Ties That Bind Read online

  “I completely understand. Thank you so, so much,” she was nearly breathless. She was actually going to just pick up and fly to London on a moment’s notice to be with a man who was kind of furious with her. But he had gotten her a dog – to heal her soul, no less. So there was still something there. It was terrifying and exhilarating. She realized with a start that she’d better get a shower or she’d miss her flight.

  A flurry of activity later, she was seated on the plane waiting for it to taxi and trying not to panic. His whole family would be there. What would they think when she came strolling in? What if he didn’t want her there? This was such a personal time, she shouldn’t intrude. She very nearly unfastened her seatbelt to get off the plane when she felt the wheels start to roll beneath her. For better or worse, she was on her way to London.

  The flight was excruciatingly long; the flight from New York was delayed and put her behind schedule. By the time she stood in Heathrow with her bags, she was exhausted and bedraggled and wondering about her own sanity.

  She looked at the clock on the wall. It had taken so long to get there Gavin’s mother would already be in surgery. She was so tired she could hardly put one foot in front of the other, but sleep would have to wait. She was this close to the finish line, she had to keep going. In her sleep-deprived state, she envisioned herself a bedraggled marathoner nearing the end of a race. She giggled, earning herself a few odd stares.

  “London Bridge Hospital,” she told the cabbie after her bags had been loaded and she’d sunk into the back seat. She resisted the urge to close her eyes for even a moment because she knew she’d fall asleep. Instead, she brushed her hair and put some lip gloss on. It felt a little like using a band-aid when a tourniquet was needed, but there wasn’t much she could really do about that in the back of a cab. Maybe he’d consider the big black circles under her eyes endearing.

  The taxi pulled to a stop in front of the hospital. Kate took a steadying breath as she stepped onto the sidewalk. It was the moment of truth. She stood there for a moment after the cabbie pulled away, bag in hand and staring at the entrance. Another hospital flashed through her mind. Another mom. Her throat felt thick and she tried to swallow down the lump. A few more deep breaths and she was as ready as she’d ever be.

  Different country, same smells – that was the first thought Kate had as she stepped through the doors. Sick smelled the same here as it did in Albuquerque. She glanced around and found the information desk.

  “Ellen Nichols please,” she felt the need to speak in hushed tones. Hospitals and churches both had that effect on her. She committed to memory the directions to surgery and set off to find the family waiting room. She could hear his hushed voice from outside the door. Her stomach fluttered and her chest tightened. She’d soon know what he thought of her appearance. For better or for worse.

  Staring at the door wasn’t doing much to calm her nerves so she clasped her bag even tighter and stepped through the entrance. She half expected the world to come screeching to a halt. She was a little disappointed when conversation continued without anyone looking up. She set her bag in a corner, then stood there uncomfortably for a second, listening to them debate how best to divide the shifts at the hospital. Should she wait for a break in conversation? Should she say his name?

  “May I help you?” a woman with hair the color of a coffee bean asked pleasantly enough. Kate blushed furiously, her tongue tied the second her eyes met his.

  Kate thought for a second she saw tears well up. He blinked a few times and wiped his eyes with the back of his hands, standing with an odd little laugh – which she matched.

  “Hi. I’m so sorry to bother you. I’m Kate,” her tongue was suddenly free. “I’m…” What? What was she?

  “She’s my girlfriend,” Gavin crossed the distance between them quickly now to engulf her in a hug. It was clear from the collective gasp that Gavin had never brought a girl home before.

  “Well mum’s got to make it now. She’ll want to see this,” one of Gavin’s brothers whispered loudly to another.

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” he ignored his brother. He seemed so absurdly happy to see her, Kate had never been happier to be anywhere.

  “I am so sorry,” she whispered against his neck, standing on her tiptoes to hug him closer again.

  “No worries,” he stood back to drink in the sight of her, his hands holding her face. His family might have assumed she was offering condolences for the situation, but Kate knew he’d understood her apology for what it was. “Come on, meet the whole clan.”

