Barry sat at the conference table running his fingers across the smooth polished surface. His colleague and friend, Helen, was standing at one end with a telephone glued to her ear. She nodded abruptly and slammed the receiver down. "Mrs. Lawton still wants to take Mr. Lawton to the cleaners. She has photographic proof of his infidelity." Helen shifted her weight from foot to foot and glanced at her watch. Today was the day her lover was to confront Susan and the lawyer had a bad feeling about the outcome.

The husky man laughed. "What’s new? That’s the third Mrs. Lawton we’ve gone through in the last couple years. I’ve told John to keep his dick in his pants, stay single, or at least be more discreet. He hasn’t done any of that. I’m not complaining, of course. Just means more fees for us." He winked at the woman across from him and stood up, stretching. "I think I’ll head on home." He picked up a dark navy blue suit jacket and slung it across his shoulder, his conservative yellow tie swinging loosely.

Helen flashed an even white grin at her boss and glided across the room, opening the massive doors for her companion. "I think I’ll do the same. Have a good evening, Barry."

The tall man paused in his step and furrowed his brow. He gently placed a hand on his colleague’s shoulder. "Helen." He tilted his head to one side as he mused. "You ok? You seemed a bit nervous today."

"I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind. Don’t worry about me, thanks." She patted him on the back and turned towards her office. Allison was supposed to call her any time now to recount the afternoon and her mission.

"Wait up, Helen!" Barry smiled nervously. He hitched up his pants and put on his suit jacket, straightening his tie. "Would you like to go to dinner with me?" He cocked his head and smiled shyly, hoping the beautiful Helen Vierow would join him.

Helen sighed, reminding herself to remain pleasant. She was in a hurry to get home to her blonde lover and didn’t want to be delayed another moment. "Not tonight, I’m busy. I’ll take a rain check."

Barry’s face fell. "Oh. You and Allison up to something?" He was jealous of his stepdaughter. Allison got to spend a lot of time with the beautiful and intelligent lawyer. The blonde probably saw Helen in her pajamas. Hell, even Allen had probably seen Helen half-naked by now.

The dark woman dipped her head in affirmation. Allison really should have told Barry the whole story. She had half a mind to tell him herself but didn’t want to alienate her lover so she left well enough alone. "Yes. We have plans."

Barry yawned. "Y’all sure spend a lot of time together. It’s great that you’re such good friends and roommates." He nodded, missing the way Helen’s eyes lit up at every mention of his stepdaughter.

Helen grinned cautiously. Was Barry trying to tell her he approved of their relationship? "Yes. I think it’s great too. We’ve become really close. She’s a wonderful person."

"She is, she is. She’ll make some man lucky one day. I couldn’t ask for a better stepdaughter or a better colleague for that matter." He patted her on the shoulder and smiled. "She dating anyone? How about you? You guys can’t be roommates forever." He chuckled at the thought.

Helen didn’t laugh at Barry’s last few remarks. He didn’t know after all. How dense could the man be? "Thanks Barry. I couldn’t have a better colleague either. I really need to get going."

"Sir?" Mary Jane emerged from behind her desk and strode briskly down the hallway.

"Your wife called from Memorial. It’s an emergency. You should get over there ASAP."

Barry’s face turned ash. "Shit! What happened? Is she ok?" He fumbled for his car keys, the various scenarios running through his mind.

Mary Jane shook her head. "I don’t really know. From what I could gather, there’s been a shooting." Her experience with Susan during her tenure as Barry’s, then Helen’s secretary had been very negative to say the least and the recent phone call had confirmed her distaste for Susan. "Your wife was hysterical. All she said was that they had all been shot and to get your ass over to Memorial on the double. She said that my job was on the line if I didn’t inform you immediately. She was most upset about Priscilla’s death."

Helen immediately went pale. "Oh my God. Is Allison ok?" She jumped into action and ran down the hallway, the carpet muffling the sound of her wildly clacking heels. Digging through her purse for car keys, she shouted over her shoulder. "See you at the hospital!"

