Chapter 3
"Your daughter is here, Ms. O'Connaught." The receptionist winked at Kayleigh.
"Send her in." Lillith's voice commanded from the intercom.
Kayleigh nodded to the receptionist and walked through the heavy oak doors, shutting them behind her. "Alright, mother, whose feathers did you ruffle this week?" She spoke without preamble.
"Good morning, Kayleigh. How are you, Kayleigh?" Lillith replied with a sweet smile.
"I didn't come here to banter with you for half an hour. I want some answers."
"Coffee, dear? I'll have Melinda fix you a cup." Lillith suggested.
"No. Thank you." Kayleigh mentally counted to ten. Why were sessions with her mother invariably like this? "Lets skip the five rounds of BS and cut to the chase, okay?"
"Darling, a little politeness wouldn't hurt, you know." Lillith rebuked her quietly.
"So who'd you piss off?" Kayleigh's temper was fraying rapidly. "I didn't want to risk a full scan, but he felt like the type Kemper might hire."
"Entirely possible." Lillith replied thoughtfully. "Were you hurt in any way?"
"No, I pushed my friend into a doorway and threw up an 'these are not the droids you're looking for' spell."
"Your friend?" Lillith's gaze sharpened. "Are you saying a normal was involved?"
"Yes."
"Kayleigh, you know better than to get normals involved in our business-"
Kayleigh's temper exploded. "First of all, it's your business, not mine. Second of all, I didn't exactly choose the confrontation! I'm going home from a club with my friend, and this guy starts tailing us! Don't give me lectures on fucking protocol! I don't need any of your self-righteous bullshit today!"
Lillith looked mildly startled by the outburst. "Please lower your voice, Kayleigh. I know you choose to involve yourself in PSI as little as possible, but someday you'll have to accept that it's a choice you have limited say in. And you have to be on your toes 24-7. You know there's always a possibility that one of our enemies is going to hit you, so you have to be ready."
"Mother, that's exactly why I don't want any part of your world." Kayleigh stood and began to leave.
"Sit down, Kayleigh." The sharpness in Lillith's tone caused Kayleigh to turn back.
"I know you resent me, I know you want no part of PSI. But there's some hard facts you'd better come to grips with." Lillith fixed her rebellious offspring with a piercing gaze. "Doesn't this incident show you anything? You can't stay out of the fight. If you do, they'll just bring the fight to you. Your friend could have been killed. You have to protect yourself, to have allies that can help to protect you."
"So protect me, mother." Kayleigh flung at her. "Tell the dogs to stay off my back or you'll make them suffer."
"My dear, in some ways you are still hopelessly naive." Lillith shook her head sadly. "Even if I do threaten Kemper, what makes you think he will take such a threat seriously? And if I eliminate a few of his agents to make a point, he'll just be more likely to go after you. It's called escalation, Kayleigh, and it's what happens in a cold war. Which is what this is."
"Later, mom." Kayleigh rose to leave. "I've really had enough for one day."
"You can't hide forever, dear, someday you'll have to grow up." Lillith said calmly to her retreating back. Kayleigh pointedly ignored the comment and stalked out.
Lillith shook her head at her retreating offspring. She wasn't sure what to do with her, and made a mental note to bring it up to her husband.
* * * * * *
Kayleigh lay back on her bed and blissfully thought of absolutely nothing. Marty leaned over to brush a strand of hair away from her brow, and Kayleigh caught his hand, kissing it gently. Their eyes locked before Marty sighed and curled up by her side, resting his head on her chest. Kayleigh wrapped her arms about him and practically purred with contentment. Had it been this way with any of her other lovers? Kayleigh thought back to Gideon, Adam - comparisons were inevitable - and decided that this was definitely different. For the first time, there was a little glow inside of her, a tiny ball of emotion that hadn't existed before.
Marty must have caught some of her mood, because he lifted his head and smiled at her softly. "What'cha thinking?"
Kayleigh gave him a wistful smile. "Just wishing that all of my life could be as wonderful and peaceful as this moment."
Marty laughed. "This moment wouldn't stand out as quite so wonderful if all of your life was like it."
"Unfortunately true." Kayleigh caressed his cheek softly. Was she falling for him? She remembered her nonchalant words, and realized how mercilessly she would be teased when Sarah figured out what was going on. Oh, well. Life was like that sometimes. Maybe this was worth a little teasing. Maybe it was worth a lot more than that.
