Southern Comfort - Fern Michaels [108]
All of a sudden Kate broke down and cried like a baby. She cried for the child she would probably never have. She cried for the family that Tick had lost. She even cried for the misery that Lawrence was bound to go through at some point in the future. And then she just cried because it felt good, almost like an emotional cleansing.
“I’ll be back.” Kate went to Tick’s small bathroom, where Bird made his home. She stripped off all her clothes and stood under the hot water, allowing it to cleanse her soul. Right now, it felt in need of a good purging, a baptism of sorts. A light knock on the door told her she’d been in here long enough. She hurriedly toweled off and dressed.
She opened the door. Tick.
“There is something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
Kate followed him back to the kitchen, where Sandy and Pete, somewhat rested, and Rosita were gathered. Jelly had already left for Miami.
Tick was the first to speak. “Remember when you girls invited us to the beach for a weenie roast?”
Kate and Sandy nodded.
Tick continued to speak. “Well, I think tonight’s the night to roast weenies since the weather’s looking good.”
Kate and Sandy nodded again.
“Then let’s get busy. I know how to make the best guacamole in the world,” Rosita said, her eyes sparkling.
The adults gave each other that special look. They all knew now wasn’t the time to tell Rosita her family had never made it to US soil. Now was the time to celebrate just being alive.
Epilogue
Ten Months Later
Kate checked her beach house one last time, just to make sure she wasn’t leaving anything she needed behind. Nothing caught her eye, so there was nothing to keep her here any longer. A single tear dripped from her eye when she entered the bedroom she and Sandy had recently decorated. Soft yellows and creams and splashes of bright green here and there. A new Mac computer sat on top of a brand-new oak desk. Opposite that was a giant plasma television set, Pete’s contribution to the makeover. There were books and videos, CDs, posters of the latest pop stars. The closet was so stuffed with clothes, Kate had to remove some and put them in her closet. She scanned the room one last time before she left. More than anything in the world, she wanted this room to be as perfect as possible. She decided it was as good as it would get until Rosita moved in and made the room her own. When she and Tick had told Rosita about her parents, she’d been so sad. But since she had learned that she was being adopted by Tick and Kate, the child hadn’t stopped smiling.
First, there was a wedding to attend.
Gathered out on the beach were all the people who were near and dear to her. Each and every one of them had made a mark on her life. She was honored that they’d taken the time out of their busy lives to share in the celebration. She closed the door and walked down the steps that led to the beach.
She stopped and turned for one last look.
“You know it’ll never be the same again,” Tick Kelly said.
Kate placed a hand over her heart. “You scared me, and I know it won’t be the same. I don’t want it to be the same, Mr. Kelly.”
Tick pulled Kate close to him, then kissed her long and slow. When they broke apart, both were breathing a little heavier than normal.
“Tick, are you okay with this? I mean . . . you’ve been here before. I just want to make sure that Rosita and I aren’t, well . . . you know.”
“Substitutes for the family I lost? Is that what you want to say?”
Kate nodded. Tears, like tiny silver rivers, dripped down her face.
“These last months with you and Rosita have been the best time of my life. Truly. When I went to Atlanta and stood by Sally, Emma, and Ricky’s graves, I felt as though another person had lived that life. In a sense that’s true because I’m not the man, not the father that I was then. I will always love them, but you’re my life now. You and Rosita. I’ve gained a few of life’s bruises and bumps since they died.