Disclaimers - See Part 1 for disclaimers.

Chapter Nine

Marika idly watched the clusters of bubbles drift and collapse around her body as the soft sounds of Enya floated in from her bedroom. It had taken over 24 hours, but she was finally beginning to feel human again. She smiled ruefully, thinking of her partner in crime and wondering if Lee had recovered from their reconciliation party yet.

Spooky chose that moment to jump up on the counter, and the blonde glanced up at him fondly as he began to groom himself. "Hey, Mister! You leave hair all over my towel, and I'm turning you into a throw rug!" Yellow eyes flicked to hers as he calmly ignored her threat. Grinning, she shook her head in mild exasperation. "Why do I even try? I might as well be talking to myself."

Settling further into the tub, she enjoyed the sensation of the hot water creeping up around her neck. Mischievously, she snapped her fingers on the surface of her bath and sent a small geyser of water at her pet. He hissed a protest and then deliberately stalked over her towel before jumping to the floor and departing for more congenial climes.

Laughing softly, Marika stretched and settled back into the bubbles, letting her mind drift lazily over plans for the day. She had some legal work to do in the afternoon, having been unable to do much but recover on her couch the day before, and then she was due at Lee and Dana's for dinner that evening. The lawyer frowned a little at that thought. She really wasn't enthusiastic about her assistant joining them and was even a little irritated that Lee had invited her. It wasn't that she disliked Rhiannon, but Marika had no desire to socialize with the young woman either.

Her thoughts turned to her assistant and the two weeks that Rhiannon had worked for her. As Len Owen had promised, the legal assistant was more than proving her worth in the office. Sponge-like, she'd absorbed every bit of information that Marian could give her and was already demonstrating initiative in some of the more delicate cases that Marika handled.

They'd had a Jordanian client in the office that week. The woman was claiming refugee status on the grounds of fearing familial persecution if she was returned to her country. She'd fled an arranged marriage with a man she despised, seeking sanctuary with an aunt in Canada. Marika had filed the client's paperwork several weeks previously and was surprised to see the woman enter her office in a panic on Wednesday. The Jordanian's hearing was still months away, and she hadn't expected to see her so soon.

The woman had been frantic and in tears when she'd hurried into the office. Marika had been on the phone with another client, but had noticed through her open door how Rhiannon had quickly taken the woman in hand, soothing and talking to her until Marika could finish her call. By the time the lawyer brought the client into her office, the woman had calmed enough to tell Marika of the situation that left her so frightened.

Her client's aunt had received word through relatives in Jordan that her nephew had tracked his sister to Canada. Furious that his sister had disgraced her family by backing out of the marriage their father had arranged, he was coming to the country to either take her back or avenge the family honour. As the woman broke down, terrified at what her brother would do if he found her, Rhiannon sidled quietly into the office and laid a piece of paper on her desk.

Marika glanced up curiously at her assistant and then back at the address and phone number on the paper. The young woman whispered, "I've made arrangements at the Immigrant Women's Shelter for them to take her in as long as necessary. If you like, I'll take her over there now." Turning to the sobbing client, Rhiannon had knelt beside her and laid a reassuring hand on her arm. "You'll be safe there. Your brother won't be able to touch you."

The woman had nodded and clung desperately to her assistant's hand as Rhiannon gently led her out of the office. Marika stared in amazement after them, marveling at how smoothly and quickly the situation had been handled. She'd barely gotten a word in edgewise before the incident was resolved. When her assistant returned an hour later, she'd tried to compliment Rhiannon on her performance only to have her words politely but brusquely turned aside as the young woman resumed her work. Shaking her head in mild frustration, the lawyer had returned to her office, closing the door behind her.

Marika rolled her eyes and groaned a little at the thought of spending a social evening in the prickly little woman's company. Oh well, at least Lee and Dana will be there, and for some reason, she actually seems to get along with Lee. With that thought as consolation, the blonde resolved to make the best of the situation and leave the bulk of the conversation to her old friend. Frankly she doubted if even Lee could coax more than a word or two out of her reticent assistant.

She lounged in the tub until the cooling water drove her to climb out. Drying off, she observed her naked form critically in the mirror. She was well aware that she'd been a winner in the genetic crapshoot but she rarely dwelled on it. Aside from the occasional long walk, she didn't do anything in particular to maintain her slender shape. She did eat lightly, but that was more a matter of taste than any dietary inclination.

