The Common Thread (36 page)

A chorus of “good mornings” greeted her.

She smiled at both kids, their faces glowing with happiness, and ran her hand across her chest to ensure she was properly dressed for this party. Fortunately, she was. Somewhere in the night, her pajamas had found their way onto her body, and she was relieved. Although, knowing Rae, she wouldn’t have brought the kids into the room unless she was aware of that.

This was the day they’d be reunited with their mother. As happy as she was for them, Nic was a little sad for herself. Even though she’d known this day was coming, she hadn’t been prepared for the feelings she now had to deal with.

After a busy evening in the ER, Nic arrived home in the early morning to find Rae in her bed and was overwhelmed with emotion. The little fantasy they’d been living was over.

As she cuddled with Rae, and made love with her, she’d thought about how great it would be to come to bed in the middle of the day, or to make love in the hammock, without fear of young eyes discovering them. Telling herself she was free to hike the long trails at Ricketts Glen, instead of the modified version they’d climbed with the kids, she tried to coerce herself into feeling happy. She’d eat what she wanted and do what she wanted, take a nap because she was exhausted, and she should be relieved that they’d be gone.

She wasn’t, though. And long after Rae had succumbed to her fatigue and drifted off to sleep, Nic had stared into the darkness thinking about her niece and nephew, and their mother, and what she might do to keep them in her life.

Katie would arrive at Lake Wallenpaupack in the early afternoon. Jet had spoken to Rae and offered to pick the kids up, but since Katie was still weak, and her house was out of the intended travel route, Rae had offered to drop them off. Nic, of course, would go with her. Not only did she want to prolong her time with Chloe and Andre, but she also wanted to meet Katie.

Jet had told Katie that she had a twin, and apparently she’d handled that information with a whole lot more class than Nic had. Katie was shocked, of course, but after that initial surprise wore off, she was full of questions. Jet had warned Rae that Nic should be prepared for a thorough interrogation.

“This is for you,” Chloe said, a huge smile on her face as she offered Nic a daisy, no doubt freshly picked from the garden in front of the house.

Nic smiled, brought it to her nose, and pronounced it beautiful, thrilled at the change she’d seen in her niece during the six days they’d been together. She opened her arms for a hug, and Andre pounced on her as well, followed by Rae. They formed a huge giggling ball of arms and legs bouncing on her bed. As she tickled Andre, Nic thought that bed had never been such a fun place as it was since these three people had entered her life.

“Okay, sleepyhead,” Rae said, “it’s time to get up. You’re going to have a little breakfast and then a shower. We’re going to my parents’ for lunch.”

“What time is it?”

“Ten.”

“Wow, I must have been tired.”

Rae grinned mischievously, and Nic blushed at the thought of what they’d done to cause such fatigue and how late they’d been up doing it.

Nic peeled the banana she’d received and ate her yogurt, complimenting the chefs on the meal they’d created. After a shower, she tried very hard not to cry as she helped Chloe and Andre pack their things. Rae loaded their bikes onto the rack on Nic’s SUV, and by noon, Nic was following Rae to her parents’ house, her car stuffed with children and a nanny and the ton of stuff they’d accumulated in just a few days.

Her sadness and the effort to hide it occupied her mind to such a degree that it wasn’t until they approached West Nanticoke that she thought to be nervous about meeting Rae’s parents. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes knew their daughter had been spending her nights, and most of her days, with Nic, and from their intimate talks Nic knew that Rae wasn’t in the habit of taking women home to meet her folks. Had it been her choice, Nic would have delayed this encounter for a few more days, or weeks, or months, but Rae had been so enchanted by Chloe and Andre that she wanted them to meet her parents, and circumstances dictated that the meeting be this day.

The Rhodes home was on a corner lot, and from a block away, Nic could see the huge R on the garage well, just as Rae had described. She couldn’t suppress her laughter, and if Rae had been beside her they wouldn’t have been fit to meet her parents. They’d have been rolling around in the grass giggling. Nan and Chloe and Andre didn’t get the joke, though, and so the laughter died before she pulled into the driveway beside Rae.

