[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
want us to send the remains, kept echoing over and over in
her mind. There was no way she could imagine her Peter re-
duced to ash. Sergeant Dennison had to have made a mistake.
The thought of not being able to see or touch Peter ever
again was alien to her very being. She definitely wasn t ready
to accept it. Would she ever? Nor could she understand how
he could be gone from her life just like that. She had no idea
how she d go on or if she even wanted to. She had no idea
what to do now. She had to tell Mark. He d know what to do.
He always knew what to do.
* * * *
Kate blew her nose and dialed Mark s number.
Hello, this better be an important call. If you re a solici-
tor, and you value your life, hang up now.
Mark&
Kate? Kate, what s the matter?
Peter& it s Peter. He s dead, she said and began to unravel.
How?
83
Autumn Leaves
He s dead; he s dead, she half-whined, half-sobbed,
mewling like a wounded animal.
Kate, I ll be there in a few minutes. Hang on baby.
Mark could hardly understand her, but it was obvious
that she needed him. Her tone frightened him. Fearing she
might do something to hurt herself, he threw on some sweats
and jumped into the car.
He only lived ten minutes away, but that short time felt
like an hour. As he drove, he wondered what had happened to
Peter. Regardless, nothing could bring him back. He had to
take care of Kate now and help her through this dark time.
Her pain was his pain and he would be more than just a shoul-
der to cry on.
He used the key that Kate had given him. They had ex-
changed apartment keys years ago to look after each other s
plants and mail during vacations.
Kate! I m here, he called.
His heart dropped when she didn t reply. He rushed into
the bedroom and found her lying across her bed, sobbing.
Clad in only a tee shirt and panties, she looked like a little
girl, but still had the power to turn his insides to mush.
Oh, Mark& She began to wail when he took her into
his arms.
Shhh, baby, it will be all right. I m here.
I loved him so.
I know, baby, I know, he said, kissing the top of her
head.
He held her tight and rocked her gently until her sobbing
abated. Seeing her this way was killing him.
Would you like some coffee, Kate?
She nodded.
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Autumn Leaves
I ll go make us some. Be right back.
By the time Mark had the coffee maker going, Kate had
thrown a robe on and sat down at the kitchen table.
Tell me what happened, Kate?
He was killed in a car accident in Phoenix. I wish I d
been with him. What will I do now?
Knowing what I do about Peter, I m sure he d want you
to move on eventually.
To what? He was my reason for being.
I doubt that Peter would want you to fall apart.
I know, but I can t even accept the fact he s gone. What
am I going to do without him?
You re going to heal and go on. The alternative sucks.
Kate shook her head. Not from here, it doesn t.
Mark got up and put his arms around her and gave her a
gentle hug.
You re not alone, Kate. I m here with you and will help
you get through all the hurt and pain. Lean on me.
After giving out a huge sigh, she whispered, What would
I do without you?
Probably nothing, he said and kissed her tear-stained
cheek before he got up to get two mugs of coffee.
My God, what I must look like! Kate said, realizing she
must look a disaster.
Bringing that up is a good sign, even though you d look
gorgeous to me, no matter what.
The last time I spoke to Peter was when he first arrived
in Phoenix. When he didn t call me at the time he said he
would last night, I knew in my heart that something was
wrong. I called the hotel where he was staying at only to be
told that he d never checked in. I called the police& They no-
85
Autumn Leaves
tified me early this morning that Peter had been involved in a
fatal accident with a gasoline truck. Now they want to know
where to send the remains, she said and broke down into
sobs once more.
Mark got up and pulled Kate into his arms so he could
hold her while she cried. His heart was aching for her. Seeing
her this way was almost too much for him to bear. He knew
her display of emotion was for another. What he would give if
only she could love him as much.
After her sobbing abated, Mark suggested, Maybe you d
feel better if you took a hot bath, Kate.
That sounds like a great idea. I think I ll go run the wa-
ter.
Mark released Kate from his arms and held her at arm s
distance. I want you to remember one thing, Kate. No mat-
ter what, I m always going to be here for you. Okay?
Yes. Thank you. You are such a dear man.
Kate kissed him, picked up a fresh mug of coffee, and dis-
appeared into the bathroom. A moment later, Mark heard the
water running. He was a little nervous about her being alone
in the bathroom for long, so he decided to give her fifteen mi-
nutes before checking on her.
