Even as she cried on Kayla's shoulder, Kim was still numb. Then Roman was there and holding her as well.
"We're here for you, Sis," he said.
Kim stepped back and nodded. She blinked a couple of times and wiped away some of her tears. "I guess you need to ask some questions," she said.
"Not at a time like this." Roman's mournful expression reminded Kim that Shane and Roman had been close friends.
"I'm sorry," she said.
Roman led her over to a bench and helped her take a seat. He did not say anything, but sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. He pulled her close, and she rested her head on his shoulder. In her mind, she pictured Andrew and Jeannie as young adults, this time having grown up without their father. Was it just an hour or two earlier that she had envisioned her children growing up without her? How had the world turned on its axis so suddenly? So much for worrying Jeannie's father would spoil her like Eve.
"Eve!" Kim sat up. "We've got to tell Eve."
"I'll take care of it," Roman said.
Kim's heart sunk and she shivered as she thought of Eve. When they thought Shane had died before, Eve had blamed Kim and the fragile relationship they had built had collapsed, never to be repaired. But Kim still loved Eve. She would be so crushed.
"Kim?" Neil Curtis's sympathetic voice came from her left. She turned to see him standing there. "Kayla just told me. I'm sorry."
She could only give him a small, appreciative nod.
He turned to Roman. "I've called security to keep the press out."
"Good," Roman said, and Kim detected a look in his eyes that told Neil, Not now. She was glad. Kim had no idea how they could even talk about things like that. Shane's dead. Nothing else matters. She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling the chill in the room.
She stood up from the bench, unable to stand still. Why didn't I convince Cal to leave sooner? she asked herself. Why couldn't Shane and Steve have arrived just a little later? We would have been gone. Shane would be alive. So what if Kim had gone with Cal? That would have been a small price to pay. Her children would still have their father.
"Hey, Kim." She turned to see Steve standing next to her. She had not heard him approach and was surprised to see him holding out his leather jacket. "Why don't you put this on?"
"Why?" she asked.
He appeared confused. "Aren't you cold? You're shivering."
Funny, but she had not realized it. And, yes, she was cold. "Thanks, I am cold," Kim said. Then it hit her and her eyes widened. "I'm cold." Her heart suddenly began to beat again. "Oh my god, I'm cold."