Winds of Heaven (6 page)

“You’ll get a ticket,” Liz warned.

Casey rolled her eyes as she slipped on her sunglasses.

She got a ticket. The patrolman took off his sunglasses and looked into the car. “Sorry, but it’s the law.”

Casey glared at him. “I’m well aware of the law, Officer. As I explained, I didn’t have enough time to get one.”

“Well, purchase one. If you want to contest the ticket, the court date’s on the back.”

Casey, avoiding Liz’s grin, looked at the ticket. “Two hundred and fifty bucks? Are you guys insane?”

“Too much for a child’s life?” he asked and smirked.

Casey opened her mouth but closed it and put on her glasses.

“You two have a nice day,” he said and walked away.

The remainder of the ride was quiet—too quiet.

“Mama, I sick,” Skye said.

Casey looked over. “Not in my new Lexus, kid,” Casey grumbled and stepped on the gas.

“Ms. Bennett, do you want another ticket?” she asked anxiously.

Casey pulled down the access road that led to her cabin. Being deep in the woods, the weather cooled off considerably.

Liz was exhausted and Skye was sound asleep in her lap, resting on her stomach. Liz then saw the lake come into view and smiled.

She felt Casey’s gaze on her and continued to look at the lake. She nervously tucked the wayward strand of auburn hair behind her ear. “This is yours?” Liz asked as the log cabin came into view.

Casey grunted her acknowledgment. “I’ll get your luggage, looks like
Shortround
is pooped.”

Liz glared at her assessment of Skye but said nothing.

As Casey opened the trunk, Liz groaned and couldn’t move. “Ms. Bennett?”

Casey came around and opened the passenger door. Liz looked up into the green eyes. “Please, can you take her? I can’t get out with her on my stomach.”

Casey frowned and took a step back looking as though she had no clue which end to take. “She’s not a hand grenade,” Liz offered. Good grief, she thought. Julie wanted to have children with this woman?

Casey grunted and took Skye, who immediately latched onto Casey’s neck, laying her hot head against her shoulder. Casey swallowed and looked as if she were holding a time bomb. Liz struggled and Casey offered her hand. “Thanks, I’m beginning to feel like a turtle on its back.”

Liz actually saw a smile as Casey gently assisted her. Once again, Liz was amazed at her strength; she groaned and stretched, then reached for her daughter. “Thanks. Let me take her.”

As she pulled Skye away, Skye whimpered in her sleep and clung to Casey’s neck tighter. “Well, Ms. Bennett, you’ve got a friend,” Liz said, and Casey grunted again.

“I’ll come back for the luggage.” Casey then picked up the diaper bag and walked around the front of the cabin.

“This is spectacular,” Liz said.

“I like it.” Casey opened the front door, awkwardly juggling Skye, who was still clinging to her neck.

Liz walked in and gazed around in awe. The room was huge and open. A fireplace took up most of one wall, and a black grand piano sat near it. A comfortable couch placed in front of the fireplace and a couple of overstuffed chairs rounded out the area. The dining room was behind the living room. No walls separated the living room from the dining room or kitchen; only a counter separated the kitchen from the other two. It was spacious and airy. The cathedral-beamed ceiling made the log cabin seem larger than it was.

“I-I only have one bedroom. The other has my work in it. The loft isn’t set up with beds yet. So you and
Shortround
can have the bedroom. I made room for your clothes. You can use the smaller dresser in the room. I-I think there should be enough drawer space for you. ”

“No. Please—”

“Ms. Kennedy, don’t argue. You’re going to have a baby and you need a comfortable place to sleep. This couch is fine for me.”

With that, Skye woke up, belched, and promptly vomited on Casey’s shirt. Casey held the child away from her.

“Mama, I sick,” Skye whimpered and started crying.

Casey thrust the bundle of joy at Liz and said angrily, “Here…Mama.”

Liz bit her bottom lip as she tried desperately not to laugh while taking Skye.

“The bathroom is at the end of the hall.” Casey pulled her shirt out of her jeans and headed for the kitchen, mumbling all the way.

“Skye, baby, that was not a very good first impression.” Liz sighed and picked up the diaper bag and headed down the hall.

After getting Skye settled down for a nap, Liz lined pillows all around the child so she wouldn’t fall off Casey’s huge bed; that’s all she needed. Liz then raised an eyebrow. That is one big bed, she thought as she looked around Casey Bennett’s bedroom.

Tastefully done in a somewhat rustic, Southwestern motif, the soft mauve and earth tones accentuated the pine logs. The room smelled of pine and a hint of perfume. Liz closed her eyes and took a gentle whiff and smiled.

“Everything okay?”

Liz jumped to find Casey standing there, still wiping off her shirt. “I-I’m sorry.”

Casey shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. Interesting fragrance.” She walked by Liz and opened a dresser drawer. She then stripped off her shirt right in front of her, and Liz blinked but did not turn away.

Casey stood there for a moment in a white sports bra, rummaging for a clean T-shirt. She slipped it on over her head. “She can yak on this one all she wants. It’s an ex’s...” Casey smirked and walked out.

