Broken Faith

by Lois Cloarec Hart

  "Yes, you big goof! Of course, yes!"

  The big woman threw back her head exultantly and whooped, "Yes! She said yes!" The stars seemed to take the news calmly, but the two women started to laugh and embrace frantically, almost falling over the log as they sought to express their feelings. Lee finally understood the meaning of being deliriously happy. Nothing would ever take this woman away from her now! Not even cancer.

  They ended up half-laying in the small stretch of pebbled sand between the log and the lake's edge, contentedly gazing into each other's eyes, and punctuating each soft caress with another lingering kiss.

  Suddenly Lee bolted upright. "Oh! I almost forgot!" Her hand dove into her pocket and came up with the ring box. Grinning widely, she opened it and held it out for her lover's inspection. Dana sat up and stared at the diamond solitaire.

  "Oh migawd, Lee. That's beautiful!"

  Lee took it out of the box and slipped it over Dana's ring finger. "Hah," she said in satisfaction. "I told Marika I had the right size!"

  Dana chuckled as she inspected the band. "Marika?"

  "Um, yeah, she helped me pick it out," Lee confessed sheepishly, "but I made the final selection!"

  "It's wonderful, my love. You chose perfectly," Dana assured her with a smile.

  "I bought the wedding bands that match it, though mine's in being sized right now."

  Dana looked at her in mild surprise. "You want to wear a ring too, love? But you never wear rings."

  "I never had a reason to wear a ring," Lee said solemnly, "but I want the world to know that I'm married to my best girl. This is a forever thing for me, Dana. I don't want anyone to doubt that."

  "For me too, sweetheart. For me too." Dana leaned forward and punctuated her declaration passionately, taking avid possession of Lee's lips as her hands began to roam knowingly over her partner's body. She'd begun to unbutton the big woman's shirt when Lee, short of breath, drew back with a moan.

  "I think we'd better take this back to the chalet, sweetheart."

  Dana giggled, but her hands didn't stop. "Lost your sense of adventure, love? We haven't made love outdoors in ages."

  Lee's chest heaved under the unrelenting attention and, torn between lust and concern, she glanced up at the trail. It was back up the hill about ten metres, but even with the huge log for shelter, they wouldn't be well hidden from anyone hiking by.

  Then warm lips closed over her hard right nipple and she forgot everything else. Reaching for her fiancée, she tugged the giggling woman back down to the sand as they raced to see who could remove the impeding clothes fastest.

  * * *

  Marika had taken over driving duties. Rhi had become reasonably proficient through the afternoon, but when the younger woman had suggested seeing a movie, the lawyer decided she'd better do the driving in the more congested neighbourhood of the multiplex.

  They'd gone to a Japanese restaurant first, though Marika had to invoke all her skills of persuasion to convince her friend to give it a try. Once there, she'd delighted in Rhi's look of awe at the chef's glittering knives and flashy showmanship. She'd wondered if it was a mistake when her assistant looked suspiciously at the offerings, but she'd gamely tried a little of everything, even dabbing gingerly at the wasabi. By dinner's end, Rhi had conceded that it wasn't bad "for raw fish", and that she even quite liked the California roll.

  The movie had been light-hearted and they'd exited laughing. Though sorry to see the day end, Marika was reluctantly driving Rhi home. The young woman was quiet now, watching the streets pass as the lawyer headed for Victoria Park.

  I wish it were last week. Marika's wistful thoughts of taking Rhi back to the condo were all the more poignant for the pensive expression on the younger woman's face. She wanted so much to take her friend away from this world where hookers lounged brazenly on street corners, stealthy men congregated and dispersed with equal rapidity, and every dark alley seemed ominously alive with furtive movements.

  Overwhelmed with a reluctance to abandon Rhi to this world, Marika unconsciously turned right onto a one-way street that would carry them back towards her home.

  "You turned the wrong way."

  Rhi's gruff tones brought Marika back to reality, and hastily apologizing, she took the first left to get back on course. Sighing, she chastened herself. You can't rescue her if she doesn't want rescuing. Stealing glances at the other woman, she tried to screw up enough nerve to at least offer the sanctuary of her home, even if only for tonight. She hated the thought of such a pleasant day ending with her friend's return to the house she so obviously hated.

