Dawn’s New Day

by TJ Thomas

  Cam’s jaw dropped slightly in utter surprise. Sister? She tried to keep her voice from sounding accusatory. “Uh, we didn’t really get that far. Your sister? Wow, you two look nothing alike.”

  “I know. We’ve spent our entire lives convincing people we have the same parents. Ali takes after our dad, and I favor our mom.”

  Dawn cocked her head. “Cam, who did you think Ali was?”

  “I was trying really hard, apparently unsuccessfully, not to jump to conclusions.”

  Dawn frowned. “You can’t think—”

  “I didn’t know what to think. But let’s be fair, if you came to my door at seven in the morning and a beautiful half-dressed woman came to the door fresh from the shower, what would you think?”

  Dawn ignored the question. “Why did you come to my door at seven in the morning?”

  A number of responses flew into Cam’s head. She stuck with the simple truth. “Two reasons, I wanted to thank you for all the work you did yesterday. I got in too late last night to thank you in person, but I know you’re usually up early, so thank you. It looks great.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Also, I came to apologize for the way I left things the other day. I know you’re going to be busy with your show the next few days, and I leave on a business trip the day after the opening, so I wanted to put it behind us before I go. It isn’t fair of me to be mad at you for your choices, as much as I disagree with them. It’s your life to live the way you want.”

  “Thank you for saying that.”

  “But I wanted to get to know you better and I still do. I certainly don’t want us to be at odds living next door to one another. So, can we call a truce?”

  “What would this truce entail?”

  The corner of Cam’s mouth lifted in a lopsided grin. “I keep asking you out and you don’t get upset when I don’t accept your declination.”

  “Wait. What?”

  “I’ll continue to ask you out operating under the assumption someday you’ll give in.”

  Dawn wasn’t entirely comfortable with this, but she was intrigued and it didn’t cut Cam out of her life. She couldn’t help but smile. “It’s a start. By the way,” she said shifting the conversation, “when you get back, we should talk about what else you need for your yard.”

  “Okay.”

  “Now, let me formally introduce the two of you.” Dawn walked over and opened the door. “You can come out now.”

  Ali was standing just inside the door. She had on jeans and her top was form-fitting, accentuating all her curves. Ali looked between them. “Everything okay out here?”

  “Yes, no thanks to you.” Dawn turned to Cam. “Cam, I would like you to meet my little sister, Ali. Ali, Cam is my next-door neighbor. I’m helping her with some landscaping.”

  Ali held out her hand warmly. “It’s nice to meet you, Cam. I hope you didn’t mind me having a little fun at your expense.”

  Cam shook Ali’s hand, now able to laugh at the situation. “Of course not. As long as you remember I owe you one.”

  Ali laughed. “Oh, I like you.” Without looking at Dawn, Ali asked, “Why don’t you join us for breakfast?”

  Cam searched Dawn’s face, seeming to seek permission or give her an out.

  Dawn shrugged. “Sure, why not?” Dawn glanced at Ali. “Now, I owe you one too.”

  *****

  For Dawn’s entire life, at least since she began thinking about dating, she always felt nearly invisible if Ali was also in the room. It wasn’t something Ali could help and Dawn certainly didn’t hold it against her. In high school, the boys and a few girls flocked to Ali. Dawn couldn’t compete with her dark, exotic, and sultry sister. She didn’t even attempt to. Most of the time, it hadn’t bothered her. But she was sensitive to it nonetheless.

  So when Cam joined her and Ali for breakfast, part of her expected the pattern to stay true. She was pleasantly surprised when Cam made her feel both seen and heard. Never once did she feel pushed to the background. Cam was friendly with Ali. She engaged her in questions about her studies and her work. She also shared stories about her, June, Kate, and Jo from when she was in college. She always included Dawn in the conversation. Ali was a natural flirt, and Dawn knew it would have been easy for Cam to reciprocate, but she didn’t. Cam was respectful of both of them, but she kept it to friendly banter.

  When the bill arrived, Cam insisted on paying. Ali protested. “I invited you to breakfast, I’ll pay.”