Sitting in the living room with a mug of coffee, Mark at-
tempted to pay attention to the television. It felt like the long-
est fifteen minutes of his life. He put the mug down and went
to the bathroom and called out Kate s name. Getting no an-
swer, he panicked and rapped sharply on the door. He was
ready to rush in when he heard her answer him.
Are you all right, Kate?
Yes. I must have dozed off. The water s cooled, so
I ll be out in a minute.
86
Autumn Leaves
Relieved Mark said, Okay, and returned to the living
room to wait for her.
Ten minutes later, Kate walked into the living room
dressed in sweats. She had brushed her hair and tied it back in-
to a ponytail, making her look years younger.
Feeling a little better?
I guess. If nothing else, I m cleaner. If you hadn t
checked on me, I d have shriveled up into a prune.
There s more coffee, if you d like.
Oh, Mark, what do I do now?
First off, I think we should plan a funeral or some type of
memorial service for Peter. Did he have any family?
No. There s very few people to notify, only some
friends and acquaintances.
We could hold a memorial service at...what s that place
called up the road a ways?
Cooke s Funeral Home?
Yeah, that s the one. What do you think?
That s fine.
Good. Would you like me to call the Phoenix Police de-
partment and give them Cooke s address and find out how
long it will take for them to send Peter s remains?
No. I already have a rapport with them, so I ll do it.
Mark noticed Kate shudder. Are you sure?
She nodded.
Okay. I ll call Cooke s and get things rolling. As soon as
you find out how long it will take Phoenix, I ll set up a date.
A fresh crop of tears spilled out of Kate s eyes. Mark
opened his arms and she nestled inside, laying her head on his
chest. He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her shoulder.
All he wanted was to make her pain go away. She tilted her
87
Autumn Leaves
head and he kissed the tip of her nose. She looked so misera-
ble. He wanted to hold her in his arms forever. He had loved
her for years and now here she was in his arms, only, it was
for all the wrong reasons. He kept kissing her hair and then
her face, over and over again. Impulsively he kissed her lips.
They were warm and inviting. To his surprise, she returned
his kiss.
Mark could hardly contain himself. All the bottled up
feelings began to escape with a force he could hardly control.
What complicated everything was the fact that Kate was res-
ponding. He was losing all sense of reason.
He kissed her face, her eyes, her lips, again and again. He
felt as if he was on fire and only Kate could squelch the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl chiara76.opx.pl
want us to send the remains, kept echoing over and over in
her mind. There was no way she could imagine her Peter re-
duced to ash. Sergeant Dennison had to have made a mistake.
The thought of not being able to see or touch Peter ever
again was alien to her very being. She definitely wasn t ready
to accept it. Would she ever? Nor could she understand how
he could be gone from her life just like that. She had no idea
how she d go on or if she even wanted to. She had no idea
what to do now. She had to tell Mark. He d know what to do.
He always knew what to do.
* * * *
Kate blew her nose and dialed Mark s number.
Hello, this better be an important call. If you re a solici-
tor, and you value your life, hang up now.
Mark&
Kate? Kate, what s the matter?
Peter& it s Peter. He s dead, she said and began to unravel.
How?
83
Autumn Leaves
He s dead; he s dead, she half-whined, half-sobbed,
mewling like a wounded animal.
Kate, I ll be there in a few minutes. Hang on baby.
Mark could hardly understand her, but it was obvious
that she needed him. Her tone frightened him. Fearing she
might do something to hurt herself, he threw on some sweats
and jumped into the car.
He only lived ten minutes away, but that short time felt
like an hour. As he drove, he wondered what had happened to
Peter. Regardless, nothing could bring him back. He had to
take care of Kate now and help her through this dark time.
Her pain was his pain and he would be more than just a shoul-
der to cry on.
He used the key that Kate had given him. They had ex-
changed apartment keys years ago to look after each other s
plants and mail during vacations.
Kate! I m here, he called.
His heart dropped when she didn t reply. He rushed into
the bedroom and found her lying across her bed, sobbing.
Clad in only a tee shirt and panties, she looked like a little
girl, but still had the power to turn his insides to mush.
Oh, Mark& She began to wail when he took her into
his arms.
Shhh, baby, it will be all right. I m here.
I loved him so.
I know, baby, I know, he said, kissing the top of her
head.
He held her tight and rocked her gently until her sobbing
abated. Seeing her this way was killing him.
Would you like some coffee, Kate?
She nodded.
84
Autumn Leaves
I ll go make us some. Be right back.
By the time Mark had the coffee maker going, Kate had
thrown a robe on and sat down at the kitchen table.
Tell me what happened, Kate?
