Free Love in the Shadows by Caryn Moya Block

now.”
    “Poor Rick sounds like he could use a
vacation. He’s a nice man,” Katherine said.
    “Rick has always been kind of
melancholy. That’s why we hope he finds a mate with a sunny
disposition,” Derek said. “Why don’t you go find the nurse and get
those bandages? Then, we can get out of here.”
    Katherine found the nurse down the hall
and got a handful of gauze bandages. When she got back to the room,
Derek stood by the bed in a pair of jeans. His face looked
pale.
    “I think they cut my shirt off, when we
got here, and it hurts to bend over and put on shoes, so I’ll go
barefoot,” he explained. “We better hurry. I’m not feeling real
steady on my feet.”
    Katherine walked over and put her arms
around Derek and they shadow-walked into the honeymoon cottage on
the Isanti compound. Katherine helped lower Derek onto the
bed.
    “I think we should stay here tonight.
You need to take it easy. Whatever you want to show me can wait
until you have regained some strength.” Katherine tucked Derek into
bed. “I’m going to see what Cara left us for dinner. You rest. Here
is the TV remote. I’ll be right back.”
    “I’m sorry to be so weak, Kate. I’m
afraid you’re right. At least, we have a real bed to sleep in.
Could I have one of those pain pills? I may heal quickly, but
getting shot still hurts like hell.”
    Katherine dropped a kiss onto Derek’s
forehead. “Be right back, baby.”
    She went out and found two plates of
lasagna and a loaf of French bread. She stuck the plates into the
microwave and poured glasses of water for both of them. Then, she
cut the bread and loaded everything onto a tray and carried it into
the bedroom.
    She handed Derek his pill and served
him his plate. Once he was settled, she climbed into the bed on the
other side and ate her food. Everything tasted wonderful, and
Katherine was glad Cara had looked out for them. Derek turned on
the TV, and when they both had finished eating, Katherine took the
plates and set them aside. Then, she snuggled up to Derek, and they
enjoyed being together and having a quiet evening.
    It was early when Derek fell asleep.
Katherine knew he needed sleep to heal. He was still weak from his
ordeal. She loved taking care of him. She caressed his face and
picked up the plates and took them into the kitchen.
    She found a chocolate cake in the
refrigerator, along with an egg casserole for breakfast. Chocolate
cake was her favorite, so she cut a slice and sat watching Derek
sleep while she ate it. When Katherine got bored watching TV, she
turned it off and picked up a book.
    A couple of hours later, Katherine put
away the book and got ready for bed. She found one of her overlarge
T-shirts in the bathroom along with toiletries for both of them.
There were also pajamas for Derek and clean outfits for tomorrow.
Katherine had to hand it to Cara. If you needed something done, she
was the person to ask.
    Katherine brushed her hair and got
ready for bed. Maybe tomorrow, Derek would feel a little stronger.
Anger flooded her system about what Collette had done to him.
Katherine was glad the woman had died. She had never felt such
hatred before, not even when her first husband had been
killed.
    “Hey, beautiful, where are you?”
Katherine heard Derek’s voice from the other room. She went into
the bedroom. When he saw her, he opened his arms.
    “I didn’t mean to wake you,” she
admitted as she let him pull her close.
     
    §
     
    “You’ve got to let that rage go,
sweetheart. It will eat you alive if you hold onto it. I’m here
now, and we are finally together.”
    Katherine started to cry, and Derek was
glad to see her releasing her anger and grief. He rocked her and
kissed her temple and hair.
    “Let it all out. We are safe now. You
saved me, Kate. You’re my hero. You are an amazing woman. It’s
okay, baby,” he whispered to her as he held her tenderly and rubbed
her back.
    “I hate what she did to you. I felt so
helpless. She was evil. I