Behind the Pine Curtain (29 page)

Oh God.

She had to escape. She just couldn’t face Jackie now. What would she say? Was it a mistake? No, it had felt too right for it to be a mistake. To o right and too perfect. But now what?

Oh my God. I’m a lesbian. Am I?

She shook her head. She wasn’t ready to deal with it now. She wasn’t ready to
talk
about it. So she did the only sensible thing she could think of.

She ran.

Jacqueline rolled over, her body pleasantly sore. She knew she was alone before she opened her eyes. Disappointed at first, she realized how late it must be. Kay would already be at work. So she tossed the covers off and stretched, a satisfied moan escaping as visions of last night flooded her mind.

Made love
.

Damn, but did she ever think this day would come? She smiled. Only in her dreams. But last night, Kay, with her inexperience, had taken her places no woman had before. Kay knew exactly how to touch her. It was as if . . . as if Kay had dreamed it a thousand times.

She showered and pulled on yesterday’s jeans, reminding herself that she needed to do laundry again. There was no coffee . . . and no note. In fact, little evidence Kay had been there.

As she spooned coffee from the can, she looked around thoughtfully, wondering what Kay was thinking, how she was feeling. She wished Kay had woken her so they could talk. Kay would, no doubt, need to talk.

While the coffee made, she dug through drawers in Kay’s desk, looking for the phonebook. She found
Kay’s Hallmark
, and dialed. An involuntary smile lit up her face when she heard Kay’s voice.

“Good morning,” she murmured.

Silence. Then, “Hello.”

Jacqueline raised her eyebrows. “If you’d hung around a bit, we could have talked about it, Kay,” she said quietly. “Are you all right?” She heard a long sigh and the slight clearing of Kay’s throat.

“I’m not sure, Jackie.”

Jacqueline closed her eyes. “Should I say I’m sorry?”

“Sorry? I think last night was my doing,” Kay whispered. Then she cleared her throat again. “Now’s not a good time to talk.”

“I understand.”
Damn.

“I’ll . . . I’ll see you later.”

Jacqueline nodded, listening to the dial tone for a few seconds before hanging up. “I guess she freaked out,” she murmured.
Damn.

Kay hung up the phone, angry with herself for being so short with Jackie. It wasn’t Jackie’s fault. She had done nothing wrong. Kay was the one who had practically attacked her in the hallway last night. Kay went to her first. Kay was the one who had pulled Jackie into her bedroom. No, if left up to Jackie, they would never have crossed over that line from friends to lovers.

Lovers.

Just the thought of it made Kay weak, and she grabbed the countertop for support as every kiss, every touch, came flooding back. She closed her eyes, still able to feel Jackie’s mouth on her skin, still taste and smell Jackie as her own mouth moved across Jackie’s body.

Lovers.
Yes.

“Kay? Are you all right?”

Kay blinked several times, finding herself face to face with Rene Wells.

Why in the world would Rene Wells stoop so low as to enter her little store? It wasn’t even Christmas.

“Hello, Rene.” Kay stood up straight. “I’m fine. What brings you here?”

“Why, can’t I shop at your lovely little store?”

Kay shook her head. “You normally don’t.”

Rene had the good grace to blush, but she covered it nicely with a charming smile.

“We were talking about you yesterday,” she said. “The in-laws always have us over for brunch after Sunday service. John and Mary Lawrence were there, too,” Rene said.

“How nice,” Kay murmured politely.

“They mentioned that Jackie Keys was staying with you. We knew, of course, that she was in town, what with the funeral and all,” Rene said with a toss of her hand. “Rumor has it that she was mentioned in her father’s will. Can you believe the nerve of some people? Crawling back into town to lay claim to the family fortune? And after all the shame she brought to her poor mother.”

Kay opened her mouth to defend Jackie, then decided against it. She owed Rene no explanation. Rene would find out soon enough.

“And Kay, do you think it’s safe for her to stay with you?”

“Safe?”

“Rumors are already spreading across town.”

“What rumors?”

“That the two of you are more than friends, if you know what I mean.”

Kay laughed. “I know what you mean, Rene. What I’m wondering is why you felt the need to come down here to tell me this?”

“I’m just looking out for your well-being, Kay.”

