almost relieved that she didn’t have to fake being happy for another evening. She said she’d be glad to come in, though she had her suspicions as to the real reason Sally wasn’t coming in. Klaus was ready to turn her completely.
Since Amber had spent a lot of time in the store since Dorian had left, it didn’t take much for Paul to get her ready. Within an hour, she pretty much had it down pat. Paul gave her a big hug and went off to do some inventory. And though Paul almost always had an encouraging smile for her, when he wasn’t looking her way, she could see he was unhappy. It was her fault and she felt terrible. Especially since he believed it was him. Thought she wasn’t happy with the way he was.
Around eight, Judy came out, said she was taking a break from her algebra and could relieve Amber for a few minutes. Amber thanked her and went to go in the back, but Judy stopped her.
“Amber?”
“Yes?” She swung around.
“What’s happened between you and Paul?”
“Ahhh…Nothing!” It wasn’t exactly a lie. Nothing had happened between them.
“Amber…something is wrong! Paul was so happy! But lately, he doesn’t seem that way…He’s really quiet. When I ask him what’s wrong, he denies there’s anything just like you. I may be only fifteen…but he’s my brother and I love him! He hasn’t done anything…has he?”
Amber closed her eyes and chewed her bottom lip. Judy deserved honesty. “It’s not Paul, Judy. It’s me!”
“I thought you really had a thing for my brother?” she whispered, as he was slowly inching their way.
“I do care for him…a lot! He’s one of the sweetest, handsomest men I’ve ever known.”
She cut her eyes in his direction, “Then what the hell is the problem?”
Amber rarely heard Judy swear. “I don’t blame you for being upset. I’m upset…With myself. I do really care about him…I love him.”
“Then what’s the problem?” she asked again.
“Judy…I’m not really sure…though I do love him, I’m not absolutely certain that he is the one. Until I know, I don’t want to encourage him too much…just in case.” That was as honest an answer as she felt she could give. There was no way she could explain Dorian.
Judy stepped back slightly, obviously a shocked by Amber’s confession. “But I thought you were sure?”
“Please don’t be angry with me, Judy. Paul’s the greatest! That is why I don’t want to encourage him too much, and then maybe decide later that it’s not going to work! That would hurt him even more! Wouldn’t it?”
Judy stood staring at her, processing it all.
“Wouldn’t it?”
“…I suppose it would.”
“But you’re disappointed in me, aren’t you?”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.” She glanced off at Paul who was now walking over to them. “I hope you know pretty soon…He’s hurting right now…Best to get it over with, if you aren’t going to stay with him.”
“You girls seem in awful deep conversation over here…Something I should know about?” He looked at Amber inquiringly.
Judy glanced significantly at Amber. “I don’t know…Is there, Amber?” And she briskly walked off into the back.
“What’s going on?” he asked, setting his clipboard aside. “Judy doesn’t look too happy with you right now. What did you say to her?”
“She wanted to know if something is wrong.”
“What I’ve wanted to know.” He leaned his back against the counter, folding his arms in front.
“I told her the truth…that I love you.” Then she put out a hand, as he was going to speak but she stopped him. “But – I’m not one hundred percent positive that we are right for one another.”
He looked as though she’d hit him between the eyes with a brick. When he finally found his voice, he asked, “…When did you come to this conclusion? Was it the night we made love? For things changed rather drastically after that? You were disappointed with me…in some way?”
She understood why he would assume that. For it was immediately after that that she realized she had something wonderful with Dorian. “It wasn’t your…performance, Paul, if that’s what you’re thinking. Besides, I’m not that shallow that I wouldn’t give us more of a chance. That is not an issue with me. In fact, it’s not you at all! You were great!”
His face softened slightly. “Then, Amber…what the hell is it?”
At that moment she felt she should tell him the truth, that she loved Dorian too. But she also knew Paul was going to have some confusion there, as she had never really dated Dorian. “It’s just that very recently I’ve come to realize that I have feelings for someone else as well. And I admit I was confused…And still am.”
His brow furrowed. “But who in hell –?” Then it hit him. He cut his eyes around to hers. “Not Lodovico?”
