Note: Well, we're back on schedule with weekly updates. : ) Hope you enj- ... wait, that's not quite the right word. Not when we have to issue a major kleenex alert to everybody. Character death ahead ... but then, you knew that it was going to happen, didn't you? (Incidentally, this was the first-ever chapter to be written back when we started this. It underwent a few revisions, naturally, to incorporate things, but other than that -- this is how it all began.) Please pass by the feedback box on your way out, as usual. DB/CR
Seasons To Remember
Chapter 23: Days Of Darkness, Ray Of Light
It was finally time to sample the eggnog; as Lynne and Jay filled glasses for everybody, Kat was idly leafing through the scrapbook on her lap just before she put it on the stack with the others. There were so many memories stored within its pages … she knew that if they lingered over each picture, they'd still be sitting here on New Year's Day! Kat smiled as she glanced at a few here and there. However, she had to swallow hard despite herself when she came across a photograph showing her with Oliver, Lynne and a pre-teen Jared in front of their fireplace at home, an evergreen garland draped around the mantelpiece and a fat red candle burning brightly in the background.
"Oh my," she whispered, letting the scrapbook fall weakly to her lap as the memory overwhelmed her.
"What is it, Mom?" Lynne asked concernedly, took one look at the picture in the top left corner of the page and sniffled once, too. Seeing her family's slightly alarmed glances, she forced a smile. "This was the Christmas picture we sent out the year Dad died," she murmured.
"I remember," Jay said quietly, hugging his wife. "It's strange, but whenever I think back to that particular Christmas, I'm both sad and happy."
"How so?" Ramon wondered. "Sad I can understand; after all, Uncle Jason wasn't gone all that long, and I know that the first major holiday without a loved one is always hard." He was thinking about his grandmother DeSantos, who had died a few years before after a mercifully short bout with cancer. "Why would you be happy, though?"
"Didn't we spend that Christmas Eve with you and Aunt Kim?" Jared asked Tommy.
"Yes we did – and I gave Kim her first scrapbook," Kat replied, having regained her composure. "And I suspect Jay is happy because he and Lynne fell in love that night, didn't you, hon?"
"Well, she was so unhappy; I had to do something to cheer her up, didn't I?"
"So you just went ahead and made a pass at my little sister," Oliver groused. "If I had known that at the time …" The threat implicit in his words was belied by the affection in his eyes he had for his best friend.
"It was about the best present I ever had," Lynne smiled, leaning back against Jay's chest. "It certainly taught me one thing – that even out of complete misery can come something good."
~*~
"I'll get it," eighteen-year-old Jay called, and moved quickly to the front door when the bell rang. I just hope this isn't somebody out to collect for some charity again, he thought. Something that had happened four times already this Christmas Eve.
But no, their expected guests had finally arrived – all but one, that is.
"Hey guys," Tommy and Kimberly's son said softly as he let the Scott siblings into the house, their arms filled with presents. "Glad you could make it."
He relieved his best friend Oliver of the packages he held, dumped them hastily on the nearest side table, then helped 16-year-old Lynne out of her jacket. She gave him a wan smile for his efforts and immediately turned towards her younger brother, 10-year-old Jared. The boy seemed on the verge of tears. Come to think of it, none of them looks exactly happy, Jay mused, but given the likely reason, he kept his silence. "Come on in."
In the warm, cosy Oliver family room, the lights were twinkling merrily on the Christmas tree, its base heaped with gaily-wrapped packages of all shapes and sizes. Tommy was at the stereo putting on some carols, Kim called a hello from the kitchen and Trini smiled at them from the candles she was lighting on the festively-decorated dinner table.
"Hi, Lynne," she greeted her older friend.
"Hi, Trini," came the rather listless reply. "Uncle Tommy."
"Good evening, kids," Tommy said genially, scanning the room for another presence. "Where's your mom?"
A heavy silence filled the cheery room all of a sudden.
"She went to the cemetery," Oliver finally murmured. "Again."
Tommy closed his eyes in sudden pain. Of course. Where else would Kat be, tonight of all nights? "Oh Lord. Does she have a car?"
"No, she sent me on," Oliver said more strongly. "She said she'd walk …" His tone clearly indicated he hated the idea of leaving Kat behind by herself, but Tommy knew that he couldn't go against his mother's wishes in this. He was the man of the house now; his younger siblings were his responsibility, and like his father, he wasn't going to shirk it. Nodding once sharply, he put down the stack of CDs he was holding.
