Page 51 of Blackstone's Heart
Chapter 14
Ethan came awake slowly. He reached over to pull Krista to him but found her gone. Tossing off the sheets, he pulled on his pants and headed out of the room. He had just reached the foot of the stairs when he heard voices coming from Krista's office. He moved to the door as he heard Krista speak.
"I know Stacey. God I still can't believe it. This is like something out of a movie or..."
"One of your novels."
"Stace, I just don't know what to do. In a few hours I'm meeting with his parents. They're going to blame me. I know they will."
"Kris, they won't blame you. Tessa and Carl would never blame someone that Jerry loves, I mean...loved. Dammit."
Ethan slipped into the room as Krista looked up. She reached out for him. He took her hand and moved behind her chair. "I get what you mean. I think it’s starting to set in ya know? It’s been only three days but, I’m starting to feel again."
“I hear you Kris. The first day or two after we were told I just shut down.”Stacey sighed then cleared her throat."Kris, I don't want to sound like an insensitive bitch here, but what..."
"The book release." Krista finished.
"Yeah."
"Well, what are the bosses saying about it?"
"They're saying it's your call. You want to move forward with it, we can. You want to wait, they'll do that too."
Krista was silent. Ethan took that opportunity to lift her out of the chair. He sat and pulled her down onto his lap. She curled into him, her relief shining in her eyes. "Let me...let me talk to Tessa and Carl. I'll...um...I'll let you know tonight."
Stacey sighed."Honey, there's no rush. Okay? The book isn't slated to go live for another three weeks. We've got time. Take the rest of this week and the weekend. Think about this long and hard okay. Your fans will understand and will support you. So will I and the rest of the house here. You're hurting. You need to grieve."
"I know. Okay, I'll get with you next week then. Thank you Stacey."
"Anytime Kris. Let me know what his parents are doing for the services. We will definitely do something."
"Will do. Talk to you soon." Krista agreed and ended the call.
"You weren't there when I woke up." Ethan sighed as he held her.
"Sorry. I woke up and couldn't fall back asleep. Figured I'd get that nasty call out of the way." Krista replied laying her head over his heart.
"Who was that anyway?"
"My publisher, Stacey Carlin. She and Jerry were old friends before he went off to Hamilton. He reached out to her when I finished Dress Blues. She doesn't know my real identity before you ask."
Ethan nodded resting his head atop hers. He just sat there holding her, listening to her soft breathing. When he glanced down, he saw she had drifted off to sleep. Slowly he rose, holding her securely he moved into the living room. He eased them both down on the couch and tugged the throw blanket over them. Within minutes he too was once more asleep.
***
Krista paused at the door for a moment. Inside the house she grew up in waited Jerry's parents. Did she have the guts to face them knowing that in a twisted turn of fate she was the reason their son was dead? Would they blame her for what happened?
"Don't Krista." Ethan said.
"Huh?" She jumped, looking up at him.
"Don't blame yourself. This wasn't your fault in any way, shape or form. You hear me?" He stated.
She nodded. Squaring her shoulders, she opened the door and walked into the house. She and Ethan were greeted in the front hall by her mother. Debbie pulled Krista tightly into her arms. Krista shuddered and clung to her.
"It's okay honey." Debbie whispered.
"Where..."
