“I just put some coffee cake in the oven. It’ll be ready in fifteen minutes or so if you’d like some,” she said.
“So,” Tiffany said after taking a sip of coffee. “What happened last night? Obviously you got her to come in and get some rest? I’m assuming she’s still here since her truck is.”
“Yes, she’s still upstairs in bed.”
“Any problems with that?”
“Well, to be honest, she scared me a little,” Sydney said. “She looked terrible and I could tell when she moved that she was in pain. She tried to turn at one point to get her bag out of the truck and she just about collapsed. I got her to take the medication, though, and she slept the whole night through. I tried to be very quiet this morning when I got up so she would keep sleeping.”
“I’ll take a look at her this morning before I leave,” Tiffany said, then took another sip of coffee. “But how are you feeling about everything else that happened? I mean at the hospital?”
Sydney sighed as she stirred her coffee. “After what happened at the hospital...I don’t know. I guess I felt like I needed to try and figure everything out. Maybe I blew things out of proportion. I keep questioning what I saw now, or what I think I saw. I’m honestly not sure.” Sydney looked away and shook her head. “But I’ve never experienced anything like what I feel for Alex. It’s so all consuming, like I can’t get her out of mind. And when I saw that other woman with her—”
“You mean Regina?”
“Yes, Regina. I saw that and just lost it. In reality I guess I didn’t really have a right to react that way. We’ve only been seeing each other a little while. And it’s not as if we’ve even discussed being exclusive. It’s not as if I had a right to expect it. But seeing her like that still drove me crazy.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, that whole Regina thing drove Alex more than a little crazy too. The only thing that kept her from going after you at the hospital was that she was physically incapable of it. She still tried though, and Sal and I had to scrape her off the floor when she collapsed.” Tiffany tried to look innocent when she added, “Probably the only thing that kept her from trying again that night is the fact I pretty much drugged her into oblivion.”
“You what?” Sydney asked, half shocked but half giggling.
Tiffany nodded as she took another sip of coffee, pausing before she went on. “Listen, I’ll admit I wasn’t there to see what happened between Alex and Regina. I didn’t see what you saw. But I can tell you this for sure, you were the only thing on Alex’s mind from the point she saw you turn and run. Regina didn’t even exist anymore at that point.” Tiffany looked seriously at Sydney. “And there’s another thing you need to know. Whatever Alex tells you about her and Regina, it’ll be the truth. She’s not going to string you along or play you. She doesn’t lie her way into relationships, or into someone’s bed.”
Sydney let out a sigh as she visualized again what she had seen that day at the hospital. She was no longer sure exactly what happened, what she had seen. She’d been so upset and overwhelmed by the scene she wasn’t too clear any longer on the details. But she had sensed the sincerity in Alex’s words the night before.
“She told me that woman, Regina, is her ex and that she showed up unannounced. That Regina initiated the kiss before Alex knew what was happening.”
“Well, from a medical standpoint, keep in mind Alex wasn’t all together at the time. It’s completely reasonable her powers of observation and her reflexes would have been slow on the pick-up.” Tiffany said. “And the other thing you should know is Alex is the one who broke that relationship off. And I can assure you she hasn’t been pining about Regina for the past year. However...” Sydney looked up at Tiffany when she paused in her statement.
“Listen,” Tiffany said after taking a deep breath. “This is just my intuition speaking, but it seems like Regina hasn’t completely wanted to let it go. We run into each other from time to time, Regina and I, both socially and professionally. She always asks about Alex and I’ve sometimes gotten the feeling she was waiting, hoping Alex would eventually come back to her. I guess what I’m saying is it’s well within the scope of possibility, if not probability, that Regina would make a play under those circumstances.” Tiffany took a deep breath and shook her head.
“But like I said,” she continued. “The bottom line is Alex wouldn’t lie about her intentions. Her relationship with Regina ended because she was honest about where it was, or wasn’t, going. Whatever Alex has told you about how she feels about the two of you, you can count on it being the absolute truth.”