Marty leaned in closer for a kiss and Kayleigh lost track of her mental analysis. When he was near her, touching her, it didn't really seem to matter anyway.
Much later, Marty woke out of a light doze and smiled sleepily down at the lady beside him. If Kayleigh had doubts about their relationship, Marty had swiftly left his behind. She was magnificent, all he could ever have hoped for. Now all he had to do was keep her, as she moved through the high paced world of clubs, music and possible record contracts.
Kayleigh stirred and blinked up at him blurrily and Mart remembered something. "You never did tell me what you had against the Holidays."
Kayleigh cracked up. "Only you," She gasped. "would think of that now."
"So tell me." Marty grinned smugly. "If you trust me enough to go to bed with me, you can surely trust me enough to tell me your little secret."
"Gods, you're persistent!" Kayleigh finally relented. "Okay, I had a friend who killed herself a couple days before Christmas. There's always a lot of suicides around the Holidays, but Lydia wasn't a statistic, she was my best friend." She couldn't tell him the rest, what had driven her over. Kayleigh shivered, remembering the sightless eyes and the note that she'd left. The dangers of PSI involvement; her mother had called Lydia "a casualty of war," and treated the incident as regrettable but unavoidable. It was then that Kayleigh had quit, told her mother to take the whole business and shove it.
Kayleigh came back to the present with a jolt, aware that Marty was staring at her with concern. She slipped back into his arms and cuddled close, seeking comfort in his warmth. "It's okay, Mart. It was a long time ago. I just miss her a lot if I think about it too much." Marty held her tightly, and spent the next hour doing his best to get her mind on more pleasant subjects. They fell into an exhausted sleep afterwards, a sleep from which neither woke from until the next day.
Marty woke first and smiled at the dark head on the pillow beside him. She was just as beautiful by daylight as she'd been the night before. He kissed her forehead and she stirred, but didn't wake up. Marty eased himself out of bed, careful not to disturb her, and made for the bathroom. After a shower, when she still wasn't awake, Marty decided to cook her breakfast. After some rummaging in her refrigerator and cupboards, he got set up and started brewing coffee, toasting English Muffins and frying omelets.
Kayleigh came awake to the smell of breakfast and sat up, startled. Memory kicked in and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She really hadn't meant for things to go this far, this fast. Was the third date too soon to jump in bed with someone? She shook her head, disgusted with herself. You're acting like a schoolgirl, she chided herself, this isn't high school, anymore. You can go to bed with whomever you want, whenever you want, and no one can really do or say anything about it. She still wasn't sure how she felt about the way things were going. She, the cool calm and collected was falling hard and fast.
Kayleigh shook off these glum thoughts like a cat shaking off water and arose. She was the same person she'd been before she slept with him and she'd still move cautiously.
Moving into the living room, she couldn't help but feel a little bit like a stranger in her own home. There was the unfamiliar sound of a man whistling in the kitchen, accompanied by a concerto of cooking noises: pot lids clattering, dishes being moved about, something frying. Kayleigh stuck her head in and couldn't restrain a giggle at the sight of Marty, apron on over the towel around his waist, frying up omelettes. The cats were lined up behind him, surveying his progress. Marty glanced over at her and raised an eyebrow. "What's so funny? Never saw a guy cook before?"
"Not in a towel." Kayleigh snickered. "Is that your usual cooking attire?"
Marty glanced down at himself and blushed bright red. "I, uh, just got out of the shower and I - ah- kind of forgot to get dressed."
Kayleigh crossed the room and put her arms around him. "I didn't say it was bad. Just . . . different." She kissed him in the center of his back and then released him.
"Go away, let me cook." Marty pretended to be surly.
Kayleigh wasn't fooled, but she went off to shower cheerfully. Standing under the pounding water, Kayleigh reflected that it was kind of nice to hear another voice besides her own around the house. And having someone else cook breakfast was definitely a luxury she could get used to. Kayleigh climbed out and toweled off contentedly. Maybe she had been alone too long. She tried to remember how long it had been since Gideon and was astonished to realize that it had been over a year. She shrugged, never having been one to rely on anybody but herself, she just didn't always notice things like that. Gideon had been marvelous, a colleague, well, teacher to be exact, but someone who took her mind seriously. He hadn't understood her passion for music, but he'd been a model lover in other respects, considerate, amusing and - thank god - intelligent.