Grimacing a little, she considered her 33 years, and mostly sedentary lifestyle, and decided she really should at least take up golf again. A momentary sadness darkened her gray eyes as she remembered her father teaching her the game as a little girl, a lifetime ago. Firmly she put that memory out of her thoughts and briskly finished drying herself off.

Donning khaki shorts and a faded orange t-shirt, she headed for the kitchen to make a fresh pot of coffee. Standing at the counter, she grinned down at her cat as he wound himself around her legs and purred.

"Oh sure, now you're going to suck up. I don't suppose it would have anything to do with food now, would it?"

Spooky padded over to the pantry and sat in front of the door, eyeing her expectantly. "Aw, my poor starving boy," Marika said in mock-sympathy. "You're just wasting away to nothing, aren't you?"

She gently nudged him aside, opened the door and was about to grab a tin of cat food off the shelf when the buzzer sounded from the lobby. Ignoring feline protests, she left the kitchen to answer her phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Marika, it's Terry." There was an unusual note of hesitancy in her friend's voice. "Can I come up?"

"Of course. C'mon up," Marika reassured her, entering the code to release the door.

Hanging up, she went to unlock her door then returned to the kitchen.
She was in the process of emptying the tin into Spooky's dish when a soft knock sounded. "It's open," she called, and heard Terry enter.

Straightening, she smiled at her friend, amused by the almost bashful look on Terry's face. The young woman thrust a brown paper bag at her.

"I brought bagels," she volunteered and Marika accepted the peace offering graciously.

"Hmm, they smell wonderful. Thank you. I just made a fresh pot of coffee. Would you like some?"

Terry sniffed appreciatively. "Hazelnut?" she asked hopefully.

"Of course. Why don't you get the cups down and I'll set the bagels out?"

The two women worked in silent companionship for a few moments and then took their coffee, bagels and cream cheese to the kitchen table. Marika set out the small plates and knives, smiling to herself as she realized how naturally they'd slipped into their old habits. They even automatically took the same seats they always had in the breakfast nook.

"Oh these are great, Ter. You must have gone down to Castle's," Marika enthused, biting into the cinnamon raisin bagel that was so fresh it still held a hint of warmth.

Terry mumbled her confirmation around a mouthful and then washed it down with coffee before saying, "Yeah, it's not a bad drive on a Sunday morning. The traffic was pretty light."

Marika nodded, knowing full well that Terry had to have spent almost an hour on the road to fetch her favourites and appreciating the effort her friend had gone to.

They didn't say much until each had finished a bagel and was sipping the coffee. Then Terry sighed, and looking down at the tablecloth asked, "Are we okay?"

Without any hesitation, Marika confirmed, "We're okay." She saw the barely visible release of tension as Terry's shoulders relaxed and a genuine smile brightened the younger woman's features.

"Good." Terry's bright eyes held an expression of relief. "I'm really sorry I butted in, Marika. What you do is your business. We were just worried..."

The lawyer laid a hand lightly on her friend's arm. "I know, but everything's all right—really."

Marika could tell that Terry didn't believe her but was willing to let the subject drop for the moment. She was grateful for that, just as she was grateful that she had friends who so obviously cared about her, but she wasn't willing to open up the subject of Cass' role in her life for debate or inspection. She wasn't proud of her involvement with the mysterious woman and would rather everyone ignored it. Changing the topic she held up another bagel and joked, "I think I like your idea of olive branches better than Lee's. Much easier on the constitution."

Terry laughed. "Yeah, I heard about that. I was talking to Dana last night and she said Lee was suffering severely, although she didn't sound too sympathetic about it. I take it you two over-served each other on Friday?"

The blonde groaned in heartfelt agreement. "You'd think by now I'd know better than to get in a game of tequila shooters with that woman. I swear she could drink a whole regiment of soldiers under the table."

"I think she has," Terry grinned as they both recalled Lee's war stories of her army days.

Marika could feel the last of the residual tension slip away, and she luxuriated in the renewed sense of amity. Soon they were bantering as if the past couple of weeks had never occurred, and when Spooky jumped on Terry's lap to take his accustomed position, they both chuckled at the sheer familiarity of it.

