Hurricane Watch

Chapter

Twenty-two

THE SUN POURED into Dar’s office, painting the carpeted floor and warming her back. She took the paper she’d been reviewing and marked on it, then tossed it into her outbox and flipped the pen she’d used in her hands. ”I may be a quarter of the way through this crap,”

she commented to her fish, who wiggled their fins at her. ”Oh, that’s right. I have to feed you today, huh? Your best buddy’s not here.”

Her phone buzzed. ”Yes?”

”Dar, I have Richard Edgerton for you on numero dos.”

Dar glanced at the phone in surprise. ”Really? Okay. I’ll take it.”

She hesitated before picking up the line, wondering what her family's lawyer wanted. ”Richard?”

”Hello Dar, long time no talk to,” the cheerful voice echoed slightly. ”Haven’t seen you in quite some time. How are you?”

Ten thousand answers to that question. ”Fine thanks, and you?”

Dar replied, recalling a mental image of the forty something lawyer, a former college football tackle who still retained his bulldog physique and almost military crew cut. ”Yeah, it’s been a while.” Her father’s funeral, to be exact.

”Oh, doing all right. Listen, it’s a small thing, but seems your aunt May had a lock box over at People’s First National that nobody knew about.”

”Yeah?” Dar leaned back in her chair and nibbled her pen. ”And?”

”There’s a trunk and two boxes of stuff in there, and by the terms of her will, it goes to you,” Jason advised her. ”The bank’s closing down and they called to tell us, since we were her executors of record.”

”Oh.” The dark brows knitted. ”All right, have it sent down. I guess I’ll sort through it. If it’s stuff that can be donated somewhere, I’ll do that in her name.”

”Great, great. So, how’ve you been, Dar? I saw your mother last week. She’s doing okay. Her stuff’s being shown at a gallery up here in a little bit.”

Dar exhaled, feeling the usual stab of pain thoughts of her mother brought. ”I’m doing just fine, Richard, glad she is too,” she got out civilly. Then an idea struck her. ”Listen, I’m glad you called. I need to ask a question.”

”Shoot,” the lawyer responded briskly.

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”First off, I um...I need to modify my will.” Dar interlaced her fingers and regarded them. ”And second, I need to know what kind of…I’m not sure what you call it, but something that would legally give someone the right to make certain decisions for me, if I wasn’t able to, for instance.”

”Uh,” Edgerton stuttered. ”Is everything all right Dar? I mean, with you? You’re not sick or...”

The executive chuckled. ”No, no. I’m fine, never felt better, in fact.”

How true that was. ”Just send me over the draft of the will, and I’ll amend it. I need to leave everything to someone other than the Humane Society.”

”Oh.” He sounded relieved. ”Well, sure, and the other thing, there’s a couple ways you can go with that, depending on how much power you want the person to have.” He paused. ”How much you want to trust them, that sort of thing.”

”All the way,” Dar replied softly. ”What do you need from me?”

”Just their name,” Richard answered. ”Dar, are you sure about this?”A slow smile appeared. ”If I’ve ever been sure of anything in my life, it’s this,” she confirmed, giving him Kerry’s name. ”Make sure you spell it right.”

”Okay, but listen, Dar, it’s awful sudden of you, and you’ve got quite an estate here, are you really sure about this? You’re sure it’s not someone looking for treasure, or anything like that?”

Dar regarded the mantel for a long moment, considering his words.

”I’m sure,” she finally said. ”She has no idea of the size, or that I’m doing this.”

”Okay,” Richard surrendered amiably. ”Just keeping your best interests in mind, Dar.” He cleared his throat. ”I’ll draw up the papers and send them down to you, end of the week okay?”

”Perfect.” Dar smiled. ”Thanks, Rich.”

”Anytime Dar, and watch for those cases,” the lawyer added.

”Knowing May, it could be anything.”

Dar acknowledged that, and hung up, feeling a quiet satisfaction.

Yeah. It was time. She turned to her computer and called up a session, then entered into the employee files, and called up her own records.

A few keystrokes, and the contact information was changed for emergencies, and then a few more, and her insurance beneficiary was likewise edited. She paused, watching the blinking cursor for a moment, then she hit send.

Update Complete, it said. Dar nodded and retrieved a cashew from her trail mix, munching it contentedly.

”COMPUTERS ARE GREAT things, Chino,” Kerry mused, as she reviewed her screen. She was curled up in her leather office chair, her 310

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robe tucked around her and soft, fluffy pink booties on her feet. ”Online banking really does make life a lot easier.” She clicked on a screen, then typed in an amount. ”Okay, that’s the last of the bills to pay. I got my car, the credit cards, all set.” She made a tick mark on a piece of paper sitting next to her keyboard. ”Let’s not let mommy Dar see that one, hmm?”

The puppy glanced up at her and licked her chops.

”Yeah, that’s the bill for the ring, and she’d have my head on a platter, I think.” Kerry laughed gently, picking it up and looking at it.

”But it was worth it, and they said you should budget two month’s salary for that kinda thing, right?”

”Yawp.” Chino yawned.

”Well, it’s just our secret.” She tucked the bill away. ”Okay, let’s see where we are.” She reviewed her bank balance, pleased with the result. ”Hey, that’s not bad, Chino.” She glanced at her payments.

”Okay, I think it’s time to reduce one part of this.” She picked up the phone and hesitated, then took a deep breath and dialed. She waited through three rings. ”Hi, Mr. Mahoney?”

A low, pleasant voice answered her.

”It’s Kerry Stuart... ...yeah… ...I know, the lease is up next month.

