Erin's Way (7 page)

“I’ll get her,” he stated to Catherine and Stoner, totally unsurprised when they made no protest.

No lights shone in the guesthouse. When he knocked and got no answer, Sam’s first thought was she had bolted again, and that was quickly followed by the thought she had found more drugs and was high as a kite. He tried the door and found it unlocked.

“Erin!” he called as he opened the door and stepped inside.

“Here.” She stood near the rear window that overlooked the pool, her profile only dimly outlined from what remained of the waning light. Sam turned on the lamp next to the couch, half expecting her to be in a micro mini skirt and a halter top. She turned toward him, wearing a simple black jersey dress with high-heeled pumps that gave her some added height and did great things for her long bare legs.

“Everyone’s waiting on you,” Sam stated.

“I can’t…” she began, swallowed, and started again, “No one wants…”

“To miss dinner,” Sam interrupted. He stifled the urge to rub the tightness in his chest as he noticed the haunted look that had entered her eyes again. Wanting to erase it, he continued, “And as usual, you wait to make a big entrance.”

Her chin lifted and she straightened to her full, if meager, height. “Shut up, Sam.”

He held her coat for her and smiled behind her as he slipped it over her narrow shoulders. He would much rather have her angry than blue. As soon as they entered the house from the den, Sam took her coat and tossed it carelessly across the back of a chair. His hand rested lightly between her shoulder blades as he guided her into the study. She trembled, and for an instant he could see why. With the exception of Jenny, they were all tall and regal looking, but even Jenny had a presence that intimidated.

Neither Peter nor Melody, Joe and Tabby’s adopted daughter, were there. Sam’s mouth tightened. So, not a family night. Adults only probably meant a lot more serious discussion. Sam began to wonder if his presence was motivated by more than a desire to even out the numbers. He restrained the urge to wrap his arm tightly around Erin, an action that would make neither Erin nor Stoner happy. Joseph and Tabby were the first to smile and approach them. Was it his imagination, or did Erin shrink even closer toward him.

“Erin?” Tabby murmured gently, “I’m so happy to see you. This is Joseph, my husband.”

She looked at both of them, Tabby with her black hair and golden eyes, and Joseph with his blond hair and warm blue eyes. Erin held out her hand to Joseph who smiled warmly and clasped it between his own.

“Tabby has so looked forward to this,” he spoke in a melodic voice that made Erin’s eyes widen. Her trembling all but disappeared.

“Sam,” Joseph greeted him. “Good to see you again. I’m sorry we didn’t say hello when you first came in.”

Tabby and Erin stared at one another. Although Erin was older by three years, it was Tabby who appeared more polished and self-assured, an assessment that would surely amuse Tabby if she heard it. Sam knew enough of Tabby’s background to know her upbringing had been anything but sophisticated. Logically, Erin, with her exposure to living in the nation’s capital, should be the more socially aware. Tabby touched Erin’s arm gently. “Please tell me about yourself. It feels so strange suddenly to have developed such a large family.”

Erin looked around the room. Sam followed her gaze, trying to see it through her eyes, and realized that the dysfunctional family in which she had grown up had indeed changed. Her father had his arm draped around her mother’s shoulders, Jenny was tucked firmly against Evan, and they all talked and smiled. When she looked back at Tabby again with wide eyes, Sam felt her shrink toward his side even more. “Wh-what have you done to them? What are you?” Erin whispered.

Sam’s head jerked toward Erin in shock. What in the blue blazes? Before he could call her on being so rude, Tabby responded.

“I’m your sister.” Her brow wrinkled with concern more than surprise at Erin’s reaction. “And I’m hoping you’ll accept me like Evan and Jenny have.”

Erin was pressed so hard against Sam’s side, he was certain the seam of her dress had left an imprint on him.

“Erin!” Sam growled, worrying that she was about ready to bolt.

“I don’t want to pressure you,” Tabby tried to reassure her. “I grew up as an only child. I used to dream of having brothers and sisters. I have Evan and Jenny, and now you, if you’ll let me. I’d like that.” Tabby held out her hand. “Please.”

There was a tense moment in which Sam felt the entire room hold its breath. Sam held his breath too, for the instant it took Erin to set her hand, with its finely trembling fingers, into Tabby’s. The infinitesimal pause in the conversation on the other side of the room disappeared, and Stoner laughed at something Jenny related about Peter. If there was an edge of relief in that laughter, no one commented on it.