  Noticing they were nearly to Rhi's street, Marika gathered her nerve and opened her mouth to speak...

  "Shit!"

  Startled, the lawyer stared at her friend whose sudden exclamation had broken the quiet between them.

  "Turn right! Turn right now!"

  Shocked, Marika spun the wheel and screeched around the corner. Following Rhi's emphatic instructions, she drove away from the young woman's street, which she'd been about to enter. When Rhiannon indicated she should pull over, she did and then turned to confront her passenger.

  "What was that all about?"

  Rhi just shook her head and unhooked her seat belt. She was about to climb out, when Marika seized her arm.

  "Rhi! What the hell happened back there? What's going on?"

  For a long moment, she didn't think the young woman would answer her, but then Rhi's shoulders slumped and she relaxed back into the seat.

  "It would...it could've been dangerous for you to drive down my street right then."

  "What!? Why?" Marika hadn't released her companion's arm, and her hand tightened in the fabric of the light jacket, holding her securely within the safety of the car.

  Rhi stared out the front window, refusing to meet her friend's eyes as she muttered, "Some neighbours that normally aren't home on Saturday. Looked like they were having a party, and it's not safe to be around when they're partying."

  Confused, Marika shook her head. "Neighbours? But I could have driven you around the back like I normally do. They wouldn't see you."

  The young woman looked at her tiredly. "You don't get it. Cars like this one don't come down here, at least not unless they're going to the 'stroll'. As soon as you drove past, they'd have seen you and been on you like flies on...Well, anyway, there's no way you could've stopped to let me out. This way is better. I can approach the house from the rear, and they'll never see me." She gently but firmly removed Marika's hand and reached for the door handle.

  "Wait! You can't go out there if it's not safe!" Worried, Marika pleaded, "Look, just come home with me tonight and I'll bring you home when it's daylight tomorrow, all right?"

  Rhi hesitated, and the lawyer held her breath. Slowly, the young woman shook her head.

  "No, but thank you." Rhi pushed open the door and got out as Marika leaned across the seat, holding out an entreating hand.

  "Please, Rhi. If it's not safe, I don't want you out there."

  Her friend knelt by the side of the open door. "It's my world, Rika, I'll be okay. I'm used to it, remember? Look, I'll give the condo a call when I get in the house and leave a message so you know I'm safe, all right?"

  Unable to wring any further concessions, Marika nodded miserably. Rhi smiled gently and patted her hand.

  "Go home, Rika. It was a wonderful day. Thank you."

  Standing, she closed the door firmly and started across the street, fading into the shadows left by broken streetlights as she walked quickly away. Marika watched her in the rear view mirror until she disappeared into an alley two blocks back.

  Sadly, she put the car in gear and turned for home. I don't want this to be your world.

  Chapter Sixteen

  MARIKA NODDED AND jotted down some notes as she cradled the receiver between her ear and shoulder. When Rhiannon poked her head in the office door, she motioned her assistant in.

  "All right, well we'll plan on being there Sunda
y, and meet you in the offices on Monday." She nodded in agreement with her caller, then added. "Good, see you then."

  Hanging up, Marika grinned at the barely concealed excitement on Rhi's face. "Let me guess...parade time."

  "Uh huh," Rhi beamed. "Ready to go to the roof?"

  "I need about five more minutes here. Why don't you go on up and save me a spot?"

  "Okay, look for me in the corner by the stairwell. That's the best spot."

  The young woman practically bounded out of the office, and Marika's eyes tracked her with an indulgent smile. The vast majority of businesses adhered to the citywide edict to 'dress western' during the Stampede. Rhi had complied by donning a denim skirt and embroidered denim vest over a plain white blouse.

  The lawyer glanced down at her own lightweight caramel suede skirt and blouse with hammered silver buttons, and fingered the turquoise and feather earrings she wore. She enjoyed the western dress code and the excuse to get duded up for ten days. She even liked the boots, though she never wore them to the Stampede grounds, having learned her lesson the first year she'd lived in Calgary. Cowboy boots might finish an outfit perfectly, but they weren't meant for eight to ten hours of walking around with thousands of other people on crowded grounds.

