Kate and Randal were in the library, talking about Kate’s wedding. If his life had been different, it wouldn’t be a stretch to see Randal as a party planner. Whatever he did would be elegant.
Sara felt guilty that they were ignoring Kate’s happiness in favor of talk of executions and sawed skulls. She made a vow that she’d get Lachlan House for Kate’s wedding even if she had to buy the place.
“There you are,” Randal said. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Where’s Jack?” Sara asked.
“Taking a shower,” Kate said. “He and Gil were doing something that made a lot of sawdust. It was all over him.”
“Is that what’s in your hair?” Sara asked.
With a laugh, Kate ruffled her hair to clean it out. “Dad has some big news to tell us.” Her eyes were twinkling.
“Barbara Adair and Roy had a son,” Randal announced dramatically.
Sara and Kate looked at him with bored eyes.
Randal, who was quite perceptive about other people, groaned. “How could you already know? Barbara thinks he might even behere.”
“Really?” Sara said. “Does he—?” She broke off because the door opened and in walked Troy. “You’re supposed to be helping with the tapes.”
“He looks just like Roy,” Randal whispered. He was so overcome with emotion that he stepped back and braced himself against the desk.
Troy was looking at Sara, his eyes alight. “I found a hundred-and-six-year-old man who’s old enough to remember how to use a VCR, so he took over.” Obviously, he was teasing Sara.
“Hmph!” she said. “And new ways are better? Do you know how to drive a stick shift? Write in cursive?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Know how to use a rotary phone?”
“I’ve seen them in museums. Maybe you could get a job as a guide and demonstrate.”
Sara was trying not to laugh. He was good at word jousting. Before she could say more, Jack walked in.
For a moment, he froze, as they all did. As though they were trained for this, the two women went to flank Jack, while Randal stood by Troy.
Jack was staring at the young man. “Who are you?”
Troy seemed too overwhelmed to say anything.
It was Randal who spoke. “This is Troy, your father’s son. Barbara is his mother.”
Jack and Troy kept staring at each other in silence.
Finally, Jack said, “Chimney?”
“Yeah,” Troy said. “That was me. I yelled. I didn’t mean to startle you so bad that you nearly got hit.”
Again, they lapsed into silence.
Troy took a breath and said, “I can sing. I’ve had lots of lessons.”
“Know any Sinatra?”
“I know some of all kinds of music. Mom made sure of that. Blues to Broadway.”
Jack put his hand on the doorknob. “Come on then, we’re going to the Brigade.” The two men started out, but Jack looked back at Kate and Sara. “You two coming?”
