The Price (34 page)

“What?” asked Paul, seeing Kate look at him rather oddly.

“Nothing,” she said, then hesitated. “Paul, have you seen Jack? I mean—you didn’t do anything, did you?”

“Me?” he asked, with sheer innocence. “No, I haven’t seen Jack. You think I had something to do with him not being here? Oh no, Katie, I wouldn’t—I mean I would never hurt you like that.”

“Sorry,” said Kate, looking like she felt terrible that she even had the thought. “Do you think it was Mother? Maybe she locked the gate and informed security not to let him in.”

“She may have, but if that were the case, wouldn’t he be here now?” he reasoned. “He knows what time you go for therapy.”

“Maybe I should try calling him again.” She felt her panic rising. “Can I use your cell phone?”

“What’s wrong with yours?” he asked.

“I broke it.”

“Katie, I would, but considering I have a restraining order on Jack, my cell phone might not be the best phone to use,” said Paul. “It wouldn’t look good to see my number come up like I tried to contact him.”

“No one would care if you dropped the charges,” she said, weighing her words carefully. “Come on Paul, you know Jack is no threat.”

At least not now
, he thought to himself. “I’m not going to let him hang if that’s what you think,” he said, seeing the pain in her eyes. “I have every intention of dropping the charges.”

“You do?” Kate was hoping it was not just words.

“It was not my intent to hurt you, I just wanted to teach him a lesson. I’ll call my lawyer and have him drop all the charges and the restraining order.”

“Thank you, Paul.” Grateful tears welled up in her tired eyes.

“You know I could never say
no
to you when you flash those pretty blue eyes at me,” he smiled. “God, I’ve missed those eyes.”

It was an awkward moment and one that made Kate more uncomfortable by the minute. She looked down and played with her fingers, rubbing her unpolished nails. They didn’t talk much after that, and Kate was thankful when her treatment was over and she could go home. She was hoping Jack had returned and was waiting for her.

On the ride home, she was quiet, looking out the passenger window and thinking about Jack. Her stomach was aching again and she almost didn’t make it before Paul pulled up to the house. She flung open the car door and jumped out, barely making it to the lawn before she threw up.

“You okay, Katie?” Paul asked, walking over to her as Kate expelled the last of her empty stomach.

“No, I don’t feel so well.” She rose shaking. “I think I’m going to lay down for a while.”

“I’ll help you upstairs.” He offered his arm for support.

“No, I can do it on my own.” She brushed past him and headed for the front door. “Thank you for the ride and keeping me company.”

“Hey what are husbands for?” he laughed.

“Ex-husband,” she corrected him.

“We’ll work on that,” he smiled and placed a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll pick you up the same time tomorrow.”

“That won’t be necessary. Jack should be home by then and he’ll take me.”

“Well, if he doesn’t, I’m your man,” he smiled again.

Kate didn’t bother watching him leave as she entered the house. She went upstairs, and checked her bedroom but Jack was not there. Kate went to Maria’s room. She saw the elderly woman playing on the floor with her son.

“Maria, has Jack come home, yet?” she asked, trying her best to keep it together.

“No, Señora,” said Maria. “I have not seen him all day.”

Kate sighed and sat on the bed. She looked down at her son who was busy playing with a toy pony. God, he looked more like his daddy every day. Even his eye color was changing to a Jack-like green. Jesse glanced up and radiated a happy smile at his mother. He threw the pony aside and just like that he got up on all fours and began to rock.

Then out of nowhere he started to crawl. He crawled all the way over to the bed and grabbed her jeans. Kate started to cry as Jesse stretched out his arms wishing for her to hold him. She lowered herself to the floor, and Jesse stood on his little two feet before falling into her arms.

“He’s crawling and Jack missed it,” she bawled harder. “Oh Maria, where is he, and what am I going to do if he doesn’t come back?”

“Señora Kate, you must be strong in times like these,” she said, as she knelt beside her employer and stroked her hair. “Señor Jack would never leave you or his son behind.”

“I said some terrible things to him last night,” she sobbed.

“He loves you and he knows you love him too,” said Maria. “I have strong senses and if they are right, I believe your momma has a hand in this.”

“Oh God, I think I’m going to be sick again,” said Kate, and jumped to her feet almost knocking Jesse on his rump and Maria caught him from falling backwards.

