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He sucked in a gulp of frosty air and pushed it forcefully into his lungs. Of course she would bring up Jack. Tragedy made for great TV, after all.
“It’s good to be home.” He hoped she let it go at that, but he knew she wouldn’t.
“Your brother’s tragic death two years ago left the entire state reeling,” she was saying, with a thread of insincere sympathy coloring the words. “We were all invested in the success of the Wyatt twins. How does it feel, Sam, to be here without Jack?”
Under the building rage ran a slender thread of helpless frustration. Why did reporters always ask how does it feel? Could they really not guess? Or did they not care that they were digging into open wounds and dumping handfuls of salt into them? He had a feeling it was a little of both along with the hope of getting an emotional reaction out of their victims—and if there were tears, that was a bonus.
Well she wouldn’t get what she wanted from him. He had plenty of experience dealing with those who sought to pry into feelings best left alone. His features shuttered as he locked away emotions and buried them deep.
“Jack loved the End of Season party,” he said, keeping his voice even and steady, though the effort cost him. “So it’s good to be here, watching locals and visitors alike enjoy the festivities.”
“I’m sure, but—”
He cut her off and pretended not to see the flash of anger in her eyes. “Tom Summer’s band is great. If you’ll swing your camera around, you’ll see we’ve got the kiddie pond open for ice-skating and there are more than two dozen food booths set up offering everything from pizza to Korean barbecue to funnel cakes.” He smiled into the camera and ignored the sputtering reporter beside him.
“Yes,” she said, determined to steer him back on the course she’d chosen. “And yet, how much more special would it be for you to be here tonight if your twin hadn’t died so tragically? Is that loss still resonating within the Wyatt family?”
He’d tried, Sam assured himself. He’d put on a good face, pushed the resort and made an effort to ignore the woman’s painful digging. But there was only so much a man could take. Damned if he’d let this woman feed off his family’s pain. He sent her a steely-eyed glare that had her backing up one small step. But the determination in her eyes didn’t dim.
“No comment,” he said tightly even though he realized that a statement as simple as that one to a reporter was like waving a red flag at a bull.
“The loss of a twin has to be difficult to deal with—”
“Difficult?” Such a small, weak word to describe what Jack’s loss had done to him. To the family. “I think this interview is finished.”
She was relentless. Obviously, she’d set a goal for herself and had no intention of walking away until she’d succeeded in her mission.
“I can’t imagine what it must have been like for you,” she was saying, moving in closer so that she and Sam shared the same camera frame. “Competing with your twin, then becoming a bone-marrow donor during his battle with leukemia...”
Sam kept breathing—that was all he could do. If he spoke now, it wouldn’t be pretty. It all rushed back at him. The stunning news that Jack had cancer. The treatments. Watching his strong, fit brother weaken under the stress of the chemo. And finally, Sam, donating his bone marrow in a last-ditch attempt to save the other half of himself.
The transplant worked. And over the span of several weeks, Jack’s strength returned. His powerful will and resolve to reclaim his life drove him to recover, become the man he used to be.
Just in time to die.
“...helping him win that battle,” the reporter was saying, “defeat cancer only to die in an horrific car accident on his way to the airport to compete in the international ski trials.” She pushed the microphone up higher. “Tell us,” she urged, “in your own words, what it cost you and your family to survive such a personal tragedy.”
His brain was buzzing. His heartbeat thundered in his own ears. His mouth was dry and once again, he clenched his hands into useless fists. Sam gritted his teeth because he knew, if he opened his mouth to speak, he was going to blast the woman for her feigned sympathy in the name of ratings.
“Megan Short!” Lacy stepped up beside Sam, smiled at the reporter and said, “This is great! I’m Lacy Sills, manager of the resort. We’re so happy to have Channel Five at Snow Vista. I hope everyone in your audience will come on up to join the party! We’ve got free food, a skating rink for the kids, dancing to a live band and the best desserts in Utah. The evening’s young so come up and join us!”
