Stalking The Phoenix Part 6

"No, thank you, Geoff," Sister said. "This house is not big enough for us. It's fine for me. But, for us? I don't think so."

"Go pack a few things."

I watched the pair of them leave the house. He carried a single suitcase that he stashed in the trunk of the car.

Things were proceeding smoothly. Sister was frightened out of her wits. In the past two weeks, the woman had lost weight and was appearing considerably more on edge.

I've got her just where I want her. Just where I want her. Now, it's time to turn up the heat and watch her squirm and sweat. I'm going to enjoy this.

Once it is done, it will be over. There will be no chance of bringing her back from the dead. I intend to enjoy even moment of this, to draw it out and to savor every moment of my long awaited revenge.

Then I'll just disappear. They tell me that the Grand Caymans are a nice group of islands. Maybe I'll go to Mexico. On the kind of money that I'll have to myself soon, I'll be able to live very well for the rest of my life.

That's the only thing that I can thank Sister for. This plan has made me very rich. And it's going to make her very miserable, then very dead.

*Chapter 12*

'Alicia'

I awoke in a strange room. My heart raced for about a half moment until I remembered that I had been installed in the bedroom that had been Geoff's mother's. Geoff's bedroom, the one that had been his father's, lay just beyond the shared bathroom.

The sound of rain falling harshly against the windowpanes must have awakened me, I decided. Thunder rumbled harshly in the distance. I looked over to the digital clock on the night table: 5:45 a.m. on 4-23.

I lay there for a moment, trying to shake off the sluggishness the legacy of the single prescription sleeping pill Geoff had urged upon me just before nine o'clock the night before. I did have to admit that I had slept more soundly in the past few hours than I had during the previous two weeks since the calls and hara.s.sment had begun. I wondered if that more restful night was due to the sleeping pill, the change of surroundings, or just having someone else around. Perhaps it was a combination of all of those things. Regardless of the cause, I was simply grateful for the sleep. But, I didn't like the lingering grogginess. I didn't like that at all.

I reached for the thermometer, graph paper, and pen I had placed on the night table before I had retired. The small beep as I pressed the b.u.t.ton told me that the electronic thermometer was working. I popped it under my tongue and waited the forty seconds until the second beep announced that the reading was ready. Quickly recording the temperature on the chart, I replaced the thermometer in the case before replacing the whole basil metabolism tracking kit on the night table.

About another week until I ovulate, I thought. Just a few more days. Do I really want to do this?, I asked myself.

The Church had condemned the action Geoff and I were conspiring to take. Was the Church wrong? Or was I simply justifying my own actions because I wanted a child so badly? I didn't have any answers.

Rising from big, antique, bra.s.s bed, I pulled on the quilted robe I had left on the foot of the bed. I walked over to the window and looked out on the stormy morning. It had been raining a good part of the night, by the looks of the standing water in the streets. Quite a rain.

Without a doubt, the dirt track at the college would be a mud bog. The parochial high school's track would be a bit better since it was asphalt. But, running on wet asphalt could be hazardous. So much for the run I so desperately needed. I wondered if I could get time on the treadmills at either the college or the Y. I hate treadmills, but there seemed to be little choice. I absolutely needed the run.

I only hoped that the track would dry off in time for this afternoon's track meet. Otherwise, there would be some very disgruntled high school track team members. That was something I didn't need to deal with at the moment.

Sirens were heard off in the distance. I crossed myself and murmured a brief prayer for whomever the emergency vehicles were rus.h.i.+ng.

"'Licia?" Geoff asked in concern from the bathroom doorway.

"It's raining," I said without turning around from the window.

"Since about midnight, sweetheart. It's been quite a storm. Probably four or more inches of rain. I'm surprised that you slept through it."

"I would have slept through the Second Coming, as tired as I was. And that pill did its job."

I turned around. Geoff stood there in the doorway of the bathroom, wearing only a short white terry bathrobe carelessly knotted about his waist.

I looked away from him. Then I looked down at my own light blue floral print cotton quilted robe and matching, Victorian cut, nightgown.

"Quite a contrast."

Geoff smiled softly at me. "You look adorable."

"Prim, as contrasted with the ease at which you wear that robe. For you, I would like to be less uptight, Geoff. I would like to be the woman whom you need. I really would. I feel as though I let you down."

"You can do anything that you want badly enough to do, 'Licia. I have that much confidence in you. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but eventually," Geoff said from the doorway. "You are the woman whom I need. And you never let me down."

I shook my head. "I wish that I could believe that."

Lightning flashed with a window-shaking roar of thunder.

"Lord that was close," Geoff said.

I turned around to look out of the window. "Wasn't it, though? I do love a storm that blows free."

"You would," Geoff said in amus.e.m.e.nt. "The world only sees the controlled Alicia Marie Jenkins. They never see beneath the surface to the woman of deep pa.s.sions."