Barry pushed past Mary Jane, knocking her against the wall and ran down the hallway, his tie flapping behind him. His slight beer belly bounced in step with him. Mary Jane hit the wall with a slight thump and yelped after the fleeing attorneys. "Hope everyone’s ok!"

*****

Minutes later, Helen pulled in a parking spot next to Barry’s car. She vaulted from her BMW, scanning the parking lot frantically for her colleague or for Allison’s Taurus. Unable to locate either, she jogged into the emergency room, muttering to herself and cursing her heels. "Dammit. Dammit." I knew something bad would happen. I should’ve gone with Allison or stopped her from going over. A morbid thought flashed through her mind. Had Susan gone on a shooting rampage or had Allison turned the gun on her own mother out of anger?

She didn’t know what she would do without the young blonde in her life, by her side. For the past year, she and Allison had maintained a casual relationship, keeping each other company and sleeping together once in a while. But now, the thought of forever losing the sweet young woman pained Helen beyond description and she came to a decision.

Barging through the bulky hospital entrance, Helen literally ran into the big man, his screaming, tearful wife, and two police detectives. "Sorry. I didn’t see you." She backed up and glared at the redhead.

Susan was sobbing and carrying on as a female detective took notes. "He killed the cat. Priscilla Catherine is dead! She was the best pet anyone could ask for. So beautiful, so regal." She paused to wipe her nose. "I thought he shot me but they checked me out. Thank God I’m fine." She clutched her husband’s hand to her chest and sniffled.

Barry gulped. "Who’s he? A burglar?" The dark-haired man anxiously surveyed the waiting room but didn’t locate the Albrechts nor his son. "Where are the kids? Are they okay?" He shook his wife, trying to get some answers from the distraught woman.

"Allen did it! I can’t believe he killed Prissy and he aimed at me. Three times!" Susan held up three fingers to emphasize her point.

Helen gasped. There had to be a mistake. Allen? He was just nine years old, almost ten. Certainly too young for this kind of shattering experience.

Susan seemed to notice the other woman’s presence for the first time. She shrank back from Helen in disdain, burrowing into her husband’s chest.

Barry pushed Susan away and held his wife at arm’s length. He studied her gray eyes, willing her to calm down. "How are Allen and Allison and Beau? Are they okay? What happened?"

Susan chewed her lower lip, still sniffling. "He tried to shoot me. His own mother!"

Helen rolled her eyes. Selfish bitch. "Excuse me. Can you stop thinking about yourself for one minute? You’re not hurt but you haven’t said one word about your own children. How are Allison and Allen? Is Beau all right?"

Susan stammered, her jaw opening and closing in rapid succession. A colored had sassed her. "Beauregard, don’t tell me you plan on allowing this." She put up a hand, indignant.

Helen growled menacingly at the redhead. "You’re hopeless." She turned on her heels and stalked to the front desk. She lowered her head, demandingly speaking to the nurse. "How are the Albrechts? Allison?"

Barry spun around, again searching the room for any sign of a familiar face. "Where’s Beau? How badly was he hurt?"

Susan held up a long, gnarly finger and weakly indicated a section of the room where a simple playroom was constructed. Beau sat alone, playing at a table with building blocks.

Barry heaved a relieved breath. "He’s not hurt. That’s good. What about Allen and Allison?"

Susan’s eyes stormed over at the mention of her ingrates. "Beau was such a good, brave boy. He was upstairs playing and he came downstairs and called 911 like we taught him." She cried out to her son. "You’re such a good boy! Momma loves you!"

Barry crossed the room and scooped Beau in his arms. The big man inspected the youth for damage and hugged him tightly. "Good boy. I’m proud of you." He looked into his son’s gray eyes and smiled proudly. "Momma told me you called 911."

Beau scowled at his father. Momma said he was a bad man. "Ok."