  Cam waved her off. “No, I butted into your breakfast. I’ll get it. If it makes you feel better, consider it my contribution to your education.”

  Ali sat back and shrugged. “That’s sweet. Thank you.”

  Dawn joined in. “Thanks for breakfast, Cam.”

  “It’s my pleasure,” Cam said, her eyes never leaving Dawn’s.

  While the conversation had been friendly, the looks Cam shot her way throughout breakfast were scorching. Nobody had ever made her feel wanted over her sister. Cam definitely deserved credit for that.

  Once the tab was paid, they climbed into Cam’s truck and headed back to the house. Cam glanced over at Dawn who was in the front passenger seat. “Why don’t we carpool to the show tomorrow? There’s no reason to take two cars when we’re all going to the same place. I could drive.”

  Dawn thought it over. “I need to be there a little early, but if you don’t mind that, then sure.”

  “Is six early enough?”

  “Yeah, that should be good.”

  Chapter Eight

  “Dawn, relax, you’ll be great. The show will be a success. Your work is amazing. You have nothing to worry about.” Ali had been repeating some form of reassurance for the last hour as Dawn’s nerves kicked into high gear and she tried to get ready for the show.

  Dawn had two different earrings on, trying to decide which to wear. She shook her head. “I don’t know why I do this to myself. Can’t my work just speak for itself? Why do I have to be there?”

  “Once you get there, you enjoy the interaction with the people who come to see you and your work. You get like this before every show and then end up having a great time.”

  Before Dawn could respond, the doorbell rang. Ali was only partially dressed. “I’ll get that.”

  She opened the door to Cam who was decked out in a crisp dark suit with a light gray shirt and dark gray tie. Dawn’s mouth went dry and her heart raced. Cam looked delicious. No way was she going there. She shook herself. Cam stood, waiting patiently, with her hands behind her back. “Come on in. It was nice of you to offer to take Ali and me to the show.”

  “It’s my pleasure. I have something for you.”

  “Oh?”

  “I thought about getting you roses, but I thought you would like this more.” Cam brought her hands from behind her back and offered a flower pot to Dawn. “The woman at the nursery assured me these miniature Absolutely roses will do well in this climate.”

  “Cam, how sweet! Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Cam took in Dawn’s dress, letting her gaze wander lazily. She wore a simple, elegant black dress that fit her beautifully. With her heels on, she was as tall as Cam. Her hair hung loosely and Cam yearned to touch it.

  Cam moved closer. “You look amazing. Stunning, actually.” Cam raised her hand to Dawn’s right ear and lightly touched the earring there. She was pleased when Dawn didn’t back away. Progress. “Unless you’re going for a new fashion statement, I would go with this one. It brings out the color in your eyes.”

  She blushed. “Oh, right. I was trying to decide on which earring when you rang the bell. I’ll go take care of that. Be right back.”

  When Dawn walked away, Cam realized there was more, or less, to the dress than she thought. The back of the dress started at Dawn’s hips, leaving her smooth back bare.

  *****

  Cam escorted Dawn and Ali into the lobby of the gallery. She saw the bar in the corner. “Can I get you ladies a drink?” They both nodded
and Cam headed in that direction. She returned with three glasses of white wine. Cam held her drink aloft. “I’d like to propose a toast. To an amazing artist and a successful show.”

  “I’ll definitely drink to that,” Ali said.

  Dawn clinked glasses with Cam and Ali. “Thanks, you two.”

  Moments later, Ann, the manager of the gallery, whisked Dawn away to take care of some business.

  Cam turned to Ali and held out her arm offering herself as escort. “Shall we?”

  Ali wrapped her arm around Cam’s. “It will be my pleasure.”

  They walked through the arch and into the main gallery. Many of Dawn’s pieces, both large and small, were arranged along the wall. Dawn wasn’t the only artist featured in the show, but she was the only one whose medium was canvas. The works of the sculptor sharing the spotlight tonight were also tastefully set throughout the room. But what captured Cam’s focus was Dawn’s art. “Wow.”

  “She’s so talented,” Ali said.

  “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to how she takes my breath away.”

  Ali laid her head on Cam’s shoulder. “Jesus, Cam, you say the sweetest things.”

