Truly Married (11 page)

As she sorted through them she noted that most were junk mail, but the last one was an official envelope from the Starlight Hotel where she worked. A notation on the envelope indicated that it had been delivered by special messenger, so apparently it had arrived while either Anna or Tracey was home to sign for it. She ripped it open, extracted a familiar piece of hotel stationery and unfolded it.

She glanced at the typewritten note, then blinked and reread it as the letters blurred on the page. “Oh no,” she moaned, and bent forward slightly. She folded her arms across her waist in a reflex motion to stem the nausea that clutched at her stomach from the force of the emotional blow she’d received.

Fergus was standing beside her. “What’s the matter?” he asked anxiously. “Sharon, what’s wrong?”

She handed him the letter. “I’ve... I’ve been put on administrative leave without pay until the legal charges against me have been resolved.” She fought back a sob. “Dammit, Fergus, can they do that? Isn’t there something in the Constitution about being presumed innocent until proven guilty?”

He read the letter, then folded it and put it in his suit-jacket pocket. “You bet there is,” he assured her as he turned and took her in his arms. “Don’t worry, sweetheart.” He cuddled her and rubbed his cheek in her hair. “I’ll take care of it. They can put you on involuntary leave, but I’ll make the bastards pay you for it.”

Sharon couldn’t hold back the sobs any longer, or the tears that streamed down her face and onto his expensive coat.
This had been a rotten day!
It had started when she’d gotten up and learned that Tracey thought she’d murdered Floyd and was afraid to live in the same house with her. Then there had been the repeated grillings by the police and her arraignment on charges of first-degree murder, and now she’d been fired from her job. Or as close as they could legally come to firing her.

Was there no end to it? The only good thing in this whole sorry mess was that Fergus had reentered her life, and he was only there to defend her. He was a lawyer and that was his job, but once the trial was over he’d be gone again and she’d be alone and...

And what? Free? Or doomed to spend the rest of her life in prison?

A shudder ran through her, and Fergus tightened his arms around her just before they were both distracted by Anna’s voice.

“Sharon. Are you here? I thought I heard— Oops! Sorry....”

Fergus and Sharon both looked toward the doorway, where Anna was just turning away. “Anna, wait. Don’t leave,” Sharon said as she reluctantly slipped out of Fergus’s embrace. “It’s not what you think....”

Anna turned back, and her expression quickly changed from embarrassment to concern when she saw Sharon’s tear-stained face.

“No, unfortunately it’s not,” Fergus added. “Sharon’s just received notice that the hotel doesn’t want her to come back to work.”

Anna gasped. “But that’s—”

“Legal,” he interrupted, “but it’s going to cost them. I’ll see to it that they pay her for her enforced ‘vacation,’ but right now it appears there’s a different problem that needs clearing up. Sharon wouldn’t tell me what it is until you and Tracey could be present. Is Tracey here?”

Anna nodded. “Yes, but she’s awfully upset. She fixed her casserole, then shut herself in her room. She doesn’t want to face the two of you.”

Fergus’s eyes widened. “Why ever not? What in hell is going on here?”

“I suggest that Sharon and I tell you about it, and then you can talk to Tracey,” Anna said. “Forcing her to be here will only make things worse.”

“That’s fine with me,” Fergus replied. “It was Sharon who wanted you both present.” He looked at Sharon. “Is that all right with you?”

She was too drained to offer any resistance. “Yes,” she said between sniffles, “but let’s sit down first.” Her knees felt rubbery and she wasn’t sure how much longer they were going to hold her up.

Sharon and Fergus settled themselves on the sofa, and Anna chose the wing chair.

There was a rather strained silence as each waited for one of the others to start. Finally Fergus impatiently broke the tension. “Anna, suppose you tell me what everyone is so unwilling to talk about.”

Anna leaned back and crossed her long, slender legs. She hadn’t yet changed from the blue suit she’d worn to work. “Tracey confessed to me this morning that she’s nervous about living in the same house with Sharon now that Sharon’s been charged with killing her boss.”

Fergus stiffened and bit back an oath as he forced himself to be quiet and not interrupt.