Liz stood there dumbfounded as Casey Bennett had felt no compunction about taking off her clothes in front of her. Maybe because I’m pregnant, she thinks I don’t... Liz took a deep breath. Thinking of Casey Bennett’s fit figure, she looked down at her stomach, just able to see her feet.

“Attractive,” she grumbled. She took her cell phone out of her purse and dialed Elaine’s number. With all this, she had forgotten to call her. She smiled when she heard the familiar voice.

“Well, you’re alive.”

Liz laughed. “Yes, we’re safe and sound.”

“So,” Elaine said. “What’s she like?”

“Too early to tell. She’s doing a kind thing, although I’m sure she’d rather not. And who could blame her?”

“Hmm. True.” There was silence for a moment. “So, what does she look like?”

Liz heard the curiosity in Elaine’s voice and grinned. “She’s very attractive. Tall, dark, green eyes. And she’s arrogant. How’s that?”

Elaine laughed. “Oh, hell, they’re calling me. We’ve got patients up the you know what today. Look, you take care of yourself and give Skye a kiss. Keep in touch, Liz. I love you.”

“I love you too, Elaine. Bye,” Liz said and closed the phone. All at once she missed New Mexico. Oh well, she thought and walked out of the bedroom, stealing one last glance at Skye as she slept.

“I’m out here,” Casey called out.

Liz noticed Casey had made some iced tea. “I thought we’d sit outside. It’s a little cooler.”

“Thank you.”

They sat on the deck, not saying much. Finally, Liz glanced at Casey, who was staring out at the lake. “I-I do appreciate your helping us. It’s just that, well, we didn’t—”

“Ms. Kennedy, I knew Julie, so you don’t have to explain.”

Liz heard the sarcasm in her voice and bristled. “Just what does that mean?”

Casey searched Liz’s face; her gaze traveled down her body. Again, Liz felt a wave of
indignance
sweep through her as Casey shrugged. “Nothing, just that I knew Julie for four years.”

“Look. I know you and Julie had a relationship before me. I’m well aware of it. However, Ms. Bennett, if this arrangement is going to work, I think it best we leave the past exactly where it belongs.” Liz set her glass down. “In the past.”

“I couldn’t agree more, Ms. Kennedy. I agreed to help you and your family until the baby is born and—”

“If you think for one minute this is easy for me or that I want to be in this situation, you are mistaken.”

Casey took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I don’t want to get into an argument with you, especially in your condition. Let’s skip it, shall we?” She took a long drink and turned toward the lake.

“A very good idea.” Liz damned the tears that rose in her throat. Her hormones were all over the place, something she hated. When she realized the tears were about to overtake her, she abruptly turned and stumbled over the rocking chair.

Casey was at her side. “Are you okay?”

Liz felt her strong hand under her forearm to steady her. “I’m fine,” she said, wiping the tears off her cheek.

“Did you hurt yourself?”

“No, I did not hurt myself.” Liz wrenched her arm away. The last thing she wanted was to lose control in front of this woman.

“Okay, okay.” Casey stepped back awkwardly.

“I think I’ll go lie down with Skye. I’m rather tired,” Liz said, sounding every bit of it.

“F-fine. Okay.”

Liz looked up and saw the confused posture. “I’m sorry, it’s a hormone thing.”

Casey smiled weakly. “Look. Why don’t you go in and take a nap? Later I’ll, well, I don’t know what I’ve got in there for dinner,” she said and stood. “I don’t usually cook for myself.”

Liz nodded and started for the screen door. Casey reached in and opened it; for a moment, they stood close, then Casey quickly stepped back, looking at her stomach.

“Don’t worry, Ms. Bennett, I’m not going to explode,” she said and walked in. “Yet,” she threatened over her shoulder.

Liz lay on the bed next to Skye and listened to the sound of the piano coming from the living room. She is good, Liz thought, then snorted. Go figure; she’s a smirking, arrogant playgirl who plays a beautiful piano.
She listened and fell sound asleep, feeling safe and content for the first time in years.

She woke with a start, and for an instant, she was disoriented. Skye was still fast asleep on her stomach. Gaining her bearings, she remembered where she was and why she was here. As she lay in bed, Liz took in the surroundings of Casey Bennett’s bedroom. The clock on the mantel looked like an antique; she doubted if Casey was an antique collector.

She did notice how the fireplace gave the room a rustic, romantic feel. Romantic, she thought with a smirk. I will just bet she has a steady stream of women in and out of this bedroom. She carefully slipped Skye off her stomach and covered her with the light quilt, then eased off the bed and crept out of the room.

Casey was sitting at the piano, a pencil behind her ear as she plunked out a few chords.

“Hi,” Liz said.

Casey growled and waved.

“Good grief,” Liz mumbled and walked into the kitchen; she was starving. “Mind if I look—”

“No. Do whatever,” Casey said dismissively.

Liz rolled her eyes and opened the refrigerator. “Good Lord,” she exclaimed. She picked up several containers of old Chinese food and winced, then picked up a little jar. “Caviar?” She shook her head. The food consisted of a pizza box, several bottles of beer, and a carton of orange juice that looked liked it had been there since the Reagan administration.

Then she heard a grumble and the slam of the piano top. She jumped and looked out into the living room to see the retreating figure of the angry pianist flying out the front door.