"I love you, kid. You know that?" The barrel-chested lawyer squeezed his son and set the boy down. "I’ll be right back."

Beau shrugged nonchalantly, his indifference sending searing pain through his father’s chest. His son couldn’t care less. Beau returned his attention to the building blocks.

"Beauie?" Barry bent down and tousled the youth’s thick black hair. "Are you okay? Do you need to talk about what happened?"

The boy shook his head. "Allen shot momma and Priscilla. Allen’s horrible."

"Did you see it?"

"No." Beau reached for a blue block, creating a foundation for his tower-to-be.

Barry sighed and rejoined his wife. "Susan, calm down and tell me what happened to Allen and Allison. Are they…dead?" He had a sneaking suspicion. His wife had avoided all questions regarding his stepchildren.

"Excuse me, ma’am." The female detective, Gina Aurelius, interrupted. "I’d like to ask you a few more questions. Excuse us, sir." She took Susan aside while the other detective, a brawny mustachioed man, proceeded to question Barry.

"Ma’am, if you could calm down to answer a few more questions, we’d really appreciate it." Gina proffered a glass of water and studied Susan hopefully as the redhead honked a ball of phlegm in a tissue.

"I’ll try!" Susan began to swoon and fell upon a chair. "So dreadful."

"Here’s what I have so far. You and your daughter were conversing normally, then out of nowhere, your son Allen burst into the living room and started shooting. When he turned the gun on himself, your daughter struggled with Allen and then you heard another gunshot. Earlier, Allison and Allen arrived home from a weekend at Allison’s place. Allison seemed cheerful, but the boy was tense–"

"Absolutely!" Susan interjected with more information. "He doesn’t like visiting her."

"Why is that?" Gina took notes.

Susan sniffled, playing the part of a grieving mother. "Allen is such a sensitive boy, and he hasn’t shared much with me. But now I suspect it’s got to do with my daughter and her roommate." Susan pointed to Helen, at the front desk. "I think…" her voice lowered into a whisper. "I think they do things to him, brainwash him, tell him horrible stories."

*****

Helen was haggling with the front desk. "I know I’m not a relative but I want to see her. Tell me how she’s doing. Please. I…I…I love her. I have to tell her. I’m sorry and…" She trailed off, her eyebrows raised in pleading question.

The nurse smiled and shook her head at the agitated woman dressed in the sharp pea-green business suit. "I’m sorry ma’am. I sympathize but hospital policy is policy." She returned briskly to the paper in front of her.

Helen was about to open her mouth to inform the smug nurse to shove hospital policy where the sun doesn’t shine. The sight of Allison walking down the hallway, her arm in a sling, jarred the lawyer into action. The blonde’s clothes were wrinkled and her hair was slightly unkempt.

Helen broke into a full stride and crossed the hall in seconds. In one forward motion, Allison was in her arms. The blonde’s trembling limbs clung to Helen. Taking care not to injure the bandaged appendage, the older woman kissed Allison’s tear streaked face gently, murmuring words of comfort into the blonde’s ears.

Allison buried her face against Helen’s throat and whispered. "Is there any word on Allen?"

Susan’s eyes flew open at the sight of her daughter and the colored roommate making a scene. What would Beauregard think? Dammit, harlot! Couldn’t you have waited to get home before humping her leg?! Next to his wife, Barry stood, gap-mouthed. Why was his colleague kissing his stepdaughter all over the face and hugging like that? Even good friends didn’t do that.

Helen shook her head in frustration. "They won’t tell me how he’s doing. I tried." She took Allison’s hand in hers and guided her to the front desk for answers.

"Allen Albrecht, what’s going on? Is he ok? Please tell me he’s ok." Allison begged the nurse.

"He’s in still in surgery. The doctor will talk to you later." The woman returned her attention to her task, ignoring the distraught blonde.

"Someone needs sensitivity training," Helen muttered. "Come here, baby." She encircled Allison with her arms and led her away from the desk.

