Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [145]
"Certainly for you," Ashley said, but she smiled to take the sting out of her words. "I hope you do get to know Amelia."
"Amelia is beautiful, didn't you think? Like Mom."
"Like you."
"Thanks. That's nice to hear." Caroline's eyes narrowed when she saw Ashley glance at her watch, then the door, then her watch again. "Where are you thinking of going?"
"I want to talk to Sean."
"Maybe you should let him cool off."
"That would probably be smart, but I feel like time has never been on our side, and waiting would be more of a mistake." Ashley opened the hall closet and took out one of Kate's coats. "I'm going to borrow this. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Caroline echoed in alarm. "Hey, you can't leave me here with Dad."
"You always wanted to be his favorite," Ashley told her. "Now is your chance."
Before Caroline could reply that both of her sisters were being totally unfair, Ashley was gone. The house was suddenly quiet, too quiet. Caroline was alone. Well, not exactly alone. Her gaze turned down the hall toward Kate's bedroom. Maybe she should check on her dad, make sure he was all right.
She walked down the hall and pushed open the door to see her father asleep in Kate's bed. His face was red, his hair still damp, but he appeared to be sleeping, breathing normally. It suddenly occurred to her that everything her father owned was gone. Even his favorite cap had sunk into the Sound. All he had were the few items of clothing he'd left at Kate's house over the years. The rest of it had disappeared into the sea.
She walked farther into the room and sat down on the rocking chair next to the bed. She wondered if he was dreaming or reliving the experiences of the day. His breathing seemed to have quickened, and his chest was moving up and down more rapidly. Whatever he was thinking about was disturbing him in some way. She was tempted to put her hand on his shoulder and tell him to relax, that everything would be all right.
Weren't those the very same words he'd told her when the pain of labor had grown too much to bear? When she hadn't thought she could go on? He'd held her hand the morning Amelia had been born. He'd cut the umbilical cord and held his grandchild in his arms. There had been something in his eyes that morning, something that looked like love, but still he'd taken them both to the hospital and given away her child. She'd hated him for it. But she'd loved him, too, because he'd taken care of her after that, and he'd told her how proud he was of her, how strong she had been. For the first time in a long time, she'd felt worthy of his love.
She didn't really know how they had sailed that last leg. She had been weak and hurting. Kate had been grieving. Ashley had been traumatized. But somehow they had pulled through for this man -- this man who wouldn't let them quit, who aroused so many mixed emotions in their hearts.
Her father's breathing caught, changed, and then he turned over on his back. His eyes opened as he awoke. "Where? Where am I?" he asked in a thick, slow voice.
"You're at Kate's house." Caroline pulled her chair closer to the bed. "I'm here if you need anything."
"Where's Kate?"
Caroline should have figured that would be his first question. "Kate is sleeping with Tyler at his hotel, I imagine. Any other questions?" She supposed she could have sugarcoated it, but why bother? They'd told too many lies already.
Duncan sighed wearily. "She's angry with me, isn't she?"
"For almost killing her second love? Yeah, I'd say she's angry. By the way, Ashley and I aren't too happy about what happened, either. Not that you care."
He turned his head to look at her, and for a long moment he didn't say anything. The silence almost undid her. It made her want to jump into speech, offer an apology for whatever needed to be apologized