by Kahlen Aymes
“Then tell me that this so-called connection is enough to lock him up?” Her eyes threw fire, and her expression was determined. “You can’t, can you?”
Kenneth sighed, searching her worried expression. He couldn’t and she knew it. “What are you doing today?
“I don’t know. I have to deal with the car, call the insurance agent.” She shrugged. “Why?”
“Just be careful.” He held up his arm to hail her a cab. “Take some time off to regroup.”
Kenneth’s arms slid around her, but she didn’t fall into them as he’d hoped. She was stiff, her arms crossing her chest between them, and she visibly winced. He was hurt, but it was only to be expected. She’d just been assaulted and, surely, the touch of any man would repulse her in her current state. Not to mention all of her bruises had to be painful. He reluctantly let her go.
“Yeah, I will.”
“If you need me—anything…” His eyes searched hers for some sign that she missed him. “Just call. I can come over tonight. You shouldn’t be alone.”
Angel flushed and touched the front of his cream-colored dress shirt, hating the hurt she saw in his eyes. “I’m okay, but thank you.”
She slid gratefully into the cab and gave the address of her office to the driver just before her phone rang. Alex. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the seat, gathering the strength to let it go unanswered. It was the fifth time he’d called in the past two days.
Would he leave a message this time?
She needed his voice, his arms, and his mere essence to make some sense out of the chaos. She was angry and frustrated. Angel was angry that she allowed her fear to put him at risk and at her own weakness. Swanson had to believe Alex was out of her life or he’d use him, hurt him in order to hurt her. She had to keep him safe at all costs. If anything happened to Alex, well, she’d never forgive herself.
It would’ve been easy to give the driver his office address and tell him everything. It didn’t feel right keeping things from him, but no good would come from telling Alex now. She opened her eyes and squared her shoulders, her focus renewed as the cab came to a stop in front of her office. She made her way inside, her bruised muscles protesting with each movement.
Liz was busy working on the monthly billing statements and barely looked up from her computer screen or Angel’s slowness would have been cause for concern. Angel’s hip burned at the place she had landed on when she was thrown into the van, and the rest of her body ached. The angry, purple bruise that she noticed while looking in the bathroom mirror earlier that morning, was shocking.
“Morning, Liz,” Angel murmured as she walked past her into her own office. “Would you mind getting me some coffee and then coming in?”
“Sure, boss.” She glanced up, smiled brightly, and pushed back from her desk to do Angel’s bidding. She showed up with a cup of black coffee, quickly placing it on the desk.
“The schedule is all regular patients except there was a call earlier today from Ally Franklin. She mentioned she’d spoken to you about the leukemia benefit that she’s chairing and asked for a meeting. You have time before your first appointment, so I scheduled her in. I hope that’s okay?”
She’d forgotten all about that. Angel reached for the coffee, taking a quick sip. The liquid was hot and burned her tongue. “Ouch!” She almost spilled the steaming coffee on her lap. “Oh, um, sure.”
Kyle was expecting her to attend band practice yesterday, but it had completely slipped her mind with everything else going on. Maybe it would be the distraction she needed, and it could also take Swanson’s focus away from Alex. Maybe if he saw her around her ex, he’d believe she wasn’t involved with Alex.
Angel was in a sort of haze, hearing but not registering much of what her assistant said as she went over her patient load and arranged the files on her desk.
“Do you have enough blank tapes and notepads?” Liz asked, rising to leave. “Angel?” she asked thoughtfully. “You’re not yourself. Are you still feeling ill?”
“No, um, I’m fine. Just tired, I guess.”
“Party too hard this weekend?” Liz asked with a laugh. Her eyes twinkled. “I listened to the show Friday night! You were brilliant. I can’t believe that one woman believed that guy! Just because he said the other girl was just a friend with benefits.”
“I know, right?” Angel said with a roll of her eyes. “She’s infatuated, but it will wear off when she sees he’s playing them both.”
“Silly girl!”
