by Barrett
The screen behind her opened, and she heard a gasp.
“Oh my,” Mrs. Hardcastle exclaimed. “It looks a majestic, doesn’t it?”
“This really is the perfect setting for it,” Silke said. “I hope your husband will be pleased.”
“I know he will.” Mrs. Hardcastle beamed. “I was going to send him the pictures, but I think I’ll wait until he gets home tonight. He should see it in person, don’t you think? Will it be lit?”
“Yes, we installed a dusk to dawn sensor. It will go on at sundown and go off at sunrise. I left instructions in the envelope, but if there are any problems, please let me know.”
“Before he was called out of town, we wanted to have a little unveiling Sunday night, just for the family and a couple of neighbors,” Mrs. Hardcastle said. “If you and your crew are available, we’d love to have you come. I’ll let you know after I find out.”
“That’s awfully nice of you,” Silke said, as Roger stepped away from the lighthouse. “It looks like we’re about finished so we’ll be on our way. Thank you for everything.”
“YES, THANK YOU,” Kirin said to the waiter, who refilled her coffee cup.
She glanced at her watch, relieved that she still had plenty of time before she had to take the airport shuttle.
The previous day was still a bit of a blur, and she had to pinch herself when she thought about the great deal he had offered. It took all of her willpower not to call Silke and tell her. When they had talked the night before, all she revealed was that her meeting with Nathan had gone well and that he was pleased with the article.
Silke had been excited with her own news about the installation and embarrassed she hadn’t sent pictures.
Kirin smiled and sipped her coffee. She felt giddy and couldn’t keep the smile from her face. It was hard to decide which was more exciting—the unbelievable book deal or being head over heels in love with an incredible woman.
She opened the envelope and reread the contract as she finished her coffee. The phone rang again and the caller ID indicated it was Esther. She hadn’t had the time to see her earlier and hoped they would have a chance to connect.
“Hi, Esther. Sorry I missed you yesterday.”
“I understand completely.” Esther sounded harried as usual. “It’s been nuts around here. Well, it has been for the last couple of weeks. Listen, I’m calling because Nathan wanted to meet with you briefly before you leave. I thought we could sneak in coffee before.”
“That sounds great, please tell Nathan I’ll be happy to meet him whenever he’s free.”
“Will do. And congratulations kid!”
She returned to her room and decided to pack since she would leave directly after meeting with Nathan. She brushed her hair, hoping to tame it a little and added some makeup. After all, it wasn’t every day she’d have a chance to rub elbows with her New York publisher.
She laughed and improvised a little dance in front of the bathroom mirror. Her parents would be thrilled. Maybe she should plan a party? She could announce her big news and introduce her new girlfriend. Girlfriend. Damn, she couldn’t wait to see her.
The navy blue blouse looked good with the white slacks. She only wished she had better shoes. With that huge advance, she could definitely buy new shoes.
“Mr. Silver, Mr. Halpern, I am ready to sign your contract.”
Chapter Fifty-three
SILKE HOPPED OUT of bed Friday morning, feeling better than she had in years. It was almost as though the earth had shifted on its axis and began turning in a different direction. Even though she had been up late the night before making plans with Diane, she still felt rested and energized.
When she had expressed an interest in staying in Belize for several months, Diane said they had adapted an area for a studio. There was no turning back. Since Phillip was willing to take care of the house, she could focus on the new project. And now, drawing would be much easier.
She took plastic bags and a clipboard out to the studio with the intent of bagging up some of her small carving tools and drawing supplies to ship to Belize. The only shadow hanging over her bright new future was the question of whether Kirin would be able to join her for any of the time. It sounded like the meetings went well, but even the best case scenario, Kirin was a travel writer and would probably need to travel. But she sounded so happy when she called . . . well, she’d have to wait and see.
The studio somehow looked empty without the tall sculpture occupying the center of the room. As she reached the top step, she smiled at the unmade bed. The high temperatures the past few days had kept her in the house with the air conditioner at night, but her memory of the last night out in the loft with Kirin remained vivid.
She removed the pillowcase and held it up to her face. The mingled scent was faint but enough to bring back memories. She folded the pillowcase and then stripped the bed. When she presented the proposal, Roger had not indicated whether he planned to sleep at the studio or just work there. She decided to leave him a set of sheets just in case.
Her cell phone vibrated in the pocket of her shorts. “Hi, Phillip, this is a nice surprise.” She sat down on the foot of the bed.
“I got your text message, and I wanted to congratulate you on completing the project and getting it installed so quickly,” Phillip said. “Is the guy happy with it?”
“He’s very excited. He’s not only having an official unveiling Sunday night, we’re invited if you guys want to see it. And he included a nice bonus when his wife told him how hard we worked. He sent the check to the gallery. Lucien, from the gallery, will deposit my money on Monday.”
