Careless Rapture (26 page)

Jackie only nodded, wondering how a mother
could casually mention forgetting to feed her baby.

“So what does he do?”

“He’s a private investigator.”

She tapped the cigarette ashes.
“Successful?”

“I’d say so.”

“That’s good. He’s not quite bright, but he
works hard.”

Jackie stiffened, taking offense. “I think
he’s very smart.”

“Fortunately, his looks save him. Thank God
for that. Imagine having a son who’s ugly and stupid.”

“He is not stupid. He’s one of the most
intelligent men I know.”

Bertha grinned. “Love him, do ya?”

Jackie ignored the question. “Actually, he’s
helping me with a case right now.” She hesitated, then said, “We,
um, we met Prince again.”

She furrowed her brow. “Prince? Am I supposed
to know him?”

“Yes, the man Rennie married.”

She sniffed. “You call that a marriage?
Running about half naked with leaves on your head and picking
passages out of the Bible? Besides, a man that needs more than one
wife is making up for something. Most men fool themselves into
thinking they can satisfy one woman, let alone four. She wasn’t a
wife.”

“It was real to her.”

She shook her head, amazed. “Prince,” she
said with disgust. “Bet you he calls his willy ‘Sir’ or something
equally daft.” She dragged on the cigarette, her face becoming
pensive. “I don’t remember seeing him at the funeral. But I don’t
remember much then. I’d had a couple of drinks to get me through
it.”

“He’s the leader of the Careless Rapture
Ministry. We’re trying to shut him down.”

“Why try? Rennie failed.”

Rennie
failed?
Bertha’s statement echoed in Jackie’s mind an hour
later. Clay never mentioned that Rennie may have tried to defeat
Emmerick. Had he not known or just failed to mention it to her? And
if he hadn’t known, how would Bertha have gotten that impression?
Had Rennie contacted her during the time she was with Emmerick? Was
there much more to her death than anyone realized?

Someone knocked, interrupting her disturbing
thoughts. Jackie raced to the door, thankful for the break from
Bertha.

Cassie smiled. “Hi.”

She hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re
here.”

“I’m just stopping by.”

“Please, come in,” she said in a low voice,
“I need your help.”

“Why?’ Cassie asked as Jackie hastily pulled
her inside. She closed the door and nodded at the woman sitting on
the couch. “Clay’s mother is here.”

Cassie blinked, then laughed. “Funny. It
sounded like you said Clay’s mother is here.”

“I did.”

“What?”

“He was going to leave her wandering around
D.C. because he dislikes her and I couldn’t let him do that, but I
can’t keep her here indefinitely. I don’t know what to do.”

Cassie patted her hand. “Calm down. I’ll see
what I can do.”

Jackie walked farther into the apartment.
“Bertha, this is my sister-in-law, Cassie. Clay’s half-sister.”

Bertha stood and shook her hand. “Yes, I can
tell. You both have your father’s forehead.”

“Oh, thank you,” Cassie said, without taking
offense. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ll be right back. Excuse me.”
She went to the bathroom.

Bertha pulled Jackie aside and whispered,
“She’s a big girl, ain’t she?”

Jackie’s eyes flashed. “She’s pregnant.”

“Thank goodness for that. 1 thought she was
one of those fatties you see waddling down the pavement. You
Americans like to eat. I saw one woman so large I don’t know how
she fits in the toilet.” She waved her cigarette. “I’m not sure
she’ll lose all the weight once the baby’s born, though. Shame, she
has such a pretty face.”

“Her husband thinks she’s beautiful and so do
I.”

“Oh, she has a husband, does she? That’s a
surprise. So many women don’t nowadays. Do you think he’ll stick
around?”

“He’s my brother.”

Bertha took a long drag and squinted her
eyes. “Is that supposed to be an answer?”

Jackie counted to ten. She was trying hard
not to dislike her, but Bertha was making that difficult. When
Cassie returned, Jackie led her away before she could get into a
conversation with Bertha. She took her to the bedroom, closed the
door, and leaned against it. “Well?”

Cassie sat on the bed. “I can’t believe
that’s Clay’s mother.” She shook her head, amazed. “Wow. Dad’s
taste sure did change,” she said, thinking of her own more refined
mother.

“Your tastes would change, too, if you’d
married her.”

“How did this happen? How did she end up here
with you?”

