Dreams: Part Two (17 page)

“Forget it. You’re not going.“ Colby’s voice was utterly lacking in inflection. He picked up the loaf of sourdough bread and tore off a slice.

Brandon looked down at his plate. “Would it really be such a big deal?“

“That old witch is laying a guilt trip on you, Brandon. You owe her nothing. She’s the one who ignored your existence for nineteen years.“

“I think she’s changed.“

“I don’t care if she sprouts wings, a halo and learns how to fly. You’re not driving up to Fulbrook Corners for Christmas.“

“But, Dad…“

“I said no. That’s the end of it. You can go to Mexico with your friends, or Hawaii, or Taos if you don’t want to spend the holidays here, but you’re not going to Fulbrook Corners.“

Diana heard the intractable tone and recognized it instantly. Five months of living with the man had taught her what it meant. When Colby was in this mood, there was no point pushing or cajoling or trying to reason with him.

She met Brandon’s eyes across the table. His mouth tightened but he said nothing. Brandon knew his father even better than she did.

With a wifely skill she didn’t even realize she had developed, Diana deftly changed the subject. Both men followed her lead but the mood had changed. Brandon left shortly before nine o’clock, saying he was going to a film with his friends. He took a key with him. Diana did not bring up the subject of Fulbrook Corners again.

At one-thirty that morning, her subconscious mind brought it up for her. She found herself in the middle of the dream.

It was pitch-black and the pain was coming in endless tidal waves. She would be safe here in the grotto only as
long as she stayed silent. She had to fight to keep from screaming in agony. If she cried out, the night terror that
hunted her would find her. She and the baby would both die.

She must hold on until the warrior reached her….

“Colby. Colby?“ Diana came awake, aware that she was damp with perspiration.

“Right here, honey.“ His arms moved around her, gathering her close against him. He stroked his fingers through her hair, brushing it gently back from her face. “It’s okay. Just that goddamned dream again.“

She shivered and clung to him. “It was different this time. There was more urgency. I was very aware of the baby.

In fact, I was in pain. There was blood.“

“Sounds like Jennifer’s conversation in the laundry room managed to affect your dreams.“

“I guess so.“ She relaxed slowly as Colby’s palm soothed her. Instinctively she began stroking him with a similar calming motion. They were getting in the habit of comforting each other after waking up from the dreams. “How was yours?“

“The same. I was still climbing the path to the cave. There was a little more urgency involved than last time but other than that, things were about the same.“

He was lying. She could feel the rigidity of his muscles. “Colby, they’re turning into nightmares, aren’t they? And they’re getting more frequent. What are we going to do? Maybe we should get counseling or something.“

“We don’t need a shrink. They’re just dreams. Besides, what shrink would believe we’re having the same dreams at the same times?“

It wasn’t the first time they’d had this conversation. It never got beyond this point. Diana knew Colby’s dreams were getting worse, just as hers were.

“Maybe it’s just stress,“ Diana offered. “Maybe they’ll let up after the baby arrives.“

“Yeah. Maybe.“

Diana waited a few more minutes until she felt him unwinding under her touch. Then she asked the question she hadn’t dared ask earlier.

“Why did you jump down Brandon’s throat tonight when he asked if he could go to Fulbrook Corners for Christmas? I thought you’d accepted the fact that he was forming a relationship with his grandmother.“

“I don’t want him driving alone to Fulbrook Corners, and I sure as hell don’t want to go with him. So he doesn’t go.“

“Why don’t you want him going up to the mountains alone? He’s driven that road often enough. You’ve never worried about it before.“

Colby grew tight again. He folded his arm behind his head and stared at the ceiling. “The subject is closed, Diana.“

“I see. By your edict, it’s closed. Just like that. With no reasonable explanation to any of the other parties involved.“

“You got it.“

She winced at the edge in his words. “Right. I got it.“ Her hand fell away from him and she turned onto her side, her back toward him. Specter came over to the bed and nuzzled her inquiringly. She scratched his ears, aware of Colby’s tension. “Colby?“

“Yeah?“

“I don’t know how to say this, but…“

“But what?“

“I’ve been thinking about going back to Fulbrook Corners, too. In fact, I think about it a lot.“

“What is this? You fell in love with that dump of a town or something?“ Colby demanded, exasperated.