I won’t be renewing it.” The words felt so strange, and had taken her so long to decide to say. ”No, no, it’s great, I just...well, I’m living with someone, and I wanted to make sure it worked out...you know.”

The landlord was very understanding. ”You’ve been a great tenant, Ms. Stuart. Anytime you need a referral, you let me know, okay?”

”Thanks,” Kerry responded. ”I’ll be by to pick up the few things I’ve got there, but there's nothing valuable—you can show the apartment if you want to.”

”Right you are, and I know it’s in great condition. Thanks for letting me know, Ms Stuart. I really appreciate it.” He paused. ”And best of luck to you. I hope things go really smooth.”

”Me too,” Kerry responded. ”Talk to you later.” She hung up, and regarded the phone. ”Well, Chino, that’s that.” She glanced at the puppy. ”I mean it’s not like I haven’t been really living here before, but...” It was a line crossed, and she knew it. ”She’s stuck with me now.”

”Grrrr...yawp.” Chino rolled over, and put her head down, peering up at Kerry sleepily.

”Hmm...” Kerry turned her attention back to the screen. ”Okay, now let’s order some groceries.” She switched over to the internal Island site that allowed her to pick and choose what she wanted from an extensive list, and have it delivered. ”Let me check...oooo... Dar, you little piggy wonk. I’m gonna hurt you.” She shook a finger at the screen, as she clicked into the personal options, and changed the credit card the groceries were billed to back to her own. ”Damn it, I can afford this, Dar. How many times do I have to tell you that?”

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Irritated, she clicked over to her email, and whipped off a short, scolding note to her lover, and sent it. ”Bad girl.”

Chino lifted her head and whined.

”Not you,” Kerry reassured the puppy. ”Now, let's see...” She selected a variety of fresh produce and some staples, then drummed her fingers, and went over to the goodies section and clicked on a number of Dar’s favorites. ”By all rights, I should restrict you to Brussels sprouts for that trick, but...” A mental image of the little puppy dog eyes Dar was capable of when the mood struck her surfaced, and caused a grin to appear on Kerry’s face. ”I can’t resist that pout and you know it.”

She finished her shopping, which she’d discovered one night while roaming around the Island website, and which Dar had no idea existed.

”Not surprising,” Kerry snorted softly ”Coming from Ms. I can live on Frosted Flakes.” She reached over and took a sip of her ginger peach tea, breathing in the fragrant steam with a sense of quiet pleasure. The drugs had kicked in again, and she only felt a gentle ache, which was better than the spasms of the morning. Still, she was glad she was curled up here in her robe with a heating pad nearby if she needed it.

She set about balancing her checkbook, and putting things in order.

”Hmm...we’ve got a little extra here this month, Chino. Let’s see if we can find a treat or two.” She clicked over to an online computer store.

”Ooo...digital camera. What do you say, hmm? Does that sound good?

Is that a treat?”

The puppy heard the word ”treat” and immediately got up and trotted over, standing up on her hind legs and putting her small paws up on Kerry’s thigh. ”Rgrro?”

”Oh, you want a treat?” Kerry laughed, and fished a puppy biscuit from her pocket, giving it to the animal. ”Here you go.” She watched Chino chew for a minute, then she returned her attention to her browser. ”Yeah, that would be cool...gimme.” She glanced down as her mail icon flashed. ”Hmm?” She clicked it, and smiled as she saw the sender.

Roberts, Dar

Sent 11:22 A.M .

All right - consider me chastised. I switched it so I could

take

care

of

the

boat

charges,

and

forgot

to

switch

it

back.

We

could

just

get

a

joint

card

or

something.

Dar

PS.

how

are

you

feeling?

I

didn’t

want

to

call

in

case I woke you up.

Kerry studied the note, feeling a little prickle of recklessness. She hit reply, typed in a few words, and hit send. ”Let’s see what your answer is to that, Paladar.” She grinned, and then resumed her surfing.

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DAR PAUSED OUTSIDE the conference room, running her fingers through her hair before she put a hand on the latch and pushed it down.

She entered the long room and let the door close behind her, aware of the several pairs of eyes that fastened themselves on her. ”Good afternoon,” she remarked, as she moved around to the head of the table and sat down. The rest of the room contained representatives from two companies they’d just signed alliances with, along with representatives from sales and marketing and one of Duks’s people.

”All right. We’re here to discuss the potential acquiring of the statewide benefits contract in Idaho.” Dar pulled out a folder, and flipped it open. ”Suppose you people fill me in on what progress you’ve made with the state government so far?” She flicked a cool glance at the company representatives from that state. ”You want to start?”

They glanced at each other, then the older man cleared his throat.

”Well, all right.”

It was a long meeting, and Dar was slightly frustrated by the time it ended, sensing a communication problem but unable to pinpoint exactly what it was. She kept trying to get information from the newcomers, but she could tell the older man, at least, was being evasive, and they all seemed to want to keep their strategies under their hats, and keep her company around just to pump cash into things.

That wasn’t going to happen. Dar fiddled with a pen as they filed out, and scowled a little. ”Elle, hang on.” The marketing representative paused, then walked back across the now empty conference room and stood, visibly uneasy. ”Relax. Sit down a minute.”

The woman did, folding her hands on the table and waiting.

”What did you think about them?” Dar inquired.

”Me?” Elle’s brows lifted. ”Um...I don’t know. They were okay, I guess, a little on the quiet side.” She sniffed, and pushed her thin, wire framed glasses up on her nose. ”I took them on a tour before the meeting. They were kind of prickly, if you know what I mean.”