"Another cup?" Marika asked as she rose to refill her own mug. Terry held out her mug and the blonde carefully poured the fragrant brew. "So what's Jan up to this morning?" she asked casually, returning the carafe to its heating pad. When she didn't get an immediate answer, she glanced up to see Terry frowning slightly. Cocking her head, she regarded her friend.

"Terry? Something wrong?" To her surprise, she found herself genuinely hoping that there wasn't and realized that she'd crossed a hurdle unawares. She could think of Terry and Jan as lovers without the pain she'd grown accustomed to. She wondered for an instant when that had happened, but set it aside for later introspection. Now she focused on her friend.

Terry sighed and shook her head. "Not really. She is a little miffed at me though."

"Want to talk about it?" Marika asked, resuming her seat and studying the other woman.

"It's stupid, really," Terry muttered.

"If it's bothering you or her, then it's not stupid." Marika marveled inwardly at the ease with which she fell back into her role as Terry's sage. The younger woman had turned to her for months now as she'd tried to reconcile her love for Jan with Jan's marriage to a man Terry deeply admired and liked. The lawyer enjoyed the trust and affection accorded her by the other woman, basking in Terry's confidence that Marika would always offer sound and uncritical counsel and be there when she was needed.

Marika blinked with a sudden awareness that it was her fear of losing this, not an abortive love affair, that had caused her so much pain when Terry had finally consummated her romance with Jan.

Her relationship with Terry was unique. The women in her life were either friends or lovers, and rarely both at the same time. Years ago she and Lee had progressed smoothly from being lovers to friends with barely a hiccup, and that friendship had become a cornerstone of her life. She and Terry had gone from a brief sizzling affair to one-sided antagonism to the beginning of a reluctant and wary friendship within mere months. That unlikely friendship had evolved into a solid relationship that Marika had learned to depend on. She realized that she'd come to love Terry as she would have her little sister had she been allowed to stay in the girl's life.

Her mouth almost dropped open at the mental onslaught of revelations, and Marika had to wrench herself back to concentrate on what Terry was saying. Determinedly she focused on her friend.

"Jan can't understand why I won't sleep at her house and why we always have to stay at my place," Terry was explaining. "I mean, she's fond of Michael and Claire, but she'd like to make love where we don't have roommates one floor down."

Marika had an idea what lay behind her friend's reluctance, but didn't want to rush her. "Why don't you want to stay at her place?"

Terry fidgeted uncomfortably causing Spooky to jump off his comfortable perch and then blurted, "Because it's his house!"

Marika nodded, her suspicions confirmed. She took a long sip of coffee as she considered her answer. "Rob's gone, Ter. It's Jan's house now," she offered mildly. "You've spent a lot of time over there both before and after he died. What exactly makes you so uncomfortable?"

The young woman grimaced. "I can't make love to his wife in his bed. It's...it's...ICKY!"

The lawyer hid a small grin but couldn't help teasing--"That would be the proper psychological term, would it?" She ignored Terry's half-hearted glower and asked, "Have you talked this out with Jan?"

When Terry didn't respond, she raised one elegant eyebrow. "Terry? You have told Jan this, haven't you?"

"No."

Marika had to strain to hear the mumbled response. With an exasperated sigh she asked, "How do you expect Jan to understand if you don't explain your feelings to her?"

"She'll think I'm an idiot."

Regarding her companion affectionately, Marika shook her head and chuckled. "That woman is so much in love with you that she thinks you walk on water." Leaning forward she said more seriously, "And before you end up disillusioning her, maybe you should think of compromising."

Terry looked up at her in puzzlement. "Compromise? How?"

"I assume there's more than one bedroom in the house?" When Terry nodded, Marika went on. "Why don't you try spending the night in one of the other bedrooms? Make one of the other rooms yours and hers. It doesn't matter if it's smaller, just that you can be comfortable there and keep your mind on Jan and your future, rather than the past. I'm sure if you explained this all to her, she'd be more than willing to adjust."

Marika sat back, enjoying the look of relief and excitement that blazed across Terry's face.

"That could work!" Terry jumped up enthusiastically and hugged Marika, who squawked as her coffee spilled. "Oops, sorry 'bout that." The young woman grabbed a dishtowel and dabbed ineffectually at the spreading stain on the blonde's t-shirt.

