Disclaimers - See Part 1 for disclaimers.

Chapter Fifteen

"Wait until you see this picture, Spook," Marika enthused to her pet as she filled the cat's bowl. "She made you look so handsome! Not that you weren't already, of course, but I can hardly wait to see it when it's properly framed."

She knelt and set the bowl on the mat, petting the cat as he sniffed and then daintily began to nibble. "I was so surprised, Mister. I didn't even know she could draw."

Standing, she watched the contentedly eating cat. "Mind you, there's probably a lot more I don't know about her than I do, right?" The lawyer chuckled as Spooky declined comment. Letting her gaze drift, she murmured, "One thing I know is that I like spending time with her." Self-consciously, she shook her head at the oblivious feline. "Um, you know what I mean, right? She's a good kid, once you get past that prickly exterior. Anyway, her first driving lesson today should be interesting."

Marika glanced at her watch, and noting that she had a few minutes to spare before she had to leave to pick up Rhi, left the kitchen to sit at her piano. Smiling, she sat for a moment, then her fingers began to move over the keys almost of their own volition. The spirited sounds of Granados' Spanish Dance filled the room, as the notes tripped and bubbled in exuberant joy.

The blithe performance was abruptly interrupted by the cacophony of the phone's ring. Sighing, Marika stilled her hands as she listened to the answering machine pick up.

"Hi, Marika. It's AJ Darcy. We met the other night at Oly's? I hope you don't mind. I got your phone number from Natalie. I was wondering if you'd be interested in doing something together tonight. I'm working right now, but my shift is over at six. If you want to call me at the hall, it's 555-4782, or call me at home, 555-5056. We can maybe go for dinner or something. Hopefully I'll talk to you later."

The lawyer listened to the beep signaling the end of the message. The voice had been cool, sultry and self-assured, just like its owner. She thought about the invitation. The firefighter had made her interest clear at Oly's, but while Marika had enjoyed the attention of the handsome woman with the intense peridot-green eyes, she'd politely rejected her advances, explaining she was with friends. Darcy had accepted the rebuff graciously, but Marika hadn't missed the determined glint in her eyes, and wasn't surprised by today's phone call.

She considered her options. Lunch and then driving lessons with Rhi would take up most of the afternoon, but they hadn't made any commitment for the evening. There was nothing standing in the way of her accepting Darcy's invitation if she wanted to.

Do I want to? Marika closed the lid on the keys and let her head settle on crossed arms, the Baldwin's polished surface reflecting the musician's serious mien. She certainly looks like she knows how to show a girl a good time. The lawyer chuckled. She had no doubt about that at all. Darcy's barely-restrained sensuality was readily apparent, yet she didn't sense any of the raw, angry carnality that Cass exuded.

Cass. She hadn't seen the woman since the night of Lee and Dana's anniversary party. That wasn't unusual. She would sometimes go weeks without seeing her...her what?

Marika never knew what to call her. There was no love in what they did together. She had no illusions about their relationship and never tried to define the parameters of what they had between them. She went to Cass when she needed what Cass gave her. And as for Cass, she had no doubt that the other woman enjoyed their encounters. She'd seen the vicious glee in muddy brown eyes, shrinking from it even as she couldn't pull free of the predator's orbit.

Maybe I should call Darcy. I'm sure Lee and Dana would approve. The lawyer shook her head ruefully. She hadn't had any urge to contact Cass since she'd last seen her, but based on their history, she didn't doubt that she would again. Sighing, she thought of her friends' stark disapproval. They'd rather I go out with anyone as long as it wasn't Cass, so they'd probably buy champagne if I started dating Darcy.

She made no move to go to the phone though, and her thoughts turned instead to a small woman with stubborn blue eyes and enough attitude to sink a submarine. An irrepressible smile curled her lips as she pictured Rhi glaring at Val in her defence. Don't think I'd want to cross Lady Mouse!

Chuckling, Marika stood and, bidding her cat farewell, grabbed her purse and headed for the door, ignoring the blinking red light on the answering machine.

*****************************************************

"Okay, ease up on the clutch, while smoothly depressing the gas pedal. Try to coordinate so their movements are synchronized."

Marika had to bite her lip to stop from smiling at the look of concentration on her student's face. Reaching across the seat, she lightly tapped the small fists clenched around the wheel.

"Loosen up here, Rhi. The car's not going to run away from you."

Rhi glanced at her and grinned, erasing the small frown that had clouded her face. "It might. But at least it won't go very far here."