“No. It’s not that. But lately I’ve been thinking I would like to visit it again. Soon, Colby.“

“That’s crazy. It’s the dream.“

Diana blinked. “Yes, I think you’re right. The feeling about Fulbrook Corners is connected to the dream. Have you had the same feeling? That maybe we ought to go back?“

“I’ve had it. I’m ignoring it.“ Colby’s voice was grim. “And so will you, is that clear? We’re not going to let that damned dream dictate our actions.“

Diana sighed. “Whatever you say.“

“How long are you going to hold this stupid argument against me?“ Colby asked after an endless moment.

“I’m not holding anything against you. Whatever your reasons, I know you think that what you’re doing is right. I just don’t understand why you won’t let Brandon go see his grandmother, that’s all. And neither does Brandon.“

He sighed. “I've been wrong before. I might be wrong this time.“

“Always a possibility,“ Diana agreed promptly. “You could try discussing the matter with me instead of staying locked behind your wall of outdated, patriarchal machismo.“

“Patriarchal machismo?“

“Brandon was right this evening. In some ways you’re very old-fashioned, Colby.“

He moved, catching her by the shoulder and turning her onto her back so that she lay gazing up at him. “And you’

re so damned modern, aren’t you?“

She touched his face. “No, not really. I don’t think of myself as old-fashioned or modern or anything else. I’m just me.“

He stared down at her for a long time. “Still think you love me?“

Time flickered for an instant, the darkness of the past merging with the shadows of the present. Diana saw the warrior looking out at her from Colby’s eyes; she felt the challenge from him and the urgent need that underlined that challenge, and she smiled faintly. She was getting accustomed to this strange melding of an ancient legend with a modern one. Colby would always be part warrior to her.

“Yes, Colby. I still think I love you.“

“Show me.“

The longing in his voice caught at her emotions. “All right.“ She put her hands on either side of his hard face and brought his mouth down to hers.

“Diana.“

She opened her mouth for him, and he groaned deep in his chest as he took the offering. When she slid her palms down his back and sank her fingers into the deep, strong muscles of his buttocks, Colby shuddered.

His hand rested possessively on her rounded belly, and he was very gentle as he took one of her nipples into his mouth.

“You’re always so careful with me,“ she whispered. “So tender.“

“I’ll always take care of you,“ he vowed. “You can trust me, Diana.“

“I know. One of these days I hope you’ll learn to trust me, too.“

His head came up sharply. “I do trust you.“

She shook her head. “No, you don’t. Every time I talk about my career, you think I’m getting ready to turn my back on my responsibilities to the baby and to you. I would never do that, Colby. One of these days you’ll realize that.“

“Part of me knows that. Part of me is still afraid to believe it.“ His voice was raw.

“There was a time when part of me was afraid to believe you’d stick around, too. But I don’t have any doubts now.

That’s why I can tell you that I love you.“

“Say it again.“ His hand tightened on her thigh.

“I love you.“ She smiled in the shadows. “Your turn to practice, Colby.“

“I love you, too.“

He eased into her, filling her gently, completely. His fingertips slipped down to the delicate little nubbin of sensation hidden in the tawny curls between her thighs, and when she went taut in his arms and started to cry out, he kissed the soft, sensual screams from her lips so that Brandon would not hear them. He held her while she convulsed, and then he thrust forward one last time, his entire body rigid with his release.

Diana clung to him, knowing he’d given her the words of love because she asked for them, not because he fully understood them or his own emotions. Colby always needed prompting before he told her that he loved her. It was hardly ideal, but she had decided to take what she could get. She was going on the theory that if Colby said the words often enough, they might get to be a habit and he might discover he was addicted to the habit.

A LONG WHILE LATER as they lay side by side, hands clasped, Colby spoke again.

“There’s something I want to talk about,“ Colby said.

