Intimate Relations: Awakened Part 24

Marc had found a beautiful plot beneath a tree at the same Marin cemetery where the woman and child killed in Ben and Jake's accident so long ago were buried. His mother's remains now lay beneath verdant green gra.s.s with a plot of purple iris planted in a bordered garden around the headstone.

The memorial service had been somber but at the same time, joyful. All those closest to him had come-even Nate and Ca.s.sie with their newborn son, Nathanial Marcus Dunagan.

Marc had sensed his mother's spirit close by, felt her approval. He thought she really approved of what they'd done with Steven Reed's body. Donating it to science had seemed like a good alternative to burying him. Better the man do some good after his life than forever remain a reminder of all the hate he'd fostered and the misery he'd caused.

There'd been no hate in his mother. He knew there was a part of him that would always miss her, would always miss what they might have shared. She would forever be an empty spot in his heart. A spot that Mandy was filling more every day.

He was thinking of his mother now as he signed the papers establis.h.i.+ng an endowment with a portion of his mother's trust designated as the princ.i.p.al financial donor. The endowment itself was named in honor of the mother and son who had died, as well as his mother, Elizabeth Marchand Reed.

And of course there was Bett's Place, the coffee shop that Mandy had recently opened with a crew made up entirely of women from this same shelter, the place they had gathered today to sign the final papers on the endowment that would ensure its survival as a viable safety net for abused women and their children.

Ben was the next to sign, and then Jake. Their attorney went over the signatures and then rose and spoke to the members of the press in attendance. Marc had been surprised at the amount of publicity this had garnered, but it appeared it was rare when a truly huge sum of money was put into an endowment bestowed in perpetuity to honor and help victims of domestic abuse.

Once the formalities were observed and the needed words spoken, it was time to get back to work-Marc to his office, and Mandy to the coffee shop. They'd left Theo watching the office and Ted keeping an eye on the women working in the shop. They were never without a guard, and there had been a couple of incidents where the presence of guards had kept things calm. Mandy's suggestions for bulletproof gla.s.s and a safe room had been heeded-but luckily not yet needed.

He stood and tugged Mandy lightly to her feet, turned to Ben and Lola, Kaz and Jake. "You ready?"

They all got into Jake's big Escalade. He glanced at Lola with her slight baby b.u.mp and laughed. "Hey, Jake? Thought about getting a bus? This rig isn't going to work forever, you know. The family's growing."

"When the family gets too big for this rig, you're all going to have to start using your own cars."

Kaz poked his arm. "Spoilsport." Then she turned to look at the rest of the group. "Don't worry. I'll work on him. I'm thinking bus, you know, like the ones that haul people to casinos? Jake could wear a cute little cap, and those buses have bathrooms. I like that!"

Marc tucked Mandy close against his side amid the laughter, and enjoyed the ride back to the office. It was all good. And every time he thought it couldn't possibly get any better, Mandy made a liar out of him.

Life was good and getting better all the time.

Also by Kate Douglas.

INTIMATE.

REDEMPTION.

Available from St. Martin's Paperbacks.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

A lifelong California native, Kate Douglas has always loved the power of stories, especially romances. You can learn more about her stories-and life-by visiting her on the Web at www.katedouglas.com. Or sign up for email updates here.

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