Broken Faith Page 6

  Terry had turned to her repeatedly in the next few months as she tried to deal with being in love with a married woman who loved her too but wouldn't leave her disabled husband. Marika had been steadfast and uncritical in her support, finding to her own surprise that far from being blindly and bitterly jealous of the other woman, she ached for Terry's pain and longed for a solution for her friend.

  When the woman's husband died, she knew it was only a matter of time until Terry and Jan came together. When her young friend hesitated, guilty at her role during the man's last few months of life, Marika had finally taken a firm stand and forbidden Terry to return to the sanctuary of the blonde's apartment until she'd cleared things up with Jan. It still hurt to remember how she'd ejected Terry from her apartment the previous week with stern instructions to go see Jan and straighten things out before she darkened Marika's door again.

  Marika hadn't heard from Terry in the week since, but strongly suspected that her young friend had finally consummated her relationship with the woman that held her heart. She knew that with Terry being on Dana's team, the young woman would most likely be at the party tonight. Lee had implied as much--that both of the new lovers would be there.

  Trying not to think about how she'd feel seeing Terry and Jan together, Marika concentrated on picking up everything on Dana's list. Once she'd made all her stops and ticked off the items listed, she loaded her bags in the car and headed for Lee and Dana's house.

  Pulling up in front of the light blue ranch house on the corner lot, she noted with relief that she was the first guest to arrive. Spotting Dana's thirteen-year-old son shooting baskets in the driveway, she exited the car and called, "Hey, Danny, would you mind giving me a hand here?"

  The boy turned with a half-glare, but Marika knew it was more an adolescent reflex than directed specifically at her. She and Danny usually got along well, even if children in general baffled her. The boy set his ball down and trotted over to grab a couple of the bags. The blonde noted that he appeared to have shot up a couple more inches since she'd last seen him.

  "Thanks, Danny. I appreciate it. Your Mom sure must be expecting a crowd today. I think I bought out half the town here."

  "No kidding," the dark-haired boy said sullenly, pushing his glasses up his nose as he juggled the bags. "I can't even get to the fridge there's so much junk piled in the kitchen."

  Eyeing her unhappy companion as they carried the bags into the house, Marika asked, "So what's got your tail in a knot, Dan?"

  "Aw, she won't let me go over to my friend's house for the night," he grumbled. Looking up at Marika he insisted, "I don't want to be around a bunch of women all night! I'd rather hang out with the guys."

  "Any particular reason your Mom wants you here?" Marika asked, knowing that Dana was usually a firm but fair parent.

  Danny mumbled something under his breath, and Marika couldn't stop a small smile. She'd known the boy since he was eight and knew when he was hiding something he was embarrassed about. She waited him out and finally he stopped and said, "I'm kinda grounded this weekend."

  "Hmm, I see. Want to tell me why?"

  He scuffed at the walkway and scowled, a hank of sweaty hair falling over his forehead. "She caught me smoking with Tony." Finally meeting Marika's eyes, he burst out, "It's so unfair! They weren't even my cigarettes, they were Tony's."

  "But you were smoking them too," Marika pointed out logically.

  "Yeah, but just to try one. I don't know why Mom's gone ballistic. Lee used to smoke!"

  "Uh huh, and Lee had the good sense to stop, didn't she? I doubt very much that your mother wants you to go through what Lee did when she finally quit. Do you remember what a bear she was?"

  Marika and Danny shared a mutual grin as they recalled how it had taken Dana banishing Lee to the guest room before the big woman had stopped taking out her withdrawal pains on her family, snapping and yelling every time Dana and Danny turned around.

  "I suppose," the boy conceded reluctantly as they turned to continue into the house. "Still, if she doesn't lighten up, I think I may have to hire you to fight for my freedom."

  Marika laughed. "Not sure you could afford my fees, squirt, but I'll tell you what, if you're still grounded by the time school ends, I'll consider taking you on pro bono, okay?"

  His normal good humour returning, Danny grinned up at her. "If I'm still grounded by then, I'm hitting the highway!"

