Playing in Shadow

by Lesley Davis

  Chapter Four

  Scarlet had visited Trent and Juliet’s home before, but this time she came prepared for a more professional meeting. She waved over the fence at her grandmother who had followed Scarlet out of her home and seemed determined to watch her safely to the house next door.

  “You’ll come see me before you leave?” her grandmother asked for about the fifth time.

  “Yes, Grandma. I’ve already told you I will.” Ad nauseam. Scarlet sighed.

  “I’m just checking, dear. You know how forgetful I am.”

  Scarlet shook her head at her blatantly pulling the “old lady” trick. “Grandma, you’re as sharp as a tack and you know it.” She grinned at the sparkle that lit up her grandma’s eyes.

  “Go show them how talented you are, my girl.” Her grandmother peered over the fence and smiled at Trent who had come to the front door to invite Scarlet inside.

  “Hello, Mrs. Tweedy,” Trent called, opening the door wider for Scarlet to enter.

  “Hello, my dear. How’s that wife of yours doing?”

  “Getting more beautiful every day,” Trent replied with a smile.

  Scarlet enjoyed being around Trent and watching how she always treated Juliet with respect. Scarlet wanted that kind of relationship and that kind of love. She’d seen it in her grandparents and how her father had worshipped her mother. She wanted nothing less for herself.

  Trent led Scarlet through to the living room. Juliet was sitting on the sofa and beamed when she saw Scarlet.

  “Oh, you have no idea how excited we are about what you have to show us,” she said.

  Scarlet laid her portfolio case on the coffee table and knelt beside it, waiting for Trent to settle in beside Juliet. “I just hope what I’ve come up with is what you were thinking of.”

  “I’m sure whatever you’ve designed will be amazing. We’ve seen your photographs, Scarlet. You have an amazing eye for detail. You’re an artist with a camera in your hands. But that portrait you painted of Monica in her full Gothic regalia was just breathtaking.”

  “Elton is still refusing to let Monica share it. He says she’ll have it when she finally decides to move in with him,” Trent said.

  “He did commission it, but I know Monica was disappointed to have it leave the apartment when it was done.” Scarlet was pleased by the reaction her painting had received. To have people fighting over it was very satisfying. But Elton had paid for it so, even though Monica was her landlady, Scarlet had handed the painting over to its rightful owner. Considering how much time Monica spent at Elton’s house, it would only be a matter of time before they both had ownership of it. The subject had been Monica in a floor-length black spider webbed gown. Her long, straight hair fell over her bare shoulders, and her eyes were dramatically made up. The portrait was striking. Even Scarlet had been proud of her own artistry. Usually her portraits were done with her camera, but she’d started branching out.

  She looked up at the framed photograph hanging above the fireplace in the living room. She’d managed to capture a private moment between Trent and Juliet at a party Elton had thrown. The scene caught through Scarlet’s lens showed Juliet leaning back in Trent’s arms while Trent’s hands were wrapped protectively around both Juliet and their growing child inside her. Their love was all too clear on their faces, and Scarlet had almost deleted the shot because it looked so intimate. She had decided instead to get the picture blown up and framed for them as a gift. Their reactions had been worth it. The photo had caught a moment in time for them and had captured the couple perfectly.

  “I’m hoping what I’ve designed here will be what you’d choose for such a special room.” Scarlet opened her case and slipped out the first design. She heard a soft chuckle from Juliet and a stifled groan from Trent. “Now, I went the traditional route first,” she explained as she pointed out the more familiar nursery patterns of teddy bears and building blocks. Then she pulled out another sheet. “Then I went to the other extreme.”

  This artwork showed a room painted to resemble the landscape of Hyrule, home to Link and his Princess Zelda.

  Trent pulled the paper closer to examine it. “Forget the baby’s room. That would be perfect in my gaming room.”

  Juliet leaned in to look. “Sweetheart, you don’t have any wall left in there this could go on because of all the games you have lining them.” She brushed a finger over the sketch of a heroic young man in his green uniform. “I think this would be more suited to an older child, but, Scarlet, just this sketch alone is amazing.”