  Kate was suddenly nervous again, and very aware of how she must look.

  “Da, this is Kate. Kate, this is my dad, Garrett,” he pointed to an older, stouter version of himself, and then on to his brothers and their wives. She tried to keep the names straight – Gabriel and his wife Sarah, Devon and Nicole, Darrin and Jill. It didn’t help that the men were all varying versions of Gavin. Each had the same angle to their jaw, the same murky gray eyes, the same easy smile. One was slightly taller, two were slightly shorter; all three seemed slightly stockier. She felt like she knew them a little from her conversations with Gavin. She tried quick mental associations to help her remember names – like that Sarah reminded her of Tara with her pretty blonde hair and soft brown eyes.

  “We sure are happy to meet you,” Garrett surprised her with a hug.

  “I’m glad to meet you as well, sir,” Kate returned the hug awkwardly.

  “Did you hear that boys? Sir. You could learn from this girl.”

  “I still can’t believe you’re here,” Gavin shook his head, grinning from ear to ear.

  “Believe it. Liz is dog-sitting,” she informed him pointedly, folding her arms across her chest.

  “You like him?” he did his best to look sheepish.

  Kate tried to look stern but lost the battle. “I’m crazy about the brute already. He was ticked when I left though. Liz says he’s eating my apartment in retaliation.”

  “You have a dog?” Nicole asked politely. At least, Kate was fairly certain the petite brunette was Nicole.

  “Some might call him that,” Kate grimaced. “Or moose, or couch-eating machine. He was a gift from Gavin.”

  “You got her a dog?” Gabriel nodded sagely, as if reading something into the gesture.

  “Yeah,” he rubbed the back of his neck. Was he embarrassed? “I was at the humane society for a photo shoot and I don’t know; there was just something about him. It was kind of a whim.”

  Kate just shook her head. She couldn’t fathom making that kind of decision on a whim. There were pro/con lists to be made for that kind of thing. Conversation centered on Kate and Gavin for a little while. Kate was under the impression that everyone was happy to have something new to discuss.

  “Kate, don’t let me forget when we get back to the house – I have a file for you. I was going to send it back with Gavin, but since you’re here we can cut out the middle man,” Devon winked at her.

  “Oh, thank you,” Kate had almost forgotten that Devon was trying to unravel the mystery of her family for her. She smiled warmly at him. “I really appreciate the help.”

  “Don’t mention it. I’m enjoying it,” he shrugged sheepishly. Kate liked him, probably because he reminded her the most of Gavin.

  Since she’d come all this way to see him, and since she liked the way “she’s my girlfriend” had rolled off his tongue, she saw no reason to try to maintain the distance between them. At least for now. She’d figure the rest out later. Now, she was going to curl up next to him and be incredibly content with his arm wrapped around her. It was so right there in his embrace, so deliciously comfortable, she dozed off. She vaguely recalled discussing the magazine with Darrin but she didn’t remember the conversation ending. Her next hazy moments of awareness were of being the topic of conversation.

  “Liz said she left day before yesterday – she got hung up in New York,” Gavin was telling them. When had he talked to Liz? Had she be
en that out of it? Lord help her if she’d snored or drooled.

  “Poor thing. She’s been up for two days,” Kate thought it was Jill who murmured that.

  “She loves you Gavin. Don’t you mess this up,” Sarah ordered. Really? Did she love him? Wasn’t it a little soon for that?

  “Really? You think she loves me?” Gavin seemed to read her thoughts.

  “Oh come on, brother. A girl spends nearly two days on a plane to sit in a hospital with you? What do you think?” Gabriel had a point. Kate now had two problems. One, it was going to be really hard to keep Gavin at bay after this. Any hope of walking away from this unscathed now seemed to be gone. Second, she couldn’t open her eyes now or they’d wonder how much she’d heard. There would be an awkward moment all around.