Dar nodded, pursing her lips. ”Yeah...I got that feeling myself.

Well, okay. Thanks.”

Elle blinked at her. ”Um...you’re welcome.” She stood, and ducked her head a little awkwardly, then she turned and left.

Dar sighed, then stood and gathered her things, walking back to her office in time to see Maria returning with a large, white bag. ”Hello, Maria.”

”Is your meeting over, Dar?” The secretary held the door for her, and followed her inside. ”I brought you back some arroz con pollo...from my trip outside.”

Dar smiled at her. ”Thanks. Yeah, it just ended. I’ve got another one after lunch, then a conference call after that.”

Maria bustled over to her desk, and put her bag down. ”And how is Kerrisita doing?” She asked, pulling out a Styrofoam container and handing it to Dar. ”I stopped at the farmaceria, and you take this home Hurricane Watch

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to her, yes?” She handed Dar a bag. ”Is to make tea...is good for her.”

Dar held the bag. ”I...I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to her since I left the house. I’m sure she’s fine, and thanks, she likes tea.”

Maria gave her a severe look. ”Poor Kerrisita is home so sick, and you don’t call her?” she scolded her boss.

”Uh.” Dar was caught flat footed by the older woman. ”It’s just some cramps, Maria. She’s not a baby, you know.”

”That is not the point, jefa,” Maria stated. ”Is good she knows you are concerned, no?”

”Uh...” Dar gave up. ”Yep. You’re right. I’ll go call her.” She fled the outer office, and escaped into her own, putting her lunch down and circling her desk. ”Jesus, you’d think she was an infant or something. I bet she’s napping, or she doesn’t want me calling every five minutes.”

With a sigh, she sat down and dialed her home number. It rang several times, and she was about to hang up when it was answered. ”Hey.”

”Hey!” Kerry's voice perked up audibly as she recognized the caller. ”Wow. I was just thinking about you.”

Dar settled her chin on her fist. ”I was just thinking about you too. I just got out of a meeting I wish you’d been at. Maybe you could have given me some insight into a few new associates.” She sighed. ”How’re you feeling?”

”I answered that in the email,” Kerry told her dryly. ”Which I guess you haven’t seen yet.”

”Um.” Dar sat down and rolled her trackball to check her mail.

”Ah...no. I just got back, let’s see. Oh.” She started laughing. ”Oh.” She felt a blush coming on. ”Well, I’m glad you liked the service last night.”

Kerry chuckled as well. ”It’s on and off. I take drugs, it gets better, then they wear off, and I feel like a manure pile. I don’t know what’s with me this time,” she sighed. ”Chino’s keeping me company, though, and I’ve been surfing.”

”Uh oh,” Dar uttered. ”That could be dangerous.”

”Mm... Yes, it certainly could. Did you know Victoria’s Secret has a great website?” Kerry asked, innocently.

Dar’s blue eyes widened. ”Any particular reason you’re letting me in on this little tidbit of news?” she inquired, hesitantly.

”You like blue, right?” Kerry asked, ignoring the question.

”Um...yes...why?” Dar felt her curiosity crawl up her spine and perch on her shoulders, almost making her lean forward towards the phone. ”Kerry?”

”Yes?” the blonde woman purred. ”Something wrong?”

Dar chewed her lip. ”Um...no.” She felt a little thrill of excitement, almost of danger. ”Nothing.”

Her intercom buzzed. ”Hang on.” She pressed a button. ”Yes, Maria?”

”Dar, I have a Mr. Evans, from Interlock, he is wanting to talk to you?”

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Ah. Her reluctant associate. ”All right, give me a minute, Maria, then show him in.” Dar pressed her other line. ”If you’re done teasing me, I’ve got a potato farmer that wants in here.”

”Teasing? I’m not teasing you, Dar,” Kerry objected, with a chuckle. ”Can I interest you in a couple of burgers with the works for dinner? The Beach club just updated their menu, and they’ve got some new ones.”

Dar smiled at the phone affectionately. ”Sounds great to me. See you in a bit.”

”Right, have fun.” Kerry hung up, and Dar exhaled, glad she’d taken Maria’s advice. She glanced up as the door opened, and the tall, gray haired man entered. ”Come in, Mr. Evans. Maria, thank you for reminding me of that pending issue.”

The secretary looked blank for a moment, then she smiled, and shook a finger at her boss, but said nothing as she closed the door behind her.

Dar motioned to her visitor chair. ”Sit down, Mr. Evans. I hope you won’t mind if I catch up on my lunch while we talk.” She didn’t give him a chance to answer, as she pulled her Styrofoam container over, and popped it open, releasing the scent of saffron and garlic into the air.

”What can I do for you?” she asked, pulling a fork out of the wrapped set of silverware that came with the lunch.

He seated himself and crossed his legs, resting his hands on his knee and studying her. Dar maintained the eye contact, while she speared a piece of chicken and munched it. One brow lifted in question at him.

”Ms. Roberts, I’m not quite sure how to broach this,” he spoke the words carefully. ”I’ve spoken with my colleagues, and they feel as I do, and I’m afraid we have difficulty with you...ah...your corporate culture.”

Dar took a mouthful of rice and chewed it, while she considered the words. ”Our corporate culture?” she repeated, then waved her fork at the walls. ”You don’t like oak paneling and maroon carpet?” she queried, honestly puzzled. ”What corporate culture are you referring to?” He hesitated. ”It seems to us that your company has a very...open policy on personal behavior,” he stated. ”As well as a great deal of diversity in your employee base.”

