Magnificent Folly - Iris Johansen [40]
Cassie got up on her knees and enveloped Lily in a fierce bear hug. “Andrew said you were fine. He said it over and over.…”
Yet Lily had heard no voice in the bedroom. No sounds had come from the room at all until the melody of the music box.
“Andrew is quite right. I never felt better than at this moment.” She glanced over Cassie’s head at Andrew. “I think I owe you—” She broke off, stiffening in shock.
Andrew looked ten years older. The skin was pulled tight over his cheekbones, the flesh beneath his eyes imprinted with ink-black shadows. “Are you all right?”
He smiled at her. “A little tired.” He stood up, his movements jerky and uncoordinated. “I think I’ll go get some air and then find somewhere to crash for a while.”
“A tough one?” Quenby asked from the doorway.
Andrew nodded as he moved toward the door. “Lord, she’s stubborn. She wouldn’t be budged.”
“Andrew!” Cassie pulled away from Lily, a touch of panic crossing her face. “Don’t go. I’ll be alone again.”
Andrew turned to look at her. “You forgot what I told you.” A smile lit his face, momentarily banishing the haggardness. “You’ll never be alone again. I’ll always be there when you want me.”
The anxiety left Cassie’s face, and she nestled back against Lily. “That’s nice to know.”
Lily tried to smother the twinge of hurt she felt as her arms tightened around Cassie.
“It’s not the same, Lily,” Andrew said, his gaze shifting to Lily’s face. “I haven’t taken her from you.”
“Haven’t you? I’m not so petty that I’d begrudge you Cassie’s affection, after what you’ve done to help her.” She smiled crookedly. “Though God knows how you did it.”
“I told you how he did it,” Quenby said. Andrew stiffened. “You shouldn’t have done that, Quenby. She’s had enough to—”
“For Pete’s sake, she’s not made of glass,” Quenby interrupted. “And she’ll need time to assimilate it.”
“Maybe.” Andrew’s hand rubbed wearily at the muscles at the nape of his neck. “I can’t judge. I’m not thinking clearly at the moment.” He turned to go.
“Andrew,” Lily called impulsively.
He glanced back over his shoulder.
“Why did you play the music box?”
“Bach.”
“What?”
“She identifies Bach very closely with you. You have character traits that remind her of his music. I thought it would be a comfort to her.”
Lily’s eyes widened. “How did you know that? Did Cassie tell you?”
Andrew gazed at her a moment without speaking. “Why don’t you ask Cassie?”
He turned and left the room, with Quenby following close behind.
SEVEN
“HE’S SAD.”
Lily turned back to look at Cassie. The child’s brow was wrinkled in a frown of concern as she gazed at the doorway through which Andrew had disappeared. “He’s sad about you.” Her gaze shifted back to Lily’s face. “He’s hurting, but you can help him.”
“Right now I’m more concerned about helping you to a cheeseburger,” Lily said lightly as she gave Cassie another hug and then released her. “Andrew appears to be tough enough to handle his own problems.”
“He is tough, but he still needs people to like him.” Cassie’s gaze searched Lily’s face. “You’re afraid of him.”
“Nonsense. I’m not afraid of any man.”
“You’re afraid of Andrew. Why?”
“I’m not—” Lily stopped. She wasn’t being truthful with either herself or Cassie, and their relationship had always been founded on honesty.
“He knows too much. I guess it makes me uneasy.”
“But what he knows is really neat,” Cassie protested. “He makes me feel”—she hesitated—“like the music. He understands the music, Mom.”
“Cassie …” Lily reached up and tucked a strand of sandy hair behind Cassie’s left ear as she tried to form the question she needed to ask. “You were sick, and Andrew helped you get well. How did—”
“I wasn’t sick,” Cassie interrupted. “I was just hiding out. Then Andrew came in and made me realize what a jerk I was being.”
“And how did he do that?”
“I don’t know,” Cassie said, puzzled. “He was just there. At first, I couldn’t hear him but I could feel him. He was kind of warm and cozy. You know, like drinking hot chocolate after being out on a cold, rainy day.