EMP Catastrophe , Hamilton, Grace [phonics readers txt] 📗

need to see what each of us brings to the table.” She shook her head slowly and tugged on David’s hand. “You, David, are the same way. You can’t keep things from people, but we’ll talk about that when we get back inside. You need your heart medication and probably a good nap by the look of you.”

“Of course,” David said and then said, “Ruth, honey, I am sorry.”

“We will talk about this,” Ruth said in a harsh tone. “You’re not off the hook. I’m furious with you.”

David swallowed hard, but nodded in agreement.

“And I think your wife has a few select things to say to you as well, Matthew.” Ruth held her head high as she walked up the front steps and into the hotel.

The sense of dread inside Matthew increased. Soon, it was just him and Kathleen standing outside, and from the way she crossed her arms, he knew he wasn’t in the clear. Not by a long shot.

21

“Enlighten me, Matt,” Kathleen started and tossed her dark braid over her shoulder. “What is all this about the Carpenter Country that you kept from us?” She took a deep breath. “That you kept from me?”

Matthew stifled an inward groan. He knew he needed to come clean. There was already so much space between them, he didn’t need to cause another divide. He explained everything to Kathleen: about how they’d found a note tied to a rock, how Matthew had elected not to pursue the possible alliance, how David had gone behind his back and done it anyway.

“I think what we need to be most concerned about in this whole situation is that you and David both decided not to confide in the family about this.” Kathleen took a step down off of the porch. Her arms were still tightly wrapped around her torso. “You said we were all in this together. Then, you make decisions that affect all of us without consulting me or even your mother. Do you recognize how insulting that is?”

“I was only thinking about your well-being,” Matthew protested. “You’d been so worried about everything, you barely sleep as it is, I thought telling you about this would just make everything worse.”

“I’m not an invalid,” Kathleen snapped, but her voice didn’t have the scalding bite he’d expected. She almost sounded sad. “Nor am I a hysterical woman who needs her husband to protect her. Yes, I’ve been concerned about our family, but I have my reasons. You shouldn’t have kept something like this from me.”

“I know,” Matthew said. He sounded desperate to himself. “I’m sorry.”

“You can’t make unilateral decisions like that,” Kathleen said, pressing the point.

“I’m sorry,” Matthew said again, and even to him, it sounded hollow.

“Are you sorry for running Jade off?” Kathleen asked. A line of concern appeared between her brows. “After you’d preached about voting to keep her with the family?”

“She was a murderer, Kathleen. You have to agree with me on that. You’ve been wanting her gone since the very beginning.”

The color drained out of Kathleen’s face. For a moment, she looked as though she were going to be sick. “She was trying to earn your trust, and you threw it back in her face.”

Matthew’s throat clicked as he swallowed hard. He couldn’t keep saying he was sorry, even though he felt like that was the only thing that would soothe this rift forming between them. “Do you agree with what she said about me? That I’m weak and arrogant and idiotic?”

Kathleen reached out and brushed his arm. Her hands drifted to his and entwined their fingers together. A tight knot inside of Matthew eased at her touch. He clung to her. It had been so long since he’d been able to touch her and not have her turn away from him. “Of course not. I wouldn’t have married someone like that.” She looked up at him, and her chin wobbled as if she held back tears. “I’m always going to be on your side, Matt. You supported me when I voted against Jade. I’ll always support you, even if you don’t do the right thing. And you know you did the wrong thing in running Jade off.”

“She manipulated my dad,” Matthew said hotly. “She got him to go to the Carpenter Country without us. Ever since she arrived, everything has gone wrong.”

“Honestly, Matt.” Kathleen let out a watery chuckle. “Have you ever known anyone to get David Riley to do something he didn’t want to?”

Matthew laughed softly and studied the mountains for a moment. Right now, the jagged peaks looked like they were piercing the sky. “No, I guess not, but she encouraged him. She backs him and brings out his worst qualities. If she was really invested in this family, she would’ve told us what he planned to do.”

Kathleen gave him a pointed look, even though she looked like she was about to break. “Now you know what it’s like being left in the dark. David was her one ally in this family. I don’t think she’d turn on him. Maybe she thought she was protecting him”

Matthew nodded, finally seeing her reasoning, but not really believing it. He brought their clasped hands up to his lips and kissed her hands. It felt so good to be intimate with her again. Yet, the way she was looking at him, he feared a breeze would knock her over. She appeared so fragile. Barely hanging on. “I’m so sorry, Kathleen. Truly. But aren’t you a little bit happy that she’s gone?”

Kathleen looked away. The sunlight painted her face in a golden light, illuminating the color in her eyes. She bit her lip and for a moment, seemed suspended in agony. “No,” she whispered. “I’m not.”

“Why?” Matthew asked. “We couldn’t trust her. She could’ve turned on us at any moment. She’s a murderer, Kathleen.”

Kathleen flinched, as if Matthew had actually struck her. A soft sob escaped her. “Maybe she had her reasons.”

“For shooting someone?”

Kathleen’s mouth opened and closed as if all words had