One of Dar’s brows rose. ”Most people consider that a corporate asset,” she informed him. ”But what exactly are you getting at?” She paused, and chewed another piece of chicken. ”Whose personal behavior are you getting offended by?”

He cleared his throat, obviously discomfited. ”Yours, actually.”

Dar stopped chewing, and just stared at him. Then she swallowed and took a sip of water from the glass on her desk. ”Excuse me?” She almost laughed. ”What is it you find offensive...my tendency to doodle Hurricane Watch

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in meetings, or my eating lunch in front of you without offering you any?”He looked at her. ”We spent some time in your cafeteria this morning, and heard of a situation between you and your assistant.”

It stopped being funny. Dar felt a cold wave sweep over her, and she knew it must have showed in her face, because she saw his reaction.

She put her fork down slowly and precisely, then folded her hands on her desk. ”And your problem with that is what?” She heard the drop in her voice, and felt the dark anger stir in her guts.

Dead silence for a dozen heartbeats. ”We come from a God fearing part of the country, Ms. Roberts...and I, personally, find that kind of behavior disgusting.” He looked right at her, lifting his chin a little.

”And my colleagues feel the same.”

A dozen nasty retorts crossed Dar’s mind, and she discarded them.

”Well, Mr. Evans, our company’s official policy is one of non-discrimination, and I’m pretty damn proud of that. I’m sorry you don’t feel the same.” She paused. ”Let me make sure I understand, though...you’ve got a problem with me because I’m gay, right?”

His face twitched at the word. ”I accept God’s word on his views about that, so yes.”

”Let’s not get into a debate on religion,” Dar replied. ”You won’t like my views on that, either, I’m sure.” She took several deep breaths, to bleed off the angry tension. ”All right. Well, Mr. Evans, in the first place, my personal life is no business of yours.”

”I don’t think we’ll be comfortable dealing with you,” he interrupted. ”And even if that were not so, your bowing to foreign culture here is something we find very upsetting. Ms. Roberts, do you realize a good portion of your employees do not speak English in the workplace?”

Dar felt her nostrils flare. ”Mr. Evans, fifty percent of our employees have something other than English as their native language, based on the fact that they are citizens of another country,” she reminded him. ”We are an international organization, in case that slipped your mind.”

”We find that—” He never got to finish. Dar stood up and came around the desk, cold sparks flashing in her pale eyes.

”Do you know what I find offensive?” she growled, leaning on her desk. ”I find your small mindedness offensive, Mr. Evans. So I’ll tell you what, I’ll call down to our marketing group, and we’ll just call this little arrangement off, all right?”

”That was my objective, yes.” He stood stiffly. ”I’m sorry you cannot understand our feelings in the matter.”

”I’m not.” Dar let out a short laugh. ”But let me tell you. I’m going to have the publicity group release a statement saying we cut you loose because you were too prejudiced for us to deal with.”

He drew himself up. ”It’s not prejudice, Ms. Roberts. It has nothing 316

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to do with that. It’s just how we see ourselves, and who we prefer to deal with.”

Dar just shook her head. ”Then you’ll find yourself on the inside of a circle growing smaller day by day, mister...and you know what?” She leaned closer, watching him edge back. ”We’ll go in there and take all the business away from you anyway.”

”Not after we talk to those clients, and let them know what kind of people you are,” he told her, smugly. ”The rest of the country isn’t like this place, Ms. Roberts.”

Dar smiled at him. ”Mr. Evans, when I’m done cutting a deal for them, they won’t care if I’m a cross dressing transgendered muskrat.”

She dropped her voice to a low growl. ”Now, get out of here, before I have you thrown out.”

He walked to the door, and looked back at her, his hand on the latch. ”You are an abomination in the eyes of God, Ms. Roberts.”

”Any god I believe in doesn’t know what the word hate is, Mr.

Evans,” Dar replied mildly. ”I pity you.” She watched the door close after him, and let her held breath out. ”Shit.”

Damn it all to hell. Stupid piece of shit righteousness stuffed up his butt son of a— Dar walked around her desk and dropped into her chair, shaking her head in disgust, as she considered what to tell José.

What a way to start out her new job.

”TWO OF THESE divisions aren’t showing much profit.” Duks pointed to a line on the page. ”I think some changes need to be made there. Perhaps you could take a look.”

Dar regarded the paper, and nodded. ”They’re not writing good contracts.” She shook her head. ”They’re just putting in new business, and not really adding to the bottom line.” The late afternoon sunlight reflected into the office, and warmed her back. ”I’ll have their new stuff put under technical review.”

”Good. ” Duks stretched. ”So, how’s it feel?”

Blue eyes regarded him in puzzlement. ”How does what feel?”

”Being the master of all you survey?” the Finance VP replied, with a twinkle. ”Did I hear a rumor you were going to cancel the Interlock agreement? What happened?”

Dar regarded her desktop. ”Mr. Evans didn’t think he could do business with us,” she replied evenly.

Her phone buzzed. ”Dar, is Mr. José on numero uno for you.”

Dar sighed. ”Okay.” She hit the button. ”Yeah?”

”What is this I hear, you cut loose Interlock?” José’s voice came through, thick with outrage. ”What’s this shit, Dar?”

”That’s right, I did,” Dar replied flatly. ”He said he couldn’t work with us, so I cut him loose. Got a problem?”

”Hell yes, I have a problem with that!” José shot back. ”What do Hurricane Watch

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you think you’re doing? We had a business plan in Idaho. I am having seven major contracts going in there.”

”Not with his cooperation. Try something else,” Dar answered. ”Go around him.”

”Merde. That’s a load of— What was his problem?” José demanded.

