Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down (15 page)

There was a flurry of activity as the plane landed and Bishop was the first one to jump ship, not bothering to wait for the car to come and collect us.  Felix and Bridget split off too, taking a cab to the hotel they were staying at, despite my offer to bunk at the house.  Gunnar and Rob started loading up the cars (one for us and one for the extra red shirts and our luggage) and Laveda took the opportunity to pull me aside.

“Listen, I didn’t mean to offend before by what I said about Bishop,” she started to say, but I waved off her apology.

“Don’t be silly.  I don’t have any claim to Bishop these days, you know that better than most.”

Her smile stretched wider.  “Then you don’t mind if I have a crack at him?”

“Um… no, not at all,” I managed to say without
too
much of a hesitation, though my insides were strung tight as a drum.  It shouldn’t bother me – I’d moved on and been hoping he would do the same.  Now I just had to learn to practice what I preached.  “Actually, it might be a good thing for him, to spend some time with someone real.”

“That’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said about me,” she beamed, giving me an impromptu hug.  “How long ago did you guys end things, if you don’t mind my asking.

“Ah… a few weeks.”  I struggled to recall how many exactly.  It felt like forever ago and not, at the same time. 

“Oh… so it’s recent then.  Did you leave him for…”  Her eyes flicked to Rob, but she stopped short of actually saying his name, thank God. 

“It’s complicated.  Someday I’ll tell you about it, maybe, but not now.”

“Fair enough.  You sure you’re
cool with it then?  I was under the impression you two were yonks ago.”

“No, like I said, it’s totally fine.  But um, don’t take offense if Bishop doesn’t go for it, okay?  I doubt it’d be a reflection on you
.  I’m not sure he’s in the right headspace to start dating again.”

Laveda took the caution in stride.  “Nothing ventured nothing gained, right?  I’d much prefer Bishop as a benefactor
.  He’s still the big honcho in these parts, ain’t he?”

“Actually, no.  He quit the Order.”

That cut through her indomitable confidence.  “Things really have changed then, haven’t they?  I’ll have to give him a bell once I’ve found my footing here.”  Laveda shouldered her bag, nearly dwarfed by the thing, but she managed it easily enough. 

“Are you sure I can’t tempt you to stay with us?  We
honestly do have plenty of room.”

“Naw, I’d prefer to skulk around a bit, get a lay of the land before I decide where to settle in, especially since I’ll be here for a while to hear Leila tell it.”

“Okay, but if you change your mind, you know where to find us, right?”

“I do,” she nodded
as her gaze went to Rob, who was giving brusque instructions to the security staff assembled for our three car procession.  We were probably going to look like a motorcade by the time we got mobilized.  “It’s a big strange, yeah?  You being traveling companions with no one knowing the state of your heart.”

“You have no idea,” I murmured.  “I keep thinking I’m going to do or say something to muck things up and end up with one or both of us in hot water.  It’ll be good to get home where I can relax again.”

“I won’t keep you then.  Keep your chin up, Anja, I have it on good authority you’ll work it out in the end.  Ta now.”

I wasn’t sure if she meant her own intuition, or if Leila had thrown out a prediction on the matter before our departure, or if it was just something nice to say.  With that family you could never
completely tell.  “Bye, Laveda.  Good luck and we’ll see you soon.”

It was sort of like a motorcade as we left the airport, taking care not to let anyone else between us and the two cars in front and behind ours.  Even though I was in the back with Rob, we couldn’t talk much with Gunnar up in the driver’s seat, not about anything private at any rate.  Not that I felt super chatty anyway.  Even though there were at least two hours left until dawn
, I was tired from all the traveling and different time zones, but I knew a decent day’s sleep and I’d be good as new. 