Angel sat back in her chair and blew on her coffee before raising the rim to her lips for another sip. “She’s in love.” She shrugged. “Love is blind, and when you’ve got someone in front of you that is larger than life, it’s hard to know what the truth is.”
Liz’s eyes narrowed. “What?” She shook her head with a smirk. “I expected you to say something like ‘she’s getting what she deserves for hiding her head in the sand!’ Followed up by a resounding, ‘Stupid cow!’”
Angel laughed lightly, pulling the files close to her, and setting her cup on her desk. “Yes, normally, but lately, my black and white world is muddying up in certain places.”
Liz stopped in the doorway, her eyebrow shooting up quizzically. “What? Something’s up.”
Angel flushed guiltily. Liz didn’t know about Alex; she didn’t know about her feelings, but Angel felt as if her deepest secret was about to be laid bare. She bit her lip and flipped on her computer. “In talking with all of these women, who are so fucked up by relationships, I just… I’ve started to empathize a little.”
“Empathize, huh? Angel, you don’t empathize; you tell people to get their heads out of their asses.”
Angel’s face burned, and she scrubbed at one of her cheeks with the heel of her hand. “Not everyone can be a cold-hearted bitch like me, you know.” Her teasing brought a smile to the older woman’s lips.
“You never fooled me. You have a big heart.”
The outer door to the office opened and someone walked inside. “That must be Mrs. Franklin,” Liz murmured and turned to go.
“Send her right in.”
Angel stood, her hand smoothing down her black pencil skirt, as a willowy young woman, impeccably dressed in a dark green silk blouse and subtle green and brown tweed suit, entered her office. The scarf she wore was the perfect frame for her heart-shaped face and brunette hair that bounced around at the top of her shoulders. She was polished and fine, her expression pleasant as she extended her hand. “Angel, right? Or should I call you Dr. Hemming?”
“Angel, please. It’s my pleasure to meet you, Ally.” Something about the calm green eyes put her at ease as she accepted the outstretched hand with a smile. “I’m sorry; I was supposed to go to the band’s practice yesterday, but I forgot. Can we get you anything to drink? I think I have Pellegrino or tea if you don’t like coffee.”
Ally’s eyes looked over the other woman who walked across the room to the sideboard along one wall and pulled open the small refrigerator door hidden there. Angel was beautiful, and Ally could see Alex’s fascination, though she was different from a lot of his previous girlfriends. Being a fiery brunette was the obvious difference, but it was the way she held herself, the confidence with which she moved, and the intelligence behind her dark eyes which would trigger his fascination. Yes, she could certainly understand Alex’s infatuation.
“Pellegrino is perfect; thank you. I tried to call your friend again, but he’s not taking my calls, I’m afraid. The date is getting so close, and I have no back-up plan. I really don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Ally’s voice was light and flitted around the room like a butterfly in a meadow of buttercups despite her dilemma. Angel’s mood lifted as a result, and she thought Ally’s blood red nail polish against her pale skin was a pretty contrast as the long fingers wrapped around the crystal tumbler full of the sparkling water.
“Thank you,” Ally murmured as she accepted the glass.
Angel
settled back in her chair across from the other woman. “I can’t promise anything. Kyle put a condition on the benefit when I spoke to him, and I’m not sure it will work out.”
“What sort of condition? Is it about money?” Ally’s brow creased. “I told him the most the foundation could afford was $10,000.”
“Ugh. If only that was it,” Angel answered. The confused look on the other woman’s face propelled her forward. “He requires that I resume my position with the band for this gig or he won’t agree.”
“Oh, my gosh! Angel!” Her face lit up. “That would be fabulous and would certainly add to the draw of the event! Will you?”
“Hmmm. It’s not exactly one of my top priorities right now. It’s been a few years since I’ve performed with them and some of the players have changed.” She grimaced as the image of the airhead blonde that took her place crossed her mind. Surely, Crystal would protest at her guest appearance and Kyle’s insistence. It wasn’t like they parted on the best of terms. “It could be a disaster, and I wouldn’t want that for you, Ally.”
