Complex Dimensions

by Brenda Murphy

  Benita mumbled under her breath in Portuguese and glared at Ashley. She tipped her chin at her. “What the hell is wrong with you? You think you’re so much better than the rest of us?”

  “Hmm. Let’s see.” Her gaze settled on Tessa. “I’m not some wannabe librarian, turning tricks for signed first edition books.” She shifted her gaze to Benita. “Or a former street whore who got lucky.” Ashley ran her finger over the rim of her wineglass. She glanced at Veronica. “Or drug dealer.”

  “Shut your mouth, Ashley.” Millie’s voice was low and deadly.

  “Or a murderer.” Ashley’s lips curled in a nasty smile.

  Millie lowered her chin to her chest, avoiding everyone’s eyes, and pushed back from the table. She left the dining room without saying a word, ignoring Veronica’s plea to stay.

  “Good riddance to bad rubbish.”

  Veronica stood up so fast her bench tipped and rocked. “I don’t give a good fuck what you say about me, but if you know what is good for you, you will shut your fucking mouth and get the fuck out of here.”

  Ashley’s mouth curved in a lethal smile. “Make me.” The evil glint in her eyes made Veronica wary. “Come on. Or hasn’t she given you any tips?”

  “What?” Veronica curled her hands into fists, her nails biting into her palms.

  “Millie knows all about making me. Or didn’t she share that with you?” Ashley made a show of picking up her wineglass.

  Veronica glanced between Tessa and Benita, who suddenly were very interested in the patterns on their plates.

  Veronica shrugged off Ashley’s insinuation. “Fuck that. And fuck you.” Veronica kicked the bench aside and strode to the head of the table toward Ashley. Her vision narrowed, anger beat through her body like a drum, and her only thought was how much she was going to enjoy beating the smile from Ashley’s simpering face.

  She ignored the sound of the door opening behind her and Martha’s voice, not caring about anything other than exacting justice from the woman who had hurt Millie with her harsh words. Veronica reached her hand out and grabbed the back of Ashley’s chair and shoved it. Ashley squealed, and in one sharp motion she threw the contents of her glass toward her. Veronica twisted out of the way. The wine splashed Martha’s face, and the blood-red liquid ran down the front of her white shirt.

  Veronica stared. Martha strode toward Ashley and stopped short of her chair. Tessa offered a napkin to Martha. She took it from her and wiped her face before she tossed the red-stained cloth to the floor.

  “She threatened me.” Ashley’s voice wobbled. She waved her hand in Veronica’s direction. “I was trying to protect myself.”

  Martha lowered her brows. “The only thing you were trying to do is cause trouble. Again.” Martha inclined her head toward the intercom on the wall. “The system works both ways. I heard every word you said.” She jerked her hand toward the door. “Come with me.”

  Ashley paled and placed the wineglass on the table with a trembling hand. “I’m sorry. I…”

  “Now.” Martha’s voice was low and even. The subtle menace in it made the hair on the back of Veronica’s neck stand up. “You might want to wave goodbye on your way out. You will not have the pleasure of seeing any of these fine women again.”

  Ashley pushed her chair back and rose. She tilted her head back, nose in the air, and followed Martha out of the room.

  VERONICA TUGGED HER boots on and hurried from the mudroom. Millie’s apartment was dark, but a bay was open in the garage below it and a pool of dim light lit the gravel apron. Veronica stopped at the door and let her eyes adjust to the light. Millie was sitting on a high stool at the workbench, her back to Veronica.

  “You didn’t stay for dessert. I know you like kheer.”

  Millie shrugged. “Lost my appetite.”

  Veronica walked over to her and looped an arm around Millie’s waist. She sighed and leaned her head against Veronica’s shoulder. Veronica kissed her temple. “It never gets easier, does it?”

  “No. And it’s true.”

  Veronica hugged her close. “It doesn’t make me think any differently of you, Millie. Not one bit.”

  “Aye, but it makes me think differently of myself. You’re not like me. You’re innocent. Some guilty fucker is out there having a good time and you lost your whole future. And people like Ashley can make your life hell because of it.”