Sam felt some of Erin’s tension dissipate, but not all of it. Something was definitely worrying her, but it would take a lot to get her to admit that. He’d have to work on that. Whatever was on her mind had to be the reason she had returned.

Dinner went well. Erin watched Sam, Joseph, and Tabby all refuse wine with their meal; then she did too. She was so afraid of making any kind of a wrong move, it made Sam’s heart ache.

After dinner, the conversation turned to colleges. Erin’s expression closed right up. As everyone related their experiences, her discomfort was palpable, at least to Sam. Probably to Tabby too, as tuned in as she always seemed to be to everyone’s feelings.

Joe, wanting to include Erin in the conversation, innocently asked, “What about you, Erin?”

“Erin dropped out,” Stoner commented before Erin could say anything. Sam cringed. Stoner had done exactly the wrong thing.

“I may be the stupid one in this family, Daddy,” Erin snapped, “but I can manage to explain that on my own.”

“Erin…” Stoner began, but she jumped to her feet and stalked out of the room. She’d had enough. Stoner pursued her, with Jenny and Tabby not far behind. Sam raked his fingers over the top of his head. Yeah, call him chicken, but he was going to stay out of this one for now.

* * * *

Erin had nearly reached the door when her father’s voice stopped her. “Was it really necessary to make such a scene?”

She spun on him, temper flaring. “Was it necessary to announce to everyone that I ‘dropped out’ in that offended paternal tone?”

Stoner glared at her. “It is offensive, Erin. You could have been anything! You’re beautiful and smart, but you chose—you
chose
not to concentrate on your education.”

“You’re wrong, Daddy. You are so, so wrong. I was stupid then and I am now. Do you think I want jobs like I’ve had? A nanny, a cook, a lifeguard—a topless bar hostess, for God’s sake! But it’s always been much easier to blame that on laziness than face the reality that I just wasn’t there when intelligence was doled out to the almighty Richardson bloodline.”

Erin slammed the door behind her as she raced across the terrace to the guesthouse. She wanted a drink. She was tired of trying to play nice and fit in. Damn them all, and damn her for thinking she could come back, could make anyone change their opinion of her. There must be something to drink around the guesthouse.

She found the bar in the corner of the great room and quickly splashed two fingers of bourbon into a glass. She tossed it back in silent toast to Evan and Stoner who both enjoyed a shot of fine bourbon. She poured another one and had it halfway to her mouth when she heard the knock on the door.

“Leave me alone!” she snarled, her hand clenched around the glass, certain it had to be her father. Why couldn’t he give it up?

“Open the door, Erin,” Tabby said quietly. “It’s Jenny and me.”

It took Erin only a heartbeat to consider before she snatched the door open and spun back into the room, with the bourbon still in hand. She toasted them with it.

“Are we having a little girl to girl talk? I don’t do too well at those. I always got along with guys much better. What do you want to know? How I graduated at the bottom of my high school class, but thanks to Daddy’s influence managed to get accepted at a small college? How I dropped out of college before I could get kicked out because my grades sucked?”

Jenny gently removed the glass of bourbon from her hand, and led her to the couch. Erin shook with nerves. She didn’t want to do this, didn’t want to stay here. All she wanted was a chance to lie low for a while.

“Honey,” Jenny prompted gently. “What is it? Every time I see you, you look ready to shatter into a million pieces. Don’t lock it inside. Don’t do what Stoner did. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”

Everything inside Erin stilled. “Is something wrong with Daddy?” She choked the question out, her guard dropping as she had to ask, “Is he sick?”

Jenny looked at her strangely. “Erin, Stoner is serving two years house arrest on conspiracy charges. He pleaded guilty. You didn’t know?”

Erin stiffened and flushed. How humiliating not to know something that had probably been all over the press, but then she had avoided reading anything about her family as much as she could. “No.”

“Sometimes,” Tabby said softly, “burdens are easier to carry when they’re shared. Jenny and I both want to help. We wouldn’t tell anyone else what we discuss here.”

Erin glared at Tabby. “I’m supposed to open up to two people who are practically strangers?”

Tabby ignored Erin’s rudeness, sitting on the edge of one of the overstuffed chairs. “Only if you want to. We both want to help, Erin. You’re family.”

Erin curled in a chair as far away from Tabby as possible. Her younger sister spooked her. She was as serene as a damn Buddha. “Couldn’t we learn about each other in the regular way?”

