Winds of Heaven (11 page)

As Suzette walked away, she turned back to Casey. “A pregnant woman with a kid. Is she gay?”

Casey nodded, trying to collect her thoughts. This was too much reality at one time.

“Well, that’s a point in your favor,” Suzette said, seeing the confused look on Casey’s face. “I have never seen you confused or confounded. You look…” She stopped and struck a thoughtful pose. “Vulnerable,” she said as if it were a vulgar word. “I’ll see you tomorrow at rehearsal. Do not yell at me this time. Just because we’re lovers doesn’t mean you can pick on my playing.”

Casey gave her an even look. “Just because you’re sleeping with the composer doesn’t mean you can play your cello like crap,” she said seriously, her eyes challenging the irate cellist.

“You called her sweetie,” Suzette said. Casey winced as Suzette stormed out, slamming the front door.

Casey sat on the bed and stared at nothing in particular. “Okay. Three days ago, I was carefree, having great sex with a gorgeous woman. My life was my own. Now I’m sitting here naked, alone, with a pregnant woman and her child in my cabin,” she said, then shook her head. “I need a drink.” She picked up the champagne bottle… It was empty.

She flounced back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. “I called her sweetie?”

Chapter 7

“She called me sweetie?” Liz put the phone down, ignoring the fluttering sensation in her stomach. The baby is active, she thought, though she heard the concern in Casey’s voice once again.

Marge lit several lanterns. “This happens all the time up here, don’t you worry. Now Casey told me to check up on you,” she said. “You must be someone special because nobody, and I mean nobody, has ever stayed in this cabin for longer than an evening or at the most a raucous weekend,” she said, still chuckling.

Liz laughed along, avoiding mental images of Casey Bennett and any other woman.
 

“She made me promise to look in on you,” Marge said and looked at Liz’s stomach. “When are you
due
?”

“December 3. I feel like it’s tomorrow.”

“Had three and I know what you mean.” Marge looked at Skye, who was holding onto Liz’s neck. “Well, aren’t you the cutie? I can see what Casey likes in both of you,” she said with a wink. “I’ve known Casey for ten years. She bought this property then and cleared most of it herself with a few friends. It took her almost eight years to complete this. She worked hard and she played hard. She’s had the...” She stopped and turned red.

Liz laughed. “I’m aware of Ms. Bennett’s reputation.”

Marge gave her a curious look. “I like you. You’d be good for Casey. Settle her down.”

“Well,” Liz started, knowing she was blushing. “Casey is just helping me until the baby comes. When I’m able, I’ll get a job and we’ll all start our lives.”

Marge hid her grin. “Is that why you’re all flushed?”

Liz immediately put her hands to her cheeks. “Am I?” She laughed nervously. “I suppose the arrogant Ms. Bennett has that effect on many women. Well, Skye and I will soon be on our own once again. Right, sweet pea?”

“Right, Mama,” Skye said with a supportive nod.

Rehearsal was agonizing as Casey listened to her composition the orchestra was playing. She closed her eyes, then groaned. She heard Niles do the same. “Niles, it’s not me, is it? Can’t you hear that?”

Niles winced and nodded. “I hate to say it.”

Casey leaned forward and buried her head in her hands. “It’s Suzette. She—”

“Stinks,” Niles offered.

Casey raised her head and narrowed her eyes. “Niles, stinks is not a professional term.”

“Sucks?”

“Infinitely better,” Casey said. “Now let’s get Jeffrey out of here before he commits suicide. We need to regroup.”

Niles mumbled as she walked away, “We need another cellist.”

Niles knew Casey realized she needed to make a decision. Jeffrey knew it, as well. They convened in the empty studio; Casey sat at the piano, absently plunking away at the keys.

“Casey, you’re exhausted. You rewrote half the score just to keep her. It’s not right and you know it,” Niles said.

Casey stood and stretched. “I know. I’ve got to tell her.”

“Take a few days off. I’ve stalled the producers. Actually, it’s a good time for this. The director is at Betty Ford. It’ll be two weeks, at least. Go up north and relax. Come back with a clear head.” Niles patted her shoulder.

Jeffrey gathered his briefcase. “I don’t envy your position, Casey. However, I do agree with Niles on this one. Good night.”

Niles waved goodbye as he watched Casey, who nodded sadly in Jeffrey’s direction. Casey Bennett could be a very aggravating woman, he thought. It was her creativity, he figured, that made her so arrogant and a pain in the ass. However, she was a good woman. She was kind and generous, though she never let anyone know it.

All week, she had been talking to some woman. Every time she got the call, it transformed her face completely. He never saw Casey Bennett like this before. Usually, she was all about control, and when she worked, she was cold steel. Nothing got in her way and nothing distracted her. However, when she got those calls, she became quiet and well, female, Niles hated to say. Though he had to admit, Casey Bennett was a woman. Was she not?

