Winds of Heaven (9 page)

“Good grief, Bennett, the woman is pregnant,” Casey scolded herself as she dried off.
  

Liz and Skye looked up when Casey came into the kitchen wearing a long terrycloth robe.

“I’m going for a swim. I’ll be right back.”

“I
fim
,” Skye said quickly and tried to get down. Liz reached over and put her back in her seat. “Mama, I
fim
...” The girl struggled against her mother, who glanced up at Casey.

Casey bit her lip in an effort, Liz was sure, not to laugh. “She’s a feisty little critter.”

Liz tried to control her and Casey walked up to Skye and looked down. Skye peered way up.

“Tell ya what,
Shortround
. You eat breakfast, then I’ll take you swimming, deal?” She stuck out her hand. Skye giggled and Casey took her little hand and shook. “Deal?” she asked again.

“
Dea
...” Skye giggled as Casey shook.

“But you have to eat all your breakfast,” Casey said firmly as she shook the hand vigorously and let go.

Casey glanced down at Liz, who saw the smug look of superiority. Without a word, but still a smirk, Casey walked out.

Liz glared at the tall retreating figure and back at her daughter. Liz gave a stern look into the innocent blue eyes.

“Mama
angwee
?”

Liz then laughed and kissed her daughter. “No. Mommy’s not angry.
Cafey
just has a way with women. The arrogant... Probably thinks she’s up for Mother of the Year,” she grumbled as she fed her daughter.

Liz sat on the deck and watched. “Oh,
Cafey
…” she offered smugly as Skye dashed out of Casey’s grasp and headed for the beach.

“Hey!” Casey yelled as Skye giggled and once again ran around her.

It was a sight: The tall lanky woman chasing a—what had Casey called her? Ah, yes, a dwarf. The dwarf was winning.

“Please don’t kill my daughter, Ms. Bennett,” Liz called from the porch as she sipped her iced tea in the shade.

Casey glared up at her and quickly looked back. Skye was headed right for the water, laughing. Casey made a dash for her and in two long strides, she scooped her up, holding her by the back of her swimsuit.

Arms and legs dangling, the little sack of potatoes cried angrily, “I
fim
...”

From the porch, Liz saw Casey’s devilish grin. “Don’t you dare, Casey Bennett.”

Casey let out a dejected groan and walked into the water, holding Skye.

For the next hour, they played and laughed on the beach. Casey put Skye on a rubber raft and pulled her around in the shallow water. Of course, Skye climbed off and Casey struggled to keep the laughing child from drowning.

“
Cafey
,” Skye said, pointing in the water.

In the shallow water, a school of fish gathered by a boulder. “
Fith
.”

Casey laughed. “Yep, little fish. When they grow up to be big ones, I’ll show you how to catch them.”

“I want
fith
.” Skye put her hand in the water and splashed, laughing as the fish swam in all directions.

Liz watched as Skye and Casey headed up the beach; playtime was over. It was then Liz noticed how attractive Casey Bennett was. All legs, Liz mused. Casey had a fit figure. She wore a modest one-piece bathing suit that Liz instinctively knew she wore for her and Skye’s benefit. “Probably swims naked with the ladies. All the single un-pregnant ones,” she added gloomily.

Skye was full of sand, as was Casey. “Your daughter knows no fear,” she said as she walked up on the deck with Skye behind her. Casey grabbed a towel. “I have sand in places I didn’t know I had places.”

Skye ran to her mother. “Mama, I
fim
. I see
fith
,” she cried out.

Liz wrapped a towel around her, giving her a big hug. “I saw you. I’m so proud of you, you did great, sweet pea,” she said affectionately. “Do you like the fish?”

Skye nodded emphatically. Casey watched as Liz laughed and whispered something in Skye’s ear. Skye nodded and waddled up to Casey.

“Yes?” Casey asked, grinning.

“Thank you,
Cafey
,” the girl whispered.

Casey turned bright red, completely unaccustomed to this. She coughed and avoided Liz. “You’re welcome,
Shortround
.”

Skye reached for Casey, who bent down to her. The little snot kissed her right on the lips, her hands patted her cheeks.

Later in the evening, with Skye in bed, Liz and Casey sat out on the deck in the warm summer night.

“I’ve got to go to Chicago for a few days. I have the last of the compositions done and I’ll be in the studio. I hope I won’t be gone for too long. I’ve asked Marge to stop by. She lives a quarter mile or so around the lake. Just in case. I’ll be at my apartment. The number is by the phone, as well as my cell phone, in case you need anything. Y-you can call anytime,” she finished awkwardly.

Liz smiled as she watched her. “Thank you. I don’t want to disrupt your life any more than I already have. I truly appreciate all you’ve done so far,” she said in a quiet voice.

“Well, I know I was aggravated and surly. I apologize. I’m not used to, well, I’ve been on my own and…” She stopped, knowing she sounded like an idiot.

“I know. This is a change for both of us, Casey. I didn’t want to leave New Mexico. I didn’t want to admit I couldn’t do this on my own. However, I have Skye, and in three months or so... Well, sometimes pride takes a backseat. I just want to do the best for us,” she said and gently ran her hand over her stomach.

