River Road (River's End Series, #4) (29 page)

In that moment, if the angels in heaven started singing, Kate would not have been surprised. Or if AJ and Cami both jumped up and hugged each other in a tight, fierce embrace and celebrated their long awaited breakthrough and bond. Instead, AJ nodded just slightly at Cami, who stared at her fingers in her lap. So what if they didn’t jump up and hug each other, and nothing else was said? In that moment, everything was said, and everything changed.

Kate took in a long breath, wiping her eyes as she glanced in the mirror to make sure her makeup wasn’t crusting under her eyes. She smoothed her hair back and walked out towards the living room. AJ and Cami looked up at her gratefully since her entrance allowed both father and daughter a convenient distraction. Neither one seemed to know what to do next.

“So why don’t I make you some dinner, AJ? You must be hungry. Cami already ate hers. Cami, do you want to relax in my room? There’s a TV in there.”

Cami nodded eagerly as she jumped to her feet and quickly disappeared. AJ stared up at Kate. He slowly rose and glanced down with a grimace. “Crap. I rushed in here with my boots on. I’m sorry, I was just so anxious to see her.” Shaking his head with disgust, he leaned over and gently eased the dirt-encrusted cowboy boots off. They were old, worn, brown, and creased. Dust filled all the creases and dried crumbs of grass and soil were still stuck on the soles. He politely passed by Kate as he took the filthy boots towards her door and muttered, “I’ll clean it up.”

Bits of River’s End were scattered on her pristine beige carpet. Kate stared at it, then at the man who so gently carried his dirty, soiled boots outside in his “white” socks. They were stained black in some areas from grinding the dirt in, and he had a hole in his pinkie toe.

AJ’s disgust at himself was palpable. He cared so much, and worried so much. He didn’t fit there. Or here. He didn’t fit anywhere.

Kate rushed towards him, placing her hand softly on his arm so he turned in surprise to see her. She stared into his eyes, wordlessly locking his gaze with hers, and unsmiling. She reached forward and took his boots from him while his eyes darted down to her hands and back up to her face. She threw the boots at their feet and they landed and toppled over with a plop. More soil and dirt clods dropped off them in the fall.

“They’re fine right there.”

AJ stared into her eyes, then at her forehead, her mouth and her outfit, taking in every detail. Her blouse was untucked from her skirt, but the topaz and silver necklace with matching earrings and bracelet were visible. He closed his eyes, shaking his head again, just slightly. “That’s probably not the best spot for them.”

Her eyes grew more intense, holding his, as she softly replied, “They are. That is the best spot. It’s where I want them.”

“Why is that?”

“Because,” she whispered, “it would make me very happy if your boots stayed right there on my floor.”

He swallowed and dropped his gaze down, slumping his shoulders. “We—”

She stepped forward, her bare feet poised on the tops of AJ’s sock-clad feet. “Should have dinner.”

His expression pierced her heart. His love for her was so tangible in his eyes and his voice, hoping for her, aching to have her. She tilted towards him, and he suddenly scooped her up in his arms and held her against him. His lips touched the top of her head as her arms wrapped around his back. “I don’t need any dinner.”

Tears again filled her eyes as she sniffled and replied, “You do.”

Releasing him, she leaned back. He touched his thumbnail under her eyelids and winced. “I haven’t washed my hands yet either.”

Kate grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it. “You’re here.
That’s
what matters.”

He let her go as he glanced around the condo, his breath coming fast. Following her into the kitchen, he washed his hands and sat down at her table. “This place is really something. I didn’t have a chance to say…”

She interrupted, “It would be like living in a tin can for you, huh?”

He glanced at the view that overlooked the city streets. “Yes. A little bit. But you are one hell of an impressive woman.”

“Why thank you, AJ.” She held his gaze until he smiled finally and so did she.

Dinner was leftovers she threw together. AJ gobbled it up; his hunger, as always, was more than substantial. When he finished, he glanced at her almost sheepishly. “It was so good.”

