Betrayal (7 page)
Authors: Fern Michaels
“I suppose you're right about that, too, Mrs. Rocket. Now, get that butt of yours over here so I can give you a kiss.” Alex smoothed the rumpled sheets, then motioned for Kate to lie down beside him.
After a passionate, fun-filled tumble, Kate fell asleep with absolutely nothing on her mind.
And tomorrow was a brand-new day.
Chapter 7
A
lex and Kate hadn't heard a word from the Winter family since they'd gone home two weeks ago. Don had called Alex telling him they'd arrived safely, and that was it. Not another word. Kate thought this odd, but didn't mention it to Alex. He'd had enough on his mind the past few days. Bella was delivering early, just as she'd anticipated. Alex spent most days and nights at the kennel with Gertie. Jay, their vet, had spent the last twelve hours with Bella. She was having a rough delivery. Kate prayed she and her pups survived. Alex was worried, and it showed. He'd barely slept the past week. Kate had supplied hot coffee and plenty of sandwiches for him and Gertie while they remained at Bella's side. Dinnertime rolled around. Kate still hadn't heard a word on Bella's condition from Alex or Gertie. She decided to visit the kennel to see for herself. She grabbed a sweater from the hall closet, slipped on her sneakers, and stepped outside.
lex and Kate hadn't heard a word from the Winter family since they'd gone home two weeks ago. Don had called Alex telling him they'd arrived safely, and that was it. Not another word. Kate thought this odd, but didn't mention it to Alex. He'd had enough on his mind the past few days. Bella was delivering early, just as she'd anticipated. Alex spent most days and nights at the kennel with Gertie. Jay, their vet, had spent the last twelve hours with Bella. She was having a rough delivery. Kate prayed she and her pups survived. Alex was worried, and it showed. He'd barely slept the past week. Kate had supplied hot coffee and plenty of sandwiches for him and Gertie while they remained at Bella's side. Dinnertime rolled around. Kate still hadn't heard a word on Bella's condition from Alex or Gertie. She decided to visit the kennel to see for herself. She grabbed a sweater from the hall closet, slipped on her sneakers, and stepped outside.
Kate shivered at the shock of cool air that greeted her when she opened the back door. A cold front had moved in from the north. She hoped it wasn't a sign of a bitter winter ahead. While she loved fall-like weather, cold weather sometimes depressed her. Both her parents had died in a terrible car crash on a bleak winter day in January. Even after all these years, driving in snow and ice still made her nervous. Though it was chilly, winter was still months away. She was glad.
She entered the kennel. Voices raised in excitement greeted her.
“That a girl! I knew you could do it.”
“Would you look at . . . him! He's one big boy!”
“Wait . . . wait, I'll be damned! Here comes another!” Jay shouted.
Kate stood in silence as Alex, Gertie, and Jay surrounded the laboring Bella. Alex held one puppy; it looked as though Gertie had two. Jay was about to deliver another.
“And would you look at this! I think she's the runt of the litter.” Jay held the pup up for inspection.
Whimpering puppies and a happy Bella. Tears moistened her eyes. A beautiful sight for sure.
“I see I arrived just in time,” Kate announced.
“Looks like a happy crew to me.”
“Bella had four pups! I can't believe it. She's such a good girl, aren't you?” Alex rubbed between Bella's ears. She growled. “I know, I know. It's hands off for now.”
Jay checked to make sure all of the puppies were healthy. Bella was worn-out from labor and delivery; but other than that, she appeared to be in good health. Kate saw the happiness in Alex's eyes as he stared at the puppies. She could only imagine how happy he would've been to be a father.
“I think this calls for a toast,” Kate said. “I've got a bottle of champagne I've been saving just for such an occasion. I'll run up to the house. Be right back.”
She returned within a matter of minutes and poured champagne into red plastic cups. “I'd like to propose a toast.” Kate viewed the smiling faces surrounding her. “Here's to Bella and her crew for making it the perfect day. And to Alex. For making all my days perfect.”
Cheers were given by all. After they finished the rest of the champagne, Kate and Alex left the puppies with Gertie and Jay. Both were tipsy. Their mood exuberant.
