Chapter Forty-Eight
Buzzzzzz!
"Shit!" Kendall swore under her breath, simultaneously reaching for the off button on her alarm clock before it might awaken Zach. She'd meant to switch off the clock in advance. For some time she'd been awake, lying contentedly beside his solid form, enjoying the low steady hum of his heavy slumber, wishing the gray light of dawn wasn't so relentlessly filling the room. But the clock's buzz made if official: It was morning.
Looking over her shoulder as she crept from the bed, she was relieved to see he still slept. Quietly grabbing some clothes and underwear on the way, Kendall went into the bathroom, hoping she would not disturb Zach. If she had anything to say about it, he was going to spend the day resting in bed—and if Zach were awake, she knew she wouldn't have final say in the matter.
Just like I didn't last night. But oh…I'm not complaining, big boy, Kendall purred to herself as she finished her quick shower. I should let you have the last word more often.
Only that was then and this was now, facing a new day full of old problems from which their blissful interlude of intimacy would be forced to recede. Kendall began the process by forcing herself to examine how things currently stood in the outside world. Today is Miranda's last day of chemo. Tomorrow she gets Zach's bone marrow. I need to talk to Livia about Ryan's threat. I wonder if Greenlee knows about it. She might have other ideas. I hope.
Tiptoeing into the kitchen, Kendall wished she could risk making coffee and fixing something to eat. Her stomach was already grumbling. But Zach remained asleep, and she wanted him to stay that way. Another hospital cafeteria breakfast wouldn't kill her. She'd become immune to rubber eggs and cardboard toast.
Z—Take it easy! You needed your rest so I didn't wake you. Will call you from the hospital later—will also call Livia. Love, K, she scribbled on the notepad by the phone. Already missing him as she blew a kiss behind her, Kendall was striding through the courtyard outside a few seconds later.
With a mighty bodily stretch, immediately followed by a string of curses as the sore muscles in his lower body protested the move, Zach's state changed from one of short-lived lassitude to one of pained, full alertness. Instantly, his senses told him that Kendall was gone, confirmed in writing by the note he found upon dragging himself into the kitchen for a hit of caffeine.
Kendall's note generated mixed feelings. While he certainly wasn't opposed to Kendall's seizing the upper hand—especially as she had such a captivating knack for it—he was quite loathe to be treated as a helpless invalid indefinitely. Not that she'd treated him that way last night, Zach recalled in satisfaction. And considering the way his fist itched to deliver a smackdown to Lavery's jaw, steering clear of the situation, and of Lavery himself, was undoubtedly the wisest course for the time being, for all of them.
Even if his body spent some time on the phone with Edie at the casino, even if it limped across the courtyard and spent as much time as he could tolerate in his present condition seated before the computer, wading through countless emails and paperwork and reports piling up and neglected, Zach knew his mind—and his heart—would be present with Kendall and Miranda at the hospital.
Suddenly, he scowled. It was galling to stay away, for whatever reason—especially galling since he still hadn't accomplished the thing he'd set out to do more than a week before. Its urgency preyed on his mind with redoubled vigor after what Kendall had told him last night about Lavery. As he aimed water into the coffeemaker, his thoughts surged too.
Kendall, Zach mentally addressed her in absentia, let's figure out getting married. What we have now is inadequate for Miranda's custody and inadequate protection for you. If we delay this much longer it could backfire. We can't take a chance any family court judge we draw won't be a stickler for details.
But he could already hear her objections about returning to Virginia for the ceremony before the courthouse closed today. You can't drive that far yet, Zach. You know I hate driving your car and your ass is too sore to squeeze into mine. Besides, we need to stick close to home now since Miranda gets the transplant tomorrow.
All valid concerns Zach conceded he shared to a greater or lesser degree. Some had simple solutions. Hiring a limo—a helicopter, for that matter—solved the transportation problem. Timing was everything, though. Maybe in his condition it had been folly to attempt it, but it was too damn bad he'd allowed his most recent attempt to whisk Kendall off to Virginia to be nipped in the bud by his intended. It seemed the window of opportunity had snapped shut for the moment, unless he managed to abduct her from the hospital in the next few minutes so that they could be home, married, before nightfall.
Lavery would enjoy that spectacle, Zach thought dourly, and clue Little Chandler in.
But going by his previous history with Kendall, the so-called immovable object only ever succeeded in overcoming the irresistible force with her cooperation. Then there was that slight problem of his current physical incapacitation—the reason Zach was eating breakfast standing up. Pausing in his meditations to saw a sesame seed bagel in half and spread both halves with cream cheese, he thoughtfully begin to chew—with a regretful nod to the sophistication and skill of his chef at the Seasons.