“It’s complicated,” Jackie said, not wanting
to mention her relationship with Clay just yet. “The question is
what should I do with her now?”

Cassie grinned mischievously. “I could call
Dad and tell him his ex-wife is in town.” She rubbed her hands
evilly. “Oh, wouldn’t Mom love that?”

“Do you think you could persuade him to talk
to her?”

“Sure, Dad would talk to her and—”

Jackie shook her head. “No, I mean Clay.”

She grimaced. “I don’t know. Getting Clay to
do something he doesn’t want to is nearly impossible.”

Jackie clasped her hands together as though
in prayer. “Please try. You’re his sister.”

“His
little
sister. How often does
Drake listen to you?”

Jackie sat down beside her. “I know, but you
have to try.”

“All right. I will.” She opened her bag.
“Before I forget.” She handed her a box.

Jackie opened it. A glass angel sat inside
among purple tissue paper.

“Drake’s been worried about you so I thought
this may cheer you up, and if you’re happy, he’s happy.”

“Drake’s worried about me?”

“Yes, he hasn’t been himself lately and when
I finally confronted him he said he was worried about you.” She
playfully pinched her arm. “He loves you a lot, you know that.”

Jackie held the glass figurine in her palm,
knowing it had been given to her based on a lie. Drake was worried
about Eric, not her. But Cassie wasn’t to know that. Her heart
broke that she couldn’t tell Cassie the truth. Not about Eric or
Clay. She felt like a fraud, a traitor to their friendship. She set
the figurine back in the box. “I can’t accept this.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t deserve it.”

Cassie put her arm around her shoulder. “Of
course you do. I know how painful a breakup can be, but your worth
doesn’t depend on how others treat you.”

Cassie’s kindness was painful. Jackie hung
her head, ashamed. “I’m a terrible friend to you and Adriana.”

“You’re a wonderful friend. We don’t expect
you to be upbeat all the time. It’s okay to be unhappy sometimes.
We’re there for you.”

“No, it’s not that.” She shut her eyes. What
was the use of saying anything when she couldn’t express the
truth?

Cassie lifted her chin. “I don’t mind that
you’re seeing Clay.” Jackie looked so stunned that she laughed.
“You wear your heart in your eyes.”

She covered the offending feature. “How
embarrassing.”

“There’s no need to be embarrassed.” Cassie
removed her hand. “And there’s no reason to be ashamed.”

“He doesn’t love me.”

“I know.”

Though Jackie knew the truth, hearing Cassie
say it made it hurt more.

“But give him time. He may not be swift, but
he’s not stupid.”

“He’s not stupid at all,” she said hotly.
“Why does everyone imply that he is?”

Cassie sent her an odd look. “I was just
teasing.”

She waved a hand. “I know, sorry. Bertha just
annoyed me with a similar remark.”

“Bertha would try the patience of a
monk.”

“You’ve only just met her.”

“Yes, and I heard everything she said while
in the bathroom.” She stood. “I won’t tell Drake.”

“Thank you.”

“But tell him soon. I don’t believe in
keeping secrets from those you love. Someone always gets hurt.”

***

Clay was chopping apple bits for Laura when
someone knocked on the door. He ignored it and handed Laura a piece
of apple instead. “If it’s Jackie bringing over that woman, they
can stay outside,” he grumbled.

The person knocked again. “Clay, it’s me.
Cassie.” He paused. It couldn’t be. She’d never stopped by
before.

“Clay?”

It sounded like her. “Um. Just a minute.” He
glanced around his messy place and went into action. He shoved his
unwashed dishes in the cupboard, pushed the scattered newspaper
under the couch, kicked his clothes and shoes into the closet,
plumped his couch pillows, then opened the door. “What are you
doing here?”

She laughed at his gruff tone. “Don’t worry.
I won’t stay long.”

“I don’t mind that you’re here,” he said,
quickly. “I just, umm . . . How are you doing?”

“I’m fine.” She waited for him to invite her
in. When he continued to stand and stare, she said, “It would be
nice to sit down, though.”

He promptly stepped back, opening the door
wider. “Sure, right. Come in.”

She poked him in the arm. “Clay, it’s just
me. You don’t have to be nervous.”

He shut the door. “I’m not nervous.”