Several moments of comfortable silence followed as Sydney thought over what had been said.
“Hey, you two.”
Sydney turned to see Alex coming down the spiral staircase into the room. She moved slowly, almost stiffly, one step at a time, and kept her left arm hovering near her wounded side. But she did look better, more rested than she had the previous night. Her eyes had regained some of their spark. Sydney turned her chair to face Alex as she came to a stop standing between Sydney’s legs.
Alex drew Sydney into a somewhat tentative embrace, and Sydney noticed the hesitancy. In an effort at reassurance, she returned the hug, carefully encircling Alex’s midsection. When she pulled back and looked up into Alex’s face she saw a timid smile on her lips, and what looked like relief in Alex’s eyes.
“You’re looking a little better,” Sydney said. She reached up and ran a finger across Alex’s forehead, brushing away that constantly rebellious lock of hair. She could literally feel the tension leave Alex’s body at the closer contact.
“I’m much better, now that I’m here with you again,” Alex said, tightening her arms around Sydney. Sydney returned the hug and then motioned to the other seat.
“Sit down, you,” she said. “I’ll get you some coffee.” She got up and moved into the kitchen.
“So, Tiff,” Alex said as she sat down. “What are you doin’ here? Checking up on me?”
“Yes. I thought I’d stop in and check on how you were doing.”
“I’m good, Tiff. Everything’s fine. Seriously, I don’t need a babysitter.” Sydney turned to watch the interaction between the two and saw Tiffany roll her eyes as Alex responded.
“First of all you could have, shit, you probably should have, ended up back in the hospital last night,” Tiffany said. “You pushed it too hard, failed to take your meds and refused to rest. Second, do you forget who I’m living with? I know how you macho cops operate. I know damn well that you need a babysitter more than the average patient, not less. I’m just not quite sure how to best manage that yet.”
“She’s going to stay here with me,” Sydney said. “I’ll make sure she stays put and gets rest.”
“Are you sure you’re up for it?” Tiffany said with a smile. “She can be a handful.”
“Uh, hello,” Alex broke in, looking from Tiffany to Sydney who was cutting slices of the coffee cake she’d recently removed from the oven. “She’s sitting right here and I’m pretty sure she should have a say in this.”
“Oh, I think I’m up for it,” Sydney responded as if Alex had never spoken. “She can stay with me. It’s the weekend now so I’ve got a couple days to make sure she knows the rules before I go back to work. Anything special I need to know?”
“Not really,” Tiffany said. “Change the bandages daily. I’ll give you extras. You know the directions for the meds are on the bottles. She shouldn’t take any baths or soak the wound directly for long periods of time, not for a few more days at least. The ribs are going to take a couple weeks to heal. The head is the question mark. Headaches, dizziness...that’ll stick around a while because of the concussion. Bottom line, you,” she pointed at Alex, “need to rest.”
Sydney nodded in agreement as she moved toward the table carrying slices of coffee cake, putting a plate down in front of Tiffany and then one in front of Alex. Alex put her arm around Sydney’s hips as she stood next to her.
> “Are you really sure you’re okay with this? With me staying here with you?” she asked. “I don’t want to impose.”
“Don’t be silly,” Sydney said. “You’re not imposing. And I’d like to continue what we started, from where we left off. Well,” she added with a slight smile as she moved away to retrieve the coffee and refill everyone’s cups, “maybe not exactly where we left off. You’re a little under the weather now, after all.”
Alex turned slightly red and Sydney was happy with herself as she sat down with her own breakfast.
TIFFANY DEPARTED A short time later and Sydney directed Alex to the couch in the den with orders not to move. Sydney proceeded to rush about playing nursemaid. She ensured Alex’s medication, a glass of water and the television remote were within easy reach, and brought in an extra blanket and pillows for her. Sydney then announced she was going to check on options for lunch later, and that after lunch Alex would need to take her medication.