As far as Zach could reckon, yesterday had been his and Kendall's last opportunity to marry until after Miranda was, hopefully and finally, on the last leg of the road to recovery. The two of them going away now before Miranda's imminent transplant, he reasoned, wouldn't look good. Deserting her even briefly for the inherently self-interested purpose of marriage could just as easily be used as ammunition against them as evidence of their dedication to raising their niece together in a secure and stable environment.
We're balancing on a pretty thin rope. What other options have we got? Zach asked himself as he poured coffee into a mug, drinking the strong black brew without much tasting it. Prior to the first aborted wedding trip, Edie had provided him with a comprehensive report of state marriage requirements. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's three-day waiting period put it out of the running for a quickie wedding. Now, it might be all they had to work with. As impatient as Zach was to make things legal with Kendall before Ryan could pull a last-minute stunt, he recalled his own counsel to Kendall regarding Junior's blackmail attempt: The wheels of justice didn't turn that fast.
So…. Zach scrolled down the mental checklist of things he intended to do today: Swing by the hospital to check on Miranda and collect Kendall for a swift trip to the local courthouse to apply together for a license. He wasn't in such bad shape he couldn't manage that; but he knew a way to forestall any arguments on that score. Returning to the bedroom for his cell phone, Zach scrolled through the directory display and clicked "send" on the number of the discreet limousine service he personally relied on to ensure that inebriated high rollers made it home safely from a well-lubricated night at the Seasons East. He and Kendall would ride to the courthouse in style.
A return trip to court in three more days' time, and they could be husband and wife without stepping foot out of Pine Valley. At the very least, it was a backup plan, if nothing better panned out.
Sorry, Edie, Zach silently apologized to his second-in-command as he returned to the bedroom to prepare for the day ahead, no time to call you now after all. Good thing you can read my mind. Just keep holding down the fort.
At the hospital, Kendall was sitting in the waiting room, wishing the seats were less uncomfortable and the magazines more current, as she gloomily paged through an old issue of Tempo, jumping each time the door opened. Although several other people populated the room, there'd been no sign of Greenlee or Ryan since she'd arrived, though, and she'd been unable to reach Livia, in conference with a client when Kendall called her. In her defenseless state during the lengthy chemotherapy infusion, Miranda remained off limits.
Like a shaft of sunlight parting a cloud, a bright glimmer shooting up from her ring finger drew Kendall's abstracted attention to her hand. The square fluorescent panel in the suspended ceiling above was mirrored in the winking facets of her engagement ring's eye-popping central gem. Absentmindedly experimenting with the shimmering effect returned Kendall's mind to the day Zach had given her the ring, that unanticipated defining moment in their relationship. The ring was now so much a part of her, just as its presenter was, yet its icy brilliance was never a substitute for Zach's warm, invigorating presence.
Kendall sighed to herself, missing him further. It wasn't that she couldn't cope with on her own. She'd been doing that her whole life; not always constructively or wisely, it was true. It was just her nature to barrel forward without checking conditions first, neither looking beyond the end of her nose, nor glancing to right or left either, before leaping blindly into space. Seldom had there been anyone waiting to break her fall before she landed in trouble…or whose strength she trusted to fully bear the weight of her psyche if he did catch her.
I always knew Zach was that tough. I could see it the first time I met him, when Ryan and I went to Vegas to spring Mother from the drink clink. Not even the great Erica Kane stood a chance against Zach once he decided to toss her in there. He saw to it she got help. But not even he…oh, Mother, not even Zach could help you when…. Kendall rubbed her eyes as they filled with sudden tears, for she didn't have the luxury of tears now. Oh, Mother, I can't remember a time any more when I wasn't fighting for Miranda. When will all this be over When will I get a chance to mourn you…to mourn you and Bianca…god, I can't even remember what Myrtle and Opal are supposed to be doing about your memorial service!
The tears she tried to hold back had other ideas. One second Kendall had been feeling dispirited, bored, and lonely. The next second she was struggling to avoid being swept into an emotional squall, a squall whose development from the conjunction of those atmospheric conditions was too rapid to see coming until it was about to hit, and then it was too late to duck. But if tears were the inescapable outcome—and one more thing Kendall couldn't remember was the last time she had had a good cry—she refused to shed them in public. She stumbled to her feet.
"Still flaunting that tacky chunk of glass? Too bad."
"J–J.R.!" she stammered, blinking at the unexpected sight of him across the aisle. "I didn't see you."
"You better shield your eyes from that thing, Kendall. The glare'll burn out your retinas."
"Where did you come from? Are you spying on me again?" she countered hotly, almost relieved as anger temporarily began to crowd out sorrow.
"I'm just trying to start a conversation, Kendall. Little Adam has a checkup with his pediatrician. I just happened to glance in here as we passed by on our way to his office. Thought I'd stop in and we could catch up."
"Really? Then where are you hiding little Adam?" she demanded, making a show of peeking behind J.R.'s back. "Or is he just as transparent as your motives?"
