Pretense (60 page)

Not in Delancey's wildest dreams did she think she would be apartment shopping the day after Christmas, but she learned that Mackenzie had been quite serious on the twenty-third. They had seen three apartments by two o'clock, and Delancey was in a state of shock.

"Mic, I'm still going to end up doing this on my own. Have you figured that out?"

"No, you won't. If you can't get in right now, I'll come back when you can and help you."

Delancey shook her head. Sometimes there was no stopping the woman.

"I think this one has promise," Mackenzie was saying as they pulled up in front of what looked like a warehouse. Delancey, on the other hand, was rechecking the address. There had to be a mistake.

"I'll just leave you two to look around," the woman in gypsy-type clothing said a few minutes later, and the sisters were thrilled to be left on their own. The apartment was one-half of the top floor of an old warehouse. Right inside the door a bathroom had been set up, and next to that was a bedroom, but the rest of the apartment, including the kitchen, was one huge room. The ceilings were at least ten feet up, and since there was no furniture, Delancey thought they could play basketball. The windows that covered most of the exterior walls and went to the ceiling allowed you to look out over the street. It wasn't the

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greatest view, since all the buildings were other brick warehouses, but Delancey could see herself sitting in a patch of sunlight and drawing for hours. With that thought she came crashing back to earth.

"I have no furniture, Mic. I've been a student, and now I live in a studio apartment. The only thing I own is my easel."

"We'll get you a bed," Mackenzie responded, not to be put off. "The rest will come in time."

"I wouldn't even have a kitchen table."

"So we'll get some TV trays, Deej. You can't let this place go. Think of the work you could get done looking out these windows."

"I'm farther from the school."

"You told me you don't even know if you're going back next semester. With all the stuff
Rainy Days
wants, it doesn't sound like you have time."

"I figured out that I can graduate in the spring if I'll just take on a little more, and I would like to finish, Mic."

Mackenzie finally heard her sister's tone and backed off. "I'm sorry, D.J. I don't want to push you into this. It's just so cool, and I thought you could use some more space."

"You're not pushing me, Mic-well, maybe you are a little. I'm just not up to your speed on this yet."

Mackenzie stayed quiet. She had known she was railroading her but was too excited to care.

"Your place is okay, D.J.," Mackenzie said honestly. "It's just not what I've ever pictured you in, with so little space and light."

Delancey nodded. Her little place was rather dreary, and some of the things she had said to her sister were excuses. She would have loved to find something else but had been too afraid to branch out. She took another look around and scribbled out some questions for the landlady. This place was a little more than the others they had looked at, but the space looked to be well worth it.

"Look at this, Deej," Mackenzie offered, noticing the blinds someone had installed. They came up from the windowsill, and while not covering the whole window, they went up far enough that unless someone was in a helicopter, complete privacy was possible. The ones in the bedroom did go all the way up, and with that, Delancey fell in love with the place.

"Let's go talk to her, Mic."

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They ended up doing more than talking: Delancey rented the place that afternoon. They went right back to Delancey's apartment, which she rented on a monthly basis, to speak with her landlord. He had a sweet spot for Delancey, so when she promised to leave it spotlessly clean, he agreed to return half of the month she'd paid ahead. And if he could rent it before the first of January, he would return the other half to her. Things had all moved very quickly, and both girls learned anew what the power of money could do.

Delancey had no references in the area, so Mackenzie wrote out a large check to the new landlady covering first and last months' rent. The check also covered a security deposit that they both suspected was double the norm. The woman was pleased, and Delancey was moved in by the end of the week. She had a bed, one kitchen chair, a desk chair, and her easel, and was as happy as if the place were filled with furniture. Doing homework while lying across the bed or on the floor was sure to be interesting, but Delancey didn't care.

The kitchen and the bedroom at her new place were still in a state of upheaval when Delancey found herself sitting next to her sister in the airport. The end of Mackenzie's visit had come all too soon. She had offered to stay longer, but Delancey had told her no. As they waited for Mackenzie's turn to board, they were strangely quiet.

"It was fun, D.J.," Mackenzie told her.

The younger girl laughed. "I don't know how often I can take this much fun, Mic. I'm just glad that classes don't start for almost a month. Maybe by then I can find my backpack."

Mackenzie smiled unrepentantly. "It's a great place, Delancey. I'd be tempted to move myself if I could find its equal."

"You know," Delancey turned to her, "why couldn't you come and live with me? You can do your writing anywhere, and we could fit another bed in the bedroom."

Mackenzie's brows rose. "I don't know. I'll have to think about it."

"Okay."

Mackenzie suddenly looked at her. "I just realized I'm not going to see you for a while, since you'll be back in school."

"Well, you can come back and see me."

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"I know," Mackenzie said, having had a better idea, "let's gosomeplace for spring break. When is your break?"

"I'm not sure."

"Well, let me know."

"Where would we go? Florida?"

"No, someplace exotic. Europe or something."

Delancey's eyes rounded. "You mean it?"

"Sure. Get a passport so we have the option. I'll do the same. I mean, we could go to Florida, but it would be so much fun to fly to London or Paris for a week."

Delancey laughed and dropped her voice. "You should tell Paxton you need to do book research and that he needs to send you to Istanbul or someplace just as exotic. Make sure there's a beach scene in the book so we can take our suits and get tan."