  “She said something after you left. I need to ask you.” Veronica’s stomach roiled. “She implied you had been with her. Is it true?”

  Millie shifted and disengaged herself from Veronica’s arms. “I was. Once. A few years ago.” Her face took on a wary expression.

  “You didn’t tell me.” Veronica crossed her arms over her chest and rocked back on her heels.

  “You didn’t ask. Does it make a difference?”

  Veronica studied the garage floor. “No. But when she said it, I wanted to vomit. I can’t stand the thought of anyone else touching you.”

  Millie reached out and cupped Veronica’s face. “No one has ever done to me what you do. We all have pasts. I can’t change mine. I am reminded every time something like this happens. I did murder him. I wanted him dead.”

  “With good reason. If you hadn’t stopped him, he might have killed you both.”

  Millie sighed and her hand moved to Veronica’s shoulder. “If you looked up ‘spiteful bitch’ in the dictionary Ashley’s face would look back at you.”

  Veronica leaned back and touched Millie’s chin. “She won’t be a problem anymore anyway.”

  “Why? What happened after I left? You didn’t do anything to her, did you? You can’t lose your job.”

  “Relax, babe, she screwed herself. She threw a glass of wine at me. I ducked, and it hit Martha. In the face.”

  Millie raised both brows. “What? What was Martha doing there?”

  Veronica smirked. “I think a certain sous chef switched the intercom to broadcast mode.”

  Millie’s laugh was loud and long. “Now I wish I’d stayed.”

  Veronica laughed with her. “It was epic. I wish I had a picture of her face when she realized what she had done. And when Martha told her to say goodbye.”

  Millie’s face sobered and she stopped laughing. “I bet.”

  Veronica closed her mouth. “She wouldn’t—I mean she won’t do anything. She won’t harm Ashley, will she?” Her stomach clenched at the thought. “I mean in the moment I wanted to kick her ass, but I wouldn’t want…”

  Millie pressed her mouth into a thin line. “Not all of us are murderers.”

  “No.” Veronica placed her hand on Millie’s hand. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Isn’t it? It’s the first thing you thought of when I said Martha would take care of her.” Millie’s voice was hollow. “Once anyone knows about me, it’s the first thing they think of.”

  Veronica lifted Millie’s chin. She kissed her on the cheek and the corner of her mouth and then brushed her mouth before capturing it with her own. “Not true. It wasn’t the first thing I thought of.”

  Millie sighed and Veronica deepened the kiss. She broke the kiss. “What’s past is past. I mean it, Millie, but will you explain what you meant?”

  Millie trailed one finger over the back of Veronica’s hand. “Martha’s serious, and without a recommendation from her, Ashley won’t be able to work anywhere else in the network.”

  Veronica frowned. “Network?”

  “Mistress Lucia came to us after the Mistress of the Onyx passed. She and Martha and Elaine formed a consortium of houses. The former workers of the Onyx banded together and purchased Madame’s villa in Lake Como. Their new Mistress rebranded the house as the Phoenix. One of our former workers wanted to move closer to her family so she runs a house in Oslo, and then there is Rowan House.”

  “Three houses. I had no idea how big an operation this is.”

  “It grew after Mistress Lucia came. She’s as brilliant at business as Martha is at investing.”
>
  Veronica pushed aside the small thread of jealousy at Millie’s reverent tone when she spoke of Mistress Lucia. “How do they keep up with all of it?”

  Millie traced her finger over the back of Veronica’s hand. “The owners and two elected representatives of the workers from each house meet once a year in Stockholm and share information, best practices, customer lists, and the like. It was Mistress Lucia’s idea, along with profit sharing for the staff, and other changes to improve conditions for the workers, to make it more equitable and safer. Ashley won’t be able to work at any of the other houses, and if I know Martha, she won’t be able to work anywhere on the circuit.”

  “There’s a circuit?” Veronica could not keep the surprise from her voice.

  “For people who like what we do here, they make it a point to visit the different houses.” Millie smirked. “I told Mistress Lucia we should give out stickers for our guests. You know, like folks have on the back of their caravans when they’ve been to all the parks.”

  Veronica giggled. “What would they say?”

