CHAPTER43
Kari woke to the sound of laughter.
She sat up in bed, dislodging Sienna from her covers. The kitten rolled upright, mewed, and waited for attention.
Kari smelled food. Then heard voices. Several of them.
She used the bathroom, dressed, slid open her bedroom doors, and demanded, “Why wasn’t I invited to the party?”
“It just sort of happened.” Ian was up and holding a chair. “Coffee?”
“I can get it.” She padded barefoot to the bar, coming to terms with all the smiling faces. Graham and Rafi and Danny and Arthur and Megan and Connor and Maxine. Beside the coffee maker stretched an array of breakfast items in chafing dishes. “What time is it?”
“Almost ten.” Ian waited until she had poured a mug and seated herself at the table to say, “We can move this crowd elsewhere if you like.”
“No. Stay.” The balcony doors were open, and the large parlor was awash in a tropical sea breeze. She was surprised by her own ease with these people. Crowds of any size normally sent her scurrying to another room. But here she was, not just seated at the table but now the center of attention. And comfortable with the fact.
“Would you like something to eat?” Ian asked her.
“Not just yet.” She patted the empty seat next to hers. When Ian retook his place, she said, “Thank you for helping me with the gala. So much.”
The smile diminished to just the faintest spark in his eyes. “I liked being there for you. So much.”
Despite the crowd, despite everything, she took his hand. “I mean it.”
“I know you do. And so do I. I like helping you. A lot.”
“I could never have spoken to Daddy like you did. Never, never, never.”
“You didn’t need to. That was my job.” He smiled across the table. “And only after the ladies made him listen.”
Kari set down her mug, reached across the table. Maxine’s hand was warm, strong, massive. “If there’s anything I can ever do for you, all you need is to just ask.”
“Well now.” Maxine pointed to the multitude of sketches adorning both side walls. “I wouldn’t mind one of these.”
“Take whichever you want,” Kari told her.
Rafi made round eyes. “Really?”
“Yes, really. Else I wouldn’t have said.”
“It’s just . . . you never show your sketches. Much less give them away.”
“Or let us sell them,” Graham added. “Which we could.”
Kari told Maxine, “Choose whichever you like. I’ll sign it for you and have it framed.”
“And here I thought this day couldn’t get any better.” Maxine rose to her feet and padded across the room. “As if singing in front of a thousand people doesn’t already have me floating.”
Connor groaned softly.
“More like double that number,” Arthur said. “According to the dragon lady.”
Connor groaned again.
“He means Kiki,” Ian said.
“Kiki is nice,” Kari said. “I like her.”
