"I don't want anyone knowing exactly why I'm here. Service isn't the same when your waiter knows you're writing an article about him. And I don't want to start any rumors about the convention center. Chances of it actually happening are remote. At this point the zoning could finish the project. And if the rumor got around that I'm interesting in buying the land needed, the price of real estate would skyrocket out of reach."
It made such perfect sense she wondered why she hadn't thought of it; she'd dreamed up everything else. Remembering some of her more wild conjectures, she laughed.
"Do you know this is the first time I've heard you laugh," Leo remarked. "You really should more often..." For a moment he considered her closely, her black eyes, the curve of her white throat, the red fullness of her mouth. "But I can't see what's so funny about the price of land going beyond my reach!1'
"I had imagined you a bank robber on the lam... or a Casanova on a tryst. Or an FBI agent, prowling the coast for enemy submarines." she said, chuckling richly. "You just didn't look sick enough, not even for amnesia!"
"I'm supposed to be sick?"
"Jill said something about an invalid, so I expected. .." She shrugged.
Slowly a grin formed on his mouth and a very predatory row of white teeth captured her glance. He couldn't have looked healthier, more virile—more dangerous. Her heart seemed to be thudding unreasonably in her breast as her cautious gaze rose to meet the wicked dance of his.
Tilting his blond head to one side he surveyed her in minute detail. "I take it you're not disappointed?" he asked, the directness of his words masked by a deceptively polite tone of voice.
She gasped, shocked at his unfamiliar boldness. She felt his challenge viscerally...but chose to ignore it. "I'll be careful not to breathe a word of your reasons for being in town. Shall I say you've been having headaches, if anyone asks? People are so curious."
"So they have been asking about me?"
"In a roundabout fashion. After all, by now everybody knows I'm looking after Jill's booking. I guess they've seen you around."
"Is my being here unpleasant for you?" he demanded abruptly, beginning to frown.
"No." She smiled very faintly. "Doom and Gloom haven't started yet."
"Is that why you didn't want to have me here?"
Arianne's eyebrows rose slightly, although she could hardly refute his words. She hadn't been very welcoming. "Oh, gossips don't bother me too much," she said offhandedly, instead of answering his question directly.
"If anyone asks, tell them I'm a bibliophile—with a headache."
As usual he didn't linger over dinner. He took the blackberry path again, down toward the fort that was all in darkness. Arianne supposed there was some perfectly logical explanation for his strolling on the beach at night, just as there had been for the rest.
Waiting for his return, she found it very hard to sit down and knit. Restlessly she paced, unable to find solace in a book, either. Two hours later she heard his light tread on the steps outside, and she flew over the chair by the fire. Dropping into it, she took up her knitting as the front door opened. The beeswax candle beside her was flickering erratically but didn't go out.
***
Over the next few days she found herself sneaking glances at him when he wasn't looking and following him about with her eyes. He'd better not stay any longer than one more week! She'd become far too accustomed to the companionable small talk over the crackle of the fire late at night.
Of course it was Rae she was really worried about, she told herself. Children formed strong attachments very quickly, and the boy seemed to like their guest rather more than he should under the circumstances. After the week's end they might never see Leo Donev again!
Having to make breakfast, lunch and supper took up a lot of her time, and the rest of the week slid by far too quickly. Merely dressing these days took more time...
Arianne greeted the next Saturday morning with a peculiar dread. She didn't want to go downstairs, make breakfast and then find out he was going away right after. That pay envelope had come to mean a lot more than the money it contained.
But after Leo had finished his blueberry waffles he invaded the kitchen, this time with Rae riding piggy-back on his shoulders. Hanging on to her son's sneakers with one hand, he handed her the customary payment. Arianne bit her lip to keep from appearing too happy. She didn't want to sing and dance, for example, or look like much other than a staid mother, as she wiped sudsy hands on her jeans before taking the envelope.
"Arianne, I'm leaving town tomorrow morning, and I won't be back until Tuesday morning. So if you want to visit Seattle for Thanksgiving, feel free. I have to go home for a couple of days to get some things, and this seems a good time."