"Well, we can't have that," he declared firmly. "You guys help Kim; I'll go pick her up." He was already in the hallway, reaching for his jacket and car keys. Kimberly appeared from the kitchen, a pot holder in her hand.
"You're going to fetch Kat?" she asked softly, having overheard the exchange.
"Yeah," he replied just as quietly. "If I don't, she's likely to stay at the grave for hours or go back home on her own. I don't want the kids to worry, and besides …"
"… you don't want her to be alone. I understand, Tommy." Kim kissed her tall husband quickly. "Just drive carefully, okay?"
"Sure. Be back in a flash."
~*~
As he maneuvered his car through the gathering darkness to the cemetery, Tommy let his mind wander back to late September – shortly after both Jason's 46th birthday and the Scotts' twentieth wedding anniversary. It had been such a happy month for all … only to end in devastating tragedy. As if it was yesterday, he remembered the events of that fateful day.
The dojo's office phone had rung innocently enough, and since he was rummaging for a registration form – there was a potential new student waiting outside – in his desk anyway, Tommy answered himself.
"Red Dragon Dojo, Tom Oliver speaking. How can I help you?" he said pleasantly, continuing to riffle through a stack of papers with his free hand. For a few seconds, there was no sound, then a heartrending sob came through the receiver.
"Tommy … oh God, Tommy …"
Startled, Tommy let the papers fall. The voice was obscured by tears, but he'd recognize that soft accent anywhere. "Kat? What's the matter?" His immediate thought was that something had happened with one of the kids, or maybe the Hillards or Scotts. Kat's father had had a mild stroke in January, and Helen Scott had been ailing for a while now. "Jase is already on his way home from Silver Hills, he called me right before he left. He should be home any minute," he tried to calm her. But to his shock, Kat cried even harder.
"No … no, he won't," she choked. "Tommy …Captain Stone just came by; there … there's been an … an accident."
Icy fear gripped Tommy's heart. "Lord, please, no," he breathed. No wonder Kat was beside herself! "What hospital is he in? I'll meet you there right away," he promised. His class could go home early for once, and Mike, the student trainer, could close up … he'd call Kim to stay with the kids, if Kat hadn't already done so … Tommy's whirling thoughts came to an abrupt halt when Kat's voice suddenly went very quiet, interrupted only by occasional sniffles.
"Jason … Jason's not at the hospital, Tommy," she whispered brokenly, barely audible. "T-there was no need … not anym-more …"
It took a few moments for the meaning of her words to sink in – then Tommy felt himself go weak at the knees and the blood rush from his face as he blanched as white as his gi. Blindly, he reached out to steady himself against a filing cabinet.
"No …"
It was impossible – it just couldn't be! Only a few hours ago, Jason had teased him about oversleeping that morning, had laughed with him, had made plans to take their sons rafting this weekend. It was unthinkable that such a vital, energetic person like his best friend should have been reft from them – from the family he loved so much.
Jason can't be … be dead!
His eyes filled with tears, but calling on all his discipline he forced them down. He was needed now, for whatever assistance he could give.
"I'll be right over," he rasped.
"Th-thank you …"
His mind nearly blank with shock, Tommy took a few deep breaths, trying to think. He'd call Kim on the way from his car phone; someone would need to inform the kids – oh God, the kids! How could he tell them that their beloved father would never come home again? He had no idea. Lynne was supposed to be at their house; he hated placing that burden on Kimberly, but it couldn't be helped. He didn't know where Jared might be, but Oliver … Oliver was at the Stone Canyon facility, training with Jay and Ramon for an upcoming tournament. Rocky. Rocky'll be there. He'll have to break it to the boys. Sorry, man.
Snatching up his keys, he flung a few instructions at Mike and ran towards his car. He didn't want to think about how Kat must be feeling now. Easing into the late afternoon traffic, Tommy battled the temptation to floor it as if he were still on the racetrack. One accident per day was plenty.
He was lucky to get to their street reasonably fast; the two inevitable stops at red lights he'd used to call Kim and Rocky, shocking them as much as he'd been. Both promised to bring the Scott children home as quickly as possible.
