Playing in Shadow (6 page)

“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.

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 light 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.

“You look thoughtful, girlfriend,” Monica said as she walked past pushing a wheelbarrow.

Scarlet quickly moved out of her way. “Sorry, I was in a world of my own.”

“Are you still coming with us tonight?” Monica began unloading her flower trays, shooing Juliet away and instead laying the trays within reach for Juliet to handle without bending down. Scarlet bit her lip to stop her amusement from escaping at the sight of Juliet rolling her eyes at Monica’s solicitude.

“Yes, I’ve brought my change of clothes with me so I can leave straight from here. The guys have gotten the bathroom reasonably habitable in the house we’re working in so I’ll skip in there to get dressed up.”

“It should be a good night,” Monica said. “A live band on stage and the club is even laying out a spread.”

“It’s a good thing there will be food. I’ll be starving by the time I leave here tonight.”

“You wearing the dress I made you?” Monica pushed the wheelbarrow aside and began helping Juliet sort through the plants. Scarlet nodded.

“Yes, the one with the ornate stitching. It gets its debut tonight.”

“You look beautiful in that,” Juliet said, having seen Scarlet being fitted for the dress. “And the stitching is the exact same color as your hair. Monica, you outdid yourself with it.”

“I had a good form to fit. I mean, look at her…” She waved a hand at Scarlet. “She’s drop-dead gorgeous with a body perfect to design for.”

Scarlet just grinned. “Well, as much as I’d love to stay here and have you boost my ego, I’d better go back to work.”

“Have you taken any more candid shots we should know about?” Monica asked. “Elton loved the one you e-mailed him of me looking all imperious, directing my workers.”

Scarlet pretended to hide her camera behind her back. “You looked delightfully bossy. I know for a fact Elton loves that about you.”

“You have no idea,” she drawled.

Juliet chuckled. “At least you’re dressed in your photo. Trent adores the studio picture you did of us though.”

Scarlet was immensely proud of the professional photograph she’d done privately for Trent and Juliet. She’d set up the living room in the apartment with a simple white backdrop. Trent and Juliet had disrobed enough so that Juliet’s prominent belly had been visible and Trent’s naked body had been shielding both Juliet and their unborn child. Scarlet had positioned them so that nothing was really revealed while the nakedness of their pose was still easily apparent. Trent’s vibrant rose tattoo incorporating Juliet’s name was a blaze of color against their pale skin and the stark white of the background. Scarlet had captured a very sensual picture, Trent’s obvious dark strength in contrast to Juliet’s pale softness. The look in Trent’s eyes alone had revealed just how much she was in love with the woman in her arms. Juliet had gasped when she’d seen the finished photograph and had hugged Trent to her. Trent had been quiet for a long moment.

“Thank you. It’s beautiful,” she’d said. “It’s going in our bedroom though because I don’t share Juliet’s naked beauty with anyone else.” That had earned her another hug from Juliet and then they’d made Scarlet promise she’d be the baby’s official photographer once the child made its appearance.

Monica made a play of running her hands down her body. “Do you think I should get naked with Elton and have Scarlet take our picture? It would be awesome in black and white and would really display Elton’s marvelous body art.”

“And your own,” Juliet said. “Scarlet’s very professional, and besides, she’s seen you naked enough around the apartment that it would be second nature to her.”

“The perils of sharing a place with a dressmaker.” Scarlet nodded. She’d lost count of the number of times Monica had called for her to help her model something. She never batted an eye when Scarlet undressed before her or vice versa.

Out of the corner of her eye, Scarlet saw Bryce heading back toward the houses.

“She looks tired today,” Juliet said, watching after Bryce with concern. “I don’t think she’s sleeping.”

“Has she told you what happened?” Monica asked Scarlet.

Scarlet shook her head. “No, but then we don’t exactly hang out together. We pass in the hallways, but when I’ve popped in to see if she wants to share lunch, she says she’s busy and I don’t want to push her.” Her gaze followed Bryce. “I think she’s pushing herself too much, but who am I to call her on it. I can’t mention it to my dad. He’s her boss, and she’d likely kill me for bringing it to his attention.” Scarlet was worried about Bryce more than she wanted to admit.