  Someone’s phone chirped softly and it gave Kate the excuse she needed to “wake up.” She purposely yawned and sat up slowly, doing her best to look groggy. When her eyes met Gavin’s, she couldn’t help the momentary blush that crept across her cheeks. She ducked her head into his shoulder but it wasn’t fast enough. The corner of his lip was twitching again and she knew he realized she’d been awake for that conversation.

  “Even if they’re right, that doesn’t mean I’m any less neurotic, you know,” she whispered against his ear. “I’m still perfectly capable of flipping out again.”

  “I’ll take my chances,” he turned his head to look at her. The expression on his face made her heart trip that funny little beat it had the first time she’d seen him.

  “Ellen Nichols family?” A man who Kate assumed to be the doctor stepped into the waiting room.

  “Yes?” Everyone sat up straighter in their seat.

  “She came through the surgery just fine. We feel confident we were able to remove the cancerous tissue. We’ll of course want to follow up with treatment…” Kate didn’t hear much more after that. Her heart soared for Gavin. This was good news. Maybe he could be spared the pain. She watched his face as he took in the rest of what was being said. He seemed so serious, but the joy was still evident.

  After the doctor had assured them that they could see her after she was out of recovery and left, there was a collective sigh of relief. There were hugs all around.

  “All right, you kids go get some food. I’ll wait here,” Garrett ordered them all.

  “No way Da,” Gabriel shook his head. “Sarah and I will wait here; you go with the others to get some food. We can eat later and I’m sure you won’t leave to.”

  He looked ready to protest but conceded at Sarah’s firm command of “Go.”

  Kate was happy to stretch her legs, and even happier at the prospect of food. She’d been too keyed up on the plane to eat. That fact was apparent now as her stomach grumbled loudly.

  “When was the last time you ate?” Gavin eyed her speculatively.

  “I had pizza with the girls the night before I left,” she frowned defensively.

  “Come on then,” he held her elbow as if she needed assistance. “Let’s get some food in you.”

  “I can wait here while you guys go eat. I promise to call if they come for you,” she shook her head in protest.

  “We had breakfast this morning Kate. And dinner last night. And lunch yesterday. And breakfast yesterday…” Gavin pulled her along behind him.

  “You don’t have to be snarfy about it,” Kate grumbled, following obediently.

  “Kate?” Gavin stopped suddenly, halfway down the hall.

  “Yes?” She bumped into him, not expecting his change of pace.

  “I love you,” his arms caught her waist and he leaned in closer to her.

  “I love you, too,” she admitted. And then he stole a quick kiss. Something in his expression said the kiss would have been much different had they been standing just about anywhere else. Kate didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the trip down to the restaurant. Had she really just told a man she loved him?

  Chapter Ten

  Kate felt almost human again with some food in her belly. She marveled a little at this new creature she had become – a woman who could fall head over heels in love with a man after only six weeks. Truth be told, maybe it had really taken six minutes and then six weeks to admit it. That sounded more like her. Where that left them would have to wait until Gavin’s mom was better, until Kate knew where she stood with her father.

  When Gavin’s phone vibrated to signal that they were cleared to see Ellen, Kate’s nerves went haywire again. He seemed pretty intent on her meeting his mother now. Kate was sure that was one of those things that should wait for a more suitable time and place. Gavin insisted nothing would make his mother happier.

  He didn’t even give her time to put on makeup or brush her hair. He just tugged her right on into the room and right up to Ellen’s bed. He did release her hand long enough to lean over his mother to kiss her tenderly.

  “How are you feeling, Mum?” he smiled tenderly. His touch was so gentle it was as if he was afraid to break her.

  “I’ve felt better,” she admitted, weariness and pain etched in her blue eyes. “But that’s not important now. I want you to introduce me to this American beauty by your side.”

  Kate nearly looked around to see who else was standing beside Gavin. She smiled nervously at Ellen, reaching out to take the hand that had been extended to her. Gavin had straightened and now stood at Kate’s side, his hand reassuringly on the small of her back.

