Page 24 of The Daring Times of Fern Adair
She touched the windowpane with her fingertips. The perspiration on her skin made them slip down the glass. Somehow, she knew that he would not return; if she didn’t go to him tonight—now—there would never be another chance. What if he had something important to tell her? Some news about the photographs?
Fern held up her index finger.Wait. She hoped he could see it. She then ran to the closet. From inside, she pulled a simple black overcoat. Too warm for the summer weather, but the dark color would blend into the darkness when she stole across the lawn and onto the street. Her breathing seemed as loud as a panting dog as she made her way down the hall. There was an entrance to a side staircase for Mrs. Jennaway and the maids who came in each week to clean and launder, but at this hour, it would be deserted.
Carpeted steps absorbed all sound. At the basementlevel, a locked door led outside, with a small flight of brick steps descending to the side lawn.
What was she thinking? What was she even going to say to him? As she closed the door to the basement behind her and hurried across the grass to the small gate at the front of the yard, Fern was certain her sanity had completely lapsed.
The Roadster sat waiting. Headlights off. The windshield was a black expanse. Her breathing turned choppy as she waited for two cars to finish driving past her home. She glanced back at the house. The lights were on in numerous windows on every floor, but no one stood within one, looking out at her.
Finally, she opened the front gate. Considered stopping. Turning back. But her feet and brain weren’t connected any longer, and so she kept going. The passenger side door creaked open as she approached. Fern jumped back. No one got out, however, and she realized Cal must have leaned across the front seat and pulled the handle himself.
Dragging in a breath, she opened the door all the way and ducked inside.
8
The first thing Fern smelled was his cologne. She remembered it from the other evening, when she’d been in the White Room and he’d stood up to light her cigarette. The sharp scent made her think of roots and green bark and dark soil. And something more exotic that had her picturing a dense jungle.
Cal sat in the driver’s seat, one hand resting on the steering wheel, the other on his lap. She glanced over but didn’t make eye contact.
“Didn’t think you’d come down from that castle of yours, princess.”
She looked up at the turret, at the warm, welcoming light illuminating the window.
“What do you want?”
Cal held still. He didn’t shift or fidget, and she had the distinct feeling he never reacted hotly to anything. Fern didn’t know whether that was admirable or intimidating.
“We haven’t heard from the judge,” he answered.
A small, piercing pain in her chest made taking her next breath difficult. Her father hadn’t done anything about the photographs?
“They haven’t…I mean, you haven’t sent them to the papers, have you?”
Oh, God. Please.Please, say no.
Cal gave a barely imperceptible shake of his head. But before Fern’s breathing could level out, he added, “He’s got ‘til tomorrow.”
Her vision swam, her head going light. He’d come to warn her, then. Maybe to ask her to push the judge into action. She shook her head.
“If you think I can tell him to do anything, you’re wrong. He doesn’t…” Fern bit her inner cheek, stunned at how painfully the truth pierced her heart. “He doesn’t care.”
“No judge wants pictures of his daughter spread eagle on a bed on the front page of theAmerican.”
Fern choked on a gasp and stared at him. What was shedoingsitting here in the front seat of Cal’s car? She’d come of her own free will, expecting what? Tears stung the backs of her eyes as she fumbled for the door latch.
His hand came down on her left arm and tugged her back, away from the door. “Hold on.”
She pried at his fingers. “Let me go!”
He quickly did, hands going up in surrender. “Just wait a minute, all right? Please.”
She sat statue still, her eyes darting between him and the door latch.
“He’s going to dosomething,” he went on. “Thejudge. He’s going to do something, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be what my brother wants.”
Fern’s heartbeat began to settle after a few more moments.
“Rod, he can’t see the forest for the trees.” Cal exhaled in exasperation. “There’re more outcomes than the one he’s got in his head, but hell if he’s gonna consider ‘em.”