“I’m really happy for you, sis. I know this year hasn’t been the best for you, but it looks like things are changing. Speaking of bad news, have you heard any more from Rachel?”
Silke had to laugh. Her brother never missed a chance for a little dig. “Not a word, fortunately. I’m sure she’s counting your money and thinking she got the better end of the deal. I don’t care. That’s something I don’t need to even think about.”
“Hey, Mom says you got good news from the eye doctor. What happened?” Phillip asked.
She lay back on the bed, closed her eyes, and smiled. “I went up north for the weekend with my friend Kirin . . .” My friend, my very close friend. “And she took me out on their boat Saturday. The strangest thing happened after we went swimming. When I got out of the water, I started having these weird colored spots dancing around my field of vision. It didn’t hurt or anything, but it was a little scary. Since then I’ve had times where some of my peripheral vision comes back. When I called the doctor, he asked to see me so he could check. From the test in the office, he thought the circulation had improved, not completely, but enough to help—especially in my left eye.”
“That’s incredible news, I’m so happy for you. Does he think you’ll keep improving?”
Silke sighed. “There’s no way to know. He wants to check it again in three months, but it sure surprised me.”
“You must be so relieved. I know I am. I was worried about you.”
“It was scary and I’d almost given up thinking there’d be a light at the end of the tunnel—no pun intended. Even this little improvement has made a difference. I don’t trip over as many things.” Silke laughed.
“Let’s definitely plan to get together Sunday night. Will you need a ride?” Phillip asked. “I can pick you up, unless you have other plans.”
“I’ll give you a call Sunday when I know for sure. Roger may be able to do that, if he’s interested.” Silke disconnected and stared at the phone. She still hadn’t given Kirin the information about the Sunday night get together or the doctor’s report. With all the busy-ness in New York and the installation here in Milwaukee, the time to tell her just never felt right.
She wanted to be alone when she told her, and she prayed that the timing would be good to invite her to Belize. She gathered the sheets and headed downstairs. A clock above her workbench showed one-thi
rty. Kirin’s flight from New York would arrive at three forty-five.
And she had promised to call as soon as she landed.
“WELCOME TO MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin. The local time is three-forty p.m. and the weather is clear with a temperature of eighty-four degrees. Please remain seated until the captain has turned off the seatbelt sign.”
Kirin texted a brief message, saying she would call Silke when she got to her car. Her endorphins carried her through the first hour of the flight. She then settled back to read more from the Omni World portfolio. Chuck thought it would help. Now the excitement about her book deal was running second to her excitement about seeing Silke again.
She dug through the pocket of her backpack to find the Bluetooth headset then tapped Silke’s number as she crossed into the parking garage.
“Hi, are you home?” Silke said.
Kirin’s tension level decreased dramatically at the sound of Silke’s voice. “We just landed, and I’m about to get my car. How soon can I see you?”
Silke responded with a throaty laugh. “I have no plans except to see you. Why don’t you take care of whatever you need to, and I’ll order something for dinner whenever you’re ready.”
“That sounds perfect. I really don’t want to go anywhere and I have so much to tell you . . . it could take all night. How does that sound?”
Silke laughed again. “I guess I better order a big dinner. I can’t wait to see you, and I’m so glad you’re home. Now, go drive and don’t get arrested.”
Kirin didn’t even notice the late afternoon traffic. Her whole body jittered from anticipation, memories, and desire. It wasn’t just her imagination, Silke sounded just as excited. The entire week of worry about writing, worry about publishing, worry about having a job, and the consummate worry about what she was going to do next slipped away from her like a shadow in the sun. All she wanted was to hold Silke in her arms and melt into the bliss of her sensual body.
The condo was clean and cool after bustling through busy airports. Kirin checked her messages, dumped the contents of her suitcase on the bed, and tossed most of the clothes in the hamper. She left the Omni World portfolio in her backpack and threw on some clean clothes. She chuckled. She did not intend to come home for at least twenty-four hours. She might not even need the clothes, she thought as she threw in her toiletry kit.
The shower reinvigorated her, and within an hour of touching down in Milwaukee, she was back in the car and heading to the north side to the arms of the woman she was falling more in love with daily. Even the sight of the lake’s distant whitecaps brought back memories of their picnic dinner beneath the lighthouse beacon. It hadn’t been that long ago, and now Silke’s lighthouse was installed and working just a little farther north. Silke’s belief in her vision had never wavered. She smiled when she thought of those gifted, determined hands.
The fluttering in her chest started just after she turned off Lakeshore drive. At the first stoplight, she wiped her hands on her shorts. Her breathing was shallow like a teenager on a first date. The events on the night of their torrid studio tryst reanimated on her interior wide-screen. Small muscles in her belly tightened.
