Part 18 (2/2)
”I'm sure this a.s.signment means a lot to you,” Tammy said as she seasoned the steaks.
”Yes, it's a big opportunity.” Keri enjoyed talking to someone * 162 *
outside the police community and for some reason she felt comfortable with Tammy even though they'd just met. She had a sense that Tammy could understand her need to prove herself in a job that was often unrewarding and thankless. ”I don't want to let anyone down.”
”I can't see that happening,” Tammy said. ”You're obviously a caring and devoted daughter and I hear you also have the potential to be a top-notch narcotics of cer.”
”Thank you.” Keri sc.r.a.ped the moistened label from her beer bottle and looked everywhere in the room except at Tammy. She wasn't sure why it felt so strange to be complimented, or why she a.s.sumed automatically that Tammy was just being nice to her partner's colleague.
As if Tammy had read her mind, she said, ”For what it's worth, Beth really does think highly of you or she wouldn't have invited you out here.”
Embarra.s.sed to be so transparent, Keri said, ”I'm sorry. I guess I'm just shaken up after what happened last night. I should have been more careful, or at least known I'd been slipped something. Instead, I have to be...rescued by my boss.”
”And you'd rather impress her, huh?”
Keri laughed. She could feel guilty color was.h.i.+ng her face.
”I see.” Tammy's gaze was very direct. Too direct for comfort.
”Alex has that effect.”
”You know her.” Keri felt silly. Of course Tammy knew her partner's best friend.
”Not as well as Beth does, but we're both very fond of her.” Seeing something s.h.i.+ft in Keri's expression, Tammy said, ”You seem bothered by her, or am I imagining it?”
After a long silence, Keri replied, ”No, you're not imagining it.
Alex and I have some history. I behaved badly, and...I guess I just want her to give me a chance.”
”Alex is one of the fairest people I know. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about.”
If only it were that simple. Keri sighed. She took a deep breath as tears welled up in her eyes. Without thinking, she said, ”I wish I didn't care so much.” She lowered her head instantly. How indiscreet could she get?
Tammy wasn't stupid. ”You're attracted to Alex?”
* 163 *
Keri looked around desperately. ”I should be helping with something. Where did Beth go?”
”I think she went down to the dock.” Tammy glanced out the window, concerned that Beth hadn't returned. Hopefully she'd had time to run interference with Alex.
”Great. Mind if I join her?” Keri picked up her beer from the counter. ”I've got a suit on under my shorts. I was so excited about taking a swim tonight.”
”Be my guest. It's beautiful at sunset.” Tammy walked outdoors with her. ”But tell me something first. Do you care about Alex? I mean, personally.”
Pretending seemed pointless. Keri placed her hand over her heart and let out a halting breath. ”She just lls me up, Tammy. I never thought I'd feel this way about anyone.”
”Then I have some advice for you. Tell her.”
Keri's eyes locked onto Tammy's. ”I don't think she wants to hear.”
”Maybe she doesn't know what she wants.” Tammy sounded very serious all of a sudden. ”In life, we don't always get second chances.
Go with your heart, Keri. That's the best advice I can give you.”
”Then I'll take it,” came the soft reply.
”There's something else,” Tammy said. ”I'm sure you've noticed the place settings for four. Alex is down at the dock.”
Startled, Keri backed up. ”How-”
”I think Beth's trying to do a bit of matchmaking of her own, but she should've told you.”
A sparkle drove the uncertainty from Keri's eyes. ”Then I'd better not disappoint her,” she said with a hint of mischief. ”Wish me luck.”
Chuckling, Tammy said, ”I do.”
Just as Keri walked away, Beth came bouncing out the back door.
Tammy shot her a pleading look. ”Tell me you've warned Alex about our fourth guest.”
Beth shook her head. ”I was just going down there now.”
”Too late.” Tammy eyed her lover fondly.
Comprehension dawned on Beth's face. ”Where's Keri?”
They both looked toward the dock. ”On her way to a close encounter of a weird kind,” Tammy said.
* 164 *
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
Alex adored the peaceful stillness that preceded night, those precious minutes between twilight and dark. At the edge of the dock she dropped the towel she'd grabbed from the cedar-sided boathouse and sat down. Dangling her feet in the water, she watched the sunlight withdraw with a splash of color behind a veil of pine and poplar. Tall guardian pines surrounded the cove, which was far enough off the main waterway to make pa.s.sing traf c un.o.btrusive. Encouraged by the combination of beauty and tranquility around her, Alex allowed herself to feel everything she'd been fending off recently.
The anger she felt over the injustice of her parents' untimely deaths rose in her as it often did, uninvited. This time Alex didn't push it down.
Her stomach tensed and emotion built in her chest. Small tremors rose from her midsection and escaped her lips with a whimper. She didn't want to hold back any longer. It hurt too much. She could feel it inside, eating away her life. Soon her shoulders were shaking uncontrollably, her wails echoed across the cove, and her tears fell unbidden.
She had no idea how long she'd been crying when she heard footsteps, alerting her that Beth had arrived for the sunset performance.
Without turning, she said, ”Sometimes it's just so hard to keep it all inside. I don't want to be the strong one anymore.”
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