  "If you hit the highway, I'm turning you into road kill," an amused voice sounded from the door that had swung open. Marika looked up to see Dana waiting for them. The woman observed her son wryly before smiling at the blonde. The lawyer was struck again by how much mother and son resembled each other. They had the same stocky build, chestnut hair and dark brown eyes behind thick glasses. Usually they had the same quirky grin but as soon as Danny saw his mother, his smile faded to be replaced by a frown.

  Ignoring her son's sulkiness, Dana told him, "Take the bags to the kitchen and then Lee could use some help in the backyard."

  He stalked by, deliberately keeping his distance as he circled wide around her. Dana just shook her head and looking back at her guest said ruefully, "Adolescents! I don't suppose I could interest you in adopting him for the next five years, could I?"

  Laughing, Marika shook her head as she accepted the hug Dana offered. "No thanks, my friend. Besides if he's going to hire me to take you to court, it would be a conflict of interest."

  The women chuckled as they headed for the kitchen. The blonde set her bags on a crowded counter and glanced out the sliding glass doors that led out onto the deck to see Lee wrestling with a patio umbrella that stubbornly refused to unfurl. Danny was watching her, hands jammed in his jeans.

  "Why do I have a hunch he's not going to be much help?" Marika joked before turning to survey the kitchen and her friend's efforts to clear a workspace on the island. Weaving her way through bags scattered all over the floor, she joined Dana.

  "I know. It's getting so even Lee is exasperated with him half the time and you know he's always had her wrapped around his little finger." Dana shook her head as she drew a knife out of the drawer and pushed a cutting board over to the blonde.

  "Oh, don't worry about it. He'll be human again…one day," Marika teased as she accepted the knife. "You only have to get through the next few years with your sanity intact and he'll probably turn into a delightful adult."

  The stocky woman rummaged through bags until she triumphantly came up with a couple blocks of cheese. "It's the 'getting through with my sanity intact' that I question," Dana grinned as she passed the cheese to her helper.

  "Here, start slicing these and then start on the pickles and the meat. There's about six different kinds of crackers in one of these bags, and I want to have those trays done first so they're ready when people start arriving."

  The two women worked companionably, efficiently slicing and arranging trays.

  "Did Lee give you your gift yet?" Marika questioned curiously. She looked up to see Dana rolling her eyes. "I'm going to take that as a yes. I'll have you know I had nothing to do with it this year."

  Dana chuckled. "I knew that without even asking." Sighing, she shook her head over her mate's strange brand of practical romanticism. "Can't say much though, since I got her a new leather jacket for riding."

  The two women shared a laugh and then Marika remarked casually, "So Lee was saying your whole team will be here tonight." Glancing up she saw sympathetic eyes regarding her compassionately.

  "Uh huh, are you going to be all right with that?" Dana asked, regarding her closely.

  The blonde shrugged. "Why shouldn't I be?"

  The stocky woman sighed and turned to open the fridge. "Gee, maybe because Terry will be here with Jan? Not to mention that you also have a history with a few others on the team." She returned to the island with several meat rolls for slicing.

  "It's a small community, Dana. If I tried to avoid everyone I had a 'history' with, I might as well just stay in my c
ondo all day." Marika smiled warmly at the other woman, touched by her friend's concern.

  "Yeah, well you've got a point there," Dana admitted before frowning slightly at her companion. "Still, you and I both know that Terry was pretty special to you, and it's not going to be easy."

  "She was, and she still is, but only as a friend, Dana. I got over her a long time ago, really." Marika hoped her words sounded more convincing than they felt. She busied herself with a new tray, trying to ignore the intuitive eyes focused on her. She was grateful when Dana allowed the subject to drop and began regaling her with Danny's latest adventures in school.

  The two women worked steadily for the next couple of hours. After wrestling all the patio furniture into submission, Lee had dropped in long enough to kiss Dana, hug Marika and announce she and Danny were going to go pick up the keg. They'd just returned and were setting up the keg on the deck when the doorbell sounded, announcing the arrival of the first guests.

  Dana looked up from where she had her hands deep in a huge bowl of raw hamburger meat, mixing in her spices and forming patties. Marika nodded and took the bowl from her.