"Little Adam's with his nanny, of course," J.R. replied smoothly. "I came back without him."
With every fiber of willpower she possessed, Kendall resisted the urge to smack the egotistical expression from his face. "Why? Did you really think I'd want to see you? Or to finally ask me how Miranda is, after all this time? Don't even bother, J.R. We both know you don't give a shit about what happens to her now."
"Tsk, tsk, language," he scolded. "Good thing this conversation is adults only, huh? So come on, Kendall, let's kiss and make up. You and I used to be friends. I'd like us to be friends again," J.R.'s voice rang with false sincerity.
"Blackmail is such a good basis for friendship." Kendall began to inch away from him. "So let's be friends again sometime in the next century, maybe. Now if you won't leave—I will."
"Whoa, Kendall, not so fast, I'm not done." To her chagrin, J.R. grabbed her hand before she could escape, focusing on her ring finger. "Hey, look at this—still no cigar band next to this oh so hypnotic sparkler. No room for it next to the Hope diamond—maybe because the shacking up was only for show?"
Flushing angrily, Kendall jerked her hand from his grasp. "For god's sake, J.R., when did you turn into such a pig? Zach and I've been here day and night because of Miranda, and Zach had surgery the other day too. We haven't had time to—"
"Slater went under the knife? Hmm, can I guess what for?" J.R. interrupted in feigned concern, finishing crudely, "No, you already have him by the balls so it can't be for that. Wait, I got it—a heart implant. Spelled H-A-R-T, that is—gotta make sure he's got you permanently planted up his ass."
"Just shut up—shut up—!" Kendall hissed, looking around the room agitatedly. "We're not the only ones in here—Jesus Christ, people are listening to this!"
"Kendall's right. That was pretty gross, J.R." Greenlee and Ryan stood in the doorway, looking on, and then Greenlee approached them, accompanied by her husband. "It wasn't very nice, either."
As she did so, with the door swinging shut behind her and providing a backdrop, Kendall registered that the other girl was wearing a high-waisted, loose-fitting, tiny-floral pattern dress that was apparently supposed to mimic a maternity outfit, and carrying a carton of milk and a stack of parenting magazines. God, she looks silly, ran through Kendall's mind, but she's kind of endearing in her mother mania as long as she keeps her hands off Miranda…and did she actually just defend me?
Beside Greenlee, Ryan wore what Kendall had come to regard as his natural frown, which she was surprised and gratified to see for once was directed at J.R. instead of at her. The quicksand fluctuating beneath her feet began to feel marginally more solid. But then she felt dangerously close to breaking out in hysterical laughter at J.R.'s astonishment when Ryan warned, "Be careful what you say in front of my wife and child, J.R."
"Ryan and I are working on creating a positive, soothing, tranquil environment for our baby. Our child is simply not allowed to listen to profanities, obscenities, or any crude language indicating conflict or negativity, in utero," Greenlee piped up, and Kendall realized they weren't defending her, after all, but a concealed collection of cells possibly the size of her pinkie. Still…whatever it took to shut J.R. up.
He, however, still wasn't through. "You guys do know Kendall and Slater are playing you for a couple of suckers, don't you?" he asked with more feigned sincerity.
Knotting her forehead, Greenlee asked Ryan, "Honey, should that word even be on our allow list?"
"No! It shouldn't!" Kendall exclaimed, feeling everyone stare at her. "I mean—nothing J.R. says should, not while he's being this poisonous. But look, if you're planning to stay for awhile, I'm going to go outside and make some phone calls and you can take it up with him all you want."
Before he even entered the hospital waiting room, the sound of insistent voices penetrating the thin barrier of the door attracted Zach's notice. Stepping to the side, to prevent those within from seeing him yet still have a view through the rectangular glass insert above the door handle, he watched and listened attentively for a few seconds. The sound was muffled; impossible to discern the speakers' words, and his view was partially obstructed. But he participants were readily identifiable from a certain angle.
With the Laverys as interested bystanders, Kendall appeared to be facing off against Junior Chandler, the latter almost as if magically produced by Zach's earlier recollection of his existence. Little prick, Zach thought dismissively, never gets the message. As he pushed open the door, the discussion he was about to interrupt reached his ears more clearly.
"So who you got on your speed dial these days, Kendall? Would that be your, uh, wedding planner and caterer and minister?" J.R. was cracking, apparently amusing only himself, judging from Kendall's harried expression and the Laverys' affronted silence.
None of them had yet detected Zach standing there.
"Here I am, honey," he announced with an affectionate smile for the startled Kendall, a smile that then transformed into a mocking one as he turned it on J.R. Striding toward them purposefully, any lingering physical discomfort instantly vanishing in his enjoyment of the scene, Zach drawled, "The wedding planner, in person. At your service."