Alexa put her hand atop Kit’s in an attempt to assure her and be supportive. “Kitty, you can’t blame yourself for Sull’s addiction or his infidelity. He’s a grown man and he made those choices on his own. You didn’t hold a gun to his head. Same with the band. You’ve gone above and beyond for them and if they can’t appreciate that and fly right, then who needs ‘em. The last thing you need is that kind of stress. The question is, what are your next steps?”
She let out a long sigh. “I dunno. Lex, I dunno an L.A. life without Sully in it.”
She glanced down at her wedding and engagement rings, gently rubbing them with her thumb as she sat in contemplation for a moment. She then continued. “I met him within days of us landing here.”
She shook her head, incensed. “Jesus, that sounded fucking co-dependent. Damn.” She folded her arms in front of her chest again as if guarding her power center and took a moment to contemplate her past.
She then raised her pointer finger. “Actually, I take that back.” She met Alexa’s eyes. “I do know what to do, I’m just not ready to fully embrace it. Feeling some major anxiety about it right now.”
She winced. “And I still can’t stop thinking about our discussion and Kirby. I want closure and I think I’ve found a way to get it. Can you help me out?”
Alexa bobbed her head. “Of course. What do you need?”
She grinned sheepishly. “Grab my organizer. It should be on top of my desk. I think that’s where I last left it. If not, check the drawers.”
Alexa nodded. “Ok. I know Ariana was making dinner, so I’ll grab it for us too, hun. Relax. I’ll find it.”
Kit sat back and melted into the soft, tan suede sectional sofa in the entertainment room. She decided to rest her eyes for a moment and as she started to doze off, she was bombarded with another memory of Kirby. Her eyes popped open again and she let out a long breath.
She shook her head and wondered if allowing thoughts of him in was one of her biggest mistakes to date. She was starting to feel hypocritical indulging in memories, attempting to engage in emotional intimacy with a ghost. Her mind had been so preoccupied with Kirby lately. Instead of drugs, alcohol or sex like Sully, thoughts of Kirby had been her escape.
Alexa strolled in and grinned holding her scheduler in hand. “Found it.”
Kit grinned and gently took it from her. “Thank you.”
Alexa sat on the sofa next to her and rubbed her knee. What are you going to do?”
She nodded. “I’m gonna call Ralph, the private investigator that helped me take Dante down for the KMK mess years ago. He’s a pro. He can find anyone. I need confirmation that Kirby is still alive and then I need to find out why he left me in the first place.”
She sighed and shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t understand it. We were so in love.”
Alexa let out a long sigh. “Oh Kitty, I don’t want to see you deal with this all over again. No, not right now. Especially not after what’s going on with Sully.”
Overcome with deep concern, her violet eyes pleaded with Kit. “What if you don’t get the answer you want? What if Kirby moved on and he’s happily married now? What then, huh? Yes, things may not be good with Sully right now but that doesn’t mean to run to another guy, even if he has been in your thoughts. I think it’s best for you to just do you right now and let sleeping dogs lie.”
She shook her head in protest. “I just need to know, Lex.”
Alexa reluctantly nodded and patted her knee. “I get it. I kinda want to hear what your guy Ralph has to say.”
Kit sighed and flipped through the address portion of her book until she found the number she sought. She picked up her phone and dialed. He answered on the third ring and she greeted him, refreshing his memory on who she was.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, she rattled off all the pertinent information on Kirby from their first meeting in 1979 to his suspicious death in 1983.
She gave Ralph the background on his family, the incarceration details of his father, former U.S. senator Ted Nelson, and a snapshot of the assets they once had together that became inaccessible to her upon his death.
Kit continued with Ralph and wrapped up the call, thanking him and promptly hanging up the receiver. She looked up at Alexa and smirked. “It’s done. He’s searching.”
Alexa raised her eyebrows. “Should be interesting.” She grinned. “I have some happy news for you.”
She raised her eyebrows. “I could use some happy news right about now. What’cha got?”
Alexa smiled. “Wes has been wanting to invest in a West Coast home base and since we have so many fond memories of L.A., we decided to buy something here. We found a great place in Bel Air Crest. It won’t be the primary home base for us, that’s still New York, but it will be where we’ll stay when we’re out for visits from now on.”
Kit squealed excitedly and clapped her hands. “I love it! That’s exciting news.”
Alexa nodded. “It is. And you will probably be seeing more of Wes than me in coming months. He’s opening an L.A. office and a San Fran office.”
She reached out and squeezed Alexa’s hand. “This is happy news!”
Alexa swallowed hard. “Kitty, I hate to
