want to find it again."

"If that's true, you're a damned fool, Kate. Take it from an expert--good men are hard to find." Val paused, then asked hesitantly, "Are we still friends? I couldn't forgive myself if I've wrecked that."

Her friend's stricken face put the situation into perspective. This was Val, with whom she'd shared years of her life. She'd had every right to go out with Donovan. Kate leaned over and hugged her. "Of course we're still friends. You have nothing to apologize for. Remember our old school motto?"

They recited, "Men come and go, but friends are forever." They'd invented the motto in junior high, and it still had merit.

The others sat down and started talking dessert, but Kate didn't participate in the rounds of "I will if you will." Her mind was stuck on Donovan. Everyone had thought she was crazy to leave.

Everyone except the two who knew the whole story: Tom, and Rachel Hamilton.

Chapter 29

∗ ∗ ∗

The shattering of Kate's family had begun at a perfectly ordinary gathering. Most Sunday evenings, Kate and Donovan joined her parents for dinner, often with Tom, and sometimes Rachel as well. Today only Tom, just back from visiting friends in San Francisco, was a guest.

It was a pasta night, which Kate usually enjoyed, but this time she was not in the best of moods. Though she'd managed to finish her spring course work without disgracing herself, the last few months had been very rough, because her marriage was going to hell in handbasket.

Donovan was sitting on her right. He wore a navy blazer and looked very grave as he finished the gin and tonic he'd started before dinner.

She knew he was as worried as she was, but he reacted by becoming increasingly possessive, asking where she'd been if she was even ten minutes later than expected. She was becoming cut off from her friends, because he didn't like her visiting or even calling them. She understood why--with her schedule, she hardly had any time for him during the school year, and he was feeling neglected.

But she missed her friends, especially since her marriage was deteriorating. There had been several incidents when he'd shaken her violently, or pinned her to the wall as he vented his temper. He always cooled off quickly and apologized and he'd never really hurt her. Still, it was profoundly unnerving not to know what might set him off.

Donovan caught her looking at him and gave her a private smile. Yes, they were going through a bad patch, but they would survive. They loved each other too much not to work out the problems.

Her father's voice cut through her preoccupation. "Where's Rachel, Tom? Haven't seen her in weeks."

"She's studying. Final exams this week. Future doctors don't know how to relax."

"Time for you to marry her. She can go to medical school later. Babies are best to have when you're young and full of energy."

Kate had heard the baby rap often herself. Three years of marriage and not pregnant yet? Maybe she hadn't finished college yet, but Donovan had. He could support a family. She handled such comments patiently, promising the various aunts, uncles, and cousins that babies would come in good time.

But Tom's situation was different. His gaze went to Kate, and she saw torment in his eyes. "Dad, Mother. I have something to say."

Julia put down her fork, her expression unreadable. "Yes, dear?"

"Rachel is my best friend in the world, but we'll never get married." A muscle jumped in his cheek. "I...I've come to realize that I'm gay."

Silence paralyzed the dining room. It was broken when Sam lurched to his feet, throwing down his napkin. "You're joking, right? Christ! It's a lousy joke!"

"It's not a joke, Dad," Tom said tightly "Believe me, if I could be different, I would be. But God made me this way, and I can't change."

"Don't bring God into this!" Sam shouted. "You're sick, screwed up. We'll get you to a doctor, someone who can cure you."

Donovan scowled as if his brother-in-law had just turned into a cockroach and Julia's hand spasmed around her fork.. "This...this isn't what I would have wished for you, Tom. But you're my son and I love you. Nothing will ever change that."

Sam stared at her, almost as shocked as he had been at Tom's announcement. "How can you act as if this disgusting idea of his is...is normal?"

"Tom isn't sick, Sam," Julia said. "I've wondered for a long time, but hoped I was wrong."

"Because you can't stand the idea of having a gay son?" Tom asked, voice edged.

