Betrayal - Fern Michaels [108]
Coleman poured the last of the tea into her cup. “You’ve got a lot of thinking to do, Kate. Lots of decisions to make before you can move forward. I don’t envy you.”
“Thanks for being my friend, Coleman. You’ve helped me more than you know. I have some things I need to do now.” Kate took the empty cups and pot to the sink and hand-washed them.
“Suzanne always washed that particular pot.”
“It’s a very rare piece of china, Coleman. Never serve me tea in it again.”
“Oh, well, so much for getting out the good china to impress. Next time you’ll get a mug from the law office.” He raised his hand, then lowered it. He took her hand in his, and very slowly brought it to his lips. He placed a kiss on her hand. So light, Kate could barely feel his lips against her skin. His light touch sent flames soaring through her.
Before she let this go further, and she now knew that was inevitable, she removed her hand from his.
“I’ll be back for that mug of tea, Coleman. I promise.”
Chapter 29
“I will sue the pants off you, do you hear me?” Debbie slammed the phone down. Her life was falling apart.
“What are you complaining about now?” Don asked, his voiced slurred already. It was noon.
“What do you care? As long as you have that bottle to wrap your lips around, you’re as happy as a traveling salesman with the farmer’s daughter, aren’t you?”
Debbie was in their bedroom, digging through some boxes at the back of the closet.
“What are you looking for?”
“If you must know, I have a banker’s box full of bank statements in here. I need to look at them. If you’d stay sober long enough to have a decent conversation, you would know we’re in deep shit, Don. The rug is about to be pulled out from under me. You too.” She found the box in question and hefted it onto their bed, white sheets and all.
“What are you talking about, Debbie? Does everything always have to be such a frigging drama with you?”
“Well, well, I am impressed. You can speak more than three words at a time.”
“I’m not drunk. I know you find that hard to believe, but I haven’t had anything to drink today.”
“You sure as hell sounded drunk about two seconds ago. Are you pissing it out that fast?” Debbie shot a look over her shoulder. Don was pacing the room.
“I’m serious. Look at my hands.” He held his hands out in front of him. He could barely control the trembling.
“Then go have another drink. Listen, my life is falling apart. You couldn’t have picked a worse time to go on the wagon. Again.” She thumbed through the file folders in the box. “How many times has it been now? I’ve lost count.”
“Stop for just one minute. I think I have something you might want to hear. Our lovely daughter called looking for you. She was screaming and crying.”
“Which one?” Debbie asked, not really interested in either of her girls at the moment. She had more important things to worry about.
“You have to ask?” Don plopped down on the bed, causing the box of papers to topple over.
“Dammit, you can put this back. I’m off to the bank.” Debbie stuffed the bank statements in her purse.
“Sara is pregnant.”
“Says who?” She didn’t have time for Sara’s dramatics.
“She called from the doctor’s office. She wanted to talk to her mommy.” Don said the last word in a babylike voice.
“You don’t like Sara, do you? You never have. It’s always been Emily, Emily, Emily.” Debbie laughed. “If you only knew. Tell Sara to call my cell if she calls back. I’ve got to get to the bank. Someone is out to destroy me, and I’m going to find out who.”
Don watched her. “Debbie, what did you mean by that remark you just made?”
She rolled her eyes. “Kiss off, Don. I’m outta here.” She swung her purse across her shoulder like it weighed a ton.
“I know Emily isn’t my daughter.”
For once Debbie didn’t have a smart comeback. She stopped and turned to look at her husband.
“What?”
“Do you really believe I’m that dumb? I might be a drunk, but I am not a stupid one. Come on, Deb. Look at Emily, then look at Sara. While Sara is the spitting image of you,