They were in the huge parking lot of a large suburban church. The lot that would be filled the following morning only held two cars parked at the church's side entrance, and Marika had chosen it as a safe spot to give Rhi her first instructions. She'd mastered the basics, and now the young woman was working on smoothing out her starts.

Marika watched closely as Rhi began again, hearing the motor rev and feeling the lurch as her student jerkily accelerated, only to stall the engine.

"Sorry."

Rhi looked sheepishly at her teacher, but Marika shrugged it off with a smile.

"That's all right. Try it again, and this time, go a bit slower easing off the clutch."

The lawyer couldn't believe how much she was enjoying this. Rhi was eager to learn and treated every instruction like a commandment, paying close attention and striving to follow directions precisely. She was picking up the skills quickly, though they'd had a near close encounter with the dumpster in the corner of the lot. Marika had grabbed the wheel just in time, and they'd stayed on the opposite side of the lot since.

When Rhi successfully drove around the perimeter of the lot, shifting from first to second and back down again, Marika decided it was time to take a small break.

"We've been going at this for an hour. Why don't you pull over under that tree where the picnic table is, and we'll take five?"

Rhi nodded, carefully steering across the lot and smoothly bringing the Lexus to a halt, beaming as she did so without stalling the car.

"C'mon, let's stretch our legs," Marika suggested, once the engine was turned off.

The women got out and Rhi walked around the car to join her boss, now perched against the table.

"You're doing really well, Rhi. I'm very impressed."

The young woman smiled in shy delight at the praise. "Thank you. I have a good teacher."

Marika felt a flush of warmth. "Oh, I don't know. I think it's the great student who's responsible myself."

Rhi chuckled and pressed slightly against her friend before pulling away. They stood quietly, leaning side by side against the end of the table, watching a pair of young skateboarders setting up a homemade jump at the far end of the lot.

"This is a good place to learn," Rhi observed. "How did you know it was here? Do you go to this church?"

That drew a laugh. "No. Actually I haven't attended church since I left school in Switzerland. Attendance was compulsory there," Marika explained, before adding with a touch of bitterness, "especially for me."

Rhi glanced up sharply, but Marika avoided her eyes. She didn't like to think of those years spent in exile, even if she had lived in a gilded cage. The Headmistress at the exclusive international boarding school had known exactly why the sullen 16-year-old was dumped on the institution in mid-term, and though discreet, had taken measures to ensure the girl's deviancy was checked immediately. Mandated church attendance and weekly sessions with a therapist were only two of the regulations she'd had to obey.

"Actually, a couple of years ago I dated a woman who lived a block from here, and I passed it all the time. I knew it wasn't usually busy on Saturdays, so it seemed like a good place to teach you."

"Hmm," Rhi murmured in acknowledgement. She was silent for a moment, then asked hesitantly, "I take it the relationship didn't work out?"

Marika grimaced and shrugged. "They never do."

"I..."

Rhi trailed off, clearly rethinking her words.

The lawyer looked at her curiously.

"What?"

"Aw, it's none of my business."

Marika half-turned to face her assistant. "It's all right to ask, Rhi. That's how new friends learn about each other, right?" The lawyer suspected she could have seen the delight in the younger woman's eyes even with blinders on.

Rhi grinned, dropping her gaze bashfully before taking a deep breath and beginning again. "I was wondering why you and Lee never made it. I mean you seem like such great friends, and you're both such nice people..."

Marika laughed wryly. "Well, I think we both know at least once person who would disagree with that last statement, but thank you." She paused to consider her words, unsure how much she wanted to confess. For some reason this young woman's opinion was important to her, but she also didn't want to be less than truthful.

"We are the best of friends...now, and maybe if we'd started that way, things might have been different. I was pretty new to the city, and when Lee and I met, we basically plunged into a relationship without really taking time to know each other." She shook her head ruefully. "Story of my life. Anyway, as you well know, Lee is one of the most caring, loyal, loving women you could meet, and after about five months, she was ready to move in together, maybe make things permanent between us."

She glanced over to where Rhi was hanging on her words. The younger woman raised one eyebrow inquisitively, and Marika sighed. "I blew it. I got scared and I had an affair, and not very discreetly either. Lee accused me later of doing it deliberately to sabotage what we had between us. She's probably right, but the upshot was that we broke up. Lee takes commitment very seriously, and it took me a long time to win back her trust even as friends. I'm just grateful that she gave me the chance, because I don't know what I'd do without her."

Rhi nodded her understanding, but didn't say anything.

Marika added lightly, "Still, things worked out for the best, right? I mean can you imagine Lee without Dana?" She sat up excitedly. "Which reminds me! Guess what Lee's doing this weekend?"

