Dancer in the Shadows

by Linda Wisdom

  "Someday I'll use this to bankrupt him, if nothing else." She picked the card up. It was obvious that Sean was making it clear that Valerie was his wife, even to the credit card company.

  Chapter Six

  One particularly hot morning, Valerie chose a light blue cotton dress cut on simple lines. For comfort, she had pinned her hair in a loose knot on top of her head, leaving tiny curls hanging on the sides and the nape of her neck. Since she was later than usual, she was surprised to see Sean at the table reading the newspaper. He was usually gone by the time she came to breakfast. He didn't look up or acknowledge her presence when she entered and poured herself a cup of coffee. Irked by his indifference, she sat down slowly, pouring cream into her coffee.

  "Let's get one thing straight," Sean said suddenly, putting his paper down on the table. "Sara is not a servant here; she is not yours to command at your whim."

  HO

  "I don't command anyone!" Valerie retorted heatedly. "I don't even know what you're talking about."

  "What I'm talking about is Sara driving Michael to school."

  "I didn't ask Sara to drive him to school," she said slowly, trying to keep a tight rein on her rapidly rising temper. "In fact, she volunteered since she wanted to be in town early today. Of course, I don't expect you to believe me, so you can just ask Sara this evening if you decide to come home at a decent hour. Now, if you don't mind, I think I'll go to work. The atmosphere there is much less confining."

  As she left the room, Sean rose to his feet as if to call her back, but then seemed to change his mind and sat back in his chair, a thunderous look on his face.

  As soon as she was out of Sean's sight, Valerie ran to her room for her purse and car keys before fleeing the house. She muttered angrily to herself as she went outside and started up her car, revving the engine more than necessary before roaring down the driveway to the private road leading to the main highway. The wind whipped through her hair as she sped down the road toward town. Her anger hadn't cooled by the time she reached the office, slamming file drawers and thrown papers were evidence of her still-flaming temper.

  "Hey, that could give someone the impression that you're angry about something," Craig commented, walking into the office.

  "He has a lot of nerve accusing me of taking advantage of other people!" she snapped, throwing a manila folder on her desk. "If he keeps up those tactics, he'll be sorry!"

  Craig's eyes darkened to a stormy blue. He gripped her upper arms, pulling her to face him. "Leave him, Val," he said fiercely. "I still want you. You'll never be happy with Sean; I can give you much more."

  Except the love I want, Valerie thought to herself sadly.

  "There's no reason on earth for you to stay with him," he went on.

  "Yes, there is," she sighed. "Please, Craig, I've told you I don't want to discuss it."

  His expression was sullen as he released her arms. "You'll always regret this, Val," he said harshly. "I want to give you the world, yet you persist in staying where you're not wanted or loved. You're a fool."

  "Then I guess I'll just have to be a fool." She smiled bleakly.

  "I just hate to see you this way," he replied. "He has Felicia, and she's all he wants."

  Valerie's heart contracted at Craig's statement, knowing it was true. "I still have Michael," she said quietly, sitting down at her typewriter. "And right now, he's all that counts."

  Valerie had made plans to meet Shelly for lunch that day, and her attempts to act light-hearted were to no avail. Her obvious lack of appetite had not gone unnoticed by her friend. "Something's wrong, Val, and I think it has to do with Sean," Shelly said bluntly.

  "It could be Michael who's bothering me," she said evasively, pushing her salad around on her plate.

  "If it were Michael, you wouldn't hesitate to talk about it. So it has to be Sean," she stated logically, then leaned forward, her eyes full of concern for her friend. "Val, I'm not trying to be nosy—please understand that. I only want to help."

  The words slowly came out as Valerie briefly sketched her morning argument with Sean. "He didn't even stop to consider that I wouldn't have dreamed of asking Sara to take Michael to school," she sighed. "He just refused to listen to anything I tried to say."

  "And, naturally, you immediately lost your temper, lashing out at him instead of trying to calmly explain things. Am I right?"

  Valerie nodded.

  "Look, I'd love to sit here and have a long chat, but I have a class at two," Shelly said, reaching for her purse.