"Go on, go talk to your partner," Marika urged as she took the cloth from Terry's hand and finished mopping up.

She looked up to see her friend regarding her gratefully. She smiled as Terry said, "I don't know how to thank you." She knew her friend wasn't just talking about the morning's advice, but keeping it light, she said, "Consider it a fair trade for the bagels. Now get going, I've got work to do today."

Terry grinned and planted a quick kiss on Marika's forehead before practically running out of the apartment. With a fond look after her departing friend, the lawyer walked back to her bedroom, peeling off the wet t-shirt as she went. With a brief wistful glance at her neglected piano, she sternly reminded herself of the depositions to be filed in the upcoming week.

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Rhiannon carefully locked her bedroom door and picked up her small battered canvas knapsack. Walking down the stairs she wrestled with the strap that she'd repaired countless times but which had chosen today to break again. Nearing the base of the stairs she heard the front door open and groaned inwardly. She'd hoped to get out of the house before her aunt and the hen house returned. Looking up she was glad to see it was only Vera Rasmussen, to her mind, the least aggravating hen.

"Oh, hello, Anne," the rotund woman said, eyeing her closely. "Are you on your way out?"

"Yeah, I'm going to a friend's place for dinner," Rhi replied absently as she decided she'd have to tie the strap ends together as a temporary fix. Intent on her task she didn't realize that the rest of the hens had now entered until she heard her aunt's sharp, demanding tones.

"Dinner? You're going out to dinner? With who?"

Rhi grimaced. The last thing she wanted was an encounter with her aunt to sour her day. "You wouldn't know them," she bit off sharply, trying to edge by the women crowding the door.

"Well you be cautious now, dear," Hettie said in her most unctuous voice. "Young girls can't be too careful out there. There are just far too many freaks and deviants in the world, and you know how I worry so about you. You really shouldn't go anywhere without letting me know the address and the phone number, just in case."

Rhiannon had no illusions about her aunt's solicitude. She was well aware that Hettie was burning up with curiosity about her niece's unprecedented dinner invitation. She had no intention of allowing her aunt the slightest bit of access to her life, however, so she simply held her tongue and brushed by the women.

As Rhi pushed through the door, she could hear her aunt's raised voice. "Girls, I think we should offer a prayer to keep our little Annie safe."

The young woman gritted her teeth and kept walking even as she heard the women respond to Hettie's lead. She'd been subjected to ten years of the hen house praying loudly and ostentatiously for her soul and salvation, often as not in her enforced presence. The hardest to bear had been when they beseeched God to forgive Rhi for her blatant ingratitude for the blessings that had been so generously bestowed on her.

Hurrying out the gate, she wondered which blessings they meant: the theft of her name, the loveless, miserly upbringing or the incessant hectoring about how she was clearly her father's daughter—synonymous with worthless, and her aunt's ultimate condemnation—and how she would be damned if she didn't change her ways.

Heading for the bus stop, she amused herself by imagining a scenario where she coolly informed her aunt and the hens that she was on her way to a lesbian couple's house for dinner. She chuckled out loud as she pictured them all fluttering, aghast and wailing about heart palpitations. She could just see the dull red flush of outrage on her aunt's face. That image kept a smile on her face right up until she boarded her bus.

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

Marika turned onto the suburban street, downshifting as she neared a small park a few blocks from Lee and Dana's home. Staying alert for the small children who frequented the playground equipment, she let her eyes idly survey the park only to do a double take as she spotted a familiar figure.

Her assistant was sitting on a bench under a tree reading a book. Marika blinked, momentarily unsure if she should stop but already past the park by the time she'd made up her mind. Deciding uncomfortably that it wasn't up to her to shepherd Rhiannon to Lee and Dana's, she kept driving until she pulled up in front of the corner ranch house.

She grinned when she reached the front door and found a note that read We're out back. She walked around the side of the house and immediately saw Dana at the barbeque and Lee and Danny tossing a football between them. Danny saw her first and whooped a greeting. Marika waved and smiled as he missed Lee's next toss because his eyes were on her. Lee rolled her eyes and turned to greet the newcomer.

"Hey, 'Rika. Glad to see you're still in the land of the living."

Marika returned Lee's hug warmly. "No thanks to you, you old reprobate. The next time you go out of the country, try bringing back something a little less lethal."