Capt. Stone's black-and-white was still in the driveway, and for a second Tommy was glad that their old acquaintance hadn't left Kat alone, then the feeling faded. It seemed as if his throat was clamped in a vise, making it impossible to speak as he walked towards the side entrance. Entering the cool kitchen, Tommy instinctively turned towards the living room. As he'd known, Kat was there, before the fireplace … with a very uncomfortable-looking Jerome Stone standing a few feet away. The look of relief on his lined face would have been comical under any other circumstances, but Tommy hardly saw him. All his attention was focussed on the slender blonde, whose tragic blue eyes met his across the room.
"Tommy," she whispered hoarsely, reaching out to him with a helpless gesture. "Tommy, Jason is gone …" Tears spilled afresh down her too-pale cheek.
"God, Kat," Tommy choked. He never hesitated, just drew Kat into his arms, his own eyes overflowing as he felt her tremble. Violent sobs shook her body as she clung to him. Lost in their grief, neither noticed Capt. Stone quietly leave.
"I'm so, so sorry …"
~*~
It had been inadequate then; it was more so at the funeral a few days later. Kat was still pale, looking waif-like in the slim black dress she was wearing. But her tears were silent now; to her friends it was obvious that she was doing her utmost to be strong for her children and Jason's devastated parents. Oliver, looking more like Jason than ever, watched in stony silence as the coffin was lowered into the ground. Lynne was sobbing helplessly, and Jared wouldn't let go of Kat's hand, visibly torn between emulating his older brother's shaky stoicism and giving in to a child's need to cry.
All four dropped small bouquets of three red roses each into the open grave, murmuring words of farewell too softly for anyone else to hear. Then, they left with the immediate family, letting Tommy arrange everything else. He could hardly bear to talk about refreshments, of accepting condolences and whatnot, but it was the last service he could render for Jason – his best friend, comrade-in-arms, closer than a brother. And there were a lot of people filing by; Jason had been well-liked and had been active in a lot of community programs. All of their friends were there, of course, the students from the dojo, a delegation of the Silver Guardians Jason had trained …
Even some of the other Red Rangers had shown up – Carter Grayson solemn in his fireman's uniform, Eric Myers saluting Jason one last time as Wes Collins, in a sombre dark business suit, looked on silently.
When the last mourner had left, only their friends gathered round, to also say their good-byes. It nearly broke Tommy, who had been too blessedly busy to grieve yet. That would come tonight, when he'd be alone with Kimberly. Absently, he dried his cheeks. There was no shame in crying for someone you loved.
~*~
He could park his car in almost the exact same spot as during the funeral, Tommy noted in passing as he walked slowly along the path on nearly-deserted Angel Grove Cemetery to a grave he knew to find blindfolded. A grave that shouldn't be there yet – not for a long time. As he approached the location, he saw Kat kneeling on the moist earth, her shoulders shaking in silent sobs. A bowl with bright-red poinsettias had been placed in front of the headstone, the vibrant color a painful reminder of the person lying buried there. Only when he stood directly behind the weeping woman could Tommy read the simple inscription on the polished black marble. Gold letters gave only a name, and the years of birth … and death.
Jason Lee Scott
1979 – 2025
Tommy waited a few minutes, fighting down his own fresh rush of grief, but Kat either hadn't noticed him yet … or didn't want to acknowledge his presence. She continued to cry softly, the sound forlorn in the still, cool air. At last, Tommy placed a gentle hand on her trembling back.
"Kat," he called her softly. "It's me, Tommy. Come on, honey, you need to get up."
With a resigned sigh, Kat rose stiffly, her lovely face tear-stained and full of sadness. She didn't look at her friend, but continued to stare at the headstone.
"Why did he leave us, Tommy?" she choked out at last. "Why did Jason have to die?"
He pulled her into a comforting hug, his own eyes moist. "I wish I knew," he sighed. "I keep telling myself it was fate, but …" Tommy shrugged, feeling as helpless – and furious at the universe – as he'd been when he'd gotten the news. He'd called Capt. Stone later that night to learn details about the accident; Kat had been too distraught to remember much. Jason had been driving home from work with the Silver Guardians when suddenly a ball bounced onto the street before him, immediately followed by two young children. In an action as natural as breathing to the man they were mourning, Jason had yanked the steering wheel around, swerved out of the way … and crashed into an oncoming truck. The other driver had been hospitalised for weeks, but Jason … best friend, beloved father, adored husband … had died in the accident due to a faulty airbag.