Dar hesitated, then her jaw clenched. ”I was.”

Dead silence. ”You?” José spluttered. ”Jesu, it figures. Did you tell him off or...no, I bet he found out you’re sleeping with that little slut of yours, and I tell you...”

Duks got around the desk and grabbed Dar’s hand, slamming his own down on the mute button. ”Dar!” He called urgently, seeing the pale blue eyes go gray with fury. ”Hold it.. ”

”Let me go, Louis.” Dar felt the tremors start. ”I’m gonna fire his ass.”

”Come on...listen to me.” The Finance VP stood his ground, speaking softly. ”He’s an ignorant jerk, but life’s full of them, and so’s the company. You can’t fire them all, my friend.”

Dar sucked in a breath, and released it, trying to keep a lid on the anger. ”I can fire this one, and maybe the others will get the message,”

she finally said, in a low voice. ”I am not going to put up with it, Louis.”

”Okay. Okay...but, please, please, my friend...give him one warning. Just one. Keep our asses out of the courts, all right?” Duks asked, reasonably. ”You know he’ll do it again, Dar...please.”

The CIO let her hands fall to the desk, and she leaned on them. For a long minute she stared at the wood surface, then hit the mute button.

”José?”

”Si? I knew this was going to get us into trouble, and I tell you.”

”Shut up.”

Silence.

”I want you to listen to me, all right?” Dar enunciated her words carefully.

”Si?”

”If you ever make a statement like that about anyone who works here ever again, I’m not only going to personally fire you, I am going to come down to your office, pick you up, carry you outside, and beat the living daylights out of you in front of the entire company,” Dar stated softly. ”Do you understand me?”

Long silence.

”I asked, do you understand me?” Dar requested softly.

”Si.” Came back, very subdued.

Dar exhaled. ”Good. Now he had two issues. My being gay and you’re being Cuban. I didn’t figure either of us was going to change any time soon, so I told him to take a hike.”

Long pause. ”That puta had a problem with me?” José’s voice rose.

”My father came over to this country with nothing but a cigar wrapper and six banana leaves, and ended up owning half the real estate in 318

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Hialeah, so he can kiss my Cuban ass.”

”Yeah, well... So find another way up there.” Dar repeated, then disconnected the call. She stared at the fighting fish as her blood pressure slowly dropped, aware of Duks’s close presence. ”I think he owes you a thank you.”

”Mm,” Duks murmured.

Dar glanced up. ”I think I do too,” she added, quietly.

The accountant shifted a little. ”My friend, it’s hard, I know. I understand.”

”Somehow I doubt the majority of the company considers you and Mari an abomination in the eyes of God, Lou,” Dar replied, as she sat down, and rested her hands on the desk. ”You try not to care, but it gets a bit much sometimes.”

Duks turned and sat on the edge of the desk, regarding her. ”You know, Dar, I’m sure there are people who feel that way, but I don’t think it’s the majority.”

”No.” Dar had to laugh shortly. ”The rest of them just hate me because I’m a bitch.” She gave Duks a wry look. ”They don’t really care who I sleep with.”

Duks sighed, and patted her on the shoulder. ”Some of us are just pathetically glad you’re here, and as good as you are, my friend. I think there are more of us than you would ever have imagined.” He paused.

”Come, let’s take a walk downstairs, get some coffee, hmm?”

Dar studied her hands. ”Go on down, I’ll meet you there in a minute.”

Reluctantly, the accountant left, closing the door softly behind him.

Dar rubbed her face and leaned back, as her stomach slowly untied itself from its knots. ”What a completely sucky day,” she informed the ceiling. ”A few more like this and I’m going to chuck it all and become a diving boat captain.”

A moment later, a soft knock came on the door, and she tilted her head towards it. ”Yeah?”

The door opened, and Maria came in, carrying a tall mug, a faint curl of steam visible over its edge. ”Jefa, I know this is so bad for you, but today is not good.” She put down the mug, and Dar caught a scent of hot chocolate.

It made her smile. ”Thanks, Maria.” She sighed. ”Yeah, today’s been a bitch all right.” She watched the secretary settle in the visitor's chair. ”I’m sure the stories are flying.”

”Si.” The woman nodded. ”They have been, is true.” She straightened a little. ”You know, Dar, when I came here from my country, in my country I was in the office, the numero uno, you know?

And when I came over to this country, all the people looked at me, and it was...” She made a tiny, discrete spitting noise. ”Immigrante.”

Dar watched her curiously. ”Hmm.”

”It did not matter that I was good in church, or that I was running Hurricane Watch

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this big law office, or that I raise my children. No, it was just...” She made the spitting sound again. ”Immigrante.”

Dar steepled her fingers. ”That must have been hard for you. We take our citizenship for granted, a lot of the time.”

”Si,” the secretary agreed. ”You do. I had to be studying many hours before I passed this test, you know? And you do not have to take it, but any the way, what I learned from this, Dar, is that what is important is what is on the inside of people, not on the outside.”

Dar gazed quietly at her desktop. ”A lot of people never quite get that, Maria.”

”Si, you are right, they do not,” Maria agreed. ”Even in my church, which is writing that all people must love each other, still, they think that God makes this kind or that kind better than the other.” She folded her hands. ”Dar, you are a good person.”

The dark haired woman smiled. ”Thanks. I think you’re a very good person yourself.”

”Gracias.” Maria smiled. ”Kerrisita is a very good person.”

”Yes, she is,” Dar agreed, softly.

”When two good people love each other, Dar, God smiles on them, and he does not care what they are looking like,” Maria said, gently.

