Hurricane Watch

Chapter

Eleven

KERRY SLID HER laptop into her bag and closed her desk drawer, locking it and the laptop inside it away securely. She paused to shake a few aspirin from a bottle on her desk and washed them down with a swig of cold tea as the sounds of the day wound down around her.

“Crappy day.” She set the cup down and shouldered her bag, then she headed for the elevator hoping she’d have a lonely ride down.

She didn’t want to make small talk or suffer the fourteen story ride in uncomfortable silence, everyone’s eyes watching her and knowing all the gossip that had traveled through the building all day long.

They all knew Dar had quit. She punched the down button, and was surprised when the doors slid open almost immediately. They all knew why Dar had quit. Not because Dar had told everyone, but because Fabracini had, boasting of his victory to anyone who would listen.

She stepped inside and paused. “Well, screw it.” She removed her badge and held it to the reader inside, then keyed emergency service.

The device bleeped obediently at her, and she punched the ground floor. “Had to use that at least once, didn’t I?”

In solitary splendor, the car descended without pause to the ground and opened as she swallowed to clear her ears. She emerged and was happy to find herself almost alone in the lobby, the rays of sunset coming in through the glass panes as the cleaning staff was moving towards the elevators, getting ready to start work for the night.

Kerry walked quietly across the marble floor and approached the doors, giving the guard a small wave. He waved back, and their eyes met, then he edged over closer to her as she was about to exit. “Ms.

Kerry?”

Kerry paused and waited for him to come over. “Yes, John?”

“Is it true, Ms. Roberts is leaving?” the man asked. “I’d hate to see that. She’s good people.”

Kerry felt a smile tugging at her tired face. “Not if I can help it, John,” she said. “Thanks for the thought.” She patted his arm and walked through the doors into the cool dusk air, seeing a few people around in her peripheral vision.

Not unusual. There was a bus stop nearby, after all. She passed a small group of men and headed towards her car, tucked on one side of 128

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the lot near the street.

The streetlights were just starting to come on as she unlocked her doors, moving her seat forward to toss her laptop bag into the back seat, and turning back around to get in only to find a dark, menacing figure on the other side of the door.

Her heart nearly came out of her chest and she inhaled sharply, her eyes flicking to the front doors of the building as she got ready to yell for help.

The dark figure held both hands up, palms out. “Easy thar.”

Kerry was close to panic. The man was much taller than she was and even the words didn’t really reassure her. “What do you want?”

She asked after a second.

“I ain’t gonna hurtcha,” the man said. “Just want to ask you all a question, is all.”

There was something about his voice. Kerry relaxed the grip she had on her keys, the edge of them biting into her palm. He had a Southern accent, and there was something about the timber that seemed just a little familiar to her. “Okay. Go ahead.”

He lowered his hands and stayed where he was, the setting sun to his back. He had a hooded sweatshirt on and the hood was up, obscuring his features in the shadows. “Got a friend you know, just want to make sure all’s right with them.” He said. “Name’s Paladar.”

Kerry felt a jolt of surprise. “What about her?” she asked, wondering who this was who knew her partner’s real name. “Who are you?”

The man hesitated. “Just someone that knows her,” he answered.

“She okay?”

Fear eased and Kerry leaned forward, resting her arms on the frame of her car door as she struggled to make out his features. “Why are you asking me?” she countered. “A lot of people work in that building over there.”

Was it just my imagination, or did I see a motion that might have been a smile.

“Ah know you know her right well,” the man said. “You ain’t got to tell me, but ah heard them people talking about her and I’d like to know.” He tilted his head just slightly, waiting for her answer.

That tilt. “Some bad things happened today.”

“T’her?”

Kerry was being driven half crazy with curiousity. Who is this?

“Yes, but she’s okay. She’s just at home,” she said. “Who are you? Why do you care about her? Do I know you?” She eased the door closed and started to approach him.

He backed up a step. “Easy now.”