Puzzled, Rhi stared at her. "Um, they were going to Emerald Lake for Dana's birthday, weren't they?"

The lawyer grinned widely. "Uh huh. And while they're there, Lee's going to propose!"

"No way!" Rhi exulted. "That's wonderful!"

"Yup, I helped Lee choose the ring earlier this week, and she picked it up from my place before they left."

The two grinned at each other, delighted for their friends. Then Rhi asked curiously, "Can they really get married here?"

"Not under Alberta laws, but they can have a commitment ceremony to formalize their relationship and I know that's what Dana wanted. She was just waiting for Lee to come around to the idea." Eyes twinkling, Marika added, "Lee asked me to be her 'best woman'."

Rhi nodded in agreement. "Good choice."

Without allowing time to second guess herself, the lawyer blurted, "Um, would you be interested in coming to the ceremony with me? I know they'd love to have you, and you might be more comfortable going with someone you know."

The younger woman stared at her feet. "Sorta like your date, you mean?" The words were soft and uncritical, but Marika felt a quick spasm of alarm.

"No! I mean we'd go as friends, right?" She squirmed uncomfortably, cursing herself for jumping in blindly before considering all the angles. "Look, if it makes you uncomfortable..."

Rhi raised her head and looking at her directly, said with calm assurance, "I'd love to go with you."

"Oh...good. That's great then," Marika said, a big smile starting to take possession of her face. "I'm not sure when they'll set the date for, but I'll let you know as soon as I do." She noted absently that her hands were trembling, and she jammed them into her pockets. "So listen, I believe you owe me an ice cream. Feel like driving to a DQ or something? There's one at a plaza about five blocks from here."

"Okay, sounds good." Rhi started to walk back to the car, as Marika fell in step. "Besides, since you chose a hot dog stand for lunch, I think I owe you at least a sundae."

"Hey, those are the best hot dogs in town," Marika protested mildly, but knew by the mild look of reprobation she was getting that Rhi had seen right through her little ruse. Grinning to herself, she didn't doubt that she'd be getting the most expensive treat in the store, if her young companion had her way.

*****************************************************

Lee sat on the balcony of their chalet, looking over the brilliant green waters that had given Emerald Lake its name. Through the open door, she could hear Dana puttering inside the cabin, and she sighed in contentment. They'd just come back from dinner at the Deer Lodge, and Lee was feeling perfectly content with her world.

The past couple of days had been wonderful. The lake, first discovered in 1882 during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, was exquisite. The federal government had forbidden any additional development of the original hand-hewn log lodge and surrounding chalets since the mid-twenties, resulting in a pristine wilderness setting.

West of Lake Louise, in Yoho National Park, the setting was the most romantic Lee could picture for proposing to her lover. She hadn't done that yet, but with tonight their last night here, planned to suggest a walk around the lake this evening. She laid her hand over the small box deep in her pocket, tapping it lightly as she considered their time at the lake.

Glacier fed and crystal clear, Emerald Lake was too cold to swim in, but the women had canoed, fished, ridden horses, and the previous day, hiked up to
Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada's highest and most dramatic waterfalls. Evenings, they'd gathered with other guests around the fire pit, lounged in the 14-foot hot tub and or returned to their chalet for more private pursuits.

Lee smiled bemusedly. She and Dana had never had as much concentrated time to focus on each other. Between Danny and work, their lives were full and busy. Lee wouldn't change that, but even their last holiday had been spent taking Danny and his cousin to Disneyland, and time for her lover often had to be stolen from a hectic schedule.

Deep in her reverie, Lee never even noticed Dana slipping up behind her, until warm arms came around her waist and squeezed.

"Hmphhp! Careful there, my love--I'm still pretty full of that rack of lamb."

Dana giggled and eased around in front of her mate. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I never thought I'd turn down one of those desserts, but I don't have an inch of available space."

Lee wrapped her arms around Dana's neck and smiled down at her partner. "Feel like walking some of that meal off? It's beautiful night. Why don't we go for a stroll around the lake?"

Dana slid a hand up behind the big woman's head and pulled her down for a kiss. Lee sighed with pleasure as she felt the familiar touch, and lost herself for long moments in her partner's caress. When they finally broke apart, Lee leaned back and suggested with a big grin, "Or we could just stay here."

The nurse laughed and smacked her lover on the arm. "Hold that thought, but I think it's a good idea to go for a walk first. Just let me grab a sweater."

They set out down the path towards the bridge that crossed over the lagoon, which Emerald River emptied into. From the bridge it was an easy five kilometres to circle the lake. They were in no hurry. The night was warm, and the stars were just starting to emerge faintly. Their brilliance and the ¾ moon would illuminate the well-trodden path.

