“Speak of the devil.” His eyes shifted to the doorway as Bev entered the kitchen. Darnell was close behind. Both women were dressed in jogging suits.
Bev’s eyes shifted from Thad to Ray, then back to Thad. “Isn’t this a surprise. I didn’t expect to see either of you up at this early hour.” Her eyes swept the well-built frames of both men, each of whom was also dressed in sweats and wearing jogging shoes. “Don’t tell me you jog?”
“Thad does.” Darnell smiled at him warmly. “Good morning.” Her voice was filled with memories.
“Good morning.” So was his.
With narrowed eyes Bev glanced from one to the other suspiciously before heading for the coffee maker, where she poured herself a cup of coffee. Darnell joined the men at the table.
A smile tugged at the corners of Ray’s mouth as he observed the look on Thad’s face as he gazed at Darnell. He had never thought that he would see the day, but it looked as though his main man was in love. Ray shifted his gaze to the object of his friend’s affection. She seemed to have eyes for no one but Thad. From the look of it, the feelings were reciprocal. He shot a glance at Bev, who was preoccupied with the coffee maker. It looked as if both Cameron women possessed the secret of how to enchant a man.
The telephone rang, bringing all of the room’s occupants out of their individual musings. Ray watched Bev move across the kitchen gracefully to answer it. Yes, the woman was a distraction, but—. He sighed, then turned back to the entranced couple.
“Listen, you two, we’ve got to discuss the production of Sensuous, make arrangements for a screen test…”
“Screen test?” Darnell’s attention turned to Ray. “I didn’t know there was a screen test involved. When will it be scheduled?”
Ray took a sip of his coffee. “As soon as it can be arranged. Why?”
“I have a singing engagement in San Francisco next month. I’ll be singing at a fundraiser. The President will be there.”
Ray nodded. “The President? Of the United States?”
“Yes.”
Thad winked at her. “I’m impressed.”
“I hope by more than that,” she said suggestively, warming at the fire that appeared in Thad’s eyes.
“Darnell.”
She jumped at the sound of her mother’s voice. Her jovial mood disappeared instantly at the look on Bev’s face. “What is it?” She looked from Bev to the telephone. Rising, she joined her mother.
“It’s Lance.”
“Lance?”
Bev nodded. She looked grim as she handed her daughter the telephone.
Thad stilled at the sound of Lance’s name. So did Ray. The silence in the kitchen was deafening, as was the tension. All eyes were on Darnell.
Thad watched her closely as she answered the call, noting that her reaction to this one was much different than in the past. What did Lance want? Would she be going to South America sooner? He turned his attention to Bev as she took a seat at the table. She looked shaken. Thad could hold his curiosity no longer.
“What’s this about, Bev?” His voice was even.
She took a sip from her coffee cup before answering. Her voice trembled.
“Lance was flown from South America to San Francisco last night. He’s in the hospital in intensive care. He’s dying.”
CHAPTER 20
“It’s been too long, Ray.” Thad’s voice was ragged with emotion. Dragging to the sofa, he fell down on it heavily, slouching among the pillows. It had been three weeks since he had left Darnell at the Monterey airport where she’d boarded a chartered plane to San Francisco to be with Lance. He hadn’t heard from her since. He had left countless messages, but none had been returned. Mrs. Sharon had informed him that all of Darnell’s time was spent in San Francisco at the hospital.
Growing more desperate as the weeks passed, Thad had driven to the city in the hope that he might catch her there. Wearing a disguise to keep from being recognized, he had gone to the hospital to find out what floor that Lance was on, but it was like trying to find out the combination to the safe at Fort Knox. No one would admit that he was even a patient there. He had driven back to Tiburon defeated.
Darnell’s absence from his life affected everything he did. He hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks. Food no longer appealed to him. He couldn’t listen to the radio for fear that he would hear her amazing voice and fall apart. He was afraid to watch television. What if one of those entertainment shows announced her engagement to Lance, or worse, a marriage? He was an emotional wreck.