“Unfortunately Sharon overheard the conversation,” Anna continued, “and she insists that she’ll move out immediately.”

Fergus winced with the onslaught of empathetic pain he felt for Sharon. It was almost as if he were connected to her by a physical bond. Dear Lord, she’d been dealing with this alone all day. Why hadn’t she told him this morning? Didn’t she even want his emotional support? How many more of these continuing setbacks could she bear? How much more of her silent rejection of him could he stand?

He glanced at her, huddled next to him on the sofa, fighting back the tears and sobs she had every right to give vent to. It was sheer agony not to reach out and hold her, comfort her, even though she apparently didn’t want his comfort, but if he did he’d lose his objectivity completely, and right now she needed his expertise more than she needed his empty assurances that everything would be all right. They both knew it wouldn’t.

“No way are you moving out,” he said between clenched teeth.

“But I can’t stay here,” Sharon protested. “Tracey’s scared to death of me. She’s afraid I’ll murder her in her sleep.”

“Then it’s up to Tracey to move.” His tone made it plain that he was not open to argument. He looked at Anna. “How do you feel about this? Are you afraid of Sharon, too?”

“Of course not,” she said scornfully. “Sharon couldn’t harm anybody or anything, and I won’t hear of her moving out. The two of us have shared this house for almost four years. I consider her more like a sister than just a friend.”

Again Sharon’s tears started to flow, and Fergus could no longer resist the urgent need he had to touch her, however lightly. He reached over and took her hand in his.

But before he could say anything Anna continued, “I agree with you that if anyone moves out it will be Tracey. She’s the newcomer. She’s been with us for over a year and I deeply resent her lack of loyalty. Everyone who knows Sharon at all knows she’s not capable of committing any crime, least of all murder.”

A sob convulsed Sharon, and she squeezed Fergus’s hand in an obvious effort to control her emotions. “Your...your faith in me means more than I can ever tell you, Anna. You’re the closest thing I have to family and I love you, but I really think it’s me who should leave. After all, I’m the one who’s in trouble.”

Fergus felt as if Sharon had slapped him. How could she say that Anna was the closest thing she had to family?
He
was her family! He was closer to her than Anna could ever be. Had been ever since her parents had been killed in a boating accident shortly after he and Sharon had become lovers. From then on he’d been father, brother, lover and husband to her.

How could anyone else be closer than that?

But, of course, he’d forfeited that relationship when he’d gotten involved with Elaine. He’d never stopped loving Sharon, but she couldn’t believe him then and she wouldn’t believe him now. She hadn’t even contacted him when she was arrested for a murder she didn’t commit, even though he was recognized as one of the top defense attorneys in the country.

His attention snapped back to the subject at hand when Anna spoke.

“You’re in trouble, but it’s through no fault of your own.”

“That’s right,” Fergus agreed. “And if you move now it’s going to look like both of your housemates think you’re guilty and have kicked you out. That would be a public-relations disaster, and I can’t allow it. I think it’s about time we had a talk with this young woman. She’s hidden in her room long enough. Do one of you want to go get her or shall I?”

Anna chuckled and stood up. “I think that in the best interest of all of us I’d better do it,” she said, and left.

Sharon pulled her hand out of Fergus’s and shivered as she folded her arms across her chest. She looked so forlorn and alone that all his good intentions dissolved, and he reached for her and snuggled her in his embrace. She didn’t protest, but buried her face in his shoulder and continued to tremble.

He caressed the top of her head with his lips. “Honey, I’m afraid you’re going to be sick if you stay this keyed up. Do you have a tranquilizer you could take?”

She shook her head. “I don’t take pills. They’re nothing but a crutch, and it’s too easy to become addicted.”

He should have known. While they were married she wouldn’t even take an analgesic for menstrual cramps.

“That’s true up to a point,” he agreed, “but sometimes crutches are necessary in order to give the body, or the nerves, a respite so healing can take place.”

She snuggled closer and he tightened his arms until her soft breasts flattened against his chest and her thigh crushed against his. He knew she was too upset to be aware of the intimacy of the contact, but he gloried in it.