Hand in hand, Lee and Dana ambled along the lake's edge, pausing occasionally to watch birds or just enjoy the view. Lee knew the spot she wanted to stop, and as they got closer, she began to get nervous. She didn't doubt Dana's answer, but she wanted to make the moment perfect for her lover and hoped that she wouldn't fumble the proposal. She'd tried to come up with the perfect words ahead of time, but had given up in disgust, deciding instead simply to speak from her heart. She knew that would mean more to her partner than anything else.

They'd covered two thirds of the distance, when Lee tugged Dana off the trail and down a small hill towards the water's edge. The nurse looked at her curiously, but allowed herself to be led to an ancient fallen tree, long ago washed pure white by the wind and waves.

Lee guided Dana to sit on the big log and knelt in front of her. Her partner stared at her curiously as Lee took her hands in her own and began seriously, "Dana, last year...when I thought..." -Her throat closed and her voice caught at the memory of that frightening time.

"Hey, love, that's over. I'm all right," Dana assured her. "You know I am."

"They said we have to get through five years to be sure," Lee said, her eyes drifting unconsciously to her mate's left breast where she'd discovered a small, hard lump one terrible morning last spring.

Dana extracted a hand and gently cupped the big woman's face. "I'm not going anywhere, my love. I won't leave you."

Lee drew in a deep breath. This is supposed to be a proposal, you idiot! "Promise?" She needed that, even if logically she knew Dana couldn't know what the future would bring, any more than she could.

"Promise." Lee could barely see the softness in the loving eyes that regarded her, but she heard the steadfast gentleness in the voice she lived to hear every morning of her life.

Steadying herself, Lee recaptured the hand that caressed her face. "I love you, Dana. I love Danny too, and I want us to always be a family. I need you to know how deeply I'm committed to you...to us...and to our family. Dana, will you marry me?"

The simple, heartfelt words elicited a brilliant smile from the stocky nurse, and she flung her arms around her partner, hugging her tightly.

Lee held her contentedly, feeling the sturdy body shake with unrestrained emotion. Finally she murmured into the dark hair, "Do I take it that's a yes?"

Dana laughed and leaned back. Lee could see the tear tracks, but she didn't worry. Not even the gathering dusk could hide the joy on her lover's face.

"Yes, you big goof! Of course, yes!"

The big woman threw back her head exultantly and whooped, "Yes! She said yes!" The stars seemed to take the news calmly, but the two women started to laugh and embrace frantically, almost falling over the log as they sought to express their feelings. Lee finally understood the meaning of being deliriously happy. Nothing would ever take this woman away from her now! Not even cancer.

They ended up half-laying in the small stretch of pebbled sand between the log and the lake's edge, contentedly gazing into each other's eyes, and punctuating each soft caress with another lingering kiss.

Suddenly Lee bolted upright. "Oh! I almost forgot!" Her hand dove into her pocket and came up with the ring box. Grinning widely, she opened it and held it out for her lover's inspection. Dana sat up and stared at the diamond solitaire.

"Oh migawd, Lee. That's beautiful!"

Lee took it out of the box and slipped it over Dana's ring finger. "Hah," she said in satisfaction. "I told Marika I had the right size!"

Dana chuckled as she inspected the band. "Marika?"

"Um, yeah, she helped me pick it out," Lee confessed sheepishly, "but I made the final selection!"

"It's wonderful, my love. You chose perfectly," Dana assured her with a smile.

"I bought the wedding bands that match it, though mine's in being sized right now."

Dana looked at her in mild surprise. "You want to wear a ring too, love? But you never wear rings."

"I never had a reason to wear a ring," Lee said solemnly, "but I want the world to know that I'm married to my best girl. This is a forever thing for me, Dana. I don't want anyone to doubt that."

"For me too, sweetheart. For me too." Dana leaned forward and punctuated her declaration passionately, taking avid possession of Lee's lips as her hands began to roam knowingly over her partner's body. She'd begun to unbutton the big woman's shirt when Lee, short of breath, drew back with a moan.

"I think we'd better take this back to the chalet, sweetheart."

Dana giggled, but her hands didn't stop. "Lost your sense of adventure, love? We haven't made love outdoors in ages."

Lee's chest heaved under the unrelenting attention and, torn between lust and concern, she glanced up at the trail. It was back up the hill about ten metres, but even with the huge log for shelter, they wouldn't be well hidden from anyone hiking by.

Then warm lips closed over her hard right nipple and she forgot everything else. Reaching for her fiancée, she tugged the giggling woman back down to the sand as they raced to see who could remove the impeding clothes fastest.

