She’s not going to let Harley get in the way of helping the kids.”
“And she shouldn’t.” She was frowning. “That doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice one for the other. We just have to make the best choice and then go with it.”
“Choice? Harley’s more like a challenge. I’m not much into challenges these days, Kendra.”
“Challenge?” Kendra went still. Something had just occurred to her. “Yes, you’re right, he is a challenge. Let me think for a minute…”
Chapter
3
Kendra’s Condo
Fifth Street
I’m coming down to your place,” Kendra said when Olivia picked up her call two hours later. “I just dropped off my luggage at my condo and I don’t care if you want to cry yourself to sleep. She’s dead, Olivia. I’ve been keeping a stiff upper lip and being professional and all that crap for the last few hours.” She didn’t bother to wait for the elevator but was running down the steps. “Now I deserve to have a drink with my friend who loved her as much as I did. So suck it up, Olivia.”
“Just shut up.” Olivia’s voice was as husky as Kendra’s. “You only called me on your way home because you knew we’d both be a mess if you hit me with it face-to-face. I’m over the worst of the shock now and I’m not going to bury my head under the covers.” She threw open her front door as Kendra reached it. Her eyes were red from crying and she pulled Kendra forward into her arms. “But it should never have happened.” She hugged her close and whispered, “She was so good, Kendra. Why?”
“We don’t know. That why I went there to try to find out.” She wiped her wet cheeks. “Mr. Kim’s death must have had something to do with it. It will just take time to figure it out.” She went over to Olivia’s bar and poured them both a glass of wine. She brought them back and handed one to her. “But I don’t want to wait,” she said wearily. “She was family, Olivia. It wasn’t only what she taught me, but what she made me teach myself. I’d ask her a question and she’d tell me to look inside myself and if I couldn’t figure it out then she’d tell me.” She dropped down on the couch and patted the cushion next to her. “Come and sit and talk with me. I need to remember everything about her. You were already at Oceanside when I came, and you were closer to her than I was. It’s you who would take me to her whenever I had a problem. I’d been born without sight and you didn’t lose yours until you had that automobile accident. So you were able to kind of bridge the gap between us.”
“Yes, I was closer to her than you were.” Olivia sat down and took another drink of wine. “I could talk to her.” She paused. “Do you know I went to see her on the night I heard that the stem cell operation to give you your vision was a success? I was so happy for you.” She finished her wine. “And so damn jealous that it was killing me.”
Kendra went still. “You never showed it.”
“Because I’m smart, and a great actress, and I love you like a sister. I’d never let how I felt spoil the gift you’d been given.” She stood up, got the wine bottle from the bar, and brought it back to the couch. “It would have poisoned both of us. But it was a pretty hard blow to take.” She refilled their glasses. “Not only were you leaving me in the dark alone, but it might be forever. And I wasn’t sure as you moved forward in your new world if we’d be able to keep what we had. So I lied until I learned to deal with it. And I did learn that, Kendra.” She nestled close to her. “No poison. No jealousy. All gone. But I needed someone to talk to that night.”
“And you went to Elaine.”
“She let me talk. She let me rejoice for you. She let me cry for myself. It was the start of the healing. By dawn I was a little drunk, but I was on my way back.” She smiled. “And we toasted my friend Kendra, and the miracle that had come into all our lives that day.”
“I wish I’d known.” She had to swallow to ease the tightness of her throat. “Yes, there