登陆注册
10471700000004

第4章

November 11

4:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

Mount Carmel Cemetery

Reston, Virginia

A single red rose, just cut, lay on the brown grass. Luke stared at the name and the epitaph carved into the gleaming black marble.

REBECCA ST. JOHN

To Live, to Laugh, to Love

The bleak overcast day was already fading and night was coming on. He felt a shiver go through him. He was overtired from the long trip back east. He was also clean-shaven, with short hair-no longer protected from the chill by his shaggy mane. He looked away from the stone and stared out at the cemetery, row upon row of gravestones covering rolling hillsides in a quiet part of suburban DC.

He gazed up at the gunmetal sky. When they married, Becca had taken his last name. Apparently, she had chosen to go to her grave under her maiden name. That burned him, all the way deep inside. Their rupture had been complete. He almost shook his fist at the sky, at Becca, wherever she might be now.

Did he hate her? No. But she made him very, very angry. She had blamed him for everything that went wrong in their marriage, right up to and including her own death from cancer.

On the cemetery road, just down the hill and about a hundred yards away, a sleek black limousine pulled up in front of Luke's nondescript rental sedan. As he watched, a chauffeur in black jacket and cap opened the back door of the limo.

Two figures emerged. One was young and male, growing tall like his father. The boy wore jeans, sneakers, a dress shirt, and a windbreaker jacket. The other figure was old and female, stooped a bit, wearing a long heavy wool coat against the damp autumn air. Luke didn't have to guess who they were-he already knew.

Luke had cheated. Of course he had. Fifteen minutes ago, he had been tailing that same limousine. When he guessed where it was going, he decided to beat it here. The two people working their way slowly up the footpath now, arm in arm, were Audrey, Becca's seventy-two-year-old mother, and Gunner, Luke and Becca's thirteen-year-old son.

Luke looked away for a moment as they approached, scanning the horizon as though something interested him out there. When he turned back again, they were nearly here. He watched them come. Audrey moved slowly, carefully studying her own feet as they touched the ground-she seemed older than her years. Gunner stepped awkwardly along with her, supporting her. The slow pace seemed like it would make him lose his balance-he was like a young colt trapped in a stall, all frustrated energy, desperate to unleash his own speed and power.

Gunner stared quizzically at Luke, but only for a few seconds. It had been nearly two years since last they'd met-an immense amount of time at the boy's age-and for a brief moment, it was clear he didn't know who Luke was. His face darkened when he realized he was staring at his own father. Then he looked at the ground.

Audrey knew who Luke was right away.

"Can we help you?" she said before they even reached the grave marker.

"You can't," Luke said. Audrey and her husband, Lance, had never accepted him as their son-in-law. They had been a toxic influence on his marriage since well before he and Becca exchanged their vows. Luke had nothing to say to Audrey.

"What are you doing here, Dad?" Gunner said. His voice was deeper now. His throat had the cleft of an Adam's apple-that hadn't been there before.

"I was called here by the President. But I wanted to see you first."

"Your President lost," Audrey said. "She's holed up inside the White House like a lunatic, refusing to admit defeat. I always knew there was something suspect about her. Now it's on full display for the world to see. Was she hoping to become Emperor?"

Luke looked at Audrey, taking his time, soaking her in. She had deep-set eyes with irises so dark, they seemed almost black. She had a sharp nose, like a beak. Her shoulders were hunched, and her hands were impossibly frail. She reminded him of a bird-a crow, or maybe a vulture. A carrion eater, in any case.

"She lost," Audrey said again. "She needs to get over it and prepare to hand over power to the winner."

"Gunner?" Luke said, ignoring Audrey now. "Can we talk?"

"I told Rebecca in no uncertain terms not to marry you. I told her it would end in disaster. But I never could have imagined that it would come to this."

"Gunner?" Luke repeated, but now the boy was looking away. Luke saw a tear slide down Gunner's face. The kid swallowed hard.

"I just want to apologize."

