Page 259 of Keep This Promise
“Have you heard from Emmett?” Sophie asks. “Anything more about Kate’s arraignment?”
“He called this morning to tell me she is being held without bond. The other guy they arrested with Kate sang like a canary. They have been able to connect her to the missing girls, the deaths in Portland, and Wilkinson. I don’t have the full list of charges, but it’s long and she will be facing a lifetime in prison.”
“Good. Wretched woman.”
I agree. Cora even managed to talk Ryan into turning against Kate for a slightly lesser charge since we had him now too.
“Know what else is good?” I ask, leaning in, wanting to put Kate out of our lives for now.
“What?”
“You in my bed.”
Her lips lift as her eyes brighten. “I guess we’re going to be a real couple now and sleep in the same bed from now on?”
“Oh, I’m not letting you out of this bed for a long time. In fact, I may order you to be on permanent bed rest.”
She rolls her eyes. “Can I at least use the loo?”
“If you must.”
I bring my lips to hers, giving her a gentle and loving kiss. The pressure in my chest lifts slightly, but it’s nowhere near enough to relieve the constant anxiety. Sophie’s thumb brushes the almost fully grown beard I’m now sporting.
“Holden?” Mama James calls.
Mama James has, for all intents and purposes, moved in, and she’s informed me that she doesn’t want to hear a single word about it. Of course, she brought the damn cat.
“I’ll be right there!” I call out to her.
Sophie grins. “It’s nice having her here.”
“Is it? Because I didn’t ask for her to do this. In fact, she didn’t give me a choice. She just showed up with bags and that horrible animal.”
“It’s what we do for the ones we love. I know it wasn’t easy for her after Eden was diagnosed with diabetes, and it was even harder after Eden got taken. She needs to be useful.”
I know she’s right, but she’s driving me insane. First, she rearranged my kitchen because the flow was not correct for optimal time management. Then she went into the bathroom, again moving things around, and now she won’t stop cleaning. No matter how many times I have told her to stop—she refuses.
“Holden James! I need you to come in this living room, it’s a mess.”
I groan, and Sophie giggles. “You laugh because you’re sequestered in bed for the next week. I’m the one dealing with this loony person.”
“Just think, in the matter of a few hours, you’ll be in bed with me, and I’ll give you a proper kiss.”
That could be enough to sway me. I lean in, but before I can give her my own version of a real kiss, the door flies open and Eden rushes in.
“Daddy, Mama James is quite upset.”
Each time she calls me Daddy, my heart swells larger. “She’s always upset.”
“No she’s not.” She smiles and then moves toward the bed.
“Hello, darling.”
“Hello, Mummy. Did you eat all your food?”
I grin because she’s been enjoying Sophie’s bed rest more than anyone. She brings her food, makes sure she eats every bite, helps us keep track of Sophie’s medication schedule, and if her mother tries to leave the bed—God help Sophie.
“I did, thank you very much.”
