"If there's anything I can do, you let me know," Esther offered.
"I appreciate it, but I think the only thing any of us can do at this point is wait … "
"Can you give me a ride home, Esther? I'd like to shower and change. I'll come back real soon, Katherine," George said.
"Yes, that will be fine," Esther replied, her cheeks pickening when several heads turned toward her.
"You don't need to come back tonight, George. Please, stay home and rest. You need to take care of you, so you can help me take care of Joseph when he wakes up," Katherine said.
"Joseph Anderson, you don't rest too much longer, okay? You need to come back home to us. We all love and miss you greatly," George said as he leaned down and hugged his brother. His heart was broken with their constant connection between one another lost. He so badly wanted to hear that booming, wonderful voice, sit down by the fire with a fine glass of bourbon, and laugh about their stubborn children.
Soon, he promised himself. Joseph would wake soon.
"I'm ready, Esther. I appreciate the ride," George finally said.
The nurse tried to insist on him riding in a wheelchair to the front entrance, but he blew her off. He wasn't an invalid. He'd been walking since he was eight months old, and he wasn't going to start being pushed around now.
He slipped his arm through Esther's and they walked from the room.
"Are you okay, Mom? I know you miss dad, but you need to get out of here a little more," Mark said as he sat next to Katherine.
"Ah, Mark, you'll understand after you've been married as long as I have. It hurts me to be away from him. I feel like I can't breathe when we're apart. Your father needs me here. I know he can hear me. I know he's aware that I'm by his side. The more time I'm here, the sooner he'll come home."
"Mom … "
"Now, don't you mom me. I'm doing just fine."
"Can you tell us more of your story?" Amy asked. "You left off with Joseph standing at your door. He was being quite the pig headed man. I'm really hoping you put him in his place," she finished with a smile to take any of the sting out of her words.
"Of course, I'd love to tell you more. It takes me back. Oh, how I miss those days of young love, passion, and romance. Obviously, it worked out for Joseph and me, but I seriously had my doubts … "
Katherine trailed off. She sat back, making herself comfortable before she began …
Katherine stood in the doorway in shock. She couldn't believe he'd show up at her door, and then dare to insult her. Oh, she'd missed him, even knowing what he'd done. She'd thought him handsome five years ago, but time had only refined him.
He stood before her, taller than life, his bright blue eyes practically shooting sparks, as they gazed at her. His dark hair was cut short, and his clothes were slightly wrinkled, as if he'd traveled a great distance, only to show up on her doorstep.
His face was a bit more chiseled, all traces of youth gone. His shoulders a little wider, stronger. He'd always tied her stomach in knots, but she thought she'd purged him from her mind.
She'd been wrong.
Her knees were trembling, and she had to lock them together to keep from dropping in a puddle. She couldn't let him know how much he was affecting her. She also couldn't seem to find her voice as they stared at each other.
"You going to answer?" he mocked, his baritone voice cascading over her skin. She fought the tremors wanting to rack her body. He wasn't there to proclaim his love, she was sure of it, not that she'd believe him anyway. He was there for revenge for what he perceived a wrongdoing on her part.
She knew he could see what he was doing to her. It was obvious. She'd never been good at hiding her feelings. He'd often commented on how he loved the passion just underneath her prim surface. He'd been all about releasing that passion, exposing her, making her feel almost raw in his arms.
She'd never given to another, what she'd promised to Joseph. She'd thought she was over him – she'd been wrong.
"I've often thought about you – wondering how many other men you'd played games with. I wonder who of us has had more partners, Katherine," he said with a sneer. That did it. Her temper finally overrode her shock.
"Well, Joseph, I don't kiss and tell, so you'll just have to keep wondering. I'm sure, though, if I was a gambler, I'd lay the odds in your favor. With the number of concubines at your service, you can have a new woman at your disposal each night of the week."
She was proud of the casual tone she used, as if she didn't have a care in the world. Let him think what he wanted.
He looked at her in surprise. She'd never before had such a sharp tongue. She'd grown up, too, in the years they'd been apart. Still, she wondered how she was able to use any wit with him staring at her.