A Moment in Time

by Judith Gould

  "What's this?" she asked.

  "I thought we'd take a ride," he said.

  "But I thought you wanted—" she began.

  "Layla's doing great," he said, "but I thought the two of us could use a little recreation. How about it?"

  Valerie couldn't help but smile. "I think it's a great idea," she replied, "and I sure am glad I'm wearing pants and sneakers."

  "This is Dixie," Wyn said. "She has a lot of spirit, but she behaves herself."

  Valerie set down her carryall and medical bag and stroked the beautiful Arabian's neck. "She's a real looker," she said.

  "And this is Demon," Wyn said.

  "Appropriately named, I take it?"

  Wyn nodded. "But I can handle him." He held Dixie's reins out to her. "Ready?"

  "Yes," Valerie replied. She took Dixie's reins and mounted the horse with ease, then watched as Wyn mounted Demon.

  Together they rode out of the stable's open doors and toward a trail that led through Stonelair's lush meadows and on through the heavily wooded forest in the distance. When they reached the meadow, Wyn began a trot, and Valerie kept pace, enjoying the sun and wind and the feel of Dixie beneath her.

  Wyn would catch her eye from time to time to make certain that she was okay. "You're a good rider," he called to her.

  "You're not so bad yourself," she called back. He's a terrific rider, she thought. He sat a horse beautifully, in full command of himself and the handsome Arabian. His body may be scarred but he has complete confidence on horseback.

  Wyn began a canter, moving slightly ahead of her, and Valerie followed suit as before, picking up speed, glad for the faster pace, and the opportunity to watch Wyn and Demon move. They move as one, she thought, with a fluid grace seldom seen in riders, even competent, fully experienced ones.

  She caught up with him, but he put Demon into a full gallop, turning to grin at her as they headed straight toward the woods. She gave Dixie a kick, and off she went after him, determined to catch up with him again and blissful in her element.

  Just as she drew up alongside him, Wyn reined in Demon and began a trot as they approached the forest trail. Valerie quickly did likewise, and they rode together along the path in the dappled sunlight.

  When they finally returned to the stable, she had no idea how long they'd been riding, but she hadn't enjoyed herself so much in as long as she could remember. After they dismounted, Helmut Reinhardt appeared from within the stable and took the horses' reins.

  "Helmut," Wyn said, "this is Valerie Rochelle, our vet."

  Helmut Reinhardt nodded and practically clicked his heels together in an Old World manner. "I'm very pleased to meet you," he said in thickly accented English.

  "I'm happy to meet you, too," Valerie said and watched as he disappeared into the stable with the horses. "That was wonderful," she said to Wyn.

  "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Doc," he said. He hesitated, then added, "How about a drink or something before you go? Or do you have plans?"

  "No," she replied. "That'd be great."

  They sat on one of the couches in the library, sipping champagne that he had opened. The wolfhounds were sprawled about the room, all of them asleep. Valerie and Wyn talked enthusiastically about horses and their love for riding, sharing experiences and laughing together, unaware of the time. It was not until darkness approached and Wyn had to get up and turn on lamps that they realized they'd been sitting together for hours.

  He returned to the couch and sat looking at her with an expression of complete happiness on his face. She returned his gaze, and her heart swelled with pleasure. She couldn't remember when she'd felt this happy, this . . . excited by someone.

  He drew closer to her and said, "What are you thinking about?"

  "I ... I was thinking about what a great time I had," she said.

  "I did, too," he said. "I... I didn't even think it was possible."

  "I didn't either," she said. She reached over and touched his hand. "I didn't know it could be like this."

  He grasped her hand in his, enjoying its feminine, yet strong, feel against his. Oh, God! he wondered. Can this really be happening to me? Then he thought: To us? He began to stroke her hand gently, reluctant to let it go.

  Valerie felt her body tremble slightly at his touch, at the connection between them. She didn't know how to describe it. It was almost as if some chemical reaction had taken place between them, as if some force were operating over them without their control. It was frightening, this feeling and her knowledge of it, but simultaneously it thrilled her to the very core of her being.

