Eye of the Storm

Chapter

Twenty-four

KERRY REGARDED THE tray that had been delivered to her by serious helpful aproned servers. It was divided into five sections, with a sixth ostensibly for silverware. The sections contained some spaghetti, with some sort of meat, a slice of garlic bread, a salad, some green beans, and a square of carrot cake.

She had sudden insight into why Dar hated vegetables, if this was any indication of what she’d had to subsist on for twelve years, and she found herself with an insidious craving for Chinese stir fry as a result.

Or an apple.

Or something.

Anything. She glanced at Dar, who was carefully separating her strands of spaghetti from the meatlike substance, and eating them individually, alternating with bites of the carrot cake.

Kerry sighed. Well, at least there was a carton of milk, which was sealed.

She tried not to remember she’d been drinking beer and opened the red and white box, then drank down the cold milk with a feeling of relief.

“Ker?”

“Mmm?” She looked up, slightly startled at the lull in the conversation, which had been going on around her for thirty minutes.

“You all right?”

“Uh. Yeah, sure.” Kerry nibbled a bit of the carrot cake. She’d let the string of reminisces go past her, glad that Dar was at least unbending enough to trade stories with the rest of the table. It was interesting, sort of. Dar’s cousin kept up a never-ending stream of questions, and she and Cathy constantly traded insults. Kerry realized that the insults weren’t really serious, but more of a game and the intimidating Cathy wasn’t nearly as scary as she’d like to make herself out to be.

She did, however, have her eyes all over Dar, a fact that earned her very little appreciation from Kerry, harmless though she knew it was. She turned her head and found the redhead staring at her and she lifted her chin a little, returning the stare steadily.

“So. What do you do?”

“I work with computers, like Dar does,” Kerry answered evenly.

“Any money in that?”

Eye of the Storm 221

“We do all right.” She rested her chin on her fist. “It’s a very fast growing industry.”

“Sounds boring as shit.”

“Dar, are you still working for that company. Whatever it was?”

Patricia interrupted, gesturing with a fork. “You know the one.”

“Yes, I am,” Dar admitted. “ILS.”

Cathy laughed. “Still? Man. Have they let you out of the mailroom yet?”

Kerry’s eyes narrowed, but Dar merely sucked on her fork prongs reflectively. “Where is our mailroom?” She turned to her lover. “I’ve had mine delivered for so long, I don’t know where they put it last time.”

“On the first floor, near security,” the blonde woman supplied. “I had to drop a package off there last week.”

“What are you doing now, Dar? Still in programming?” Patricia asked. “I remember when you made the report cards all print out in French our last year. I don’t think Mr. McGrudber ever forgave you for that, even though you did use proper grammar.” She laughed and the three girls with her laughed too. “I bet he finds you tonight.”

Dar rested her forearms on the table. “Actually, he and I had a laugh about that at our last stockholder’s meeting,” she remarked offhandedly.

“He came over to congratulate me on being promoted to CIO and just had to tell Alastair about the whole thing.” She played with her paper napkin.

“Alastair told him he was lucky it was only French.” She paused as she absorbed the looks of surprise from around the table. “In answer to your question, Pat, I’ve gone a little beyond programming.” She basked in the sweetness of their very visible envy. “Despite many predictions to the contrary.”

“Wow.” Patricia seemed at a loss for words. “That’s really great.

That’s incredible, in fact.”

“You son of a bitch.” Cathy snorted. “After all that big talk about being so out there, you go and sell out and be a corporate asshole.” She stood up and shoved her tray to the middle of the table, then stalked off, muttering in disgust.

Dar and Kerry exchanged glances. “Oh yes,” Kerry murmured, “you turned out so stuffy and traditional.” She brushed a bit of dust off Dar’s bare shoulder, since the taller woman had removed her jacket and slung it over the chair.

There was an uncomfortable silence then Pat cleared her throat.

“Here I thought I was doing okay being a law clerk.” She laughed a little defensively. “Who knew?”

“TELL YOU WHAT,” Dar murmured into Kerry’s ear as they climbed the flight of steep stairs towards the metal doors of the gym.

“You share one dance with me in this place, and then…”

“Mmm?” The pink ear twitched with interest.

“Sushi and the beach?”

222 Melissa Good

“Ooo.” Kerry warbled in delight. “You’re definitely on.” She laid a hand on Dar’s arm. “Listen. Sorry if this has been a bust for you.”