“No.” Kerry continued coming closer. “I won’t be easy. I’ve had a really bad day, my head hurts, I had a lousy weekend and I want to know who you are, and why you think you’ve got a right to ask me Hurricane Watch

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about my partner.”

He stopped moving and let her approach, lowering his hands again. “Feisty thing, ain’t you?” he drawled. “Careful, there, I ain’t something you want to mess with.” He half turned into the streetlight and she got a glimpse of his face.

Scars. Kerry inhaled again. Scars upon scars, in a lean, rugged outline but immediately her startled gaze was drawn past that to the pale blue eyes that stood out like marbles in all that ruin.

“Now, you can just answer or I’ll go on my way, just asking a question,” the man said. “Don’t want no trouble with you, little gal.”

“Who are you?” Kerry ignored his words.

“Nobody you know,” he answered.

“Who are you to her?” Kerry clarified her question. “And if you tell me you’re not, you’re lying.” Her heart started to hammer in her chest as suspicions peppered her mind. She knew Dar had no one close to her.

She had distant family she never spoke to. She’d mentioned her mother only once, and the tone of voice she’d had indicated it would likely be the last time. Kerry knew of only one of Dar’s relatives she’d ever mentioned with any kind of affection and that one person was dead.So who was this?

He looked around, but the lot was now pretty much empty, only an isolated car or two left from the cleaners and security guards. The other men in the lot had also left, having taken their bus or otherwise moved on and they were alone together. “Think I should just move on, let you be. ““I don’t.” Kerry screwed up her courage and moved quickly, reaching out and clasping his arm before he could leave. “You got this close. Don’t run.”

Even in the shadows, she could see his eyebrows hike. A flash of yellow lamplight lit up his eyes again and she got a good look at his expression with most of the scars obscured by the flat lamp. “Run? I ain’t much for that.”

Kerry put her hand in his and squeezed it. “My name’s Kerry,” she said. “And if you are a friend of Dar’s, today’s a good day for her to find that out because she gave up on something today that was very important to her and she could use all the friends she has right now.”

He studied her, then tilted his head and peered at their clasped hands. “Well, then, Kerry.” He said. “Mah name’s Andrew.”

Kerry felt like she’d stuck her finger in an electric socket. “Oh my god,” she whispered, staring up at him. “Are you her father? You are, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” he answered softly.

The entire world was spinning. Kerry wasn’t sure if she should yell or cry. “But...I thought...”

“Ever’body did. Even me.” Andrew said, briefly. “Anyhow, that’s 130

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why I want to know about her. Dar’s mah kid,” he added, in an awkward tone. “Ah been through some hell, just getting caught back up with it all and...”

Kerry was at a complete loss for words. She gazed up at him while a thousand different thoughts whirled through her mind, and the day’s events suddenly became painfully irrelevant. “My god,” she finally whispered. “My god.”

DAR HEARD THE sound of Kerry’s car pulling up outside and she closed the sliding glass door, limping over to the entrance and getting to the latch just as it worked and started inward. “Hey.”

Kerry came in and shut the door and Dar’s heart jumped as she saw her face. “What’s wrong?”

Kerry took her hand. “Come over here and sit down. I need to tell you something.” She led Dar over to the couch. “Oh honey.”

Dar felt lightheaded. Her heart was beating so fast she couldn’t count the thumps and she had to sit down or risk passing out.

“W...what?” she asked, this new fear coming out of a blind corner and closing her throat.

Was Kerry pissed off after all? Had something else happened?

Kerry knelt in front of her, terrifyingly, and took both hands in her own. “Right as I was leaving, something happened. In the parking lot.”

“Did you get in an accident? Are you okay?” Dar started speaking.

“Yes, no, I...” Kerry paused. “Dar, before you freak out and freak me out, this is a good thing.” She watched the panic fade a little, in the pale blue eyes. “I just don’t know how to tell you this.”

Dar waited in silence for a few beats. “You ran over Fabracini?” She hazarded a guess. “I’ll smuggle you out of the country, sweetheart. We can go live on some island off the Bahamas.”

“No, I,” Kerry paused. “Dar, a man came up to me in the lot and started asking me about you.”