  She'd never felt this way before. Not with Teddy, not with anyone. Was it merely sexual? she asked herself. Or was it something more? She didn't know, but she suddenly realized that she was willing to explore it, to take a chance, to risk whatever may come to get to know this man better.

  Wyn seemed mesmerized by her hand, stroking it, staring down at it, slightly embarrassed to look into her eyes, for fear that he would see mere indulgence there or, worse, rejection. But look up at her he finally did, unable to resist. His heart surged with a newfound joy when at last he witnessed the look of tenderness, perhaps even the disquiet of love or lust, in those emerald eyes. Hers was not a gaze of pity, nor was it mere empathy. It was much, much more, of that he was certain.

  He set down his champagne glass and brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, barely brushing it with his mouth, all the while searching her eyes for meaning. He was not disappointed, for Valerie's lips quivered slightly at his kiss and her eyes watched him fearlessly, unblinkingly, and, he thought, a bit proudly.

  When he released her hand at last, Valerie let out a deep breath. Her heart was racing, and she could feel her pulse beating a steady tattoo. She wanted to say something, but needed to recover her equilibrium first. It was as if she were under a magic spell and couldn't quite get out of its grasp.

  "I want to see you again, Doc," he said softly. "Soon."

  She nodded slightly and her lips parted. "Yes," she barely breathed. "Oh, yes."

  After a few moments of staring into one another's eyes, she shook her head and sighed pleasantly, almost wistfully. "I'd better go," she said. "I really do have a big day tomorrow."

  "I know," he said, "but I wish you didn't have to. I wish . . . well, I wish you didn't have to leave at all."

  She nodded again, knowingly, understanding what he wanted, what they both wanted. She drew herself up and reluctantly relinquished the magic of the moment for the reality of what lay ahead.

  "Walk me to the car?" she asked.

  "You bet," he said.

  They rose simultaneously, and Valerie retrieved her carryall and medical bag. Together they walked out to the Jeep, and she got the keys out of her carryall. She started to open the door, and, from behind her, his arms enfolded her in a tender hug.

  She felt as if she could stay in his arms forever, just like that, and be happy, but she had to leave now or she didn't think she ever would. She turned to him and kissed his lips quickly, then turned again to the car.

  "I really have to go," she said. "While I still can."

  He grinned. "I'm glad you feel that way, too," he said.

  She got in the Jeep and started it, then sat looking at him.

  "I'll call you, okay?" he asked.

  "Yes," she said.

  "Tomorrow okay?"

  Not soon enough, she thought. "Yes," she replied.

  " 'Night, Doc." He touched his fingers to his lips and touched hers with his fingertips.

  " 'Night, Wyn," she said.

  She put the car in gear, pulled out of the parking area, and turned to drive down the long lane, already eager for tomorrow to come, already hungry for his touch, knowing in her heart of hearts that this was right and true and pure.

  Wyn stood watching her taillights disappear down the lane, then began walking up to the house, his mind consumed with Valerie. He could hardly believe the evening that had passed, and felt the urge to shout his jo
y from the rooftops. But he walked on in silence, looking forward to tomorrow for the first time in many, many months. He couldn't help but grin. He'd never thought he would be able to think of such things again, not in the condition he was in. He'd never thought he would even want to think of such things, not after his miserable experience with Arielle.

  Valerie Rochelle, he thought. What an amazing woman.

  Chapter Twenty

  There, Noah," Valerie said, giving the elderly husky a firm stroke, "I think you're as good as new." She looked up at Eddie Lowell. "He really is in great shape," she said.

  Eddie smiled, his darkly tanned face a mass of leathery wrinkles. "You're like Wonder Woman, Val," he said. "I never would've believed a pacemaker would make such a difference. I didn't think he was going to last out the year, and now he's practically like a young pup again."

  "Just like you," Valerie said.

  "Oh-ho," he laughed. "I wish! Try telling Jonathan that. I can hardly keep up with him."