  Cam said nothing.

  “If my sister messes things up with you, I’m going to kick her ass. I swear if I lived closer I would fight her for you. Come to think of it, I might anyway.”

  “As flattering as that is I’m afraid I would have to disappoint you. I’m interested in your sister. Nobody else stands a chance.”

  “You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that. Just so you know, you have my full support, but Dawn was hurt badly. She’s not been willing to risk anything for a long time.”

  “Good to know. That means a lot. I appreciate it. Dawn needs time, and I plan to give it to her.”

  “Like I said, you say the sweetest things. Shall we continue?”

  “Yes, let’s.”

  Cam noticed June and Kate enter the studio and head toward her and Ali just as Dawn rejoined them. Ali wrapped Dawn in a tight embrace and whispered something in her ear. Dawn squeezed her back. Then she stepped back and turned toward Kate and June. “Hey, you two, thanks for coming.”

  “We wouldn’t miss it,” June said.

  “June and Kate, I would like you to meet my sister. Ali, these are the friends we told you about at breakfast who went to college with Cam.”

  “It’s so nice to meet you two. I’ve heard some great stories already,” Ali said.

  “It’s nice to meet you too. Maybe we can all grab dinner after the show and we can get you to tell us some stories about Dawn. She doesn’t talk about herself much. We’d love to hear the inside scoop.”

  “Now that sounds like a plan.”

  Dawn laughed light-heartedly. “I guess that’s settled. Well then, I’ll meet you all after the show. Ann tells me I must mingle, mingle, mingle.”

  They made their way through the show. Ali suddenly exclaimed, “Oh shit!”

  They turned to look at what Ali saw. Cam saw a tall, athletic woman with short, spiky blond hair closing in on Dawn from behind. Ali turned to Cam. “Come with me. Dawn’s going to need all the help she can get.”

  Cam didn’t ask any questions. She followed Ali’s lead. They moved through the crowd as quickly as possible without drawing attention. “Cam, we need to get Dawn out of the room quickly, no matter what it takes.”

  “Okay.”

  As she moved toward Dawn, Cam surveyed the scene in front of her. The woman tapped Dawn on the shoulder. Dawn turned with a pleasant smile. Even though she and Ali were still too far away to intervene, Cam saw Dawn’s face turn white as the color drained from her cheeks. Her mouth drew taut and her eyes narrowed. Dawn froze and locked her gaze on the woman. She took a single step backward. Seconds too late, Ali and Cam reached Dawn. June and Kate were right behind them.

  Cam reached out to put her hand on Dawn’s back. Her skin was cold. “Hi, sweetheart,” Cam said casually as she studied the woman who had single-handedly chilled the entire evening with her presence. “I need to borrow her. I’m sure you won’t mind,” Cam said flatly. Dawn was motionless. Cam turned to Dawn and leaned over and whispered into her ear, “Dawn.”

  Dawn turned toward Cam’s voice and her eyes started to clear when she saw Cam. With her hand pressed to the small of Dawn’s back, she guided her forward. Dawn started to move, but her steps were uncertain.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “You and Kate are going somewhere else.” Cam reluctantly handed Dawn off to Kate and waited until they were a safe distance away before turning back.

  When the mystery woman tried to follow, Ali stepped in her path. Cam and June flanked Ali, each knowing only that she was on the side of anyone trying to protect Dawn. Ali spoke softly but sternly, “Lori, it’s time for you to go. You’re not welcome here.”

  Lori sneered at Ali, her fists tightened at her side. “I’m attending an art show. It was in the paper. It’s a public event.” She watched Kate and Dawn move across the gallery. “I came to see the artist and I’m going to talk to her.”

  Without taking her eyes off Lori, Ali took action. “June, will you please find a security guard? We need someone escorted off the premises.”

  “Certainly,” June answered immediately.

  “There’s no need for that. I just want to talk to her.” Lori’s tone betrayed her intentions even if her words were innocuous.

  Ali shook her head. “Not gonna happen. She didn’t want to talk to you in the hospital and she doesn’t want to talk to you now. She’s made that quite clear. You need to leave or the next person I talk to will be the police.”