The Craftsman Cottage she called home was immaculately maintained, with a pristine lawn and flower gardens, and a row of towering pines lining the perimeter near the road. Nic guessed the yard work was a chore for Rae’s parents, especially since her father’s illness, and wondered how they managed to keep the place looking so good during their travels.

She didn’t have time to ponder the question further, as an Old English sheepdog came running toward the driveway and nearly knocked Rae onto her butt. Everyone in her car witnessed the attack, and the kids quickly joined Rae in chasing the big ball of fur around the yard. A man and a woman, looking much too young to be the parents of a thirty-five-year-old daughter, stood on the sidewalk enjoying the show. Nic helped Nan from the car, walked over to them, and introduced herself.

Rae looked just like her mom—same eyes, same hair, same coloring, same height. Her father wasn’t much taller, but with lighter hair and skin. Nic could detect no resemblance until he began talking, and then Nic could see where Rae’s energy and intelligence came from. He showed no signs that a cancerous tumor was trying to take over his body and every sign that he was determined not to let it.

After the introductions, Rich Rhodes led them around the house to his backyard, where a play set drew the kids’ attention. After asking permission, they raced each other to the swings. Rae helped her mom with refreshments while Nan and Nic relaxed on a bench swing. Rae’s sister joined them, and her two daughters scampered into the yard after Chloe and Andre.

Mrs. Rhodes had prepared tea sandwiches for the group, and when she and Rae emerged carrying trays of food, Nic had to coerce the children from their play. They ate hungrily, though, and, when they’d finished, ran straight back to the play set. An hour later, when Rae told them they’d have to leave, only the knowledge that they’d be meeting their mom made the separation from the sliding board tolerable.

They took Nic’s SUV, and everyone was unusually quiet during the drive to Lake Wallenpaupack. Nic looked over to see Nan snoozing in the passenger seat, and in her rearview mirror she saw both kids staring out their windows. Rae was busy checking emails on her smartphone, leaving Nic alone with her thoughts.

Meeting Rae’s parents had been a delight, and Nic had been made to feel welcome. Rae didn’t say or do anything to indicate to her family that they were a couple, but she guessed that the information must have already been passed along, for they treated her with a reverence that was truly flattering. Their love for Rae was evident and Nic felt it spilling over to her, as if by mere association she must be worthy of all their kindnesses. It felt good. Rae felt so good.

Their night of romance had opened previously locked doors within their hearts. That connection had triggered an explosion that knocked down walls, and suddenly they were standing with nothing between them and with a decision to make about the direction their lives would take. They’d chosen love, and although it was a foreign concept for Nic and a scary one for Rae, they recognized something good in each other and in what they became when they were together. They had details to work out, for sure, but they’d be able to overcome whatever they faced.

Having Rae’s love made the fear of the next hours easier for Nic. It was time to meet Katie, to come face-to-face with the only adult on the planet she knew who was her flesh and blood. It was time to examine herself, and the life she’d lived, and take credit where it was due, and give some back as well. It was time to accept the blame for her mistakes. Katie had started out with the same raw potential, and Nic couldn’t help but feeling that Katie had done so much more with it than she had.

There was another thought plaguing her as well. Money. She had plenty of it, but what she’d learned about Katie suggested she didn’t. Jet had mentioned a trust fund during one of their talks, but she’d also mentioned other details that suggested that her sister didn’t enjoy the same privileges she had. And she bought clothes at Target, of all places. How would Nic respond if her sister asked her for money? She knew she’d do just about anything for Chloe and Andre, but she feared being put into that position. It was the main reason she’d never contacted her birth mother.

Scenarios flashed through her mind as she imagined how this would go, with feelings ranging from happy to sad to angry to curious. It would take all her strength to meet Katie, and much work to build a relationship with someone who was seemingly so different from her. But she’d try anyway. She’d always wanted a sister.

“Hey, big news,” Rae said from the backseat.

“What’s that?”

“I have an email from one of my colleagues about a break in the narcotics case. I have to call to get the details.”

*

“How’s your pain?” Jet asked Katie, removing her hand from the steering wheel to stroke Katie’s knee.