”That is what I believe...that you have been very blessed.”

It was like a warm blanket settling over her, coming from the most unexpected source imaginable. ”Thank you, Maria,” Dar replied softly.

”That means a lot to me.”

Maria looked pleased. ”You are welcome, Dar.” She hesitated. ”One more thing, my youngest daughter, Conchita, is having her quinces next month. I would very much be honored if you and Kerrisita would come, and celebrate this with my family.”

It was a shock. Dar knew enough about traditional Cuban culture to be honestly surprised at the request, but she also knew enough not to refuse. ”We’d be honored,” she replied, simply. ”Thank you.”

”Gracias,” Maria said, in a dignified tone, as she stood, and brushed off her skirt. ”How is Kerrisita?”

”She’s doing all right,” Dar answered, quietly, taking a long sip of her hot chocolate.

The secretary glanced at the window. ”It is five o’clock, I am to be leaving. Do you not think those herbs would do better if Kerrisita gets them soon?”

Dar chuckled softly. ”Are you telling me to get out of here, Maria?”

”Si,” the secretary smiled. ”I think I am doing that. It is very bold of me, no?”

Dar stood up and turned her monitor off. ”Sounds like a good idea to me.” She grabbed her keys and shouldered her laptop. ”It’s been a long day.”

”And there will always be tomorrow,” Maria added. ”For new problems.”

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Dar followed Maria out the door, and shook her head. ”Isn’t that the truth?”

KERRY WATCHED THE late afternoon light come in the front windows, and pour across the tile floor, painting golden stripes across the table. She was curled up on the couch, with Chino tucked in next to her, and a cup of hot tea resting on the end table near her head.

She felt pretty good. The drugs had mostly taken care of the pain, though she was feeling a little lightheaded from having to take so much.

She’d gotten quite a few things done, so she wasn’t feeling any guilt about simply lounging around, watching cartoons all afternoon.

It was nice just to have a day off, she reflected, and spend the time mindlessly relaxing, not having to worry about lines going down, or people yelling, or things like that.

She was a little worried though, since she hadn’t heard from Dar since the morning, and a recent call to the office had gone to voice mail.

She felt a little uneasy about Dar, in a vague, unsettled way, but resisted the urge to use her pager, or the cell phone, because if there was something going on, surely Dar would have called.

Right?

Kerry sighed, and put her head down on the soft couch arm, breathing in the scent of the leather as she tugged a soft quilt around her body. Her eyes closed, and she let the warm comfort lull her into sleep.It was a strange dream, full of children’s laughter, and the smell of hickory smoke. She was snoozing in what felt like a hammock, wrapped in a soft blanket that bore a hint of woods and leather.

Footsteps came close, and she felt a nearby presence, a warmth that brought a smile to her face, even as gentle fingers brushed her hair back, and she felt a kiss touch her lips. Her eyes fluttered open, to see familiar blue ones looking back at her, framed by a face a little tanner, and a little older than she’d expected.

She reached up and hooked an arm around a powerful neck and drew that face down, kissing her again. She reveled in the sweetness, and the passion, and the sense of belonging to each other that had no match in anything else she’d ever known.

And as she did, the children’s laughter faded, and the hickory scent shifted to the tang of wood polish, and she opened her eyes to see those same blue ones looking down curiously at her, as a faint smile played about Dar’s lips.

”Oh.” A little fuzzy, she reached up and brushed her fingers across Dar’s cheek, where a tiny scar had shown in her dream, and now was gone. ”You’re home.” Chino was wiggling up against her and nibbling her fingers.

The lips moved into a gentle smile. ”Yes, I am.” Dar seated herself Hurricane Watch

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on the edge of the couch. ”How are you feeling?” She scratched the puppy behind the ears.

Kerry glanced at the window, which was darkening into twilight.

”Um...better...thanks. I was...I was watching TV, and I guess I dozed off.

How long have you been here?” She peered up at her lover. ”You look beat.”

Dar sighed. ”I am. I had a tough day,” she admitted softly. ”I’ve got a headache you wouldn’t believe, and I gotta tell you, it’s just nice to see a friendly face.”

”Aww...” Kerry tugged her down and pulled her into a hug, feeling the long breath Dar released as she did so. She rubbed her lover’s back, feeling the warm skin beneath the silk shirt. ”I missed you. What happened?”

Dar allowed herself a few more seconds of bliss, before she reluctantly straightened, and tucked the quilt back around Kerry’s tshirt covered body. She’d been debating with herself since she’d left the office as to whether or not to tell Kerry. Then she figured that Kerry was probably going to hear sooner or later, so it would be best to come from her.

”Nasty stuff. I had to terminate a contract today because the company we contracted with felt they couldn’t do business with us.”

She pushed Kerry’s very disheveled hair out of her eyes, and reflected on how cute she was when she just woke up. ”They didn’t like our diversity.”

Kerry cocked her head to one side. ”Diversity. I don’t... What do you mean?”

No way to soften it. ”They heard about you and me, and spent some time in the lunchroom and heard the different languages. They didn’t like that.”

Kerry stared at her. One blonde brow rose up to her hairline. ”What jerks. Tell them to go contract with the KKK.”

Dar felt a smile coming on. She should have known better than to worry about Kerry’s reaction. ”It was a pretty ugly scene, and then I had to explain to everyone, and that got pretty ugly too. Duks kept me from firing José outright.”

”Wow,” Kerry murmured. ”What did he do?”

Dar bit her lip. ”He said something about you I didn’t like.”

”Oh.” Kerry considered that. ”I’m glad you didn’t fire him for that.” She stroked Dar’s face. ”Sticks and stones, and all that stuff.”