  "My treat." Valerie smiled, throwing a plastic charge card onto the table. "After all, Sean gave it to me for my own use, so why not use it?"

  As they left the restaurant, Valerie's eyes were drawn to a tall figure across the street. Her heart sank as she recognized Sean, standing in front of an expensive boutique with a wrapped box under one arm. His head was bent close to a familiar -dark-haired one, as if in intimate conversation. Felicia's hand rested possessively on his arm. Val glanced quickly at Shelly to see if she had also noticed the couple, but she was engrossed in finding her sunglasses in her purse. "Just try to keep your temper tonight," she advised, putting her sunglasses on to shade her eyes from the midday glare.

  "Oh, yes, I will," Val replied softly, green eyes on the couple across the street.

  Valerie's steps faltered as she walked toward her car. She collapsed in the driver's seat, resting her head against the steering wheel. Her eyes were tightly closed against the tears that threatened to fall. Although she knew that Sean was spending his evenings with Felicia, this was the first time she had seen them together since that day at the house.

  When she regained her composure she started the engine, putting the car in gear. She was halfway to her office when pictures of Sean and Felicia together passed before her eyes. Fighting sudden waves of nausea, she stopped the car near a phone booth. Taking deep breaths, she unsteadily dialed a number.

  "Craig? I'm sorry, but I can't come back to the office." Her voice quavered slightly.

  "Val, what's wrong?" he demanded.

  "I just can't come back." She felt on the verge of hysteria. "I'll be in tomorrow. Good-bye, Craig." She replaced the receiver in the cradle, cutting off his protests.

  Her hands were trembling as she restarted the car and pulled out of the parking lot. Driving through the main streets, she wiped the tears away with the back of her hand.

  Caught up in her problems, her reflexes were not as quick as usual. Her tear-filled eyes widened in horror as a large truck in front of her skidded and jackknifed onto its side, spilling its contents onto the road.

  "Oh, no!" she gasped, rapidly turning the steering wheel to avoid having a collision. But the tires spun, and the car skidded off the side of the road toward a telephone pole looming large in her path. As the car hit the pole, she could hear a voice screaming Sean's name and was vaguely surprised to realize that it was hers.

  Valerie could feel the mist leaving her brain as the pain came to take its place. She moaned softly as she forced her heavy eyelids open to take in white antiseptic surroundings and a hazy figure in white in front of her.

  "Valerie." The low voice persisted in chasing away the cobwebs in her brain.

  Her eyes slowly focused, revealing a gray-haired man in his late fifties bending over her. "Dr. Taylor?" she murmured, moving her head slowly, then wincing from the pain shooting through her head. "Wha-what happened?"

  "A telephone pole ran in front of your car." His concerned expression changed to a smile of relief. "I'm just glad you decided to wake up from your nap. Now, tell me how many fingers I'm holding up." He showed her his three middle fingers.

  She squinted her eyes. "Three," she whispered. "What's wrong with me?"

  "You have a concussion and a variety of cuts and bruises," the doctor replied, his hands gentle and sure as he injected something into her arm. "This is for the pain. You just rest now. Your husband is outside wearing a hole in the carpet. I'll send him in after I've spoken
to him."

  Unbidden, a vision of Felicia in Sean's arms flashed through her mind. "Doctor, where did you find him?" She licked her dry lips.

  "At his office, of course." He appeared surprised by her question.

  In the small waiting room, Sean was looking morosely out the window and smoking a cigarette. His face was gray under its tan, making him appear older.

  "Mr. Hunter?" Dr. Taylor stepped into the room as Sean quickly turned around.

  "Is she all right?" he asked hoarsely, crushing his cigarette into an ashtray overflowing with the remains of numerous others.

  "She has a concussion that will give her a bad headache and quite a few bruises," the doctor replied. "I would like to keep her here overnight for observation, just as a precaution. She did take a long time to regain consciousness."

  "May I see her?" Sean's voice was anxious.

  "As soon as the nurses get her settled." Dr. Taylor motioned for Sean to be seated. "How's young Michael doing? Going on all cylinders, as usual?"