  “It’s so nice to meet you, ma’am and I’m glad your surgery went well.” Kate felt bolstered by his touch.

  “Oh dearest, we are so happy to meet you,” Ellen beamed up at her. There was a certain warmth and vibrancy that emanated from her even in her weakened state. Even fresh out of surgery, Kate could see that she was the type of woman with a natural beauty, someone at ease in her own skin. Kate liked her. She was still a little terrified of her, but she liked her.

  “You have a wonderful family.”

  “I think so, too,” she patted Kate’s hand. “And I hope to get to visit with you more before you leave. Will you be staying long?”

  “A few days, then I have to get back to work.”

  “Good. Good,” Ellen’s eyelashes fluttered, reminding them all she needed her rest. One by one, the boys filed back by to kiss their mother’s cheek before being shooed out by their father.

  “My bag’s in the waiting room still,” Kate realized with a start after they’d reached the parking lot.

  “No, it’s in my dad’s car,” he reassured her. “Darrin took it down for you earlier.”

  “Oh. That was sweet of him.”

  “What can I say, we’re good people.”

  “I don’t have a hotel. I wasn’t sure where I should stay,” Kate told him. “I didn’t know where you’d be and I wanted to be with you.”

  “You’re making me dizzy with the sudden turnaround,” he crooked his arm around her neck and kissed the top of her head, the gesture softening the words. “Dare I ask what caused this change of attitude?”

  “A few things,” she answered thoughtfully, pausing long enough for them to get into the car. “First, when you left I realized it was already too late to keep myself from getting hurt. I already cared too much.”

  “Who says I’ll hurt you?” He asked softly, his eyes grazing hers before returning to the road ahead.

  “Precedent.”

  “In general or me specifically?”

  “In general.”

  “And I can’t reassure you that I’m different? How can you really love me if you think I’m like that Peter idiot?”

  “Sometimes people don’t leave by choice,” she stared intently at her hands. “Either way, I don’t feel strong enough to lose someone else I love.”

  “What about Jessica and Liz? You love them, I can tell.”

  “True, but that didn’t smack me right between the eyes the way you did.”

  “I smacked you between the eyes? I don’t know if I like the sound of that,” he teased.

&
nbsp; “You know what I mean. Being around you is like being sucked under by a riptide. Maybe it is better to swim with the current, but instinct tells you to fight it.”

  “Have a lot of riptides in Albuquerque, do you?” The side of his mouth ticked up a little.

  “You’re impossible, sometimes, you know that?”

  “But you love me.”

  “Do you want to hear the other reasons or not?” She crossed her arms and gave him an irritated look.

  “I would,” he assured her.

  “The second reason was Ty,” she began.

  “Ty?”

  “Yes I call him Ty. I refuse to acknowledge you using my dog’s name to poke fun at me.”

  “Did I do that?”

  “Tyler. Steven Tyler of Aerosmith? Somehow I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”

  “I just wondered – if I were a child of the 70s, what would I name my dog?”

  “Impossible,” Kate reiterated.

  “You were saying…” he reminded her of the original conversation.

  “Well it might sound silly, but dogs die.”

  “True.”

  “A lot more often than people do.”

  “Also true,” he tried to follow her logic.

  “But we love them anyway. And the time we have with them outweighs the grief of their loss.”

  “It’s better to have loved and lost and all that,” he surmised.

  “Something like that,” she murmured, repositioning herself so she could study him better.

  “So are those your reasons? Or are there more?”

  “One more. When I heard about your mother, all that mattered was that you were in pain. The need to be with you completely overshadowed anything else. ”

  “I’m glad you came,” he reached out to stroke her cheek.

  “Me too,” she tilted her face into his hand. She hoped his touch would always have this same electrifying yet calming effect on her.

  “We’re here,” he announced. “This is my parent’s house.”