It wasn’t what she’d expected. Dar’s brows creased. “What?”

Kerry gave up. “Just come with me.” She decided. “Outside.” She stood, keeping hold of Dar’s hands as she awkwardly straightened, keeping her weight on her good leg. Kerry got her arm around her partner and supported her as they made their way to the door, Chino snuffling curiously at their heels.

“I don’t know what’s going on here, Ker,” Dar said, as she got the door open. “But I don’t know if I’m up to surprises tonight.”

Kerry squeezed out the door next to her and quickly searched the parking slots, relieved when she saw the dark figure leaning against her car. “It’s okay, hon. Trust me,” she murmured as they started down the stairs. “It’s going to make today not matter.”

“What?” Dar half turned. “What’s that supposed to mean? Ker, what’s going on here?” She had to swing around as Kerry urged her Hurricane Watch

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down the steps, and her head turned in the direction of the car. “I don’t know what...”

Her eyes fastened on the tall, silent figure that now straightened up and faced her, and she stopped moving. The height, and the shape and the movement struck sudden chords of memory in her she’d thought long dead and her vision blurred as she watched him.

She almost stopped breathing. Her hands clenched around Kerry’s suddenly. “Ker who is that?” she whispered. “Near your car?”

Kerry found herself in the oddest position of her life and it was hard to think straight. “Come on.” She helped Dar down the last few steps, then she released her as they came even with their visitor and Dar could, at last, see his features.

Dar stiffened, then she half extended a hand, her eyes fastened on the tall man who carefully took a step forward towards her. “Ohh.”

“Hey there, Dardar,” the man rasped, very gently. “Damn good to see ya.”

It had been the worst of days. Now, in the light from the porch lamp over her shoulder, Kerry found herself watching it become the best of days before her very eyes.

To hell with the company. “Go on.” She put her hand on Dar’s hip.

“It’s real.” She watched Dar’s face light up with wonder like a child’s, as she moved towards her father. Kerry followed a step behind, but held up when she reached the edge of the sidewalk, and stayed back as they met.Dar felt the world become utterly unreal. She faced the hooded figure on legs shaking so badly she wasn’t sure she could remain upright. “Daddy?” she managed to get out. “Is that really you?”

He took a step forward. “What’s left,” he said. “Been to hell and back, though.” He stood there awkwardly until Dar finally just half walked, half fell towards him and then they were hugging each other.

“Hell and back.”

Dar couldn’t believe it. It was impossible, and yet, she could feel the long arms around her and hear her father’s heartbeat under her ear and she had to believe.

Had to believe. “Oh, Daddy,” she whispered.

She could smell salt air on his clothes, and wool, and he seemed thinner than she remembered, but there was no doubt when she heard that voice echoing from her earliest memories.

“Dar. Dar.” Andrew hugged her, rocking back and forth a little.

“Damn it all.” He patted her back. “What’d ya do t’your laig?” He released her and they looked at each other again.

For a moment, Dar had no idea what he was talking about. Then she shifted her weight and remembered, gritting her teeth as she grabbed for the edge of the car. “L...long story,” she said. “Um, would you please come inside?”

Andrew paused, then he nodded and joined Dar at the steps, and 132

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they walked upward in silence, broken when they reached the top step and were met by Chino, who barked in surprise at seeing a stranger.

Kerry gathered the puppy in her arms as she followed Dar and her father inside.

DAR SIGHED. ”WHAT a damned day.” She perched on the back of the couch, looking around a little self-consciously. “So, this is our place.” Her eyes were fixed on her father, who was quietly looking around.

It was strange and surreal. She felt like she was in a waking dream that would surely end any second with the buzz of the alarm, or a gentle hug from Kerry. It couldn’t be real. That couldn’t really be her father standing there.

Maybe the whole day was just a hallucination. Dar sighed and rubbed the back of her neck, caught between the extremes of the moment.

Kerry let the puppy go and she swarmed up Dar’s leg, whining and squeaking until Dar picked her up. ”All right, all right.”