  "Go, I'll finish these up while you see to your guests," she said as she took up the task.

  The stocky woman smiled gratefully and, swiftly washing her hands, headed for the front door. Guests began arriving steadily, most finding their own way to the backyard. Marika chatted with those that dropped into the kitchen but didn't venture out to the yard where the party was in full swing now.

  She'd been preparing the large coffee maker when she glanced through the glass doors to see Terry and Jan entering the yard from the alley. She only had to look at them to see that Terry had indeed followed her directive to resolve matters with Jan. Her tall young friend had one arm wrapped tightly around the shorter redhead, whose arm encircled Terry's lean waist. She watched as Jan laughed at something her lover said and reached up to affectionately brush back dark, curly hair. Marika felt her chest tighten as Terry bent over to capture willing lips before the couple joined their friends.

  Resolutely, she turned away and busied herself at the counter farthest from the doors. She managed to avoid looking out into the yard, even evading Dana's admonition to leave everything and come outside to join the party with a laughing protest that she'd be out in a few moments as soon as she finished up. When she heard Dana leave, she closed her eyes and wondered how long it would be before she could make a graceful exit. Hearing the door slide open again, she said over her shoulder, "I'm coming, Dana. Just give me a few more minutes."

  A familiar voice washed over her and she stiffened. "Hey, Marika, you're missing all the fun. C'mon, we miss you."

  Turning, the blonde forced a smile. "Hi, Ter, how's it going?"

  The dark-haired woman crossed the space between them and wrapped Marika in a big hug. Her friend returned the hug quickly, then stepped back out of the embrace. Deep brown eyes regarded her warmly.

  "It couldn't be better, Marika. You were so right to throw me out, my friend!"

  "I take it that you resolved any lingering doubts then," Marika asked lightly, impressed with how calmly she'd managed to speak.

  Terry leaned back against the counter and grinned broadly. "And how! God, Marika, I was such an idiot. She's so incredible. I've been floating on Cloud Nine for the last week."

  "I can see that," Marika observed wryly. She really could. Terry had such a look of joy in her eyes that the blonde couldn't help responding to her friend's happiness. "I'm so glad for you, Ter. She's a very lucky lady."

  The young woman shook her head emphatically. "Believe me, I'm the lucky one! I've never, ever felt like this before. She's it, Marika. She's the one I'm going to spend the rest of my life with." Laughing, she added, "I guess that means I can drop by your place again sometime, eh?"

  "You're always welcome, Terry. You know that. Spooky sends his best by the way." Marika was profoundly grateful that her years of legal training had her on automatic pilot as she chatted casually with her friend. "Hey, you'd better get back to your lady. You don't want all those vultures getting a fix on her now, do you?"

  "Better not!" Terry growled with a twinkle in her eye. "She's mine!" Turning to leave she asked, "So, are you coming out? I'd really like you to meet Jan."

  "I'll be out in a moment, Ter. Still got a few things to do. Besides, we have met before, you know," Marika reminded her friend.

  "Nah, not really," Terry scoffed. "I want you two to get to know each other and be friends. You're both special ladies."

  Marika smiled slightly and gave the young woman a small push towards the doors. "Go! I'll be out shortly, and I'd enjoy a chance to talk to your partner."

  Terry stopped and grinned broadly. "My partner. Yeah, I like the sounds of that. Okay, don't be too long or I'll hafta come in and get you."

  She left and Marika observed her make a beeline for Jan who'd been talking to Dana. Terry came up behind the redhead and wrapped her arms around her partner, pulling her back into her body. Jan rested her hands on Terry's arms, and leaned her head back against her lover's shoulder, obviously perfectly content to be where she was.

  Marika watched for a moment before turning away. A short while later, having run out of things to do, she snagged a beer from the fridge and sat down at the breakfast nook, sipping the brew as she watched the crowd of people in the backyard. She smiled as she saw Danny enter the kitchen digging into a huge bag of chips.

  Mumbling around a mouthful, he said, "Lee said you're to bring out the hamburgers so she can start them."

  "All right," Marika agreed as she went to the fridge to retrieve them. "Why don't I give them to you to take out?"