He knew that he was being irrational. Lance was very sick. He had hepatitis A. Thad had looked the disease up in a medical reference book. It was an infectious virus and was very serious. Ray reinforced that fact as he tried to reassure him.
“I know if any of my friends or family came down with something like that, there wouldn’t be a day that I wouldn’t be by their side, no matter how long it took.” Ray’s words were much too practical for Thad.
“But three weeks?” Thad shot up from his seat. “The woman has a cell phone. She could call! I’ve left messages everywhere.” He stalked over to the window and looked out, seeing nothing.
Ray could hear his frustration. He had come to Tiburon out of concern for his friend. During their daily business conversations, he had noted a drastic change in him. He had to push him to read one of the countless scripts that he received daily. Thad had read a few of them, but he really didn’t seem interested in business. He was short with him, edgy. He seemed lethargic. Picking up on his affect, Ray had flown to the Bay area from L.A. to see what was happening. What he saw shocked him.
His fastidious, impeccably dressed client and friend was unshaven and disheveled and so depressed that he was listless. Ray would have suspected the man had turned to drugs if he didn’t know him better. Thad Stewart was one movie star on the Hollywood scene that everyone knew didn’t indulge in alcohol or drugs. Having unfortunately indulged in both during his youth, Ray was proud that Thad had always had the fortitude to resist these vices. However, the power that this woman was wielding over Thad’s emotions seemed more addictive than any drug Ray had ever taken. He made an attempt to help his friend approach the matter practically.
“Thad, three weeks, three days, three hours means nothing when someone you care for is ill. She’s been with the man for ten years…”
“He’s a friend, Ray, her best friend. That’s all!” He tried to hide the resentment he felt and mask the uncertainty. His effort proved unsuccessful.
“Then what do you expect from her? He’s been a part of her life for a long time. Do you want her to abandon him and come be with you while he’s flat on his back?”
Thad’s silence brought a quick reprimand. “I know you don’t want that. You’re a better man than that, and you know Darnell better than I do. Is that the kind of woman she is?”
Thad sighed. Ray was right. Darnell should stay by Lance’s side as long as he needed her. Yet he needed her, too. He knew it was selfish, but he wanted to be with her so badly that it hurt.
Exasperated, he paced the living room. “I have to know what’s happening, Ray. Why hasn’t she called me? I’ve never loved a woman in my life the way I love this one. I have to know that I haven’t lost her, that she hasn’t changed her mind about us.” His voice rose in anguish. “If I lose her, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Ray was silent for a moment, in awe of the power of love. He would never have thought it possible that the man would fall this hard. If it could happen to Thad, it could happen to him. That was a scary thought. He wasn’t sure that he was ready for that. His voice softened in empathy. “It’ll be all right, man. You’ll see. Everything will be fine.”
Thad gave a heavy sigh. “Funny, that’s exactly what I told Darnell.”
“Listen, why don’t you fly back to L.A. with me? You’ve got the premiere of your movie coming up, but come down early. We can hang out, have some fun. It’ll get your mind off your problems for a while.�
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“I just might do that. I’ll have Donald make plane reservations.” The ringing of the telephone interrupted their conversation. Thad grew excited. “Maybe that’s Darnell.” Eagerly he snatched the phone from its cradle. “Hello.”
“Hi, neighbor.”
“Oh, Regine.” Thad checked his disappointment. She had called him several times in the past few weeks and had left quite a few messages. He hadn’t returned any of her calls. Perhaps his dilemma was divine justice.
“I was driving around in your area, and I thought I’d stop by and see how you were enjoying your Bearden.”
“It’s doing fine.” He tried vainly to be polite. It had been weeks since the painting had been delivered to his home, and her excuse for calling him sounded weak. He didn’t like the idea of her calling him for any reason. Their business had ended long ago. “And what do you mean by ‘hello neighbor’? I thought you lived in Oakland.”