He was killed in a car accident in Phoenix. I wish I d
been with him. What will I do now?
Knowing what I do about Peter, I m sure he d want you
to move on eventually.
To what? He was my reason for being.
I doubt that Peter would want you to fall apart.
I know, but I can t even accept the fact he s gone. What
am I going to do without him?
You re going to heal and go on. The alternative sucks.
Kate shook her head. Not from here, it doesn t.
Mark got up and put his arms around her and gave her a
gentle hug.
You re not alone, Kate. I m here with you and will help
you get through all the hurt and pain. Lean on me.
After giving out a huge sigh, she whispered, What would
I do without you?
Probably nothing, he said and kissed her tear-stained
cheek before he got up to get two mugs of coffee.
My God, what I must look like! Kate said, realizing she
must look a disaster.
Bringing that up is a good sign, even though you d look
gorgeous to me, no matter what.
The last time I spoke to Peter was when he first arrived
in Phoenix. When he didn t call me at the time he said he
would last night, I knew in my heart that something was
wrong. I called the hotel where he was staying at only to be
told that he d never checked in. I called the police& They no-
85
Autumn Leaves
tified me early this morning that Peter had been involved in a
fatal accident with a gasoline truck. Now they want to know
where to send the remains, she said and broke down into
sobs once more.
Mark got up and pulled Kate into his arms so he could
hold her while she cried. His heart was aching for her. Seeing
her this way was almost too much for him to bear. He knew
her display of emotion was for another. What he would give if
only she could love him as much.
After her sobbing abated, Mark suggested, Maybe you d
feel better if you took a hot bath, Kate.
That sounds like a great idea. I think I ll go run the wa-
ter.
Mark released Kate from his arms and held her at arm s
distance. I want you to remember one thing, Kate. No mat-
ter what, I m always going to be here for you. Okay?
Yes. Thank you. You are such a dear man.
Kate kissed him, picked up a fresh mug of coffee, and dis-
appeared into the bathroom. A moment later, Mark heard the
water running. He was a little nervous about her being alone
in the bathroom for long, so he decided to give her fifteen mi-
nutes before checking on her.
Sitting in the living room with a mug of coffee, Mark at-
tempted to pay attention to the television. It felt like the long-
est fifteen minutes of his life. He put the mug down and went
to the bathroom and called out Kate s name. Getting no an-
swer, he panicked and rapped sharply on the door. He was
ready to rush in when he heard her answer him.
Are you all right, Kate?
Yes. I must have dozed off. The water s cooled, so
I ll be out in a minute.
86
Autumn Leaves
Relieved Mark said, Okay, and returned to the living
room to wait for her.
Ten minutes later, Kate walked into the living room
dressed in sweats. She had brushed her hair and tied it back in-
to a ponytail, making her look years younger.
Feeling a little better?
I guess. If nothing else, I m cleaner. If you hadn t
checked on me, I d have shriveled up into a prune.
There s more coffee, if you d like.
Oh, Mark, what do I do now?
First off, I think we should plan a funeral or some type of
memorial service for Peter. Did he have any family?
No. There s very few people to notify, only some
friends and acquaintances.
We could hold a memorial service at...what s that place
called up the road a ways?
Cooke s Funeral Home?
Yeah, that s the one. What do you think?
That s fine.
Good. Would you like me to call the Phoenix Police de-
partment and give them Cooke s address and find out how
long it will take for them to send Peter s remains?
No. I already have a rapport with them, so I ll do it.
Mark noticed Kate shudder. Are you sure?
She nodded.
Okay. I ll call Cooke s and get things rolling. As soon as
you find out how long it will take Phoenix, I ll set up a date.
A fresh crop of tears spilled out of Kate s eyes. Mark
opened his arms and she nestled inside, laying her head on his
chest. He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her shoulder.
All he wanted was to make her pain go away. She tilted her
87
Autumn Leaves
head and he kissed the tip of her nose. She looked so misera-
ble. He wanted to hold her in his arms forever. He had loved
her for years and now here she was in his arms, only, it was
for all the wrong reasons. He kept kissing her hair and then
her face, over and over again. Impulsively he kissed her lips.
They were warm and inviting. To his surprise, she returned
his kiss.
Mark could hardly contain himself. All the bottled up
feelings began to escape with a force he could hardly control.
What complicated everything was the fact that Kate was res-
ponding. He was losing all sense of reason.
He kissed her face, her eyes, her lips, again and again. He
felt as if he was on fire and only Kate could squelch the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]