Chapter 19

“Hello?”

“Hey, sexy witch.”

“Doctor O’Reily, I was just thinking about you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I stubbed my toe getting to the phone.” Rachel chuckled softly.

He sighed. “Nasty.”

“What’s up?”

Steven leaned back against the couch. “Thinking about you, missing you...”

“Oh.”

“Haven’t heard from you all week.”

“It’s been kind of crazy for me.”

“Connie came in today.”

“Is everything all right with the pregnancy?”

“Seems fine so far. She said they haven’t seen you at the house in the last few weeks.”

“I’ve been pretty busy.”

“Doing?” He stared at the wall on the other side of the room as he listened to her.

“Just going through some stuff, you know spring cleaning, five months late.”

“I could definitely find better things to do with my free time.”

“Anything to avoid something like cleaning is better to you.”

“True.” He grinned and then stood up. “What’s the real reason you haven’t been over to see them, Rach?”

She sighed. “That is the real reason. I started looking around here. Taking some stuff to Owen’s and then seeing what was left there made me realize I have enough stuff for three people. So, I’m eliminating.”

“Do you need any help?” Something wasn’t right with the way she sounded.

“No, I’ve got it under control.”

“Okay, offers open if you change your mind.” He waited. “So…was talking to Kasey, she said you skipped on girl’s night again.”

“You’ve been talking to a lot of people, haven’t you?”

He shrugged and sat back down feeling more restless than he could explain. “What can I say? I get around.”

“I’ll bet.”

“Why didn’t you want in on the traditional shopping trip for Lee to make those sexy-make-my-mouth-water outfits?” There was a long silence he waited.

“To be truthful, I don’t know if I’m going to Mabon this year.”

He sat up. “What? How can you not go? You’ve never missed a gathering since you were, what, sixteen?”

“Yeah, I know. I just don’t know if I’m up for it right now. I mean I want to help get this maniac and all but…” Her voice was quiet.

Steven jumped up. “I can’t do this over the damn phone. I’m going to come over.” He was already looking around for his keys.

“Steven, don’t.”

He stopped. “Rach.” What? “Don’t do this to me, let me come over and we can sit and talk about it.” He stood there without moving, praying she’d agree.

She sighed. “It’s already pretty late, I have work in the morning.”

“So do I, don’t care.”

“You’re a little more used to functioning without sleep.”

“Why are you shutting me out?” He tried to keep his voice calm, even though he wasn’t feeling calm.

“I’m not, really. I don’t mean it to seem that way.”

Steven sat back down and let out a frustrated breath. “Angel…”

“Don’t. There is just too much going on. At Lammas, that was…Amazing, is one word to use, but Steven, I just can’t. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to, I just can’t.”

“Why? Just tell me why. Help me understand.” She was silent a long time. “Are you thinking of not going to Mabon because of me? Us?” His voice was hoarse.

“No. That’s not it at all.” He heard her hiss out a breath. “I can’t explain it, but don’t think any of it is because of you.”

“Any of what? Tell me what?” His fake calm was fading. “Have you told the others you may not go?”

“No. I wanted to sort it all out before I mentioned it.”

“Rachel, I’m really trying to understand…” He pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I know. I can’t explain to you what I don’t yet understand. I’m not trying to push you away or shut you out. I just—I just need to know you’re there if I need you. I can’t tell you how much it means at times just to know you’re there.”

“Always. I’m not going anywhere.” But are you? The thought entered his head. “Rachel, just let me come over, we could get drunk. That’s always fun and we haven’t done that together in a few years.”

“I had a headache for two days after that.”

“Well before it wore off it was fun.” He tried again. “Or I could find other substances.”

“Steven! You’re a doctor.”

“Exactly, I can afford them.”

She laughed. “No, but thanks. I’ll take a rain check on the hangover too for now.”

“Do you want to hear me beg you to let me come and see you for an hour? I will. I have no pride.”

“No, I do not want you to beg. We’re going to see each other in two days at the birthday dinner.”

“But I’m so used to seeing you twice a week for the last four, no five, months, I’m going through withdrawal. No one hassles me like you do.”

“You’ve gone from wanting, to begging, to whining.”

“I’m sure you’re mistaken.” He stood up and then sat down again.

“No, I’m not.”

Steven sighed. “Okay maybe I was a little. I’ll wait, I’m a patient man.” He heard a clicking against the phone.

“Oh really?”

“Most of the time, yes. Unless it involves that ring I just heard, or your skin, yeah definitely your skin, then all patience is gone.” He lowered his voice. “Then there’s that little witch on your thigh. I would love to run my lips over that right about now.”

“Steven, turning me on isn’t going to get you invited over here either.”

He shook his head and sighed “No? But trying could still be fun.”

“I really need to get going. I’ve got the bedroom tore apart and I’ll need to find my bed to sleep on before I have to go to work.”

“Need help? I never did get my bedtime story.”

“You’re exasperating tonight.”

“I try.” He leaned back, looking at the ceiling. “Fine, I’ll let you go. Call me if you need me?”

“I will.”