Dana walked up grinning. "Oh don't worry. She paid for your little party too. Should've seen her yesterday. She..."

A large hand cut off the rest of her words, as her mate growled, "No telling tales out of school!"

Marika could see the twinkle in Dana's eyes and knew she'd get the whole story later. The stocky woman squirmed out of her partner's grasp, gave the lawyer a quick hug and linked arms with her as they walked over to the deck.

Settling into lawn chairs, Dana offered, "Can I get you something? A beer?"

Both Lee and Marika groaned and Dana giggled. "Okay, how about a Coke then?"

"Do you have a Sprite or something?" Marika asked, her stomach still a little sensitive.

"I'll get it," Danny volunteered eagerly, pushing open the sliding glass door to the kitchen.

His mother smiled indulgently and called after him, "Bring two!"

"Oh," Marika exclaimed. "I almost forgot. Your other guest is sitting down in the park."

"Rhiannon?" Lee asked in puzzlement. "What's she doing there?"

"I have no idea. I just noticed her there when I drove past."

Lee frowned a little. "Why didn't you stop and offer her a ride?"

Marika fidgeted and then gratefully looked up at Danny's return. She accepted the pop that he carefully handed her, smiling her thanks at the boy. She realized that Lee and Dana's eyes were still on her and she sighed. "I don't know. I mean, I didn't know why she was there instead of here, and I didn't know what to do."

Lee stood decisively. "C'mon, Danny. You and I are going for a little walk."

The lawyer watched the two leave out the back gate, unpleasantly aware that she'd disappointed her friend. Glancing sideways, she eyed Dana who was calmly sipping her drink.

"Um, so what's for dinner?" Marika asked.

"Marinated flank steak and slow-roasted veggies. Lee and Danny picked up some fresh strawberries, so we're having those over ice cream for dessert." Dana chuckled a little. "For some reason Lee asked me not to make my brandy glaze for the strawberries."

Marika smiled in understanding. "It sounds wonderful. Did you make your mustard sauce too?"

"Of course," Dana answered. "I don't think Lee would eat the steak without it."

About to ask Dana how Danny's game had gone the previous night, Marika was surprised when the other woman asked her directly, "So what gives with you and your assistant?"

"Nothing 'gives'-- I don't even really know her that well." Marika knew she sounded a little defensive.

"Well that's the whole idea of tonight. So you two can get to know each other a little better." Dana forestalled Marika's protest with a raised hand. "I know you're not thrilled with the idea, but I want you to consider something. Lee thinks there's something very worthwhile about that young woman; and if I've learned anything in our years together, it's to trust Lee's people instincts. I've never seen her be wrong about anyone. Have you?"

Marika shook her head silently. Dana was right. Lee had a keen insight into people, and the lawyer knew that was a large part of why Lee had given her a second chance at being friends after their romance had fallen apart all those years ago. Sighing, she acknowledged to herself that she was simply being stubborn because she hadn't made any headway with Rhiannon herself and it was easier to assume that it was all due to her assistant's prickly personality rather than accepting she might have been equally at fault.

"Tell me, 'Rika, do you treat her the way you treated Marian at the office?" Dana's question was calm and non-judgmental, but it still made the lawyer squirm.

"Well, I'm always polite to her." It sounded weak even to her ears, and she wasn't surprised to hear a small snort from Dana.

"Uh huh," her friend said dryly. "And when was the last time you left a treat on her desk?"

Marika stared at the oak-stained planks under her feet. It was true that it was a longtime habit of hers to occasionally leave a latte or a muffin or a flower on Marian's desk. She was very fond of her assistant and made the extra effort to let her know how much she was appreciated. The lawyer wondered if part of her problem with Rhiannon was resentment over Marian's absence for the next six months. Her new assistant was every bit as competent as Marian, but she missed the other woman's warmth.

"You know," Dana said speculatively. "It can't be easy for her either. If she has an ounce of sensitivity, she has to be aware that you're comparing her unfavourably to Marian. She was probably sitting in the park trying to work up her nerve to join a bunch of near strangers for dinner."

Marika found the image troubling and looked up at Dana apologetically. The stocky woman just smiled at her and said, "All I'm saying is to give her a chance. She may surprise you."