"Honey, I’m sure he’ll be fine. The doctors here are the best. Can you tell me what happened? I’m so glad you’re all right." She held the blonde in a warm embrace and kissed the nape of her neck gently.

Allison relaxed slightly, sinking into Helen’s soothing hug. "I think I’ve killed Allen. It’s all my fault." Another round of sobs wracked her body and Helen held her tightly, allowing the tears to flow.

Susan’s heart clenched at the sight before her. She simply couldn’t tolerate Allison’s antics anymore. She haughtily marched to her daughter while Barry and the two detectives lagged behind. "Allison Alexandra. Enough with the theatrics. Save them for the bedroom. I knew it all along, you hussy. Fucking everything that comes across your path, aren’t you? So that’s how you always have so much money."

Allison looked up slowly, too distraught for the words to register. Her green eyes were bloodshot, her face pale and mottled.

Helen’s jaw stiffened with hate and disgust. "Susan." The dusky lawyer dropped her embrace and drew herself to full height, boring into her opponent. "You are a self-centered bitch."

Barry drew back. He wasn’t used to such forceful language from his cool, tactful colleague. He opened his mouth to defend his wife but then thought better of it. Stay out of this one. Helen has a point.

"Allison is a sweet, wonderful, intelligent woman. I love your daughter and she loves me.

Of course she’s upset; Allen’s shot! But you don’t seem to care how he’s doing! They’ve both been shot and God knows what else, but you can’t even take a minute to inquire about their well being. Instead you go on and on about being nearly shot. Let me tell you something." Helen roughly jabbed a finger in the older woman’s fleshy chest. "Susan Cannizarro, you are one disgusting, filthy, egotistical human being. Allison is perfect and far, far better than you will ever be. I feel sorry for you and for your husband. How he puts up with you, I’ll never know!" She glared at the redhead, challenging her.

Susan sniffled scornfully. "You’re only encouraging him to divorce me so you can get your grubby hands on him! That won’t happen." She grabbed Barry’s arm and held to it for dear life.

"What part do you not understand? I love Allison. We’re together. I don’t want Barry. Neither does Allison. We’re lesbians. Dykes! Muff-divers! We aren’t interested in Barry!" Helen clasped Allison’s hand. "Get used to it, Susan." The caramel-skinned attorney shook her head disdainfully. "I wish Allen had shot you dead. I just might do it myself! You are such a fucking miserable worm."

Susan gasped and looked at her husband, then at her daughter. "Are you going to allow this?"

"God! You’re hopeless!" Helen grabbed the blonde’s wrist and steered her to a semi-private corner of the room.

Barry cocked his head and gawked at the lovers. With a shaking finger, he indicated his colleague then pointed to his stepdaughter, then repeated the movements. He stared at them, silently asking his wife a question.

Susan nodded, wailing. "Yes. Disgusting isn’t it? A female colored! I can’t believe Allison Alexandra!"

Barry was floored. He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "I’m going to get some…umm…coffee. Yeah." He stepped backward. "I’ll get you some too." Stunned, he wandered into the hallway and turned towards the elevators, his mind churning. Allison and Helen were lovers? Gradually, the pieces fell into place. The way they always did things together, how they always finished each other’s sentences, why they had been roommates for such a long time. How could he have been so blind? And why hadn’t Allison felt comfortable enough to tell him?

Gina glanced warily at her partner. They needed to agree upon the next course of action. "Byron… any luck with Mr. Cannizarro?"

The burly policeman sighed. "I didn’t have a chance to ask him anything. I’ll do that when he comes back. Ran a registration check on the gun. It’s under his name. Man’s in deep shit."

"Damn!" Gina fisted her hands. "Why can’t people take care of their children better?"

"I know." Byron flipped the notepad in his hands. "What did the wife say?"

