“Kate?”
“Yes?”
“Do you remember what I said about how it’s time to stop with the secrets?”
“Of course. That was four minutes ago.”
His chest vibrated as he chuckled. “In that case, is there anything else you want to tell me?”
“Um?” I said, trying to think of what other secrets I still had. To be honest, I was surprised to find that I actually couldn’t think of any. “I always use the cheaper canned tuna in the casseroles?” I thought a bit longer. “And even sometimes when I tell you that I’m just really good at marinating steaks, it’s because I bought the more expensive cuts?”
“What did Eddie mean when he said he couldn’t love Allie any more even if he really was her great-grandfather?”
Oh.
I cleared my throat. “Oh, right. There’s that.”
I pulled away from him, shifting and straightening, afraid that there might be an explosion any moment. But when I looked at his face, he seemed remarkably calm.
“That’s a little complicated, but the bottom line is that as far as I know, Eddie’s not related to anyone in this family. But also as far as I know, he could be.”
“And this all started because you needed to rescue him from that nursing home, and you needed a place for him to live where you could keep an eye on him, and you thought I wouldn’t understand unless he was Eric’s grandfather?”
“Did Eddie tell you that, or did you figure it all out?”
“I didn’t graduate at the top of my law school class for nothing,” he said.
“You’re not mad? I really would have told you sooner, but the only times I think about it are when it’s come up in conversation, and that never seems to be the ideal time. And honestly, for all intents and purposes that is who he is. He’s a member of the family. Please, Stuart, don’t make a thing about it.”
“Just tell me this—do you love him? Does Allie love him?”
“You know that we do.”
“Well, I guess that answers it, doesn’t it? Of course he can stay.”
Love and relief washed over me. “Thank you.” I gave his hand a squeeze then stood. “I don’t think I ever started the dishwasher, and I’m sure Eddie didn’t.”
He tugged me back down. “You said that Allie is at Laura’s house all night?”
I nodded.
He pulled me closer and brushed my lower lip with his thumb. “Sweetheart,” he said, “I think the kitchen can wait.”
CHAPTER 10
Ilunged upright in bed, not sure what awakened me.
My heart pounded in my chest, and I tossed the sheets aside as I hurried to my feet, glancing sideways at Stuart, who was sleeping soundly.
I grabbed my switchblade style stiletto off the side table where I keep it next to my hand cream. Then I shoved my arms into my robe, and hurried out of the bedroom.
I paused just outside the door, listening. I didn’t hear a thing, and I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. Maybe this was all my imagination?
I checked Timmy’s room, happy to see that he was completely sacked out on his toddler bed, and since I knew Allie was over at Laura’s, I didn’t bother sticking my head in there, especially since I’d just heard a scraping noise downstairs. Instead I moved quietly down the stairs, avoiding the few squeaky ones that we’ve been planning to fix for years, but have never managed to put that plan into practice.
I found Eddie at the base of the stairs, one of my steak knives tight in his grip.
I started to ask what he thought, but he held a finger up to his lips, then pointed toward the living room, only a small sectionof which was visible from the base of the stairs. I pointed that direction to indicate that I was going first, and he fell in step beside me.
