Part 10 (2/2)
”All I know is that I don't want any part of it, and I'm nothing like him,” she said, draining the rest of her gla.s.s before refilling it again to the top.
”Why don't we talk about something else, then?” Rheyna asked.
Caroline eyed her curiously. ”I have a feeling that you and I could be very good friends.”
”Me, too,” Rheyna said, meaning it.
”Are you sure I'm not wearing out my welcome?” Caroline asked.
”No. You're not wearing out your welcome. I really enjoy your company, but it also helps that I don't know anyone else, so that kinda makes you a lock.” Rheyna laughed at the expression on Caroline's face.
”I'm not sure if that was a compliment or a putdown.”
”It's definitely a compliment.”
”Do you like boats?” Caroline asked, completely changing gears on their conversation.
Rheyna nodded. ”I haven't been on one since I was a child, though.”
”Would you and Annie like to go out ... on our boat this weekend?”
Rheyna pretended to think about it for a second. ”I think we could handle it,” she said as her mind began to race with images of Caroline in a bathing suit. I need to stop this before I drive myself insane. It's the wine. It has to be, she told herself. She could also tell the wine was affecting Caroline. It was evident by how much her words had begun to slur in the last five minutes. The two of them had finished one bottle and were nearly through the second.
”I think it's about time ... I head home.” Caroline set the empty gla.s.s on the table and attempted to stand and nearly fell sideways. Rheyna instinctively reached out with her hand to steady her. No doubt about it-Caroline was drunk.
”I don't think you should drive,” Rheyna said, still holding onto Caroline's arm.
”I'm ... I'm fine,” Caroline laughed just before she fell back onto the couch.
”Sure you are. You aren't going anywhere.”
”I need to call my ... Mom,” Caroline said through a hiccup.
”I'll call her and let her know that you're here.”
”Are you sure?” Caroline asked.
”Yes, I'm sure. How about I make you some coffee?”
”Coffee? Coffee would be nice.” Caroline chuckled as she said the words.
By the time Rheyna scooped the coffee grounds into the basket, flipped on the switch and turned around, Caroline had fallen asleep. She got a blanket from the linen closet and covered Caroline with it. She sat down on the end of the couch and unlaced Caroline's shoes. She looked so peaceful. Without thinking, Rheyna reached out to smooth several strands of hair back from Caroline's face. She gently brushed the back of her hand against Caroline's warm cheek. She knew she shouldn't have, but she couldn't help herself. It felt like the most natural thing to do.
She went over to the counter, picked up the phone, and dialed the number to the Castrucci house. Their housekeeper answered. ”h.e.l.lo, Esther, this is Rheyna. May I speak with Mrs. Castrucci please?”
Within seconds, Terasa was on the phone. ”Rheyna? Is something wrong with Caroline?” she asked, her voice full of concern.
”Everything's fine, Terasa. I just wanted to let you know that Caroline is spending the night. I'm afraid she's had a little too much to drink, and I don't think she should drive.”
”I can send Vincent over to get her,” Terasa offered.
”That's really not necessary,” Rheyna said. She wanted to add, ”Besides, I really don't want her to leave,” but didn't. She liked having Caroline there, even if she was pa.s.sed out on her couch.
”Are you sure?” Terasa asked.
Rheyna looked at Caroline and smiled. ”I'm positive.”
”Okay, Rheyna, thank you for letting me know and ... for taking care of my daughter.”
”You're welcome.”
She hung up the phone and checked to make sure that Caroline was still asleep. She went back to her bedroom and got her cell out of the nightstand. She took the phone and went back to the living room. She slowly slid the patio door open and stepped outside to make her call to Laura.
”I can't talk long. Caroline Castrucci is asleep on my couch,” she said after Laura answered the phone.
”She's on your couch?”
Rheyna could imagine the look on Laura's face. ”She had a little too much to drink.”
”Uh-huh, sure she did,” Laura teased.
”She did, I swear.”
”Uh-huh, whatever you say, Rheyna.”
”Laura, I think you know me better than that.”
”You're right, I do.”
”Good. Is there anything going on at your end that I should know about?”
”Nothing, really. Stevens is still going over the transmissions from Castrucci's office. So far, it's just been a lot of bulls.h.i.+t.”
”Okay, well, I gotta go. I'll try and check in tomorrow.”
After she hung up the phone, she stood on the deck for a little while. She thought about everything that had transpired over the past couple of weeks. They had flown by so quickly, but the past two had left a dark pit in her stomach. It was the same feeling she had in her stomach the night she and Laura had gone over the operation. She had a bad feeling, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She had similar feelings with other operations, but this one was different and not in a good way. She tried to justify her thoughts, thinking she was just being paranoid.
Chapter 12.
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