"We need to talk to Allison and the roommate. Mrs. Cannizarro wasn’t of much help, but looks like she’s blaming everything on her daughter. I’ll do that, question Beau with his mother present, and you find Barry."

Helen held Allison in her arms as they sat on a hard wooden bench in a far corner of the waiting room. The blonde’s head rested upon the taller woman’s chest as her green eyes stared blankly at the wall beyond. Even if Allen turned out to be fine, she would never forgive herself for putting her son in danger.

Helen stroked her companion’s strawberry blonde hair and thanked the stars Allison was alive and well. Through the blonde’s incoherent mumbles and bits and pieces here and there, Helen had managed to make some sense out of the shooting. Allen had overheard the conversation between Allison and Susan. He hadn’t been able to handle the shocking information. He’d held them at gunpoint and forced them to confess the whole story about his true parentage.

Gina approached Allison but Helen waved her off. "She’s still too upset to talk." The policewoman nodded in understanding but sat down across from the duo.

"I understand, but I need to talk to both of you. Especially Allison, alone." She smiled sympathetically; her gut told her that Susan Cannizarro was lying through her teeth.

Helen sighed and kissed the top of Allison’s head. "Will you be okay?"

The blonde nodded resolutely and squeezed Helen’s hand. "I need you. Can’t you stay? You’re my lawyer." Her voice trailed off into a whimper.

Helen shook her head regretfully. "No. I’m involved; I can’t stay as your attorney. I’ll be back soon. You do have the right to wait for one. I’ll call someone."

"That’s ok. I’ll be fine."

Once Helen was out of sight, Gina took a seat closer to Allison and proceeded to interview the green-eyed woman. Fifteen minutes later, she was trying to conceal her shock. Allison’s story differed from Susan’s in many ways, and was even more unbelievable. Gina skimmed her notes once again before deciding to dismiss the blonde. Instinct told her Allison was being entirely truthful.

*****

"Oh my God." Barry’s chin trembled as Byron coldly wrapped up an interview. The shooting was his fault. He’d no idea that anyone, even Allen, knew about the gun, but that was no excuse for leaving an unsecured revolver in a drawer. If Allen was seriously injured or worse, the big man was in huge legal trouble, but that was the least of his concerns. Because of him, the wonderful, smart, handsome Allen, a nine-year-old boy, was fighting for his life.

The big man turned numbly to his former sister-in-law. Julia had arrived in the nick of time. He had called her while getting coffee earlier, desperately needing a friendly voice of reason in the midst of the shooting and all the accompanying surprises.

"Jul." Barry stared at her blankly, helplessly.

"Sir." The detective cocked his eyebrows. "Officer Stanton here is going to take you downtown." Byron motioned for a wiry uniformed cop to join them. "You should be released in a couple of hours. He’ll give you a few minutes, ok?" Byron nodded at Officer Stanton then went in search of Gina.

Julia swallowed. She’d overheard the devastating news about the gun, but now was not the time to pass judgment on the suffering man. "Barry…" She took his hand in hers, unaware of the daggers Susan was sending towards them. She gently sat both of them down.

"I never… I never…" Barry stammered incoherently.

Susan glared at the couple as Gina asked Beau a few brisk questions. The four-year-old tyke knew little. He’d heard gunshots from downstairs and upon investigation, found three bodies on the floor along with a dead Priscilla. He’d called 911, but Beau added for Gina’s benefit: "Momma’s good. I don’t like Allison and Allen. They mean."

Susan was furious that her husband hadn’t cared nor stood up for her when the colored insulted her. To add insult to injury, her Beauregard had called that hideous Julia Julian to come to be their ‘emotional support.’

The simpering brown-haired woman didn’t waste a moment making a move on Beauregard. Susan snorted haughtily. Think again, missy. She wasn’t about to allow the hag to smother Beauregard while he was in a weakened state. Julia thought that because Susan Cannizarro had just been shot at meant she couldn’t defend her territory. Wrong!

