After seeing Jerri off, Nikki returned to the kitchen where Rox was sitting at the table enjoying a garden salad and grilled cheese sandwich. Nikki raised her eyebrows as she saw a place set for herself, and her own meal waiting for her. Coming up behind Rox, she wrapped her arms around the red head and hugged her affectionately, kissing her cheek in thanks.

"How did you manage to cook lunch with a broken wrist?" Nikki asked as she sat down.

"I have many skills," Rox said, wiggling her eyebrows up and down.

Nikki chuckled. "I'll bet you do," she replied pointedly. "How's the story coming?" she added.

Rox's face took on a glow as she talked about her work. "Wonderful ... I managed to write half a chapter this morning. That's pretty good considering I'm a one-armed bandit right now!" she exclaimed, lifting her fibergla.s.s-encased hand as proof.

"Do you need some help with the typing, Hon? It might move along faster that way." Nikki observed.

"No, I don't think so. I'm doing okay ... besides, I have a really strange writing style. I'm forever going back to reread what I've already written ... tweaking things along the way. I jump back and forth so much, I'd confuse the h.e.l.l out of you. I'll be fine on my own. Hopefully the swelling will go down in a day or so ... it'll be easier then. Thanks for asking though," she replied.

Nikki reached across the table to cover her friend's injured hand. "You know I'd do anything for you, Rox, right?" she said seriously.

Rox met her friend's green eyes and held them for several moments, a feeling of affection and love pa.s.sing between them. "Yeah, I know, love. I can't thank you enough," she said.

Nikki smiled. "So, are you planning to write all day, or can I talk you into a little shopping?" she asked, shoving a fork full of greens into her mouth.

Rox sat back in her chair, hands poised on the table. "Nik, I really don't want to go out in public looking like this," she said, indicating the bruises that were painfully obvious on her face and neck.

Nikki nodded her head in understanding. "Well, how about a walk along the beach a little later? You really should get out of the house, Rox," she urged her friend.

"I think I might be able to manage that," Rox said grinning, " but can we make if for after dinner? I'm going to do my e-mail after lunch and them maybe take a nap before writing again this afternoon."

"After dinner is fine. What do you feel like having tonight? It's just the two of us," Nikki asked.

"Nikki, you really don't have to baby me like this ... I can cook my own dinner," Rox said "Yes you can ... but you won't, and we both know it. Now don't argue with me. What would you like me to cook?" Nikki replied knowingly.

Seeing that she had lost the battle, Rox sighed heavily and said, "I don't know ... whatever you want, I guess."

"And just how do you make that?" Nikki asked, propping her elbow up on the table and resting her chin in her hand.

"Make what?" Rox asked, confusion etched across her brow as she looked at her friend.

"Whatever you want ... I'm not familiar with that dish," Nikki teased.

Rox grinned, and without breaking eye contact with Nikki, reached into her salad with her good hand and picked up a piece of lettuce, which she unceremoniously threw at her friend, hitting her on the cheek.

What ensued, was a full-fledged food fight. By the time they were done, their salad dishes had been emptied all over the kitchen and each other.

Rox waited patiently as the server retrieved her messages. Her eyes brightened as she saw the message from Ca.s.s. Clicking on the note, she scanned it quickly, then went back to take her time rereading it. Rox stopped at that place in the note where she saw the phone number. Do I dare? she thought, looking at the clock. Let's see, its nearly 1 p.m. here, so it's 10 a.m. there... he must be out of bed by now.

Ca.s.s begrudgingly dressed herself and waited for Angie to pick her up for a much needed shopping trip. Ca.s.s hated shopping, but she had to admit, she did need some new underclothes, and a pair of running shoes. Angie quickly volunteered to drag her through the mall. Moments later, she heard a car horn beep and stepped out onto the small balcony overlooking the parking lot. Sure enough, it was 10 a.m. and Angie was right on time. Groaning loudly, she grabbed her purse and headed for the door, only to be stopped by the ringing telephone.

Stopping dead at the door, Ca.s.s turned around and looked at the phone. Maybe its work calling ... then I can get out of this stupid shopping trip, she hoped. Walking the few steps between the door and the end table, she reached down and picked up the receiver.

"h.e.l.lo?" she said into the phone.

Silence.

"h.e.l.lo?" Ca.s.s said again, a little louder.

An audible click came from the other end of the line.

Ca.s.s pulled the receiver from her ear and looked at it questioningly as her brow furrowed. Then, she shrugged and mumbled something about crank callers before hanging the phone up and heading out the door once and for all.

Rox slammed down the receiver. "Oh my G.o.d," she said out loud. "A woman answered the phone."

"Huh? Did you say something, hon?" Nikki asked from the kitchen doorway as she wiped the last dish.

Rox was still looking at the receiver. "I said, a woman answered the phone," she replied, partially in a daze.

"A woman answered whose phone? Roxie ... honey, maybe you should take that nap now," Nikki suggested, coming into the living room to feel her friend's forehead.

