When she reached the door, Marika noticed Spooky strolling out of the bathroom. Scooping her pet up, she carefully deposited the complacent cat beside Rhiannon. Spooky immediately curled up to the small, warm figure, and the blonde nodded her approval.
"You keep her company, Mister." Wish I could. Marika sighed and reached for the light switch before turning for one last look. The sleeper never twitched as her silent watcher studied her for long moments and then flipped off the light.
Chapter Fourteen
RHI TRIED NOT to look too obvious as she kept a surreptitious watch on her boss. Marika was in her office, working her way through a stack of mail that her assistant had just placed on her desk. There was a large manila envelope on the bottom of the pile that was causing cartwheels in the young woman's stomach.
When she saw her boss pick up that envelope to open, Rhi dropped her eyes to her computer and tried to concentrate on the letter she was drafting. She deliberately kept her eyes on the screen even when she sensed her boss walking towards her. It was only when a soft, awe-filled voice spoke that she finally looked up.
"Rhi, this is absolutely amazing! Did you do this yourself?" Marika held a sheet of fine vellum as carefully as she'd have cradled a Faberge egg. When Rhiannon nodded shyly, her boss gave a low whistle. "You are an incredibly talented artist."
The lawyer studied the charcoal drawing of her smiling down at Spooky curled up in her lap. Deceptively simple, it portrayed her in a natural, relaxed pose, a fond smile lighting her face at her pet's presence. Rhiannon had captured the moment perfectly, right down to the long, slender fingers caressing thick fur. Signed and dated in the bottom right corner, it read simply: Thank you, Rhi.
"When?" Marika still stared at the drawing, shaking her head in amazement. Looking up, she interrogated her assistant with wondering eyes.
"Um, the last couple of nights at home." In truth, Rhiannon had gone to an art supply store on her Monday lunch hour and picked out the finest sheet of paper she could find, along with tissue to preserve the charcoal. She'd always had an eidetic memory for images, able to reproduce them long after she'd stored them in her brain; and it was child's play for her to draw such a realistic depiction of Marika and Spooky from memory. "I just wanted to say thank you for all your kindness last week."
"It really was my pleasure," Marika assured her, "but this is incredible. I love it, and I'm going to take it in for framing on my lunch hour."
Rhiannon flushed at the praise, and unable to meet the frankly admiring gaze any longer, stared down at her hands. "Glad you like it," she mumbled.
"Oh I much more than like it." Obviously deciding to take pity on her reticent assistant, she changed the subject. "So do you think you're ready for the test today?"
Relieved, Rhi looked up and nodded. "Uh huh. I think I've memorized that book from cover to cover." With a little grin she challenged, "What is the minimum stopping distance at a hundred km/h under normal driving conditions?"
Marika rolled her eyes and laughed. "Trust me, Rhi. The vast majority of experienced drivers wouldn't stand a hope in hell of passing a learner's test."
Smugly, Rhi informed her, "108 metres. How many demerit points do you get for exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 km/h but less than 50 km/h?"
"I'm sure Lee could tell you that one," Marika said dryly. She chuckled, and turned back to her office. Rhi could have sworn she heard an affectionately muttered, "Brat," before the lawyer disappeared into her sanctuary.
The rest of the morning was taken up with appointments that had been postponed from the previous week, and it was past one before the women could leave for lunch. Rhi smiled as she saw her boss carrying the manila envelope on her way out. She'd declined Marika's invitation to accompany her downstairs, preferring to go through her study book one last time.
By the time the assistant returned to the office, the lawyer was already back at her desk. As soon as Marika saw her enter, she hurried out to meet her.
"Well?"
Rhi grinned at the eager woman. "94%. You're looking at a duly licenced learner."
"All right! Well done, Rhi! So would you like to go driving this weekend?"
"Um, yeah, if you have the time that is."
"I think I can make time for such an important project," Marika teased, gray eyes twinkling. "Listen, since we're going to the game tonight anyway, why don't you let me take you to dinner first? We'll celebrate."
Rhiannon glanced at her gym bag doubtfully. "I only brought casual clothes with me for after work."