Katie had turned off the morphine pump as soon as she understood what it was and had adamantly refused the pills offered to help ease her pain. Pain was tolerable, no matter how bad it was. Addiction was not.

Grinding her teeth, she sucked in air through closed lips. She’d underestimated what the drive to the mountains would do to her. The Jeep’s front seat was fully reclined, and her body was cushioned with pillows and blankets, but she still felt every pothole the car hit. All the Motrin in the world wouldn’t ease this torture. But once they settled in, Katie knew the lake house would be the best place for her to recover. She knew they needed to get out of the city, at least until the police apprehended Simon. He’d clearly painted a bull’s-eye on her back, and the mountains seemed like a safe place to hide out until he was apprehended. It would be good for her recovery, too—breathing in the fresh air and watching her kids running and playing, safe from harm. Jeannie had given Jet two weeks’ vacation, and they’d make the most of it.

“It’ll be better when we get to the lake,” Katie replied. “How much longer?”

“Twenty minutes.”

“I’ll make it,” she said, and she knew she would. She’d been through worse.

“Hang in there.”

“When will I get to see my kids? And my sister?” Katie was so excited she thought she’d burst. She’d spent much of the drive dozing and daydreaming about the mysterious twin she’d just discovered and couldn’t wait to meet Nic. She was exhausted, though, from the combined effects of pain and surgery, and she’d need to take a nap. Jet wanted to get her settled, buy some groceries, and unpack before she had the kids to deal with.

“They’ll be here in a couple of hours. Relax.” Another squeeze of the knee followed Jet’s gentle admonishment.

“You know what I’ve been thinking about?”

“Hmm?” Jet asked.

“I’ve always wanted a sister, and now I have one. It’s sort of a miracle, you know? And the fact that I’m adopted means I have a mother out there somewhere, and a father, and maybe even a few more siblings.”

“Do you want to find them?”

“Of course.”

“Well, it’s possible Nic has already made those connections. She’s always known she’s adopted.”

“I’ll ask her.”

“What else are you going to ask her?”

“A million things. Like her favorite color and her favorite book and her favorite music. If she gags when she eats mushy foods, the way I do. If she chews her nails or smokes. I could go on and on.”

“Well, you’ll have the chance. You can talk to her today, and since you’ll be here recovering most of the summer, I’d imagine you’ll have an opportunity to see her again. She’s fallen in love with Chloe and Andre.”

The mention of their names filled Katie’s eyes with tears. She was so fortunate they hadn’t been harmed. They still didn’t know their father was dead, and that would be a hardship for them, but they’d get through it. They had her, and Jet, and Nan to help them. And now, perhaps, their aunt Nicole.

The memorial service for Billy had been that morning—that was why she’d insisted on being released from the hospital. It was a private affair, with only a few friends and the minister there to pray, but it had been a touching sermon, and Katie hoped that a merciful God would find compassion for Billy’s soul. This world hadn’t been kind to him; she hoped the next one would be better.

“But they are irresistible,” Jet said when Katie didn’t respond.

“I hope I’ll have the chance to get to know her,” Katie said. “It was nice of her to take care of my kids.”

Jet laughed. “I can tell you she wasn’t eager. The thought of little kids seemed to spook her.”

“I can imagine.”

“Andre charmed her, though.”

Katie smiled. Her son was definitely a ladies’ man. “I can’t believe my father showed up and tried to get them. He’s such a fuck. I’m sort of happy to know I’m not his flesh and blood.”

“Nic saved the day in court, that’s for sure.”

“Something else to thank her for.”

Jet turned off the main road and onto a narrow lane that led down toward the water, then pulled her Jeep into the garage of her parents’ lake house.

“Thank God,” Katie said as she gingerly pulled herself up using the overhead strap. The act exhausted her, so she waited for Jet to help her out of the car. Her energy was tapped out.

With Jet’s help, Katie was quickly tucked in to the big bed in the master bedroom on the first floor. Jet was out the door a minute later, off to the grocery store. When the phone rang shortly after that, Katie was sure it was Jet, but the caller ID showed it was a Philadelphia number she didn’t recognize. With all that had happened lately, she figured she’d better answer it.