Damon’s brother appeared defeated. He spoke low, his voice gentle. “They found three more bodies. No, don’t worry, none were Damon.” He stared at his feet, a habit he had whenever he was around her.
Hesitating, yet needing to know, she asked, “There’s still no word about him or the other person they suspect he was visiting.”
“Ahh… no. They have no idea where he might be found in the building. Because he’s missing, and his truck’s parked in the lot, they added him to the list of possible victims. But until they find him either alive or his remains, we can’t be positive.”
“Lance, stop it. Quit beating around the bush. We both know Damon was with Lily Freemont in her apartment. She was his new squeeze, wasn’t she?”
Lance’s head shot up, and though he shuffled like a kid caught smoking dope, his one-word answer surprised her. “Yes.”
“Thanks for being up-front with me. We have to stop fooling ourselves into believing he survived this disaster.”
Releasing a huge sigh of relief, Lance nodded with unmistakable heaviness. “You’re right. Frankly, I’m beginning to think the officials aren’t in such a hurry anymore. Though they haven’t admitted it, I’m damn sure it’s now a collection rather than a rescue. I get the feeling that the police have given up hope that they’ll find more folks still alive.”
Rachel’s head dropped to her chest, the weight of releasing all that hope leaving her weak. Lance moved closer, waiting to see if she would come to him of her own accord. When she didn’t move, she felt him wrap her in his arms and sway them both from side to side. He said nothing, didn’t need to. His warm sympathy surrounded her like an angora blanket, and she let go of the faint courage she’d been clinging to.
Words lurched their way out before she could stop them. “I was so angry at him when he left. Furious in fact. I’d made up my mind that this time I’d force an ultimatum.”
His hand didn’t stop soothing her, and he spoke low, his tone encouraging. “If anyone deserved it, Damon did.”
“Maybe. But now I’m sorry that the last time we were together, I shouted hateful words at him.”
He whispered, “What did you say that was so horrible? You. The girl with the gorgeous smile that could turn an army off from fighting a war.” He chuckled. “I remember you in high school. You’ve never been a mean girl, and I can’t imagine you in that role now. If anything, I bet Damon started the fight.” She stiffened, and he added, “Damon did, didn’t he?”
Hating the truth but knowing it needed to be said, she admitted, “Not this time. He was being mean, yelling at the kids, and I got angry. Of course, he up and grabbed his jacket to leave, and I screamed for him not to come back. His shock at my daring made me feel so good, I added the worst thing possible. As he left the house, I told him not to come home, and that I didn’t love him anymore.”
***
Lance stepped away from Rachel, holding her arms. For one of the first times she could remember, he looked toward her face. Though his eyes wouldn’t meet with hers, rather they stared at her mouth, he gave her his full attention. “Did you mean it?”
“Oh Lance, I don’t know. I guess I did at the moment. I thought I’d be ashamed the minute I said it, but I-I wasn’t.” Her hands clenched as misery consumed her. “Want to know the truth?” When he nodded, she admitted, “I felt relieved. Only now those angry words are haunting me.”
Guilt ate away at her gentleness, making her feel sick inside to the very depths of her soul. Had she meant what she’d said? At the time, she had. But now, she’d give anything to take those hateful words back.
***
What!
Damon couldn’t believe what he just heard.Rachel had said she didn’t love him anymore. He hadn’t caught those words. He’d been in too much of a hurry to get back to Lily.
Now that girl knew how to treat a man. With her voluptuous body and loose morals, she’d pleased him many times and in many ways. Doing things Rachel would never have allowed, and he’d never ask.
Focusing on those last moments at home, he remembered he’d started a fight on purpose. It had become his way of charging out of the house while blaming her, making her think she’d pushed him out. Would he have stopped if he’d heard her tell him she didn’t love him anymore?
Maybe.
No. No he wouldn’t have stopped.
He couldn’t lie. He hadn’t cared. So full of self-pity, he’d only heard the words he told himself. A man had rights, and she’d stomped on them because of her precious kids. Case closed.
Right?
Wrong. How could a man be so wrong? They weren’t just her babies, they were his too. And he loved them… had always loved them. In his own way, maybe.
But he’d have done anything for them.
Right?
Then he saw the truth.
