“So what do you do to change that?”
“Eat crow, I suppose.”
Bernadine nodded solemnly.
“I don’t want to die old and alone,” Diane whispered.
“Your kids are only a phone call away, Di.”
“I know, but what if they reject me?”
“What if they don’t?”
Diane wiped at the water glistening in her eyes. “This is so hard.”
“Change is never easy.”
“I need to ask the wizard for some courage.”
They laughed at that.
Diane said, “You’ve been a godsend. I know I haven’t been very appreciative, but . . . I am. Thank you so much for everything.”
And the hug they shared held such genuine love, Bernadine had tears in her eyes. “You can do this,” she whispered to her sister. “Just keep pushing.”
“Keep on me, please.”
Bernadine pulled back. “I will. Promise. And call your kids. They may surprise you, but you have to be honest with them, Di.”
“I know.”
They broke the embrace, and Diane said, “I’ll let you know what happens.”
“Okay.”
As she left the kitchen, Bernadine wiped her tears and for the first time in decades felt as if she truly had a sister.
Mal stopped by a short time later. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey, handsome.”
They shared a kiss and walked into the living room, where they took seats side by side on the sofa. He draped an arm across the sofa’s back, and she snuggled close.
“How’d the day go?” he asked.
“I think my sister’s made a breakthrough,” she said, and explained.
“Sounds like progress to me.”
“Me, too. Keeping my fingers crossed. She might finally find the happiness she’s been looking for. And in other news, Crystal wants me to buy her some boots like Cassidy Sullivan’s for two hundred and seventy-five dollars.”
“Whoa, that’s a chunk of cash.”
“Yes, it is. Wants to me to pay for them, and she’ll pay me back at ten dollars a month.”
He chuckled. “And you said?”
She told him, adding, “She could always use some of the money from her coin, but I’ll let her figure that out.”
“Good for you. How’s her painting for the competition coming?”
“She’s almost done, and it looks wonderful. If she doesn’t win, I’ll be really disappointed. How was your day?”
“Same old stuff. Missed seeing you, though.”
“I missed you, too. Spent the day on lockdown, working on the auction with Tina and talking to a thousand and one stonemasons about rebuilding the hotel. Might actually have found a firm that can redo the facade. Old guy in California owns a business with his grandson. He’s going to send me some samples to look at in a few days.”
He placed a kiss on her forehead. “That’s just a reminder to rest.”
“I’m trying. In fact, I want you to look at something.” She got up and brought back the travel brochure she’d received in the mail.
“River cruises?” he asked, leafing through the brochure’s glossy pages.
“Yes, I’ve always wanted to see Angkor Wat. Thought maybe we could go next year sometime.”
“No,” he said, and placed the brochure on the coffee table.
His abrupt refusal was surprising. “No?”
He shook his head. “If you want to go somewhere else, fine, but I’m never going back to Southeast Asia.”
She understood. After doing his tours in Vietnam, he’d returned to the States broken inside. “We’ll choose another spot.”
“No, babe—if you really want to go, take Lily or one of your girlfriends. I just have no desire to revisit my nightmares. Don’t want to risk messing up my life by drinking again, and if I go to Cambodia, that might happen.”
His army experiences were something they’d never gone into in depth because he seemed content not to talk about them, and she loved him enough not to stir up his pain. She placed a hand against his cheek and kissed him. “I love you, so how about a safari in South Africa?”
The shadows fell away from his face. “Now that sounds like a winner.”
“Then let’s plan on that.”
As Bernadine lay in bed that night, her thoughts drifted back to Mal. She supposed when presented with his issues, someone else might have encouraged him to face his fears and visit Cambodia anyway, but she wasn’t that person. Finding peace in one’s life was often a fragile gift, and she had no desire to send the strides he’d made crashing into the abyss by making unreasonable demands. He knew his strengths and he knew his weaknesses, and if he felt endangered, she loved him enough to respect that.
