Denial (22 page)

After Amy left, Sophie looked at her sister for a long moment. “Cel, can you check to see if there is a lighter in the drawer?”

Celeste found a box of matches and gave them to Sophie, who headed through the patio doors.

“Oh, my God!”

“Don’t start, Alex.”

“What do you think you were doing there?”

Celeste didn’t answer.

“For Chrissake, Celeste, that was a bit suggestive!” He shook his head. “Why did you do that in front of Sophie and me?”

Opening the beers, Celeste passed Alex one. She took a mouthful. Swallowing, she looked at Alex. “Because Sophie knows that I’m interested in Amy.”

Alex spat out his beer. Wiping his hand over his mouth, he stared at Celeste. “Good God, the plot thickens.” He shook his head. “Hon, one thing I can guarantee; if you keep it up, she won’t be the only one!”

Celeste swallowed some more beer.

Sighing, Alex took a cloth and cleaned up his mess. “Seriously, Celeste, what has happened to you?”

“Look, Alex,” Celeste replied, sounding tired. “If this was an impulsive notion, of course I would fight it. If this were something I could ignore, then of course I would ignore it. I’m neither impulsive nor blasé about what is happening here.”

“But you’re still prepared to take a huge risk?” Alex asked sounding confused.

“Alex it is more of a risk if we do nothing about it,” Celeste replied with frustration. “Amy feels this…attraction…as much as I do. It has been there for years. I—” Abruptly, she stopped talking and looked at him.

To his astonishment, a look of utter helplessness crossed his friend’s face.

“Yes,” Celeste finished. “The answer is yes.” She added bleakly, “Yes, I’m prepared to take the risk.”

Startled by the aching pain in Celeste’s eyes, Alex blinked a few times. He groaned inwardly, finally accepting what he had known all along.
Shit! She’s not smitten; she’s over the cliff in love.

Alex pulled Celeste into his arms and hugged her. He started to speak, wanting to tell Celeste that this was wrong, that she needed to stop this, but he stopped. He had watched Amy for much of the day and whenever she thought Celeste wasn’t looking, she watched her. After today, he knew the feelings weren’t one way.

“I know it’s hard, sweetie. But you’re right, she’s definitely attracted to you.” Alex held her shoulders and looked at her. “I can see it in her eyes, in the way she watches you.” He whispered, “But be careful, Celeste. For God’s sake, be careful.”

Camille popped her head through the patio doors. “Come, you two. “We have a guest.”

Taking Celeste’s hand, Alex led the way out to the driveway.

After the introductions, Alex watched Josh slip his arms around Amy’s waist and hug her tightly as he spoke to Sean. He noted, not for the first time, that they were an exceptionally good-looking couple.

Alex hated this. Over the years he had come to really like Amy.
God knows what she’s going through right now
.
 
He looked at Josh. He had always had a soft spot for him. More than a soft spot when he was a teenager, he admitted. He watched them, aware that they looked every inch the perfect couple. He
looked
at Celeste. His heart sank. Her face was darkening at the sight of Josh and Amy in a loving embrace. W
hat a fucking mess!

Chapter 28

The next morning, Amy and Maggie headed off to the golf course. They teed off a half hour after the boys and Celeste. The boys had asked Celeste to join them, to make it a foursome.

This morning, Amy had gotten up early, keen to get away and be with Maggie for a couple of hours. She still felt bad for her emotional outburst yesterday. Maggie meant the world to her, and although she couldn’t bring herself to tell her the truth, she was going to do her damndest to make sure that she didn’t pull her cousin into this emotional roller-coaster ride. She was going to do her best to resolve this…
thing
…with Celeste.

Maggie was about to take her shot and trying to distract her, Amy teased, “Are you sure Sean’s tadger is as big as you say?”

“Shhh,” Maggie replied as she lined up to take her shot.

Amy breathed air deeply into her lungs. It was a beautiful Sunday morning. She smiled, remembering how Maggie, during the first four holes, had tried to find out what was going on with her, and what was wrong with her yesterday. Thankfully, she tenaciously stuck to her mood being down to nothing more than having too much work.

Once Amy allayed Maggie’s fears, they chatted easily. At every opportunity, when she wasn’t teasing Maggie, Amy encouraged her to talk about Sean, which wasn’t difficult given that he was her current pet subject.

As the round progressed, Amy felt the tension leave her for the first time in weeks. She loved being with Maggie and, more than anything, loved the sense of balance her cousin brought to her world.

†

That afternoon, Maggie decided to ride back to Sarasota with Sean on his new bike. They sneaked away during the boys’ afternoon nap.

When the couple said they were leaving, Amy, restless, itched to go too. She was desperate for this weekend to end. Already, she had packed everything into the Jeep, in readiness for their journey home, but she was forced to wait until Josh’s parents returned from their afternoon walk with the dogs.

Finishing her second cup of coffee, Amy looked out to the patio. For forty minutes Josh and Celeste had been playing the same game of chess. When Celeste stayed with them for those few weeks, she and Josh played chess regularly. Amy smiled faintly as she watched Alex. He was sitting close to Celeste, flicking through a magazine. She could see that he was completely bored but still he waited patiently for the game to finish.

Amy looked at Josh then at her watch then tapped her foot lightly. “C’mon,” she said under her breath. It had been at least five minutes, she noted, as she looked at her watch, since Josh had made his move. “C’mon,” she whispered. “Hurry up and make your move, Celeste.”
 

Desperately wanting Camille and Fraser to return to allow them go home, Amy moved through the open patio doors and approached her husband. “Josh, I think we should call your—”

“Shhh,” Josh said. “This is a crucial move.”

Silenced, Amy stood beside him.