Andrew gazed at her, the hood shifting as he moved his head.

”Finally got you a dog, huh?”

Dar was vainly trying to keep Chino from licking the inside of her mouth. ”She’s Kerry’s,” She explained sheepishly. “Jack Easton’s Christmas present to her. You remember Alabaster?”

”Gerry Easton’s big old dog?” Her father’s brows hiked. ”I surely do. I know you always wanted one.” He watched Chino’s antics. “You sure that dog ain’t yours?”

Kerry chuckled. “Chino really was my present, but I keep telling Dar she’s her dog.”

“Not my dog. Your dog...augh.” Dar extracted a needle like tooth from her earlobe.

“Our dog,” Kerry concluded, going over to rescue her partner from their pet. “C’mere, Cheebles. Stop chewing on mommy Dar.” She gave the puppy a hug, then put her down on the tile and watched her scramble around.

Andrew chuckled softly. He finished his examination of the living room and turned to face his daughter. ”This is damn nice, Dar. I’m glad you got a good place to hang your hat up in.”

Dar leaned against the back of the loveseat, her insides in turmoil.

“Yeah,” she said. “It was bigger than I needed but,” She paused. “It’s quiet out here.”

Kerry slipped past Dar, giving her a pat on the back. “I’m going to get some dinner ordered,” she said. “Mr. Roberts, can I order you something?”

His head turned her way and blue eyes framed in the forest green hood focused on her. ”Who in the hell are you talking to?”

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Kerry blinked at him. ”Um, you?”

”There ain’t no such person as Mr. Roberts,” he told her. ”There’s Commander Roberts, or Andy, or shithead.” He paused. ”Take yer pick.”

Dar smiled a little at Kerry’s expression.

But Kerry rallied. ”How about Dad?” she countered quietly, meeting his eyes with gentle acceptance.

Now it was Andrew’s turn to blink. He turned to his daughter.

”Gutsy little thing, ain’t she?” He marveled. ”All right, that’ll do,” he exhaled. ”And if they got something normal as a hamburger in this crazy place, I’ll have one of those.”

Kerry smiled at him. ”Okay, Dad.” Her green eyes twinkled. ”One hamburger, coming up.”

”Hm,” he grunted, then he looked up. ”They got any ice cream?”

Bewildered, he stared as Kerry burst into laughter, and had to hold onto the chair for support. ”What in hell’s wrong with her?” he asked plaintively.

Dar just shook her head. She waited for Kerry to disappear into the kitchen before she peeked back at the miracle in her lobby. “Want to sit down?” she asked, tentatively.

“Think maybe you should.” Her father walked slowly over to the entertainment center, studying the pictures in silence for a long moment.

Dar stayed where she was, her arms braced on the back of the couch.

He picked up the big picture, the one of her and Kerry, and half turned. “She live here, too?”

Dar nodded.

Andrew put the picture down and went around the edge of the couch, sitting down on the larger sofa as Dar swiveled to face him.

“What’d ya do to your laig?”

Dar glanced at it. “I don’t really care about my leg right now,” she said. “I’m trying to get my head around you being here.”

Her father looked up at her with a somber expression. “Yeap. I know,” he said. “Sorry bout that, Dar. I wasn’t thinking about showing up here, but...” He glanced at the kitchen entrance. “Just worked out that way.”

Dar looked at him in silence, then she came around the side of the couch and sat down, afraid her shaking legs were going to give out on her and drop her to the floor.

KERRY LEANED AGAINST the counter, gazing out the window as she thought about things. Outside, she could just barely hear the roar of the ocean breakers and the churn of the water matched pretty closely the churn of her guts as she tried to let go of the day.

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She couldn’t even imagine what Dar was feeling. For one thing, she’d never lost anyone close in her family. For another, she wasn’t entirely sure she’d be as devastated as Dar had been if she had.

It hurt thinking that. Kerry gazed down at the countertop, its glossy surface cold against her skin. She wanted to love her parents and maybe part of her still did, but the memory of what her father had done to her was very fresh.

