Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [145]
Her coffee finished, Kris meandered out to the car parked at the side of the house. She withdrew the small packet with her name on it, carrying it back to the house. Relieved that she hadn’t forgotten, she slipped the envelope into her purse. She wished she knew more about their finances, but Logan had always handled them. It would be nice, though, to know how much her husband’s pension would be once they were home. She knew they would be more than comfortable, thanks to the check that came every month from her parents’ estate. Logan was going to do some consulting work, and she’d given serious thought to starting up her parents’ business again. She could breed the world-class dogs her parents had bred for decades prior to their deaths. She was actually excited about working at her own business. With the monthly check from her parents’ estate, Logan’s pension, and whatever she was able to bring in, the kids would be able to go to the best colleges in the country.
Life was going to be wonderful, she told herself, once they settled in and adjusted to farm life in Leesburg, Virginia. They could renew old friendships, join clubs, get involved in community affairs. When the twins went off to college next year, and Tyler the following year, they would have the house to themselves and a twenty-four-hour-a-day marriage, the way it had been before the kids came along. Yes, life would be good, very good, provided that Logan threw away the damn rule book. She poured another inch of coffee into her cup. It tasted like colored water. Logan would surely have something to say about it.
She heard her children before she saw them as they bounded into the house, snapping and snarling at one another. It was obvious to Kris they hadn’t slept.
Tom Zepack held the door for Logan, a frown on his face. Even from this distance, Kris could smell liquor on her husband’s breath. For some strange reason it elated her, proving, she thought, that this parting was just as hard on him as it was on her. She smiled. She would be upbeat if it killed her. No tears, no clutching, no sobbing. Maybe she should just pat him on the cheek and say something flippant like, “I’ll see you when I see you. Let’s go, kids.” Could she do that? Never in a million years. She could try, though.
“Time to go!” Tom Zepack said.
“Do you have everything, Kris?” Logan asked.
“Yes. You know me. I was packed two weeks ago. We’re ready.”
The kids barreled out to the car, Tom Zepack on their trail.
Kristine sucked in her breath. “I made some coffee, Logan. It’s on the weak side because there wasn’t enough left. I guess I cut it too close. Rinse the pot and throw it away or leave it. for the new officer and his wife. Remember to take the wet towels with you.”
“Yeah, sure. Ah, listen, Kris, I’m sorry. I acted like a real ass earlier.”
“It’s okay, Logan. We’re all upset. We all knew this day was coming. Even though we thought we were prepared, we weren’t. I guess I better get going. Tom is such a slow, careful driver. I don’t want to miss the plane. Take care of yourself. Call me so I can meet you at the airport when you have your flight information.”
“Kris?”
“Yes.”
“We had a good life, didn’t we?”
“The best. We’ve been happy. We have three wonderful kids. This move is hard on them because they know it’s the last one. As Macala said, from here on in everything counts.”
“You sound strange, Kris. You aren’t going . . . ”
“No, I’m not going to make a scene. Take care of yourself, and hopefully we’ll all be together for Christmas. I know just where I’m going to put the tree, too. I do love you, Logan. I just want you to know I will always love you.”
Logan nodded. “I feel the same way, Kris. Don’t make this any harder than it is. Go on, Tom’s waiting.”
Go on, Tom’s waiting. That was all she was going to get? “See you,” she said in a choked voice.
“Bye, Dad,” the