  Scarlet pulled out a few more sheets, each with its own specific design for either a boy or a girl or a more neutral room for a baby of unknown gender.

  “The flower border in this one is lovely,” Trent said. “And appropriate because of Juliet’s job.” She ran her hand over Juliet’s arm. “It would be nice to have something that meant something to you on the walls.”

  Juliet leaned into Trent. “You just don’t want bunnies and bears lining the walls.”

  Trent bumped her good-naturedly. “You know I want something unusual for our kid. They’re going to be awesome. They don’t need something ordinary to look at every day like all the other kids out there do.”

  Scarlet had left what she considered her best piece until last. She slid the paper in front of Trent and Juliet and waited for their comments. Trent didn’t disappoint.

  “That’s the one!” she said emphatically, looking to Juliet for agreement.

  Juliet nodded. “Scarlet, that is so perfect for Trent’s child.”

  The nursery art was a simple plain wall in a pale mint green. In a border that ran around the room was a procession of highly colored Yoshis, the little dinosaurs that inhabited the Super Mario games. They were running, jumping, flying, sleeping, or eating brightly colored apples, each one a different color until the pattern repeated.

  “I know from the Yoshi’s Island game that there were all these colored Yoshis so you could have almost a rainbow flag symbolized here.” She scrutinized her own drawing. The little characters all looked happy and playful. She’d been pleased with how effective a design it was for something so simple.

  “Do you think this will suit your baby, Trent?” Juliet held the artwork up for them both to consider.

  “I love it and it’s perfect for our child. Who wouldn’t love Yoshi?”

  Juliet laughed as Trent mimicked the voice of the little green dinosaur perfectly. Scarlet was astonished by Trent’s surprise talent and joined in the laughter.

  Juliet’s eyes never left the paper. “It’s got to be this one, Scarlet. It’s perfect for us.”

  Scarlet was relieved. She’d been unduly worried they wouldn’t like any of her work. “To be honest, that’s the one I thought you’d go for.”

  “Lots of happy little Yoshis.” Trent pulled out her phone and began working on a message.

  “Who are you texting?” Juliet asked then rolled her eyes. “As if I didn’t know.”

  “I’m telling Elton he’s got to order in every color of the plush Yoshi toys we can get in the shop. If they’re going to be painted on the walls we’re going to need a cuddly version on shelves in there too.”

  “I can get shelves made up to resemble Mario blocks,” Scarlet said and loved the joy that lit up Trent’s face. She noticed Trent deferred to Juliet again though.

  “What do you think?”

  “A Mario theme. I like it. It’s a relief quite honestly. Considering how many graphic and violent games you play, I’m all for the happy Yoshis playing instead of soldiers fighting or zombies on the rampage.”

  “I wouldn’t want anything like that in the baby’s room. Although…” Trent flashed Juliet a sly look. “Our bedroom could do with a makeover, maybe?” Trent moved quickly to escape Juliet’s swift playful slap at her arm.

  Scarlet laughed at them. “Can I go measure the room? Then I can work out the dimensions of how big the border should be and how many Yoshis it’s going to take to circle the walls
.”

  “Sounds like a Professor Layton puzzle,” Trent said as she slipped the artwork off Juliet’s lap to look it over again. “Scarlet, I can’t thank you enough for this. It’s fantastic.”

  “You’re welcome. Now let’s get the technical stuff out of the way.” She pulled out her tape measure. “Let’s get this nursery ready for the arrival of Baby Sullivan-Williams.”

  *

  Scarlet followed Juliet upstairs. The proposed nursery was bare except for a rocking chair sitting in the middle of the room. Quickly and efficiently, Scarlet worked her way around the room. She judged what she’d need and wrote herself notes as to how she could make the border work.

  “Thank you for making this exactly what Trent would have wished for,” Juliet said once Scarlet had finished jotting all her measurements down.

  “I didn’t think she’d be one for a regular nursery setup. But how about you? Is it what you want?”