"At least his quick reaction saved those kids," Tommy said lamely, knowing that it was little comfort to the grieving woman clinging to him. "If he had to die young at all, it's the way he would have wanted to go – saving someone else."
"I know that," Kat sniffled. "It doesn't help."
"No, I don't think it would," Tommy murmured, aware of how inadequate words were.
"God, Tommy, I miss him so!"
"I know, honey. I know. We all do." He tightened his arms around Kat, giving her at least what little comfort a friend's touch could bring. He could feel the still-slender form shake against him, but he said nothing, just waited for the fresh storm of tears to subside. When it finally did, Kat rested her head on his shoulder with a weary sigh. Without thinking, Tommy pressed a light kiss against her forehead. He knew Kim wouldn't mind.
At last, he released Kat. Tilting her chin up with one finger, he summoned a smile he wasn't truly feeling. "Let's go home, dear. Kim and the kids are waiting."
"I don't really feel like company, Tommy," Kat demurred. "This is the first Christmas without Jason, and …"
"… and what you and your children don't need is to sit at home by yourselves, staring at the walls, seeing Jase everywhere you turn," he interrupted her. "Kat – I know this is hard for you, but please – can't you make an effort? At least for Jared's sake, if not your own?"
"What do you think I've been doing each day since the accident?" Kat demanded angrily, but she didn't resist when he firmly but gently guided her to the cemetery's exit and his car. "If it weren't for the kids, trust me, I'd have joined Jason by now!"
"Don't even think that!" Tommy exclaimed. "Kat – you're needed here. By your children – would you want to leave them orphans? By your students, your friends … trust me, we can't let you go, too. Even if it's only to help me keep Jason's memory alive," he added more quietly. "He would want you to live."
"I don't know if I can, without him," the blonde woman whispered as she let Tommy buckle her in. "God, Tommy, I loved him so much …!"
"I know. So did I."
Infinitely sad blue eyes met gentle brown ones. The two exchanged a long look that spoke of shared grief and deep understanding for the other's loss. Kat was the first to break away. Leaning back against the headrest, she closed her eyes and kept silent, lost in her memories of happier times as her husband's best friend drove back towards his home.
.
~*~
Once they arrived, Kim wordlessly drew Katherine into a long hug, not wasting any words but showing her nonetheless that she had all the support she needed – if she asked for it, or not. Adopting a purposely businesslike tone, the petite brunette then hustled off her friend to the bathroom so she could wash the tearstains off her face, and commandeered the youngsters to help her carry food to the table. Within minutes, all eight were seated, the places arranged in such a way that there was no empty space … except in all of their hearts. However, the festive dinner and the excitement slowly creeping into young Jared's eyes as he snuck peeks at the presents soon lightened the mood, and a glass or two of wine brought some color back into Kat's too-pale cheeks.
She even managed a tiny smile or two as the evening progressed, letting her friends fill at least some of the emptiness in her heart with their caring.
I couldn't have borne staying at home without Jason to share things, she realized. Putting up the decorations without him was hard enough. And the children need cheering up as much as I do. Thank you, Tommy and Kim!
Presents were duly exchanged, and the Oliver clan did their collective best to make it into a happy occasion, teasing the girls about the fashionable clothes and cosmetics they'd wished for and even goading young Jared into a loud, laughing protest when the two older boys tried to snatch his Lego Technics construction set away from him. The Scott children had pooled their funds and given their mother a ticket for a performance of the Bolshoi Ballet, who'd be touring California this coming spring. There was body lotion for Kimberly, a new martial arts DVD for Tommy, books and CDs for their friends. Tommy and Kim had chosen to give Kat a block of hand-made certificates, good for everything from babysitting Jared to yard work, to help Kat share her fresh burden of single-parenthood.
For her part, Kat handed over mementos of Jason she knew would be treasured and appreciated – a scrapbook of photos and other mementoes for Kim from their earliest childhood to when Jason left for Geneva, and for Tommy the silk black belt Jason had worn the last time the two had competed against each other … and Jason had won.
His throat clogged with tears, Tommy ran his fingertips over the embroidery with Jason's name and degree. "Thanks, Kat," he murmured. "I'll honor this as I would him."