Dar dodged a thickset man who swayed slightly as he climbed. “It hasn’t been.” She shrugged and looked around. “It’s been sort of…not fun, but I think it’s been interesting for me to see how…um…”

“Far you’ve come?” Green eyes twinkled at her in the dim light. “I know how I’d feel if I was at home, walking the halls of my school.” A memory stirred. “I had this one teacher, Ms. Van Schuver, who taught creative writing. She told me, after giving me a barely passing grade in her class, that I’d never go outside my nice, safe box so she considered me very Republican and very boring.”

Dar put a hand on her bare back and guided her into the gym. “And when is your high school reunion?”

“Hmm.” A wash of air hit her, mixing the scents of a lot of people, alcohol, rubber, and old wood. She paused inside the door to look around, as a babble of voices in several languages and loud music added to the atmosphere.

The gym had, of course, a large clear space in the center and a stage on one side with a DJ complete with an assortment of chaser lights. On the other side, the seats had been pushed back mechanically against the wall, exposing only the lower two or three tiers for people to sit on.

Tables were lined up near the back with various nibbly snacks on it and two large freestanding bars were quickly gathering customers. Kerry followed Dar to the side of the room and they stood watching quietly as a few groups broke up into twos and threes and drifted to the center of the room.

“Thirsty?” Dar finally asked.

“A little. Punch, though, please. That beer’s deadly.” Kerry put a hand on her stomach and watched as Dar slipped through the crowd and headed towards the bar. She leaned back against the collapsed, wooden tiers and exhaled.

It was a mixed crowd, of course. Hispanics were prevalent, with a liberal spattering of Anglos and African Americans among them. She could hear English, Spanish, Creole, and some Jamaican accents just in her vicinity, and smiled as the music changed to a Latin beat and the sports jackets started to come off.

“Hey…it’s the little blonde kid.” Cathy appeared at her side, making Kerry jump a little. Her voice was slightly slurred and she smelt of something stronger than beer. “You’re pretty cute, you know that?”

Kerry folded her arms over her chest self-consciously. “Hi.” She smiled briefly. “Thanks for the compliment.” She was aware of the taller woman’s imposing presence and that Cathy stood within inches of her, well within her comfort zone. She eased back.

“Where’s your big shot friend?” Cathy moved closer, reaching out to finger Kerry’s soft leather jacket. “Must be nice to have all that money, huh?”

“Dar’s just getting a drink.” Kerry’s heartbeat picked up. “And I Eye of the Storm 223

have what I work for, just like everyone else does.” True.

“Oh yeah?” Cathy pulled a flat bottle from her overalls’ back pocket and took a sip from it. Its sharp scent made Kerry’s nostrils twitch. “Bet you never been poor, though, have you? Not a little WASP like you.” Her voice became bitter.

“No, I never have,” Kerry admitted.

“Want some of this?” Cathy pushed the bottle at her. “Or are you too good to share a little drink with a poor old cracker like me?”

Kerry realized that she was surrounded by leather clad shadowy figures and a jolt of panic hit her in the gut. She forced herself not to shake as she took the bottle and sniffed it cautiously. Well, she felt a tinge of wry amusement, I never thought this skill would come in handy ever again, but... She took a long sip of the alcohol and swallowed it, then licked her lips and shrugged as she handed it back. “Mescal’s better.”

Cathy took the bottle back and glanced at it, then at her. “Son of a bitch.”

“Ever suck a worm?” Kerry persisted. “They’re not bad with a little lime on them.”

The tall woman took a swallow of her own, then licked the bottle rim, watching Kerry’s reaction. “Mmm. I like that taste.” She moved in closer and ducked her head, her intent obvious.

Uh oh. Kerry lifted a hand and intercepted her. She pushed back slightly as she looked over Cathy’s shoulder, utterly relieved to meet icy blue eyes coming towards her. “Stop.” She raised her voice and put an edge in it. “You don’t want to do that.”

“Sure I do.” Cathy reached for the hand holding her. “C’mere, cute pie. You look good enough to eat.”

“I said, stop.” Kerry straightened her back.

“Little tease.” Cathy grabbed for her, then yelped as her hand was caught and wrenched back and her arm twisted painfully behind her back. “Let me the fuck go!”

“Or?” A low, lazy, almost purr answered her.

“I’m gonna kick your ass.”

“No, you’re not,” Dar answered placidly. “Because we’re not a couple of stupid kids.”

“Let me go!” Cathy twisted savagely, but Dar’s hold bested her and the dark haired woman merely went with the motion, then slammed her into the wall with a clatter of wood.