  Juliet nodded enthusiastically. “It’s exactly what I want. Games are such a huge part of Trent, and I’ve been introduced to so many of the worlds she plays in. Having some of the cuter characters from one is just perfect. I like Yoshi. He’s one of the good guys.”

  Scarlet tucked away her stuff in her jeans pockets. “I’ll gather up the supplies and then I’ll set a date with you to get this room transformed.”

  “You let us know when you need the money and we’ll get it for you.”

  “Oh no, this is my gift to you both. You won’t pay me a dime.”

  “You can’t do this for nothing, not with all the paint you’ve got to buy and your time.”

  “I know a man who can get me the paint cheap,” Scarlet said with a grin. “What’s the point of being in the business if you can’t use it to your own advantage? The rest will be a labor of love. You and Trent have been such wonderful friends to me since I’ve returned home. This room is my gift to you for the little one I can’t wait to meet.”

  Tears trickled down Juliet’s face and she brushed them away briskly. “Damn hormones,” she complained as she pulled Scarlet in for a hug. “Thank you. That is more than we could have wished for.”

  “I can’t wait to start. It will make a change from my painting neutral colors in the houses Dad has lined up for me.” She looked about the room. “I think I might ask Bryce to come point up the walls a little so everything is smooth and clean for me to work on.”

  “How is Bryce doing? I’ve seen her coming and going but haven’t had a chance to actually speak to her other than to say hello in passing.”

  “She’s…” Scarlet didn’t know how to explain what she felt around Bryce. “She’s quiet. I can’t help wondering if that’s her personality or a result of the accident. And she’s very self-conscious of her scar. I’ve only seen it briefly before she covers it up again. ”

  “It hasn’t been long since she was released from the hospital,” Juliet said sympathetically. “She went through a lot too from what I understand.”

  “So Dad says. Something tells me Bryce will never mention it though.”

  “You think she’s the strong and silent type?”

  Scarlet hesitated. “More the ‘never admit there’s something wrong’ kind. I see her sometimes and she seems to be hurting, but she brushes it off. I don’t want to overstep with her. I don’t want to alienate the only other woman on Dad’s team.”

  “It’s strange being with you guys on this job. Usually we come in after you’ve all packed up and left.” Juliet sat in the rocking chair and rested her hands on her belly. “It’s been nice meeting all the people your dad has working for him.” She made a face. “They all seem very concerned when I waddle past them. I think they’re just worried I’ll go into labor while they’re working!”

  Scarlet laughed at Juliet’s exasperated expression. “I think it’s more of a case that they’re worried you’re going to attempt to lift something that you shouldn’t be touching.”

  “Don’t you start,” Juliet grumbled. “I’ve got Monica watching over me like a hawk as it is.”

  Scarlet decided not to needle Juliet any further on her apparent habit of trying to do too much. “You know Monica is so excited she’s going to be an aunt. The second that child enters the world it will be measured from head to toe for exclusive clothing.”

  “I know Elton is equally as excited. He’d been collecting the Disney Infinity figures so that the baby has its own set to play with on Mama’s Xbox when they’re old enough. Seemingly, gone are the days of baby showers with diapers and extra bibs as the standard.”

  “Your baby is going to be so loved.”

  Trent walked in at that moment. “No argument from me there.” She cast a critical eye around the room. “I can’t wait to see this all done and painted.”

  Juliet reached out to clasp Trent’s hand. “It will make it more real, won’t it?”

  “It was real the minute you and I sat waiting for the blue lines to appear on the pregnancy tester.”

  Juliet chuckled. “I’ll never forget Monica’s scream when we told her.”

  Trent smiled at her memory. “Elton outdid her though. He was such a girl when he was informed. My ears are still ringing from his squeals.”

  Scarlet laughed at the mental image of that particular scenario. “Let me get Bryce on board and we’ll get this room started.”

  “A Yoshi nursery,” Trent said as she bounced on her feet with barely restrained excitement. “Thank you, Scarlet.”

  Scarlet waved away the praise. “Hey, my part of all this is easy. It’s Juliet who has the hardest job to do.”

