Part 39 (2/2)
”All right, yes,” Peter said. ”I'll get there as soon as I can.”
He hung up the phone and stared at the handset.
”Hi,” Kate said, bounding cheerfully into the room. ”I let myself in.” She froze in place when she took in Peter's aghast expression as he turned away and faced the wall. He locked his hands behind his neck and looked up at the ceiling.
”What the h.e.l.l's wrong?” Byron said.
”What's going on?” Kate asked Grace, who replied with upturned palms. ”Peter?” Kate gripped his arm. ”What is it?”
”Something back home,” Peter said, avoiding every set of staring eyes.
”Is it the stock sale, boy?”
He shook his head.
”Then what?” Kate asked, tugging his arm to make him face her.
He turned around and took her hands. ”Something happened. I have to go home.” He studied their interlocked fingers. ”I can't tell you about it right now.” He looked her straight in the eye. It was the wine, he thought grimly.
He let go of her hands. ”I need to get to the airport right away,” he said to Byron.
”Okay,” Kate said, ”let's go,” taking his arm.
Peter's feet remained planted.
”Peter?”
”I have to go alone,” he said, leaving no room for disagreement.
Grace discreetly nudged her husband.
”Okay,” Byron said, settling his hands on both Kate's and Peter's shoulders. ”Put your coat on. I'll take you to the airport.” He gave Kate a rea.s.suring look and a wink.
”Don't you want to pack some things?” Kate said.
”There isn't time,” Peter said. ”I'll call,” he said, unable to look her in the eye again, then turned and left the room.
”Be back in a bit,” Byron said, kissing his wife on the cheek.
”Keep those fries in the oven please, dearest.” He turned to Kate and gently squeezed her arm. ”It's going to be okay.” Then he turned and went after Peter.
Hearing Byron's words of rea.s.surance as he waited outside the workroom, Peter felt the thing in his heart come fully awake. It had been hibernating all through the winter and he had forgotten about it. But now it was time to for it to reemerge.
A knot of contradiction swelled in his throat when he remembered back to the premonition he'd had on that fateful night, more than half a year ago, that he was going to lose everything close to his heart, everything that ever mattered. It was starting, he reasoned, and by the looks of it, Kate would be the first piece to fall away.
Chapter 14
William Harrell flipped through the folder of reports his technical adviser had left him, a pleased expression on his face.
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