  She looked at Eddie, somewhat surprised that the forty-something antiques dealer had mentioned his twenty-something boyfriend in what virtually amounted to an intimate manner.

  "Maybe that's what keeps you so young, Eddie," she said. "Having a younger partner, I mean. You never seem to age at all."

  "Well, you're sweet to say that, Val," he said, "but sometimes I feel like old Noah here did. Maybe a pacemaker would do the trick for me, too."

  "I don't think so, Eddie," she quipped. "You'd have to have a heart first."

  He laughed at her joke. "You're right," he said, "but I wouldn't be a successful antiques dealer if I did."

  Valerie leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I know your heart's made out of pure gold, and you know I'm crazy about you," she said.

  "And I'm crazy about you, Val," he said, beaming. "Are you coming by for that drink tonight?"

  "Yes, I am," she said. "Fancy dress, right?"

  "Oh, sure," he said. "As fancy as blue jeans or khakis get. Well now, I'd better get out of here and let you do your work."

  She handed him Noah's leash. "I'll see you about six-thirty," she said, giving the dog another stroke.

  "Good," he said, starting for the door. "Oh, and feel free to bring Teddy." Then he added, "If you want to, that is."

  "Thanks, Eddie," Valerie replied, "but I think he's busy tonight, so I'll come alone."

  "Okay," he said. "See you later."

  She held the door to the examining room open for him and watched as he left. She quickly made some notes on Noah's chart, then left the examining room and went out to the reception desk. "Noah's chart for filing," she told Tami, handing it over the desk to her.

  "Thanks, Val," Tami said.

  Daphne rounded the corner from her office. "Was that Mr. Lowell with Noah I saw leaving?" she asked.

  "Yes," Valerie said.

  "I remember the last time I saw Noah," Daphne said. "He was really sick. He looks like a whole new dog, doesn't he?"

  "He sure does," Val replied.

  "Mr. Lowell must be so happy," she said. She looked at Val with a quizzical expression. "You seem to be very good friends with him."

  "I've known him for a long time," Val replied.

  "You're lucky," Daphne said. "You have so many nice friends like him."

  "I am lucky to have Eddie for a friend," Val agreed. "I guess you can't have too many, Daphne."

  "You know when I went over to his place on an emergency," Daphne went on, "I was amazed by the house. All those paintings and things. It was really beautiful. He must be rich."

  "I don't know about that," Val said with a laugh, "but it is beautiful."

  The telephone rang and Tami picked up the receiver. "Good morning," she said. "Animal clinic."

  Valerie started for her office but turned back when Tami called out to her. "What is it?" she asked.

  "I have Mr. Conrad at Stonelair on line two," she said. "He wants to speak to you."

  "Thanks," Valerie said, feeling her heart begin to flutter. She had been hoping he'd actually call.

  Daphne watched Valerie rush to her office, then turned and went back down the corridor to her own.

  Valerie closed the door behind her and took a deep breath. She told herself that her reaction was absurd.

  I'm not a teenager, she thought. What's happening to me?

  She went to her desk and heard Elvis's tail begin to thump against the kneehole's worn wood. "Hey, sweetie," she said, leaning down to give him a few strokes. Elvis gave her hand a lick, then settled back down to his nap. She pushed the button for line two and picked up the receiver.

  "Valerie Rochelle," she said.

  "Hey there," his deep voice replied. "It's Wyn Conrad. How are you?"

  "I'm fine," she replied automatically. "Busy as usual."

  "I was just wondering," he began slowly, "if maybe . . . well, if you'd maybe like to have dinner with me?"

  His voice sounded hesitant, she thought, almost as if he were a kid asking a girl on a first date.

  "I would like that very much," she said.

  "Great," he said. "I thought about seven-thirty, eight o'clock. How's that sound to you?"

  "Let's make it eight. I have to make a stop on the way."

  "Okay," he said. "I'll see you about eight."

  "I'll be there."

  She hung up, then slumped down in the chair at her desk. I can't believe this, she thought, feeling a little bewildered. Mr. Wyn Conrad has actually asked me to dinner. I wonder if he . . . No, she told herself, quit thinking that way. You can't presume anything, Val. Maybe you misread him last night. Maybe he wants to see you to set the record straight. You don't have any idea whatsoever what he has on his mind.