Alex reached out and grasped her hand as she passed by.
“Hey,” she said. “How about you stop and sit down and relax with me a while.”
“But is there anything else you want? Anything you need?” Sydney asked.
“Yes.” Alex pulled Sydney to the couch beside her. “I want, and need, you to be here with me, right now.” As Sydney sat down Alex put her arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Just relax.”
Sydney allowed Alex to pull her into her embrace beside her, tucking into Alex’s right side and lowering her head to Alex’s shoulder.
“I guess I’m still a little freaked out about the last couple days. Everything, emotionally, has happened so fast. It was kind of overwhelming.”
Alex stiffened slightly as Sydney spoke. Inside Alex felt a part of her fearing the answer, but she asked the question anyway.
“Do you want to slow things down?” Alex asked.
“No.” Sydney said without hesitation. “That’s just it, I don’t want to slow down. I want to grab on to you and not let go. It’s like I’m thinking of you during every waking hour, but I like it. I like knowing you’re there, that you’re with me. But then part of me is afraid that I’m making a presumption, that maybe you feel differently about it, that it’s not—”
“Stop,” Alex said. “You can stop being afraid of that. I feel the same way.” Alex paused and struggled for words. She had never been one to talk a lot about her feelings or emotions, but she felt this was an important point in their relationship and sensed the need to be open and honest with Sydney.
“I know this happened fast and a lot of weird stuff has gone down. A lot of stress has been put on us during these first few weeks. But we’re still here, together, right now. What I do know is I want to put everything I can into us. You’ve captivated me, Sydney Rutledge. I want you in my life. That’s the most important thing to me right now, making sure you know that. I think the pull, the attraction, of this relationship is new to both of us. But we’re here right now, together. We’ll figure the rest of it out as we go.”
Alex had been gazing forward out the window as she spoke. She now looked down at Sydney nestled into her right side and found the woman gazing up at her. She noticed Sydney’s eyes were moist with emotion and Alex pulled the woman more protectively into her embrace.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” Sydney whispered. “Now I’m wonderful.”
Alex bent down and their lips met, gently at first, then with growing passion. Alex’s right arm was wrapped around Sydney, pulling her closer to her side. She reached up and caressed Sydney’s cheek. As the kiss became more urgent Alex felt Sydney’s hand come to rest on her thigh. Her libido immediately responded and without thinking about it Alex began to guide Sydney backwards onto the sofa beneath her. As Alex twisted her torso she was suddenly overcome with a flash of pain ripping out from the wound in her left side. In that moment she had completely forgotten about her own physical limitations. The sudden pain staggered her and she gasped, almost collapsing. She pulled away from Sydney to her seated position on the sofa.
“Oh, God. Alex?” Sydney gasped. She saw the pain in Alex’s eyes and the sheen of perspiration that had broken out on her face. She took Alex’s hand in hers, then reached up to Alex’s cheek. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Please tell me you’re okay.”
Alex looked at Sydney and smiled weakly. “You have nothing to be sorry about, silly,” she said, bringing Sydney’s hand to her lips and kissing it. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine. You’re hurting.” Sydney leaned over and picked up the vial of pain pills, shaking one into her palm. “Here, take this,” she said, holding out the pill and the nearby glass of water.
Alex initially hesitated to accept the pill and water. “I hate those things,” she said. “They knock me on my ass.”
“You need to rest and this will make you more comfortable,” Sydney said. She forced the pill into Alex’s hand then held out the water for her. “You heard what Tiffany said, your body heals faster at rest. And you need to be more careful. Geez, we need to be more careful.” Sydney added the last part with a shake of her head and slight smile.
Alex handed the glass back to Sydney after swallowing the pill. “I just forgot about it. I got carried away in the moment.” Her crooked smile now matched Sydney’s. “You kinda have that effect on me.”