  Cam made sure Ali had things under control and Lori was leaving before she headed in the direction Dawn and Kate had gone. She found them in a small office at the back of the gallery. She closed and locked the door when Kate left them alone. She took the chair across from Dawn. “Can I get you anything?”

  Dawn only shook her head. Cam didn’t know what just happened, but a lot was going on. The shadows she’d seen so many times before clouded Dawn’s face. She leaned forward and gently took Dawn’s hands. “Dawn, are you okay? You’re safe here.”

  Dawn nodded her head. “Yeah, thanks,” she said quietly. She extracted her hands from Cam’s and wrapped them around her owns arms to protect or warm herself, Cam couldn’t decide which. They sat in silence for several minutes.

  Finally, Dawn sighed. “I’m sure you have a lot of questions.”

  Cam removed her jacket and wrapped it around Dawn’s shoulders. Dawn was vulnerable and she didn’t want to push her. “No. Not now. How are you?”

  Dawn burrowed into the jacket trying to get warm. Cam’s scent soothed her. Her calm presence comforted her. “Her name is Lori.”

  Before Dawn could say anything more, there was a knock on the door. “Dawn, sweetie, are you in there?”

  Cam opened the door to let Ali in, then she shut it again. Ali rushed to Dawn and wrapped her in her arms. “She’s gone. Are you okay?”

  Dawn stood and shook off the melancholy that enveloped her. “I’m fine. I should get back out there.”

  “Are you sure?” Ali asked warily. “Why don’t you take a few more minutes? There’s no hurry.”

  Dawn removed Cam’s jacket and handed it back to her. “Thanks for the rescue.” Then she turned to Ali. “I have a job to do. She’s not going to stop me from living my life. Not anymore.”

  Ali squeezed Dawn’s arm. “Okay. You’ve got a whole team close by if you need us.”

  “I appreciate that.” Dawn walked out of the room to return to her artist duties and escape the thoughts that had flooded her mind and paralyzed her moments before.

  Cam stopped Ali from following. “Ali, is Dawn in danger? Who is Lori?”

  Ali was clearly confused as to why Cam didn’t already know the answer to her last question. “I don’t think Dawn is in any danger tonight, but this will probably bring up a lot of stuff for her. She shou
ld be the one to tell you about Lori.”

  “Okay.”

  “Cam, Dawn was—”

  Cam stopped her. “It’s not your story to tell. It’s Dawn who needs to fill in the rest for me. When she’s ready, if she ever is. She knows I’m here.” When Ali clearly wanted to say more Cam shook her head. “It’s okay. Let’s keep an eye on her. I don’t think this is over for her and she might need you.”

  “I think it’s you she needs, Cam.”

  “I’ll be here if and when she reaches the same conclusion.”

  “I know you will.”

  *****

  Dawn stood at the edge of the main gallery and took a minute to collect her thoughts before rejoining the fray. She could handle this. Lori was gone. She had a job to do. A lot of these people had come to see her work. She couldn’t disappoint them by not being fully present. She braced herself and strode back into the room.

  Almost immediately, Ali was at her side. “You got this, sweetie.”

  “I know, but thanks for the vote of confidence.”

  “Sure. Oh yum, who is that?”

  Dawn turned to see who Ali was drooling over. She had just enough time to whisper, “Behave.” Then she welcomed the newcomer. “Robin, it’s so nice to see you. This is my sister, Ali. Ali, Robin and I volunteer together at the shelter.”

  Ali held out her hand. “Robin, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Even with everything going on, there was no way Dawn could miss the flirtatious tenor of Ali’s greeting.

  Robin blushed. “Nice to meet you too.” She turned to Dawn. “Are you okay? I saw what happened.”

  “You’re sweet to be worried.” Dawn surveyed the room. She saw for herself that Lori was gone. Then she saw Cam across the room and she felt protected and safe. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay. I just wanted to make sure,” Robin said.

  Ali jumped in. “Robin, since Dawn’s busy with the show, how about I show you around?”

  “I do need to take care of some things. I’ll catch up with you later,” Dawn said.