Page 2 of Night Watch
“Not even if he can help you prove your point about Mom?” Finley crossed her arms. “Or are you afraid he’ll do the opposite and side with the ME’s findings?”
A vision of Erik came to mind. His dishwater blond hair. Wide jaw. Fit body. Those strong arms holding her. His ready smile that evaporated when she’d told him she didn’t want to be with him. And then she’d walked out without an explanation. “Not for any reason.”
“Fine.” Finley tightened her arms. “Be that way. You always were too stubborn for your own good. I don’t know why I thought you moving away for a few years would change that.”
Kennedy took her sister’s hand, her skin soft but cool from the night breeze.
“I don’t want to argue with you anymore,” Finley said. “Mom wouldn’t want that. We should be sharing our memories of her and celebrating her life.”
“You’re right.” Kennedy tried to sound cheerful but wasn’t sure she accomplished it.
“Why don’t we look at some old family movies?” Finley grabbed the TV remote and popped a DVD into the player and it whirred to the beginning of the first recording.
Kennedy settled next to her sister on the beige sofa in the small living area with an equally small L-shaped kitchen at the far end of the room. Their mom had moved into the floating home less than a year before, about two years after their father’s passing, and Kennedy had only visited a handful of times. The small place that moved with strong winds and currents didn’t feel solid like the home she’d grown up in, and she was still getting used to living on water.
A video from Finley’s first birthday started playing. She sat in her high chair, and their mother was placing a small cake in front of a very chunky Finley. She plunged her fingers into the cake, and a wide grin brightened her chubby face.
“I thought this would be a good idea, but now…” A sob stole Finley’s words.
Kennedy put an arm around her sister and held her close as tears rolled down her cheeks too. “Maybe we should hold off before watching more of these.”
Finley punched the remote button, blackening the screen, and shot to her feet. “I need some air.”
“We could sit on the deck.”
“I need to head home and run this off.” She started for the door to the street.
“Okay.” Kennedy knew running was the way her sister often dealt with stress. As long as her sister was dealing with stress, maybe Kennedy could help. “I was wondering if you’d be willing to take Oreo.”
“Like adopt her?”
Kennedy nodded. “I’m working so many hours while I’m here, leaving her alone a lot of the time.”
“She’s used to it from Mom working so much.”
“Maybe, but I think she’s really lonely. And when I go back home, I’m not around much either. Plus I travel a lot so it wouldn’t be fair to Oreo. And if you took her, you could snuggle. Maybe that would give you some comfort.”
Finley looked at the cat curled in a ball on the sofa, her white paws covering her cute white nose as she slept.
Kennedy didn’t want to give up the sweet cat, but if Oreo could help Finley, Kennedy was all for it. “How about trying it for a few days, and if it doesn’t work, you can bring her back.”
“Okay, but don’t get your hopes up.”
“Let me get her things together for you.” Kennedy raced around the house gathering toys, a bed, food, and dishes. She scooped the litter box so it was fresh for Finley. “Go ahead and take this stuff to your car, and I’ll get Oreo into her carrier.”
Finley picked up the bags and marched out the door.
Kennedy let out a long sigh. Things shouldn’t be this hard between sisters, and she really didhope the cat would bring Finley comfort and allow her to let go of her grief. Maybe then she could consider how important it was for Kennedy to look into their mom’s death.
“Come on, sweetie.” Kennedy scooped Oreo up and took her soft purring body to the carrier. The precious kitty didn’t even fight going into it, just turned and looked up at Kennedy with big, sad eyes, tugging at Kennedy’s already raw emotions.
Finley returned, her expression tight, and picked up the carrier. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“Call me later today, okay?” Kennedy asked. “I want to make sure you’re all right.”
“Sure.” Her sister spun and left, leaving the door open behind her.
Finley was still upset. The last thing Kennedy wanted. She could hardly fathom having lost both of their parents within three years of each other. She needed her sister right now. Desperately.