  Sean's tense features relaxed. "He never seems to stop." He smiled, lighting another cigarette. "I didn't know kids could have so much energy."

  "I've seen him since he was three months old. Valerie's been working hard for him ever since. She deserves a rest, but it's too bad it has to be this way."

  At the doctor's words, Sean's hands shook and he was forced to stub out his cigarette.

  Dr. Taylor got to his feet. "I'm sure you can go in to see her now. She may be a little drowsy from the medication I gave her to ease the pain." He smiled warmly. "She's a stubborn little minx, but I can't imagine her any other way."

  Valerie was slightly drowsy when the door slowly opened to reveal Sean, carrying yellow roses in a vase. He set the vase on the table next to the bed before sitting uneasily in the nearby chair. His dark eyes took in the bruises on her face and shoulders and the large bruise on her forehead. "You've given me a scary time, angel," he said huskily, his voice betraying his emotions. "It's been a long day."

  "I'm sorry that I took you away from work," Valerie muttered, her voice thickened from the medication.

  Sean's breath hissed, a sure sign of frustration. "You mean more to me than my work does," he stated flatly.

  "Is Michael all right?" she asked quickly. "You won't let him get too frightened, will you?"

  "I called Sara and asked her to pick him up at school," he replied. "All he knows is that you have to stay in the hospital overnight. No gory details." Sean, hesitated before adding, "Sara mentioned that she had offered to take him to school today. I owe you an apology."

  "You don't owe me anything," Valerie said dully, turning her face away from him to hide the tears. Why had he been with Felicia? And why couldn't she have the courage to confront him with it?

  "Val, please don't turn away from me." His soft voice was pleading as he leaned forward, taking one of her hands in his. "Talk to me. Don't be this way."

  "I'd like to go to sleep now," she whispered, fighting the urge to face him, to draw his arms around her for warmth and comfort.

  The room was silent save for the soft closing of the door, leaving her alone with her misery. Only then did she allow the tears to fall onto the pillow unchecked until she fell into a drug-induced sleep.

  The next morning, Valerie was picking at her breakfast when Dr. Taylor entered the room. "Ah, good, some color in that pale face." He patted her cheek. "Now, if you'll be a good girl and stay in bed for a week to ten days, I'll let you go home. Otherwise, you'll have your vacation here."

  "I can't stay in bed for that long," she protested, struggling to sit up.

  "Then no discharge," he said firmly.

  "But Michael—we've never been apart." She stopped seeing a familiar look of determination on the doctor's face. "I feel fine; I don't see why I need to stay in bed."

  "Precautionary." He held her wrist, checking her pulse. "You have a visitor outside. But only for five minutes," he added warningly.

  Valerie ran her fingers through her sleep-tousled hair. Her eyes widened as Craig stepped inside after Dr. Taylor left the room.

  "Hello, Val." He smiled faintly. "I'm glad to see you aren't badly hurt."

  "Thank you, Craig."

  He came forward, gripping her hands. "Val, Sean isn't worth it," he persisted. "Come with me. I know you care for me. You have to."

  "Craig, I can't." She tried to withdraw her hands.

  "I know you care for me. It was obvious at the dance." His blue eyes darkened with desire.

  "At the dance?" Valerie was confused by his words.

  "On the terrace, when you kissed me," Craig said impatiently.

  The horror of that evening came back, causing her to recoil. "Oh, no!" she moaned, remembering the accusations she had thrown at Sean.

  "Oh, Val." He lifted her hands to his lips.

  She snatched them away, her eyes dark with revulsion. "Please go away, Craig," she pleaded, feeling the nausea rise.

  "But Val—"

  "My wife asked you to leave, Saunders." A voice of steel invaded the room.

  Craig opened his mouth as if to protest, but one look at Sean's cold face caused him to think twice. "I guess you won't be coming back to work, then, will you?" He looked at Valerie's downcast head before he turned and left the room. She didn't look up when a small leather case was deposited on the bed.

  "I brought you a change of clothes." Sean's voice was impersonal, as if speaking merely to a friend. "I'll be outside taking care of your discharge."