"But you paid for the whole week!" she protested. "You can't do that. Th-this is business."
"I wouldn't mind having some brandy around for the evenings and a bit of a choice in liqueurs.. .or a nice dry sherry. Use the extra for that sort of thing." He and Rae—the boy was still happily perched high off the ground on Leo's shoulders—turned to go.
"Wait...wait a minute. What exactly do you want me to get?"
"Go horsey, go!" Rae was becoming impatient. "Go, go!"
"I'll leave that up to you." Leo said over his shoulder. "You've been batting a thousand so far."
"But Leo—"
"Phone, mummy. Auntie Jill! Mummy, phone!"
Arianne stared at Rae aghast, and just as her eyes dropped to gauge Leo's reaction, the telephone in the living room rang. Nobody moved for an instant, and then Rae giggled happily.
"Auntie Jill!" he chirped.
Leo's voice was hushed. "Well, what do you know!"
Arianne brushed past him and ran down the hall to answer the third ring. She would have given anything to have been able to say casually, "Oh, hi Orly!"
"Hello, Jill," she had to say, instead. Leo was watching her from the hall.
Jill asked her to baby-sit that evening since she'd only just decided to take Don up on his invitation to the fall dance. She would bring Erin and Lucy over at seven, she said, and was it all right for the kids to spend the night, the usual arrangement when they baby-sat for each other. Rather than jostling the children out of their sleep only to go several hundred yards, they always delayed returning them until the following morning.
"Of course it's all right. Mm-hm, seven's fine. Okay, bye." Reluctantly Arianne turned to face Leo, and as soon as she did he started slowly toward her.
''This is why you didn't want me here?'' It was hardly a question.
Arianne said nothing for a minute, but stuck out her chin and dug her hands into the pockets of her jeans in an unknowingly defensive pose. "So what about it!"
He stopped, eyeing her in some surprise. He opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it decisively again and stood looking at her with a puzzled frown.
"Well?" she snapped, unsettled by the keenness of his intrigued gaze. "What do you have to say? Isn't it fascinating? Isn't it strange? Oh, my God, she's a psychic? Why isn't she on television?"
"No." A lopsided smile slightly lifted one corner of his mouth. "But I'll keep your secret if you'll keep mine."
Her relief was tremendous. It was so overwhelming she felt as if imaginary stuffing had just been pulled out of her. She was trembling from the fear of discovery, from the horror of having people point their accusing fingers, from the pain of their frightened rejection of her—just when she'd at last become comfortable in the small town. And now, she had to shield not only herself but an innocent baby boy who had no idea how different he really was.
"Hey." Leo stopped in front of her. Rae, still on his shoulders, was finding this adult conversation rather gripping. "Hey, Arianne..." Leo protested, dismayed by her bent head. One of his hands rose and a fingertip gently but very firmly raised her chin.
A tear fell from the dark lashes, and after a second's hesitation he brushed it away.
"It's all right," he said softly.1
'Your secret is safe with me. But.. .it's going to be hard to keep it a secret." He didn't have to add, "because of Rae." She knew very well how difficult it was going to be to explain to the child that most of the time he would have to hide a part of himself that was as natural as breathing.
"Arianne, it's a gift—"
"It's a curse!" she returned bitterly.
In silence he studied her, perhaps waiting for her to say more.
But she took a deep steadying breath, determined not to say another word. "Oh, dammit!" she quavered, instead. "I was so hoping he didn't have it!"
"Could his father help? Where's his father?"
Arianne shook her head. "We're divorced."
"For how long?" Leo frowned.
"Well...two years."
"'Two years'! But he's not even two years...old—oh, I see." Lapsing into silence once more, Leo looked even more puzzled. Then he started shaking his head. "If the guy can't stick around while you're having his baby, he sounds like... like..."
"I—it wasn't like that exactly," Arianne stammered, gazing at Leo with dawning astonishment.
"What do you mean? Ah! Rae's not his baby."
