Page 49 of House of Clouds


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“How’s your father? I stopped by on Saturday, but some strange woman told me he was asleep and couldn’t be disturbed.”

She bit her lip. That nurse. The woman had been incredibly efficient and, Kate was certain, highly qualified for the job, but there hadn’t been much of a personal touch. Kate had been glad that Tom had let her go when he’d arrived Sunday morning. His disapproval over that hadn’t been spoken either, but it was clear enough.

“Sorry. I-I was away with Giancarlo, and Tom couldn’t manage the whole weekend, so Giancarlo arranged for the nurse.”

“You could have asked me,” he said quietly. “You know I would have stayed with him.” His voice was distant, even a little cold, but underneath, she detected a trace of hurt.

She looked at him then, apology and more in her eyes. Her phone rang at that moment, and she tore her eyes away to look at her phone. Giancarlo. She pressed the connect icon and put the phone to her ear. “Yes?” she said hesitantly. She imagined he must be angry, because she’d left him still asleep without a word and her father tucked up in his bed in the darkened dining room, Max snoring on the floor beside him. Max had only looked up at her and put his feet back on his paws, uninterested in her early morning outing.

“Katerina?” His voice was urgent, sharp.

She winced. “Yes? Sorry, I left without saying anything, but—”

“You must come now.”

“What?”

“Your father, you must come now. He has taken a turn for the worst.”

She rose quickly, all other thoughts fleeing her mind. “When? How? What’s happened?”

“Just come,” he said and ended the call.

She looked wildly around, trying to collect herself.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” asked Ethan, suddenly beside her, his hand clutching her shoulders.

She looked up at him, tears collecting in her eyes. “It’s my father. I-I have to get home. Now.”

“Let me take you,” he said. “Give me your keys.”

She stared at him, at a loss. “What?”

“Where are your keys, Kate?”

Keys. She dug her hand in her jacket and withdrew the truck keys. “Here.”

He took them from her and led her to the truck while she tried to focus on what might be happening.

Twenty-Three

The noise was increasing as more mourners, clad in various shades of dark colors, came through the door of O’Connor’s pub. From her place by the kitchen door, Kate recognized most of the faces, some that she hadn’t seen since her teens. It gave her a strange comfort, though, to know so many people would turn up to pay tribute to her father. It showed how much he was part of the community, how much they appreciated him. He deserved to be appreciated. The thought brought the tears to her eyes and her throat to close again, so she focused her thoughts on the trays of food that were being set out on the bar. Pete O’Connor had insisted on providing food and his place for people to gather after the funeral, telling Kate that her father had brought enough custom and cheer to the place over the years through his music as well as his support. Kate had been grateful for his generosity and also the fact that it was one thing she didn’t have to think about when she and Tom had made the funeral arrangements. Now, looking at all the plates of cold meats, cheeses, various salads, taco fixings, burritos, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, lasagna and other dishes, she realized that others had been involved in making food as well.

Phil came up to her, draped his arm around her and pulled her into his side. He kissed the top of her head. “You doing okay there, sweet girl?”

She gave him a tiny nod, and put her head on his shoulder.

“We’ll give him the best send-off,” said Stokey, joining them from the kitchen. She’d seen him bringing some boxes of pies donated from the local diner in through the kitchen back door.

“He’d break all the strings on my mandolin if we didn’t,” said Phil, giving him a grin that Kate noticed didn’t reach his eyes.

“And kick in my drum set,” said Stokey.

Kate gave a small laugh, grateful to them both.

Stokey smoothed her hair. “You hanging in there?”

She looked over at him and gave a shrug. “Trying to.”

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