Is Dar’s father like that?

She doubted it. The few times her lover had spoken of her father, she’d heard nothing but love in her voice and she could barely remember ever feeling like that about her parents.

Kerry dropped her head into her hands and rubbed the back of her neck, hoping to ease the throbbing brought on by the stress of the day, when something occurred to her and she lifted her head again.

What would Dar’s father think about them? Her eyes widened and she realized she’d never even considered what his reaction would be on finding out.

He knew Dar was gay, didn’t he? Her brow creased and she tried to remember their conversations about that, relaxing when she recalled that Dar had said her parents both knew.

“Phew.” She rubbed her eyes. “I don’t need to deal with that tonight and I know she doesn’t either.”

To one side, the monitor mounted on the cabinet beeped softly.

Kerry looked up at it, resisting the urge to simply punch the device.

Instead, she keyed it, glancing at the screen as it flickered to life.

She studied the emails, then she just shut it off and turned, sliding down and sitting on the kitchen floor, resting her elbows on her knees and closing her eyes.

“SO WE WERE out in the woods,” Dar said, “Doing this damn fool thing and a sinkhole opened up under us.”

Andrew straightened. “Mah god.”

“Yeah,” Dar agreed. “Anyway, things got worse from there and,”

she paused. “just went downhill, I guess.” She looked across the living room for the nth time, unable to believe what she was seeing. “Daddy, I can’t believe you’re here.”

Her father got up and crossed over to her, sitting down on the loveseat next to Dar and putting a gentle hand on her knee. “S’allright, I can’t neither,” he said. “Had me a real rough time and it’s hard being here and seeing ever’thing.”

Dar studied his face, so seamed with scars anyone who knew him less well than she did might even have passed him by in the street. She could see pain there, and a haunting she could only guess at, but the eyes, the pale eyes she saw in the mirror every morning hadn’t changed at all.

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Her Daddy. Dar found a smile somewhere and exhaled. “Have you called Mom?”

Her father’s eyes shifted, and went past her. “No.”

The door bell chimed softly and Dar hesitated, then relaxed as Kerry appeared from the kitchen and crossed behind her to answer it.

“Thanks.”

Kerry ruffled her hair as she went past, but didn’t answer.

Andrew got up and resumed his seat on the other couch, clasping his hands as Kerry returned from the door with a tray and set it on the table between them. She knelt beside the table and started sorting things out, one hand lifting briefly to tuck a bit of hair behind her ear.

“Kerry had a tough day.” Dar broke the silence. “I walked out and she had to clean up the mess I left behind.”

“That’s not really true.” Kerry offered Andrew a burger and fries on a plate, and handed Dar one just like it. “I left too.” She put a hand on her own plate. “Why don’t I, um...” She started to get up and move towards the kitchen.

“Sit down.” Dar grabbed the back of her waistband and yanked her backwards onto the loveseat without ceremony. “I thought you got lost in there. I was going to send Chino after you.”

“Um, okay. I guess I will.” Kerry pulled her plate over and settled it onto her knees, keeping a little distance between herself and Dar and taking her fork to her broiled salmon. “I thought maybe you two would want to talk,” she said. “Alone, I mean.”

Andrew looked up from his plate. “Ah look like the kind of man who’d chase a gal from her own place and make her chow by herself?”

Kerry blinked at him. “Um.” She cleared her throat gently. “I just met you.” She glanced at Dar for support, but her partner had her eyes firmly fixed on her fries. “But if you’re half as chivalrous as your daughter, no.”

Dar blushed visibly. Andrew smiled, as much as his scars would allow.

A silence fell, as they concentrated on eating, and keeping their plates out of Chino’s range.

KERRY EMPTIED THE remains of their dinner into the trash, setting the plates into the sink for later washing. She turned as she heard a sound behind her to find Dar entering on her crutches, a tired but happy look on her face. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Dar moved forward and stopped next to her. “What a night.”

Kerry leaned over and gave Dar a kiss on the arm. “Incredible.”