"So we'll do casual," the lawyer said firmly. "We can't let such an auspicious occasion go by unmarked. Why don't we go to the Pied Piper downstairs and then head over to the ball field? Oh, and I want to change your dressing before we go, too."
"Okay." That settled, Rhiannon slid behind her desk and ordered herself to get her mind back on her job. It was difficult. Between the delight of passing her test, the pleasure of having her gift so well received, and the anticipation of the evening, her mind stubbornly refused to settle down. Closing her eyes for a moment, she let the day's exhilaration wash away the nastiness of the past two days since she'd returned to her aunt's house.
She'd had Marika drop her off in the back alley again on Sunday, but Hettie was still waiting for her when she opened the rear door of the house. The moment Rhi set foot in the house, the interrogation and remonstrations began.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in."
Rhiannon froze at the familiar whiny sound, then firmly closed the door behind her. She glanced over to where her aunt was sitting at the kitchen table, watching her with gleefully censorious eyes.
"So, where've you've been?" When Rhi made no answer as she crossed the kitchen, Hettie raised her voice. "I won't have a fornicator living under my roof, hear?! If you're going to whore around, you can find yourself a new place to live!"
The young woman spun and glared at her aunt, who was smirking triumphantly at getting a rise out of her niece. "Not that it's any of your damned business, but I was staying with a friend. A female friend."
"And don't be using that kind of language either," Hettie lectured, as she lumbered to her feet and followed Rhi down the hall. "This is a God-fearing house, and I won't have you talkin' like that!"
The last thing Rhiannon heard as she mounted the stairs to the sanctuary of her room was the ancient litany of her failings, her questionable parentage and the imminence of God's wrath descending upon her if she didn't repent and seek forgiveness, all delivered in her aunt's shrillest tones.
Her aunt had summoned the hen house that evening, and in voices raised to a pitch that Rhi was sure could be heard on the street, they outlined the young woman's latest transgressions for God's enlightenment. Then, guided by their leader, they launched into prayers for Anne's redemption from the sins of temptation and lasciviousness.
She'd taken to leaving the house even earlier than normal, and long before her aunt would be up. Hettie had managed to corner her Tuesday evening coming in, but Rhi had ignored the never-ending third degree and wordlessly gone to her room.
That night she'd lain in bed, wondering if she wasn't making a mistake allowing the quiet waters of her existence to be stirred up when she was so close to making her escape. But as thoughts of her new friends drifted through her head, she couldn't bring herself to regret their presence in her life, no matter how short-lived it turned out to be.
Her mind turned to her boss. It was so easy to like Lee, Dana and David; they all had a natural ebullience and generosity of spirit that made it nearly impossible to reject them. Marika was another story.
Rhiannon sensed within the woman the same emotional barriers she'd long ago erected around her own heart. That hadn't bothered her initially, since she'd had no intention of getting close to her boss, but visiting Lee and Dana's home had begun to change her attitude. She'd seen another side to Marika that day, an easy, relaxed warmth in the woman that had been absent in the office.
It
was clear that Lee and Dana thought the world of their friend, and it had begun a sea change in Rhi's own attitude towards her boss. The past week had cemented that change. Marika had been unfailingly kind and considerate of her guest. As the days passed, Rhi had come to realize that the lawyer wasn't just operating out of a sense of obligation, but she genuinely cared about her assistant's well being. Even more unfathomable, Marika gave every appearance of truly enjoying their time together.
"I did too." Rhi smiled sheepishly at the unconsciously spoken words, but she couldn't deny them. She'd greedily absorbed the bonding that had taken place, enjoying their walks, their banter over Spooky and most of all the back rubs.
She'd tried to muster up some guilt over enjoying Marika's soft, gentle touches, but failed miserably. Then she'd accused herself of becoming a hedonistic little piggie, but her conscience stubbornly refused to kick in. It had taken a real act of will to take her leave of the woman, and now she found herself keenly looking forward each morning to arriving in the office.