He just wanted to hold her. “Good night, angel,” he whispered.

“Night.”

He set the phone down quickly before he threw it. She wasn’t going to let him in on what was happening. She was very plainly avoiding him, yet wanted to talk to him. What was going on? Why didn’t she want to go to gathering? And the biggest question he thought why had she stopped going to see the kids?

Steven sat there for more than an hour trying to sort it out, the more he tried to the less he understood. Rubbing a hand over his face and looked at the clock. It wasn’t really that late. He grabbed his keys and almost jogged to the car.

Dade opened the door wearing a sheet and not looking happy to see him. He looked like he may have been in bed. “Were you sleeping?”

Dade blinked at him. “It is night. There’s a good chance I was.”

Steven stepped in. “Sorry. I had a long nap this afternoon after my shift, so my sense of time is a little off.”

Dade turned and watched him sit down. “And there’s a reason for this visit or you were just driving by?”

“You’re kind of grumpy.” Steven grinned.

Dade sighed and dropped down in the chair. “Might have something to do with thinking my house was under attack and falling out of the bed trying to get to the door.”

Steven nodded. “Could be. So, I need to talk.”

Dade gave him an exasperated look. “Now?”

Steven nodded.

“Why not go drag Chris out of bed?” Dade groaned.

Steven shrugged. “Well, he has a warm woman beside him, so does Owen, so that leaves you, bro.”

Dade rubbed his face. “I had a warm pillow.”

“Do you want a beer or a coffee or something?”

“You mean something other than sleep?” he growled.

Steven stood up. “Maybe I’ll come back another time.”

Dade opened his eyes. “Fuck! Just sit and shut up while I go find the damn kitchen.”

He grinned and sat back down. “Okay.”

A few minutes later Dade returned with two cups of coffee. He handed one to Steven and sat down. “Talk.”

“I talked to Rachel tonight.”

“Did you get her out of bed too?”

“No, it was earlier. There’s something going on with her and it’s got me worried.”

“Something how?” Dade opened his eyes wider and sipped the coffee.

“She wouldn’t let me go over, she hasn’t been to see Connie and the kids since Ricky’s funeral, she’s thinking of not going to Mabon…”

“What? She’s always gone to Mabon. When we were sneaking off to…” He grinned. “She’s just always gone to the gatherings.”

Steven nodded. “I know. She hasn’t told the women yet, but she ditched the traditional shopping trip for Lee’s outfits.”

Dade nodded. “Yeah, Cora mentioned that.”

“Of course, she’s told me all this in confidence so she can’t know you know…”

Dade held up his hand. “I know that scene well now.”

“She said she’s doing spring cleaning and going through everything, Dade. I think she’s going to take off.”

“What? Really?”

“Gut instinct says so.”

Dade looked at his coffee. “She’s really screwed up about all this, isn’t she?”

Steven nodded. “I’m afraid so, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

Dade shook his head. “Neither do I, but I know who will.” He set down his cup and got up and stood looking around with a confused expression. “Okay, you’re driving. Just let me call her so we don’t scare her half to death banging on the door at this time of night.” He looked at the sheet around his waist. “Clothes would be good too.”

Cora opened the door. “Come in,” she said softly.

Dade stood there looking at her. “Now how do you fall out of the bed and look that good when I looked like I’d been tossed off a ship?”

Cora grinned. “Don’t suck up, the coffee is already made.”

He kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, and sorry to wake you but we had no clue what to do.”

“That’s fine. Go grab a cup of coffee and come sit down.” She went over and sat on the couch, curling her legs beneath her.

After Steven explained why they were there Cora shook her head. “You might be right. She won’t let me too close to her, I think she’s afraid I’ll sense something.”

Steven set his cup down and leaned back. “So, what do we do?” He looked at one and then the other. “Aside from the fact it’s dangerous for her to separate from all of us, I don’t think I can just…I just can’t…not have Rachel there.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “She’s just always been there, when I came home from college, she was there and then university, she’s just always been there.”

Cora sighed. “I know, Steven. I’m not sure what we can do. We can’t confront her, it would just upset her further.” She thought for a minute. “We are going to have to tell the others though.”

Steven winced. “If she finds out I blabbed she’s going to set my ass on fire.” He looked at Cora. “But you’re right. everyone is going to have to be involved this time.” He glanced at the clock and winced again. “I have to go. I have to be at the hospital in an hour.”

Dade looked at the clock. “You start work at four in the morning? No wonder you don’t know day from night.”

Steven grinned at him as he stood up. “You think? You want a lift back to your place?”

Dade groaned. “No. Cora is going to throw a blanket over me and then kick me when she gets up for work.”

Cora laughed. “With pleasure.”

Dade grinned. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Steven nodded and bolted out the door.

Dade looked at Cora and moaned. “We have to get those two sorted out so I can sleep. Everyone comes to me when they have a crisis.”

She walked over with a cover in her hand and draped it over him. “I know. Poor, sweet, Dade.” She leaned down and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Have a nap and I’ll get you up for work when it’s time to get up.”

He nodded and slumped down further.