Kayleigh pulled her silk kimono back on and went to see if Marty was ready. The table was already set and the food was steaming merrily away. Kayleigh sat down, pleased to have Marty treating her so well. "Well, you certainly know how to conduct a romance!" Kayleigh took a bite of omelette and smiled approvingly. "Yum! It's not only the thought that counts with your cooking." Cassandra rubbed her ankle, meowing plaintively and Kayleigh laughed. "Forget it, glutton. This is people food."
"You're certainly an appreciative audience to cook for!" Marty teased her as he made short work of his own omelette.
In the comfortable silence while they ate, Kayleigh let her mind wander. The Limelight gig was coming up fast. Examining her feelings about the gig, Kayleigh was pleased to note that there was more anticipation than there was nervousness. She knew the band was solid and the songs were tight. They'd practiced enough to take it on stage at a big club. The handful of new songs were just as ready, too. Kayleigh smiled and drank her coffee. It would be too easy to become complacent now. With her band really starting to take off and a new boyfriend - who cooked, no less! - it was hard not to feel a little elated.
"You look like the cat that ate the canary." Marty observed in amusement.
"I'm just feeling a little smug, right now." Kayleigh grinned at him.
* * * * * *
"Well?" Sarah gave Kayleigh a significant glance. "You haven't said a word, and neither, for a change, has Marty. Yet you both have this strange glow about you. Did you do the deed or not?" Sarah peered slyly at her friend and crowed with delight at Kayleigh's tell tale blush. "You did! Ha! Now tell me this doesn't mean anything."
Kayleigh made a face at her. "I'm not talking."
"Bullshit." Sarah watched her intently, but Kayleigh began to strum the guitar, refusing to spill. "Bitch! But you must like him. It's been a couple of weeks and you're still seeing him. Usually if it's major crash and burn for you, you cut 'em loose in the first or second week."
Kayleigh winced. "I'm not that bad, am I?"
"Yes, you are!" Sarah snorted. "Do you need a list? Marcus Devoran."
"Two dates, and if you saw his table manners, you'd wonder why I went for date number 2." Kayleigh looked up reflectively. "I still wonder."
"James Davis."
"Oh, lord!" Kayleigh waved a dismissive hand. "Sloppy kisser. I mean, doggy-drool sloppy. Didn't even make it to date 2. Nice kid, though."
"Your older man, William Myers?"
"A stuffed shirt. Pretentious little-! Spent too long talking about his Ferrari, and his Cat Skills cottage and all of his numerous other worldly goods." Kayleigh gave a derisive sniff. "As older men go, Gideon was much more interesting. And he knew how to treat a lady."
Sarah howled at this cool analysis and, when she was under control, asked seriously. "So why are you still seeing Marty?"
Kayleigh answered her honestly. "He makes me laugh. And he treats me like a lady, which doesn't mean he's a chauvinist, it means he has respect. He's intelligent and he appreciates my intelligence. And he's a marvelous lover."
Sarah smiled. "Okay. I didn't mean to give you the third degree, I just wanted to know it was working out."
"What about your love life, Miss Matchmaker?"
"Don't ask." Sarah flopped back on Kayleigh's bed and groaned theatrically. "No, it's not that bad, it's just nonexistent. There's no one new, know what I mean? I've pretty well gone through anyone in the group I had any vague interest in."
"You need to expand your horizons or something." Kayleigh replied.
"Yeah, but where?" Sarah asked plaintively.
"There I can't help you." Kayleigh replied regretfully.
"I know." Sarah shrugged. "It's okay, it doesn't really bother me. If I meet someone, cool, but I've got enough to keep me busy."
"You're coming to my Limelight gig, right?"
"What time do you go on?"
"It's Tuesday at 10:30. We're kind of the opening band." Kayleigh explained.
"Yeah, I'll be there."
Kayleigh grinned. "Cool." Her hands fell to the strings of her guitar and the music flowed out. Her mind was already moving ahead to the show.
* * * * * *
Kayleigh irritably set down her guitar and went to answer the persistent doorbell.
No one was expected and she was hard at work on one of her songs. She opened the door to find Marty standing there, a sheepish grin on his face and a single red rose in his hand.
