[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
of herself. She knew where she was heading even at her age.
She had spoken often about becoming a lawyer and then going
into politics. It was time for a female president in her book
and she was going to fill the bill. With Paige, who could
guess?
294
Autumn Leaves
Chapter 54
It had been a hectic week. Between playing chauffeur for
Paige and taking her class on a trip to the Museum of Natural
History along with Mark s, she barely had time to breathe.
She truly welcomed the weekend so she could unwind. Mark
had a luncheon to go to and would be gone most of the day
and perhaps the evening since it was in Manhattan. Paige
would probably be at Jodi s so she had the day to herself. Glo-
rious!
She spent most of the morning lazing over coffee and the
newspaper. Then she showered and threw on some sweats,
not having a soul to impress. Coming out of the bedroom, she
heard a knocking at the door. Probably a solicitor, she thought
as she opened it.
Prepared to say no thank you and be done with it, she
stood there staring after opening the door. Her breath caught
as her heart began to thud against her chest. Her brain was
finding it most difficult to believe what her eyes were seeing.
No, this is not possible, she said aloud, shaking her
head. I am not seeing this.
Kate&
You re dead, damn it! she said, tears flowing.
295
Autumn Leaves
Don t do this to me.
Kate, I m not dead. I m real. Touch me, Peter said.
No, she said, backing into the apartment.
Peter came in and shut the door behind him. I didn t
want to shock you. When I finally remembered who I was, I
had to come back.
As the initial shock faded, Kate reached out and touched
his face, gently caressing his skin with her fingertips. Peter,
Peter, oh, Peter, was all she managed to say.
You re as beautiful as you were when I left. Time has
been good to you, he said, drawing her closer.
Kate began to run her hands through Peter s hair. Time
began to slip away. Her Peter was standing there as if he had
never left. No words could express what she was feeling. For
the moment she forgot who she was and where she was. All
that mattered was Peter.
Peter looked into those blue eyes as he had done in his
past and saw the love they had once shared. He longed to
share it once more. He tenderly kissed her. That kiss ignited a
fire that had been smoldering deep beneath the surface all the
years he had been gone. Soon they began to practically devour
each other with their kisses. Hands roamed and touched,
bringing back all the sensations that were never truly gone.
My God! What are you doing, Mother? How can you do
this to my father?
Paige!
Why are you shocked to see me? I live here, you know.
Do you always entertain strange men when my father is away?
Is that how you gain extra income or is it for fun?
Paige, this is not what you think this is.
Oh, they call it something else now?
If you stop being so antagonistic for a moment, I will explain.
296
Autumn Leaves
This better be good.
First of all, this is your father.
The blood drained from Paige s face. Her mouth opened,
but not a sound came. She shook her head in disbelief. She had
been told her real father had been killed in a car accident in
Arizona. What gives here?
It s true, Paige. And nothing happened that we have to
be ashamed of.
My mother is in the arms of a strange man on the couch
and she tells me nothing is wrong? Tell me another one.
Peter had a look of shock on his face when Kate had said
he was the girl s father. He had no idea that he had a daughter
with Kate. She must have been pregnant when he left for Ari-
zona. My God, he thought, she was practically a woman.
Even he doesn t believe you. Look at him.
Paige, he never knew. He left before I found out.
Your mother is telling the truth, Peter said.
Who s talking to you?
Paige, don t be fresh, Kate admonished.
This is coming from a woman who has no respect for
what that gold ring around her finger means? Drop it, I ve
heard enough, she said and walked into her room and
slammed the door.
I d better go. That was some way to meet the daughter I
never knew I had.
I guess it s quite a shock for the both of you.
I m sorry I came barging in here like this. I never consi-
dered the fact that you might be married. I was much too
wrapped up in discovering my past and that you existed.
How would you have known? We didn t get a chance to
talk. I ll try and talk to Paige. She loves Mark a great deal&
Mark? You married Mark Winters?
297
Autumn Leaves
When Paige was around eight, but he was there from the
day she was born.
That certainly explains her reaction.
There s so much I need to ask you.
I do, too. Can you meet me somewhere? Obviously my
coming back here was not a good idea.
The Seascape Diner tomorrow at one.
That place is still there?
Practically unchanged since you left, she replied.
All right. Until tomorrow, he said, kissing her.
The kiss seared her lips. Oh, Peter, I m so confused. I
don t know how I feel. I still love you; I ve never stopped lov-
ing you, but&
You re married. I know. But do you love him?
Yes. Not the same way I loved you, but I do.
I still love you, Kate...I ll see you tomorrow, he said
and was gone.
Kate stood there leaning against the door. Her feelings
were in such a chaotic state that she felt immobilized. She be-
gan to cry once more. She loved Mark. That was true. He had
been a good husband and a better friend. He had been with
her through all the good times as well as the bad ones. But Pe-
ter was her soul mate.
During the years he had been gone there had always been
a void within her that no other man could ever hope to fill.
Miraculously Peter had come back to her. His touch still set
her ablaze. She still wanted him with every fiber of her being.
What should she do? What would she do?
That terrible look of condemnation on Paige s face
flashed once more in her mind. Could she risk losing her
daughter s love and respect? Why did things have to be so dif-
ficult? No matter what, she thought, she had to pull herself
298
Autumn Leaves
together and try and talk to Paige.
Kate knocked on Paige s bedroom door. Paige, may I
please come in?
Though her only answer was a silent one, she wouldn t
give up that easy and repeated her plea. Still Paige refused to
answer.
Finally, frustrated enough to barge in without permis-
sion, Kate pleaded with Paige one last time. Paige, I need to
talk to you. Now please open this door now.
What s the matter with Paige? Mark asked, coming up
behind her.
Mark! I didn t hear you come in. Why are you home so
early? I expected you some time tonight.
I got bored and decided to leave early. Now, what s
wrong with the Princess?
Daddy! Paige called as she opened the door and flew in-
to Mark s arms.
What s the matter, Paige?
Your wife&
Do you mean your mother? Show some respect.
Uh-uh, not in this case. No way. I came home and found
her in the arms of another man. Things were getting hot and
heavy. Had I not come home and interrupted them, God only
knows what they might have done.
Nothing happened. I was trying to explain that to her
when you walked in.
Yeah, sure.
Paige! Keep quiet a minute, Mark demanded.
Who was the man, Kate?
Peter. He s alive!
Peter? Mark said, the color draining from his face as he
collapsed into the nearest chair.
299
Autumn Leaves
Yes.
Mark took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. So he s
come back from the dead. This was one surprise I could have
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]