Her lack of response answered his question. He dropped his arms down, turned away from her and then back again. His stunned face full of questions. “But how? When? When were you ever with him?”
She didn’t answer.
“Never mind! Shit! I wish you’d told me sooner…”He ran his hands through his hair and then dropped them down. “Shit! I knew there was something about him! But you never once admitted there was anything! Why? Amber…why?”
“Because I wasn’t sure myself.”
“Are you seeing him now? I mean…I thought you spent your spare time with me…but then he lives right there by you…I guess he does come over a lot. Right?”
“Not that often…really. I didn’t know until fairly recently, myself that there was definitely something between us…I’m so sorry, Paul.”
“Yeah…Well, so am I.” His eyes flashed pain mixed with anger.
“But I haven’t decided…yet.”
“Haven’t you? If you love me, then you should know!”
“I do! I do! I think you’re one of the most wonderful men I’ve ever known.”
He let out air. “Where is he? Come to think about it he hasn’t been making his daily trips in here for his beer and magazines… He ashamed to come around me now?”
“No! He’s not like that!”
“Then where is he?”
“He’s in Europe, if you must know.”
“What’s he doing in Europe?”
“Giving me time to be with you! He wants me to decide which one of you I really want to be with.” There. It was out.
He looked incredulous. “You are shittin’ me?”
“No…It’s the truth. He is much more decent than you give him credit for.” She didn’t want to talk about it anymore. The store was empty of customers and it was getting late. She didn’t want to discuss this anymore. “You’re not busy. Can I just go home now?”
“Yeah…You can go…” His eyes crinkled in an effort to smile. “Thanks for helping out.” He was trying to be understanding, and he seemed to realize that her telling him hadn’t been that easy.
She went to walk away.
“Amber?”
“What?”
“For what it’s worth… I still love you. And this is going to take me some time to digest...But thank you for telling me.”
“I’m glad it’s out in the open now. I wanted to tell you.”
“So, he definitely knows about us?”
“Yes! Why he left. He said I’d have a clearer view of how I felt if he wasn’t around.”
“I guess I have to give him credit for that…That was decent of him.”
“Thank you for recognizing that.”
“Okay if I call you tomorrow?”
“Certainly! I still care for you.”
“And I you!”
She turned and walked out the door. He didn’t try to follow her to her car, and she was glad. She really hadn’t wanted him too, and she figured he sensed it. Just as she was unlocking her car, Klaus appeared, giving her a start. “Shit! You’re bad as Dorian…sneaking up on me like that.”
He seemed am
used. “Just thought I’d say hello…I know Dorian asked me to keep an eye on you. I’m sure he mentioned it.”
“Yes…He did. It’s wasn’t necessary, though.”
“Might not seem that way to you. But a promise is a promise…and that’s what he wants.”
“I appreciate it. He’s been gone three weeks, now. And this is the first time I’ve seen you.”
“Oh…I’ve been watching over you.”
She thought about it, aware of some of Dorian’s supernatural abilities. “I suppose you have. Well, thank you.” She thought of Sally. “Does Sally really have the flu? Or is it that time?”
“I expect it will be all over with by tomorrow morning…She will be completely turned by then.”
“Will she be coming back to work here?”
“That is up to her. She knows she can do whatever she wishes. I will not keep any strings on her. If that is anything you might be concerned about?”
“Funny…Dorian seems to have a similar attitude with me.”
“Amber…everything changes when one turns. I really like Sally…and I’ve wanted a spunky lady like her for some time. And she was lonely…Only I had to coerce her cat. One thing she didn’t want to give up.”
“What do you mean by coerce?”
“Some use the term compel… A form of mind control. You see…I’m the one who attacked her that night…and Ginger didn’t like me much at all.”
“Oh my God! I should have made the connection.”
“You probably would have in time…And before I forget, Dorian gave me this to give to you.” He pulled a small jewelry box out of his pocket. “I suggest you open it right away. He wants you to wear it at all times.”
She reached out and took the box in her palm, opening it with her other hand. Inside, was a beautiful
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