"Of course he's his baby!" she asserted indignantly. "Why am I telling you this?" Her astonishment finally made her ask herself this question, but she said it out loud.
"Why not?" he queried reasonably. "Now why wasn't it like that?"
"Reggie didn't know."
It was his turn to be surprised. "Tell me, Arianne," he began again when it seemed he had digested the latest information, "do you generally keep a lot of secrets?"
This made her smile. "No. And I didn't keep the baby a secret. . .I just couldn't tell him at the time and later.. .well, there didn't seem any reason to then." She hoped he grasped the logic of it. "It just happened!"
"You mean.. .he still doesn't know?"
"No," she admitted faintly.
"How can he stay away from you!" he muttered to himself.
"He doesn't know where I am, either," Arianne volunteered.
"Did he know about your.. .your ESP?"
"Mm-hm."
"What does that mean? Did he like it? Did he hate it? "
"A little of both. Mostly he found it embarrassing and just didn't want anyone to know."
"He sounds adorable," Leo remarked dryly.
This made her smile again. "He wasn't really so bad. Very ambitious.. .a political figure.. .and I just didn't add up."
"That was a very calm diagnosis."
"Well, I—well, I..."
"Ye-es?"
"Leo, would you please get out of my way. I have to get ready for work. I'll see you at dinner."
***
Jill brought the kids over a little earlier than seven. She was dressed up for the dance and looked young and pretty and carefree.. .and was terribly depressed.
"I don't think I should be going to the stupid old dance in the first place!" she said grouchily, sitting at the kitchen table with Arianne. "I mean, what's the point? Don's very nice, but... I'm not going to go. I'll phone him and—"
"No, you won't!" Arianne pushed her back into the chair. "Wait, I'll give you a shot of Leo's brandy. You need a dab for your nerves. What's the matter with you, anyway?"
"Just the blues...."
"Oh, come on!"
"What's the point of it all, Arianne? What's it for? The earrings, the lipstick? Just to end up married again? No thanks! I had it bad enough the first time around. I don't need another lesson! When I think of what I went through!"
"Don't think about it. It's over. In the past." Taking another look at her friend's troubled face, she added, "Isn't it?"
"He kept coming back, Arianne.'' Jill closed her eyes in distress. "What could I do?"
"Not shut the door in his face, obviously," Arianne supplied. "Was this before or after the divorce? Or both?"
"I wouldn't see him for ages, and then he'd just drop in... he'd hang around for a while and then disappear again. Sometimes I wouldn't see him for a week. Other times a month. This time..."
"Wait a minute, what do you mean, 'this time'? He's not back!"
"No. No, of course not! I—I just meant that...ah...I haven't seen him since our divorce!" Jill looked moodily into the depths of her coffee cup. "It's all so useless. I would get myself together and start thinking that maybe things would be okay, and then whammo, there he was again, with another game up his sleeve."
"Oh, Jill, I'm sorry."
"Look, don't you get morose! It's not your problem."
"No, but somehow you have to get over him!"
"I am. Oh, I am! Of course I am. It's just when I start thinking about everything that.. .urn..."
"Then you have to stop wallowing in it!" Arianne exclaimed. "And start right now by going to that dance with Don. You're right. He is nice. And an officer to boot. He sure looks terrific in his dress uniform!"
"How would you know?"
Arianne laughed—she was looking out the kitchen window. "Because he's coming over here right now!"
***
Arianne had the children in bed and quiet by eight-thirty, a feat tantamount to winning any Olympic race, she was sure. Then as she dashed down the stairs to put the finishing touches to supper, her doorbell rang. Since Leo usually just walked in or used his key, she groaned, not wanting an interruption now.
"Larry?" she gasped. He was in civilian clothes— cowboy boots, jeans, shirt, leather vest and sport jacket. "Why, hello... come in," she added belatedly, accepting a small, sweet-smelling bouquet of freesias. "Thank you!"