  Quickly finishing up her notes, Marika grabbed her cowboy hat and hastened to the elevator, crowded with other employees heading for the roof of the building. The morning of the Stampede parade, downtown Calgary virtually shut down. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets and building rooftops to see the local, national and international floats, bands, horsemen and women, native riders and dignitaries that comprised the kick-off parade for the ten-day party. Local lore had it that it never rained on parade morning, and indeed it rarely did.

  Exiting onto the rooftop, Marika surveyed the crowd and spotted her assistant hanging over the edge of the wall in the far corner, peering down the street in anticipation. She shook her head with a smile. She'd been surprised at Rhiannon's enthusiasm, having assumed that the young woman would take the yearly excitement with her usual calm disinterest. Instead, Rhi had been literally bouncing with eagerness ever since she'd arrived at the office that morning.

  Marika edged through the crowd, coming up behind Rhi who turned to greet her with a dazzling smile.

  "Saved you a place," she said, indicating the open spot between herself and the corner of the roof's wall.

  The lawyer tugged her hat lower to protect her eyes from the bright sun and slid in next to her friend. Leaning companionably on the wall, their arms rested against each other as they surveyed the scene ten floors below them. The streets were lined for blocks in each direction as far as the eye could see, often six and eight people deep.

  As they waited for the parade to wind its way past their location, Marika brought up the subject of the call she'd just received.

  "The Tsang hearing has been moved up to a week from Monday in Vancouver."

  "Tsang? Have I worked on that one?"

  "No, that was Marian's baby." They grinned at each other. "So to speak. Anyway, the hearing was originally scheduled for six months ago, but was postponed. Now a spot has unexpectedly opened up, and the Tsangs have been slotted in. All the prep work is done, we just need to review it in the next week before we go to Vancouver."

  "We? Did you say before we go to Vancouver?"

  Marika smiled into wide blue eyes. "Uh huh. That's what I said. We. Marian was to have accompanied me and since you're doing the same job, you're entitled to come in her place." Forestalling any protests, she said quickly, "The firm picks up all the costs; flights, hotels and meals. It won't cost you a thing unless you feel like playing tourist."

  "Wow...Vancouver," Rhi murmured. Looking up at her boss, she said, "I've never been there. Heck, I've never been past Banff. We went there once on a school trip."

  The lawyer watched the smile spreading across the young woman's face and quietly congratulated herself for putting it there. "We'll be working in conjunction with our Vancouver branch so you'll get a chance to see your old boss too."

  "I'd like that. Mr. Owen was always very nice to me." Rhi smiled shyly and looked down at the street as she added softly, "But I like my new boss even better."

  Marika felt a rush of pleasure at the quiet, sincere words from her normally reticent assistant. "I'm glad," she replied simply. They were quiet for a moment and then the lawyer cleared her throat. "I thought maybe, if you were interested, we could go see the Symphony of Fire while we're there."

  "Symphony of Fire?" Rhi looked at her curiously.

  "Fireworks festival over the water. I've never seen it, but it's supposed to be spectacular."

  "I'd like that." Rhi had turned back to the street, but Marika could see the wide smile on her face. Suddenly she leaned far forward and pointed. "Hey, I see the Grand Marshall!"

  Involuntarily, Marika grabbed the back of Rhi's vest and tugged her back. "Careful there, I'd hate to have to explain to Personnel how I let my assistant splatter on the pavement."

  Rhi rolled her eyes but smiled as she resumed leaning at a less precarious angle. "I love parades," she enthused.

  "No, really?" Marika drawled wryly.

  That drew a laugh, and the younger woman gave her a sheepish grin. "Yeah, well, my Dad used to take me to every parade there was in Toronto when I was little. I remember sitting on his shoulders so I could see over the crowd. We always had a lot of fun."

  Marika held her breath. This was the first time Rhi had offered any information on her past freely and without the constant subtext of pain. Fearful that she'd break the mood, she still had to ask, "Didn't your mother go with you two?"