  “Haven’t worked out that bit yet.” Millie stood and stretched. “Do you think there’s any pudding left?”

  MILLIE’S GRANDMOTHER PASSED on a bright fall day. Benita covered the stable for Veronica. Myfanwy had driven them to the home where they had worked together to pack up Millie’s grandmother’s room while Millie met with the funeral director. No one spoke on the ride back to Rowan House. At the base of the steps to Millie’s apartment Myfanwy kissed Millie’s cheek. She leaned close to Veronica and whispered, “Take care of her. Call if you need me.”

  Veronica walked ahead of Millie and opened the door to the apartment. Millie walked past her. She lowered herself to the couch and pulled her gran’s suitcase filled with her effects from the nursing home close to her chest. No tears, no sobs, just a distant stare and silence. Veronica turned on the light and sat next to Millie. She said nothing knowing no words would ever be enough.

  MILLIE’S POSTURE WAS rigid as the clergyman from the nursing home said the short eulogy at the graveside. Veronica noticed a short, razor-thin woman who had Millie’s auburn hair and strong jaw. Got to be her mother. Why the hell is she here? Wearing heels, a short black skirt more suitable for a bar than a funeral, and large designer sunglasses over her eyes, she stood out against the backdrop of the conservatively dressed women from Rowan House. Her mouth was set in a hard line, and she checked the time on her watch as she shuffled her feet.

  The sun glinted off the jet-black coffin as the priest concluded the service. Veronica rubbed her pinkie over the back of Millie’s hand. Millie clutched Veronica’s hand like a drowning woman as her gran’s coffin was lowered into the grave. Once it was lowered, Millie moved forward like a sleepwalker, swept a large handful of earth into her hand, and tossed it into the grave, the red earth rattling against the lid. The priest nodded once in Millie’s direction and left the graveside.

  Every member of the staff of Rowan House filed past, each tossing a single yellow rose into the grave before they bent to scoop up a handful of earth and scatter it over the coffin. Heads bowed, voices quiet, they filed past to offer words of condolence to Millie, whose expression never changed as she silently clasped their hands. Myfanwy was the last, Martha’s arm around her shoulder and Lucia’s arm around her waist as she walked forward and tossed a large bouquet of yellow roses into the grave. The three women each hugged Millie in turn before turning to leave.

  Veronica stood off to the side and a step behind Millie. The last person to walk up to the grave was the woman in the black skirt. She took her sunglasses off and placed them in her purse. “Millicent.”

  Millie shifted her gaze to the cloudless sky. Veronica noticed a tremor in her hands.

  “Mother.” Millie’s words were clipped. Her eyes held the sheen of tears, the first she had shed for her gran.

  “So lovely to see you, Millicent. And on such an auspicious occasion.” She glared at Millie and Veronica. She used the edge of her foot to push some dirt in the grave. Millie’s shoulders slumped. Veronica stepped closer and rested her hand on the small of Millie’s waist.

  Her mother’s lips thinned before she spoke. “Still as loquacious as ever, I see. Well, don’t let me keep you from the festivities. Ta.” Her back to the grave, she stepped closer to Millie. “Oh, and I look forward to seeing you in court.”

  Millie took a half step back from her mother, her hands clenched into fists.

  Her mother rested a fist on her hip. “What are you waiting for? Or is it only drunks you attack? Knowing they can’t fight back.” She raked her gaze over Millie. “I still can’t believe I let her talk me out of an abortion.”

  Veronica could sense Millie’s rage boiling, her thin veneer of control beginning to shatter under her mother’s taunting. She slipped her hand under Millie’s suit jacket and grabbed her belt. She wrapped her fingers tightly around the smooth leather. If Millie decided she’d had enough of her mother’s taunts, Veronica knew she’d only be able to slow her down not stop her if she acted.

  “Why don’t you go on ahead now? I don’t know what your game is, but this is not the time, nor the place.” In Veronica’s peripheral vision she saw Martha, Lucia, and Myfanwy turn toward them. Robyn stepped up next to Millie on her other side. She placed her small hand on Millie’s forearm and clasped it tight, her trembling fingers white against the black of Millie’s suit coat.