Kate was reminded once again how good her life with Alex really was. It was almost too good, she thought. No, it was just perfect. Nothing would ever change her feelings for Alex. And Kate knew Alex. He would always love her, stick by her, no matter what. They would make it to the “till death do us part” for sure.
Arms wrapped around one another's waists, they made their way to the kitchen. Kate brewed a pot of coffee. It was too early to call it a night. Besides, they knew Gertie and Jay would come up to the house when they felt Bella was ready to be alone with the pups. Maybe she'd be a little more sober by then.
She drank two cups of coffee to Alex's four. She wasn't much of a coffee drinker, but it was the only beverage she knew to lighten the load when she had one too many.
“I'll have one more cup, and that's it. This crap tastes like . . . crap,” Kate said to Alex.
“Then why drink it?”
“'Cuz I had too many glasses of champagne.” Kate's words were slurred.
Alex laughed. “I think you'll be okay, hon. It's not like you drink all the time.”
Alex was right, hence her inability to handle a couple of glasses of champagne.
“I'm gonna go upstairs and shower 'fore Gert 'n Jay get here.” Kate stood on wobbly legs.
“Need some help?” Alex asked.
“I'll be jus' fine. Back in a flash.” Kate whirled out of the room, waving her arms like a bird.
Alex just laughed at her. She rarely drank. He was happy today. Bella and the pups had survived. Gertie was the best damned employee there was. Jay took excellent care of the animals. Marriage to Kate was beyond his wildest dreams in every way. Nothing in his life was bad. He thought that was good.
Heck, I'm a tad on the sloppy side of drunk myself.
He was about to go upstairs to join Kate in the shower when the phone rang. He hoped it wasn't Jay or Gertie calling from the kennel to say something had happened to Bella or her pups.
“Hello,” Alex said into the receiver. Again, he said hello. Nothing. The phone went dead. “Well, make up your mind.” He placed the phone back in its cradle. It rang again.
“Yes, hello.” Alex raised his voice. If it was a phone solicitor, he hoped they would hang up on him when they heard his unfriendly tone.
“It's me, Alex.”
“Why the heck didn't you speak up? I've been wondering why you haven't called, old buddy. Think you're too good to call your best friend? You down there in Florida with all those swanky houses you're working on, huh? All those rich folks,” Alex teased. “I'm glad you called. I have some good news. I was going to call you tomorrow anyway.”
“Alex, wait. I have something I need to talk to you about. It's very serious. Do you have a few minutes?” Don asked.
“I always have time for my best bud,” Alex replied, wondering what Don could mean.
“Have you been drinking, Alex? You don't sound so good.”
“We had a bottle of champagne. I might've had one too many slurps.” Alex burped into the phone. “I did have one too many. But hey, I'm a big boy. I can handle it. Why so serious, my friend?”
“I've . . . I'm not sure how to say this,” Don stated seriously.
“Like I always say, âsay it the way you're supposed to.' Hit me, old man. What's up?”
“It's Sara.”
“Is she okay? She didn't get hurt or anything, did she?” Alex asked, all traces of his liquor wit gone.
“Physically, she's fine. Or at least she says she is. I would think you'd know more about this than I, Alex.”
Alarm bells rang loudly in Alex's ears. “Why would I know this, Don? I haven't seen or spoken to Sara since you all left.”
“I know that,” Don said, his voice even more somber.
“Then get to the point. Is Sara all right or what?”
“No, she's not, Alex. She's in a very bad way. Deb has had to take her to the hospital twice in the past two weeks. She's been having anxiety attacks since she left your house. The doctor gave her sedatives to calm her.”
Alex shook his head, hoping to clear the alcohol fog in his brain. He still couldn't understand why Don was telling him all of this. Maybe he needed money? That had to be it. Maybe Sara needed to be hospitalized, and he couldn't come up with the cash.
“Listen, Don, you know if you need money for hospital bills, just say the word, and it's yours. I'll have my bank wire it first thing in the morning.”
“I don't need your damn money, Alex. I need you to shut up and listen to what I have to say. Just one time, I wish you wouldn't mention money.”
Alex was puzzled. Don had never had trouble accepting loans from him in the past. Had his pride kicked in all of a sudden? Alex didn't care if Don paid him back or not. They'd been best friends since elementary school, they were as close as brothers. Maybe even more. Money was beside the point as far as Alex was concerned. He had plenty of it to share with his friend. He'd always made sure Don knew that, too.
