Betrayal - Fern Michaels [118]
Kate looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “And here I thought your cabin was in . . . heck, I don’t know where, but not in North Carolina. So, when you came to tell me about Alex, did you go to your cabin then?”
“I did.”
“Well, I don’t know what to say. We were practically neighbors.”
“Will you go back to Asheville, Kate?”
“I haven’t given it much thought, really. I don’t want to stay here. I suppose I should at least go hang with Gertie for a while. Give her a break. She hasn’t had a vacation in five years.”
Coleman walked over to where she was sitting. He took her hand and pulled her into a standing position. Kate knew what was about to happen. There was no way she was going to stop him either.
With the gentleness of a whisper, Coleman touched her lips with his. Gently, then firmly. He pulled her close to him, closer than she’d ever been. She felt all of him next to her, wanted all of him. In every way there was to want, she wanted. All or nothing. Slowly, Coleman broke the kiss. “Would it be presumptuous of me to invite myself for dinner now and then?”
Kate smiled and gazed up into the verdant eyes of the man she’d fallen in love with. “Coleman Fitzpatrick, you’ll have dinner with me if I have to come and get you myself.”
“Just dinner?” he teased.
“Coleman, we’re just at the appetizer phase, but dessert is looking pretty good.”
He burst out laughing. “Oh, Kate, I’m so glad . . . I’m so glad we found one another after all these years. I feel like a kid right now!” Coleman picked her up and whirled her around.
There was a knock at the door. Both of them looked at their watches.
Twelve o’clock. On the dot.
Coleman answered the knock.
“Mr. Coleman, they’re here. I was told to set up first.”
“Yes, anywhere you’ll feel comfortable.” Coleman had insisted on using his office, then he’d gone on to suggest a court reporter and a videographer. Kate told him she didn’t know if the Winter family would allow the relevant portions of their conversation to be taped. Coleman had explained that was part of the package. Said to insist or there was no deal. Now she was glad she had gone along with the plan.
The court reporter and videographer were ready when they were needed.
Coleman asked his secretary to show the Winter family to his office and to show the stenographer and the cameraman in when he called for them.
Kate stood beside Coleman. She needed his support to get through this. She’d been hard and toughened by her experience, but now, she wanted Coleman to stand with her as she implemented the final phase of her revised plan.
Debbie, Don, and Sara came inside the office. Sara weighed at least three hundred pounds. Kate drew in a breath as she looked at her. She was obviously very pregnant. She wore as much makeup as her mother. A black T-shirt with the name of some rock band stretched across her huge belly. Debbie wore white as usual. Don lingered in the background.
“Kate,” he said when he saw her. She nodded, but didn’t say a word.
“Emily had to use the ladies’ room. She came right from the airport. I told her we couldn’t stop until we arrived,” Don said to her and Coleman.
Kate was shocked at the sight of Don. He’d lost weight. His skin was flabby, sallow. Gone was the handsome man of the past. He appeared shrunken into himself. Kate felt a wave of pity. He hadn’t done anything to make Alex’s situation any better, but Kate knew he’d truly believed Alex guilty. She wondered how he felt now.
A few minutes later, Emily was escorted into the room. Kate took a deep breath, then walked across the room to take the girl in her arms. She didn’t care what Emily’s mother or father thought. This was Emily. Alex’s daughter. Overcome with a powerful feeling of love for the young woman, Kate thought she would back out, but then she knew she had to continue. Emily had to know Alex for what and who he was.
Almost bashful, Emily spoke to her. “You’re beautiful, Aunt Kate! I love the short hair.”
Kate touched her hair. “You haven’t changed, Emily. You are still