She felt bad, but not as bad as if Dar had fired him. ”I’m sure you handled it in a very professional manner.”

Blue eyes glinted in the soft twilight at her. ”Um...actually...I told him if he ever said anything like that again, I’d take him outside and beat him silly in front of everyone.”

Kerry clapped a hand over her mouth. ”Oh.” She muffled a laugh.

”Jesus, Dar. To a Cuban man that was worse than firing him.”

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”Mm,” Dar agreed softly. ”On the bright side, we got invited to Maria’s daughter’s quinces.”

”We did?” Kerry was surprised. ”I mean...we, as in you and I, did?”Dar nodded. ”We—definitely we—got invited,” she confirmed.

”Maria said some really nice things to me after everything happened.

She’s really a sweetheart.” She tugged on Kerry’s t-shirt. ”We’ll have to go shopping for some really snazzy gowns.”

”Uerrg. I haven’t worn a gown since my prom, Dar.” Kerry made a face. ”And you don’t want to know what I looked like for that.”

”Sure I would.” Dar objected, with a grin. ”You haven’t shown me all your embarrassing pictures yet. Tell you what. How about we get dinner sent over, and we can trade photos. I was a really dorky looking kid.””Eek.” Kerry rested a cheek on her shoulder, and bit her lip. ”Okay, but you have to promise not to laugh. I tried to perm my hair for the occasion.”

”I promise.” Dar crossed a finger over her heart. ”But you can’t ever admit to seeing the ones from my grade school play.”

Mischief filled the green eyes. ”Ooo...you got a deal,” Kerry agreed, curling her fingers around Dar’s. ”Go get into your jammies. I’ll call the beach club.”

Dar smiled. ”Okay.” She stood up and walked towards the bedroom, then glanced over her shoulder. ”Could you have them send—”

”A chocolate milkshake?” Kerry supplied, dialing the phone.

”Sure.”

Dar’s eyes twinkled, as she disappeared. Once she was in the bedroom, she could hear Kerry’s low voice, and looked down to see Chino tugging on her shoe, and it made her smile.

Home had such a different meaning now. Dar tossed her jacket over the chair near the mirror, then quickly changed out of her suit, feeling a sense of relief as the soft cotton of her favorite sleep shirt draped over her shoulders. She sat down for a minute on the edge of the waterbed, and picked Chino up to play with her. ”Hey there girl. Whatcha up to?”

The puppy nibbled at her chin, then licked her face. Her brown eyes gazed adoringly up at Dar as her paws scrabbled for a good hold on her neck. Dar glanced around, then hugged the puppy to her, feeling a silly grin take over her face. Then she stood, and tucked Chino under her arm, as she made her way back out into the living room.

Kerry was standing by the coffee table, having just lit two sturdy, scented candles and dimmed the lights. Her blonde lashes caught the candlelight, which threw interesting shadows up her body as she turned towards Dar and smiled. ”Dinner’s on its way.”

Dar gazed at her, imagining what it would have been like, to come home from a day like today, and not have Kerry or Chino there. A sigh Hurricane Watch

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trickled out of her, and she put the puppy down, then went over and enfolded Kerry in a hug that came right from her heart.

”Urk.” Kerry was surprised, but obligingly slid her arms around her lover and hugged her back, loving the feel of the strong body pressed hard against her own. ”Mm. What was that for?”

”I’m just glad you’re a part of my life,” Dar answered, with a sigh.

”Really?” Kerry murmured.

”Of course.” Dar released her, and leaned back a little.

”Funny you should say that.” Kerry sat down on the love seat, and pulled her down as well. ”I’ve...um...I’ve got something to ask you, and before I do, I want you to know it’s okay for you to say no.”

”It is?” Dar responded faintly, unsure of what to expect.

”Yes.” Kerry took both her hands and held them. ”I got a call today.” She took a breath. ”It was from Pastor Robert. I told you about him, remember?”

”Yes,” Dar answered.

”He’s in town,” Kerry told her.

”Oh. That's nice...you...um...want to have him here for dinner?”

Dar offered, hesitantly.

”No.

Well, I mean, sure, but that’s not the question.” Kerry squared her shoulders. ”He offered to um...” She stopped, then took a breath. ”He said he’d perform a ceremony for us, if I wanted...I mean, if we wanted him to.”

Dar blinked at her.

”Listen, I know you’re not into that, Dar. I know it’s not been something you had growing up, and I know it doesn’t really mean...oh.”

Kerry shut up as Dar pulled her hands loose, and cupped her cheeks, bringing her closer for a passionate kiss.

They broke apart. ”I’d love that,” Dar stated sincerely. ”I mean, you’re right. I don’t know much about it, and I’ve never been into stuff like that, but I know it’s important to you, and that makes it important to me.”

Kerry smiled gently at her. ”Wow.” It felt wonderful. ”Great. Now you can figure out a place to do it, because I don’t know if I want to have it inside a church down here, even the one on South Beach.”

Dar grinned. ”I know a place.” She cradled Kerry’s face in her hands, stroking her cheeks with gentle thumbs. ”It’s a little short on amenities, but it’s got a killer sunrise.” Kerry’s request had delighted her in ways she’d hardly expected, but she couldn’t pretend she hadn’t been considering the same sort of thing lately. In fact, a dawn run out to that little spot had been on her list of Valentine’s Day things anyway.

”Thank you for asking me.”

Kerry found herself smiling, just because Dar was. ”Sorry you had such a lousy day.”