“You’re tugging at the hem of your shirt with
those fidgeting fingers of yours.” She sat on the couch and grinned
up at him. “I remember you used to twirl your fork at dinner and
drive Mother crazy.”

He returned her smile. “Fortunately, I
stopped doing that. I didn’t do it on purpose, though.”

“I know.”

“She didn’t.”

Cassie sighed. “Yes, well, she didn’t
understand either of us.”

Laura flew onto his shoulder.

Cassie pointed, curious. “What is that?”

“That’s Laura.”

“I didn’t know you have a bird.”

“I didn’t until recently.”

“Can I stroke her?”

“Sure, she’s very friendly.”

Cassie stroked the bird’s head. “She’s
beautiful.”

Clay fell silent, then asked, “Do you want to
see what she can do?”

“Sure.”

He got a stick and held it out. Laura jumped
on it. “Okay, now, dead parrot.”

Laura hung upside down and closed her eyes.
Clay laughed and turned to Cassie. “Isn’t she brilliant?”

“Yes,” she said, happy to see him so pleased
with himself. “Like her owner.”

“I don’t own her. She’s just visiting.” Laura
flew back onto his shoulder and he gave her another piece of apple.
“Good girl.”

“I’m glad to see you’re not alone for
now.”

“I’m fine.”

Cassie sent him a knowing look. “I wouldn’t
say that.”

He sat down next to her and pushed an empty
beer can out of the way with his foot. “Why not?”

“I met your mother.”

He sat back, his voice becoming neutral. “Did
you?”

“Yes, I went by Jackie’s and . .” She
searched for words, “. . . she’s an interesting woman.”

“You needn’t be kind on my account. I have a
few adjectives and ‘interesting’ isn’t one of them.”

Cassie playfully patted his cheek. “What a
mother. You poor thing.”

“Have you come to listen to my horror
stories?”

“I can imagine most of them. Bet she put your
diaper on backwards and fed you steak when you had no teeth.”

“Close.”

She nudged him with her elbow. “I was
thinking of calling Dad.”

He flashed a wicked grin. “And tell him Mum’s
in town? Let me do it.”

“Only if you’ll do one thing.”

His grin fell. “She’s not staying here.”

“She doesn’t have to stay here, just talk to
her.”

“What good will it do?”

Cassie tucked a strand of hair behind her
ear. “Mom and I aren’t the best of friends, but we understand each
other more and I could only do that by talking to her. By getting
to know her better.”

“I don’t want to know her.”

“That emptiness will never go away until you
do.” She grabbed his hand. “I don’t want you to ‘run away again. I
like having you in my life.”

His eyes slid away though his heart responded
to her sincerity “You have Drake, you don’t need me.”

“I have a husband, but brothers are nice to
have, too. And the kids love their uncle Clay.”

He glanced down at their intertwined fingers.
He didn’t know how or why they always connected. “Did Dad ever look
for me after I left?”

“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him.”

He shook his head. “I think I already know
the answer.”

“You’re probably guessing wrong.” Cassie
pushed up her glasses then said in a cautious voice, “When Mom said
you were useless and that’s why your mother left you, she was
wrong. Cruelly, dreadfully wrong.”

He smiled, embarrassed by the knowledge in
her eyes. She knew how much his stepmom’s words had hurt him. How
they still lingered. “You remember that?”

“I remember a lot of things. This is going to
be hard for you to believe, but people like having you around.”

“Until the tide turns.”

“Do you think the tide will always turn
against you?”

He glanced toward the window. “It usually
does.”

“Perhaps you need to be more flexible.”

“Maybe.” He leaned back. “You’ve never come
by before.”

“I’ve never been invited.”

He nodded. That was true.

“Will you be coming this Sunday?” she
asked.

He squeezed her hand. “Promise me she won’t
be there.”

“Okay.” She kissed him on the cheek, then
left.

Clay sat on the couch, staring at the blank
TV screen. He’d tasted the joy of belonging, but now it had reached
the point of leave or be left. He couldn’t let Jackie choose
between him and her brother. Besides, when it came down to it, he
knew what her choice would be-- or, rather, what it should be.

He went to the window and opened it. “It’s
time to go.” He rested Laura on the windowsill. “Go on. Goodbye.”
She turned to him and chirped. He pointed, then flapped his arms.
“Go on. Be a good girl. Go away.” She jumped off the windowsill and
soon became a dot against the sky.