  Still, she couldn't help but smile. He wanted to see her.

  The telephone on her desk jangled loudly, and she jumped, so lost in thought was she. She picked it up. "Valerie Rochelle," she said.

  "You've got another call from your other male admirer," Tami said. "Teddy this time. On line three."

  "Thanks, Tami," she said, slightly annoyed at the secretary's tone. She hung up the receiver for a moment and stared at it. What does Teddy want? she wondered. And what do I tell him if he asks to see me tonight? Then she remembered Colette's advice: Tell him the truth, sooner rather than later. She felt her stomach begin to flutter unpleasantly. I can't do that now. Not on the telephone, she told herself, rationalizing. I'll have to play it by ear.

  She picked up the receiver. "Hi," she said cheerily.

  "What took you so long?" Teddy asked in exasperation. "I've been on hold."

  "That's a nice greeting, Teddy," she said. "I am at work, you know."

  "Sorry," he said, backing down. "I didn't mean to sound grumpy."

  You sure have sounded grumpy an awful lot lately, she thought. "It's okay," she said.

  "I guess I've just been awfully busy, and I've had a really rough week," Teddy went on quickly. "You know what?"

  "What?" she asked.

  "Some of my clients are being a real pain in the ass," he said, the words tumbling out in a rush. "Interests rates are going up, the market's pretty volatile, the goddamn soothsayers are predicting everything from Armageddon to a fantastic bull market without end, and I'm caught in the middle of it all."

  "Lots of nervous clients, I guess," she replied.

  "God, Val," he said, "you wouldn't believe it. These are people who've never lost a dime in the market. They've never seen anything but prosperity, and when something goes wrong, bam! It's like they lay everything on me. I'm some kind of monster or something."

  "I'm sorry, Teddy," she said. He sounds so wired, she thought. She'd never heard him sound quite this troubled before, and she was puzzled. He'd always seemed to take the swings of the market in stride and to handle his clients with ease, laughing off their nervous reactions, never taking anything personally. "It must be very difficult for you."

  "Yes," he said. "It is. Anyway, I decided not to go away this weekend. I co
uldn't take a whole weekend of Ned and Edyth Chamberlain. They're so fucking stuffy, you know?" He couldn't tell her that he was working double-time on her mother's behalf, nor was he going to tell her that he was entertaining her mother and her cousin Jamie.

  "I've never met them," she said.

  "Oh, I forgot," he replied. "Anyway, so what time are you coming over?"

  "Coming over?" she said. "I-I made other plans. You'd told me you weren't going to be here."

  "Other plans?" he exclaimed. "What do you mean, 'other plans'?"

  Valerie couldn't help but feel irritated. Why was it he expected her to be at his beck and call on weekends? At least those weekends when it was convenient for him to see her? "I meant exactly what I said," she said firmly. "You said you'd come up early because you couldn't be here over the weekend. I made other plans."

  "Then change them," he said.

  She felt like exploding, but she forced herself to keep her voice even. "No," she said. "I've made other plans, and I don't want to change them. I don't like hurting people's feelings."

  "What about my feelings," he said angrily.

  "Teddy," she said, with more than a hint of exasperation in her voice, "you weren't going to be here. Remember?"

  "And what other people?" he snapped, ignoring her. "Where're you going? What're these big plans of yours?"

  "I don't like being cross-examined," she said testily.

  She could hear him heave a big sigh. "I-I'm sorry, Val," he said, his voice calmer, though still distressed. "I just really had a bad week, that's all."

  "I'm sorry, too," she said, "but I'm not responsible for your bad week, and I don't want it taken out on me."

  "Please forgive me," he said. "I didn't mean to be so . . . demanding." He paused for a moment, then said, "I guess it's best this way anyhow. I need to get some sleep. Really rest up from all the pressure."

  "It sounds like it," she said. "Maybe an early night would do you some good."