Thus far, she’d managed to keep an eye on her husband at all times, except for when she called her sister and her parents, leaving a message on their machines. But they hadn’t telephoned back nor arrived to check in on the situation.

After Gina dismissed Susan and Beau, the redhead waddled to her husband and grabbed his arm. Her long nails dug into his skin, signaling to the other woman that he was most certainly not available. Not even for loan.

A young doctor with curly brown hair and an easy manner strode into the room. "Mr. and Mrs. Cannizarro? I’m Dr. Downs."

Both Barry and Allison leaped from their chairs and approached the doctor breathlessly. The two detectives remained within hearing range.

The surgeon cleared his throat. "We’ve operated on Allen and done all we can for now. Luckily, the bullet didn’t hit any major arteries or organs, but he’s not out of the woods yet. He’s unconscious and in critical condition. The next few days are extremely crucial. If you’ll follow me to my office, I can show you where the bullet went in." He smiled gently at the group. "Nothing you can do here. Go home, get some rest. We’ll call you if anything happens."

"I want to see him." Allison spoke pleadingly and squeezed the doctor’s hand. "I want to be there when he wakes up."

Dr. Downs nodded. "Family can visit for a few minutes. One or two of you can stay overnight."

Susan sighed wearily. For the last few hours, she’d put up with Julia’s yammering presence and the horrible sight of her ex-daughter and the colored flaunting themselves. She just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible, but as Allen’s mother, she’d have to put on a show for Beauregard. She certainly wasn’t going to allow Allison alone with the boy.

Allison broke into a relieved grin. "Thank you, Doctor. Where is he?"

"Follow me." The young man gestured for the family to follow him, but Barry didn’t move as Julia and Helen watched Allison, Susan, and Beau trail the doctor.

"Beauregard?" Susan turned after a few feet. She had no intention of leaving Julia and Helen alone with her husband. "Yoo-hoo! Come on."

"No, Susie. Stay here with Allen. I have to leave…" Barry frowned, nodding to Officer Stanton that he was ready to go. He breathed in short, quick gasps. "Susie…" Tears filled Barry’s ocean blue eyes and he lowered his head shamefully. "You’ll never forgive me." Without waiting for his wife’s response, Barry strode out of the room with the policeman.

"Whatever is happening?" Susan glared at Julia.

Julia held up her hands, wanting nothing more than to reach out and ease Barry’s pain. "The gun… it is Barry’s. He’s being charged with reckless use of a firearm or negligence, something of that sort."

"What?" Susan’s jaw dropped, then clamped shut. "Oh."

"Mrs. Cannizarro?" Dr. Downs appeared from a corridor corner. "Come on. Your kids are waiting for you." He took her arm and in moments, they disappeared.

"How’s Allison doing?" Julia, concern evident in her eyes, turned to Helen.

The attorney sighed and shook her head. "She’s grasping at straws. If Allen doesn’t make it…"

"She loves her brother very much." Julia smiled kindly, hoping that someday Allison would find it in herself to forgive Barry. "I’m going to get some drinks and snacks. Want to come?"

"No thanks." Helen crossed her arms and gazed down the hallway, biting her lips. If she could, she’d switch places with Allison in a heartbeat.

"All right. I’ll be back soon." Julia slung her purse over her shoulder and headed for the vending machines in the adjoining room. The anguish in Barry’s eyes and the pain on his face haunted her as she searched her purse for change and dollar bills. She shook her head. He needed her; she’d go to the station. But first, she had to make a telephone call.

Julia consulted her watch and factored in the time difference. Yep. Sam should be home. She pressed the relay numbers, billed the charges to her credit card, and gave the operator a telephone number in Los Angeles, California. Julia impatiently held the receiver to her ear as the operator monotonously counted off the rings. The dark-haired woman knew her niece was lax about answering the TTY. E-mail was all the rage now, and other than the Internet, Sam only used the phone line to order out.

Julia’s ears perked as the operator spoke in the accustomed robotic voice.