Casey gave her a curious look. “What does it feel like?”
 

Liz looked up and raised an eyebrow. “Well, it’s unnerving to know that a little human is growing inside you. Sometimes I feel like that movie
Alien
,” she said. When Casey laughed openly, Liz thought how nice her laughter sounded. It changed Casey’s demeanor, making her even more appealing. Liz quickly dismissed her thoughts and continued, “But it’s a miracle, and at first, honestly? There was a part of me that hoped the insemination wouldn’t work.”

“Why?” Casey leaned forward.

“Because right after we had it done, we found out about Julie’s cancer. I hate to sound selfish, but after the shock of the news, my next thought was of this pregnancy.”

There was a moment of silence and Liz looked at Casey, trying to gauge what she was thinking. She was frowning while she stared out into the darkness. Liz wasn’t sure what to say next.
 

“Had Julie gone to the doctor previously? I can’t imagine she wouldn’t know or you couldn’t see any changes in her.”

The suspicious tone was unmistakable; Liz bristled with anger once again. She didn’t know if it was her hormones or just the arrogance of this woman.

“Julie was always a healthy woman. Perhaps you remember that.”

Casey shot Liz a look; Liz returned it with a challenging glance. “I remember Julie very well. And yes, she was a very fit woman.”

“Well, I’m not a doctor, but the type of cancer she had was…” Liz stopped. All at once, she didn’t want to have this conversation. She gently ran her hand over her belly, trying to calm the anger that was teeming inside. She took deep breaths and slowly exhaled. When she looked at Casey, she saw the confused look.

“My doctor in New Mexico advised deep calming breaths when I feel the onset of stress.”

Casey, still frowning, nodded. “Stress that you think I’m causing?”

Liz blinked several times. “No. This situation alone is stressful. You’ve done nothing to add to it. Although, I wish you’d get that accusatory tone out of your voice.” Liz felt her voice rise with each word.

“I’m not accusing anyone,” Casey said. She started to say something, then stopped.

“Look, I’m sorry we’re in this situation. Trust me, I wish I had somewhere to go. I probably should have stayed in Albuquerque.” Once again, she took deep breaths.

“It’s a little late for that now,” Casey said, running her hand over her face in an exasperated gesture. “I don’t understand…”

Liz cocked her head and waited; when Casey didn’t continue, she said as calmly as she could, “What don’t you understand?”

“Nothing.”

“Casey, this is going to be a long four months if we can’t at least be honest with each other. Please tell me what’s on your mind.”

“I-I…I suppose it’s just all bad timing. The insemination, then finding out Julie has a cancer raging through her.”

Liz gave her a skeptical look. “Somehow, I think there’s more on your mind than you’re telling me.” She stopped and watched the moonlight sparkling on the lake. “I’m grateful for your help. I’m grateful for my family’s sake.”

She turned and opened the screen door. Glancing back, she saw Casey still frowning; she shook her head. “If you ever decide to tell me what’s on your mind, I’ll listen. I know we’re unlikely companions for these next few months. I hope we can at least be civil to each other.”

Liz didn’t wait for, nor did she hear, Casey’s reply as she walked into the dark living room and made her way to the bedroom. She fought the tears of anger and frustration as she quietly closed the door.

Chapter 6

The next morning, Liz sat in the kitchen watching Skye make a mess of her pancakes as Casey stood by the piano, examining her sheet music. They had barely said good morning to each other.

“So I’ll call you.”

“Do you have to leave so early?” Liz asked as she wiped Skye’s mouth, hands, elbows, and dimpled knees. How she got maple syrup there, Liz did not know.

“Well, I’ve got to meet with Niles. He’s at the studio at four. Then I’ve got a....dinner engagement. Tomorrow, I’ll be at the studio all day and the next,” she said, sliding the sheets into her leather briefcase.

Liz noticed Skye was watching Casey. When she saw Casey pick up her keys, Skye tried to get off the chair. “I go
Cafey
.”

Liz once again struggled with her. “No, sweet pea. Casey has to go to work,” Liz explained, and all of the sudden, Skye’s mouth drooped, her bottom lip quivering.

Casey watched Skye, not knowing what to do. “It’s fine, Casey. Just go,” Liz said with a smile.

“I go,” Skye whimpered. She put her head down and cried.

Casey put down her briefcase and winced. She gave a pleading look to Liz. Skye was not hysterical or screaming; she was just plain sad. Casey walked up to the chair and knelt down.

“Hey,
Shortround
,” she said. Liz smiled affectionately at Casey’s tenderness with her child.

“No, I go too...” Skye said with her head on the table.

Casey grimaced and awkwardly put her hand on the soft blond curls, smoothing them back. “Please, don’t be sad. I’ll be right back. Then we’ll go swimming and eat hot dogs.”

Skye raised her head, her rosy cheeks flushed with tears that were streaming down her face. Liz saw Casey’s shocked look and thought for sure she saw a tear welling in her green eyes.
 

“
Pomise
?” Skye sniffed.

“Sure I do. I’ll even bring you a present,” Casey said, ignoring Liz as she shook her head. “Deal?” She stuck out her hand.