Opening her eyes again, Rhiannon sternly bade herself to focus and concentrate on finishing the second draft of the Leung deposition. For all her inner admonitions though, she still couldn't banish the tiny smile lurking on her face.
* * *
Rhi examined the scene before her curiously as Marika wheeled the Lexus into a parking spot. The dusty lot edged a large community recreational complex, with tennis courts, a soccer pitch, and the ball diamond that was their destination. The young woman could see two teams clustered around their respective dugouts, and picked out Dana and Lee without any difficulty.
Climbing out of the car, Rhi asked, "What position does Dana play?"
Marika walked around to join her. "She's sort of their utility player. Fills in wherever she's needed. Right now I think she's playing shortstop because their regular infielder is pregnant."
Rhi glanced up curiously as they headed towards the diamond. "Did you ever play?"
The lawyer laughed. "I'm afraid you could measure my athletic ability in sub-atomic degrees. No, I just like watching."
"What about Lee? Does she play too?"
"She used to, but she blew her knee out in a bike accident so she had to join me in the rooting section. What about you? Did you ever play?"
"Just in school. I wasn't very good."
Marika gave her a little nudge and smiled. "Well, what's a game without a cheering section, right? They need us!"
Rhi grinned back. "Good point, boss."
As they approached the clusters of women, Marika suggested, "Why don't we wish Dana good luck and then find some seats?"
Her assistant nodded and followed closely behind. They came to an abrupt halt when a dark-haired woman stepped into their path. She was wearing the same uniform as Dana was–blue and white with bright red lettering that read Oly's. Angry brown eyes glared at Marika.
"What are you doing here?"
Rhi looked at her boss curiously. The lawyer sighed and said, "Val, I'm not looking for trouble. We just came to watch the game."
Val fixed her hostile gaze on the younger woman. "Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into, kid? If I were you, I'd run from this bitch as fast and far as I could in the opposite direction!"
Before Rhi could utter any of the indignant words that surged to mind, a gentle hand rested on her lower back and a strong arm settled over Marika's shoulders. A low, familiar voice growled, "Are you having some sort of problem with my friends, Val?"
Relieved, Rhiannon looked up into Lee's stern features as the big woman eyed their interrogator. Val tried to hold the cool hazel gaze that pinned her, but failing, spun on her heel and stalked away.
Marika turned to Lee. "Thanks. I was afraid that would happen." Looking at Rhiannon, she apologized, "I'm sorry, Rhi."
"Not your fault," Rhi insisted as she let Lee steer her towards the stands.
Once they were settled, the lawyer said sadly, "Actually it is, but I thought she'd be over it by now."
"Val's not one to let bygone be bygones," Lee rumbled disapprovingly.
Rhi glanced between the two curiously. With a rueful smile, Marika explained, "Ex-lover."
The younger woman nodded her understanding, and looked over to where Val was leaning against the backstop, still glowering at Marika. She cocked her head, analyzing the woman and wondering what her boss had seen in her.
"Lady Mouse," Lee whispered. "You're staring."
Rhi flushed, but said, "So is she."
Both older women chuckled. Lee leaned closer. "But we have better manners than she does, don't we?" She gave Rhiannon a quick pat on the knee, then looked up to greet a woman edging down the aisle toward them.
"Hi, Jan. Want to sit with us?"
Rhi felt Marika stiffen for a moment beside her, and then relax as she said, "Yes, please join us, Jan."
Rhiannon studied the newcomer. She was slightly taller than Rhi herself, with auburn hair, dark green eyes and freckles. A warm, friendly smile lit her face, and the young woman found herself instinctively liking the stranger.
Lee leaned back, and gesturing between the two women, said, "Jan Spencer, this is Rhiannon Davies."
Jan reached across Lee and offered her hand, which Rhi shook firmly. "Hi, Rhiannon. Very nice to meet you."
"You too."
Marika rested her slender arms on her legs and past her friends. "I thought you were the equipment manager, Jan."
Lee snorted, and Jan laughed. "I was, up until Danny discovered that Judy and Patrick's daughter, Tammy, was helping me out."