“I’m sorry, what?” Niles asked, brought back to reality.

“I said, if you want to come up to my cabin, you’re more than welcome.”

Niles blinked stupidly. “Me? You’re asking me? Me, to your cabin?” He reached over and felt her forehead. Casey glared down at him through angry green eyes but said nothing. “Well, I’ll be. Maybe I will.”
 

Casey grinned sheepishly. “You can bring Brian.”

Niles put his hand to his heart. “Brian will be flabbergasted.”

Casey grinned, running her finger under her nose in a seemingly awkward gesture.

“My God. Is Casey Bennett blushing?”

“Don’t press your luck.”

“
Okeedokie
,” he replied quickly and threw his hands up. “So do I get to meet the one who’s been putting you in this generous mood?”

Casey frowned. “There is no one. I just thought you’ve never seen my cabin. It would be a good break for all of us.”

“Then who have you been talking to for the past couple days?” He sat next to her at the piano and placed his fingers on the keys. “I wish I knew how to play this thing. You make it look so easy.”

Casey laughed and started playing. Niles moved to give her room. He said nothing as he watched her smiling face while her fingers elegantly danced across the keys.

“Now,” he said. “Answer my question.”

“Do you remember Julie Bridges?”

“Yes, your ex who wanted kids.”

Casey nodded as she played. “She died a few weeks ago, cancer.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks. She left behind a partner who’s pregnant with their second child.”

“Good Lord,” Niles exclaimed. “Second?”

He noticed Casey’s smile then. “Yeah. They have a three-year-old, or four. I’m not sure. Her name is Skye, and she’s full of life and has the devil in her blue eyes.”

Niles leaned away from her and grinned, as well. “Skye? She sounds adorable. How do you know she has blue eyes?”

Casey gave him a side glance before answering. “Apparently, Julie’s partner, Liz Kennedy, is five months pregnant and now finds herself in a financial pickle. Julie wrote a letter to me before she died asking me to help Liz and her family until she has the baby.” She shrugged and continued playing.

“So you offered your cabin to them. That was very thoughtful of you.”

“I know, how unlike me, right?”

Niles raised an eyebrow at the sour comment. “No, you’re the only one who thinks that, sweetie. I happen to think you’re a very caring woman. Now tell me what Liz Kennedy is like.”

Casey snorted. “Now you sound like my grandmother.”

“How is Meredith?”

“She’s fine. She wants to meet Liz.”

“So do I.”

“I will tell you what I told her.” She looked at Niles, who waited. “No.”

Niles sported a smug grin. “So then why do you want me and Brian to come to your cabin? Will you hide this woman and her child?”

Casey felt the color rush to her cheeks. “No. I—”

“Admit it. You want us to meet this woman.”

Casey looked to the heavens and shook her head.

Niles laughed openly and patted her shoulder. “Okay, okay. But you know I’m not going to let this go. Now tell me about her.”

Casey stopped playing for a moment and stared at nothing in particular. Niles again waited; he was surprised when Casey smiled and shook her head. She started playing again, a different song, however. He raised an eyebrow when he heard the familiar chords.

“She’s tough,” Casey started. “And she’s a good mother. She has a great relationship with her daughter and worries about their future. I can tell she hates being in this position, but I can’t help thinking she put herself in it. I mean, why do this?” She looked at Niles, who shrugged. “Two kids and alone.”

“Well, I’m sure this is not how she wants it to be.”

“I know, but it smacks of irresponsibility. One kid? Sure. But two? What kind of expense is that, for
chrissakes
?”

“Why are you getting angry over someone else’s decision?” He was quiet in his concern. “Is it because she’s at your place?”

“No, well, at first, I was irritated. I guess if I was honest, I didn’t want to have to think about Julie again.”

“I know you cared very much for her.”

“I did. But she made such a damned issued over having kids.”

Niles noticed she stopped playing her unfinished composition. She took a deep breath and closed the lid on the keyboard. “Well, that’s ancient history.”

“That’s being brought back to the present in the form of Liz Kennedy.”

They sat in silence for a moment or two before Niles spoke. “Do you find yourself caring for this woman?”

Casey blinked and looked at him. “I…No. I, well…” Her voice trailed off and Niles once again saw the confusion in her green eyes.

“Can I make an observation?”

Casey grinned reluctantly. “Could I stop you?”

“I doubt it,” Niles said. “Usually, when I ask you about the women in your life, you describe them by looks. One was a
hottie
. One had gorgeous legs. One—”

“Get on with it.”

“With Liz Kennedy, you described how she is and what she does. How she thinks. You never mentioned how she looks. Want to know why?”

“No.”

“Because you view this woman as a person, not an object of your lust.”

Again, silence. “Want to know what else—”

“No,” Casey said quickly, then shrugged. “What?”

Niles laughed. “I think I’ll save this for another time. You’ll get the bends if we talk about this anymore.”