Maggie and Marcus stood on the porch to welcome us as we pulled in front of my Victorian, and my tired brain might have imagined it, but I thought I saw them holding hands before I stepped onto the walk.  It might have been the late hour, but they were both dressed very casually.  Maggie in an oversized sweater that nearly swallowed her willowy frame, her long, golden brown hair pulled back into a fat braid that hung over
one shoulder.  I’d never seen Marcus in anything other than a suit, but the sleek black turtleneck and charcoal slacks fit him well, his ash brown hair artfully mussed. 

“Welcome back!” Maggie called out in more of a stage whisper than a shout, which I’m sure my neighbors appreciated. 

“Thanks, it’s good to be home,” I smiled back, greeting her with a hug.  But before I could even pull back completely, Rob started to herd me inside, away from the open.  “What’s the big deal?  Are we expecting an invasion?”

“Security’s been stepped up with all the trouble in the area,” Rob said.  “You can’t be too careful.”  And he wasn’t kidding.  I counted at least six guys milling around on the property outside.  At least there weren’t a ton of them loitering in the halls inside, I had the house’s magic to thank for that. 

“Yes, we should probably talk about the situation here,” Marcus agreed, but I waved him off. 

“Can it wait until tomorrow night?  I’m pretty beat.  All I want to do is take a hot bath and have a cup of cocoa before bed.”  I’d spent too long trying to look strong in front of others, I needed a break. 

“Of course,” Marcus agreed readily, and I was reminded that I had a few things to share from my trip as well. 

“Oh, but schedule a videoconference with the council as soon as possible tomorrow night,” I added.  “We’ve officially broken ties with Vetis.”

“We have?” he blinked, knocked for a loop.

“It was an interesting trip.”

“Sounds like it.”

“I promise I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow night.  But for now, Maggie could I get you to bring me that cocoa?”

“Of course, I’ll bring it down to you in the bath,” she promised. 

“I’ll see your luggage is brought down,” Rob offered.  “Gunnar, you take the trunk, I’ll get the rest of the lot.”

“Thanks, guys.  I’ll see you tomorrow night.” 

I don’t know why, but just being back in my own bedroom made me feel more relaxed, even before I had a chance to slip off my shoes.  I started filling the tub and lazily undressing, making a mental list of all the things I had to go over with the council.  I figured I’d start with my true heritage and ask them flat out if they intended to boot me out as Elder.  There wouldn’t be too much point in getting to the rest of it if I was out of the job. 

Maggie’s soft knock came as I eased myself into the steamy water, and she rested the mug on the tile surround.  “Can I fetch you anything else?  I’ll just be going up to the office to finish a few more things before I turn in for the night.”

“Actually, I
wondered if you might have any ideas to help with this mess.”  I pulled off the headband I’d taken to wearing since my hair was singed off in front, showing her the destruction. 

“What on Earth have you done to yourself?” she exclaimed, combing her fingers through the damaged ends.

“Believe me, it wasn’t my idea.  But it could’ve been a lot worse.”  The scar on my cheek had already faded, barely noticeable any more.  “This is the only lasting reminder I ended up with, and it’ll grow back.  Better my hair than a permanent scar like Rob ended up with.”

Her fingers curled up as she withdrew her hands in shock.  “Oh…” she breathed, averting my gaze.  “Felix mentioned you’d had difficulties with the Order, but he wasn’t at all specific.”

“This is courtesy of a hot poker.  Is there anything you can do with it that won’t look awful, or am I doomed to headbands and hats for the next two months?”  Not that I cared in general, but with the inauguration coming up, I wanted to look my best. 

“It’s not so bad,” Maggie said, a speculative gleam coming into her eyes as she reached out to touch the locks.  “I think if we go for a heavier, layered fringe we can blend it in a fair
piece.  It’ll be a change though.”

“As long as it looks deliberate instead of sparking conversation on my time in the Vetis dungeons, I’m good.”

“I’ll go fetch my shears then.  Enjoy your bath and I’ll be back soon enough.” 