"The boy's in love," Lee said, shaking her head. "All we hear at home is Tammy this and Tammy that."
"And who am I to stand in the path of young love?" Jan smiled, nodding her head at where the two teenagers stood in the end of the home team's dugout. They stood holding opposite sides of the bat bag, their eyes only for each other.
"Uh huh. Didn't have anything to do with Danny promising to cut your lawn for a month, did it?" Lee asked with a grin.
"What can I say? I can be bribed."
The women laughed, and Rhi found herself joining in, enjoying the easy-going banter.
Dana's team took the field, and the game was on. Marika gave Rhiannon a quick overview of the players.
"Jan's partner, Terry is playing third. Dana's got shortstop tonight. Natalie's on second, and Robyn is catching. Her partner, Lisa, is their regular shortstop. She's the pregnant lady keeping score in the dugout. And of course, you've already met Val on first." The two women grimaced wryly at each other. "Gale's in right field, and Judy's in left. Her husband, Patrick, is their manager." Shaking her head, Marika added, "I don't know the pitcher or centre fielder. Lee?"
"Yeah, they're new this year. Laurie Attfield is pitching, and the centre fielder is AJ Darcy. She's the one I said had an arm like a cannon."
"She can really belt them into the ozone too," Jan added, but Rhi noticed the redhead's eyes rarely strayed from the tall, dark-haired woman at third.
"She's a great addition to the team," Lee agreed. "I think she's a firefighter or something."
Jan confirmed that. "Uh huh. She can't always make it because of her shift, but we haven't lost a game yet when she's playing."
Marika murmured her acknowledgement, and Rhi frowned slightly as she saw her boss studying the centre fielder closely. She followed the direction of the lawyer's intense gaze and examined the firefighter's athletic form. The woman was as tall as Lee, and while not as broad except across the shoulders, had a look of strength and speed about her. Rhiannon couldn't see her features under the shade of the ball cap snugged down over her forehead, but she had to admit that in some circles, the woman probably rated a second glance.
Just not her second glance! The petulant thought shocked her, and Rhi reminded herself firmly that it was none of her business. Doesn't matter to me if she wants to ogle some overgrown, muscle-bound, fatheaded firefighter.
For a moment, the lustre of an unprecedented evenin
g out with friends dimmed, but then Marika turned her attention back on her assistant, and with a smile began filling Rhi in on the team's performance the previous year when they'd finished third in the league's play-off tournament.
When the top of the inning ended scoreless and the home team trotted in for their at-bats, Dana detoured to the fence and called up to her lover, "Hey, Lee. Patrick wants to know if you'll coach third."
Lee nodded, and with a big grin, bounded down the stairs and out onto the field to take up her position by third.
"I think she misses playing," Jan suggested with a smile as she slid over into Lee's vacated seat.
"Oh yeah, that she does," Marika agreed. "But with everything that happened last year, it was probably better that she couldn't play."
Jan nodded her understanding, but Rhi looked at her boss questioningly. Marika sighed and considered her words.
"Dana had...a health scare last year that kept her from playing. It was the first year both of them couldn't play, but things worked out all right."
Worried, Rhi studied Marika's face.
"Really, she's fine now," Marika assured her. "I'll tell you about it some other time, okay? Right now we've got some cheering to do."
Rhi turned her troubled gaze to the field, acceding to Marika's desire to leave the issue for later, but still concerned for the nurse she'd come to regard as her friend.
Leading off, Terry stepped up to the plate, and after taking a ball inside that had Jan glaring at the pitcher, rapped a clean single to left field. The redhead was instantly on her feet cheering loudly. When Terry held up at first, she sat down again, looking somewhat sheepishly at her grinning companions.
Marika chuckled. "That's okay, Jan. We all know who Terry's biggest fan is."
Rhi laughed as the redhead blushed, but didn't deny it. Turning her attention back to the field, she saw Val step up to the plate. "Boo," she muttered under her breath, and drew a mildly reproachful grin from her boss. She shrugged. The first baseman had incurred her enmity by attacking her friend, and she wasn't about to pretend otherwise.
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