Part 39 (2/2)
”Brandon and Colin took me to Boston last month to see a rheumatologist. I'm on some new medicine that's bothering my stomach-of course it's helping the arthritis. But I didn't call to be a killjoy. I want you to know how truly delighted I am for you and your Reid. We all are. Mike is heartbroken to miss the wedding because of the school trip to Europe that was booked a long time ago for Christmas vacation. She was so excited to be invited.”
”Of course she was invited. She's my biggest fan! Tell her I hope she has a wonderful trip, and I want to see tons of pictures when she gets back.”
”I'll be sure to tell her. She's sixteen now, if you can believe it, and learning to drive. Apparently, she landed them in the neighbor's yard a week or so ago. Brandon was fit to be tied telling me about it.”
Kate laughed. ”I can imagine.”
”I hope you know all the O'Malleys will be there in spirit, wis.h.i.+ng you well and sending lots of love. Aidan has a few gifts from me.”
”You shouldn't have done that.”
”Yes, I should have. You know I love you and your sisters like my own grandchildren, right?” Colleen asked, her voice thick with emotion.
Moved, Kate said, ”You've always been so good to us, and we love you, too.”
”You girls and your mother saved my son's life. You have no idea...”
”We love him, too. I never would've thought that so much good could come from my parents' divorce, but my sisters and I ended up with a lot more people who love us and who we love, too.”
”You can never have too many people who love you. I'd give anything to see you walk down the aisle to meet your new husband.”
”We'll come to you, as soon as we can.”
”Oh, honey, I know how busy you are. Please don't worry about me. Your mom has promised me lots and lots of pictures. Enjoy every minute of your big day.”
Kate wiped a tear from her cheek. ”I will, Grammy. Thank you so much for calling.”
”Love you, honey.”
”Love you, too.”
Reid came in through the back door and stopped short when he saw her wiping away tears. ”What's wrong?”
”I just talked to my Grammy O'Malley. She's not feeling too well, so she's going to stay home.”
”I'm sorry, honey. I know you were looking forward to seeing her.”
”I told her maybe we could go see her sometime soon.”
”I'd love to meet her. She sounds like a real character.”
”Oh, she is.”
He came over to the table and put his arm around her.
Kate leaned into his embrace, comforted by the scent of fresh air and sawdust and his distinctive cologne. ”What're you doing back so soon?”
”Forgot my phone.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. ”You know what would cheer you up?”
”What's that?”
”A first look at your Bunkhouse?”
”Now?”
”Right now. Get your coat.”
Kate's tears were forgotten as she scrambled from the kitchen to get her coat. She was back ten seconds later.
”That's more like it,” Reid said of the smile she greeted him with. ”I don't like to see tears on that gorgeous face.”
”I'm apt to be a bit of a waterworks for the next week or two.”
”I'll allow that, but then only smiles and laughter. Got me?”
”That sounds good to me.” They headed out the door toward the path he'd worn in the gra.s.s between their house and the new bunkhouse. Just as they reached the tree line, Kate was felled by a wave of nausea. She stopped walking and took a few deep breaths of air that had finally gone cold in the last week.
”What is it, darlin'?”
”The usual this time of day.” The nausea arrived with infuriating regularity at about nine thirty every day.
He rested his hand on her back. ”Do you want to go back?”
She shook her head and took a couple more deep breaths, trying to battle through it.
”Isn't it about time you had a doctor confirm what we already know?”
”I have an appointment tomorrow.”
”I hate to see you suffering.”
”You do know there's nothing the doctor can do about the nausea, right?”
He put his arm around her to continue along the path. ”Nothing at all?”
”Nope. I have to suffer through until it lets up.”
”I hope it lets up soon. We have lots of plans to see to.”
They came around the final bend before the clearing where the Bunkhouse now stood.
Kate stopped and opened her mouth to say something, but the words got stuck in her throat. ”Oh, Reid... Oh my G.o.d!” He'd built a mini version of her log-cabin house, complete with the A-frame roof and deck.
”Told you you'd like it,” he said close to her ear, sending s.h.i.+vers down her spine.