Rox brushed her hand away. "Nik, I'm all right. A woman answered Ca.s.s' phone. He gave me his phone number in his last post ... I called, and a woman answered his phone!" she exclaimed, becoming agitated.

Nikki raised her eyebrows as she wiped her hands on the dishtowel. "I see," she said, nodding.

"What do you think it means?" Rox asked.

"It means he had a woman in his apartment. Maybe it was his mother, or his sister," Nikki suggested.

"Or his girlfriend!" Rox added. "Nik ... what do I know about this guy? He could be some whacko for all I know."

"Rox, he's an airplane pilot ... not a whacko," Nikki said, trying to soothe Rox's hurt.

"Are you saying air plane pilots can't be whackos, Nik?" Rox challenged her friend.

"No, I'm not saying that. Look, Rox," Nikki said, exasperated with her friend. "Why don't you skip your e-mail for this afternoon and get some sleep. It will still be here for you when you get up. Okay?"

Rox reluctantly agreed when a yawn gave away her true state of tiredness.

"You go on up ... slowly ... and hold on to the railing ... I'll power down the computer, then come tuck you in, okay? h.e.l.l, I may even join you," Nikki said as Rox turned and headed toward the stairs.

Nikki selected the 'start' command in the lower left corner of the screen, and then initiated the shutdown procedure. As she watched the computer shut down, she thought, You had better not be messing with my friend, or you're a deadman, Ca.s.s Conway.

Ca.s.s powered up her computer the minute she walked into her condo. The shopping trip had taken much longer than she would have liked with Angie insisting on stopping at a half-dozen stores, and then insisting on getting lunch as long as they were out. The end result was four miserable hours in the mall. Ca.s.s was about ready to blow a gasket when Angie finally declared herself done and they headed to the car.

Disappointment settled itself in the pit of her stomach like last Christmas' fruitcake when there were no new messages from Rox. Sitting back in her chair, she sighed deeply and just stared at the screen.

Staring at it won't make it happen, you know. Enforcer said.

What do you mean? Ca.s.s asked.

Staring at the screen won't make a note appear. Enforcer explained.

What do you think is wrong, E? came the next question.

Who says something is wrong? Maybe she's just busy. Maybe she's writing. Don't be so paranoid, Ca.s.s, the alter ego scolded.

E, what if that b.a.s.t.a.r.d has beaten her up again, and she CAN'T respond? Ca.s.s feared.

I don't know, Ca.s.s... I just don't know. Look, you're not going to be happy until you fly out there and check it out for yourself ... you know that, don't you?" Enforcer pointed out.

I can't do that E! Don't you see? How will it look if I suddenly appear at her door and a healthy Rox answers it? I'll look pretty stupid for being so paranoid, don't you think? Ca.s.s replied.

Suit yourself, Ca.s.s ... but don't complain to me when I say 'I told you so.' Okay? came the sarcastic reply.

Maybe I should send her another note ... no - that would seem desperate. Ca.s.s remarked.

You ARE desperate, aren't you? Geesh, Ca.s.s ... you sure are acting like it. Look ... why don't we go over to the gym and work off some of this nervous energy ... okay? Enforcer suggested.

Ah, E ... I really don't want to go to the gym, Ca.s.s whined.

Look, Ca.s.s ... you're wound up like a Cuckoo clock ... either we go to the gym, or we go out and get laid ... your choice, although I prefer the later, Enforcer demanded.

Ca.s.s stopped pacing and looked over her shoulder again. "I'll change into my gym clothes," she said out loud, heading for her bedroom.

d.a.m.n! Enforcer said under her breath, as Ca.s.s readied herself to go.

After a leisurely dinner of pasta marinara, salad and garlic bread, Nikki and Rox stepped onto the sand off the back deck to take a stroll along the beach. Both women had curled up together to take a two hour nap, their bodies wrapped around each other affectionately. Upon awakening, they laid on their sides with their heads on the pillows, facing each other, but not touching. For the next hour, they talked about everything imaginable, from Rox's books, to Chris, to life's philosophies. Rox so loved this time with her friend. They used to spend time together like this in college. While the other girls were out drinking, partying, and getting laid, Rox and Nikki would talk ... sometimes lying in bed like they were today, sometimes curled up on the couch, sometimes sitting rigidly on the floor ... their body language always seeming to reflect their subject matter. After their talk, Rox wrote for a couple of hours while Nikki prepared dinner.

Rox looked longingly at her computer before deciding to ignore her e-mail a while longer, and to enjoy the relaxing walk along the sh.o.r.eline with her best friend.

"Nikki, Do you think I'm rushing things with Ca.s.s?" Rox asked.

Nikki pondered the wet sand that forced it's way between her toes as she walked barefoot on the edge of the surf. "Maybe, Rox. You HAVE only known him for what ... three weeks?" Nikki replied.

"It feels so much longer than that, Nik. It feels like I've known him forever. There's something about him that I can't put my finger on. It's almost like I've known him before. It all 'feels' so familiar, know what I mean?" Rox questioned her friend.