"Since you wouldn't come to the dance, I thought you might like to come to the movies." He smiled at her, looking gorgeous, and slid out of the sport jacket. "We could catch the nine-thirty flick. It's a comedy. We'll laugh ourselves silly and eat huge tubs of buttered popcorn. Tell me the truth. Doesn't it sound wonderful?"
Arianne, holding the flowers, thought she shouldn't be treating such a bona fide date so cavalierly. She should show a little appreciation, for he was pleasant, after all, and handsome in the bargain. So she smiled a bit more warmly as she turned down the movie as well as the dance.
"I can't. Not only does my B-and-B guest expect his dinner at nine, but I've three kids upstairs, hopefully happily off in dreamland."
"Your 'B and B'? Oh, yes, that fellow Leo—Leo something-or-other.''
"Leo Donev." She thought Jill must have told Larry and Don about her guest, for she certainly hadn't. "Erin and Lucy are staying over."
"That's right, Don's taking Jill to the dance tonight, isn't he? I suppose they've left already. Say, what are you having for dinner? It smells fantastic!"
He might as well have invited himself to stay. Arianne saved him the effort and asked him, instead, albeit reluctantly. After urging Jill to go to the dance with Don, she felt she should at least make an effort with Larry, and besides, dates were scarce as hens' teeth! She settled him in the living room, then excused herself to put the flowers in water and see to the dinner's final touches.
When she came back she discovered Leo had arrived home. He was saying to Larry, who was a lot quicker and more direct than she, obviously, "I own a bookshop in Los Angeles. Been having trouble with my eyes lately, lots of headaches. I must be reading too many books. My doctor suggested a quiet holiday with no stress."
"You've picked the right spot and the right time of year, then. Nothing could be quieter than Port Townsend in November." Larry smiled congenially. "How long are you staying?"
Arianne peeked through her curls at Leo's bland expression, admiring his slick ability to lie. At least, part of it was a lie; he just might own the bookstore. But she was certain he didn't really suffer from headaches, not with the way the hot green ice shimmered back at her.
"How long am I staying? I'm not sure exactly. I'm seeing my doctor this weekend and I'll take it from there."
"You must have an understanding doctor if he's going to see you Thanksgiving weekend!" Larry pointed out smoothly, smiling at
everyone, rattling the ice in his glass.
"Personal friend," Leo replied. "And since I'm having Thanksgiving dinner at his place... You live in town?"
"I'm based on Whidbey Island. It's Lieutenant Barnes, actually." Larry, trying to be sophisticated, couldn't quite hide the gleam of pride and accomplishment from his brown eyes. "In another ten years I'll be retired."
"With the comfortable pension reserved for those of your high rank," Leo added easily.
"Danger pay." Larry smiled pleasantly. "We're ready to risk our lives every minute of every day!"
Leo half smiled back somewhat lazily. Arianne had the uncomfortable feeling he had something up his sleeve. "You sound so dedicated. I'm surprised you're considering early retirement."
She found herself sitting there turning her head from side to side, as if she were watching a tennis match. Although on the surface things couldn't have been more pleasant, she felt the men weren't getting along. Hackles were up; the men just hadn't begun to snarl yet. She wondered what had put them off about each other. Neither had any sort of claim on her....
Dinner was hardly a sparkling success, although the food was excellent. Larry raved over it and was still praising her afterward when they were in the living room once more, partaking of dessert—exquisite chocolates handmade in town and a pot of strong coffee that released a most wonderful rich aroma.
Leo poured some brandy for them then, and Arianne wondered that he wasn't going out again as usual. Had he deterred his evening walk, or had he meant to stay home tonight? She stared pensively at the flames in the fireplace.
Larry was saying in the most affable manner, "Competition from the movies and television must put quite a dent in your market. And it's getting worse!"
"Or better, depending on how you look at it." Leo replied, stretching his sinewy length comfortably on the couch, with his stocking feet propped up on one end. This behavior earned him a raised eyebrow, not from his hostess but from the other guest. "You see, all that competition is actually on my side. With more people being educated these days, more people are reading."
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