Page 60 of Question Everything

She tried to stand but he could see how shaky she was with this news. “No, he’s not in trouble,” he said attempting to reassure her. “But he did get injured. He’ll be fine, Conor’s with him at the hospital. They should be home soon.”

“Hospital?” she asked softly.

“The second perp fired his weapon, and a bullet grazed your brother’s thigh. It could have been much, much worse. As it is, I had to fire my gun as well.”

“Kyle…” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. Are you sure you’re alright? That must have been difficult after everything…”

“I would have thought that, too. But when your life and Daisy’s were on the line, there was never any doubt that I would take out anyone who threatened either of you. Instinct kicked in, I guess. I’m happy it did. Now I know that I’ll be fine if I go back to work.”

“What do you mean ‘if’?”

“Let’s not talk about that now, Maeve. In view of what just happened, let’s just take a break for a bit. Besides,” he reached into the back pocket of his jeans with his free hand and pulled out the slim, white envelope that had been delivered during all the chaos. “I think this is the news you’ve been waiting for.”

She looked up at him and then back down at the mail in his outstretched hand. She shook her head. “I know what it’s going to tell us. You open it.”

“Are you sure?”

Maeve nodded.

He handed Daisy back to her mother and slowly peeled back the flap. Then he lifted out the paper and reviewed the information. With a smile, he said, “The truth was never in doubt. You are most certainly Daisy’s mother. As far as paternity goes, here’s the proof to her lineage. She’s 99.9% linked to Anglican bloodlines reaching far back in time, with ties with the royal family. Here it is, printed as plain as day. You have your proof.”

“And my insurance policy. I can scan a copy of this to my contact at ‘The Daily Mail.’”

He watched as her face quickly went from relief to resignation. She sighed and said, “I don’t think you can truly comprehend the blow-back on me once this news gets out, Kyle. That’s why I need to take Daisy and leave. I’ve been enough of an intrusion on you, on your family. Finn and I will be fine. We’ll find a place to lay low for a bit.”

“Maeve, I still don’t think you understand that where you go, so do I. I’m confident that whatever the tabloids say, it won’t matter. I know you, the real you. That’s all that matters.’

She stood up and let him take her and Daisy into his arms. The little girl cooed with glee as she was fully enveloped in their embrace. “If only it were that easy, Kyle. I love you too. That’s why I must leave.” She stepped back and walked over to thedresser, opening the top drawer and pulling out the contents with one hand, making neat, colorful stacks of the clothing she planned to take with her.

“Will you at least agree to hold off on the packing until Finn comes back? Give me a chance. We can discuss this with the entire family first. Maybe if they tell you how they feel, you’ll reconsider.” He took a pile of onesies out of her hand and put them on the dresser’s smooth surface. “Please, Maeve? How about it?”

She stilled then, and he could feel her indecision. Finally, she lifted her eyes to his and said, “You drive a hard bargain, detective.”

All he felt was relief. He’d bought himself some more time.

By late afternoon’s sunset,they were seated at the kitchen table. Both a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of tequila, along with several shot glasses were laid out down the center of the smooth surface. The adults were discussing the events of the day, and the children had been allowed to go outside and play in the swirling snowstorm that had blown in off the ocean while no one had been paying attention to the weather. Warned from straying from the deck outside the kitchen, the boys were content to throw snowballs at one another before coming together to build a fort from the rapidly falling white stuff. It was piling up quickly, and for Kyle, it was a literal sign from the heavens that he was right – Maeve should not leave. Looking out at the ocean, almost invisible against the whiteness of the sudden storm, she had agreed.

“Before the likes of you get too drunk to know better, I’m going to pull out yesterday’s leftovers for tonight’s dinner. We could all use a meal right about now. I don’t think anyone’s eaten since breakfast,” Sibby declared.

For Maeve, it was hard to believe that Thanksgiving had been just one day before. It felt like a lifetime had passed between last night’s holiday dinner and all that had happened since. She knew that at any moment, her news would hit the airwaves and the peace and quiet of the Cape Cod setting would forever be changed for her.

“Let me help you, Sibby,” she said, standing up a little too quickly and feeling the effects of the shot of tequila she’d downed.

“Are you alright?” Kyle asked.

“Yes. I’m fine,” she replied with a smile. “I guess it was the tequila. Looks like Daisy’s drinking formula tonight.”

He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Good.”

The look he gave her then told Maeve everything she needed to know about his plans for her later and her stomach flipped. Despite her resolve to go, she was grateful for the storm and the opportunity to spend another night in his bed. Selfishly, it was the only place she truly wanted to be, and she’d soak in every minute while she could.

She, Colleen, and Sibby were arranging the leftovers, putting everything in bowls and on platters when Conor and Finn returned from the hospital, quickly opening and then closing the front door against the intensifying snowfall.

“If it wasn’t a stressful enough day,” Conor began as he helped Finn into the kitchen. “That ride home from Hyannis almost put me over the edge. The roads are nearly impassable.”

“I missed it,” Finn admitted. “The pain pills they gave me are brilliant. I slept the entire time.”

“Yeah. And I white-knuckled it,” Conor added. Seeing the open bottles on the table, quickly settled Finn into a chair and reached for a shot glass. “I’m going to need a few of these,” he said as he downed his first drink.

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