  She didn't look up until he left the room and a nurse entered. "Thought you might need some help getting dressed," she said cheerfully. "You're going to be stiff for a while, so you'll need to take it easy."

  Sean had thoughtfully chosen a cotton caftan that zipped in the front and was comfortable against her tender skin. She winced as her stiff muscles refused to respond when she tried to stand up. She was grateful to find a hairbrush and face cleanser also in the case. She felt better as she was wheeled outside. "Hospital rules, dear," the nurse explained to her.

  Sean stood by the passenger's door of the large silver car and his hands were gentle as he helped her in. Valerie dourly noticed the nurse's face light up when he smiled his thanks at her before walking around the car to the driver's side.

  Valerie rested her head against the back of the seat, closing her eyes. "Dr. Taylor gave me a prescription for some pain pills in case your head begins to bother you," Sean told her as he started the car. "He also told me that you have to stay in bed, and that's where you're going as soon as we get home."

  Valerie wanted to protest, but she already felt tired and silently admitted that a bed would feel very good to her. "I want to give you my apology," she said slowly. "I didn't know until today that it was Craig that night at the dance. I just want to say I'm sorry."

  "I saw you and Saunders on the terrace that night." Sean's lips twisted wryly. "At the time I thought it was a passionate love scene, but I realized differently later." He inserted a cassette tape into the tape deck, letting the music put an end to any conversation.

  By the time they reached the house, Valerie's head was throbbing. As Sean stopped the car in front of the house, Sara came running out. "Oh, you poor dear," she clucked, as Sean opened the passenger's door, lifting a protesting Valerie effortlessly in his arms.

  "I can walk," she informed him, feeling self-conscious with her face so close to his, his after-shave drifting into her consciousness.

  "Dr. Taylor wants you to stay off your feet as much as possible," he replied, walking into the house. He said over his shoulder, "Sara, could you please bring her something cold to drink?"

  "Of course." The housekeeper disappeared toward the kitchen.

  Sean carried Valerie to her room, where the bedcovers were turned down invitingly and a light blue nightgown was lying across the covers. He gently set her down on the bed, saying, "Unfortunately, there's an emergency at the office, so I have to go in for an hour or so. I'm sure you'll want t
o rest for a while. Michael's at preschool today, so I'll pick him up on my way home."

  "Thank you, Sean." She smiled faintly, surprised by his unexpected kindness.

  His fingers lightly stroked the soft skin near a dark bruise on her chin. "I'd offer to help you undress, but I'm sure you'll only try to convince me that you can do it all yourself," he said drily. "I'll see you this afternoon." He walked toward the bedroom door.

  "Sean, how badly is my car wrecked?" she asked, unwilling to see him leave, especially with thoughts of Felicia at the back of her mind.

  He hesitated before replying. "It was totaled, Val," he said softly. "There's nothing left."

  "The first car I ever owned." She sighed, feeling as if she had lost a dear friend. "I guess I should have had the brakes fixed a long time ago."

  "You think it was your brakes?" His tone was curious.

  "Yes, I think they may have locked." She shrugged her shoulders as she reached down to slip off her sandals.

  A sharply indrawn breath was his only reply before he left the room. Valerie winced as she straightened her arms to unzip the caftan, slipping it off her shoulders. Once the nightgown was over her head, she felt exhausted and lay against the pillows, breathing deeply.

  "And that's where you belong," Sara said briskly, entering the room with a tray. "I brought you tea and a snack. Hospital food can take away anyone's appetite."

  "I was there for only one night, Sara." Valerie smiled, warming under the older woman's attention.

  "One night is long enough." She set the tray on a small table by the bed. "And I doubt you'll find custard like mine in any hospital. Sean said doctor's orders are for you to stay in bed for about ten days, and I'm to enforce that rule when he isn't here. If you want anything, you give me a call. I'm baking lemon tarts for Michael, but I can hear you. You do have a few things here to occupy your time, though."

  Valerie noticed the books on the bedside table, books she had been meaning to read for a long time. "Thank you, Sara."

  "Thank Sean. He's the one who got them for you." She walked out of the room. "And be sure to thank him properly," she called back over her shoulder.