  "Nah, Mom had to work days and Dad worked nights, so they switched off taking care of me." Rhi smiled wistfully, and Marika was struck by how it softened her friend's often stern features. "Sunday was our day to all be together though. We'd take the bus to the park or the zoo, or down to the waterfront."

  Her voice trailed off, and as much as the lawyer wanted to know more, her instincts told her not to press. Marika murmured encouragement, but it became apparent that Rhi had offered all the information she was going to for the day.

  The parade soon began to move past below them, and the two compared notes as to which floats and bands they preferred. They admired the gaudily decorated horses and laughed at the antics of the clowns running alongside and interacting with the cheering watchers.

  By the time the trailing street sweepers came by, cleaning up after all the horses, the women were content and ready to leave the hot roof for the comfort of their air conditioned office. They joined the crowd waiting to get inside and take the elevators down.

  Rhi nudged her boss. "Why don't we take the stairs? It's only three floors."

  Marika nodded and they clattered down the steps until they reached the seventh floor. Walking down the hall to their office, they reviewed the parade, deciding it had been a fine kick-off to the Stampede and planning their upcoming trip to the grounds with Lee and Dana.

  A couple of hours later, Marika was deep in a review of the Tsang file when Rhi came to the door of her office, an odd look on her face.

  When Marika cocked her head in unspoken inquiry, Rhi said, "There's someone here to see you. She doesn't have an appointment, but she said her name is Britt Havers. Um, she says she's your sister?"

  Stunned, the lawyer looked past her assistant to where a teenaged girl in a Highland band uniform stood fidgeting in the outer office. The girl was tall and thin, with pale blonde hair, and, Marika was willing to bet, gray eyes. It was like looking at a mirror image of herself, sixteen years in the past. This then was the little sister she'd last seen and held as a baby, a day before she'd been sent in disgrace to Geneva.

  She tried to speak, but her throat was closed up. Rhi instantly crossed the office and knelt in front of her, laying one hand on her knee.

  "Hey," she asked softly, "do you need me to send her away?" Dark blue eyes shone with concern.

  Ma
rika drew in a deep breath and clutched at the hand on her knee for a moment. "No. No...I'll see her." She stood unsteadily and made her way out of the office, Rhi close on her heels.

  The girl turned as they reached the waiting area, and the two sisters stared at each other. "Britt?" Marika asked uncertainly, though she had no doubt now seeing her father's big, gray eyes in the girl's nervous face. Awkwardly she held her hand out and Britt took it, giving it a tentative shake.

  "I, uh...I'm in Calgary with my band, and I wanted to meet you." The girl's voice was shyly defiant, and Marika sensed it had taken a lot of courage for her to come to the office.

  "I'm glad you did," the lawyer assured her. "Why don't you come in and we'll talk? Would you like something cold to drink?"

  "Yes, please. It was a long, hot parade."

  Marika looked at Rhi, who smiled in understanding and nodded. The lawyer gestured for her sister to precede her into the office as Rhi headed towards the coffee room.

  Leading the way to the couch, Marika settled at one end, half-turned to face Britt, stiffly sitting on the far end. The shock had started to diminish, and now the lawyer's concern was to make her young sister comfortable. Casually, she asked, "Which band was yours?"

  "57th Highland Cadet Band. We were right behind the float with the cartoon cowboy riding a bull? You know, the one with the steam puffing out of the bull's nostrils?"

  "Oh right," Marika smiled in acknowledgement. "It was a good band. I've always enjoyed the pipes and drums."

  "We took third in an Ontario band competition last year, and we're competing against the other Stampede bands this week. I think we might do even better." The girl had noticeably started to relax, and Marika was grateful that she no longer looked ready to bolt.

  "What do you play?"

  "A side drum, though by the time we finished marching, I was wishing I'd chosen the fife. Still better than the bagpipes though." The girl laughed and Marika enjoyed the sound.

  "Drum, eh? So you're really popular when you practice at home?"

  Britt had relaxed back into the cushions, and she grinned at her older sister. "Well, Bryce is a total jerk sometimes and he kept threatening to punch a hole through it, but then Dad build a soundproof practice room for me in the basement so I don't get as many complaints."