Dar fiddled with her crutch grips. “It’s late,” she said. “I’m going to see if he wants to stay over.” Her eyes lifted to Kerry’s. “If that’s okay with you.”

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“Dar.” Kerry looked at her. “You’ve got to be kidding me if you’re seriously asking me that.”

Her partner shrugged. “I’m too tired to think straight,” she admitted. “I need to take a few aspirin and sack out.” She leaned against the counter. “Brain overload.”

“Yeah.” Bed sounded almost impossibly good. Kerry hesitated though. “Listen.” She glanced past Dar, then up at her face. “Want me to sleep upstairs?”

Dar’s brows creased. “Huh?”

“I know you said your folks were okay with you being gay, Dar, but...you know.” Kerry hesitated. “Saying something and being hit in the face with it are two different things.”

Dar started chuckling. “Uh, no. It’s okay,” she said. “He knows you live here...with me.”

“Well, sure but...” She glanced at the floor. “We could be roommates.”

“My father’s...” Dar paused, shaking her head a little. “Talking about him in the present again. Damn. “ A gentle smile appeared. “This is so incredible.”

Kerry leaned against her and grinned. “I am so happy for you,” she whispered.

“Anyway.” Dar cleared he throat. “My father’s definitely a man of the world.” She gave her partner a kiss on the head. “He saw the picture on the TV stand,” she said. “Honest, Ker, it doesn’t matter to him. Never did.”

Kerry felt a little foolish. “Oh. Right.” She rubbed her temple. “I think I’m a little overtired too,” she murmured, “and after everything that happened today, I’m on spin cycle. I don’t know what to feel or think right now.”

Dar kissed the top of her head. “C’mon,” she said. “I think this just put tomorrow into perspective.”

True, Kerry had to admit, finding herself almost at the point where she’d stopped caring. “If I quit tomorrow, can we go somewhere?” she asked. “Camping or something?”

“Hell yeah.” Dar followed her out into the living room. “Anywhere you want.”

DAR SAT DOWN on the edge of the waterbed, studying the bruised flesh under her just removed brace. She rested both hands on the rail and exhaled, listening to Kerry puttering around in the bathroom, getting ready for bed.

The bedroom was dim and she slowly swung her legs over and laid down flat, resting her head on the pillow and letting her body relax at last, with a tiny groan as her muscles unlocked and she could close her eyes.

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and her mind able to step back from all that had happened and just think for a little while.

A swirl of emotion went through her and she rested her arm over her eyes as she felt the bed move a little, and then the space next to her warmed up with Kerry’s presence. “Ugh.”

“Ugh,” Kerry repeated. “How are you doing?” She rubbed Dar’s belly lightly.

Dar let her arm drop and she turned her head, studying Kerry’s dimly lit profile. “Damned if I know,” she sighed.

“Likewise,” her partner admitted. “But at least we had a fantastic night.”

“Yeah,” Dar whispered, after a pause. “It’s so damn hard to believe.”

Kerry propped her head up on one hand and reached over to run her fingers through Dar’s hair with the other. “I like your father.” She watched Dar’s lips twitch into a smile. “He reminds me a lot of you.”

Dar nodded slowly. “Everyone always said that,” she murmured.

“It was hard when he...” She fell silent. “I felt like I lost the only person who ever really understood me.”

Kerry laid her hand along Dar’s cheek.

“Just figures the day he shows up I walk out on my job huh?” Dar reached up and rubbed her eyes impatiently. “Nice.”

Kerry could hear the pain in her voice. “Hey, sweetie. I’m sure he doesn’t give a damn.”

“I give a damn,” Dar admitted softly. “I feel like such a jerk.”

Kerry squirmed a little closer and put her arm around her lover, hugging her. “Honey you’re not a jerk. There were a lot of other people in that whole thing that were jerks. Not you. Me maybe.”

Dar buried her face against Kerry’s neck, turning onto her side and returning the hug.

Kerry could feel her shaking, a little. She put further words aside and just gave what comfort she could, rubbing Dar’s back with light fingers.

With a faint sniffle, Dar shifted and wrapped herself around Kerry.