"I know you will, Tommy," Kat replied softly, then, to keep herself from starting to cry again turned to Kimberly, asking her to tell stories about some of the pictures.
~*~
Oliver and Jared were happily involved in figuring out the building instructions on the boy's Lego kit; Trini – like the woman she was named for – was already engrossed in one of her books and the adults were talking quietly amongst themselves when Jay returned from the kitchen with a plateful of cookies and noticed that Lynne was missing. Depositing the pastry on the coffee table, he quietly went in search of his best friend's sister.
He found her on the glassed-in porch, her head with its shoulder-length dark hair leaning against one of the panes, staring out into the night-shrouded garden. She looked very young and forlorn standing there like that, her cobalt-blue sweater the only splotch of color in the empty room. On near-silent feet, Jay padded closer.
"Hey, kiddo," he called out softly. "Want some cookies?"
Lynne just shook her head, not even bothering to turn around. "No," she whispered almost inaudibly. "I'm not hungry." She'd only nibbled at her dinner, too.
Jay walked up to her. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he squeezed once.
"Some company, then? I don't like you being all by yourself on Christmas Eve," he said. His only answer was a small sigh.
"What's wrong, Lynne?" he asked after a moment's deliberation. "I mean … beside the obvious," he amended, blushing at his stupidity. He didn't need to be a rocket scientist to know that she was missing her father; he only had to imagine how he'd feel if one of his parents had died recently. Even the mere thought hurt. "Please, won't you talk to me? I'm a pretty good listener, if I say so myself, and it seems to help Oliver … that, and beating the crap out of a punching bag every now and then," he added reflectively.
That last brought a watery giggle from the sad girl.
Could be better, but it's a start, the young man congratulated himself. "I'll volunteer to act as one if you need it," he offered next, wincing inwardly. Like all of them, Lynne had received a thorough grounding in the martial arts by both their fathers, and was more than a match for the older boys. What the heck, if it helps her …
"No thanks," Lynne sighed at last. "I already tried it with Oliver, and it doesn't work for me."
"Bummer."
"Yeah."
Lynne gave the tall young man a considering look. He was her brother's best friend, yes, but they had never been particularly close … still, he was offering a sympathetic ear, and she needed to unburden herself to someone. Her brothers would be as helpless as she in this situation. So …
"Jay, it's not me exactly. Well, yeah, it is, but … mostly it's Mom."
"Why, what's wrong?" Duh! How idiotic a question is that, stupid? Better keep your mouth shut if all you can do is voice the obvious! Jay berated himself silently. Of course Aunt Kat was missing Uncle Jason.
Lynne didn't seem to hear him, silly question or not. She just turned away from the window, giving him a tragic look. Her lips quivered as she recounted what was upsetting her so much.
"About two weeks ago, I was up late studying. It was after midnight when I got downstairs for something to drink, and I saw Mom in the living room, putting up the Christmas decorations by herself. She used to do that with Dad each year … Dad loved Christmas so much, he was always singing carols around the house for weeks," she rambled. "Even though he couldn't carry a tune, he didn't care. I remember – last year, I was so embarrassed by his off-key singing, I got all snippy with him, asking him to stop. He just laughed me off and I got so angry at him, I ran out and slammed my door … and this year, I m-miss his v-voice so much …" Lynne trailed off, tears rolling down her face as she swallowed hard, fighting bravely for control. "I'd give anything if I could hear him again."
She sounded so forlorn, Jay wanted to hug her. To tell the truth, he suddenly found himself wishing to be able to wipe those salty drops from the smooth cheeks … or better yet, kiss them away.
Whoa! Where does that come from? This is Lynne, your best bud's sister – your own sister's friend. The little pest you always wanted to get rid of when we were kids and she was tagging along.
All true, and yet he couldn't chase the thought away of how lovely she looked, with her wavy dark hair and eyes that matched her sweater's color perfectly.
Not to mention that cream-and-peaches skin, a mouth just made to be kissed, and a dynamite figure! Why haven't I ever noticed that before?
Jay felt his collar grow tight, the urge to pull Lynne into his arms growing stronger.
And why now, when getting ideas about her is pretty inappropriate, to say the least?
With an effort, he yanked his wayward thoughts back to what Lynne had said.