The words came out wrong. An apology? That wouldn't nearly cut it. Luke knew that. It was going to take a lot more than an apology to set this situation right again, if that was even possible. He wanted to tell Gunner that. He wanted to tell him he would do anything, everything, if only he would let him back into his life.

He had made a terrible mistake. He would spend the rest of his life on this. He would fix it.

Gunner looked at him, openly crying now. The tears streamed down his face. "I don't want to talk to you." He shook his head. "I don't want to see you. I just want to forget about you, don't you understand?"

Luke nodded. "Okay. Okay, I can respect that. But know that I love you and I'm always open to hearing from you. Do you still have my number? You can call me if you change your mind."

"I don't have your number," Gunner said. "And I won't change my mind."

Luke nodded again. "In that case, I'll leave you alone."

Audrey's voice followed Luke down the path. "That sounds like a good idea," she said. "Leave the boy alone." Then she laughed, a mad cackle that would have sounded almost like a coughing fit if Luke didn't know better.

"Leave us alone with our dead."

Luke made it to his car, put it in gear, and was almost to the cemetery gates before he started crying himself.

同类推荐
  • On the Loom

    On the Loom

    In On the Loom, Maryanne Moodie brings the ancient art of weaving to the modern day in a comprehensive guide packed with step-by-step tutorials and beautiful photography. Learn the basics of this simple and beautiful craft with valuable information on basic stitches, tools needed, and even how to make your own looms. Split by loom type—circular, rectangular, and even found objects—24 lush, bohemian, and uniquely modern projects for the home and to wear draw deeply on the nostalgic quality of vintage textiles. In addition to the how-to, this is the ultimate resource for finding your own creativity and style through this medium, from learning which materials to use for different effects to discovering how to use color to create vintage-inspired projects with a modern twist.
  • Where Eagles Nest

    Where Eagles Nest

    Lynn needs her guardian's permission to marry--and his stepson, Paul Loukas, would never let that happen. Still, Lynn craves freedom. And with her options limited, she marries Paul in a desperate bid to gain her freedom.Years ago, Paul was in love with Lynn. And he can still deny her nothing--except the freedom she needs. His kisses fill her with desire, and soon Lynn begins to wonder whether the freedom her heart longs for is the freedom to leave--or stay.
  • The Chronicles of Faerie

    The Chronicles of Faerie

    In this book, which School Library Journal called ?lyrical and mesmerizing,? eighteen-year-old Laurel arrives in Ireland on the anniversary of her sister?s mysterious death, to take up her twin?s failed mission to find the Summer King and save Faerie.
  • Murphy

    Murphy

    Edited by J. C. C. Mays Murphy, Samuel Beckett's first novel, was published in 1938. Its work-shy eponymous hero, adrift in London, realises that desire can never be satisfied and withdraws from life, in search of stupor. Murphy's lovestruck fiance Celia tries with tragic pathos to draw him back, but her attempts are doomed to failure. Murphy's friends and familiars are simulacra of Murphy, fragmented and incomplete. But Beckett's achievement lies in the brilliantly original language used to communicate this vision of isolation and misunderstanding. The combination of particularity and absurdity gives Murphy's world its painful definition, but the sheer comic energy of Beckett's prose releases characters and readers alike into exuberance.
  • 渴望 (龙人日志系列#10)

    渴望 (龙人日志系列#10)

