Chapter Twenty-Seven

 

Kate sat up with a start. Her head felt much clearer. She looked around her beautiful sky blue room and smiled at the butterflies. Her father had helped her decorate the room just a few years ago. It was his idea to mount the butterflies on the wall and now it was the last reminder of him. Like those delicate creatures, Kate’s life would come to a sudden end after today. It was a short life but a good one. She smiled as she remembered the past year. She felt like she already lived a lifetime. It was good she knew everything and accepted her fate.

Why did she feel so normal then, so alive? Did that mean her father was right? She survived because she came back to the present. Kate’s stomach flipped over. Drew could have come back with her. But she still wasn’t sure. Today was only New Year’s Eve day. This could be her last day. She wouldn’t be sure until tomorrow. Why then did she feel so full of life?

“Happy New Year!” Kate’s bedroom door flew open and her dad’s head popped around the doorframe.

“Dad! It’s you! How is this possible?” Kate jumped up on her bed, bouncing up and down. “No wonder I feel so good! You weren’t on the trains. How did you make it here? Oh my gosh, we left Drew behind.” Kate’s joy turned to anguish in a split second and she began crying hysterically. “Dad, you didn’t know we were there. Did you see Drew by any chance? If not, it’s too late for him. He’s in the year 1928!”

Kate’s emotions were all over the place as she rattled on. She wanted to laugh, cry, scream. She continued jumping on her bed, bouncing, talking and crying all at the same time.

“Katie, calm down. One thing at a time. First let’s get the most important question answered.” Her dad looked like he was grabbing someone and pulled him into view.

“Drew!” Kate flew off the bed and into his arms.

“Happy New Year, Mrs. Martin!” Drew picked her up and swung her around.

“All questions will be answered downstairs. I’m hungry as a horse. I haven’t eaten in days.” Her father headed down the stairs.

“I’ll meet you down there.” Drew pointed and followed him down the stairs.

Kate ran to her mother’s bedroom, sobbing with joy. “Mom, what happened?”

“I don’t really know. When I woke up, your father was next to me. I’m just getting over the shock myself. Look at you! Your color came back and you’re the picture of health. Let’s get down there. I want your father to tell us everything.” Her eyes were swollen and red, but her smile told it all.

Kate ran back to her room and threw on some warm clothes to head downstairs with her mother. As the surprise wore off, both women began to cry again. Kate’s dad and Drew did their best to console them but at times they were near tears, too. Finally, they all settled around the kitchen table to hear the story.

“Well, first I’ll tell you how I managed to get back here. Drew told me you received the telegram saying I was trying to make my way back to the canyon. I made it all the way to Chicago with some people I met in Pennsylvania. We missed the last afternoon train that I knew I needed to be on. Because of all the people stranded in the station, they scheduled one more train that would get me to the canyon late in the evening. We would have rioted if they hadn’t done something. So many people were traveling for days, sleeping on benches and getting nowhere. I finally got in around eleven p.m. last night...New Year’s Eve night. My heart pounded out of my chest the whole ride there.” Kate’s dad got up and headed for the coffee pot.

“I’ll get it. You go sit...and keep talking.” Kate’s mom ran interference.

Her dad returned to his seat. “I immediately headed for the boardinghouse as soon as I got off the train. My only thought was to get back here in time. I had no idea you three came looking for me. I only sent that telegram on a whim in case Joanna decided to search for me. If I had known, I definitely would have stopped at the cabin first. Luckily I ran into Andrew at the boardinghouse or he wouldn’t be here.”

Kate gasped and grabbed Drew’s hand. “Dad would never know we were at the cabin.”

Drew took over. “It all worked out, as you see. You wanted me to stay with you as long as possible last night. After you fell asleep and returned here, I just sat in your room for a while. I was trying to picture my life without you but couldn’t. I knew I had to leave. It was difficult. Before I left the boardinghouse, I decided to check on Joanna. When I saw she was gone, there was no reason to stay anymore. I was coming down the stairs when the door flew open and Jack walked in. I almost fell down those stairs!”

“So we went back upstairs, found our books and here we are!” Jackson was beaming. “Let’s eat!”

“Jackson.” Kate’s mom brought the coffee to the table. “You’re leaving out the most important part.”

“Yeah, Dad, what happened at Grandma Lilly’s?”

All eyes were on him. “Well, I’d better finish the story so I can have my breakfast,” he said nonchalantly. Then he threw his hands up in the air. “I have all the answers. I don’t like some of them, but at least I have the answers.”

Her mom walked over and put her arms around her dad. “That’s called life, sweetheart.” And she kissed him on the cheek.

“I guess it is. You will probably not be surprised to hear that Albert was the one who let the client escape. He was in on it the whole time. This criminal was being held behind bars while on trial because they feared he would try to flee the country. Albert was offered a lot of money to help him escape. That offer, combined with the fact he knew he would lose the case one way or the other, was tempting. In a weak moment, he took the bribe and everything was set into motion. Father found out just as it was going down, stepped in and took the fall. The client got away and Father was sent to prison as his accomplice. The judicial system wanted to make sure someone paid the price. This criminal was someone they wanted behind bars and had the evidence to put him there.”

Everyone sat staring at Kate’s dad, mesmerized by his story. “Did everyone hear me? My father took the fall!” He pounded on the table and they all jumped.

