Hemlock Falls 09-Just Desserts by Claudia Bishop

Author:Claudia Bishop [Bishop, Claudia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Hemlock Falls (N.Y. : Imaginary place) -- Fiction.
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2002-07-15T05:00:00+00:00

"And you were successful?"

"More or less."

"You are related to Harland Peterson. No. No. Don't deny it. You two are brothers under the skin."

There was a long pause. She hesitated. "Are you back for a while, or off again?"

"I'll be here for a few months."

It was strange and uncomfortable to sit with him, as she had for years when they were together, the two of them in their accustomed places. "Well, thanks for the rescue."

"Any time."

Quill made a sudden movement to get up. "Would you like anything? Wine?"

"Relax, Quill." He clasped his hands and leaned forward. "What have you been doing to yourself?"

"I look haggard, don't I? No sleep. No time." Quill raised one arm and pointed back to the easel.

"Mind if I look?"

"No," she said slowly. "No, I don't mind."

She didn't turn around. But she heard the rustle of the drop cloth as he pulled it aside. He didn't say anything, but she could almost feel the intensity of his absorption. He let the cloth fall, and then she felt his hand on her shoulder.

"I don't want to say it. But it's worth what it cost you. If that's what this is all about." He grasped her wrist, thin, now that she'd lost weight, and then let it go.

"I don't know what it's all about." She bent forward so he couldn't see her face. "I don't know what anything's all about."

The phone shrilled through the quiet. Quill glanced at her watch: ten o'clock. Harker. She let it ring, three times, four, then reached to the end table and picked up.

"Quill?"

"Hi!" She turned slightly away from Myles. Her voice was at least three decibels higher than usual.

Harker didn't say anything for a moment. Then he said, "This your Bob Barker imitation. You're auditioning?"

"Oh, no. No." Her smile was plastered on; she could feel it. "But it's kind of a bad time. Could you call back?"

"That's a little difficult. There's a party at Fortesque. I promised to make an appearance. Everything's all set for the weekend?"

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