He also silently cursed the swift quickening of his body, which was going to torment as well as embarrass him, since there was no way he could act on it, even if they were alone. She’d be outraged if he made a pass, and he couldn’t chance that. Not yet. Not until he found a way to convince her to trust him again.

“I suppose you’re right,” she said, “but I don’t have anyone to rely on but myself, and I need all my wits about me. I can’t afford to dull my mind with drugs.”

He cringed at her unthinking cruelty. If she’d deliberately set out to hurt him she couldn’t have done it more thoroughly.

“What do you mean you don’t have anyone to rely on?” he demanded. “You’ve got me.” He heard the pain in his tone, but couldn’t disguise it.

He felt her muscles tighten just before she raised her head and looked at him. His expression must have given away his inner torment, because she immediately looked contrite.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean... That is, I’m terribly grateful to you for coming down here to defend me, but I was talking about family, or long-time close friends. Ever since...uh...since the divorce I’ve had to grow up and take care of myself because there’s no one to do it for me.”

Fergus knew he deserved her rebuff, but he wasn’t going to accept it without protest. After all, it was his efforts to take care of her that caused most of the friction in their marriage.

He took her by the shoulders and sat her up and away from him. “Dammit, Sharon,
I’m
your family! And although I can’t blame you for not believing it, I’m also your best friend. The divorce didn’t nullify that. I’ll always be there for you. All you have to do is let me know you need me.

“Who else would you turn to if not me? You’re not involved with another man, are you?”

He knew he was coming on too strong, being unreasonable, but he couldn’t help it.

For a moment she looked stunned, then she ran the tip of her tongue over her lips. “No, but—”

“Have you been in the past?”

He knew immediately that question was a mistake. Her dewy eyes hardened and her jaw clenched.

“That’s none of your business!”

His heart sank. Did her reluctance to answer mean that she had been involved with a man, or men, in the past few years? Or was she just offended by his asking?

He was saved from persisting and making a further fool of himself by the sound of footsteps on the hardwood floor of the hall. Anna appeared in the doorway, followed by Tracey.

It was obvious that Tracey had been crying. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her makeup was streaked with tears. Fergus knew he’d have to handle her carefully. He didn’t want her to fall apart on him or, worse, to get mad at him and take it out on Sharon by disclosing her fear to her friends and the media.

Anna walked across the room and sat down, but Tracey stood just inside the door, her head bowed and her gaze lowered. She was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, and looked like a repentant schoolgirl. Fergus devoutly hoped she’d never be called by the prosecution if this case went to trial. All she’d have to do is get on the stand and the jury would sympathize with her before she even opened her mouth.

“Come on in, Tracey, and sit down,” he said as kindly as he could manage.

Without raising her head to look at him, she walked over and sat down on the raised hearth of the fireplace.

Fergus stayed seated beside Sharon as he talked. “I understand you no longer want to live in the same house with Sharon.” He kept his tone low and slightly sympathetic.

As if on command, one tear fell from each eye and Tracey sniffled. “I’m...I’m sorry.” She spoke barely above a whisper.

“There’s no need to be sorry,” he said. “If that’s the way you feel, then I agree that you should leave.”

That brought her to attention. She raised her head and looked at him. “Me! But I thought...”

“Sharon and Anna are even willing to refund your prorated rent for the rest of this month to help with your moving expenses,” he assured her, and saw the looks of unpleasant surprise her two housemates threw his way. “Do you have relatives in the area where you can stay until you find another apartment?”

Her eyes widened. “Yes. No. That is... Sharon said she’d move out.”

Fergus was having a hard time maintaining his tone of gentle concern when what he really wanted to do was yell at the spoiled brat, who was obviously used to everyone catering to her wishes. “Oh, but that was before she understood her legal rights. She and Anna were here for several years before you joined them, and neither of them has any intention of leaving, so that puts the ball in your court.”

Tracey was no longer meek and submissive. “You mean
I
have to leave?” she asked uncertainly.

“Of course not,” he answered softly. “You’re welcome to stay. Did you say you have relatives living nearby?”

Tracey looked stunned. “Well, yes, fairly close. My parents live just across the river in Mascoutah, Illinois, but—”