Regine’s voice brightened. “No, actually I moved to Marin County months ago. I‘m leasing a condo not far from Tiburon. I thought I told you that when you came to the gallery.”
“No, I don’t remember.” Thad walked through the house aimlessly as he spoke.
“Anyway, I prefer Marin County to the East Bay. Things here are a lot more interesting.”
“I see.”
There was an awkward silence until Regine spoke. “Aren’t you going to invite me over?”
Thad groaned inwardly. He was in no mood for Regine’s game of pursuit. Taking his keys from his pocket, he motioned to Ray and mouthed the words, “Let’s go.”
As Thad followed Ray to the entranceway, he was as polite as he could be as he tried to complete the unwanted telephone call. “I’m sorry, Regine, but you caught me at a bad time. I can assure you that the painting arrived intact and that it’s being enjoyed. Thanks for your call. Sorry, but I’ve got to go.” He disconnected the call.
Placing the telephone receiver on the table in the entranceway, Thad called up the stairs to Donald. “We’re out of here! I’ll be back around six. Page me if…” He paused to swallow the sadness. “Page me if anyone calls.” With that, he followed Ray out of the house.
Five minutes later, the front doorbell rang. Donald opened the door to find Regine Lexy standing in the doorway smiling at him. It was a smile that wasn’t returned.
“May I help you?”
“Hello. Donald, isn’t it?” Sugar would have melted in her mouth.
Donald nodded, but remained composed.
Regine forged ahead. “Please tell Thad that Ms. Lexy is here to see him.”
“Sorry, Ms. Lexy, but Mr. Stewart isn’t here.”
Regine’s manner changed immediately as her voice hardened. “What do you mean he isn’t in? Where is he? I just talked to him from my cell phone less than five minutes ago.”
“He had an appointment.” Donald offered no further information. He remembered this woman well. She was demanding and condescending. He took pleasure in delivering the information that Thad wasn’t there. He didn’t like the woman.
Regine’s jaws tightened, and her pleasant façade began to slip. “I see. Do you know when he’ll return?”
“No, I don’t.”
She gave a frustrated sigh. It was obvious that she wasn’t going to get any information from him. “When Thad returns, please let him know that I dropped by.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Meanwhile, I’d like to use your bathroom. That is, if you don’t mind.” Her last words were said with sarcasm that she hoped he wouldn’t miss. Why Thad put up with this man, she didn’t know.
Donald started to point the way, but Regine pushed past him. Not surprised by her bodacious behavior, he started out the door. “I’m walking down to the mailbox to pick the mail up, Ms. Lexy. Please close the door behind you when you leave.”
“Sure,” Regine tossed over her shoulder, her angry strides indicating her displeasure with him.
As she disappeared into the bathroom, Donald hesitated for a moment, unsure as to whether to leave her alone in the house. Deciding that doing so would be fine, he closed the front door behind him and started down the stone pathway.
Inside the house, Regine gripped the sides of the marble pedestal sink until her knuckles ached. She was angry. It wasn’t often that she degraded herself and chased a man, but Thad Stewart was worth it. She had fallen for him hard, and their breakup had been devastating for her. She had never understood the reason behind it and, despite the time that had passed since their parting, she still loved him. She wanted him back, and she wasn’t about to give up.
Gaining control of her emotions, Regine squared her shoulders and left the bathroom. As she moved toward the living room, the telephone lying on a table in the entranceway rang. Regine continued toward the front door. The telephone rang again. She hesitated, eyed the telephone, and shrugged. Why not? Doubling back she picked up the receiver. “Stewart residence.”
There was silence on the other end. Regine repeated the greeting.
“Stewart residence. May I help you?”
“Hello?” The voice on the other end seemed hesitant.
“This is the Stewart residence. May I help you?”
“Is this Thad Stewart’s residence? ”
“That’s what I said. What do you want?”
“Is this Catina?”
“No, it’s not.” Regine had lost patience with this caller two questions ago.
“I’d like to speak with Thad Stewart, please.” The voice was coolly polite.