"It's only natural you would," he soothed, his own voice a trifle unsteady. "But Lynne … I'm sure Uncle Jase wasn't holding it against you. He just wasn't like that."
"I know. And in a way, that makes it even worse," she sniffled, fumbling for a tissue in the pocket of the slim black slacks she was wearing. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. "But that wasn't really what upset me so – I was talking about Mom, remember?"
"Uh, right."
"Well … I dunno if you ever noticed, but during Christmas season, we had mistletoe hanging practically over every door. Mom and Dad used to kiss and smooch every chance they got – so much so that we kids were just gagging each time we caught them at it, y'know? Anyway, I didn't really think about it, but Mom wasn't going to put up mistletoe this year … but just as I was passing the door with my glass of soda, she found a twig from last year in the box with the decorations. Jay … she just stared at it for a second, then … she just sort of crumpled to the floor, crying harder than I've ever seen. She was literally shaking with her sobs. Usually she's pretty composed around us, although we know she's grieving for Dad. I mean, how can she not, after being married for twenty years? But she's never lost it like that before."
Lynne swallowed hard, blinking away her tears. In all of the turmoil following her father's death, Kat's quiet acceptance and outward calm had been her anchor, the rock she clung to in a world suddenly turned to chaos. To see her crying her eyes out like that had been … extremely upsetting.
"Can you blame her?" Jay asked, his own voice hoarse with empathy. "It must be pretty horrible for her. I mean, it's kind of natural that one's parents die before us – even if it was way too soon for your Dad – but to lose one's husband, the one person you love enough to want to share the rest of your life with …and so shortly after their anniversary, too …"
"I know, but … Jay, I wanted so much to help her, to say something, anything so that she would stop crying, but I just didn't know what. I felt so helpless, so inadequate …"
"I think all of us would have," he tried to console her. He shrugged, at a loss for words. Could he tell her he was experiencing much the same feelings right now, or would she think less of him? That Lynne didn't do so was suddenly very important. He wanted to be strong for her, to take away her grief … and couldn't. Oh what the hey. She knows I'm no superhero, Ranger powers or not, that I have no magic wand to make it all better. "Like … right now, I want to tell you something that will make you less sad, but I have not the slightest clue what I could say, either," he confessed.
She smiled tremulously. "That's sweet."
He actually blushed. Other girls had called him nice, handsome, sexy even, but sweet? It wasn't a term he associated with himself. Yet coming from Lynne, it meant more than the most glowing praise he'd ever received. "Yeah, well," he muttered, embarrassed at his own emotionalism.
Lynne reached up with a slender hand and touched his cheek in a brief caress that made his heartbeat falter momentarily. "No, really. It's good to know I'm not alone in feeling like that," she murmured, calmer now. "And thanks for listening; it did help to get it off my chest."
Instinctively, he glanced down at that portion of her anatomy, noting that she was nicely rounded in all the right places. His blush deepened, and he was very glad for the room's relative darkness.
"Anytime."
She only nodded. There was something in Lynne's expression, her whole stance that puzzled him. She was still standing very close, almost but not quite touching him … as if she was waiting for something. And Jay had no idea what it might be. At last, he decided it couldn't hurt to ask.
"Is there something else …" he was about to say 'kiddo', but all of a sudden the term didn't seem right anymore. Lynne was no child; she was a very pretty young woman. One he was thoroughly attracted to. It was that realization which provided the word tripping off Jay's tongue before he could check himself. "… sweetheart?"
Lynne wouldn't look at him. Instead, she started to circle one of his shirt buttons with a fingertip, the movement hypnotic in its simplicity. In a very small voice, she asked, "Would … would you hold me for a short while, please? I think I could really use a hug right now …"
There was nothing he wanted to do more.
"Of course, little one," he murmured, enfolding her in his arms. She nestled against his chest trustingly, her slender arms wrapping around his waist as she rested her head on his shoulder with a tiny sigh.
"This feels nice," Lynne whispered, her breath soft against his throat.
'Nice' doesn't even begin to describe it, the young man thought, aware only of how perfectly this girl whom he'd known nearly all his life fit against him. And of how sweet her hair smelled – those gorgeous black tresses that felt so silky on his skin. Out loud, all he uttered was a content murmur. "Mmm."