The lawyer nodded in agreement and ten minutes later, when they heard Lee's booming laughter in the alley, she resolved to try to make her assistant feel welcome, both here and in the office.

She watched as Lee, Danny and Rhiannon entered the yard and saw the surprise on the young woman's face as she saw her boss. Marika wondered momentarily if her assistant would have accepted Lee's invitation if she'd known that the lawyer would be here, but she put that thought out of her mind and smiled warmly as the group approached.

"Hello, Rhiannon. I'm glad you could make it," she offered sincerely.

"Hi, Ms. Havers," the assistant answered hesitantly. Marika noticed that the young woman glanced up at Lee as if looking for support.

Lee grinned down at her. "Oh no, Lady Mouse. No formality at our house. C'mon, let me introduce you to my partner. Dana, this is Rhiannon Davies, aka Lady Mouse. Rhi, this is Dana Cochrane, Danny's Mom."

Dana smiled sweetly and extended her hand, which Rhiannon gingerly took. "Hi, Rhiannon. Lee speaks so highly of you that I've been looking forward to meeting you."

Marika was observing her assistant closely and noticed with interest, the blush that quickly coloured the woman's face. Suddenly, Rhiannon seemed less formidable and more approachable as the lawyer was struck by how young she was. She wasn't much taller than Danny and standing beside Lee, looked decidedly slight. Reminding herself of exactly how tough and resourceful this diminutive woman really was, Marika was nevertheless amazed at how effortlessly Dana and Lee appeared to have pierced Rhiannon's defences. Her assistant was now seated between the two women and was responding haltingly to their conversational gambits.

Marika resumed her seat and watched as her old friends worked smoothly to make their new guest comfortable and draw her out. She was impressed, having forgotten how well Lee and Dana operated together socially. Even Danny was on his best behaviour, though Marika suspected he'd been well briefed in advance.

By the time dinner was ready, Rhiannon readily joined Dana in setting the table. The lawyer noticed she still listened more than she spoke, but Marika could see how much more relaxed her assistant was now. When the two women disappeared into the house, Lee grinned victoriously at her friend, and Marika smiled in acknowledgement.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You were right," she said to her smug companion.

"I do so like to hear you say that," Lee chortled, and then ducked the pretzel Marika threw at her. "Tut tut," she chastised indulgently. "What kind of example are you setting for the child?"

"Hey, who you calling a child?" Danny protested indignantly. Lee wrapped an arm around him and knuckled his head affectionately.

Just then Rhiannon returned with an armload of dishes, cups and cutlery. Marika jumped up and held the door open for her. "Can I help you with some of that?" she offered, extending a hand to relieve the smaller woman of some of her load.

She almost dropped the dishes when she was rewarded by a brilliant smile that lit her assistant's face and illuminated those remarkable dark blue eyes. Blinking, she stood aside so Rhi could get by only to see Dana grinning at her from inside the kitchen. Flustered, she turned away and hurriedly deposited the dishes on the table where Danny was helping Rhiannon set them around.

Still stunned at the transformation that smile had wrought on her assistant's customary countenance, Marika remained mostly quiet while serving dishes were passed around and plates were filled. It was only when Danny returned to his ongoing campaign to get a dog that she began to relax. For a year he'd been agitating for a dog. His parents were amenable to getting a small dog, but he had his heart set on a German shepherd and wasn't about to settle for less.

Marika knew his arguments by heart having heard them repeatedly, usually with small variations that he thought would augment his case. He'd confided to her once that he was pretty sure he was wearing them down. Now he was extolling the advantages of having a guard dog even as Lee laughingly reminded him that they had the most up-to-date security system her company could provide.

Sighing, Danny turned to Rhiannon. "Did your parents let you have a dog?"

That caught Marika's interest and she listened keenly, curious to see if her taciturn assistant would be forthcoming with any personal details.

"Not a dog, no," Rhiannon told the boy. "I did have a white mouse named Elrod, though."

"Ewww, Elrod?" Danny's nose wrinkled in disgust.

The others laughed and Rhi said with a smile, "My Dad named him. He had a thing for funny names. I'm amazed I didn't end up as a Hermione or Hildegard."

"Or Phyllis," Dana chuckled as she got an indignant stare from her partner.

"Like Timothea is all that great," Lee groused.