“Cathy, if I have to call the cops, you’re going to regret it,” Dar told her. “So knock it off.” She swung her around and got between her and Kerry, then released her with a relatively gentle shove in the opposite direction.

Kerry put a hand on her lover’s back, glad of Dar’s calm, reasoned attitude. Her throat still stung from the harsh tequila and she took a deep breath, willing her heart to settle down.

Cathy stumbled forward, then turned, and half fell against the tiers, staring back at Dar with sullen anger. “You think you’re so hot.”

224 Melissa Good Dar sighed. “I’ll give you some free advice. Grow up. As far as I can tell, you haven’t learned a goddamned thing since we left this place the last time.” She turned her head as Barry edged his big body between Cathy’s friends and her.

“Hey hey hey. Nifty party, huh?”

The leather clad group faded away, and after a long, hostile stare, Cathy followed them. Dar waited for them to leave, then let out a held breath. “You okay?”

“Outside of having a graphic reminder of just why I really, really hate bad tequila, yes,” Kerry responded dryly. “I’m fine.” She exhaled.

“Dar, does everyone in your past have a bad attitude, or is it just me?”

She got a brief, guilty look from her lover.

Barry chuckled. “Girl’s got a bug up her butt, always has.” He tilted his head. “’Sides, Dar had herself quite a ’tude in the bad old days.” He nudged Dar’s arm. “C’mon over by us old, balding, fat ex-jocks, and make us feel macho, huh?”

Dar inclined her head, and they walked across the floor towards a group of men and women who were laughing around one of the bars.

They waved hello, as the music changed again and took on an earthier beat.

Next time, Kerry... She accepted a cup of the frothy beer, glad of anything to get the taste of tequila out of her mouth. Next time rent a movie.

Go bowling.

Miniature golf?

Do laundry.

Everyone loosened up and after about thirty minutes, the music took a little break, slowing down and allowing the sweating participants to relax. The lights dimmed as well, and Kerry felt a hand touch her shoulder.

“Join me?” Dar’s eyes were almost violet in the dimness.

“Sure.” Kerry led the way through the crowd, until they found a small clear space, then turned and rested her hands on Dar’s hips as the taller woman’s arms circled her neck. She was briefly aware of a few startled looks in their immediate vicinity and the unmistakable motion as distance was put between them and their nearest neighbors.

Relax, she mentally informed the crowd . If this was contagious, we’d have elected Liberace president. In another forum, she might have felt self-conscious, but here, in this smelly gym, in the dark, all that really mattered was the body now closing gently with hers, leather and skin brushing against her and making everything else fade into insignificance.

She moved with the music and Dar moved with her in synch as they took small steps in a lazy circle. Idle light beams from the ceiling drifted over them, dusting Dar’s shoulders in rust and ochre and catching the occasional glint off her eyes, which were fastened on Kerry’s face.

They could have been completely alone, for all the impact the crowd was making on her, and Kerry relaxed into a smile as her thumbs traced the gaps in Dar’s vest, feeling skin and movement and just a little sweat Eye of the Storm 225

from the heat. She moved a little closer as Dar’s thigh brushed hers and put her head down on Dar’s shoulder, listening to the music of her heartbeat.

Dar felt content, something that had escaped her totally in the years she’d spent here, though the experience hadn’t been all bad. She knew she was being stared at, but it really didn’t matter, because she had what she wanted, found what she’d searched for, and the only thing that mattered to her was the look of love in Kerry’s eyes as she gazed upward.

If the rest of them didn’t like it they could just kiss her ass. She half closed her eyes and hummed along with the music, hardly conscious of what the tune even was.

THE MOON HAD risen when they left, and Kerry paused a moment and collected her balance as they walked down the front stairs. Her head buzzed a little and she was glad of the warm arm that slipped around her, steadying her steps. “Thanks.” She returned the grip by tucking an arm snugly around Dar’s waist.

“Thanks for the dance,” Dar replied, with a smile. “Didn’t know you could move like that.”

“Ungh. Give me enough beer, and I can do all sorts of things you’d never imagine I could,” Kerry admitted. “I did warn you about that.” She swallowed against a mildly queasy stomach.

“Mmm.” Dar glanced around the parking lot, which was still quite full. The rest of the evening had been reasonably pleasant, and she’d even gotten a few dances in with Barry and some of the others, ending the reunion on a nice note she hadn’t really expected. “I had fun.”

Kerry smiled and gave her a squeeze.