Josh smiled up at her and, pulling her close, put his arm around her waist. Amy stiffened.

Celeste looked at Josh, then at Amy. “I have to be in New York next weekend,” she said. “I’m giving a lecture on feeding centers that MSF run in Darfur.” She lifted her eyebrows. “And I noticed that there is an art exhibition by Julie Shelton Smith.” She smiled at Amy. “Josh told me some time ago that she’s one of your favorite artists. I thought you might like to join me?”

The unexpected invitation left Amy struggling for something to say.

Josh piped up, “That sounds like a great idea, Celeste. It’s only recently that she’s been spending more time in her studio.” He looked up at Amy. “Maybe it’ll give you a little inspiration!” he added enthusiastically, “I think it’s a great idea, honey. How about you?”

Amy hesitated. Annoyed that Josh was unwittingly being duped, she struggled for a reason not to go. She looked at Josh then Celeste. “I’d like to think about it.” With no intention of accepting, she added, “I’ll need to look at my schedule.”

“Oh come on, Amy.” Josh tightened his hold on Amy’s waist. “You’ll really enjoy it, and I can manage the boys for a weekend.”

Josh surprised Amy by placing a light kiss on her T-shirted stomach.

Amy watched Celeste frown.

“Surely, Amy, you wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to see your favorite artist?” Celeste said.

“Maybe next time,” Amy replied, eyeing her coldly.

“No, I insist,” Josh said. “A weekend break is exactly what you need. You’ve been working far too hard over the last few weeks.” Sounding concerned, he added, “You need some time out. You need some retail therapy. You can go shopping. Let your hair down. Catch up on girl chat.”

Amy was aware that Josh couldn’t understand why there was tension between her and Celeste. Wanting some form of reconciliation between them, he would see the trip as an ideal opportunity for them to spend some time together and get to know each other ‘properly.’

Josh beamed a bright smile. “Who would make better company than my beautiful sister?” he said. “She’ll happily look after you.”

Ashamed, Amy blushed.
That’s exactly right, Josh. Your sister wants to look after me, just not quite in the way you think!

Mistaking Amy’s silence, Josh smiled. “Great.” He looked at Celeste. “She’s going, sis.”

Celeste smiled sweetly. “Good.” She made her move.

Even though Josh had her in check, Celeste took his white queen with her black knight, her own queen and bishop already positioned to ensure that he had no place to move his king.

“Checkmate,” Josh said good-naturedly, then toppled his king. Laughing, he pulled Amy onto his lap and kissed her.

Annoyed at Celeste’s obvious game-playing, and Josh for being so easily duped, Amy pushed against him and accidentally knocked over the glass chessboard. The board shattered when it hit the ground.

Upset at her clumsiness, Amy shot off Josh’s lap and bent down to pick up the glass.

Celeste reached down quickly, grabbed Amy’s wrist and said harshly, “No, Amy. Leave it!”

Confused, Amy looked at her. “Why?”
  

Loosening her grip, but keeping a hold on Amy’s wrist, Celeste looked up. “Josh, can you get something to clear this up?”

“Sure,” Josh replied, and moved quickly toward the kitchen.

Alex, obviously sensing a storm brewing, decided to follow him.

Her eyebrows raised, Amy repeated, “Why?”

“It’s broken glass, for God’s sake!” Celeste looked down. “Lots of broken glass.” Her brow furrowed. “You’re only going to hurt yourself if you try to pick it up with your hands.”

Pulling her wrist free, Amy replied angrily, “Hurt myself!” She lowered her voice. “Don’t you think manipulating Josh is exactly what is going to hurt me?”

“We need time to talk, Amy.”

Amy stood and Celeste followed. “Fuck, you mean?”

Celeste reached out, and tucked a loose strand of hair behind Amy’s ear. “No,” she answered, her eyes troubled. “I mean talk.”

“Why don’t you go away like you did last time?”

“I’m staying, Amy.”

“You don’t care, do you?” Amy spat out. “You don’t care about the damage?”

“I do care, Amy,” Celeste replied, running her fingers lightly over Amy’s jawbone.

Amy shook her head. “You don’t.”

“Believe me, I care.” Celeste dropped her hand. “I care very, very much.”

Celeste looked vulnerable.

Amazingly, Amy’s anger disappeared. Memories of their last encounter flooded in. Her stomach tightened and her pulse picked up speed as she gazed at Celeste. Her eyes hungrily focused on her full mouth. Unconsciously, she took a step closer.

“We need time to figure this out,” Celeste said, watching Amy carefully.

Always fascinated by the fullness of Celeste’s mouth, Amy’s fingers ached to touch her. She reached out and brushed them over her succulent lips.

Celeste groaned lightly. Without hesitation, she captured the tip of Amy’s index finger in her mouth and sucked it.

Mesmerized, her mouth parted, Amy leaned in to…

She jolted back when Josh’s laughter broke through her haze. Shaking, she pulled her hand away.

Josh appeared through the patio doors chatting to Alex about the weekend football scores.

Stunned at what she had been about to do, Amy backed away from Celeste. She turned toward Josh. Stiffly, she listened to their conversation. At any other time she would have found their chat seriously amusing, as Alex didn’t know one end of a football from the other.

Alex had made it known to Amy that he had no interest in sports at school. Amateur dramatics was his thing, but recently, since dating a sports teacher, he embraced all things ‘athletic’ with relish.

“Are you okay, honey?” Josh asked, rubbing Amy’s arms.

“Yes,” Amy replied unsteadily.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Amy said, clearing her throat. “Yes, I’m fine.”

“Good,” Josh replied. He looked at the ground. “Let’s get this mess cleared up.”