  Danny backed away from the laden tray she offered him. "Nuh uh, Lee said YOU'RE supposed to bring them out, and she meant it." The boy's emphatic expression made it clear to the reluctant woman that her large friend had tired of her hiding in the kitchen and wasn't about to put up with it any longer.

  Sighing, Marika carried the tray outside, nodding her thanks to Danny who slid the door open for her. Easing around the edge of the crowd, she made her way to where Lee was tending the grill. The big woman glanced up at her sharply as she approached, disapproval in her hazel eyes.

  "'Bout time," Lee grumbled.

  "Sorry, I didn't know you were ready for the burgers yet," Marika responded, ignoring her friend's sarcastic grunt. Before Lee could launch into a lecture, the blonde said brightly, "Oh, there's Tory. I haven't seen her in ages. Excuse me, will you, Lee?"

  Without giving her friend a chance to reply, Marika hastened away. Gracefully sidling up to a clutch of women she knew, she joined their conversation, carefully keeping an eye on Terry and Jan's whereabouts. When she noticed Terry looking over the crowd with a small frown, she eased away from the group and threaded her way back to the house, smiling and greeting people as she went. A quick glance confirmed that Lee was busy at the grill and she made her escape. Spying Dana and two others in the kitchen, she turned left and entered the small washroom that abutted the central hallway.

  Closing the door behind her, she leaned against it and sighed, wishing she'd made an excuse to duck the party after all, but knowing that it would've meant a confrontation with Lee if she had. Through the small, high open window she could hear the buzz of the crowd and bursts of laughter. Closing the commode lid she sat down and rested her head in her hands.

  She'd reluctantly decided she couldn't stay in there much longer when voices filtered through the window and caught her attention. Obviously standing under the window an unknown woman's voice asked, "So who was the fox, Val?"

  "Who're you talking about, Laurie?" Marika recognized the voice of Val Meninger, a woman she'd briefly dated the previous year on the rebound from Terry.

  "She was just out here, but I've never seen her before. Hair so blonde it's almost white, legs so long they go on forever, and the most gorgeous butt I've ever seen in jeans. She was over talking to that bunch there."

  "Aw shit! You
don't mean Marika Havers, do you?"

  At hearing her name, Marika sat upright, startled but curious.

  "I dunno. Like I said, I've never seen her before. I know she's not on the team; that's for sure. God, she was gorgeous though. I wonder if she's single."

  "You do NOT want to go there," Val sputtered angrily. Marika sighed, saddened that the woman still obviously held a grudge.

  "Why not?" the other voice asked curiously. "What's wrong with her?"

  "Oh nothing, if you don't mind being used and discarded like an old tissue when she's tired of you. Believe me, she's as cold as they come." Marika shuddered at the venom in her ex-lover's voice.

  "Huh, what a shame. Still, it might be kinda fun while it lasted, as long as you knew what you were getting in for. Was she always cold, if you know what I mean?" The insinuation was clear and Marika stood to make her exit, sure she didn't want to hear anything else.

  "No, I guess not," Val said grudgingly. "She knows her way around the sheets, but trust me, it's not worth it…"

  The rest of Val's assessment was lost as Marika hurried from the washroom. Dana glanced up as she entered the kitchen and did a double take. "Hey, are you all right?" the stocky woman asked with concern.

  "Um sure," Marika said unsteadily. "Why do you ask?"

  "'Cause you're white as a sheet. Why don't you sit down here and keep me company for a few minutes?" Dana pushed out a stool and Marika gratefully sat down. "Wanna talk about it?"

  The blonde shook her head. "Nothing to talk about. I think it was just drinking that beer on an empty stomach. I don't feel all that well."

  Dana laid a gentle hand on Marika's forehead and then offered, "Why don't you go lie down for a bit, and I'll call you when it's time to eat."

  About to decline, Marika realized it offered her a perfect out, for a while at least. Smiling gratefully at her friend, she nodded and headed for the stairs to the lower level. Absorbing the pleasant quiet of the cool basement, she stretched out in the guest room she'd occasionally stayed in.