Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [121]
Elena sat next to her on the couch. They were both too short for their legs to reach the ground, so they were kicking their feet up in the air, sometimes kicking each other by accident. Only she didn't always do it by accident; sometimes she did it on purpose, because she was tired of waiting. But Elena sent her a cross look, so she stopped.
Julia looked around the room. It was dark and a little scary. The furniture was big and really old. The pictures on the wall were of people she didn't recognize. They looked mean. The only pretty things in the room were the vases of flowers that her mother received almost every day from her fans.
Everyone loved her mother. Wherever they went, people came up to kiss her hand, to tell her she was beautiful, magical, like a princess. Julia wanted to be a princess like her mother. But Elena would probably make a better one. Everyone said Elena was just like their mother, so graceful, so sweet, and already learning how to dance. Julia didn't want to dance. She wanted to play one of the big instruments that made lots of noise. She thought that would be more fun.
The door opened and a woman came into the room. She wore a beautiful red dress, and her hair fell down to her waist in pretty blond waves. She smiled at them both and kneeled in front of them, putting a hand on each of them.
She was talking again about leaving. They would be parted for a short time, she said. Only a few days. They would have to be brave little girls.
Julia felt tears gathering in her eyes and fear knotting her stomach. She didn't want to be brave. She didn't want her mother and father to leave. She wanted the all to be together. Her mother was sad, too. A tea dripped out of her eye and down her cheek. Julia put out her hand and caught the tear with her fingertip. As she stared at it, she felt terribly afraid.
Her mother stood up. She blew them a kiss, telling them to have courage and faith, that love was worth the risk.
Then she was gone. Olga helped them put on their hats and their coats, and whisked them away from the house. Once outside, Julia pressed her fingers against the cold pane of the car window, watching her house fade away. She wanted to go home. She began to cry and pound on the window, but they kept getting farther and farther away… and she couldn't stop screaming.
"Julia, wake up. Wake up," Alex said loudly.
She felt someone shaking her, and Alex's voice finally reached her subconscious. Her eyes flew open. It took her a moment to remember where she was- in a hotel room with Alex. She was an adult now, not that scared little girl, but she was still trembling.
Alex ran his hand up and down her arm. "Are you okay?" he asked with concern.
She realized her cheeks were wet and her throat felt hoarse. Had she been shouting? "I was dreaming," she said, rolling over to face him.
He wiped away her tears with gentle fingers. "Bad dream?"
"Bad and good. I remembered the day my mother sent us away. She told us to be brave. She said love was worth the risk. I didn't know what she meant. I was so scared. I felt like I was choking on the fear. I knew I wasn't going to see her again. I could feel it."
He stroked her hair. "At least the memories are coming back now."
"I don't want them back," she said. "They hurt."
"How about some water?"
She nodded. As Alex got up, she slipped under the blanket, not quite as comfortable with her nudity now that they weren't making love. Alex pulled on his briefs and jeans, then returned to the bed with a bottled water from the minibar. He handed it to her, then picked up the room service menu from the nightstand. "What do you think about some food? It's after seven."
It was such a practical question, she had to smile. "I am hungry."
"They look like they have a pretty good menu. Steak, fish, salad. What's your pleasure?"
"Cheeseburger, french fries, and a chocolate milk shake. Oh, and maybe a salad, too, so I don't feel totally guilty."
He gave her a knowing grin. "That's exactly what I order every time I come home. It