The Way of Women (42 page)

“And what?” Katheryn and Jenn spoke at the same time.

“And that call from the insurance company—the check for five hundred thousand dollars will come here tomorrow. I have to be here to sign for it.”

First Katheryn, then Jenn hugged her, and then the three of them hugged together.

“Group hug, group hug.” Jenn squeezed tighter. “I haven’t had a group hug since … since I don’t know when.”

“Ah, Mellie, she is doing great.” Katheryn stepped back. “What a miracle. All this good news on one day.”

“Oh, I have something for each of you.” Mellie dug the boxes out of her bag and handed them to her friends. She watched with delight as they each opened their box and pulled the tissue paper back to read the saying.

“I never had sisters, but if I did, I’d want them to be like you two. Lissa and I, we can never say thank-you enough.”

“You don’t have to. Our friendship is something special.” Jenn held up her mug and touched it to Katheryn’s. “Cheers to friendship, long and true.”

“Thank you, Mellie.” Katheryn kissed Mellie on the cheek.

“Yes, thank you. I gotta be off. Our girl awaits.”

Our girl
. Mellie hugged the words close.
Harv used to say “my girls.” Harv, if you are watching, thank you. I’ll do my best
.

W
hat can I get you to drink, sir?”

“Coke, please.” Frank smiled up at the flight attendant. Attractive, nice eyes.

She handed him a packet of peanuts, along with a cocktail napkin, then set the plastic glass on the napkin.

He stared at the glass. First time he’d had a soda onboard in many a year. He opened the nuts and munched them one at time.

You should have called, told her you were coming. I want to surprise her. Oh, you will. Are you sure this is the best course?

Second-guessing, a bad habit and one he usually overcame. Now he had too much time on his hands. A five-hour flight to JFK and then a long ride into New York City. All he had was an address.

What if she is out? I’ll wait
. He handed the plastic back to the attendant and flipped his tray back up. He had work to do, right there in his briefcase at his feet. Work that would take his mind off the meeting
ahead. Instead, he tipped his seat back and let his mind roam back through the years.

He’d taken her for granted. Any fool could see that. But she’d been only a kid. He’d never thought of her as more than a friend.

Until she showed up at the mountain. Talk about a punch right to the solar plexus. Seeing her turned the sunshine on, sun that he hadn’t seen for a long time.

He fast-forwarded past the scene at Barney’s. That one he’d replayed far too often. So, what was keeping her in New York? He’d have sworn she planned to stay in Washington, right near home, in fact. Never once had she mentioned her life in New York, at least not with any longing. If she considered the Big Apple her home, she’d done an Oscar-quality acting job.

She’d said she loved him. Like a brother? He shook his head. Not with the sparks that flew between them. Nearly burned him a couple of times.

What to say when he got there?
Jenn, I’m sorry. I’ve gone through rehab and turned my life around. You don’t have to worry about me getting drunk ever again
. Could he say never taking a drink again?
Yes. I can
.

He landed at JFK and lifted his carry-on out of the bin. Two pieces of luggage but a lot of baggage, much of which he’d been dealing with in the last weeks.

He caught a cab into the city and gave her address. Sometime later, they drew up in front of a glass-and-brass building with a canopy clear to the street.

“Thanks.” He added a tip and stepped out onto the sidewalk. If this was the place, she’d been doing right well for a skinny little girl from Longview, Washington.

A man in a navy coat that reached mid thigh and gold-trimmed epaulets on his shoulders greeted him.

“May I help you, sir?”

“I’m here to see Ms. Stockton.”

“I’m sorry, sir, she’s not here.”

“I’ll wait.”

“No, I mean she has moved.”

“Do you have a forwarding address?”

“No sir.”

And if you did, you’d not tell me either. That’s the kind of protection you are paid to give
. “No phone number, no nothing?”

“Correct, sir. The moving van took her things three days ago.”

“I see.” Frank thought a long moment. There was nothing else in New York he wanted to see. “Can you call me a cab, please?”

“Certainly, sir, and I’m sorry. Are you an old friend?”

“Yes. Since childhood.”
And tonight I’m feeling very old
.

The man blew a whistle and a Yellow Cab pulled up to the curb.

“To the airport,” Frank ordered as he settled in the backseat. How soon would it be before he could be back on a plane, flying the only direction that counted. West. Toward home.

Several hours later the flight attendant stopped beside him. “What can I get you to drink, sir?”

“Bourbon and water.”

Another bag of peanuts, another napkin, but this time a glass of ice and water and a small bottle of Jim Beam. The label gleamed in the spotlight over his seat. He broke the seal with a twist of the wrist and poured the amber liquid into the glass. It swirled and spread as he shook out the last drop.

Ignoring the voice clamoring and screaming in his head, he lifted the glass and inhaled. Ahh. Setting it down again, he moved it in circles on his tray table. The liquids had melded now, the ice cubes knocked against each other, companionably, inviting him to toss one back.

He stared at the drink. She wasn’t there. Surely one drink would not matter. He’d find her. She was worth the wait.