Dark brows knit. ”Huh?” Dar asked, honestly puzzled. ”What day?

Oh…” She laughed softly at herself. ”Yeah. Right...that...ah...” She 324

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studied Kerry’s face. ”Maria was right.”

Kerry leaned into the touch, simply feeling the love. ”Mm?”

”I have been blessed,” Dar stated softly. ”I’ve found my soul mate.”

Breathe. Kerry heard a voice, remotely resembling her own reminding her. Breathe, Kerry. Her chest moved, and sucked in air, making a soft, almost sob. She was crying, and she had no idea why, except that just that word made her feel so...

Complete.

Kerry smiled. ”Yes, you have.” She reached up and curled her fingers around Dar’s hand, then turned it a little and kissed the palm.

After all this time. The thought echoed gently.

The doorbell rang.

”I’ll get that,” Dar said, softly.

”I’ll get the pictures,” Kerry answered.

”We’ve got a lot of catching up to enjoy,” Dar said, with a smile.

Her soul mate smiled back. ”Yes, we do.”

DAR SLOWLY LET her eyes open, aware of the early morning hour even in the strange place she found herself.

Well, not really strange, it was, after all, her couch, but strange enough to jog her lightly out of her sleep, as Kerry shifted and burrowed closer to her. It was still dark out, and as such, she couldn’t see anything but vague shadows in the living room, where books of pictures and scattered memories surrounded them.

She hadn’t been able to prevent Kerry from kidnapping the one of her dressed as Tigger, and she just knew that was going to come back and bite her in the butt someday. Oh well, could have been worse. She could have been Pooh.

And that was okay, because she’d snatched not one, but two pictures of Kerry—one of her as a wide eyed, beruffled cherub, and another of her taken off guard, as a teenager with her back against a tree trunk, and a book open on her knees.

In the second, there was

something so gentle, and so wistful in her expression, with her hand spread across the page, and her head resting against the bark, it tugged at Dar’s heartstrings irresistibly

Her soul mate. Dar smiled, and stroked the soft pale hair. The word had delighted Kerry, and it really did fit how she felt towards Kerry, as though they really were part of each other Maybe they were. Dar pulled Kerry a little closer. They certainly fit together, like a well made wooden puzzle, despite their different heights. Kerry was nestled up against her left side, with one arm wrapped around Dar’s stomach and her knees between the taller woman’s. Dar could feel Kerry’s warm breath against her collarbone, and Dar smiled. They were breathing in the same rhythm.

It was a nice feeling.

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Loving Kerry was a nice feeling. Dar smiled contentedly, and relaxed, thinking about the weekend. More specifically, early Saturday morning, when they’d go out and greet the sun, and tell each other...

Pale blue eyes popped open in mild alarm. Tell each other what?

Could they use the standard vows?

Uh...no.

Dar's mind started working. What in the hell could they…okay, okay...how about something simple like…I'll love you forever.

She winced. Not that it wasn't true, but…

Hmm…

You are the light of my life? Augh, Dar, you sound like a bad seventies hit parade. You make my life worth living?

Well, that was true too. You came into my world, and turned it upside down? Not so flattering, but…

”Dar?” Kerry’s sleepy voice interrupted her studied musing. She glanced down, where Kerry was still nestled against her.

”Hmm?”

”What are you muttering?”

Dar sighed. ”Sorry. I didn’t realize I was.”

”Mm...so...what was it?” Kerry persisted, curiously.

”Umm...nothing, really.” Dar cleared her throat gently, and snuggled back down. ”G’back to sleep.” She firmly closed her eyes.

”Okay,” Kerry murmured obediently.

Peaceful silence fell.

”Am I really the light of your life?”

Dar made a noise halfway between a groan and a whine.

”I’m not?”

”Of course you are,” Dar spluttered hastily. ”You weren’t supposed to hear that.”

”Oh.” Kerry’s voice seemed disappointed. ”Okay, sorry.”

Dar gazed down at her, unhappily. ”Kerry, you’re all those things, and so much more I can’t even begin to tell you. I was just trying to figure out what I was going to say to you on Saturday morning.”

”Oh.” The inflection was totally different. ”You don’t have to say anything,” Kerry told her softly. ”Just your being there’s enough for me.””Oh,” Dar’s turn to murmur.

”I thought...maybe...I could just...sort of, um...I mean, I have this poem that I wrote. I thought maybe I could have Pastor Robert use that.”Dar exhaled in relief. ”That’d be perfect.” She kissed Kerry’s head gently. ”Thank you.”

Silence fell.

”I turned everything upside down, huh?”

Dar rolled over onto her back, pulling Kerry up on top of her.

”Yep.”

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”Awk, Dar, c’mon. You’re gonna be squished.” Kerry laughed.

Dar rubbed her back, working the strong muscles with her fingers.

”Nope, I like this feeling.”

”You like not being able to breathe. Dar, you’re demented.” But Kerry’s body slowly relaxed completely against her, melding with her own in boneless completeness.

”Mm...” Dar savored the feeling.

”Goofball.” Kerry nuzzled her neck, nibbling the underside of her jaw. ”I love you.” She felt the muscles of Dar’s face move as she smiled.

”It’s almost time to get up.”

”Uh huh,” Dar agreed lazily. ”How are you feeling?”

Kerry considered the question. ”Like I don’t want to get my lazy butt up and go running, but I don’t have a good excuse not to,” she admitted. ”So, c’mon, tiger, let’s hit the Frosted Flakes and get moving.”

Dar laughed softly, and pinched her on the specified body part.

”I’ll put the coffee up, you let the puppy out?”

It was just the start of another day.