Nikki walked along quietly, contemplating her own situation. She had known Jerri for only a short time as well before she knew she wanted to commit her life to her. The difference was, she and Jerri met first and THEN fell in love, not the other way around, as was the case with Rox and Ca.s.s. "Roxie, I DO believe that people can fall in love quickly ... h.e.l.l, I didn't know Jerri for much longer than you've known Ca.s.s before I was sure of my love for her," Nikki began.

"But ...?" Rox prompted.

"But, we had the luxury of meeting face to face and getting to know each other that way before we acknowledged how we felt," Nikki quickly explained.

Rox was silent as she thought about Nikki's comments.

Nikki looked over at her friend again. "Rox, what if the two of you meet and you're not compatible? What if you don't appeal to each other physically ... what then? I'll tell you what then," Nikki continued without giving Rox a chance to reply, "you'll end up getting hurt. Rox, honey, you give your heart too freely ... look at Chris. You gave your heart freely there too, and look where it's ending," she finished as they continued to stroll along the beach.

"Ca.s.s is different, Nik. I can feel it," Roxanne replied, looking into her friend's eyes pathetically before adding, "Of course, its all for naught if the woman on the phone earlier today is his girlfriend."

"Rox, you don't know that," Nikki observed.

"You're right, I don't ... maybe I should ask him," Rox suggested.

"Maybe you should," Nikki replied.

Rox stopped walking and looked into her friend's eyes. Smiling, she leaned in and kissed Nikki affectionately on the lips. "Thank you, my friend. You know I love you with all my heart, don't you?" she asked.

Nikki nodded her head and smiled as the two women locked arms and resumed their walk.

The solitary figure stood once more by the tool shed, watching the affectionate scene between the best friends. You b.i.t.c.h, the figure thought, you will pay for this ... for the lies and the humiliation ... you will pay. Anger rose like fetid bile in the figure's throat as plans were made to administer punishment on the unsuspecting victim.

Ca.s.s stood under the showerhead and washed the sweat from her body. Although the trip to the gym helped alleviate most of her frustrated anxiety, there was still enough hanging on to make her edgy. She wondered if Rox had responded to her last post yet. Resolving not to make herself crazy waiting, she climbed out of the shower, toweled herself dry, then glanced at the clock, trying to decide if she was going to go out to dinner or to order in. It was nearly 5 p.m. After towel drying her long dark hair, she hung the towel back on the rack and stood naked in the full-length mirror in the bathroom, looking at herself. Turning this way and that, she noticed that the large bruise from the crash landing was starting to fade. That done, she faced herself in the mirror again and sighed. d.a.m.n, I need to get a life, she said to herself. I hate eating alone ... I have living alone ... I hate being alone, she added as she grabbed some clothes and got dressed. Angie, I hope you're not to busy tonight, 'cause I plan on hanging around 'till closing time, Ca.s.s said to herself as she combed out her hair. Ca.s.s stopped and took a long hard look at her computer as she headed for the front door, almost giving in to the urge to log on and check her e-mail. Finally, she forced herself to put one foot in front of the other as she left her condo and headed down town for dinner.

"What can I get you, sweetling?" Angie asked her favorite customer as she sat down in the chair opposite Ca.s.s.

Ca.s.s looked up and smiled at her friend. "Uhm... how about the beef stew and salad?" she asked. "Oh ... and a coffee," she added.

"Good choice," Angie said as she wrote Ca.s.s' order down on her pad. Before rising to place the order, she looked at her 'adopted' daughter carefully. "Are you all right, honey?" she asked.

Ca.s.s furrowed her brow. "Sure, why do you ask?" she replied.

"I don't know ... you look a little preoccupied or something," Angie said a little hesitantly. "Look, let me go place your order, then I'll grab us both a coffee. Looks like you need to talk," she said, rising to her feet and walking away.

Ca.s.s smiled to herself. Angie was a real gem ... a true friend. It amazed Ca.s.s how she always knew when something was bothering her.

Moments later, Angie returned with two cups of coffee. Sitting down opposite Ca.s.s, she pushed one of the cups over to the younger woman and said, "Okay, spill it ... what's bothering you?"

"I don't know, Ang ... I guess I'm being impatient. I can't get Rox out of my mind," she answered.

"Ah ... Rox. I should have known. Have you heard back from her yet?" Angie asked.

"Not today ... it kind of worries me. Did I tell you that she lives in an abusive situation? The person she is living with has beaten her several times ... in fact, the last beating was just a few days ago. I'm really afraid for her, Angie," Ca.s.s explained.

"Is she alone?" Angie asked.

"No. A couple of friends are staying with her. I feel better about that, but ... I don't know. d.a.m.n, I wish I could be there with her," Ca.s.s confessed.

"Why aren't you? Why don't you fly to Maine and check it out. At least you'll have peace of mind," Angie suggested.

"That's what E suggested," Ca.s.s replied.