Last Rites by Tracey Richardson

Author:Tracey Richardson [Richardson, Tracey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781562801649
Amazon: 1562801643
Goodreads: 2806272
Publisher: Naiad Pr
Published: 1997-03-31T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Stevie gazed sleepily at the profile of the woman lying next to her — the finely chiseled nose, the lips curled down in repose, the eyelids peacefully shutting out the world. She smiled in the dusky light, admiration filling her heart with a prickly giddiness she’d never felt before.

So this is what it feels like, she thought with amused detachment. She remembered her cold cynicism, that love was some kind of mirage, an empty promise. She had never felt deprived, or that love had left her an orphan, for she had always considered love an illusion. Now, for the first time, she knew there was a kind of love to die for and a person in her life to live for.

She’d gone straight to Jade’s after listening to that silly Motown tape, after she’d wrung her body out from crying. Lisa had been right. She was being stupid trying to squeeze Jade out of her heart for fear of abandonment. So she’d told Jade everything, including the most painful memories of her sister’s death and the aftermath, her family’s aloofness, and of her subsequent fears of getting close to anyone. All through it, Jade had held and caressed her, listening without interruption. Jade had been relieved to learn the reason behind Stevie’s skittishness, and well into the early morning hours, they finally made long, gentle love.

Jade stirred beside her, her subconscious sensing a pair of staring eyes. She smiled groggily and rolled over, pressing her naked body into Stevie.

“It’s so nice to wake up next to you,” Jade breathed into Stevie’s neck. “I want to wake up every morning like this.”

“Mmm, me too.”

“Move in with me.”

Stevie pulled back and eyed Jade carefully. “Already? Just like that?”

Jade’s laugh was meant to scold. “Yes, just like that. You’re not getting cold feet on me again, are you?”

Stevie smiled in capitulation. “No. It’s just, you don’t even know all my irritating little habits yet.”

Jade snuggled back into her. “I don’t care, I’ll take you, warts and all. I know how my heart feels, and it wants you here.”

Stevie squeezed back, knowing that her halfhearted attempt at pragmatism was futile. “All right, all right, we’ll move in together. Just let me get this McCleary case wrapped up. Until then, I can’t even begin to think about packing and — “

“Whoa there,” Jade cut her off, propping herself up on her elbow, her face souring. “I thought the case was closed, now that we can put Gant at the scene.”

Stevie winced as she rolled onto her back. “Someone called the Toronto Star early Saturday morning and gave some details about how McCleary died — details no one but the killer, or those who saw the body, should know.”

Jade frowned her confusion. “Maybe it was Gant who called, right before he was killed.”

Stevie shook her head. “No, the call was definitely after midnight. And Gant was dead by midnight.”

“C’mon, let’s go.” Jade scrambled out of bed.

“Go where?”

“To see someone who just might be able to help us out.

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