C H A P T E R
22
Reggie was so happy to be home that when Nathan pulled up to the curb in front of the house, he wanted to jump out and run to the door like a kid at Grandma’s house. But he waited for Nathan to remove his luggage from the trunk, pocket his tip, and drive away. Then he ran to the door.
Entering the foyer, he shouted à la Fred Flintstone, “Wilma, I’m home!”
The strange leather-clad woman standing in his kitchen, holding a coffee mug, stared. He stared right back and asked warily, “And you are?”
“Cassidy Sullivan. And you?”
“Reggie Garland.”
“Oh, you’re Roni’s husband. Come on in, she’s upstairs.”
He blinked. Between the leather outfit and the Irish accent, he wasn’t quite sure what to make of her, let alone figure out why she was standing in their kitchen. And then it didn’t matter, because Roni walked in and screamed, “Reggie!” and he pulled her into his arms and held her so tight, he never wanted to let her go. As they kissed, a smiling Cass said, “I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.”
Roni slowly broke the kiss. “No. Stay. Did you introduce yourselves?”
Reggie was still taking in the loveliness that was his wife. “Yes, but I don’t know who she is.”
“My new producer, and maybe Zoey’s aunt.”
“Wait. What?” He glanced over at Cass, and back at Roni. “Aunt?” He knew she’d fired Jason and was looking for a replacement, but Zoey’s aunt? “Okay. Let me sit down, because I think I need to.”
He took a seat. “Now, start at the beginning.”
Cassidy began, “My brother Conor was enrolled at Juilliard eleven years ago, and while there, fell head over heels for a young woman named Bonnie Raymond. Every letter he sent home was filled with Bonnie this and Bonnie that. I was surprised because he’d had quite a few flirtations back at home, but he’d never proclaimed himself in love, as he did with this girl from America. Then my dad got sick, and Conor had to leave Juilliard and return home to Ireland. He hated to leave his Bonnie behind, but he’s the only son, and we Irish take our family responsibilities very seriously. Conor wrote to Bonnie nearly every day, sent poor Mum’s phone bill through the roof making overseas calls to her. Dad died three months later, and after the funeral Conor wanted to return to the States, but no true son leaves a grieving mother, so he stayed. Then his letters began returning unopened. In a panic he called the school, and was told she was no longer enrolled and they didn’t know where she’d gone.”
Reggie waited.
“Conor had the phone numbers of a few of their shared friends, and finally got the real story. Bonnie was pregnant. She’d withdrawn from Juilliard, and because she was too ashamed to go home to her parents, she moved to Atlanta with another student she knew instead. But she and the student friend had a falling-out over something, and she left. It was the last time any of their shared friends had any contact with her.”
“Wow,” Reggie said quietly. He glanced Roni’s way and saw her sadness.
“Conor was beside himself, not knowing what had happened, because he knew the baby was his. We’d never seen him so devastated. With our mum’s blessing, he flew to Atlanta to try and fin
d her. He searched for weeks. Nothing. He finally gave up, and right after that he formed the band.”
“Is he married now?”
“Twice married, twice divorced, and both my ex-sisters-in-law are dark-haired and green-eyed like Bonnie. And, Roni, thanks for showing me the picture of her.”
Roni said, “You’re welcome, but if it turns out he is Zoey’s father and he wants custody, Reg and I will fight him to the grave.”
“Don’t worry, he won’t. He has four girls now, and he loves them almost as much as he does his music, but he’s not the full-time-parent type of guy. He spoils the girls rotten, takes them on holiday in the summer to places like Nice and Rio, skiing in Zurich in the winter, sends them outrageous gifts for Christmas and birthdays, and sends monthly checks for their support. He doesn’t want them full-time because he knows he’s not cut out for that. He’s a rocker, after all, and that’s the lifestyle he leads. He’s more like a favorite uncle than a dad, but his exes are okay with it, and his girls absolutely adore him. I know Zoey will, too.”