Kayleigh raised an eyebrow at him coolly. "I don't recall getting a phone call from you, mister."
"Oh, don't be like that." Marty pouted at her winningly. "You know you would have just told me you were too busy."
"Because I am too busy." Kayleigh relented at the hurt look on his face and accepted the flower and a kiss from her stubborn lover. "You are impossible. Why do you want a prickly musician for a girlfriend, anyway?"
"Because she's a beautiful, intelligent, charming prickly musician." Marty replied warmly.
Kayleigh blushed scarlet. "Isn't that an oxymoron?"
"Oh, so now I'm stupid, huh?" Marty teased, earning himself a swat on the rump. "A beautiful, intelligent, charming, violent prickly musician!"
"Are you coming in or not?"
"Put your rose in water and put on your coat. You are taking a break whether you like it or not."
"I'll hate it." Kayleigh grumbled.
"But you'll do it for me, won't you?" Marty wheedled. He took the rose from her and brushed past her, finding a bud vase for it under her sink. This accomplished, he snagged her coat out of the closet and held it for her.
Kayleigh glared at him mutinously, but obediently put on the proffered garment.
Marty gave her a chance to button it up and grab her purse and keys before hauling her out the door. Without telling her where they were going, he herded her off to a crosstown bus and from there, they walked several blocks to a small, expensive looking restaurant.
"Marty, this looks pricey." Kayleigh whispered nervously as they looked at their menus. "Are you sure-"
Marty waved aside her protests. "Hush. It's my treat, and yes I can afford it and you do deserve a treat today. Sit back and enjoy."
Kayleigh's face relaxed into a smile. "My, my, aren't we dominant today."
"You gotta let me wear the pants sometimes, Kay." Marty winked at her.
"Okay." Kayleigh glanced at the menu again and made her selection, a French chicken dish with asparagus as a the side order.
The waiter came and took their drinks order. Kayleigh's eyebrows shot up at Marty's wine selection. While not the most expensive wine on the list, it was definitely pricier than your average rot gut stuff. She was not disappointed by his choice when the waiter brought it for them, either. The waiter took their dinner orders and departed, leaving them to appreciate the wine and ambiance. "Well, well." Kayleigh smiled. "What are we celebrating?"
"Your Limelight show, silly." Marty rolled his eyes at her. "I swear, flaky musicians!"
Kayleigh made a face at him. "Well, this is very sweet."
"I try." Marty grinned in satisfaction. The meal passed peacefully and they finished up with coffee and a shared slice of pear tart with whipped cream.
"Yum." Kayleigh purred. "Good taste in wine, in restaurants - you're a pretty tasteful kind of guy."
Marty smirked. "Good taste in girlfriends, too."
Kayleigh blushed. "Flatterer."
"Ah, but it's true." Marty captured her hand and his eyes were sincere.
"If you propose or something, I swear I'll kill you."
Marty looked mildly offended. "After a month of going out? Get real! Give me credit for some brains."
"Sorry. I was joking." Kayleigh replied placatingly.
"Okay. Lets get the check and go walk some of this food off." Marty signalled the waiter and pulled out his wallet. Finished with that, he drew Kayleigh to her feet.
"Where are we headed?" Kayleigh asked as Marty turned them east on 88th street.
"I thought we'd go down by the river and watch the sunset." Marty took her arm. "And don't you ruin it with one of your snide comments, either, Missy."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Kayleigh demurred. They made their way down to the Promenade by the East river and stood quietly, leaning against the railing and watching the dying sun tint the waves with a panorama of color.
"What are you thinking?" Marty asked her softly, enchanted by the way the setting sun glowed on her face and in her eyes, accenting the far away look she wore.
Kayleigh's answering smile was wistful. "Just wishing everything were as simple as you sometimes make it."
"Some things can be that simple, if you let them." Marty stepped closer to her, gently tilting her chin up towards him. It was half a question.
"I know." Kayleigh replied softly. It was an unspoken affirmative reply. She leaned in and kissed him very gently, but with growing urgency and need. There was no need, yet, for either of them to utter the words that were inside them. The couple turned and stared out over the water, watching as the stars came out over the 59th street bridge. Kayleigh was distracted by that bridge. For some reason it seemed bigger and more immediate than the two boroughs it connected.