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Authors: Rachel Brimble
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doctor’s elbow. “Let me see you out.” She glanced at Bette. “Somebody has clearly got fever of the brain, too, if she thinks for one minute I won’t be going to the pharmacy the minute you’ve gone.”
Ignoring Bette’s colorful protestation behind them, Laura led Dr. Penders to the door and opened it. “Thank you for coming by again. It means so much to me you’re willing to come to this part of town to help us. There are many doctors who wouldn’t.”
He smiled. “Circumstances don’t make the person. You and Bette are better people than most of the moneyed I know. You send a message for me if she worsens. I fear this has gotten a real hold on her.” He drew in a long breath. “Be strong . . . but be prepared. You know where to find me.”
Words stuck in her throat as he strolled down the alley, his aging frame stooped as though he carried the worries of the world upon his shoulders. Laura’s view blurred. He’d told her in the kindest way possible there was every chance Bette would lose her battle.
Swallowing hard, Laura pulled back her shoulders.
She wouldn’t let her best friend lay down and die. Not now. Not when they’d made the decision their whoring would end and a different future begin. She wouldn’t take these new steps without Bette beside her. How would she gain pleasure from any new turn or opportunity without the person who never betrayed, lied, or disappointed her by her side? There was every chance she’d never again meet another person to love and trust like she did Bette.
She closed the door and snatched her coat from a hook in the hallway before walking into the living room.
Bette coughed. “Don’t waste your money. Stay here with me and we’ll have another cup of tea. I’ll fight this thing. I promise.”
“I know you will, but I’m going to the pharmacy all the same and you’ll take whatever the doctor ordered.”
The ensuing silence spoke volumes. Bette was scared. Really scared.
Shrugging into her coat, Laura fought her tears. “Shall I make you another cuppa before I go?”
Bette stared toward the window. “No.”
“Fine. Then I’ll leave you to rest.”
“Just go.”
Laura’s head ached from the icy-cold tension emanating from the woman capable of making her laugh until she thought her sides would split clean open. She kissed Bette’s perspiring temple. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Bette grunted.
With her heart breaking, Laura left the house and hurried along the alleyway. If the worries of the world had stooped Dr. Penders’s shoulders, she was bent double by the time she reached town.
Adam glanced up from his drawing-room desk to the wall clock above the mantel. It neared midday and he had barely filled a page and a half toward finishing his new play. Unheard of. The reason? Laura. He could not shake her from his mind or sensibility. Initially, she was a vision for his debut production, but now she was so much more. He wanted to get to know her personally. A passionate need burned in him through the night until he leaped from his bed and threw cold water over his face and neck in a bid to douse the fire.
He had never met such a woman in his life. He laughed aloud and stood. What eyes! What passion! What nerve!
The woman was built of a substance he could not name—but, by God, he liked it. Wanted it. Craved it.
With a woman like that beside him, it was possible he could touch the damn moon. What a formidable team they would be onstage. Her strength came through in her kiss and every touch. She no doubt possessed a rich story to have such a sense of self-worth.
He looked to the window. The sun shone bright in the sky, and birds flew and soared. No wonder his feet itched to do something. He would take a wander into town, stretch his legs through Parade Park, and maybe meander through the market. Nothing better than mixing with others to get the creative juices flowing. He had spent far too many hours cooped up inside writing or
Ignoring Bette’s colorful protestation behind them, Laura led Dr. Penders to the door and opened it. “Thank you for coming by again. It means so much to me you’re willing to come to this part of town to help us. There are many doctors who wouldn’t.”
He smiled. “Circumstances don’t make the person. You and Bette are better people than most of the moneyed I know. You send a message for me if she worsens. I fear this has gotten a real hold on her.” He drew in a long breath. “Be strong . . . but be prepared. You know where to find me.”
Words stuck in her throat as he strolled down the alley, his aging frame stooped as though he carried the worries of the world upon his shoulders. Laura’s view blurred. He’d told her in the kindest way possible there was every chance Bette would lose her battle.
Swallowing hard, Laura pulled back her shoulders.
She wouldn’t let her best friend lay down and die. Not now. Not when they’d made the decision their whoring would end and a different future begin. She wouldn’t take these new steps without Bette beside her. How would she gain pleasure from any new turn or opportunity without the person who never betrayed, lied, or disappointed her by her side? There was every chance she’d never again meet another person to love and trust like she did Bette.
She closed the door and snatched her coat from a hook in the hallway before walking into the living room.
Bette coughed. “Don’t waste your money. Stay here with me and we’ll have another cup of tea. I’ll fight this thing. I promise.”
“I know you will, but I’m going to the pharmacy all the same and you’ll take whatever the doctor ordered.”
The ensuing silence spoke volumes. Bette was scared. Really scared.
Shrugging into her coat, Laura fought her tears. “Shall I make you another cuppa before I go?”
Bette stared toward the window. “No.”
“Fine. Then I’ll leave you to rest.”
“Just go.”
Laura’s head ached from the icy-cold tension emanating from the woman capable of making her laugh until she thought her sides would split clean open. She kissed Bette’s perspiring temple. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Bette grunted.
With her heart breaking, Laura left the house and hurried along the alleyway. If the worries of the world had stooped Dr. Penders’s shoulders, she was bent double by the time she reached town.
Adam glanced up from his drawing-room desk to the wall clock above the mantel. It neared midday and he had barely filled a page and a half toward finishing his new play. Unheard of. The reason? Laura. He could not shake her from his mind or sensibility. Initially, she was a vision for his debut production, but now she was so much more. He wanted to get to know her personally. A passionate need burned in him through the night until he leaped from his bed and threw cold water over his face and neck in a bid to douse the fire.
He had never met such a woman in his life. He laughed aloud and stood. What eyes! What passion! What nerve!
The woman was built of a substance he could not name—but, by God, he liked it. Wanted it. Craved it.
With a woman like that beside him, it was possible he could touch the damn moon. What a formidable team they would be onstage. Her strength came through in her kiss and every touch. She no doubt possessed a rich story to have such a sense of self-worth.
He looked to the window. The sun shone bright in the sky, and birds flew and soared. No wonder his feet itched to do something. He would take a wander into town, stretch his legs through Parade Park, and maybe meander through the market. Nothing better than mixing with others to get the creative juices flowing. He had spent far too many hours cooped up inside writing or
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