Deadly Expectations (11 page)

“Paul?”
 
I asked.

“Who were you talking to?”
 
Paul asked again.

Don’t lie, I told myself.
 
You won’t be able to keep things straight.
 
“Myself.
 
You could actually hear me?”

He didn’t say anything.

“Could you hear her too?
 
I thought it was all in my head.”

“Hear who Anna?
 
Who were you talking to?”

“The woman in the mirror,” I whispered.

The light came on and I had to blink in the brightness that had made me blind in the dark.
 
Paul put out his hand.

“You sounded angry,” he said softly.
 
“I thought you were mad with me for going out.
 
You got a concussion not that long ago.
 
Ray said to watch for any odd behaviour from you for the next little bit … just in case.”

My hand shook as I took his and I stepped out of my corner.
 
I was still naked and Paul towering over me in his boots with his gun was intimidating and reassuring at the same time.
 

My voice shook.
 
“You really startled me good.”

“Come on, you’re shivering.
 
I came back for another layer and I heard you.
 
It sounded like you were fighting with someone.
 
You can tell me about it in the morning when you warm up.
 
I’m running late,” he said.
 
“Sorry for startling you.”

Then he kissed me again and disappeared out the door.

Tension rolled down my body leaving me momentarily numb.
 
I woke disoriented.
 
I had fallen asleep on my sore ribs and pain quickly had me wide awake.
 
Paul was facing me, eyes closed, so after carefully making it over to my good side I backed myself into his lap and tried to go back to sleep.
 
His arm curled around me and he relaxed with a big sigh.
 
He was cold from the outside.

“I woke you up.”

“No,” I said.
 
“I did that to myself.
 
I fell asleep on my sore side.
 
It’s better now.”

“Ray’s worried your concussion was worse than we thought.
 
I’m worried too.”

I was surprised.
 
“Why?”

“You were arguing with someone in the mirror last night,” he said.
 
“Not normal.”

I sighed.
 
“Is there anything about me being here that has been normal?
 
Anyway that woman has been around for years, not just last night.
 
She tries to keep me out of trouble … I put up with her … she can be sort of mean sometimes.”

“How?”

“Well, the night we met she wanted me to run the other way.
 
She thought I would be some sort of prize for you, that you would ruin things for me.”

He thought a moment.
 
“Like Kenny?”

“Ray …” I muttered.
 
“Yes, like Kenny.
 
What did he tell you?”

“Everything,” he said.
 
“I guess it helps me understand you more.”

I didn’t say anything.
 
Fresh humiliation filled me.
 
I put a hand on my face to try and hide from it.

“Short fuse?” he asked.
 
“Do girls really talk like that?”

“I guess I picked it up from Alina and her friends.”
 
I told him.
 
“I finished high school and left home at sixteen to ride around the southern States alone.
 
She seemed to know when I was headed for trouble.
 
The last time I saw her I told her to beat it and went back to join you for dinner.
 
I hadn’t seen her since.”

“Mm, what did she want last night?” he asked.

I thought about it.

“She said that just because everything is working from the waist down again doesn’t mean we can dodge any decisions we have to make.”

“Wise woman,” he said.

If you only knew half of what she said, I thought.

“I suppose, but anyone who is going to demand to know if your parts are working right is crossing the line.”

Paul laughed then he yawned.

“Breakfast is in a couple of hours, let’s get some sleep.”

I could smell cigar smoke on my pillow and closed my eyes.
 
Slowly Paul warmed up against me.
 
Maybe he was doing the same thing … lying awake thinking that I was asleep or lying awake knowing that I was pretending.

Chapter 10

I’d found the only quiet place in Paul’s house was the far end of the kitchen table when all the hustle of dinner was gone.
 
With the light out and a warm mug of something I could put my feet up on the sill of the big window and look down the road that led past the cabins to the gate or on nights like this watch snow fall in the porch light.
 
After spending my first few rough days stuck in Paul’s room it wasn’t my first choice of places to go if I wasn’t tired.

Paul and I had a couple of armless chairs and a blanket on our legs to fend off the draft from the old window.
 
The heat from the wood stove in the common room called it a draw with the cold from the window about half way down the table so the blanket was necessary.

I heard something in the hall as Paul took a breath to speak and I quickly put my fingers on his lips to stop him.

“Captain?”
 
