“Mine.” Kieran Chase stood on the deck, a cup of coffee in his hand.
“What are you doing here?” Kip almost fell backwards on the steps.
“I thought we had an agreement,” Kieran said.
“We did. And I made a huge mistake,” Kip admitted.
Kieran held up his phone. “I have you on a recording. I will replay it for you the next time you make a mistake. Damn it, Kip. Thank you for that mistake. Do you know what it’s like to have people watch over you when you are perfectly fine? They cut a ball out, not slit my throat. I can do this round of chemo standing on my head. It has to beat getting carried off that God-forsaken rock by Tighe, Pete, and Tuck.”
“Good to hear it.” Kip chuckled.
“Prove it to the kid that old men can still do it.” Kieran sat on one of the chaise lounges.
Kip’s arms stretched with every stroke. With every breath, he could see Zayne stroke for stroke with him.Brat, he’s conserving his strength.
He slowed his own pace to throw Zayne off the groove he was in. As soon as he flipped for the last lap, Kip took advantage of a good kick off the wall and picked up his pace, surprising his buddy. One stroke before Zayne would catch up with him, Kip hit the wall ahead of him.
Zayne sat on the wall beside him. “You smoked me.”
“Everything has a strategy. Good swim.” Kip looked up to see Harper wrapped in a bathrobe, horrified that Kieran was on the deck.
“Sweetheart, Kieran has seen a woman in a bathrobe.” He lifted himself out of the pool, walked across the deck, and dipped her into a kiss.”
“Sorry, Harper, my personnel are toddlers. Speaking of which, I hear congratulations are due,” Kieran said.
“Thank you.” She smiled. “Breakfast, everyone?”
* * *
How didyou do all this?she wondered, watching movers remove the adult furniture from the room with the feminine wallpaper and replace it with a Victorian-style crib and toddler bed built to current code. Matching furniture secured to the walls and a Victorian day bed were also brought in and set up.
A level-three team brought in suitcases of sanitized clothes and toys removed from the girls’ home. Harper sat on the floor and went through each item, carefully hanging outfits in the closet and putting things in their dresser.
Kip, who had been working in his office, joined her. “You okay?” He sat on the floor with her.
“I’m trying. How am I going to do this? I want them to know the good parts about Addy and Gabe. Would it bother you if we spoke to a psychologist about how to tell the girls about their parents?”
“No, my beautiful lady.” He kissed her. “Look at me. You aren’t alone in this. We will muddle along together. And we have a ton of people to ask for help.” He cocked his head. “We need to get going.”
“Beds are made. I hung the last outfit when you walked in. Toys are in the box.” Harper stood.
Kip followed.
* * *
Kip attempted to remain calm,but he was worried about another hit attempt. In the morning reports, he was alerted to the recovery of two bodies found caught up in the nets of a shrimp boat that broke free from its moorings. IDs were pending. He also received word Jerrold Sommerstone was now in jail. He assaulted two nurses in the rehab facility he was sent to. And he remained silent.
He sighed with relief as they pulled up to the hospital’s front doors. His hand rested between Harper’s shoulders as they made it inside the lobby. Surrounded by their security cordon, they headed along the glass wall toward the elevators.
As they waited for the specially keyed elevator, Kip felt Harper’s knees sag. He pulled her close. “Harper?”
She straightened, staring at the other elevator. Stepping off were a well-dressed older couple. Pierre and Rosalind Rousselle.
Pierre attempted to get closer to Harper and was stopped by one of the security detail. “Young man, move aside. That’s my daughter. Ask her,” Pierre raised his voice.
The operator looked to Zayne, who was leading the detail. Zayne stepped forward. “Sir, may I see a form of identification?”
The summoned elevator car arrived. As Zayne spoke to Pierre, Kip circled his hand in the air and stepped into the elevator with Harper tucked into his arm. “Administrative floor,” Kip ordered.
