Forever My Love by Heather Graham Page A

I’ll be all right. As long as I’m not worried about you and your mother, I’ll be fine.”
    â€œThen it’s settled!” Justin announced, pleased.
    Brent felt Kathy shift beside him. He looked into her eyes, ready for the biggest argument of them all.
    â€œIs it settled?” he asked her tensely.
    She smiled. “If this is what you want,” she said sweetly.
    Her smile was absolutely beautiful, totally innocent. Her eyes were wide and very blue, and her hair was just beginning to dry. It was framing her face with soft, near platinum tendrils.
    She was being too agreeable. Maybe she just wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible.
    â€œIt’s not so much a matter of what I want,” he told her. “It’s what’s necessary.”
    â€œAll right.”
    She’d never said “all right” to him in all the years he had known her. Still, he couldn’t argue with her because she wasn’t arguing with him.
    â€œMaybe we should all start moving,” Justin said. He rose. “I want to get these two there as soon as possible.”
    Brent nodded, rising. He offered Justin his hand. “Thanks.”
    Justin nodded. “You be careful. Real careful.”
    â€œI will be.”
    He started up the stairs to the deck with the others behind him. “Do you need to get your things?” Reba asked Kathy.
    â€œNo, I don’t think I need anything at all,” Kathy said. Brent narrowed his eyes at her. She smiled at him again. “Really. Shanna and I wear the same size, and I’m sure she has plenty of clothing with her. Do you, Shanna?”
    â€œOf course, Mom,” Shanna answered, barely glancing her way. Her eyes were all for her father. “Oh, Dad!” she cried softly, and she threw herself into his arms.
    Brent held her long and close, then set her down. “I’ll be all right.”
    She nodded. There were tears in her eyes.
    He looked beyond his daughter to his wife. Ex- wife. She was standing silently several feet behind Shanna. At long last she’d wrapped the towel around herself. Her eyes met his.
    He wanted to sweep her into his arms, to hold her just as he had held his daughter. He couldn’t. Not anymore. He lifted a hand to her.
    â€œTake care.”
    She nodded, her blue gaze haunting him. She didn’t say a word.
    Justin moved to Brent and handed him a card. “This is the name of the guy who used to own the place. The phone and address are still right, in case you want to reach us.”
    Brent thanked him and stuck the card in his pocket. As soon as he returned to the Sweet Eden , he would memorize the numbers and destroy the card. “I’ll call from a phone booth and make sure you all got there okay,” he said. Shanna was going to start to cry, he thought, if he didn’t leave quickly. He kissed her one last time, waved to the others, then felt Kathy’s eyes.
    She was still staring at him steadily, betraying no emotion whatsoever.
    He turned, smiled and dived from the boat into the water.
    The second he was gone Kathy dropped her towel and spun her daughter around to face her. “I’m not letting him go back alone, Shanna. I’m going to get on the Sweet Eden .”
    â€œKathy, you can’t!” Justin protested.
    â€œYou can’t stop me. And if you waste any more time, you might be risking Shanna.” She smiled at him and Reba. “Thank you both so much. For Shanna and for me. Now, I’m awfully sorry, but I have to move fast. He’s a stronger swimmer than I am.”
    She pulled her daughter into her arms and hugged her, then hugged David impulsively while she listened to her daughter’s protests.
    â€œHang around for just a minute, will you?” Kathy asked wryly. “Just in case he has a chance to pull out before I can sneak aboard!”
    â€œI’ll stay around,” Justin assured her. “I should warn