Alex reached out as Sydney started to stand, grasping each of her hands, guiding Sydney to stand between her legs in front of her. Sydney bent at the waist, allowing Alex to pull her downward. She disengaged her hands from Alex’s and moved them to brace against the back of the sofa on either side of Alex’s head and hovered there, leaning over Alex, their faces only inches away from one another.
“You, Sergeant Chambers, are incorrigible.” Sydney leaned down, intending only to give Alex a quick parting kiss. But when their lips met the passionate current flowed through her and she was again caught up in the moment. She soon felt Alex’s hands on her hips, sliding gradually upwards. Sydney forced herself to pull away from the kiss.
“Stop it,” Sydney said in mock frustration, but with a smile on her face. “I’m going to walk away, for both our sakes. I’ll go make some lunch.” Sydney reached for the nearby remote, pushed the button to turn on the television then handed the remote to Alex. “You’re going to sit here and relax.” Sydney reached up and ran fingers across Alex’s forehead brushing aside that rebellious lock of hair she was so fond of. Then she straightened up and walked from the room. Alex leaned back and smiled as she listened to Sydney’s steps retreat through the archway into the kitchen.
An hour later they had finished eating the lunch Sydney had put together. As Sydney cleared the dishes away and cleaned up in the kitchen, Alex flicked aimlessly through television channels with the remote. She was obstinately fighting her body’s urge to succumb to the drowsing effects of the medication. Sydney sat down at the end of the sofa, lifted her stocking feet onto the edge of the coffee table in front of her.
“Come here,” Sydney said. “Lie down.” She patted the sofa next to her. Alex gingerly turned on to her back and lay down, putting her head in Sydney’s lap. Sydney removed the remote from Alex’s grasp, meeting no resistance. She brushed hair back from Alex’s forehead, then leaned down and gave her a kiss.
“Would you just stop fighting it and go to sleep. You need your rest,” she said. Alex’s eyes closed and she smiled as she realized how truly content she felt. Moments later her breathing tempo changed as she allowed sleep to overcome her.
SYDNEY RETURNED TO work the following Monday, leaving Alex at home to continue her recuperation. As she sat in her office reviewing witness statement for an upcoming case, she was suddenly aware of a presence in her doorway. She looked up to see Lieutenant John Ramos standing there. He entered without an invitation and stood before her desk. Sydney lowered the case file she’d been reading and leaned back in her chair. She didn’t stand, nor did she offer the man a seat.
“Someth
ing I can do for you, Lieutenant?” she asked brusquely.
“Yes, as a matter a fact,” he said. “You can explain to me exactly how someone such as yourself, who by all appearances is a nice young woman, gets mixed up with a deviant like Chambers.”
“I don’t see where that’s any of your professional concern, or personal business.”
“Chambers is a bad cop. She’s careless, a hothead and she does a half ass job. You’d be better off distancing yourself from her. Word about the two of you spreads and it could have negative ramifications for you, personally and professionally.”
Sydney stood as she asked, “Is that a threat, Lieutenant?”
“That’s reality,” he replied. “I know for a fact there are high ranking members of your office who see things for what they are. They would be disappointed to learn the things I’ve learned about you.”
“Get out.” Sydney said in a low voice. “Get out of my office.”
Tyler’s voice came from the doorway. “Mary Claire is ready for you in her office, Lieutenant.”
Ramos gave Sydney one last look then turned and walked out of her office. Tyler watched Ramos retreat down the hallway to the deputy in charge of the Major Crimes Unit, then entered Sydney’s office, closing the door behind him. Sydney was slowly lowering herself into her chair.
“I take it that was the infamous lieutenant you told me about?” Tyler said. “The homophobe who has it out for Alex?”
Sydney nodded. “Geez, Alex is right, he really is an asshole.”
“Are you okay?” Tyler asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Sydney picked up the file to resume her work. “Oh, Ty,” she caught him as he began to exit her office. “Let’s keep this between us. If Alex hears about this she’s liable to hunt him down and kill him. She doesn’t need the aggravation right now.”
Chapter Twenty
White Roses Calling Page 29