Allison leaned forward in her seat anxiously. “What could happen? You sang with them for years, you said. It’s only a few hours, and it’s such a worthy cause.”
“Oh, I’m not disputing the worthiness of the cause, but—”
“Then what?”
“Kyle and I were together, and we split because he was screwing this bimbo groupie that used to haunt every gig we did. Her stupidity used to annoy the shit out of me, even before that happened.” Angel glanced up and caught herself, but Ally was grinning, two dimples prominent in her cheeks. She looked familiar in a way Angel couldn’t place. “Er, excuse my choice of words. Anyway, I caught them backstage after a particularly important show. We were on the verge of getting a record deal with Sony, but then I walked out on Kyle and the band. Everyone was pretty mad at me.”
“Pfft!” Allison’s hand dismissed the notion with a wave. “They should have been pissed at Kyle, not you. Er, excuse my choice of words.” Ally grinned. “It was his fault for not keeping his prick in his pants.”
Angel’s face split into a brilliant smile. “I think this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.”
“So, you’ll do it?”
“Only if Kyle agrees to keep Crystal Light away from me.”
“Oh,” Ally responded with another chuckle. “The airhead?”
Angel nodded, her face contorting with a mixture of amusement and disgust. Allison laughed louder this time. “More like brain-dead. I was being kind. Why’d you think I call her Crystal Light?”
The other woman laughed again. “She can’t be that bad.”
“It’s painful. You’ll see.”
“I will?”
“Yes. You’re coming with me when I show up at practice. I’ll call Kyle and let him know.”
Allison’s face lit up. “I can watch? I always wanted to be in a band, but my training was classical strings. I think my mother had a wet dream about Mozart. Or it may have been Vivaldi.”
Angel’s head fell back as laughter shook her shoulders, both of them giggling until they were gasping. Ally Franklin was a breath of fresh air and just what the doctor ordered.
“I studied classical piano, but rock-n-roll is where it’s at, you know? I think I’ll put a couple of conditions out there of my own.” The devilish gleam in Angel’s dark eyes didn’t go unnoticed. “How extensive is this fundraiser, Ally? Is everything being donated?”
Allison nodded. “We’re catering the event with a full bar, and the venue has agreed to only take the cost of food and beverages out of the gross. The net proceeds go to the foundation.”
“What if the band were gratis, too?”
“I already have a commitment from my father and brother to front the cost of the band and the staff, so that’s unnecessary.”
“Well, if Kyle wants me, he has to pay. And, he has to let you sit in, too. That’s if you want to.”
“What? Are you kidding?” Ally’s face flushed with excitement and her green eyes danced.
“Nope.” Angel was reaching for the phone when Liz walked in with a bouquet of Canna lilies in a huge crystal vase. Angel’s heart fell like lead to her stomach. “Oh, my God,” she gasped.
“Sorry to interrupt, but you girls sounded like you’re having so much fun, and these just arrived. The purple color is gorgeous! I’ve never seen anything like them! Have you?”
The thudding of her pulse pushed so hard she could feel it in her wrists and neck. “Uhhhh…. ” She breathed. “Uhm, yeah.”
“Wow. They’re beautiful, Angel. From anyone special?” Ally asked with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.
Angel could do little more than nod as she sat there without moving. Liz placed the large arrangement on the edge of her desk and her shaking hand reached for the card.
Angel-
Please meet me at the Navy Pier at 10 tonight. I miss you.
-Alex
8
The Tangled Web We Weave
Time ticked away. She didn’t own a watch, and the digital numbers on her phone were silent, but still, each second that passed screamed as loudly as a banshee. Angel’s hand moved up to rub her temple as if it would erase the fight from her mind. The struggle tightened her lungs as anxiety wrapped around her chest and squeezed.
“What the fuck am I doing?” Angel muttered to herself as she glanced at her phone again. Alex’s phone. He’d called twice during the day, and she’d ignored him both times. He didn’t leave messages, and both calls came in before the flowers arrived at her office. How in the hell should she know what he was thinking?