“I’ve only heard bits of what happened,” Monica said. “I know it was a very bad car crash and that the others in the car with her all died. As did the driver in the truck that hit them. They said he wiped out a load of cars. Poor guy had a stroke at the wheel. The truck ended up plowing down the road taking out other vehicles like a bowling ball striking a row of pins.”

“Bryce was the only survivor?” Scarlet couldn’t suppress the shudder that ran through her body at the thought of how close Bryce had come to being just another accident statistic.

“I bet her memories of that night are terrifying,” Juliet said.

This gave Scarlet cause for pause. She’d wondered what was causing Bryce to look so haunted. The accident was obviously still very raw and present for her. Scarlet wondered how she could even begin to broach the subject with her, to let her know if she needed someone to talk to, Scarlet was there for her.
Why? Why am I prepared to do that with someone who probably would rather forget what they’ve lived through than remember it?
She resolved to give it a try anyway. She wanted Bryce to lose that weary look and realize she didn’t have to go through everything alone anymore.

*

The party had been in full swing for hours, but Bryce wasn’t enjoying herself. She’d felt sick before she’d left work and now she felt decidedly worse. The room was full of people Gerri worked with, but Bryce couldn’t see one familiar face to talk to. She dutifully picked at the food on offer, but even a mouthful of whatever it was perched on a dry crisp bread threatened to make Bryce throw up. She had reluctantly settled for soda to drink in the hopes it would ease her rolling guts. There’d been a flu bug going around, and Bryce had the horrible feeling she had caught it. Her head was hurting from the garish lights that were flashing, and she had to squint against the pain making her sight fuzzy.

“Honey, you’re making an awful face. Stop it before other people see and wonder why I go out with you.” Gerri slipped her arm through Bryce’s and staked her claim.

Bryce started to pull away and saw the flare of anger in Gerri’s eyes. “I’m sick. I don’t want you catching this.”
I’d never hear the end of it
.

“Why do you have to be sick tonight? This was supposed to be a special night for us.” Gerri’s pout was ugly. Bryce hadn’t noticed that before.

“It is a special night for
you
. Your team got the account you’ve been busting a gut for. I can’t help how I feel.”

“Well, you’re ruining the buzz I’ve got going,” Gerri said petulantly.

“I think I might just go home. I don’t want to spoil your party.” Bryce saw a woman standing off to their side. She was looking over at Bryce and Gerri but pretending to be nonchalant about it. “I’m sure Amber will be more than willing to fill in for me.”

Gerri slipped her arm free. “So now you’re going to be jealous too?”

Bryce considered that. She couldn’t even work up the energy to be jealous where Gerri’s eye wandered anymore. She didn’t think she cared enough. Gerri had been a willing partner to their no strings attached arrangement. Somehow, however, Bryce had been pressured into letting Gerri move some of her belongings into her apartment. She wasn’t even sure she liked Gerri all that much and had been made amply aware that Gerri liked Bryce on her arm mostly because they made a handsome couple. Bryce’s fair coloring and strong physique had complemented Gerri’s darker, ultra femme looks. Tonight, Bryce had finally reached her limit of being manipulated by Gerri on what was best for them. What was best for them was always couched in what suited Gerri most.

“I’m leaving,” Bryce said tiredly. She was barely able to keep her eyes open against the pain in her head.

“Fine. I won’t come over tonight if you’re going to be like this.” Gerri stormed off, straight into the arms of Amber.

Bryce walked unsteadily to the exit of the club where the party was being held. The heat of the evening hit her as she stepped out into the balmy night air. She all but doubled over as sickness ran through her.

“Hey, you okay?” A man Bryce dimly recognized as one of Gerri’s co-workers hovered beside her. Eric someone, she remembered that much.

“I’m not feeling too great,” Bryce admitted and managed to stand upright. “I’m going to call a cab and split.”

“You’re Gerri’s partner, aren’t you? I thought I recognized you.”