She smiled as she took his empty plate to the sink. “You’d think anything that isn’t baloney is good. You’re so easy to feed. And easy to look at. And easy to be around.” She kept staring outside and didn’t turn towards AJ. Then she added, “Most of all, you’re very easy to love.”

She could see him sitting perfectly still. She leaned down and started the water to rinse his plate as her breath came in shallow bursts. Did she really just say that? So casually? So offhand? And while she was doing the dishes?

His chair scraped back and his tall form rose before he approached her. She stared harder at the plate before placing it into the dishwasher beside her. “Kate? Did you just…”

She was crouching over the dishwasher. “Yes, I just told you I love you.” She straightened up while grabbing the dishtowel hanging on a hook nearby and started drying her hands. Then she carefully folded it and set it on the counter. Turning to face him, she rested her lower back on the lip of the Corian counter and admitted, “I’m in love with you.”

AJ seemed to be looking around for the hidden camera. Kate shrugged with a gentle lift of her shoulders and clutched the counter for balance.

“Did you mean that?”

“Have I ever said or done anything to you that I didn’t mean?” His smile was small as he shook his head in the negative.

Kate moved closer to him. He stepped towards her, and their gazes locked. A deafening silence in the moment seemed rare now in their interactions. Usually, Kate felt heat and passion, she was so physically and emotionally charged. This, however, was… real. Far more real than anything Kate had ever felt before.

“No, you don’t do anything that you don’t mean.”

“Or say what I don’t mean.”

He shut his eyes. “I can’t see how…”

“I don’t know how it’s going to work either. I’m just telling you how I feel. I listened to you with Cami, and heard what you said, and I don’t think anything could break my heart more, or fill me with such hope and longing and love for another person. I don’t give a shit anymore. Not about your job or mine, or your town or my city, or your trailer or my condo. I just don’t give a shit about any of that. But you? I’ve never dreamed I could love a man like I’ve fallen in love with you.”

“Opposites attracting and all?”

“No, AJ. I don’t think we’re opposites. I think we’re actually quite a bit alike. We only say what we mean. We only do what we mean. We remain true to who and what we are. We both value loyalty, kindness, and integrity and readily offer them to those we love. So, some things about us are different. I’m loud, you’re quiet. I’m outgoing, you’re solitary. So what? That’s not the bond at our core.”

“What do you foresee?”

“Don’t know. But we can figure it out.”

“What about Cami?”

“Cami? I think she needs both of us.”

“You’re willing…”

“Yes. I’m willing. If you are.”

AJ closed the distance between them and swept her up in his arms. Turning his face towards her, he gently kissed her cheek as her arms swung around his shoulders and grasped his neck. “I’m willing.”

Tears filled Kate’s eyes and streamed down her cheeks. AJ leaned back and touched them with his hand. “It usually takes more to make you cry.”

“You do. You make me cry. Cami makes me cry. You two together make me cry. I’d like to be part of you though. What you said to her… about her being okay in the end? With you, and your commitment, she’ll be okay. Whatever happened to her is significant; and we have a lot to learn about her, but when we do, we can both help her, we’ll both be there for her and I strongly believe because of you, she’ll be okay.”

They shared a quiet hug in her kitchen with their voices muffled so Cami didn’t hear them. There were no rash sex acts on her kitchen counter; only the contented smiles they both shared. Kate believed in her heart that they’d just committed their lives to each other forever. She could only wonder how that would look.