A voice from the kitchen door.
 
Paul went to whisper with him for a few minutes then he came back to me.

“I have a few men who just got in … wasn’t expecting them for a couple of days and I need to get them settled.
 
I’ll be back in a while.”

I tried to hide a yawn.
 
“Are you bringing them here?
 
Do you want me to get out of sight for a while?”

“Yes, late dinner, they’ve been travelling most of the day … and not unless you want to.”

It was only about twenty minutes before I could hear Paul and the newcomers stomping the snow off their boots on the porch.
 
I’d hoped to make myself scarce before they showed up and meet them in the morning.
 
I stopped at the other side of the foyer, about ten feet from the door.

“Ah, I’m glad you’re still here.”
 
Paul said to me as they hung their coats.
 
He introduced the first two and sent them along to the kitchen.
 
The third was a younger blonde version of Paul.

“Anna.
 
I’d like you to meet my second in command.
 
Lieutenant Richards.”

“Joshua,” he said to me.
 
“Paul says I’m going to be an uncle.
 
Congratulations to you both.”

Uncle … that explained why he looked so much like Paul.
 
I looked at Paul over Joshua’s shoulder.
 
He was trying to keep his grin under control.
 
I put out my hand for him and he shook it.
 
“Nice to meet you, Joshua … and thank you,” I said.
 
“Come on, there’s a stack of chicken in the fridge.”

After only a couple of steps Joshua whispered to Paul.
 
“Score big brother.
 
You finally tied down one of those models you’ve been chasing.”

The last thing I wanted was to end up with that label … or stereotype.
 
I stopped dead and spun on my heel, put my hands behind my back and stared Joshua down until his grin fell.
 
I tilted my head and looked at Paul again over his shoulder.
 
He was struggling to keep a straight face.
 
I turned my attention back to Joshua.

“Lieutenant Richards … let’s try this again.”
 
I said and held out my hand.
 
He reached out slowly and took it.

“Lieutenant-Commander Creed, Canadian Forces.”
 
I pronounced it
lef
-tenant then I paused.
 
Joshua was starting to lose a bit of the cold air pinkness from his cheeks.
 
I let go of his hand and made a fist, putting it in my palm.
 
“If I hear any more trash like that come past your lips we’re going to go behind the house to compare service records.
 
You won’t piss right for a month … clear?”

“Clear. Yes Ma’am,” he stammered.

“Very well,” I said and stepped out of his way gesturing to the kitchen.

After he was past me Paul whispered.
 
“Isn’t it against the law to impersonate a naval officer?”

Joshua stopped.

“Only if you’re wearing the uniform … I think.”
 
I whispered back as we burst out laughing.

Joshua turned around.

“I like her,” he said and headed off to the kitchen.

Paul was still laughing quietly.

“About time I met your brother,” I told him.

“He was called out a while ago … he’ll spend a week or so here then spend some time with our folks before he comes back.”

I thought a moment.
 
“Do your folks know about me … that they’ll be grandparents?”

“Does your father?”
 
Paul countered.

“I don’t know if my father would shoot you or be relieved that my wandering days could be over.”

“Mine would be in the relieved category … you have no idea how often my mother uses the words “nice woman” and “grandchildren” with Joshua and me.”

After everyone had gotten dinner the two men went to the cabin Paul assigned them I cleaned up the kitchen while Joshua and Paul went to the common room.
 
Paul got out the scotch and two of the remaining cigars.

While I unloaded the dishwashers I heard bits and pieces of their conversation.
 
Shop talk, their family.
 
A lot of laughter.
 
Joshua’s laugh was just as loud as Paul’s and I was quite certain I wouldn’t get much rest until Paul came to bed.
 
I wiped down the counters and the table I turned off the light and went to sit back down and watch the snow.

“She’s gone upstairs?”
 
Joshua asked after a while.

“Must have,” Paul answered.

Joshua laughed.
 
“Lucky bastard, you told mom?”

“That I’m a lucky bastard?”

“No, that you finally found a nice woman with poor eyesight.”

There was more laughter.
 
I laughed quietly; Paul wasn’t hard on the eyes at all.

“
Hm
… you know mom’s all but given up on you.
 
I get the grandchildren talk ten times worse than you do.
 
If you were a good big brother you’d tell her and get the heat off me for a while.”