Reggie said sagely, “If he’s the dad.”
“We can do the DNA testing, but I’m going to tell you now, Conor is her father.” She looked between the two of them. “If you want to talk privately, I’ll head up to the guest room.”
“Thanks, Cass—but before you go, have you spoken to him about any of this yet?” Reg asked.
“No. That wouldn’t be fair to you, and I won’t say anything to Zoey either. You’re her parents. Whatever is decided, it should come from you. My brother’s had a darkness in his heart since losing Bonnie, so maybe knowing she’s alive in Zoey will help him back into the light again.”
“Okay. Let me and Roni talk for a few, so we can figure out how to handle this.”
“No problem.”
Once she was gone, he asked, “Do you believe this? Sounds pretty out there, if you ask me.”
“It does—but why would she claim to be related, when a false DNA test would shoot the theory to hell and back?”
“True. Do you want to do the test?”
“Yes. It wouldn’t be right not to. The only other family she has outside us is that nasty Caseman woman and her wretched kids. Even though I’ve known Cassidy less than a day, I like her a lot, and Zoey worships at her feet. Be nice if they are related.”
“I agree, but do we tell her the truth about why we need to do the test?”
“No. On the odd chance that he isn’t the dad, she’d be heartbroken. We’ll have to make up something.”
“Okay, let’s tell her we want to test her just in case those wretched cousins need a transfusion or a transplant.”
“Oh, she’ll love that, but she’ll go along with it because her heart’s always in the right place.”
“Helluva thing to come home to.”
“You ain’t seen nothing yet. Wait until tonight.” And she gave him a big wink.
“I love you.”
“Yes, you do.”
It was decided that Cass would call her brother and let him know what was going on. Reggie and Roni let her talk to him privately, and when she was done, she came down with tears in her eyes. “He bawled like a baby,” she told them. “At first he didn’t believe me, told me he’d catch the next flight here and kick my tail if I was pulling his leg, but I finally convinced him I was telling the truth. He’s had a couple of women sue him for paternity in the past—falsely—so he knows the drill on the testing, but he wants to see Zoey on Skype, if that would be okay.”
Reggie looked to Roni, who said, “As long as he doesn’t mention anything about their connection. We want to wait for the test results, so she isn’t hurt if it comes back negative.”
“I understand. Suppose I get him on Skype and tell her I just want her to meet my brother?”
“That would work. That okay with you, Reg?”
“Yes.”
When Zoey came home from school, seeing her dad in the kitchen made her grin and run to him. “Daddy!”
He hugged her tight and kissed her cheek. “Hi! How are you?”
“I’m good! How are you? I’m so glad you’re back.”
“So am I. You’ve been taking care of Mom?”
“Yeah, but she’s been taking care of me, too.”
“How’s the arm?”
“Itching like crazy. Do you think I can take it off early?”
“Probably not, but we can have the docs x-ray it and see how it’s healing.”
“Okay.”
“Did you meet Cass?” she asked.
“I did. Very nice lady.”
“She is the shizzle. Crystal wants her boots. Where’s Mom?”
“Upstairs with Cass. I think they’re talking to her brother on Skype.”
“The rocker? Can I say hello?”
“I don’t see why not. Let’s go.”
Zoey ran up the steps, and Reg hurried to keep up. He was anxious to see how this would turn out. When he and Zoey entered, Roni and Cass were looking at the screen on the laptop. “Hey, cupcake,” her mom said. “How was your day?”
“It was school. Hi, Cass.”
“Hi, Lady Zoey. I’m Skyping with my brother. Want to say hello?”
“Sure.”
Zoey took the seat Cass vacated, and Reg saw a man on the screen who looked a lot like Cass. He was wearing a leather jacket decorated with a lot of zippers.
He smiled, “Hi. Are you Zoey?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Cass’s baby brother, Conor. How are you, little one?”
“I’m fine. How are you?”