“You’re not a damn jerk.”

Kerry sighed.

“Just an impulsive hothead.”

Kerry’s brows twitched. She was momentarily silent, then she cleared her throat. “I’m pretty sure no one’s ever said that about me before,” she admitted. “Is that good or bad?”

“I like impulsive hotheads.” Dar seemed to have regained a bit of her humor. “In fact, I love them.”

Kerry nuzzled her ear, then blew lightly in it. “I love you too,” she said, as they both smiled and exhaled, at the same time.

The darkness of the room settled over them, and the fractious day finally came to its end.

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KERRY BEAT THE clock awake, and she carefully reached over and turned the alarm off before she half turned and regarded her lover. Dar was normally a very light sleeper, but this morning she was still deeply asleep, her face totally relaxed and unresponsive. It had been the same the day before and Kerry wondered if her injury had anything to do with it.

Or, maybe all the stress. Kerry eased back down into the waterbed and admitted to feeling pretty stressed herself, the specter of the coming day making her want to burrow back under the covers and stay there.

She had a few minutes, so she indulged herself in merely watching Dar doze peacefully, her face outlined faintly in the early morning gloom, only a faint, irregular twitching moving the soft, tanned skin.

Kerry twirled a lock of dark hair idly around her fingers and brushed it against her lips, absorbing the peace of the moment.

Finally she sighed and edged carefully out of bed, tucking the comforter back around Dar’s body before she padded out into the living room, heading for her bedroom upstairs. She stopped short when she almost collided with a seated form on the floor. ”Oh.”

Despite Dar’s reassurance, she felt awkward getting caught coming out of the bedroom, and she felt a blush warming her skin as she backed up a step. “I...hi. Good morning.”

”Hey there, Kerry,” Andrew Roberts uttered, in a low voice. He had Chino between his knees and was playing with her, the delighted puppy rolling around on her back as he rubbed her belly. ”Thought I’d catch a ride out early with ya.”

Kerry collected her wits and settled herself cross legged on the cold tiles next to him, pushing her hair back behind one ear absently. ”Um, I don’t suppose I could convince you to stick around here today, huh?”

He glanced up and studied her face. ”Why?” He asked, warily.

“Something wrong with Dar?”

Kerry exhaled. ”Well, I have to go into work,” she stated quietly. ”I don’t want to. It's going to be a mess. I’d rather stay here and keep Dar company, but I can’t.”

”Uh huh.”

”And if I leave Dar here all alone, she’s going to go crazy between being bored, and wondering what’s going on,” Kerry continued. ”I think she’s pretty shook up about all of this, and...” She peeked at him.

“Seeing you again.”

”Uh huh.” Andrew glanced away. “Lot to get used to.”

“Yeah,” Kerry murmured.

He looked back at her, and in his expression she saw Dar so clearly it was almost startling.

“Listen,” he started, then hesitated.

”And I’ll be a nervous wreck all day, wondering what’s going on with her,” came the soft words. ”But if you’re here, she won’t be bored, and I won’t have to worry.” Kerry finished, her eyes settling on him in Hurricane Watch

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silent appeal. “Please?”

”Ya ever think of going into diplomacy, young lady?” Andrew Roberts queried wryly.

Kerry tasted the irony. “Last thing I’d ever do,” she replied. “But it’s the truth, isn’t it? You know Dar better than I do.”

Andrew’s scarred lips twitched a trifle. “Lay yer a bet on that one,”

he said. “All right, young lady. I’ll do yer baby sitting.” He relented.

“Got me a few things to say to her anyhow.”

Kerry squeezed his hand. ”Thank you. I won’t be all day. I promise.”

He nodded and tickled the puppy. ”She’s a cute little thing,” he commented.

”Mm, yes, she is,” Kerry replied. ”I think she likes you.” She laughed softly as the puppy squirmed happily against his foot.

He scowled at her. ”Don’t you have to get dressed to go on into that place, or do you work in yer jammies?”