"Because I know that life is harder for those who are different, and what mother could want such difficulty for her child?" Julia reached across the table and laid her hand on his for a moment. "But sometimes a hard path is the only one there is."

Tom looked terribly alone on the opposite side of the table. Kate went to stand by her brother, resting her hand on his shoulder. "I know this is a shock, Dad. It was for me when I found out. But Tom hasn't changed. Everything that has made you proud of him is still there."

"Damn it, Kate, don't encourage him!" her father snapped.

Donovan stared at her. "You knew about this and didn't tell me?"

"It wasn't my place to speak before Tom was ready," she said.

Tom drew an uneven breath. "I think it's best if I leave. I've been offered a job in San Francisco. The Bay Area is the place to be for anyone interested in small computer development."

Sam swore. "It's also America's capital for perversion. Are you going there so you...you can..." His mouth worked, unable to speak of what he loathed.

"I'm moving for a number of reasons," Tom said quietly. "One of them is to have more freedom to be myself in a place where my...my orientation won't embarrass you."

"Stay here, Tom! I'll get you into treatment," Sam begged. "I don't care how much it costs or how long it takes, just so long as you try to get over these...these sick ideas."

Tom shook his head. "I won't go to a therapist. A good one would say I am what I am. A bad one will give you false hope and try to make me think I'm a revolting pervert, which I'm not. I'm just...different in one way."

"Tom, maybe if you just tried, until Dad adjusts to the idea," Kate said under her breath.

"He won't, Kate," Tom said quietly. "And if I surrender now, I may lose myself forever."

Voice shaking with anguish, Sam said, "If you refuse to change, then get out of my house
now
. Don't ever come back."

"It's my house, too," Julia said sharply. "My children will always be welcome."

With a roar of fury, Sam swept his arm across the table, knocking wine glasses to smash on the rug in blood-red stains. "Goddamn it, Julia, if you allow that...that degenerate into my house again, I swear to God I'll leave for good."

"For good? I don't think so, Sam. For bigotry and pride, maybe, but not for good." Julia's words were steely, but her face was ashen.

Dear God, would her mother be forced to choose between her husband and her son? Kate pressed a hand to the pain in her stomach, sick with the knowledge that her family would never be the same again.

Tom intervened, "It's all right, Mother. You belong here. I'll manage." To his father, he said, "You needn't worry about me polluting your precious house. I promise never to set foot here again."

Then he turned to Kate and hugged her hard. "Thanks, Katie. You don't know how much your support means," he whispered. "I'll be leaving for San Francisco within the week."

He'd been planning this for some time, Kate realized. She couldn't blame him for wanting to escape.

"To hell or San Francisco, it's all the same to me." Sam's chest heaved as he struggled for breath. "You are no longer my son."

He stalked from the room. Julia watched him leave, her expression devastated.

"I'm sorry you had to sit through a Corsi family fight, Donovan," Tom said. "Not a pretty sight."

"How could you do that to Sam?" Donovan asked furiously. "He's given you
everything
! Instead of being grateful, you break his heart." He shoved his chair back and stood. "You stay the hell away from Kate."

Appalled, Kate said, "Don't you dare talk to Tom like that! You have no right to tell me I can't see my own brother."

"I have every right!" He grabbed Kate's wrist. "Sorry to walk out in the middle of dinner, Julia, but I think it's best to leave."

Seeing Tom's frown, Kate gave a small shake of her head to tell him she was all right and mouthed the words, "I'll call."

She had to jog to keep up with her husband's angry strides as he took her outdoors. After shoving her into his car, he slammed the door and went to his side of the vehicle, his expression thunderous.

Kate said coldly, "You hurt my wrist."

He started the car, then gunned it up the quiet tree-lined street. "You're lucky that's all I hurt!"

She wanted to snap back, but she'd learned to be more cautious. When Donovan was in this mood, there was no telling what he might do. It was wiser, and safer, to wait until he'd cooled down.