  Millie’s mother sneered at Veronica. “And why should I listen to some random black bit..?”

  Before she could finish her sentence and start the fight she wanted to provoke, Veronica spoke over her. She released her hold on Millie’s belt and stepped in front of her, shielding her from her mother. “Look, I don’t know you, and I don’t want to, but know this. If you ever, ever step to Millie again, you will have to go through me. Get the hell out of here.” Veronica calculated how much trouble she would be in if she slapped her.

  Martha’s firm grip on Veronica’s shoulder settled her. “I believe, as my friend has expressed quite clearly, it would be in your best interest to leave. Now.” Martha’s tone was deadly.

  Millie’s mother took a step back. “Fine. My solicitor will be in touch, Millicent.” She drew out Millie’s name in a mocking way.

  As she backed up, her heel caught in the loose soil around the edge of the grave, and she tumbled over backward and landed on the coffin. Veronica stared, too stunned to move.

  The grave attendants, who had stoically watched the drama unfold, pointed at the grave. “Did you see that?”

  “Well, don’t stand there, Matthew, we need to help her out.” They dropped their shovels and ran forward to offer a hand. One of the men climbed into the grave and, with a well-placed hand on her ass, assisted Millie’s mother out of the grave. Dirt clung to her suit, and she had lost a heel. Veronica chewed her lip to keep from laughing as the man in the grave climbed out, clutching a dirty black pump in his hand. He passed the shoe to the other man who wiped it on his pants before he lifted his hat and offered the shoe to Millie’s mother. She snatched the shoe from his hand, shoved her foot into it, and stalked off, head high, trying to salvage what was left of her dignity.

  Millie stared at her mother’s retreating back. “I think Gran pulled her in.”

  Veronica bit her lip, trying hard not to laugh, unsure of Millie’s state of mind. And then Millie’s hand was on her shoulder and her laugh, loud, raucous, and hearty, rang out. She bent at the waist and wiped tears from her face as she laughed.

  Veronica joined her as all the women of Rowan House surrounded her, their laughter and tears blending as the men waiting to fill the grave held it together for a moment, and then joined in.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “LET’S DO IT again.” Veronica clutched the sheet music in front of her chest and scrubbed a hand over her scalp. “I can’t screw this up.”

  Millie strummed the guitar softly. “As many times as you want, mo ghràdh.”

  “I
can’t believe she picked this song. I love Skin Skinny and Skunk Anansie.” Veronica placed the sheet music aside. “Do you think you could drop it down a bit? I don’t feel solid on the high notes.”

  Millie nodded. “It sounded like you were straining.” She moved her fingers over the strings of the guitar and picked out a few notes. “Like this?”

  “Yeah, I think I can do that.” Millie played “You Saved Me” as Veronica sang. Millie’s eyes never left her face as she played while Veronica sang the words she knew by heart, and in a moment, she was singing them to Millie: every word, every sentiment, every note.

  As much as they meshed making love, this, this was more intimate, creating something together. It was beautiful and ethereal. Veronica was breathless when she finished. Millie played the final notes and Veronica bit her lip. Ask her, ask again, keep asking until she says yes. Take nothing for granted.

  “You did, you know.” Millie clutched the guitar to her chest. “You did save me.”

  Veronica took the guitar from Millie’s hands and placed it on its stand. She stood between Millie’s knees and cupped Millie’s face in her hands. “No, love, you saved me. You trust me, right?”

  “With my life.” Millie gripped Veronica’s hips with her broad hands and rubbed her thumbs over the crests of Veronica’s hipbones.

  “I understand why you’re afraid to meet my folks. Even if you don’t go with me, I’ll come back. I love you and nothing will ever change that.” She pinned her in place with her gaze and rubbed her thumb over Millie’s lower lip. “Please come with me. Please. They’ll love you as much as I do.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because I trust them. I trust them as much as I trust you.” She kissed her then, letting her body say what she couldn’t say with words, pouring every bit of her love into the kiss.

  Millie groaned into her mouth and the sound set Veronica on fire. She broke their kiss a moment and pulled back to peer into Millie’s eyes. “Yes? Please say yes?”