At last, the hug ended. Lynne inhaled a deep, shuddering breath and was about to disengage herself, when she looked up into his warm, nut-brown eyes. What she read there for the first time was enough to make her breath catch.
"Jay …?" she whispered unsteadily, not daring to think, to hope …
"Lynne," he whispered back, low and soft. He felt himself drowning in her deep blue gaze … and he didn't want to fight the current drawing him under. In slow motion, he lowered his mouth to hers.
She didn't draw back. A small gasp escaped her at the first brush of lips against lips, but it was very definitely not a protest. It was a first kiss … and as sweet as it could, should be. When it ended seconds later, Lynne looked slightly bewildered, but not at all angry. And she neither hit him nor moved away.
Whew!
"Wh-what was that all about?" she asked uncertainly. It was something she'd begun to dream about earlier this year, but had nearly forgotten in her grief.
Jay grinned sheepishly. "It felt right. Didn't it?" he queried, hoping with all his might she'd agree.
"I … yes, but … why? Why now?"
He shrugged. "I never hugged you before."
The blue eyes looked hurt. "And you kiss all the girls you hug?"
"No. Just the ones I care very much about." That wasn't the whole truth. And Jay didn't want to hide it from his best friend's sister. She deserved more, better from him. "Just you," he admitted.
"Oh."
Was it his imagination, or did the petal-soft cheeks flood a delicate pink? It made him a little bolder.
"Did you like it?"
Lynne lowered her head. She wouldn't answer, but she did nod – a gesture so tiny he would have missed it if he hadn't been looking for it.
"Do you want me to do it again?" he dared ask.
That brought her head up again. Looking him full in the eyes, Lynne moistened her suddenly dry lips, then nodded again – very decisively this time.
"Yes. Please."
With a relieved sigh, Jay drew her into his arms again. The two young people melted together in a kiss that was both an end and a promise – it ended their previous relationship and spoke of the future – of love.
~*~
Kat withdrew silently from the doorway, not wanting to intrude on the tender moment. Her eyes were misty again, but not with grief this time. She had lost her own love, yes – but it looked as if her daughter, Jason's dream child, had found hers. Lynne couldn't have made a better choice than Tommy and Kim's son, and in her heart she knew that Jason would approve, too. She smiled, her expression bittersweet as she sent up a quick, silent prayer – the first she was capable of since that terrible day in summer when her world had shattered.
"Please God, let them be happy. And Jason? Watch over them … wherever you are."
~*~
"I think what I regret most these days is that Jason never got to know his grandchildren," Kat smiled wistfully. "He'd have loved them."
"Yeah," Lynne agreed, sighing softly. "There are so many things I've wished I could have shared with Dad; even today I find myself thinking 'Dad'll love this; I've got to tell him this, show him that …' and then I realize that I'll never be able to, and it hurts just as much as it did in the beginning."
"It's a natural reaction," Tommy soothed both women. "I think everyone who's ever lost someone they loved has it. I know I do – with Kim, with Jase, with my father … even with Trini, and she's been gone longest of all, and we were never all that close."
The atmosphere was getting rather gloomy, and Kat drew a deep breath. It was Christmas, a time for joy (especially in light of the good news they had shared with their family earlier), and it wouldn't do to let it deteriorate even further.
"Well, there's nothing we can do about it; we just have to learn to live with it as best we can," she said, deliberately adopting a matter-of-fact tone. "All we can do is be thankful that we didn't lose too many loved ones until now, aside from natural causes."
"Too true," Tommy agreed readily. "And that our lives were without any major upheavals for the most part. We were all so lucky in that regard … no divorces, no major fights …"
Kat suddenly grinned. "Except when your infamous memory and absentmindedness caused Kim to tear out her hair by the roots – isn't that right, handsome?"
Tommy put on a look of outraged innocence that fooled no-one.
"That is so not true," he protested.
"Oh yeah?" she tossed back at him, sounding very much like one of the grandchildren. Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Name one instance," he challenged his fiancée.
Katherine pretended to ponder for a moment, then assumed a long-suffering expression. "I will – as soon as I can decide with which to start."
Tommy's automatic denial was drowned in their disrespectful offspring's laughter and entreaties to 'tell, tell'.
Kat cleared her throat, shot Tommy a glance from under her lashes and
began: "Now listen well, children: Once upon a time, there was a Green
Ranger ..."
To Be Continued ...