Then Cami ventured out and rolled her eyes at them. She flopped down on Kate’s couch, and began flipping through the TV channels. She didn’t explain
why
she came back out. Was it to be with them? AJ and Kate exchanged a long look, a tremulous smile and separated, letting their hands linger for only a moment before AJ turned and flopped down just as dramatically as Cami did. He wanted to be near her, and rested his feet on the coffee table before dissecting the music video she was watching,  expounding on why it wasn’t worth their time. Kate took the recliner, letting her mind wander while her heart thumped with passion. So much happened today, tonight, and now… There they sat, casually ribbing Cami on her choice of music while she defended her favorite bands. Musical artists brought out a Cami they didn’t often see. Kate wondered how much more Cami had to offer. She slipped a glance at AJ, her heart twisting, and hoped, prayed, and longed now for the three of
them
.

“What next?” Cami asked finally.

They looked at her, then at each other. “What do you mean?”

“I heard you. In the kitchen. So what happens now? Kate comes to live with us? Or we stay here?” Tucking her legs under her butt, she rose with undisguised excitement.

  “Uh…” AJ shot up straight. “I don’t know… I mean, we haven’t decided anything yet. How did you know what we said?”

“I listened with the door cracked. Duh. How else would I know what’s going on? Old trick. Although you two aren’t usually all that interesting to listen to. Not like some of my other foster parents. But anyway… why can’t Kate come with us? She’s more fun to live with than you. You don’t talk much.”

“Neither do you,” AJ grumbled and Cami smiled. She so rarely smiled. It softened her face and made her look so much younger. So fresh. So happy.

“I might if Kate were around more often.”

Kate spun her chair towards Cami. “I might be around more often. But we have adult stuff to work out first. So no more listening to our conversations. We’ll tell you what you need to know, when we know it ourselves.”

Cami flashed a grin. “See? She’s always balls-out and it’s easy to know where I stand.”

“And you like that?” Kate asked, her eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement.

“I like that. I like… you.”

Like glass, Kate’s heart simply shattered. She instantly replied, “I really like you too, Cami.”

Cami shrugged. “You also seem to like
him
,” she said, waving her hand towards AJ in a careless manner. “Well enough, so why can’t you just come live with us? He seems hell-bent on not living in Seattle, even though that would be the better solution, so you need to come back to River’s End.”

“I have a job here. This place is my home. I have things to figure out first.”

“Will you figure them out?”

Kate lifted her gaze to AJ, who watched her his expression seriously, his mouth a tight line. Kate held Cami’s gaze. The girl’s arms were crossed over her chest when Kate replied, “Yes.” She eyed AJ, waiting for his silent permission. He gave the nod and she nodded back. “Yes, Cami, I will figure it out.”

“Do you promise?”

“I promise.” Without pause or regret, Kate knew in her heart that she was not making a mistake. A soft peace filled her mind. Yes, they’d all three figure out how to live together, where to live and still remain true to themselves. Together, they’d figure it all out.

“I’ve been promised a lot by a lot of people. No one usually comes through, though. Why should I believe you?”

She smiled. “Because I’ve never lied to you yet, have I?”

“No. That’s almost why I believe you. I want to.”

“Believe me.”

****

Kate sent AJ and Cami home the next day after sleeping with Cami while AJ slept on the couch. Cami hugged Kate tightly for the first time before silently waiting by the stairwell. AJ hugged her next, and held her longer. He brushed his hand through her hair. Kate hadn’t showered or changed yet. “This weekend then?” AJ asked.

Kate smiled at him. “Yes, I’ll come back Friday night, right after work. I talked to Jack, and he said we can stay at the main house for a little while longer. It’s absolutely necessary right now. When I get there, I want to look at that property across from the gate. I mean it, AJ. Cami needs a real home. A permanent one. And I can provide that for her… and for us. And believe it or not, you need a permanent home too.”

He nodded, rubbing his neck. He didn’t like talking about money with Kate. He’d have to get used to it. “Should we discuss the option of me moving here?”

“No. I appreciate the gesture and the offer. But I can work from River’s End. You can’t work from Seattle. We’ll make it fly somehow.”

He stepped up, leaning forward to kiss her lips quickly, well aware that Cami was just down the hall, watching them. “I love you too.” Then he left.