“We both know that’s bullshit, Rene,” Kay said with the best smile she could muster. “We’re not friends, and we don’t socialize. If fact, you seldom patronize my store.” Kay moved around the counter and faced Rene. “My guess is, you want to be first in line at the gossip mill. But you know what, Rene, none of this is your business. So why don’t you go on back to the country club and tell them you struck out with me.”

Rene took a step backward, hand at her chest. “Why Kay Garland, I can’t believe you speak to me like this.” Her voice lowered. “I do believe it was a loan from our bank that set you up in this . . .
business
, wasn’t it?”

Kay smiled. Oh, she couldn’t
wait
for Rene to find out Jackie controlled the bank now. “Yes, it was. Although I don’t recall
your
name being anywhere on my loan application.”

“I doubt they would have approved you for the loan had we not gone to school together, Kay. You might want to keep that in mind.” She turned quickly and fled from the store.

Kay’s smile turned into an outright laugh. God, Rene had no idea how the real world functioned. But then her smile faded as her thoughts went back to Jackie. She had been so short with her, so distant. All because she was . . . what? Embarrassed? Embarrassed that they’d made love so thoroughly?

She was no longer certain why she ran from Jackie this morning. Guilt?

She could think of a hundred excuses, and one of them would be what the town would think, her family, her friends. It was the thing she hated most about living in a small town. Everyone knew your business. And this would be a secret she doubted they could keep. Why, even now, Rene Wells was probably on her cell phone, relaying her visit to her country club friends.

Jacqueline snatched up her cell when it rang, hoping it would be Kay.

But Greg’s voice greeted her.

“You busy?”

“No.” Jacqueline looked at her laptop, the screen saver flashing across.

“Just working on some edits,” she lied. “What’s up?”

“Well, Mr. Lawrence came by. He said you were leaving soon. Is that true?”

Jacqueline twirled her glasses in her hand, nodding. “Yes, soon, Greg.

I’m just not certain of the date. I was actually going to call you today and see if there’s anything you want to go over before I leave.”

Greg laughed. “There are a thousand things I could go over. But I was looking at your wish list you forwarded to me. Mostly employee benefits and the like. If you’re serious about implementing these, I can get with Ms. Scott and get you a timeline.”

“Yes, I think we’re sorely lacking in the benefits we provide to our employees. Some are simple and inexpensive, others I realize will cut into profit. It’s just something I think needs to be done. We may be more productive in the long run.”

“I agree. I’ll get on it right away.”

Jacqueline paused, remembering the way Kay had left that morning.

Perhaps it would be better all the way around if Jacqueline left now. No sense in prolonging the inevitable.

“Greg, why don’t you work something up today. Perhaps we can go over it tonight. If I feel like we’re on the same page, I may head on out tomorrow, then.”

“Okay. Sure.” Greg cleared his throat, then paused. “Does Kay know you’re planning on leaving?”

“No.” She paused too. “But it won’t be a surprise, Greg.” She tossed her glasses on the table. “I’ll come over to your place. Meet you there after work?”

“Sure.”

Jacqueline spent the rest of the day doing laundry and making arrangements for a flight out. She figured if she left early enough, she could be in Dallas by noon, so she booked a two o’clock flight to San Francisco. A quick e-mail to Ingrid ensured her that someone would pick her up. She even promised to go back with Ingrid and visit for a few days. That would be better than going alone to her condo, where there would be nothing to distract her.

Kay was disappointed that Jackie’s car wasn’t in her driveway when she got home. Disappointed, but not necessarily surprised. Jackie was most likely avoiding the confrontation that she assumed would occur when Kay got home. Confrontation? No. But they needed to talk.
She
needed to talk.

Kay admitted she was over the initial shock that she’d actually made love with Jackie. Yesterday, last night, it had all been so clear to her.

But in the light of day, she’d panicked. Now, well, now she’d had a day to get used to it, to accept it. And what she and Jackie had done last night was simply express—physically—what they felt for one another, what they felt years ago, and certainly what they feel now, as adults.

When Jackie touched her, when Jackie made love to her, everything she’d ever felt for Jackie suddenly made sense. How, as a kid, she’d been willing to follow Jackie anywhere, just to be with her. And later, as a teen, how she’d craved Jackie’s touch. The two of them had been so affectionate with each other, it was nearly second nature for them to touch when they talked. And now, as adults, that need to touch—and be touched—was as strong as ever.