They walked around the corner of a large Lincoln, and right into the harsh glare of a flashbulb. “Hey.” Dar stopped and threw an arm up, blinking the spots out of her eyes. “What in the hell was that for?”

“Nail on your coffin.” David Ankow got off the car hood he was seated on and advanced his film, then shot a few more. “Photographic evidence, not that I needed any more, but I like to be thorough.”

The shock faded, and Dar sifted through her available options, which weren’t extensive. He’d nailed her, and she was smart enough to realize it.

Question was, did she care? Kerry had fallen mute and kept her mouth prudently shut, but didn’t release her hold on Dar.

“Did you get my good side?” Blue eyes widened and Dar lifted a hand, glancing down at herself. “Though what pictures of me at my high school reunion prove I can’t imagine.”

“It’s against company rules for supervisors to be in relationships with subordinates,” Ankow commented mildly. “Such a tawdry little thing to nail you on.” He cocked his head at Kerry. “So sweet of you to go home and take care of your bedmate, Ms. Stuart. I got excellent shots of you driving that nice little car onto that fancy ferry.” He put the cap on 226 Melissa Good his lens. “And now, I can leave this rancid hell hole and go home, where I have three lawyers drawing up two different suits, with three different counts of negligence, misrepresentation, and dereliction of duty against both of you.” He gave them a satisfied nod. “Damn good day’s work.” He smiled. “Have a great day, you pair of disgusting perverts. It’s going to be a great pleasure for me to see the last of you when this is all over.” He turned.

“Mr. Ankow.” Kerry disengaged her arm from her stunned partner and walked over to him.

He put a hand on his hip and waited, a look of smug pleasure on his face.

Kerry stopped and regarded him with concentrated seriousness.

“You’re ugly, you stink, and you have the brains of a sea slug,” she stated. “You can take those pictures and shove them right up your ass.”

Ankow was a little surprised. “You’re drunk.”

“You’re a moron,” Kerry shot right back. “I can always sober up.”

“You little…” Ankow reached for her arm. “I’ll—”

Without warning, Kerry lashed out a fist and caught him right in the nose with all the power she could muster.

“Son of a bitch! Don’t you touch me!” A splatter of blood sprayed in the garish lamplight, and Ankow stumbled backwards.

He wiped the blood onto the back of one hand and looked up at her, his eyes narrowing. Then they slid past Kerry’s shoulder, and he froze for a long moment. “You’ll regret doing that,” he finally said, in a very quiet voice. “Believe me.” Then he turned and walked rapidly away, disappearing between two parked vans and into the darkness beyond.

They were quiet for a moment, then Dar let out a low, whistling breath. “Did that make you feel better?” she asked her lover wryly.

“Ow.” Kerry examined her hand. “I forgot to mention I get feisty when you get me tanked, didn’t I?”

Dar took her hand and rubbed a thumb over the skin. Then she lifted the hand up and kissed it. “I’ll have to remember that.”

Kerry sighed. “We’re seriously screwed, aren’t we?”

Dar made a faint noise.

“They’re going to fire us and sue us for a ton of money, right?”

“Probably,” Dar acknowledged. “Well, me, anyway. You didn’t do anything. The corporate responsibility for the rule falls on the supervisor.” She gazed at Kerry. “And I certainly did know what I was doing.”

“Can they put us in jail?”

“No.” Dar shook her head. “We’re not criminals, just lovers.” Her lips twitched faintly. “Though, I don’t know—he might have you for assault and battery now.”

“Nah. He’d never admit to a cop he let a girl punch him.” Kerry smiled, then leaned against the Lincoln. She felt curiously free, in a strange way. “You know something, Dar?”

“What?”

“I don’t care.”

Eye of the Storm 227

“You don’t?”

“No,” she answered very softly. “If all I have in the world is you, no matter what we do, or where we end up, that’s okay with me.” She rubbed her arm. “Worst comes to worst, we can go on the road and I’ll sell my poems for food, how about that?”

Dar chuckled. “C’mon.” She held a hand out. “You still in the mood for sushi?”

Kerry went willingly, allowing Dar to lead her over to the bike and settling behind her. “It’s a little late for that, but boy, could I ever use some ice cream,” she mumbled into the leather covered back. “A nice big double scoop sundae with lots of fudge.”

“Your wish is my command.” Dar started the engine and revved it.

“Hang on.”

“Don’t worry.” Kerry tightened her grip. “I’m never letting go of you.”

They pulled out into the street, under a crisply starred sky with a peaceful full moon to light the way.