The Other Side - J. D. Robb [105]
Outside, Christina could see Mark’s vintage Corvette just rounding a corner, coming into view. For the funeral, he’d left it in the family garage, choosing to ride with her in the limousine. Now, with the top down and his pale hair tousled by the breeze, cell phone to his ear, he looked younger, more at ease than he had in days.
Thank heaven for Mark. He’d been her rock. Her pillar of strength.
Tyler, she realized, wasn’t watching Mark. He was looking beyond him, as though waiting for something. Or someone.
Of course.
When the truth dawned, Chris felt as though she’d taken a knife to her heart.
She turned to Bonnie Waverly, who looked as sad and forlorn as the little boy.
Tears filled Christina’s eyes as she gathered her little brother close and buried her face in his hair. “Oh, Tyler. They’re not coming back.”
Though he stiffened slightly, he made no sound.
His silence made her tears flow all the harder. “I know who you’re watching for, baby. But you won’t see them.” She wondered that her poor heart didn’t simply break from the pain that washed over her in waves as she forced herself to speak the horrifying words aloud. “Mom and Dad are gone for good, Tyler. And we’re never going to see them again.”
Mark strode into the room to find Christina still holding her little brother in her arms, sobbing gently against his hair.
She lifted her tear-stained face. “I’m sorry, Mark. I won’t be going back to the city with you tonight.”
He stepped closer, barely keeping his impatience in check. “Look, I’ve already been here more days than I’d expected. I really need to get back.”
“I know. I understand. You have a business to run. But you’ll have to go without me. Tyler needs me here.”
“He has Bonnie and Mrs. Mellon.”
“Yes, he does. And he has me.”
“You’re forgetting. I’m not the only one with a business to run. You’re now in charge of your father’s company. How long do you think it can flourish without a strong, steady hand at the helm?”
“We have good executives, Mark. They’re loyal to me, just as they were to my father. They’ll cover for me until I’m ready to return.”
“And how long do you intend to hide out here?”
Was that what she was doing? Hiding from the truth? Hiding from the horrible loss of the two most important people in her life?
Though the words stung, she chose to ignore them. “I don’t know. I only know that I need to be here with Tyler as much as he needs me here.”
She looked up as the housekeeper paused in the doorway, holding an overnight bag. “I won’t be needing that after all, Mrs. Mellon. I’ve decided I’m not ready to leave yet.”
For the first time in days, the housekeeper’s eyes lit with a smile. “I’m glad you’re staying. Tyler needs you. And so do I.”
The older woman glanced at Bonnie, who nodded her agreement. “She’s right. We need you here a while longer.”
“It’s settled then.”
Christina kept her little brother’s hand firmly in hers as she got to her feet and started across the room. “Good-bye, Mark.” She brushed a kiss over his cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow, when I’ve had time to think.”
“You know I don’t like being apart for even one night.” He closed his hands over her upper arms and gave her a long, slow kiss. Then he stepped back and managed a smile for Tyler, and another for the two women who were watching, before turning away.
As he started out of the room he called, “But I suppose another night won’t make much difference.”
Christina watched as he strode away. When the door closed behind him, she thought about his words. He was right, she supposed. What difference could one night possibly make? Wouldn’t she be just as sad and just as lost tomorrow as she was tonight? Still, one look at her little brother’s haunted eyes and she knew she’d made the right decision. For now, for this night, she would do what she could to bring him comfort.
She’d deal with tomorrow’s pain tomorrow.
Two
“We’d like to stay here a few more days, Gram.” Ted Crenshaw kissed his grandmother’s cheek. “Vanessa and I aren’t ready for eternal