  Juliet tugged on Trent’s hand. “Speaking of hard, Trent, help me get up out of this rocker. I think I’m stuck!”

  As Trent solicitously aided Juliet, Scarlet couldn’t help but wonder if she’d ever get the chance at family like these two were embarking on. She hoped to, one day. She just needed to find someone to share it all with.

  Chapter Five

  Bryce sat alone in her apartment. The TV was on, but whatever show was playing held none of her attention. She was tired, physically and mentally, but was fighting the urge to sleep. She looked at the clock on the wall. It was three o’clock in the morning. She groaned and contemplated reaching for another energy drink, but instead she picked up her beer can and drank what remained in two gulps. She hadn’t slept properly since the accident. At first, it was the excruciating pain, then it was the nightmares, and then it was the guilt.

  Bryce threw her can in the already full waste paper basket and changed the channel. She was searching for something, anything, to take her mind off the million things running around in it. Endless reruns of police shows flashed on the screen before her. If it wasn’t those it was hospital dramas, shows filled with death and dying. She turned to the Food Channel and breathed a sigh of relief. She watched as a man set to making a meal she would never think of eating, but the mindlessness of the subject matter calmed her brain. She dozed intermittently to the sound of his voice droning on about cuts of meat. All the lights were on in her home, there was noise from the TV, and someone talking at her.

  Not for the first time she wondered how Scarlet’s nursery ideas had gone over. She was curious as to what Scarlet could do. She was curious about Scarlet period. Scarlet’s hair was the most amazing red she had ever seen. A vibrant red shot through with flecks of gold.

  She recalled her mentioning she was a Goth. She didn’t appear to be pierced or tattooed to excess, but Bryce was sometimes a little put off by the clothing she knew some Goths wore. Black was all very well, but Bryce had been too close to death to find its symbolism comforting. She wondered what drew someone as pretty as Scarlet to something Bryce saw as dark and macabre. Her eyes drifted closed on a memory of Scarlet sitting beside her in the sunshine, her eyes bright, and her smile captivating. Bryce knew she shouldn’t be drawn to her, but there was something very appealing about Scarlet Tweedy.

  Bryce’s shoulder cramped, and the violent pain wrenched her out of the l
ight sleep she had fallen into. She scrambled for her painkillers and rammed them in her mouth, chasing them down with a mouthful of yet another energy drink that didn’t live up to its promises. All the while she berated herself that no one would ever be interested in her now. Not when she bore the scars of what had happened to her both inside and out.

  The pain receded to a dull roar, leaving her nauseous and shaking. Bryce resigned herself to the fact that sleep would have to elude her for yet another night. She found no peace in it anyway, no matter how much she craved it.

  *

  Scarlet’s camera was never far from her side. She’d taken to bringing one of her less professional rigs with her to work just in case she saw something she wanted to record. Like yesterday, Gregor had taken a break from his own work to go sit and flirt with Juliet. He had been helping her un-pot flowers to be planted in the garden Monica was preparing. He looked like a gruff old grizzly bear sitting beside the more fragile Juliet, but Scarlet had caught them in a moment where Juliet had held up a flower for him to get the scent of. Every time Scarlet looked at it, it made her smile. The look on his face was tender for such a gruff old man. She aimed on putting it in a frame for him as a Christmas present; she knew his wife would love it. She’d considered doing the same for all the guys she worked with. She lowered her camera for a moment and watched Bryce cut across the driveway to get something out of the work van. Now there’s someone I can’t take enough shots of, Scarlet thought ruefully, but I just can’t seem to capture her completely. Scarlet had asked if Bryce would mind helping her do the nursery and Bryce had easily agreed. She had been surprised by how dark the shadows were beneath Bryce’s eyes that morning. She had started to ask if Bryce was okay, but she’d been brushed off with a brusque “I’m fine” and the conversation had been abruptly over. Scarlet couldn’t help but wonder what was keeping Bryce up at night…or who? The flare of jealously that pierced through her chest startled her and left her feeling flustered.