“Hey, I'm sorry. What's wrong, Don?”
Alex could hear Don's intake of breath. “This isn't easy for me, Alex.”
“Okay. Just spit it out. We can deal with it, no matter what it is.”
“Sara . . . she says the last time you guys came to Florida to visit us . . . she says you, uh . . . you touched her, Alex. Sara says you touched her in an inappropriate way.”
Silence. And more silence.
Alex's hand shook, and he felt the blood flow from his face to his feet. Surely he hadn't heard what he thought he'd just heard. “Say it again, Don. I'm not quite sure I heard you. Apparently, I did have too much to drink.”
“I think you heard me right the first time. Sara says you've been touching her for years. She says it only happens when you all come to our house to visit, except for one time during Easter break. Goddamn you, Alex! How could you? She's just a little girl! I swear, if I was in the same room with you right now, I would kill you with my bare hands! You son of a bitch! Do you realize what you've done to her? You've ruined her for the rest of her damned life,” Don sobbed into the receiver. “You bastard, I loved you. And now look at us.”
More silence.
Alex cleared his throat. He downed the cup of cold coffee in front of him. His hands trembled like dry leaves. “I don't know what to say, Don. This is . . . I don't know why . . . I would never . . . Let me talk to Sara. She's just, hell I don't know what I'm saying.”
“There isn't anything left to say. You've molested my daughter. My best friend, more dear than a brother to me. I don't think there are any appropriate words for a conversation of this nature. You've ruined my little girl, Alex. I'll see you in hell before I allow you to get away with this. I will see you in hell, old man!” Don shouted, then slammed the phone in Alex's ear.
He continued to hold on to the phone as though it were a lifeline of sorts. If he hung it up and acknowledged his conversation with Don, that would make it real. There had to be an explanation. Surely, Don was playing a cruel joke. But to do so at Sara's expense wasn't like Don. He could be a prankster, but this went too far, even for Don. No, there had to be another explanation. Maybe he had a bet with a friend down there in Florida, maybe Don just wanted to see how many hoops he'd jump through before he got in his truck and hightailed it to Florida to kick his ass. But that was too lame even for Don. The only possible explanationâand this was too far-fetched to imagineâwas that maybe Sara had really convinced her father that he'd touched her.
God, it was sick to even think about, let alone actually doing something as repugnant.
Him
a child molester. He couldn't imagine something happening to him like this in his wildest dreams. Maybe tomorrow he would wake up and he'd find out this was nothing but a dream.
Him
a child molester. He couldn't imagine something happening to him like this in his wildest dreams. Maybe tomorrow he would wake up and he'd find out this was nothing but a dream.
“Alex. Alex, are you okay?” Kate's voice sounded tinny, like it was coming through a deep, dark tunnel. Kate shook him. “Alex, you're scaring me!”
Alex gazed around the kitchen looking at all the familiar things that he and Kate had collected throughout their marriage. Now it was all a joke. A dirty, filthy joke.
Ruined.
Tainted.
“If you don't speak up, Alex, I'm going to have Jay give you a shot of whatever he gives to crazy horses. I thought I heard you talking when I got out of the shower.” Kate was basically sober. She still had a slight buzz, though nothing she couldn't handle.
“That was Don on the phone,” Alex said, his words coming out like an automaton's.
“It's about time he called. Are the girls okay?” Kate waited for Alex to answer.
“No.”
“God, Alex, what's happened! Was it Emily? Sara?” Kate was almost screaming at him, yet he remained seated at the table. He was like a zombie in another time zone.
He stood up and went to the kitchen sink. He splashed cold water on his face, hoping its briskness would wash away all that he was feeling. He cupped his hands together and drank greedily from the faucet.
Kate had never seen Alex like this. It frightened her. “I'm going to call Don myself if you don't tell me what happened. I'm scared, Alex.”
Kate's words brought him out of his daze. She would be changed forever when he told her what Don accused him of. His sweet, perfect Kate. Any shred of innocence she'd ever had, gone. He had to get himself together. For Kate. They would get through this together. He prayed she would believe him. Hell, this was Kate. Alex
knew
she would believe him.
knew
she would believe him.
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