Gerri Hill - The Rainbow Cedar

No, but she could cry for herself. And she did, finally sinking down onto the sofa, tears falling easily as she made no effort to stop them. Wasted years. How many affairs had Katherine had? Five? Ten?

She leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees, taking deep breaths, angry at herself for her tears. It wasn't worth it. But it still stung. How blind had she been? How trusting. It had never occurred to her that Katherine had slept around. Second-class. Yeah, that's exactly how Katherine had treated her. Never worthy.

"Why the hell did you stay eight years?" She shook her head. She had no answer. Had she stayed out of a sense of duty? Had she been hanging on to hope that a love would grow? Had she simply been content? Maybe all of those. Or maybe she stayed because she felt she wasn't worthy and was grateful Katherine wanted her. At least someone did.

She rolled her eyes at that thought. If she didn't stop, she would be attending her own pity party alone. And she neither wanted, nor needed pity.

She looked up at the rapid knocking on the door.

"Room service. Champagne."

She laughed quietly. "Champagne. How ironic." She stood, going to the door.

"Where would you like it?"

"At the bar is fine." She went to her purse, but she had no cash. She looked up apologetically. "Only plastic. I'll be sure to put a generous tip on the room tab."

He bowed politely. "Not a problem, ma'am. Thank you."

She closed the door with a grin. "Yes, Katherine will be happy to leave a large tip." She fingered the cork, nearly popping it right there in a fit of defiance. But then she dutifully took the towel he'd left and covered the top as she eased the cork out with an anticlimactic thud. She filled both of the glasses, then took one.

"Here's to me, to better days." She held the glass up in a salute before drinking. She smiled. The champagne was excellent. It was only then that she looked in the mirror behind the bar. She looked frightful. Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheek and lip swollen. "Damn." She stared in the mirror, watching her tongue come out and lightly touch her lip, the blood from the tiny cut now dry. War wounds. Oh, well. It is what it is. With that, she refilled her glass, taking it with her to the balcony. The breeze was warm, the sun having chased the clouds from the sky. It was a beautiful day and she had the room for the night. She could just stay.

But no. She didn't want to stay. She wanted to see Drew. She went back inside, getting her phone from her purse. She scrolled through her numbers, finding Eleu's. It rang six times before she picked up.

"It's me. Jay."

"Yes, Jay. Is everything fine?"

Jay laughed. "No, not fine. I'm at some hotel. Katherine left me here. I could call a cab, I suppose, but—"

"No, no. I will send Manko. Where are you?"

Jay looked around. "I'm not sure. It's two towers with a courtyard type thing between them."

"Yes, yes. You are at the Twin Palms. I will send Manko."

"Eleu? Is Drew around?"

"No. Drew and Jenna went out. An island cruise."

"Oh. I see."

"She was... she was upset, so..." her voice trailed off.

"Upset? Why?"

"You left with Katherine. You left no word with anyone."

"And she thought I... oh, no." Jay shook her head. "Katherine and I ended things. We had a... a fight. And she left."

"Are you okay?"

Jay touched her puffy cheek. "Yeah, I'm okay."

"Well, I will send Manko to get you."

"Thanks, Eleu."

She folded her phone shut and sat there quietly for a moment. Why had she just left with Katherine without telling anyone? What was she thinking? Truth was, she wasn't thinking of anything or anyone other than what she was going to talk to

Katherine about, what she wanted to tell Katherine. As it ended up, she didn't really tell Katherine anything.

Katherine had told her.

Second-class.

Jay touched her cheek again. Katherine was right about one thing. Jay certainly wasn't in her league. She'd hadn't yet been reduced to hitting.

Drew pulled the cap lower on her head and leaned back in the chair. She was brooding. She knew she was, but she couldn't seem to get the image of Jay and Katherine out of her mind. Was Katherine wooing her, as Jenna had suggested?

"Hey."

Drew slid her sunglasses down her nose, looking over the top of them at Jenna.

"You're not much fun, are you?"

Drew let out a heavy breath. "Sorry. I guess I'm not so much fun today, no."

"She got to you, huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"Jay. You spent all that time with her. You didn't do anything stupid like fall in love with her, did you?"

Drew wanted to laugh it off, but couldn't. She shoved the sunglasses back on her nose, turning her gaze to the rocky shoreline they were passing. "Yeah," she finally said. "I did something stupid."

"Seriously?"

Drew nodded. "Seriously."

Jenna nudged her arm. "No offense, but I don't think you can compete with Katherine."

"How so?"

"Well, I know you own your own business and all, but it hardly ranks with being one of the up-and-coming attorneys in the city. And, my God, you saw her house. It's a mansion. Of course, I don't know where you live. I've never seen your house. But like I said, no offense."

Drew's eyes narrowed. "What makes you think any of those things matter to Jay?"

Jenna shrugged. "Why wouldn't they? Besides, Katherine says Jay's little business is just a hobby for her, something to keep her busy. Katherine doubts she can actually make a living at it."

"You're kidding, right? She's really talented."

Jenna laughed. "Sorry. I really don't know anything about the decorating business. I only know Katherine said she wasn't good enough to decorate their own home. That should tell you something."

Drew couldn't believe Katherine was so callous. Or maybe she could. It's the same woman who had an affair with Jenna, and who now was at some fancy hotel wooing Jay. That was what she couldn't believe.

"But Jay seems really nice. Down-to-earth. And I hate to say this, but she probably deserves someone better than Katherine."

"What do you mean ?"

"I guess it took spending so much time with Katherine to learn, but she's so shallow."

Drew laughed. "You think?"

"Money, prestige... power. That's all that matters to her. She wasn't like that when I knew her in college. She still had scruples back then. Now, all she talks about is screwing over the firm she works for, how she's going to take their clients with her when she starts her own firm."

"Do attorneys have scruples?"

"I like to think I do." She shrugged. "She wants me to come work for her. The money would be great, but do I really want her for a boss? She's ruthless."

"Even after all this, she still wants you to work for her?"

Jenna nodded. "Our affair was just that, nothing more. There were no emotional strings, you know." Jenna paused. "Even though I hate where I am now, I'm just not sure I want to subject myself to all that."

They were quiet for a moment, then Jenna nudged her arm again. "So, you fell in love with her, huh?"

Drew smiled. "Afraid so."

"Yeah. You'd make a cute couple." Jenna grinned. "How does Jay feel about you?"

If she'd been asked this question last night—or even this morning—she'd have had an answer. But now? She sighed. "I'm not really sure."

But that was a lie, wasn't it? I'm going to love you to death. She closed her eyes for a second, remembering Jay's words, hoping they were true.

Jay paused outside the cottage, hearing Katherine's angry voice. It sounded like she was arguing with the airline. Jay raised her eyebrows. So when Katherine said she couldn't stay in Hawaii for another three days, she apparently meant it.