Kirin parked in front of the house. She looked in the rearview mirror and finger combed the sides of her humidity-coifed hair. “Give me strength.”
She got out and trotted up to the door. She rang the doorbell and peeked through the screen door.
“Come in.” Silke’s voice echoed from the back of the house.
Kirin stepped into the living room and Silke came through the kitchen doorway directly in front of her.
They stopped and gazed at each other for a nanosecond.
Kirin pulled Silke into her arms and held her tightly as the pounding in her chest increased. “I’ve wanted to do this for days. You have no idea how much I missed you.”
“God, you feel so good.” Silke put her hands on the sides of Kirin’s face and pressed their mouths together.
Kirin’s lightheadedness gave away to the sweetness of Silke’s kiss. And they continued alternately tasting and touching each other all the way to the couch.
“Are you hungry?” Silke muttered between kisses.
“Not right now. Don’t stop kissing me.”
Silke laughed and continued as directed.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS still and quiet, the wind barely a whisper, except for a few muffled summer sounds.
Silke cuddled close to Kirin and stroked her arm. “Are you sure you don’t want any more pizza?”
Kirin kissed Silke’s forehead. “I’m sure. That was perfect. I am very content at this moment and would like it to go on indefinitely.”
“Can you tell me more of what happened in New York?” Silke looked up at Kirin. “You seemed so happy when I talked to you. I guessed that they were going to publish your article.”
Kirin shifted slightly so that she faced Silke and smiled. “Yes, that part’s true. I won’t bore you with the grueling business details. The Cliffs Notes version is this: Nathan Silver was a prince and put my needs ahead of his own . . . well, mostly.”
Silke stroked Kirin’s forehead. “Good.”
“I think he’s been grooming the new guy, Chuck Halpern, for a long time. Nathan’s cunning. He recognizes the warning signs and knows that publishing is changing. I’m guessing he’s had his eye on Halpern and his company, Omni World. They are using cutting-edge technology and have a bold vision of the future. They publish a magazine called Across New Borders. It highlights lesser-known destinations around the world. My article will be in the next issue.” Kirin’s words came faster with her growing excitement.
Silke bit her lower lip to avoid grinning.
“Anyway, Nathan said my article was a good way to get to know Chuck. They seem to be pretty simpatico and are working on a merger. So the reason Nathan wanted me to come to New York was not only to meet Chuck, but to explain how the merger would affect me.”
Silke realized her pulse had sped up and her chest tightened painfully. Was Kirin going to New York? Was bad news on the way? All the joy that had filled her was leaking out of her like sand from an hourglass.
She grasped Kirin’s hand. “This is scaring me a little.”
Kirin’s face clouded. “Why? This is good news. I’m sorry I’ve been holding onto it. I wanted to tell you in person. Chuck Halpern offered me a book deal.”
Silke blinked up at her. “What do you mean, book deal?” Did they want her to edit for the new company?
“He is going to give me a ten-thousand dollar advance to write a book that will follow up on my article about Belize.” Kirin took Silke’s hand and smiled. “Nathan is encouraging me to do it. This means taking my writing to a new level.”
Silke sat up as her excitement and relief sloshed together like lovely jewel-tone paints. “That’s wonderful. That’s what you wanted.” The joyful expression on Kirin’s face stopped just short of alleviating Silke’s anxiety. Her default was always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Kirin finished her beer and put the bottle on the table. She pulled Silke close and kissed her. “It’s a good deal. There’s a lot of legal paperwork to read through, but I think this is a good decision. Now, tell me how the installation went.”
“Much better than I expected. The guys were great and we had no glitches. The client’s wife is thrilled. They’re going to have an unveiling on Sunday . . . I hope you’ll come.” She fluttered her eyes and ran her tongue across Kirin’ lower lip. “But right now, I’d much rather take you to bed with me and not talk. I assume you’re staying.” Silke smiled. “We can talk more tomorrow.”
“I have no intention of leaving.” Kirin playfully nuzzled Silke’s cheek. “The only thing that’s kept me going the past couple of days is the thought of your beautiful body and how soon I could caress every inch of it.”
Silke stood and picked up the pizza carton with one hand and, using the other hand, stepped out of her shorts. “Then I’m sure you’ll have no problem foll
owing me . . .”
Chapter Fifty-four
THEY AROSE A little early and went out to rearrange the studio for Roger. Then they packed up some of Silke’s personal belongings for when Phillip decided to rent the house.
Admittedly, they had spent most of that night and early morning in the throes of becoming reacquainted. She closed her eyes and remembered Silke’s strong hands urging her beyond gratification to ecstasy. She moaned as a tiny spasm reminded her. Silke and Melissa certainly shared one thing in common—endurance.