When Marika saw the puzzled look on Rhiannon's face, she leaned over and whispered, "Their middle names."

"Oh," Rhi said, as her face cleared. Then much to Marika's surprise, she looked at the lawyer shyly and asked, "What's yours, Ms.—um, I mean, Marika."

Marika smiled, pleased that her assistant had finally used her first name. "Kathryn. Marika Kathryn. What's yours?"

"Ardith. It was my mother's name."

Marika saw the flash of sadness in her face as Rhiannon lowered her eyes, and glanced up to see that Lee and Dana had seen it too. Dana quickly interjected, "Well, who's for dessert? I've got ice cream and fresh strawberries."

Lee and Danny jumped up to clear dishes. When Marika started to stand and help, Dana shook her head and glanced significantly at Rhiannon who was still quietly staring at the table. Marika nodded her understanding and sank back in her seat.

"So was it a good weekend, Rhiannon?" Marika asked, hoping to distract her assistant.

The young woman glanced up and nodded. "It's certainly ending well. Actually, I picked up some extra work, so it was a good weekend."

Marika raised one eyebrow at her assistant's definition of a good weekend and decided to tease her a little. "What, I don't keep you busy enough?" she remarked lightly, pleased to see Rhiannon react to her words with a small smile.

"No, that's not it. It's not really a big deal. I'm helping a...friend...at the neighbourhood church. I'm going to be refinishing some pews. It's only a few days work, but he's going to pay me for it."

"Have you ever done that kind of work before?"

Rhiannon frowned and looked uneasily at her boss. "No, but David assures me it's not hard, and that he and Tupper will show me what to do."

"I wouldn't worry too much, Rhiannon. I don't think there's anything you couldn't do once you set your mind to it." Marika meant the casual words sincerely and was gratified to see a return of the brilliant smile she'd seen earlier. God, she's cute when she does that. I've got to get her to smile more often.

The lawyer blinked in astonishment at her unbidden thoughts but before she could say anything more, Rhiannon was scrambling to open the door for Dana, who had a tray of ice cream, strawberries and small dishes in her hands. Lee trailed after with a pot of coffee and Danny followed with cups, sugar and cream.

Dessert was consumed enthusiastically, and Marika was unaccountably pleased when her assistant shyly ask for seconds which Dana cheerfully supplied. The lawyer caught Lee grinning broadly at her and stuck out her tongue at the big woman who just laughed.

The rest of the evening passed so pleasantly that Marika was surprised when Rhiannon checked her watch and said apologetically, "It's been wonderful, but I'm going to have to go to catch my bus."

The young woman stood and began to thank her hosts when Marika interjected, "I'm about to head off myself. Why don't I give you a lift home?"

She was startled when a look of near-panic crossed her assistant's face and Rhiannon hastily said, "Oh no, that's all right. I mean, thank you, but I don't want to take you out of your way. It's no problem to take the bus."

"Lady Mouse," Lee chided affectionately. "Quit being so stubborn and let Marika give you a ride home."

The lawyer could see that her assistant was torn. For whatever reason, she obviously didn't want Marika to take her home, but she also clearly didn't want to offend Lee.

Surprising herself, Marika stood and laid a hand on Rhiannon's arm. "C'mon. It's silly for you to have to take a long bus ride when I've got my car here. Let's go." For an instant she thought the young woman would reject her offer, but then Rhi abruptly picked up her knapsack and joined the three older women as they walked around the house and out to the lawyer's car.

Marika hugged Lee and Dana, thanking them for another wonderful evening and promising to call later in the week. She half-turned to unlock the passenger side, keeping an eye on her assistant.

Rhiannon offered her hand to Dana and said, "I really had a great time. Thank you very much for inviting me."

Dana ignored the hand and pulled the smaller woman into a warm hug. Marika almost laughed at the look of surprise on her assistant's face, but she noticed with approval that Rhiannon returned the embrace and even produced another of those brilliant smiles that the lawyer found so charming.

Lee beamed and swept Rhiannon into a bear hug, practically lifting her off the ground. "So will you come again sometime, Lady Mouse?"

Rhi grinned up at her and said, "If you ask, I will come." That earned her a burst of laughter from Lee and Dana. Lee slid an arm around her partner and the two of them waved as Marika and Rhiannon climbed into the car and pulled away.

