Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [18]
"You knew?" Kate asked in surprise. "You knew she was meeting Tyler Jamison, and you didn't stop her?"
"Tyler Jamison? The reporter you just told me about?" Ashley asked in confusion. "That's who Caroline met for dinner?"
"Exactly."
"But why?"
"I have no idea. I told her to stay away from him."
"Okay, both of you, breathe," Caroline said. "Yes, I met the reporter for dinner, and yes, I did eat, but as you know I can always eat more. Before you ask, I didn't tell him anything. So chill out. We have bigger fish to fry. The Moon Dancer was sold to K.C. Wales. He's planning to race her in the Castleton, then on to Hawaii. They should be here by Monday."
Ashley put a hand to her heart. "K.C. Wales? Oh, dear."
"Dad will freak." Caroline picked up another cookie. "You'll have to tell him, Kate."
"Why me?"
"You're the oldest, the most responsible, the most understanding."
"Since when?" Kate asked. "According to you, I'm bossy, opinionated, and critical."
"That, too," Caroline said. "But I'm Dad's baby, and you know he never takes anything I say seriously. And Ashley can't do it because ... well, she just can't do it."
"I could do it," Ashley said defensively, then quickly added, "But it would come better from you, Kate. You always know the right thing to say."
Once again, both sisters looked to her for the answer to their problem. They'd played out this scene many times before -- Caroline eating chocolate, Ashley biting her fingernails while she paced. As before, she wanted to say something reassuring. She wanted to give them the answers they were looking for, but words were difficult to find.
Her mother would have known what to say. She'd understood each of them and had passed on special pieces of herself: sensitivity to Ashley, passion to Caroline, and loyalty to Kate. It was that loyalty they needed now. Kate had promised her mother that she would protect her sisters and look out for her father, and she'd do it now, just as she had done before.
"It's funny how life goes merrily along and then, boom, the past comes back and bites you in the butt," Caroline said.
"I wonder if the Moon Dancer still looks the same," Ashley said quietly. "I wonder if Mom's curtains are hanging in the master cabin."
"What I wonder is why K.C. bought the boat," Kate said. "He must know that Dad will hate him for it."
"I doubt he cares," Caroline replied. "He was always more interested in winning than in friendship."
"Not always." Kate shook her head, confused by the turn of events. K.C. had once been a family friend, then an enemy. What was he now?
"Did I tell you that Sean is back, too?" Ashley asked. "I saw him down at the docks. He says he's going to race in the Castleton. Now that I know the Moon Dancer is in the race, I have an even worse feeling about it. Look, I've got goose bumps," she said, extending her arms.
"You're too thin -- that's why you have goose bumps," Caroline retorted. "And you knew Sean would come back again. His family is here."
"I know, but I'm not ready to deal with him."
"You'll never be ready."
"Okay, let's put Sean aside for the moment," Kate cut in, knowing that Ashley and Caroline had never seen eye to eye on that subject. "What did you tell Tyler Jamison about us, Caroline?"
"I told him to leave us alone. But --"
Kate groaned. "Please don't let there be a but."
"He might be able to do us some good. Dad would love to be in the spotlight again. It would give him a reason to get up in the morning. It could turn his life around."
"It could turn his life upside down. Are you actually telling me you think that an article about us is a good idea?" Kate didn't give Caroline a chance to respond. "What do you think Dad will tell Tyler? What do you think he remembers about the race? About the storm? What do you think will come out when he's wasted out of his mind? It's crazy."
"She's right,"