Lisa
thought her so beautiful, it was almost as if she were seeing Corinne for the first time. Seeing Corinne the way Dayan had seen her.
“I want to go home. You scared me, Rina, when I couldn’t wake you up. I want to go with you to the doctor and hear his prognosis about the pregnancy,” Lisa said as firmly as she could.
“I’m too tired,” Corinne said softly. “Let me sleep for another couple of hours, and then we’ll decide what to do.” She pulled the covers up to her chin.
Lisa glanced up at Cullen. “She never sleeps during the day. Corinne must be sick, really, Cullen. Maybe we should take her to a hospital.”
Corinne roused herself enough to lift her long lashes and peer at Lisa. “I’m not sick — in fact, I’m breathing easier than normal. I stayed up all night, that’s all. What time is it?”
“It’s nearly six-thirty.”
Corinne groaned. “Why are you waking me up, then? No one but a lunatic gets up that early. I think I went to bed at six.”
“It’s six-thirty in the evening,” Lisa emphasized. “You’ve been in bed all day.” She didn’t admit she had slept most of the day snuggled right beside Cullen in the other bedroom. Lisa just wanted to go home and shut her front door, closing out the entire world.
Corinne’s eyelashes fluttered in surprise. She forced herself to sit up, blinking as she looked around the unfamiliar room. “I can’t believe it’s so late.” Shoving a hand through her thick, dark hair, she glanced over at Cullen. “Lisa worries endlessly about me, but really, I’m perfectly fine. I don’t know why I slept so long.” She was still exhausted, her arms and legs, heavy. All she wanted to do was go back to sleep.
Cullen smiled at her. “Lisa was frightened when she couldn’t wake you up. Would you like something to eat or drink? I could make you tea or coffee,” he offered.
“He makes great tea,” Lisa confirmed. “Rina loves tea, don’t you?”
“That would be wonderful,” Corinne agreed. Lisa was looking at Cullen with her heart in her eyes, something Corinne had never seen before. It wouldn’t hurt to drink a cup of his tea to please her. “Where’s Dayan?” She tried to sound casual, but it must not have come off that way, because Lisa glared at her, and Corinne couldn’t help blushing.
“Just what went on last night?” Lisa hissed when Cullen stepped out of the room. “Don’t you think you’re in enough trouble without getting mixed up with a rock star?”
“He doesn’t exactly play rock,” Corinne answered mischievously.
Lisa frowned in reprimand. “Don’t joke about this, Corinne. It isn’t funny. You know very well you’ve always had an aversion to being in the public eye. What do you think is going to happen if you start running around with that man? The tabloids love people like him. Forget about him.”
Corinne reached out and gently took Lisa’s hand. “This isn’t about Dayan at all, is it? I’m not going to die, Lisa. I won’t. I’m a fighter, you know that. This baby is going to be a part of us — both of us, our family. You aren’t going to lose me.”
Instant tears were swimming in Lisa’s blue eyes. Her fingers closed convulsively around Corinne’s as if her grip could somehow keep death at bay. “You always overestimate your strength, Rina, you do. Even John said so. I want the baby too, but not at your expense. I don’t want to be all alone. I couldn’t stand that. I’ve already lost John.” She laid her head in Corinne’s lap for comfort. For the first time, she could feel the baby there, lying between them. She moved her head and placed her hand over the small mound. “It’s moving,” Lisa said with a kind of wonder.
“She’s kicking,” Corinne confirmed, stroking Lisa’s hair. “A little girl, Lisa. It’ll be okay, you’ll see. I know I can do this. I want the baby so much.”
“I’m sorry, Rina, I didn’t mean to sound so awful about the baby. I really do want it too. I want to be excited. She’ll be the only thing I have left of John, but I love you. I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you. I’m sure Dayan’s a really nice person. Cullen says he is. And he doesn’t have the reputation of being a womanizer. I didn’t mean to imply that. I don’t know why I was saying all those
crazy
things.” Lisa wailed the words, ashamed of herself.
“I know, Lisa,” Corinne crooned soothingly, “you’re afraid of losing me. But I’m really not going anywhere. You just have to believe we’ll be all right. It’s natural, after what happened to John, to be afraid of losing family, but it won’t happen. I’m
very
strong. I feel better than I have in years.”
Lisa sat up slowly, taking a deep breath and giving Corinne a tentative smile. “So was there really someone in our house last night? Cullen didn’t say one way or the other.” She glanced toward the door and lowered her voice. “I thought it a little strange he didn’t want to call the police or go back to help his friend, didn’t you?”
Corinne leaned against the headboard of the bed. She was beginning to wake up, the heavy, fuzzy feeling was fading away. “Dayan talked to me about it last night, Lisa. He thinks we’re both in danger from the same people who murdered John.”
Lisa was silent for a moment. “You know more about John’s death than you let on, don’t you?” She looked down at her hands. “You never told me, because I never ask questions. I’m like an ostrich.”
“You’re not an ostrich,” Corinne denied gently, refraining from smiling. “You’re a beautiful young woman who suffered far too much trauma as a child. John and I both got in the habit of trying to protect you.”
“We’re the same age,” Lisa pointed out, “but you’re the one who always took care of the details of our lives. You’ve had to battle the same trauma as I have, and you have a heart condition. John may have been my brother, but he was your husband. We both loved him. We both lost him. Why am I such a chicken about life? Why am I so afraid to hear anything that might upset me? That’s why you didn’t tell me what you knew about John, and it’s why you didn’t tell me about the baby. You were afraid I’d fall apart.” She looked down at her hands. “I would have fallen apart.”
“Lisa” — Corinne said her name softly — “you’re being way too hard on yourself. You always worried about me and took on all the jobs you thought were too strenuous for me. We work as a team together, we always have. I didn’t tell you my suspicion about John’s murder because that’s exactly what it is, just suspicion. John and I are” — she searched for the right word — “different.”
Lisa ducked her head, shaking it, ashamed. “And I never wanted to hear about it. Not once. It was because...” She trailed off.
“It was scary,” Corinne finished for her.
Lisa shook her head adamantly. “It made me feel left out. It created a bond between you and John that I wasn’t a part of. We were always together. I wanted John to love you because I was afraid someone would come along and steal you away from us. I was the one who talked you into marrying John, remember? You told him no so many times, but I cried and fussed and acted so childish. I was afraid we wouldn’t be together anymore. I was lost there for a while, feeling like I couldn’t breathe. I feel that way now. Everything is so scattered. John is dead. I know your heart’s been acting up lately; I’ve seen you fighting for air, and taking more medicine. Now you’re going to have a baby, and for the first time
ever
you’re really interested in someone.” The last was almost an accusation.
Corinne could feel Lisa’s pain. Their world was changing around them very fast, and it was frightening to think of all the dangers they were facing. She couldn’t blame Lisa for being scared or for wanting things to be the way they were before. “I loved John very much, Lisa — don’t think for one moment I didn’t. Maybe it wasn’t romantic and passionate, but I loved him deeply and I’ll never regret what we had. I don’t want you to think I was forced into marrying John. I’m excited about the baby, but I’m nervous too. And meeting Dayan is very unexpected. I don’t know how I feel about him. I don’t know why I respond to him the way I do.” She took a deep breath and admitted, “It is frightening, Lisa. I’m afraid too.”