Midnight Run

Chapter Twelve

Kingston's heart had started beating fast when he spotted a familiar face behind the counter on his coffee break. He'd mostly been able to keep his thoughts away from her while his parents were in town, mainly because he'd spent his lunch hours with them, catching little glimpses of the city. They'd taken a taxi to the airport that morning, so Kingston had reverted to his old habits, half expecting the illusive barista to still be gone. He'd been pleasantly surprised when he saw her, and he thought she'd seemed happy to see him, too.

He'd been too fixated on seeing her again to realize that he'd forgotten to ask her name until he was three blocks away, and he cursed out loud in frustration. "You can't even remember this one simple thing; how are you ever going to get up the nerve to ask her out?" A few people on the sidewalk gave him the side eye, and he shook himself, wishing he hadn't spoken out loud. Rounding a corner, he considered going back to the coffee shop and asking her once and for all, but just as he made up his mind to do it, his phone rang insistently in his pocket. Even though he'd seen people hurrying along the sidewalks with their phones pressed to their ears, he couldn't quite bring himself to do it. Too old fashioned to multi-task, he thought with a smile as he spotted a metal bench just up the street. Answering the phone, he strode to it rapidly.

"Uncle King?" A small voice asked.

Kingston sat down, looking at the phone in surprise. "Yes. What's up, kiddo?"

"It's Shell." The little boy cleared his throat. "How are you?"

"I'm okay, but Shell, buddy, aren't you supposed to be in school right now?" At seven, Shelton was the older of his two nephews, and he'd been proud to tell Kingston all about first grade when he'd seen the boys over Christmas.

"I stayed home sick," the boy said, "but I'm not really sick."

"Uh-huh. What's wrong, then?"

There was silence on the line, and then Shelton sighed. "Are Mama and Daddy getting a divorce?"

Kingston raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you ask them that, buddy?"

"I don't want to make Mama cry."

Kingston's heart clenched. "Has your mom been crying?"

"Yes. She's in the bathroom right now, and I heard her through the door. That's why I called you."

Kingston glanced at the caller I.D. on his phone and realized his nephew had swiped Rachel's phone to call him. "I can't really do anything, buddy. I'm in New York now, remember?"

"Can't you come home, just for a visit?"

Kingston looked around the busy street. "I wish I could," he admitted, "but I've got a job to do here."

"Oh." His nephew was silent. "Will you tell Mama and Daddy not to fight anymore?"

"Let me talk to your mom, okay, buddy?" Kingston wheedled, hoping his nephew wasn't feeling defiant.

He wasn't. "Okay." There was a shuffling sound, and then Rachel's surprised voice came on the line.

"You don't usually call during daylight hours; you okay?"

Kingston leaned his head back against the bench. "I didn't call. Shelton called me."

"What? Shelton Stevenson, you've got some explaining to do!" She hollered, and Kingston cringed.

"Not his fault, Raye. The boy's upset about you and Mark."

She sighed. "I'm upset, too." There was a pause. "King, I think he wants a divorce."

Despite what his nephew had said, the truth shocked Kingston. "Has he said as much?"

"No," she said, drawing out the word, "but Marcy saw him out last night with a leggy redhead." Her voice caught. "That doesn't sound like he's honoring his marital vows to me."

Kingston shook his head. "I'm sorry," he said, not sure what else he could offer.

"Yeah. Lots of sorry going around right now, and it doesn't do anybody any good. What did Shelton say to you?"

"He asked if you were getting a divorce," Kingston told her, and then he added, "and he said you've been crying."

He heard her swallow a sob. "Well, he's observant, I'll give him that."

Remembering his nephew's request, Kingston asked, "Would it help if I came home?"

"What good is that going to do? You can't save my marriage," she said softly.

"No, but do you need any help with the boys? You know I love spending time with them."

Her voice softened. "I know. But I've got it under control. Besides, Mom and Dad are here if we need anything." Changing the subject abruptly, she said, "and the job has daycare."

"You got it? Raye, that's wonderful!"

Her voice almost sounded normal again. "I start in two weeks. It'll be a change, but good Lord, I'm ready for something different."

"I'll take you out to celebrate the next time I'm in town," he offered, beaming. "I'm proud of you, sweetie."

"Thanks, King. That means a lot." Her voice was thick with emotion, and Kingston tried to play it off.

"I'm sure you don't sit around waiting for approval from your baby brother," he teased lightly.

She gave a weak laugh. "No, fair enough. But still, thanks."

"Welcome. Tell the boys they can call me any time they want to talk, and I promise I'll answer."

"Any time after they ask permission to use my phone," she said, raising her voice at the end. Kingston grinned, picturing Shelton hiding around the corner listening to her.

After they said goodbye, Kingston stared at the street for a few minutes, his eyes unseeing. Divorce, he thought, rolling the word around in his mind. Doesn't Mark realize how lucky he is?

He didn't know what had gone wrong in his sister's marriage, but the very idea of Raye getting divorced shook him more than he cared to admit. Rachel had always said she'd fallen in love with Mark at first sight, and the couple had seemed happy to Kingston. In fact, they had almost seemed like they had the ideal relationship, from the outside, at least, and hopeless romantic that he was, Kingston had always assumed that whenever he fell in love, it would be a fairy tale kind of thing, just like his sister. But now it sounds like the fairy tale is ending, he thought grimly. And who's to say it was ever really there in the first place?

Subdued, he walked back to the office, trying to think of a way to help his nephews and his sister through the rough transition that was headed for them.