*****************************************************

Marika had taken over driving duties. Rhi had become reasonably proficient through the afternoon, but when the younger woman had suggested seeing a movie, the lawyer decided she'd better do the driving in the more congested neighbourhood of the multiplex.

They'd gone to a Japanese restaurant first, though Marika had to invoke all her skills of persuasion to convince her friend to give it a try. Once there, she'd delighted in Rhi's look of awe at the chef's glittering knives and flashy showmanship. She'd wondered if it was a mistake when her assistant looked suspiciously at the offerings, but she'd gamely tried a little of everything, even dabbing gingerly at the wasabi. By dinner's end, Rhi had conceded that it wasn't bad "for raw fish", and that she even quite liked the California roll.

The movie had been light-hearted and they'd exited laughing. Though sorry to see the day end, Marika was reluctantly driving Rhi home. The young woman was quiet now, watching the streets pass as the lawyer headed for Victoria Park.

I wish it were last week. Marika's wistful thoughts of taking Rhi back to the condo were all the more poignant for the pensive expression on the younger woman's face. She wanted so much to take her friend away from this world where hookers lounged brazenly on street corners, stealthy men congregated and dispersed with equal rapidity, and every dark alley seemed ominously alive with furtive movements.

Overwhelmed with a reluctance to abandon Rhi to this world, Marika unconsciously turned right onto a one-way street that would carry them back towards her home.

"You turned the wrong way."

Rhi's gruff tones brought Marika back to reality, and hastily apologizing, she took the first left to get back on course. Sighing, she chastened herself. You can't rescue her if she doesn't want rescuing. Stealing glances at the other woman, she tried to screw up enough nerve to at least offer the sanctuary of her home, even if only for tonight. She hated the thought of such a pleasant day ending with her friend's return to the house she so obviously hated.

Noticing they were nearly to Rhi's street, Marika gathered her nerve and opened her mouth to speak...

"Shit!"

Startled, the lawyer stared at her friend whose sudden exclamation had broken the quiet between them.

"Turn right! Turn right now!"

Shocked, Marika spun the wheel and screeched around the corner. Following Rhi's emphatic instructions, she drove away from the young woman's street, which she'd been about to enter. When Rhiannon indicated she should pull over, she did and then turned to confront her passenger.

"What was that all about?"

Rhi just shook her head and unhooked her seat belt. She was about to climb out, when Marika seized her arm.

"Rhi! What the hell happened back there? What's going on?"

For a long moment, she didn't think the young woman would answer her, but then Rhi's shoulders slumped and she relaxed back into the seat.

"It would...it could've been dangerous for you to drive down my street right then."

"What!? Why?" Marika hadn't released her companion's arm, and her hand tightened in the fabric of the light jacket, holding her securely within the safety of the car.

Rhi stared out the front window, refusing to meet her friend's eyes as she muttered, "Some neighbours that normally aren't home on Saturday. Looked like they were having a party, and it's not safe to be around when they're partying."

Confused, Marika shook her head. "Neighbours? But I could have driven you around the back like I normally do. They wouldn't see you."

The young woman looked at her tiredly. "You don't get it. Cars like this one don't come down here, at least not unless they're going to the 'stroll'. As soon as you drove past, they'd have seen you and been on you like flies on...Well, anyway, there's no way you could've stopped to let me out. This way is better. I can approach the house from the rear, and they'll never see me." She gently but firmly removed Marika's hand and reached for the door handle.

"Wait! You can't go out there if it's not safe!" Worried, Marika pleaded, "Look, just come home with me tonight and I'll bring you home when it's daylight tomorrow, all right?"

Rhi hesitated, and the lawyer held her breath. Slowly, the young woman shook her head.

"No, but thank you." Rhi pushed open the door and got out as Marika leaned across the seat, holding out an entreating hand.

"Please, Rhi. If it's not safe, I don't want you out there."

Her friend knelt by the side of the open door. "It's my world, Rika, I'll be okay. I'm used to it, remember? Look, I'll give the condo a call when I get in the house and leave a message so you know I'm safe, all right?"

Unable to wring any further concessions, Marika nodded miserably. Rhi smiled gently and patted her hand.

"Go home, Rika. It was a wonderful day. Thank you."

Standing, she closed the door firmly and started across the street, fading into the shadows left by broken streetlights as she walked quickly away. Marika watched her in the rear view mirror until she disappeared into an alley two blocks back.

Sadly, she put the car in gear and turned for home. I don't want this to be your world.

Continued in Chapter 16