I cleared my throat, but continued to look out the window. "Deep pa.s.sions," I echoed.

"You have them, you know," Geoff said as he moved to stand just behind me.

"Are you trying to convince yourself or me?"

Geoff wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned back, surrendering myself to the comfort of his embrace.

"I do love you."

The sirens in the distance grew in numbers.

"Must have been some accident," I said.

Geoff kissed the top of my head. "Sounds like it, sweetheart. How did you sleep?"

"I don't remember anything beyond nine fifteen," I replied as I turned around in his arms and wrapped my own arms around his waist.

"Good. You needed the rest."

"Yes. I did. Thank you."

"Don't thank me, 'Licia. I told you that I would take care of you. Why don't you go back to bed? It's early. Your first cla.s.s isn't until ten. You can afford to give yourself another two hours nap," Geoff said as he carefully put me away from him.

"No. I don't think so. There are too many things that I want to get done. But, why don't you return to bed? You aren't due in court until when?"

"Afternoon."

"So, go back to bed. I have some work to do."

"Work?"

"I've had a thought or two about some of my research. I should put them down on paper while they are fresh in my mind."

"What are you working on, 'Licia?"

"It's too complicated, Geoff, to try to distill down into a few words. It links artificial intelligence, graphics, and robotics. It is an interesting first step towards the next generation of industrial robotics." I shrugged. "Regardless, in a few years, it will be seen as nothing more than a curiosity. But, that is the nature of my field."

Geoff smiled and shook his head. "A man could almost be jealous of the dedication that you give to your work."

"Don't be silly. I would not be jealous of the hours that you spend in your law practice."

"Won't you?" Geoff asked as the faint wail of sirens continued to sound in the distance. "In ten years, will you want me at home with you and the children while I am laboring over some detail or other of a complicated case?"

"I can't imagine you putting anything before our children on a regular basis. I know that work is not something that can be s.h.i.+rked. I hope that I wouldn't be that mean spirited to resent an occasional necessity."

"Ah, 'Licia..." Geoff sighed. "What am I to do with you?"

"Try to make a life, I think."

Geoff laughed. "It will be a good life, 'Licia. I promise you."

"I hope so. Once we get past these threats, once we get them dealt with, there is no reason why we shouldn't have a good life. Now, since we are both up, shall I go fix us some breakfast?"

"I thought that you wanted to work?"

"I'll put the ideas down in a little while. I'm hungry."

"Then, we'll go fix breakfast," he said. "How about waffles?"

"Sure. Waffles sound good."

"Let's go downstairs, then."

"Ah, Geoff. Would you mind putting on some more clothes?"

"Does this disturb you?"

"Now, what do you think? Of 'course' it bothers me. I'm not totally s.e.xless ... in spite of my problems."

Geoff smiled at me. "I can see the pulse beating in your temple. Do you want me, 'Licia?"

I nodded mutely, hesitantly, in the affirmative.

"Give me the words!"

"I want you," I whispered, as though it was some sort of shameful secret. "Satisfied?"

"Not hardly," he moaned as he crushed me to himself. "Alicia..."

My hands went to the back of his head. I pulled his head down to mine and kissed him, fiercely.

He returned my caress.

Geoff's hands loosened the belt of my robe. Then his hands trailed up my ribcage until they cradled my b.r.e.a.s.t.s in his hands.

He flicked his thumbs over my nipples. Then he pulled away from me.

"Geoff?" I asked with hurt puzzlement in my voice.

"'Licia, you aren't aroused at all," Geoff said.

I frowned at the flatness of his tone. "Teach me, Geoff. Teach me how to please you."

"What good would it do, when I obviously don't please you. I want to give you pleasure, 'Licia. Not just have you endure my attentions."

"It's me, Geoff, not you," I said. "I'm just not a sensual person."

"Nonsense! You're a woman who enjoys her senses. You just don't want me."

"That isn't true. It's just that I-I remember ... flashback ... and I get scared ... then my body rebels. I can't help it. It isn't you. It's me. In spite of all the therapy, it's me."

Geoff placed his hands on my shoulders. Very gently, he kneaded the muscles. "'Licia. You are so tense. Relax, sweetheart. I'm not going to force you into anything."

"I don't want to give up on us, Geoff. I want to have a full life with you, not just some kind of marriage in name only. Help me."

Geoff nodded affirmatively. "Oh baby, we don't have to rush into this. We've got the rest of our lives."

My lower lip trembled. I felt the tears of frustration and anger well up within my eyes.

"Don't cry, 'Licia."

"I'm not crying," I denied as a drop of moisture belied my words.

"Of course not."

"What if I can never be a wife to you?"

"You'll be my wife the moment that we take our vows."

"You know what I mean."