She inhaled again and her lungs protested painfully. It was only 7:00 pm and she still had a little more than two hours to decide what she was going to do. The flowers on her table seemed like some beautiful prop in a horror flick, the way they loomed there, mocking her, laying in wait to pounce. Either way, it sucked. The flowers symbolized something wonderful, and now? It could turn into something ugly.
Angel wasn’t kidding herself. As much as she wanted the flowers to be from Alex, it was more likely Swanson sent them, and she wasn’t ignorant enough to blindly walk into an ambush at the pier. She’d come home, changed out of her suit into old sweatpants, a Northwestern sweatshirt, and big fuzzy socks in an attempt to keep herself at home. The slightest chance that Alex did send them was enough to torment her to know for sure. To hope. Admittedly, he was a chink in her armor. She pulled her knees up and rested her arms on them, as a rerun episode of House droned on one of the cable stations.
Her hand hovered and picked up the phone only to throw it down on the sofa next to her ten seconds later. She laughed harshly, wondering if she was more scared of what might happen at the pier or finding out for sure that Alex did not send the flowers. She pulled the elastic from her wrist and worked her hair up, twisting it around three or four times until it flopped in a lopsided knot on the very top of her head.
“Ugggghhhh!” Hating her weakness, Angel picked up the phone, quickly pressing the speed dial that would give her the answer she sought. Her heart was beating as fast as a hummingbird’s as she fought between fear and anxiousness when it began to ring on the other end. It didn’t take him long to answer.
“Hello? Angel? Is that you?” Alex’s voice was strained, and Angel couldn’t tell if he was angry with her or merely inconvenienced.
“Yes. I’m sorry, I uh…”
“No,” he interrupted abruptly. “I’m glad you called.”
“Um, I saw you called earlier but my day was so busy.” She was hedging because he seemed pensive and impatient.
“Have you been busy for two weeks? I was worried about you. You couldn’t spare a moment to respond even with a text?” The anger that laced his tone was expected and she flushed.
“We decided we needed a break,” she said simply, hoping her flustered explanation would halt the inevitable confrontation.
“We did nothing of the sort.”
&nb
sp; “Look,” she began, “I just wanted to say thank you for the lilies.” There, it was out, and in a matter of seconds, she’d have confirmation of the answer she dreaded.
The silence that loomed made her sick to her stomach, even though it was only a couple of beats. Angel was certain she heard his quick intake of breath.
“They aren’t from me.” His voice was deep and stoic.
“Oh.” She rubbed the back of her neck as embarrassment burned in her cheeks, falling back against the sofa and sinking into the plush cushions. “Well, I guess I have a secret admirer,” she said, attempting a light tone designed to keep him from asking questions.
“It’s not a secret admirer and you fucking know it. Was there a card?” he asked tightly.
Angel didn’t want to answer, and Alex lost his temper at her hesitation.
“Look, stop the bullshit! I know who sent them, so just tell me what was on the goddamned card!”
“Wha-at?”
“Angel, please. Just tell me what was on the card.” Alex struggled to regain control, but his words held a sharp edge that belied her disobeying his request.
“That you missed me, and you wanted to meet at the Navy Pier tonight at ten.”
“You’re not to go!” he commanded.
“Stop yelling at me! I wasn’t planning on it! Didn’t you hear what I said?”
“Yes, but that was when you thought you were meeting me.”
She shook her head as pain filled her, hating the abyss she had created between them. “That was an asshole thing to say.”
“You’re so careless! You know that bastard is stalking you, and yet you lie to me and flit around as if you don’t have a care in the world!”
“Fuck you! I don’t flit around anything!”
“The hell you don’t! What have you gained by keeping it from me? It’s making me nuts!”
“What I gain is professional integrity! What do you know about it, Alex? How do you know anything at all?”
“That’s irrelevant. I know about Friday night and more. If you’d have told me, as you should have, this all could have been avoided. You could have been kidnapped, raped, or killed! Damn professional integrity! It’s moot now anyway since the case has been dismissed.”