Regine’s brow furrowed. The voice sounded familiar. “Who is this?”
“Who is this?”
The voice held defiance, just enough for Regine to recognize who was on the other end of the line. “Thad’s woman, that’s who!”
Regine disconnected the call and gave a sinister smile. She knew the voice on the other end of the line. Yes indeed, she knew it well. It belonged to Darnell Cameron.
* * *
Since arriving at the hospital weeks ago Darnell’s life had centered on medical jargon, visiting hours, hospital food, and catnaps. After contracting hepatitis in South America, Lance had been flown to a hospital there which was ill-equipped to handle his case. His parents had made arrangements to fly him back to the United States. It had been his mother who had called Darnell and informed her that Lance was ill.
When Darnell entered the hospital room to see him, she could barely recognize the handsome man that she knew. His once fit six-foot frame was emaciated. His light complexion had turned a dull yellowish color, as had the whites of his dark brown eyes. Darnell had been so shocked by his appearance that initially she had found it difficult to look at him.
His parents were near hysterics. Lance was their only child. Even Darnell’s presence couldn’t ease their fears. As physicians, they knew how much danger he was in. The virus had damaged his liver. He fought constant fevers and, at one point, delirium. Lance was literally fighting for his life.
Darnell and his parents kept a twenty-four-hour vigil. Mrs. Sharon kept her informed of all of her business and personal calls, including the ones from Thad. Whenever she sought to return his calls, another crisis with Lance would arise.
By the third week, Lance’s condition had been upgraded. His fever was down, and he was lucid. Darnell felt confident enough about his prognosis that she left the hospital—the first time in weeks. She accomplished the feat by way of the freight elevator. So far, she had been lucky. The press was not aware of Lance’s illness or of her presence at his side. The hospital had done all it could to maintain their privacy.
Having retreated to her high rise condominium with its breathtaking view of San Francisco, she knew that she should have been thinking of the man in the hospital who had been a part of her life for so long. Instead, all she could think about was the man who lived across the Golden Gate Bridge in Tiburon and how very much she wanted to be with him. She yearned for the touch of his hand, the taste of his kisses, the
feel of him buried inside her. She was a woman in love, and as she dialed his number, her heart pounded with excitement in anticipation of hearing his voice. She was unprepared for the voice that she did hear—that of another woman.
She had been positive that she had dialed the wrong number, but the woman confirmed that she had dialed correctly. She didn’t recognize the voice, but she would have to be deaf not to have heard the woman declare herself his girlfriend. And then she had been bold enough to hang up on her.
Suspicion and jealousy gripped her. Three short weeks had passed since she and Thad had made love. His fervent declarations of devotion were still ringing in her ears, and some woman was answering his telephone. Could it be that he had fooled her? Had everything he told her been a lie? She felt ill.
Staggering to the bathroom, Darnell barely made it to the toilet bowl before falling to her knees and vomiting. After rinsing her mouth, she tried to leave the bathroom but failed. Drained and exhausted, she slid to the cold tiles. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she buried her head and cried.
CHAPTER 21
The day had been a long one for Thad. After having lunch with Ray, Thad had taken Ray to the airport, promising that he would follow him to L.A. in the morning. Returning home, Thad had decided against his usual run along the beach. It seemed that he couldn’t muster up the energy to do anything lately. The emptiness he felt at the absence of Darnell in his life was all-consuming.
After standing on his deck watching the sun disappear beyond the horizon, Thad drifted downstairs to the kitchen where Donald was putting the finishing touches on the evening meal.
Donald greeted his employer with a smile, receiving a slight nod of acknowledgment as Thad headed for the refrigerator and withdrew a bottle of water. Donald had watched silently over the past few weeks as the relationship between Thad and Darnell escalated. He didn’t know the lady well, but he did know Thad, and he recognized the changes she had caused in him. He had never seen him so happy, but neither had he seen him as distraught as he had been in the past three weeks.
Singing a Song... Page 16