Си Паради - Dancing With Shadows

Megan turned the car toward the place she had always found solace, the shores of Lake Erie. It was still light out and the beach was not crowded, but populated enough to be safe. Megan parked the car, and walked along the beach, the ever present shells crunching under her feet. Leaving the beach in favor of one of the docks, she began walking across the warped, uneven boards, passing all the people that were fishing. When she got to the end of the dock, she stood for a moment looking out over the lake, before sitting down on the hard surface near the end.

The tears started again, and she let them flow unchecked. Mostly she felt so incredibly sad. She longed for the comforting feel of Tony’s arm around her. She knew her father could be very intolerant, but she’d just had not expected that reaction. Megan had always justified his actions by convincing herself, that in his own way, he was looking out for her. After today, she could no longer pretend that was true.

Megan stayed until the moon was visible and the other patrons began leaving before she finally got up and walked back to her car. A brief smile appeared when she remembered that Tony was off tomorrow.

Megan thought back to her conversation with Tony that afternoon, before she had followed her over to David's house. Her partner had insisted she go to Ashley's house until she got home from work, and had a chance to check out the apartment. Tony had assured her that she would be home by midnight, but to call first, just to make sure she was there.

Looking at her watch, Megan sighed. It was 10pm. She loved her sister dearly, but she just didn't want to see her tonight. Ashley had known she was having dinner with their parents' and would want to know how it went, and she just didn't want to talk about it. Her emotions were still too raw. The only person she wanted to see was Tony.

Sitting in the car, lightly drumming her fingers on the wheel, she decided to go home. She knew Tony would be mad, but with the new lock and alarm system installed, it should be safe enough. Megan really didn't think Sherman would come to the apartment any way. If he wanted to confront Tony in the apartment, he could already have done so.

Sherman was leaning against the vanity waiting for someone to get home. The closet door was already open so he could quickly and quietly move into it. He had known the girlfriend would be at her parents' house, and Tony would be working evenings from information he had gleaned from the tapes. He didn’t even bother checking for a tape today. After last night, it was obvious she knew about the bugs.

His thoughts turned to his target. He acknowledged a grudging respect for her. The sting operation had been cleverly set up and executed. It would have trapped anyone less skilled than he was. He chuckled softly. I never even suspected it was a setup.

The faint noise had attracted the attention of the kittens and they wandered back to the bedroom, looking at the strange man curiously. He had chased them out of the room once and they were leery of him, and poised for flight. Sherman stood up and stomped his foot down hard on the floor, frightening both kittens and grinning coldly when they ran. They come back again and I just might take some target practice.

Shifting the car into gear, Megan pulled out of the parking area and drove the short distance to the apartment. Parking in her usual spot, she took the elevator to the fourth floor. Punching in the numbers to open the electronic lock, she entered the apartment and was greeted by two meowing kittens. Stepping around them, she walked over to the alarm and deactivated it. Stooping down to pet the kittens, she smiled at the loud purrs.

"Did you two miss me? I missed you." Glancing around, Megan asked the kittens, "What did you two get in to while I was gone?"

Huggy and Velcro continued rubbing up against her legs and purring contentedly. Chuckling, Megan said, "Guess I’d better go look around."

Standing up, she walked into the dining room and then to the living room, dodging the kittens who were accompanying her. Everything looked fine. Megan walked down the hall glancing in the bathroom, surprised that the door was open. She thought she’d closed it when she left. One time of cleaning up toilet paper strewn all over the apartment was enough for anyone. At least she’d gotten lucky and they hadn’t attacked the new roll.

As Megan was closing the door, Huggy ran into the bathroom and jumped up on the toilet seat. "Oh no you don’t," Megan said, and lifted the kitten up carrying her out of the bathroom and closing the door.

Setting Huggy down, Megan walked over to the balcony. Opening the sliding glass door, she stepped outside and walked to the railing. The warm breeze felt good, and Megan looked up at the sky. The moon and stars were already visible, but tonight she took little joy in the sight.

Megan just wanted it to be time for Tony to get home. She bent down and absently stroked the soft fur of the two kittens that had joined her on the balcony.

Megan thought back over the events that had transpired at her parents’ house. She had done a lot of soul searching at the beach, and felt she had done the right thing by telling her parents about her and Tony. She did acknowledge she could have handled it better, but the outcome would probably have been the same.

It wouldn’t do any good to dwell on it, but she really hadn’t wanted to estrange her parents either. Why is everything so complicated? Megan knew there was no obvious answer to that question the moment it crossed her mind. She also knew that she was not willing to sacrifice the love she had found by living a lie, just to please her family.

Tony was the most important person in her life. She was her best friend, confidant, lover, and partner. Her life would not be complete without her. The love and happiness she’d found was not something she was willing to let go of, nor did she want to. In time, maybe she could help her parents to understand that.

Suddenly uneasy, Megan turned around and looked back into the apartment. Goose bumps had formed on her arms and the hair on the back of her neck was standing up. She’d felt for a moment like she was being watched. Shaking off the sudden chill, she decided she was probably just overreacting to all the stress of the evening.

Sherman barely ducked his head back into the hallway in time. He’d only been watching her for a minute when she suddenly turned around.

He’d have to be more careful. He didn’t want to reveal his presence yet.

Walking back inside, Megan closed and latched the balcony door. Even though she remembered locking the door when she got home, Megan walked over to the door and double-checked the lock. It was bolted. Her overactive imagination was obviously at work here. The door had been locked when she got home and the alarm had been set. No one could have gotten in. But still uneasy, she walked down the hall and looked into both bedrooms, before returning to the one they shared.

Megan sat on the bed. It would be another hour at least before Tony got home. She might as well take a shower while she was waiting for her partner to get off. The warm soothing water would help relax her. Taking her nightshirt off the hook on the door, she walked down the hall to the bathroom quickly entering and closing the door so the kittens couldn’t run in.

Megan took a towel out of the linen cupboard and turned on the shower, adjusting the water. Undressing, she stepped into the shower and let the warm water cascade over her. She felt some of the tension begin to melt away.

Sherman opened the closet door. He was extremely glad they were louvered. It allowed him to see part of the room and enabled him to hear better. He’d always had high energy, and staying out of sight in the closet was very confining.