“Truly honored to meet you.”
“Same here. You look like you’re crying. Are you okay?”
“I am. Something in the air’s got me going, I think, but I’m pretty happy.”
Reg was moved by the man’s emotional response.
“Where are you?” Zoey asked.
“In Dublin with me mum.”
“Can I say hi to her, too?” Zoey looked to Roni and Reg for approval and got nods. “My mom and dad said it’s okay.”
Conor said, “Hey, Dad.”
Reg laughed. “Hey, Conor. Pleased to meet you.”
“Same here. Hold on, Zoey, let me get her.”
While they waited, Zoey said to Cass, “Your brother’s nice.”
“He’s a big brat, is what he is.”
Then an older lady’s face filled the screen. She had Cass’s face, but her black hair was long, striped with gray, and pulled back in a ponytail. “Hi, Zoey. I’m Fiona Sullivan, Cass and Conor’s mom. How are you?”
“I’m fine, Ms. Sullivan. Maybe you and Mr. Conor should open some windows or something. He was crying, too.”
Mrs. Sullivan wiped her eyes. “I know. We’ll do that. It’s wonderful to meet you.”
“It’s nice meeting you, too. I never met a lady rocker before. Cass is going to teach me to play the bass.”
“Good for her,” she whispered through her tears.
Zoey turned to her mom and Cass. “Is she okay?”
Cass nodded. “She is. Just allergies, I think.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Zoey, I want you to keep my Cassie out of trouble while she’s there.”
Zoey grinned. “Yes, ma’am. I will.”
Roni said softly, “Okay, hon. Tell Ms. Fiona ’bye so that Cass can finish visiting.”
She nodded. “Okay, Ms. Fiona, I have to go. Say good-bye to Mr. Conor for me.”
“I will, sweetheart. Take care.”
“You, too.”
Cass slid back into the seat. “I’ll call you later. Give my brother a big hug. Love you.”
“Love you back.”
And she was gone.
Zoey said, “I like your brother and mom. Maybe Dad can give them a prescription to help with their allergies.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
Amused, Reggie smiled. “I think so too.”
“Okay, go get you a snack and then homework,” Roni sa
id to Zoey. “Dinner later.”
“Okay. Thank you again, Cass.”
“You’re welcome.”
Once she was gone, both Roni and Cass let go of the tears they’d been holding back.
“Wow,” Cass said, wiping her eyes.
“Ditto.”
Reggie said, “If you are Zoey’s family, she couldn’t ask for better folks. I could see the love in your mother’s eyes.”
Roni added, “And your brother—oh my goodness. It took all I had no to break into what Oprah calls the ugly cry.”
“You have no idea how hard it was to convince them not to hop on a plane and fly straight here,” Cass said. “Mom loves her granddaughters, and to have one more—she’s over the moon.”
“I lost my mom when I was growing up, so Zoey only has Reg’s mom, but maybe now she’ll have two.”
“And four little sisters,” Cass pointed out. “Zoey’s Conor’s eldest.”
Reg laughed. “She’s going to love that. The big sister.”
Roni agreed. “Yes, she will.”
“So let’s get this test done,” Reg said. He felt much better now that the initial meet-and-greet had gone so well. “Usually the labs wants both samples sent in together. With him in Dublin, that won’t work, but I can make a few calls and see what we need to do so we can get the results back as quickly as possible.”
“On behalf of my family, thank you,” Cass whispered through another round of tears. “You have no idea how happy your open hearts have made us.”
“Maybe if everything goes well, your mom and brother can join us for Thanksgiving,” Roni offered.
“You really mean that?”
“No, Cass. I’m really lying.”
Cass laughed. “I can see you and I are going to get along famously.”
“Looking forward to it.”
That night, after having his world rocked—his father was right, absence does make the heart fonder—Reg lay in bed with his wife cuddled against his side. He placed a kiss on her forehead. “What do you think of this whole Sullivan thing?”