Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [136]
"But he might have died that night, anyway, on the Betsy Marie," Caroline said. "Who knows what would have happened? If he would have survived along with K.C., or if he would have drowned with the others."
"I know what you're saying. I've thought of that a thousand times, but --"
"But it always has to be about you." Caroline gave Kate a smile that took the edge off her words. "Some things are just fate, accidents, circumstance. Some things you can't control, no matter how hard you try."
Kate let out a sigh. "Lord, what a long day it's been." She checked her watch and realized it was almost eleven o'clock. It was quieter now, too. Glancing out the window, she could see moonlight. The storm had passed as quickly as it had come.
"I could really use a drink right now," Caroline said. Then she added quickly, "Relax, Kate, I was thinking along the lines of some tea or hot chocolate with marshmallows."
"I agree." Ashley stood up. "I'll make the hot chocolate."
"I think there are marshmallows in the cabinet," Kate said as her sisters headed toward the kitchen. "And cookies, too, if you're hungry."
Kate sat back in the chair as her sisters left the room. She needed to think about all that had happened. And she probably needed to start thinking about what to do next, how to deal with the consequences of their confession.
The doorbell rang, putting an end to her ruminations. She got to her feet, knowing it was Tyler even before she opened the door. She just didn't know what on earth they would say to each other now.
Tyler had changed into dry jeans and a gray sweater. His hair was still damp, his face red from a long day in the wind.
"Hi," she said softly, not sure how to greet him this time. "I didn't think you'd be back this soon."
"But you knew I'd be back," he said without smiling.
"I figured. Do you want to come in?"
"Where's your dad? Your sisters?" he asked as he stepped inside.
"My dad is asleep in my bed, and my sisters are foraging for food and drinks in the kitchen." She led him into the living room and took a seat on the sofa. She could hardly believe she'd made love to this man in this very room only twenty-four hours earlier. She'd lain naked in his arms, been as intimate with him as anyone in her life, but now he seemed almost a stranger. The day's events had put a distance between them that she wasn't sure how to cross. "I guess you finally got your story."
"I guess I did." He sat down on the chair by the coffee table and stared at her for a long moment. "Duncan told me about Jeremy. He even called me Jeremy at one point. He said we were a lot alike." He offered her a grim smile. "Of course, that didn't make me feel any better when I realized he'd shoved Jeremy overboard in the middle of a storm."
"It wasn't like that. It was an argument that got out of control."
Tyler leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Okay, let's say I buy that. Duncan gave Jeremy a shove, and he ended up in the water. In the confusion, Duncan was only able to save you, his daughter, and not Jeremy. A terrible choice for any father."
"Don't you think I've kicked myself a hundred times for jumping in that water? If I hadn't, if I'd kept my cool, maybe I could have gotten the line to Jeremy, or my Dad and I together could have found a way to save him."
"Not if he was unconscious, which he apparently was. He wouldn't have been able to grab a line. Your only hope was to jump in after him. You didn't have time to think about all that, but instinctively you knew it was the right thing to do. And very brave, too," he added quietly. "I can't even imagine having a woman love me enough to jump into a raging sea to save me. Jeremy must have been a hell of a guy."