Kate ran to the bathroom and made it just in time, hugging the commode and spilling the little-nothing left in her stomach. Maria placed Jesse in his playpen and went to check on her employer. She entered the bathroom just as Kate was lifting herself up from the commode.

“Come.” Maria placed her arm on Kate’s back. “Let us wash your face, yes?”

Kate nodded and Maria led her to the sink. She splashed her face with cool water then Maria handed her a dry towel. Kate looked at her reflection in the mirror and ran her fingers through her hair. As she did several clumps of hair came out in her fingers.

“Oh, no,” Kate cried harder, seeing the strands of blond all through her hand. “My hair—not my hair…”

“It will be okay, Señora.” And she removed the lost locks from Kate’s hand and threw them in the wastebasket.

Kate folded into her arms and sobbed.

“I need Jack.” She cried so hard that it broke Maria’s heart. “I need Jack!”

“Shh, my little
chica
,” she tried to soothe her. “All will be well.”

Once more Kate felt an urge to retch. She flung from Maria’s arms and clung to the toilet bowl but nothing came up except dry gags.

After the episode subsided, Maria helped Kate back to her room. She tucked her into bed and instructed her to rest. When she was done, she went back to her room. She settled Jesse down for his afternoon nap and when the child was sound asleep, Maria went downstairs in search of Marnie St. Claire.

She found the matriarch sitting leisurely in her tea room sipping a cup of tea as she gazed out the large bay window at her gardens.

“Señora St. Claire, may I have a word with you?” asked Maria, and she took a seat beside her employer’s mother interrupting her moment of solitude.

“What is it, Maria?” Marnie’s posture went stiff, giving the briefest attention to the woman who thought she had a right to sit beside her.

“I am concerned for the well-being of Señora Kate,” she stated, ignoring her counter part’s rudeness. “She is too sick from the chemotherapy. Something isn’t right with it.”

“Kate is experiencing minimal side effects,” stated Marnie with a wave of her hand. “Nothing more. Is there anything else?”

“Sí, I have more,” said Maria, sitting straight in the chair. “Where is Señor Jack?”

“How would I know?” Marnie took a casual sip of her tea before looking at the
help
as if she’d overstepped her bounds. “Maybe he’s run off with another woman or gone back to Nevada? He wouldn’t be the first to abandon my daughter.”

Maria shook her head from side to side. “No, Señor Jack would not do that. He would not abandon his wife and son.”

“Well, it looks like he already has,” said Marnie, as a half-smile brushed her face.

“Usted es el diablo encarnado,” Maria mumbled under her breath.

Marnie laughed, “Me, the devil?” and she sat back in her chair as if thoroughly amused. “You have a vivid imagination and not much respect for your new employer.”

“You are not my employer.” Maria’s back stiffened. “Señor Jack and Señora Kate are.”

“Well, since Señor Jack has abandoned ship, that leaves my daughter,” stated Marnie. “And where do you think Kathryn is going to get her money from, considering she has nothing now?”

“You are an evil woman,” exclaimed Maria, and her eyes narrowed into two black slits.

“Not evil, just practical.” The amused expression left Marnie’s face. “I think your services are no longer required in my household. I suggest you pack your belongings and go back to Nevada. I will be generous if you leave now and pay you two week’s severance.”

“I am not abandoning Señora Kate and bebée Jesse.”

“Your loyalty is admirable but not necessary. You are no longer welcome in my home.”

“I am not leaving,” said Maria, crossing her arms over her chest.

“You either leave now or I will have you escorted out by security,” said Marnie. “The choice is yours.”

“And who will keep bebée Jesse?” asked Maria, knowing this woman had the power to do more than just throw her out. “He is asleep upstairs.”

“I have more staff than I know what to do with. I am sure my grandson will be in capable hands.”

“It appears you have thought of everything,” said Maria, and she stood from her seat, ready to take her leave.

“Where are you going?” questioned Marnie.

“Up to my room to pack and say goodbye to Señora Kate,” she said, placing her hand on her hips.

“I think not.”

Marnie rang a bell on the table. Her butler Collin appeared, standing with his hands by his side waiting for her instructions.

“Collin, will you escort Maria to the door,” instructed Marnie. “She is leaving. Oh, and have Colette go upstairs and look after my grandson until we find a suitable nanny for him.”