    在《渴望》(《龙人传承》系列#2)中,十六岁的斯嘉丽·潘恩努力想弄明白自己正变成什么。她古怪的行为使新男朋友——布雷克疏远她,她努力道歉,努力想使他明白。但问题是,她都不明白自己正在发生什么。同时,新来的男孩,神秘的赛奇,走进她生命中。他们的生命之路持续交叉,并且虽然她极力避免,虽然她最好的朋友玛利亚反对(她确信斯嘉丽正在抢走赛奇),他径直追逐着她。斯嘉丽发现自己被赛奇迷住。他把她带进他的世界,带着她穿过他家富有历史感的河中大楼的大门。随着他们关系的深化,她开始了解更多他神秘的过往,他的家庭,还有他必须保守的秘密。在哈德逊一座隐秘的岛屿上,他们一起度过了她能想象的最浪漫的时光,而且她确信自己找到了生命的真爱。但是随后,她震惊地知道了赛奇最大的秘密——他也不是人类,而且他活着的时间只剩下几个星期了。悲剧的是,就在命运将最爱带到她生命中时,似乎又注定要把他带走。当斯嘉丽回到高中学校派对并参加舞会时,她以与朋友们发生争吵而告终,被朋友排除在圈子外。同时,薇薇安集结受欢迎的女孩将她的生活推入地狱,而引发了一场不可避免的冲突。斯嘉丽被迫想逃遁,她与父母的关系越来越糟,并不久便发现身边处处是压力。她生命中唯一的光是赛奇。但是他仍然保守着一些秘密,同时布雷克重新出现,决心继续追求她。同时,凯特琳决心要找到治疗斯嘉丽龙人瘟疫的办法。她所发现的东西引她踏上寻找解药、深入善本古籍图书馆和书店的旅途,并且她会不惜一切代价找到它。但这也许太晚了。斯嘉丽正在迅速转变,几乎无法控制自己正在变成的东西。她想和赛奇厮守在一起,但命运似乎注定要将他们两个人分开。随着本书在激动人心和令人震惊的转折中达到高潮,斯嘉丽将要作出一个决定性的选择——一个将会永远改变世界的选择。她将愿意为爱情作多大冒险?
热门推荐
  • 狐狸竹马捕小妻

    狐狸竹马捕小妻

    蓝琪自认为是个大美女,从小的追求者数不胜数,所以她觉得自己这辈子都不会为男人头疼,直到有一天,她惊愕的发现,那个从小被她欺负得惨兮兮,个性好,脾气好,学习好。。。。。似乎没什么不好的“呆子”突然摇身一变,变成了一个谦和儒雅多金俊美的男人,她猛的不淡定了邵子宇从少年时期他就在计划一件事,如何对一个小丫头百依百顺,迁就纵容,惯得她极其挑剔,找不到男朋友。。他很腹黑但在她面前很呆画面一在第N次烂摊子被收拾好后,蓝琪勾着邵子宇的脖子“呆子,你一辈子给我欺负好不好,我怕再也找不到这么好欺负的人了”她一脸的担忧“嗯。。可是。。。”某男似乎很纠结“可是什么?”蓝琪双手勾脖子的撒娇动作改为掐,他敢说不,她就掐死他,也不便宜别的女人“。。我怕以后我的老婆会不同意”“那就掐死这种可能性,我当你老婆”某男低头收敛眼中的笑意“我。。。考虑考虑”二婆媳关系是个永恒的难题“说,我和你妈吵架你到底帮谁?别说哪个有理就帮那个?这不是演电视用不着你来当清官”房间里琪蓝双手插腰,美目圆瞪,一副严刑逼供的样子沙发上,邵子宇摆正姿态“原则上哪个有理帮哪个,但私底下我向着你老婆”某女的怒气收敛,挑眉“真的?”“嗯”“如果做不到怎么办?”“任凭老婆处置”“好,如果做不到我收拾你”此文一对一的宠文,女主美丽,可爱,刁钻,保证善良但不懦弱,男主,英俊潇洒,温柔腹黑,保证专情而又深情
  • 香咳集

    香咳集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 这个女王有点毒

    这个女王有点毒

    庄颜曦和儿子冷帝司莫名其妙的被车撞死了,穿越到平行世界活了过来,还绑定了一个系统。从此她走上了为了被黑而拉黑的娱乐圈道路。最后系统告诉她,不但要拉黑,还要黑转粉庄颜曦:“……”系统:“宿主大人,我们来一起拯救世界吧!加油你是最棒哒(* ̄3 ̄)╭??小花花砸你”庄颜曦:“……”小柿子???:“拯救世界,为什么还要拉上我一个只有六岁的孩子?”每天要装长辈面前的乖宝宝,其他家长眼里的别人家的孩子,老师的好学生,心累不爱了,明明他只想和老妈一起环游世界,偶尔来个刺激运动,就没有其他的了呀。系统:“小孩子就要好好学习,天天向上呀(*^ワ^*)”庄颜曦/冷帝司:打死它可以吗(▼ヘ▼#)
  • 鬼医郡王妃

