Chasing Shadows (16 page)

“Why keep their relationship a secret?”

“It wouldn't look good for the retirement center director to recommend her boyfriend's mortuary to the residents.”

“What a tangled, evil web those people wove.”

He squeezed her hands. “But they wouldn't have been stopped if you hadn't cared enough to get involved. That took a lot of guts. I'm proud of you.”

His praise sent warmth curling through her. “It was Sadie who really started the ball rolling.”

“Very true. She's one special lady. Just like her granddaughter.”

Inordinately pleased by the compliment, she smiled. “Thank you.”

“I mean every word. You are special.” He hesitated as if gathering his thoughts.

She braced herself, ready to counter any argument with why they belonged together.

Finally, he spoke. “One of the things I love about you is how willing you are to do the hard thing. To face your issues head-on. That's why I really think we should attend the fundraiser with your parents.”

Her mind was stuck on that little four-letter word—
love
—he'd so causally dropped that the rest of what he said took a moment to register. When it did, she felt as if she'd been punched in the gut.

She jerked her hands away. “Attend—what? Are you kidding me?”

His mouth quirked at the corners. “You look as surprised as your mom did when I stopped by to ask if we could still come.”

She raised both eyebrows. “My mom didn't put you up to this?”

“No. This is my idea.” His expression implored her to listen. “Kris, you are a Worthington. Part of who you are will always be a Worthington no matter how much you try to deny the connection. And if there is ever to be a chance for us, we have to accept that part of you.”

He swallowed and dropped his gaze for a second. When he lifted his eyes, the sincerity in the green depths tore at her. “
I
have to accept that part of you.”

Her mind ping-ponged through the various statements he made and globbed on to the one that mattered to her the most. “A chance for us?” She couldn't breathe. She couldn't have heard him right. “You want there to be a chance for us?”

“I do.” A tender smile touched his well-formed mouth. “I know I said I don't believe in love, but I was wrong. You made me recognize that love is real. That I can feel love. And I do. For you, Kris. I love you. You're the strongest spirited and bravest woman I've ever met. I can't believe how blessed I am to be given a second chance with you.”

Tears of elation gathered in her eyes and delight tinged with relief bounced through her. God had answered her prayers more generously than she'd imagined. “I love you, too.”

“I know.” He pulled her to him and kissed her.

She melted, her whole being sinking into the sensations and emotions running through her system.

“Kris,” he murmured against her lips.

“Hmm?”

“Will you attend the fundraiser with me?”

She broke away and stared at him as the rest of what he'd said finally filtered through her mind. “What did you mean ‘you have to accept that part of me'? We don't have to live in my parents' world.”

“Kris, you could no more cut your parents out of your life than you can Sadie. And you shouldn't want to. We need to honor your parents together.”

The earnest love she saw etched in his handsome face made all the silly resistance that sprang to her mind
drain away. He was right. Deep down she did love her parents and wanted to honor them.

Tonight she'd introduce her parents to the man she wished to one day marry. Hope abounded in her heart. “All right. I'll go.” She eyed the garment bag. “Is that a tux?”

He grinned. “You know me so well. And something for you. Your mom told me your size.”

Her eyes widened. “You bought me a dress? That's so romantic.” The thought of her big, tough, wounded cop going dress shopping for her brought a fresh wave of delighted tears to her eyes. She leaned in for another kiss as contentment settled over her.

“Kris?”

“Hmm?”

He pulled away from her mouth to smile. “We better get going,” he said and unzipped the garment bag. “I hope you like it. I think the color will match your eyes perfectly.”

The unsure expression on his dear face filled her to overflowing with more and more love. “I'm sure I'll love the dress.”

He took out the black tux. “I'll use your powder room to change and meet you out here in ten.”

Excited by the prospect of their future, she jumped up and ran to her bedroom. She made a small “oh” sound as she took out the capped sleeved, cornflower-blue evening gown from the garment bag. The delicate fabric swished as she quickly changed into the dress.

She beamed with happiness as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror on her closet door. Beaded lace
covered the bodice and veered to a point at the waist with the folds of the skirt draping becomingly to the floor.

She slipped her feet into a pair of navy heels before brushing out her hair, letting the length flow over her shoulders. Quickly she applied fresh lipstick and put on the pearl necklace and matching earrings that Sadie had given her for her twenty-first birthday.

Her ten minutes were up. She entered the living room to find Gabe waiting. She gave a sigh of pure feminine bliss as she gazed at the handsome picture he made in his tux with the Christmas tree lights twinkling behind him.

“Just a sec,” she said and ran to her work studio. Grabbing the camera off her workbench, she returned to the living room snapping shots of Gabe.

With a laugh, he said, “Enough already.” He held out his hand. “You are beyond beautiful,” he murmured before bringing her hand to his lips.

“You are, too,” she replied and allowed him to help her into her coat.

He paused with his hand on the doorknob. “We have one stop to make on the way.”

“Oh?”

“Your parents asked me to invite my mother.”

Joy that she'd finally meet his family filled her already-bursting heart. “That's awesome. What more surprises could this night hold?”

“One more,” he said with a gleam in his eyes.

She liked this playful, fun side to him. “Do tell.”

“Your parents are picking up Sadie, as well.”

Kris's hand pressed over her heart. Tears of joy
gathered. She couldn't ask for a more perfect Christmas gift, sent directly from above.

Tonight was a night for family and love. A night full of light. No more chasing shadows.

Dear Reader,

 

The idea for this story came to me while I was visiting my maternal grandmother in an assisted living facility. I loved and respected my grandmother very much. I miss her greatly. She suffered with dementia, which after her death was diagnosed as Alzheimer's. There were times when she said the most outrageous things. Though she never said people went missing, what if she had? I wonder if I would have believed her the way Kris had believed Sadie. I'd like to think so.

And since Kris needed someone to help her, it seemed only fitting to bring Gabe Burke back into her life. Gabe first appeared in my February 2007 book titled
Double Deception,
the first of the McClain series. I had always intended to make him the hero of his own story and this seemed the perfect one. I hope you enjoyed reading about their reunion and romance amid the mystery of the missing residents.

Keep an eye out for Angie's story in
Covert Pursuit
coming soon.

 

Blessings,

1. What made you pick up this book to read? Did it live up to your expectations?
   
2. Did you think Kris and Gabe were realistic characters? Did their romance build believably?
   
3. Talk about the secondary characters. What did you like or dislike about the people in the story?
   
4. Was the setting clear and appealing? Could you “see” where the story took place?
   
5. If someone you loved told you people were disappearing, would you be as willing as Kris was to believe?
   
6. Do you have a grandparent or elderly person in your life? How have they helped or hindered you?
   
7. Even as an adult, Kris felt the parental bond was constricting and she made assumptions based on the past, but in the end she matured enough to see them as people rather than just her parents. What kind of relationship do you have with your parents? When did you finally see them as people rather than just parents? What does the Bible mean when it says to honor thy mother and father?
   
8. Gabe declared he couldn't believe in anything that he couldn't see or touch. But the Bible describes faith as being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. It took God answering Gabe's prayer in a tangible way for Gabe to accept faith. How did you come to your faith in God? Has God answered your prayers in tangible ways?
   
9. Did the suspense element of the story keep you guessing? Why or why not?
   
10. Did you notice the scripture in the beginning of the book? What application does it have to your life?
    
11. Did the author's use of language/writing style make this an enjoyable read? Would you read more from this author?
    
12. What will be your most vivid memories of this book? What lessons about life, love and faith did you learn from this story?