Kerry stood up and grinned at him. ”I get the hint.” She trotted towards the stairs, trying to psych herself up for the day to come.

A HAND ON her shoulder. Dar felt the shake, but her body didn’t want to budge.

”Dar.”

Part of her brain acknowledged the deep, raspy voice and recognized it, but there was still a dark, heavy pall over her consciousness, and she fought the desire to slip back down into peaceful oblivion.

”Paladar, get yer butt up or I’m gonna slap it.”

Uh oh. One blue eye slid open in startlement, and regarded him, then the other joined it as Dar rolled half onto her back, her heart pumping in erratic rhythm. ”Dad?” She cleared her throat of its hoarseness, and rubbed her eyes, trying to push the fog back. ”Wh...”

”C’mon now, it’s past ten hundred, and I’ve about cleaned every inch of this place.” Andrew reached out a hand and gently tipped her chin back, regarding her face intently. “You hit your head or your laig?”

Dar felt her thoughts go skittering off and she took several deep breaths. ”Both,” she admitted, lifting her hand to touch the lump behind her ear. “Didn’t mention that part to the doc.”

Andrew managed a wry chuckle. “Lord you ain’t changed.”

Dar gazed up at him. “You like doctors now?”

“Hell no.”

His daughter shrugged a little. “You didn’t change. Why should I have?”

Andrew’s battered face twitched into a painful smile. “All right,”

he said. “Got me there, Dardar,” he conceded. “You getting out of that there bed?”

140

Melissa Good

”Urmph.” Dar struggled to sit up. ”What are you doing here? I thought you were going to get a ride out this morning?”

Andrew sat down on the waterbed railing and folded his arms across his chest. ”I was until your little kumquat turned those pretty eyes of hers on me and asked me to stick around for a bit,” he snorted. ”Damn tricky kid.”Dar grinned a little, as she stifled a yawn. ”Yeah, well, she has the same effect on me. Don’t feel bad.”

Her father chuckled softly. ”I noticed.”

Dar found a smile winding its way onto her face. ”All right, let me go dump some water on my head.” She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and reached for the brace. ”Stupid thing.”

”Here, gimee that.” Andrew took the brace and slipped it on with experienced hands. ”Think I still remember how, seeing as how I spent half yer damn childhood sticking some kinda bandage on you.” He adjusted the straps.

Dar leaned back and watched him. ”Swelling’s almost gone, at least that’s working out.” She sighed, lifting her leg as he finished and pushing herself upright. ”Thanks.” She stood up and almost fell as a wave of dizziness washed over her. ”Damn.”

”Aw hell.” Andrew grabbed her hastily. ”Hang on.” He got an arm around her and lifted her up, cradling her like a child. ”All right, take it easy, rugrat.”

Dar blinked as her head finally cleared, and she sucked in a breath.

”Okay. I’m all right.” She rubbed her temples irritatedly. ”You can put me down.”

Her father snorted. ”Yeah, yeah.” He walked out of her bedroom ignoring her protests, and finally let her down on the couch. ”Quit yer bitchin, will ya? I’ve had to carry a lot heavier things’n you a hell of a lot farther than that,” he reminded her. ”You remember Moose?”

Dar settled back against the couch and caught her breath. ”Yeah, I sure do. I used to think he was an alien, never saw a human being eat as much as he did.”

”Yeah, well, I had to carry his butt out three miles a couple years back. Damn near killed me. I made him eat Christly granola bars for three months after that.” He sat down next to her and patted her thigh.

”So don’t you fuss at me.”

“Okay.” Dar capitulated meekly.

He rubbed his hands together.“‘Hungry?”

“A little.”

“Got me some aigs inside,” Andrew said. “Fancy kitchen setup you got there.”

Dar managed a wry smile. “Kerry’s touch,” she said. “I never did learn to cook.”

“Sa’llright.” Her father chuckled. “Neither did I.” He stood. “I’ll bring in what I scrabbled up. It probably won’t kill you.”

Hurricane Watch

141

Dar stifled a yawn, and nodded, pensively staring at the table as he disappeared.