Marika asked for directions and was instructed to head downtown. She drove by the small park and glanced sideways to see a small smile lingering on her companion's lips. Quietly she remarked, "They're wonderful people, aren't they?"

Rhiannon nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, they sure are." Half turning towards Marika, she asked, "Have you known them long?"

"Quite a while," Marika answered absently, pulling up to a four-way stop and checking in all directions. Without thinking, she added, "Lee and I dated several years ago and we've been friends ever since."

When silence met her words, she realized what she'd said. She'd been so relaxed by the end of the evening that she'd forgotten that Rhiannon might not be aware that she was gay. She wasn't necessarily closeted at work, but neither did she advertise her orientation. She generally kept her personal and professional lives well separated. The senior partners knew, as did Marian, but she doubted any of them had been indiscreet. When it was necessary to attend social functions concerning the firm, she either went alone or took a male friend.

Clearing her throat nervously, Marika searched for words only to have Rhiannon say casually, "I'll bet she was a lot of fun to go out with."

"Um, yeah, she was," Marika confirmed, shooting a glance at her assistant, who looked remarkably calm about the whole matter.

Rhiannon smiled reassuringly and then remarked as she stroked the leather seat she occupied, "This sure is a nice car.

Bemused by the change of topic, Marika nodded. "Yes, I like it. It handles beautifully, inside and out of the city. Do you have a car?"

"No. Actually, I don't drive."

"Not at all?" Marika asked in surprise.

"I never had a car to practice on, so I just never bothered to get my licence," Rhiannon explained with a touch of embarrassment in her voice. "I get around pretty well with public transit so I never even miss it, though I imagine I'll want to get one some day."

"Hmm," Marika murmured, mildly amazed that anyone in today's world didn't drive. She was approaching the centre of the city and asked, "Where do I go from here?"

"You can drop me anywhere downtown."

Marika sighed. "Oh no, I'm not about to explain to Lee how I dumped her Lady Mouse out in the middle of nowhere. Where do you live, Rhiannon?"

For a moment she didn't think the other woman would answer and then her assistant muttered, "Victoria Park."

The lawyer hid her surprise and simply nodded. Victoria Park was one of the poorest sections of town and usually only made the news when the police periodically tried to move the hookers off their stroll in the district. City Hall often received complaints about used needles and condoms around neighbourhood schools and playgrounds, but aside from the occasional politically imposed and short-lived initiative, nothing ever changed in that region of the city.

Following Rhiannon's mumbled instructions, she made her way to the area and through the impoverished neighbourhood, keenly aware that the closer they got to their destination, the more her assistant slumped down in her seat.

Finally, half way down one shabby street, Rhiannon jerked her thumb at a house and said, "That's it, but if you don't mind, would you drop me at the alley?"

Marika eyed the tall, narrow, seedy house and made no protest. Turning the corner, she was about to pull into the alley when a small hand on her arm stopped her.

"I'll get out here," Rhiannon stated firmly, and Marika could tell that her assistant wasn't going to be swayed. She pulled the car to the curb and stopped.

As Rhi fumbled for her seat belt, Marika said, "I'm really glad you joined us tonight. I enjoyed the chance to get to know you outside the office." She found herself pinned by intense, searching eyes and she held still, letting Rhiannon visually interrogate her.

She could see the instant that the young woman made up her mind that her boss was sincere. Dark blue eyes warmed as the young woman smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I had a good time too. See you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," Marika agreed, watching Rhiannon open the door and step out. She waited until her assistant was well down the alley before driving away.

On her way back to the condo, Marika mulled over the mystery of Rhiannon's home and the woman's obvious reluctance to have her boss see it. She knew her assistant was paid enough to afford better accommodations so decided there must be more to the picture than she was seeing.

She found herself pondering what she knew about Rhiannon, which admittedly wasn't much, though more now than yesterday. Putting the pieces together, Marika found the resulting puzzle had gaping holes in it and, much to her amazement, realized that she'd like to fill in the missing bits and refine the portrait of the intriguing young woman.

She shook her head, rebuking herself for her unseemly curiosity. Even with what little she knew, she had no doubt that Rhi would resent being put under a microscope, and she ruefully acknowledged that she now cared what her assistant thought. Darn that Lee!

Continued in Chapter 10