“Yes?“

“Your plans for opening your own consulting business after the baby gets here.“

“Oh.“ She shut her eyes. “Do we have to talk about them now? I don’t want another argument, Colby. I’m too tired.“

“That’s why you never mentioned them to me, isn’t it? You assumed I’d give you a lot of static.“

“The thought had crossed my mind,“ she admitted.

“Maybe I would have a few weeks ago,“ he said slowly. “But when I heard you telling Brandon about your ideas this evening, I realized I wasn’t upset about them, only about the fact that you hadn’t felt free to discuss them with me.“

“I would have. Sooner or later.“

“I don’t want you to feel you can’t talk to me about things like that, Diana. I know you think I’ve got a thing about your working, but that’s not true. I just want you to keep your work in balance with all the other things that are going to be happening in our lives.“

“I’m learning.“

“I know. You’re changing, aren’t you? I realized tonight it didn’t make me nervous now to hear you talk about going into business for yourself. I just want you to know that I think your ideas are terrific, and you’ll have my full support when the time comes.“

Diana studied him in silence for a moment, and then she leaned over and kissed him softly. “That’s one of the reasons I love you, you know. When push comes to shove, I can count on you.“

There was another long silence and then Colby said, “Speaking of feeling free to communicate…“

“Yes?“

“It’s the car,“ he said.

Diana pulled herself back from the edge of sleep. “What car?“

“Brandon’s Mazda. It was his car we were driving when that fool in the ‘vette tried to take us that night on River Road.“

“Oh, my God.“ Colby’s logic was suddenly clear to her. “You think it might have been deliberate? That someone thought Brandon was in the car that night?“

“It’s a possibility I can’t ignore. That jerk who tried to run us down wasn’t just looking for a one-mile run. He was trying to send us into the river, Diana. He could have been after us or he could have been after Brandon. Coming on top of those pranks that were played on you, I can’t take any chances. I don’t want either of you in the vicinity of Fulbrook Corners unless I’m around.“

Diana was silent for a long while, assimilating the facts. “I guess I’ve known deep down how worried you were but I haven’t thought much about what happened in Fulbrook Corners since we’ve been back in Portland.“

“No reason to think about those incidents. No one’s bothered you or Brandon since we left town.“

Diana sat up abruptly. “You’ve got a perfectly valid reason for not wanting Brandon to go back there alone.“

“Thanks. Does this mean I’m no longer viewed as just another example of outdated patriarchal machismo?“ Colby smiled faintly in the darkness.

“Oh, no, you’re not excused from that accusation. But you can redeem yourself.“

“Yeah? How?“

“First of all, you can explain your concerns to Brandon.“

“And second?“

“You can offer him an alternative.“

“What alternative? Like I said, I am not driving up to Fulbrook Corners for Christmas. We’re going to have our first Christmas together right here.“

“You can suggest he invite his grandmother down to Portland for the holiday.“

Colby shot straight up in bed. “Pregnancy has rotted your brain, woman. Are you crazy? Have that witch here under my roof for Christmas?“

“She could stay at a hotel, just as my mother is going to do,“ Diana said, thinking quickly. “We’ll open presents here and then we could all go out to Christmas dinner afterward.“

“Diana…“

“It’ll work out just fine, Colby, you’ll see.“

“Now listen, Diana…“

“Brandon will be pleased. Don’t worry, I’ll make certain you and Margaret Fulbrook don’t come to blows. You’ve met my mother. She’s very good at keeping the conversation going. If things get awkward, she’ll come to the rescue.“

“Diana, will you listen to me…“

“I’d better make reservations for dinner tomorrow. The few restaurants that will be open Christmas Day will be filling up quickly.“

“Damn it, Diana, if you don’t close that mouth of yours by the time I count to five, I will close it for you. One, two, three…“

She smiled brilliantly and didn’t say another word.

“That’s better,“ Colby said. “Silence at last. You know, there’s a lot to be said for outdated patriarchal machismo.“

Diana leaned over and kissed him. “Shall I give Brandon the good news in the morning, or do you want to tell him yourself that you’ve changed your mind?“