I think she took longer than was strictly necessary, allowing me to soak in peace before she returned with the tools for a full service makeover.  By then I was ready to climb out of the tub, eager for a new look.  Pulling on a soft, silky robe, I sat in front of the mirror as she draped a cloth over me and got to work. 

At first I was alarmed by how much hair she pulled forward to make into bangs, but I had to let go and trust that she knew what she was doing.  To keep my mind off of it, I took the opportunity to catch up in a way you couldn’t do over the phone or Skype. 

“How have you been, really?” I asked, as she nudged my chin down, scissors snipping with short, quick movements.  “Marcus said he’s been worried about you with all the shenanigans going around about the Order.”

“He did?”  She sounded surprised, but I couldn’t see her face.  “That’s sweet of him to think of me.  To be honest, I haven’t been too involved in any of that.  I’ve been keeping to the house lately, under his advisement.  Was that the right thing to do?”

“As long as you’re safe, it seems that way.  And how has Marcus been since he’s been staying here?  Did I make things more uncomfortable for you inviting him?”

“Oh no, he’s been a perfect gentleman.” 

“Really?”  My threats must have worked.

“Yes, rather more than I’d prefer him to be.”

Interesting.  “So you wouldn’t mind if the two of you took things to the next level then?” I asked, having no idea what level they were actually on at all.

“I think so.  He’s been very respectful of me, much more than I thought him capable of.  Then again, perhaps he views me as a challenge and nothing more.”

That was a possibility, I had to agree.  “Would you prefer it if I asked him to stay on or move back to his place now that we’re back?”

“Oh…”  She considered that for a few seconds, and I lifted my head to catch her expression in the mirror.  “Well, it is easier for us to get work done with us both here, and he has had trouble finding a permanent home since he relocated.”

“Then you’d like him to stay?”

“Only if you think it’s best.” 

My foot.  She
wanted
him there, I could see it on her face.  “I’ll see what his opinion is about it tomorrow.  It’s probably for the best not to make too many plans without consulting him first.  Thanks for keeping everything rolling for me while we were gone, I can’t tell you how much it meant to know things were going smoothly.  And in the end, it was the best decision for you not to come, or you might’ve ended up in the clink with the rest of my entourage.” 

Her fingers combed through my bangs, the weight
of them strange, but not altogether unpleasant.  Finally, she worked up the nerve to ask, “Was it… was it awful?”

“It’s not something I like to think about, but we all survived, that’s the important thing.”

“Because Jakob came for you.”

“Yes, and you don’t have to keep quiet about him any more.”

“Easy for you to say, I’m still under his compulsion,” she sighed and I realized that was true.  I’d have to ask him about that.  “And Bishop’s come back with you?”

“Not with
me
, with us.  I’m hoping he can help us settle people down.  I’d hate for the Order to step in and start cracking skulls.”

“Is that all he came back for?”

“We’re working on being friends for now, that’s all.”

“But in the future?”

I couldn’t begin to speculate, not with my heart tied to the man I heard poking around in the room next to mine.  “I can’t think about the future right now, not with so many things in flux.  I’ve got to keep my head firmly planted in the present or it’ll get away from me.” 

“Well, this is one less thing you have to worry about.  It came out rather fetching, if I do say so myself.”  Maggie stepped away, giving me my first good look in the mirror at the new style.  The bangs were a good deal heavier than I’d pictured, but it hid the damaged bits tolerably well.  “What do you think?”

“I think I like it,” I said slowly, turning my head one way and then the other.

“But you’re not sure?”

“It’s a big change.  Don’t get me wrong, it looks tons better, I’m just not sure it’s me.”

“Let’s get another opinion then, shall we?”  Catching up my hand, she dragged me down the hall, rapping on Rob’s door.  “Rob, we need your superior powers of observation,” she called out with a silly grin.

“What you going on about now?” he asked, pulling open the door.  His jacket and tie were gone, shirt unbuttoned, showing the white singlet beneath, and my fingers itched to push his shirt the rest of the way off to get a look at his shoulders.