Jenny flopped on the couch. “You mean we head to Roanoke for a shopping spree, gorge on fattening food, and ask each other questions over iced coffees? It might be a little late today for that. How about we take turns asking questions, and we have to answer?”

Erin snickered, as she eyed the two women who could have stepped from the pages of
Southern Living
. “You mean like Truth or Dare?”

Tabby laughed. “I played that in my dorm one time, but since I never wanted to answer any questions, I was always taking dares.”

Erin grinned. It was hard to imagine that the perfect Tabby had things she didn’t want to talk about. “Me too.”

Jenny laughed. “I played with Evan in high school, but I always chose dare because all he wanted to do was kiss…and stuff.”

“TMI. Certain things I just don’t need to know about my brother,” Erin said with a laugh. Amazingly, she found herself relaxing. She’d never had a lot of girlfriends. Matty and Stan were the closest things, but femme gay guys probably didn’t count. Her thoughts clouded. She missed her crew mates. She hoped they were all right.

“You looked sad all of a sudden,” Tabby observed. “Did you leave a boyfriend behind in the Virgin Islands?”

Erin tilted her head. “Boys and friends, but not boyfriends.” She bit her lip. “I had a dream last night they were in trouble.”

“Is there some reason to think they might be?” Jenny asked.

Erin smiled evasively. “That’s not fair. I’ve already answered one question. Now I get a turn.” She looked at Tabby. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“How did you find out about Jenny?”

Tabby’s smile was sad. “Mama was dying from cancer before she finally told me. Even if she’d told me earlier, though, I couldn’t have left her.” Tabby shook her head as if to clear it and looked at Jenny. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth. I only take dares if Evan’s here.”

“Is Evan going to run for another term as Commonwealth Attorney or is he going after a judgeship?”

Jenny wrinkled her nose. “He swore me to secrecy, so you can’t say anything to him. He’s running for another term.”

Tabby smiled. “That’s a relief. I was afraid if he pursued a judge’s position you would move away.”

Jenny grinned and looked at Tabby wickedly. “My turn. Were you and Joe virgins on your wedding night?”

Tabby blushed scarlet. “That’s not fair, Jenny. You know Joe had to tell you that when you ordered my X-rays.”

“Just answer the question unless you want a dare. We swore it won’t leave this room.”

“Almost.”

Erin laughed. “What does that mean?”

Tabby giggled. “Well, we’d checked once before the accident to make sure everything worked, but then Stoner would hardly leave us alone together.”

All three women burst out laughing. Erin felt herself blush and turned to look out the window, but not before she was sure Tabby had noticed.

Tabby sobered up first and looked at Erin intently. “My turn. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help overhearing you with Daddy. Why… Why do you think you’re stupid, Erin?”

Erin’s mouth twisted. “I was never any success in school. I was great at math, but nothing else. Mama and Daddy were always so busy, and I got bounced around from school to school more than Evan did, so that everyone seemed to think I was lazy, but I couldn’t learn. I tried.”

She looked at the two women and swallowed. “You can’t tell them. You have to swear. You have no idea what it’s like to be surrounded by people who are so brilliant. No one around here knows about this.”

Erin closed her mouth. She hadn’t wanted to share that. It had just happened. Why wouldn’t Tabby and Jenny leave her alone the way everyone else did?

“Don’t,” Tabby whispered. “Don’t shut down on us again, Erin. I’m so glad you’re here, and we just want to help.”

“They don’t want me around,” Erin spat. “You can see it in their faces. Daddy didn’t even want me here last night. He practically begged Sam to let me stay there so he wouldn’t have to bring me home.”

She prowled the room again, feeling like an animal in a cage. Erin jumped at the knock on the door. She wrenched it open and stared at Sam’s big frame filling the opening.

“I need to get home, bed animals down for the night,” he rumbled. His gaze shifted from her to Tabby and Jenny before settling once more on Erin. “Just wanted to check to make sure you’re okay.”

She nodded and swallowed, drinking in his dark eyes and serious expression, wanting so desperately to stay with him, stay anywhere but Richardson Homestead. He had always been a refuge, someone who made her feel safe, and if not wanted, at least tolerated. “Please, Sam,” she pleaded quietly. “I don’t want to stay here. I won’t be any bother. You wouldn’t even know I was there….”