Mackenzie laughed, but the idea had merit. For
Seahorse
she could use some time in Prague. She was figuring out how she might ask when the final boarding was called. The girls stood and walked slowly, not eager to part.

"Thanks, Mic, for everything."

"I love you, Deej."

They held onto each other for as long as they dared, and then Mackenzie made herself walk to the plane and not look back. As soon as she was out of sight, Delancey went to the window. It was already growing dark out, but she stood and peered through the glass for one more sight of her. She couldn't make out anyone, but she stood there until the plane was pushed back and moved out into position.

"Saying goodbye to someone?" a deep male voice asked from beside her. Delancey was only going to glance, nod, and otherwise ignore the person, but she turned and found a pilot standing six feet away from her.

"Remember me?" he asked, smiling at her.

"Yes, I do." Delancey still felt as though she could cry, so she swallowed hard and concentrated. "How are you?"

"I think better than you are." His voice was very tender. "Did someone just leave?"

"My sister."

"Did you have Christmas together?"

Delancey nodded and glanced down at her wrist. "She gave me a watch."

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Chet looked at it. "She has good taste."

Delancey smiled, thinking it would have been nice for Mackenzie to hear that.

"Would I be out of line to ask you to join me for a drink?" Chet asked suddenly.

Delancey's head dipped to one side as she studied him, causing her hair to fall from her shoulder in a thick curtain.

"Why did I think you were married?"

"I don't know," Chet looked surprised. "Why did you?"

Delancey thought a moment. "I think it was when you said that you didn't have children yet-I just assumed."

Chet smiled at her. "Never assume."

Delancey smiled back.

"So how about it, Miss Bishop?"

Delancey knew she was headed back to her new apartment to sob her eyes out and suddenly didn't want that. She heard herself agreeing and then fell into step beside the handsome pilot. He was only a few inches taller than she was, but she had the impression that with his dark blond curls and her very straight pale blond hair, they made a striking couple. They spoke easily as they walked down one concourse and into another.

Delancey had not been to the place he took her. She didn't remember even seeing it before. It was not a large lounge, and with darkness coming on fast, the interior was dim and welcoming. He took her to a table in the corner, and Delancey ordered white wine, something that Lovisa had introduced her to. Chet had a dark beer.

"I take it you're not working," Delancey asked after eyeing his drink.

"I'm just off and headed home."

"You must be tired."

"Never too tired to rescue a damsel in distress."

Delancey smiled. "There must be many of us."

His face grew intent, his eyes on hers. "Since I haven't been able to get you from my mind, I don't know if I've noticed anyone else."

Delancey was stunned.

"I take it you didn't think of me."

"I thought you were married," she reminded him softly.

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"Oh, that's right. By the way," he said, seeing that he was moving too fast, "would you care for something to eat?"

"Oh." Delancey felt rescued. "I am a little hungry."

"I'll see what they can drum up."

It was good to have him walk away. Delancey's heart was doing things she wasn't accustomed to. There was something about this man that attracted her to no end. She wanted to stare at him for hours, and when he looked back, she felt flushed all over. She had worked hard at composing herself when he returned and told her he had ordered an hors d'oeuvre plate.

"So what did the two of you do over Christmas?"

"Lots of talking up to Christmas Day, and then two days after Christmas she helped me move to a new place."

"Oh, was the lease up on the old one?"

"No, but it was a little small, and the one we found suits me better."

"I think I can picture you in an elegant penthouse."

Delancey laughed. "Try a converted warehouse."

"You're kidding?" Chet laughed.

"No, but it has character, and all illustrators need that."

"What are you working on right now?"

Delancey filled him in on the
Rainy Days
assignments and the search-and-find books. He told Delancey about where he had been that day and that week, and three hours slipped away like three minutes. It was anyone's guess how long they would have talked, but Chet suddenly reached for his side.

"Excuse me, Delancey. I need to get my pager."

"Sure."

Delancey didn't stare while he consulted the instrument, but she did watch him when he said his boss was calling and he needed to call right back. He left the bar and was gone about five minutes, and even though he sat down again with Delancey, she knew their time was over.

"I've got to go," he told her, very real regret in his eyes. "I want you to take this." He slid a piece of paper toward her. "It's my pager number. I hope you'll call me."

Delancey looked down at it, her heart shouting at her not to assume. She looked up to find Chet watching her.

"Why would I call you?"

"So I can return your call and ask you to dinner."

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Delancey told herself to breathe.

Chet studied her face, the high cheekbones and remarkable blue eyes, before his study dipped to her mouth and then back to her eyes. He thought her the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

"Goodbye, Delancey," he said softly, his hand touching hers for just an instant. "Don't lose that number."

A moment later he was gone. The waiter came and asked if she wanted something else, but she reminded herself that she had to drive home. She did so very slowly, Chet Dobson's smile and the touch of his hand lingering in her mind all the way.

Alexandria

Mackenzie and Tom did not get together as soon as she got home. They could have, since she got back on the weekend, but Tom took her right home and asked to see her the next Friday night. Mackenzie had never known him to be so formal with her and again wondered what would be the outcome of their meeting.

She dressed carefully for their time together, but she wasted her time. Tom called just before he was to pick her up and asked if she minded eating at his place. Mackenzie didn't mind, but she felt a little like an old shoe.