And last night, they didn’t fight it any longer. They
couldn’t
fight it.

What happens next, however, Kay had no clue. Which is why she wished Jackie was home.

She found a note instead. Apparently, Rose was making spaghetti for the group.

“Please don’t let Josh be there,” she murmured.

But she needn’t have worried. Jackie’s car was the only one in the driveway. Kay pulled in behind her, walking quickly through the light drizzle that had been falling all afternoon. The spring storms that had been forecast stayed to the north. She didn’t bother with the doorbell.

After two quick knocks, she walked in.

“In the kitchen,” Rose called.

Lee Ann and Denny were at the table, coloring. Lee Ann looked up long enough to smile at her. Rose met her with a spoon extended.

“Taste.”

Kay obliged, nodding. “Good. Needs more basil.”

Rose laughed. “As if I’d take cooking advice from you!” She covered the pot, adjusting the temperature to simmer.

“Where is everyone?”

“I put the twins down for a nap a couple of hours ago.”

Kay waited patiently. “And?”

Rose smiled. “And you mean Jackie?”

“I assume she and Greg are holed up somewhere?”

“They’re playing on the computer. Greg has some graphs or something,”

she said with a flick of her hand.

Before Kay could go look for them, Jacqueline stuck her head in.

“Rose, got any more of that iced tea?” Jacqueline stopped when she saw Kay. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

Kay fell into Jacqueline’s eyes, and she leaned against the counter for support. Everything she felt last night seemed to hit her at once. “Hey.”

Jacqueline gave a hesitant smile. “Hey, yourself. Everything okay?”

Kay nodded. “Yes, everything is fine now.”

“Good.”

“Sorry.”

Jacqueline shrugged. “It’s okay.”

“My fault.”

“We should have talked,” Jacqueline said quietly.

Rose finally cleared her throat. “Hello,” she drawled in four syllables.

“I obviously missed part of the conversation because you are making
no
sense.” She grabbed Jacqueline’s glass. “Where’s my husband?”

Jacqueline pulled her eyes away from Kay. “He’s finishing up some flow charts for me.”

Rose handed Jackie a full glass of tea. “Well, it needs to stop. He works all day, then comes home and gets on the computer. He hasn’t hit a lick at a snake around here in two weeks!”

Jacqueline laughed. “In English, that means what, Rose?”

Rose filled another glass and handed it to Kay. “It means I have chores for him to do around the house and he’s not done them, smart-ass.”

“Well, he’ll have plenty of time once I’m gone.”

Kay turned, searching, finally finding Jackie’s blue eyes. “You’re leaving?” she asked quietly.

Jacqueline nodded.

“When?”

Jacqueline looked briefly at Rose, then back at Kay. “I have a flight out of Dallas at two tomorrow.”

“I see.” Kay cleared her throat. “And when did you decide this?”

Jacqueline hesitated. “This morning.”

Kay nodded, looking away. “I see,” she said again.

Jacqueline looked at Rose, seeing the questions flying through her mind.

Now was
not
the time to have this discussion with Kay, even though she could see the hurt in Kay’s eyes. All she wanted was to go to her, to hold her.

“Hey, Jackie? Come look at this,” Greg called from the back of the house.

Jacqueline paused, one more look at Kay, then slipped quietly away.

“What the hell was that about?” Rose asked the minute Jackie was out of earshot.

Kay squared her shoulders, refusing to let Rose see how upset she was.

Tears, she could never explain. So, she played dumb.

“What was what about?”

“I felt like I was eavesdropping on a private conversation, that’s what.

Although I don’t know why I’m surprised. You two were always in your own world.” Rose lifted the lid on the spaghetti sauce, stirring slowly. “Just thought I’d let you know, but the rumor mill has been overactive.”

“What do you mean?”

“You and Jackie. I heard whispers all day today.”

“What about me and Jackie?”

“Oh, Kay, surely you’re not
that
naive. She’s been staying with you for two weeks. Although no one talks about it,
everyone
remembers the reason she left. And even if they didn’t, she’s practically a celebrity.