    鬼医郡王妃

    他是芝兰玉树,丹桂飘香,权倾朝野,手握重兵,令无数女儿家朝思暮想的燕郡王燕祁。她是医术高超,阴险腹黑,睚眦必报,令无数人为之头疼的揽医谷谷主云染,又名揽月公子。新文《摄国嫡妃》江湖传闻,阎王要人三更死,揽月留人到五更,人称鬼医。上元灯会,他和她初次见面,他把她抵在墙角,冷冷威胁:“别动,借个吻。”云染本想一针致他于死地,却在知道他身受重伤之时,出手救了他。云染,云王府嫡女,鬼节出生的她被称为不详之人,还是大宣京都有名的女魔头,杀人放火,无恶不作,其实一切只不过是一场捧杀。一朝高调回京,惨遭未婚夫退婚,立时引来无数冷嘲热讽,尼玛的当姐还是以前那个任人欺负的云染吗?下人找碴,不介意让你们上西天。姐妹设计,那就反设计回去。继母伪善,撕破你伪善的嘴脸,让你恶形现天下。祖母冷讽,毒舌气得你吐血,让你半身不遂。辗转得知,那退婚的未婚夫竟然就是她当初所救之人,云染大骂,燕祁,你个狗心狼肺,忘恩负义的小人,姐不收拾你就不姓云。一场花王盛会,使得他认出了她,亦使得她光芒大盛,艳惊天下,求亲的人踏破了门槛,令人不胜其烦。很快,云王府门前贴出了选婿的告示。“没通房,未纳妾。日后不偷人,不吃腥,只娶一妻,洁身自好者请进。”一道媒贴递了进去,上有燕郡王的生辰八字,外加四字箴言:“天作之合”。
  • 老子道德经憨山注

    老子道德经憨山注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 谁是电工

    谁是电工

    尹守国,2006年开始小说创作,发表中短篇小说70多万字,作品多次被《新华文摘》、《小说选刊》、《北京文学中篇小说月报》等选载,中国作家协会会员,辽宁省作协签约作家。
  • 送卢郎中赴金州

    送卢郎中赴金州

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 情难自禁:总裁的闪婚甜妻

    情难自禁:总裁的闪婚甜妻

    夜烬勾勾手指,笑得奸诈无比:“暴力女,欠我的两亿什么时候还?”林小荫别过脸,坚决抵抗:“要钱没有,要命不给!”“好!”大手一拦,软香入怀,奸计得逞。“欠债肉还,我吃亏些!”当林小荫把怀里粉嘟嘟的小肉肉塞到夜烬怀里后,如释重负:“那,肉还你,我们两清了。”抱着女儿的夜烬依旧笑的很是阴险:“谁说的?”“你不是说……唔”还没说清楚嘴巴就被霸道的封上了,缠绵悱恻的吻结束,看着瘫软成一坨的女人,某男理所当然的说:“我是说用我的肉。来,闺女饿了,把衣服脱了。”林小荫仰天长叹,看着笑的咯咯叫的女儿,瞬间觉得早已掉进狼窝了,这大狼小狼怎么会放开嘴边上她这块肥肉呢?
  • 透视地球

    透视地球

    主要从各个方面介绍地球的起源、运动、构造和特征,海陆变迁、构造运动、山川地貌等各类地质地理现象,人类对地球研究的认识方法、过程和成果。中外主要地质学派的代表人物及观点。《透视地球》语言通俗易懂,可以让读者对地球的各方面有一个全面的了解。
  • 女帝朱砂劫

    女帝朱砂劫

    以吾千世情劫赤子泪万行,凝汝今生心头朱砂痣一滴。请玻璃心、圣母心或者阅读后产生不良反应的读者君,自觉点击右上角关闭。作者学生党,更新不定期,保质不保量。本人不会以任何方式求票求收藏,您图看个热闹,我图写得开心。各得其所,不亦乐乎。