“Here, miss.” He handed her the untouched drink and let his seat back.
Thanks
seemed too small a word, but he sent it heavenward anyway.

“She went to Seattle? Whatever for?”

“Lissa, the daughter of the woman she met here, is in a cancer treatment program up there. Jenn went up to help.”

“When is she coming home?”

Clare shrugged. “Not sure she is.”

“Well, I’ll be. Here I fly clear to New York, and she’s not a hundred miles away. You got an address for her?”

“You sure she wants to see you?”

“I got to take that chance, don’t I?”

Clare touched his arm. “Good luck, Frank McKenzie. I’ll be looking for some good news when you come home.”

“You’d better say a prayer or two. She was mighty upset last time I saw her.”

“Frank, I spent most of my life praying for her and you, too, more than you know. Congratulations on your new direction. God bless you, boy, God bless you.”

“Yeah.” He waved the paper with the address. “Thanks. In Seattle, well, I’ll be.”

I
s it too much to ask you to put your dishes in the dishwasher?” Both fists glued to her hips, Katheryn glared at Jenn.

“Sorry, I’ll take care of it.”

“Never mind, I will.” Katheryn’s nostrils flared. She took the mug, David’s favorite, one she’d not used since—She stared at the mug in her hands. The stupid cup, he’d never put it in the dishwasher in all the years since Susan gave it to him.
WORLD
’
S GREATEST DAD
and a fishing pole. A fishing pole. They’d gone fishing, for crying out loud. Traded their lives for a few stupid fish and the vain hope of healing. Katheryn choked on the fury burning her insides.

“Why couldn’t he have taken the Valium?” Like the mountain herself, Katheryn could no longer hold the flow within. Grief mushroomed, dragging out the rocks of despair, melting the walls of ice she’d built to protect her heart.

“Who?” Jenn stood beside her.

“David, dragging Brian up there, going to see The Lady.” She rounded on Jenn, as if to attack. “The Lady who killed my husband and my son. Why couldn’t he have gone to Mount Rainier? Stayed home? I
tried to get him to stay home, but he wouldn’t listen. And now they are gone, and I’m all alone.”

Mellie took the cup from Katheryn’s shaking fingers and set it carefully in the dishwasher.

“I want them to come back. Please, God, if You love me, let them come home.” Katheryn slid down the cupboard door and huddled against the cold wood. “There could be a mistake, let them come home.” She covered her face with her hands, but Jenn knelt beside her, taking Katheryn’s hands, warming them with her own.

Joining them on the floor, Mellie put an arm around Katheryn, and like a child seeking its mother, Katheryn burrowed into Mellie’s shoulder.

With the three of them locked in one another’s arms, Jenn and Mellie rocked the woman between them as she wept deep, tearing sobs that shook them all.

Nothing could be said, only arms that comforted, hands that soothed, and hearts that cared. Tears poured down their faces. Jenn rose and fetched a box of tissue, handing Katheryn a handful.

Much later when the storm passed, Katheryn asked, “How am I going to live with never knowing for sure?”

“You will. And perhaps they will find something to tell you.” Jenn handed Mellie the box of tissue.

“And if they don’t?” Katheryn sat up, still propped against the cabinet. With bent knees and feet flat on the floor, she stared down at the kitchen tiles.

“In the military they call it MIA, missing in action.” Jenn assumed the same position as Katheryn. “I should know—it was three years before they found my brother’s grave.”

“Vietnam War?”

“Uh-huh. Thought it might kill my dad, too.”

“Thanks, you two. Sorry I was being such a snip.”

“Oh, is that what you call it?” Jenn tipped her head back. “I had a better word.”

“Rhymes with witch?”

“Something like that.”

Mellie sat cross-legged in front of them, elbows propped on her jean-clad knees. “I’m glad you let us be with you. I mean, you have helped me …” She shook her head. “I can’t begin to count all you’ve done for me.”

“That’s different. I like helping people.”

“Right, but when the shoe is on the other foot …?”

“I know. Katheryn the capable. My mother’s favorite saying, ‘Don’t ever let them see you cry.’ ”

“Things any better with her?”

“Give me a break. My mother wrote the book on difficult.” Katheryn pushed herself to her feet. “Anyone for a cup of tea, and then I have to get Mellie back to the center.”

“After all, tomorrow is the day.”

“The big day. Lissa goes to the apartment.”

“Thank You, heavenly Father.”

Still masked and gowned, the nurses were wheeling a masked and gowned Lissa down the hall.

“You’re going to a new apartment, sweetie. We have it all ready for you.”

“Will Kitty be there?”

“Sorry, no, but the big Kitty will be waiting for you.”

“And my poster?”

“Yup.” Jenn carried Harvey the bunny and her canvas tote full of cards.

“Look, balloons.” Lissa pointed to the door.

“And they are all for you.” The nurse leaned down to give Lissa a quick squeeze.

Jenn laughed along with the others until her gaze caught the sight of a broad-shouldered man with hair shot through with gray. “Frank.”