Marnie returned her attention to the window and sipped on her tea.

“Madam?” said Collin, as he motioned to Maria to follow him into the hall.

Maria had no choice but to comply. He escorted her through the foyer and out the front door.

“I will have the driver take you where you need to go,” he stated, as he opened the back door to the limousine.

“Gracias Señor.” Tears were welling up in the old woman’s eyes as she climbed in-to the back-seat of the limousine.

“I will have your belongings forwarded,” he added and went to close the door but Maria stopped him.

“Wait—Señor Collin—tell me please—where is Señor Jack?” If anyone knew it was the butler.

“I cannot say exactly.” He looked around to make sure they were alone before leaning into the black stretch car so only her ears could hear. “You may want to check with the local police. They arrived shortly after Mr. McBride returned home the other night.”

“Gracias Señor. Gracias!”

Maria leaned back against the seat and sighed with relief as the door closed behind her. Her next stop after getting situated at a local motel was the police station.

TWENTY-FIVE

SHE’S GOT FRIEND’S IN LOW PLACES

“What do you mean I’m stuck in here for the next several weeks?”

Jack paced the jail room designated for attorney and client while the stiff-suited man stayed seated at the table.

“They postponed your hearing for three weeks and since you violated the restraining order, there’s no bail,” stated his private attorney, Anthony DeMarco.

“I can’t be in here for another three weeks.” Jack ran his fingers through his hair. “Kate needs me. You got to do something to get me out of here!”

“Jack, I wish there was something I could do, but I can’t.”

“What do you mean, you can’t?” Jack’s eyes narrowed at the man nervously tapping his pen. “What the hell am I paying you for if you can’t represent me properly?”

“Actually, we need to talk about my representation.” He coughed then cleared his throat.

“What about it?”

He sat in the chair across the table and watched with careful eyes as Anthony DeMarco loosened his tie like he needed air from its constriction. Suddenly Jack knew—he knew that Marnie St. Claire got to him.

“You’re dropping the case, aren’t you?” Jack, slammed a hand on the table. “Son of a bitch!”

“I’m sorry, Jack,” he said, with a twinge of remorse. “But I have no choice. Marnie St. Claire is a powerful woman. I have a wife and three kids to support. I can’t afford to get on her bad side.”

“So, what happens to me?” asked Jack as his hope of getting out went spiraling down.

“They’re going to assign you a public defender,” stated Anthony.

“A public defender?” Jack laughed and sat back in his chair. “They’re going to crucify me. I’m going to prison, aren’t I, Anthony?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

Jack rubbed his jaw and stared at the steel-framed door, the one blocking him from a world with Kate.

“If you’re not going to represent me, then I need you to do me a favor.”

“It all depends on what it is.”

“I need you to get word to Kate where I am,” said Jack. “Can you do that?”

“I don’t know,” said Anthony, shaking his head. “If Mrs. St. Claire finds out it was me, I’ll be fired from the practice.”

“I don’t care how you do it,” said Jack, ready to tighten that loose tie of his and strangle his scrawny neck. “Just get word to Kate that I’m in here. She has a standing appointment every day at ten thirty at the cancer center on Hamilton Street.”

“Kathryn is sick?” The news threw Anthony for a curve. “I’m sorry! I didn’t know.”

“She’s very sick and she needs me,” said Jack, using it to his advantage. “It’s the third floor, chemotherapy wing. You can’t miss her. She’ll be the one sitting in the lounge chair with an IV hooked to her arm.”

His sarcasm was well-noted.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Anthony rose from the chair. “Good luck Jack.”

Anthony went to shake his hand but thought it was better if he didn’t. He nodded then left the room, leaving Jack alone and still locked up.

Kate was dreaming again—dreaming of black stallions and rugged arms draped around her body and soothing her soul. She heard whispers of a male voice echoing in her unconscious mind.
I love you baby, always and forever.

She tossed and turned in her bed as the voice changed to what sounded like a snort. Puffs of steam, like a locomotive, clouded her view. When it cleared, she saw him.
Black Thunder
, she murmured, staring into the blackness of his eyes. She ran her hand along the steed’s neck, following it down over his long torso. He bowed and beckoned for her to lie across his back. She did, resting her body against his coarse flesh, melding to his skin until their hearts beat as one.
Black Thunder
, she mouthed the words.