“That’s what we do for our children.” Her mom took his hand. “Didn’t we do everything we could for our child?”

He nodded, rubbing his hand over his face. “When I went to see Father in prison he said he’d lived his life and it was a good one. He told me to stop pursuing evidence and leave things as they were. He didn’t want Albert to suffer for one mistake. Do you believe that? He willingly went to prison for him. Then he gave Albert his blessing to run the law firm and wished him well. Father never expected him to neglect the family, neglect mother. He kept telling me the sentence was only ten years and he would be out sooner on good behavior and make everything right. I didn’t have the heart to tell him he’d never make it out of prison. I’m slowly preparing mother for that idea.”

“So what was Albert’s excuse for deserting the family?” Kate’s mom prodded him to continue.

“Al broke down on Christmas Eve when he and I were alone. He finally confessed everything. He was ashamed and embarrassed and said he couldn’t look Mother in the eye. He feared she’d see the truth and be disappointed. So he stayed away. I made him promise he would be there for her in the years to come, whether I was around or not. He said he would and I believe him.”

“Did you tell Grandma Lilly the truth?” Kate held her breath.

“I’m leaving that up to Albert. Hopefully, he’ll be able to tell her one day. At least I know the truth and my father dies in jail believing he did the right thing.”

“Albert does have two sons, Jack. They help make the law firm what it is today.” Drew knew more about the business than what he told Kate. She was a little surprised by that fact. “The name’s still on the building, Woods and Associates. Your father would be proud.”

“Yes, I believe he would. I guess I have to close that chapter of my life now. It’s not the way I would have chosen to end it, but it’s the only ending there is.”

“There is one chapter with a happy ending.” Kate pointed out. “Us!”

“Yes, Kate.” Her dad laughed. “It’s the best chapter in my life.”

* * * *

Kate couldn’t wait to talk to Anna and Lindsey. She would call Lindsey first and tell her a simple house party was all she could handle knowing Lindsey would understand.

“Kates!” Lindsey sobbed into the phone. “You’re alive!”

“Of course I am, silly.” Then Kate stopped. “Anna told you, didn’t she?”

“Yes, she did. Please don’t blame her. I called her and could tell something was wrong. I pried it out of her because I was worried about my grandma. Remember, to you she is this strong, eighteen year old girl, but to me she’s just my sweet little great-grandma.”

“I’m not mad. I’m glad she confided in you. You probably wouldn’t remember anything after today, anyway.”

“Oh, don’t say that. I wrote your name on my arm so I wouldn’t forget. The whole story was just too terrible to be true, but you’re here now and that’s what matters.”

“By the skin of our teeth!” Kate laughed. She could laugh now but shivered when she thought of the sheer terror she’d felt. “Did you really write my name on your arm? You’re too funny, Linds. We’ll talk more later. Will you and Charlie come over tonight? The family’s not up for much.”

“Definitely, we’ll be there around eight. You better call Grandma J now. I don’t think she can stand the suspense much longer.”

Kate leaned back in her favorite yellow chair. She gazed around the room, trying to compose herself as she dialed. As soon as she heard Anna’s voice, Kate began to sob. All of the emotion of the last few days came pouring out. Anna never said a word, she just let Kate talk. Finally, Kate realized Anna had been silent the whole time.

“Anna? You didn’t fall asleep, did you?”

“How could I fall asleep hearing all of that? Kathryn, you’ve been to hell and back. Welcome home.” She sounded like the Anna Kate knew from long ago.

“Thanks, but now I’m a little worried about you.”

“Now that you’re here, I’m fine. I played out so many scenes in my head of what was going on at the canyon, I’m exhausted. Just glad we never had to find out what would happen if Jackson didn’t return.”

“I’m prepared to live a very normal life from now on. There’s been enough drama this past year to last me a lifetime.”

“Knowing you, I don’t think life will ever be normal and I mean that in a good way,” Anna chuckled. “I love you, Kathryn Martin Roberts, and don’t ever forget that.

“I could never forget. Your words helped me through this ordeal, Anna. You said you would never forget me and would write our story down so you’d always remember. I knew if one person remembered me, then I existed in this world. So thank you.”

“Now you’re getting me all weepy again.” Anna’s voice grew softer.

“That’s what best friends do, I guess. They laugh and cry together and always have each other’s backs.” Kate began to tear up, too. “Happy New Year, Anna.”

“Happy New Year, Kathryn.”

There was a knock at Kate’s door. “Mrs. Martin, are you alright in there?”

“Drew, come in. I was just on the phone.” Kate jumped up and let him in. She couldn’t believe Drew was there, standing on the other side of the door.

“You look tired.”

“Oh, I don’t know why I should be.” She had to tease him.

“Let’s take a nap.” Drew picked her up and carried her over to the bed.

“No, I just want to be with you.”

“I’ll stay with you. You want to be rested up for tonight, don’t you? You have hours before Lindsey and Charlie get here. Stop fighting me and do as you’re told.”

For once Kate had to agree with him although she felt he was treating her like a child. She was tired. A short nap would do her good. Hadn’t she almost died? She felt the energy drain from her at the canyon as if a vacuum was sucking the life out of her. A nap would recharge her. Kate curled up in Drew’s arms and before she knew it she was asleep.