"Sam here." The relay operator verbalized Sam’s typed words.

"Hi sweetie." Julia spoke warmly, wishing the relay system wasn’t as cold and impersonal, but knowing that it was a godsend for the hearing-impaired. "This is your favorite aunt." The older woman knew she had to handle the matter with care.

"Great to hear from you, Aunt Drucilla."

Julia laughed and adjusted the phone. "I’m jealous. Who’s this new aunt of yours?"

"Can I call back later? I have someone over… you’d love her hair. It’s fucshia-colored and she has exactly 56 body piercings."

"Sam…" Julia sighed and closed her eyes. Her niece was becoming a slut. "I have some bad news for you."

"What?"

"Promise you won’t hang up on me." Julia crossed her fingers.

"Ok. Promise. Hurry up. She ain’t waiting forever."

"Susan was almost shot and Allison was wounded in the arm." Julia spoke softly as her fingers fluttered to her neck.

"Wonderful! The bitch and the bitch’s bitch deserved it. I gotta go now, ok? I’ll call you next week."

"Sam!" Julia interrupted immediately but the operator dutifully informed the older woman that the line was disconnected.

Julia instructed the operator to call again, praying that Sam would pick up. "If she answers, tell her that Allen’s the one who shot them then he turned the gun on himself. He may not live."

Sam answered on the first ring. "Aunt Julia, please. Just e-mail me. I’m leaving the phone off the hook." Before the blue-eyed woman could hang up, the operator typed Julia’s message. There was a long pause then finally a response.

"Mmm. Well. That’s… that’s not good. Tell Allen I hope everything’s ok."

"Tell him yourself, Sam." Julia glanced at her watch again, hoping that Barry was holding up at the police station and that Allen’s condition had stabilized.

"Ok, fine. I’ll e-mail him now. What’s the address?"

"Samantha!" Sometimes Julia felt like strangling her headstrong niece. "He is no condition to check e-mail! He’s in the hospital. He’s unconscious and in a coma, I think. He might not survive another day. I know he’d love to have you by his side." Her mouth tightened.

There was a lengthy hesitation. "You know I can’t just drop everything to rush to his side. Give him my regards." Sam hung up and Julia didn’t bother calling back. She was too disgusted with her niece.

*****

After Barry was released on bond, he slunk to Julia, who was waiting in the lobby of the police station. "Why are you here?"

Barry looked ghastly. His tailor-made business suit was wrinkled and his armpits were stained with yellow sweat. He walked haggardly, and his hollow blue eyes observed nothing. "I need a drink."

Julia stood on her tiptoes and hugged Barry fiercely. "I’m your friend. Come on. Let’s get you something to eat."

The big man morosely shook his head. "I’ll never forgive myself. Allen… such a wonderful child. I should have spent more time with him. Camping, hunting–"

"Barry!" Julia rose her voice. "Allen is not dead. There’s still hope, lots of hope. Be strong. Your family needs you." She covered his thick hand with both of hers. "Let’s get some takeout and head back to the hospital." She arched her eyebrows commandingly and the depressed man followed suit submissively.

Barry only ate half of his hamburger in Julia’s car but by the time they arrived back at the hospital, he was in slightly better spirits. He entered the half-full waiting room, anxious for good news.

"Barry?" Allison, looking just as dreadful as her stepfather, immediately went to the big man. "How could you just leave an unsecured gun like that? What if Beau had come across it?" Allison’s fair features were crimson with rage. "Allen may die!"

Barry bit back tears and his voice broke miserably. "I’m so sorry, Allison. No excuses… I know that. I honestly didn’t realize anyone else knew about the revolver."

"How could you have been so careless?" Allison convulsively covered her face with her hands. "You have two small children in that house, Barry! Don’t you read the newspapers?"

"Hey, hey." Julia ran interference. "Let’s just focus on Allen getting better now."

Allison drew back, still scowling at her stepfather. "You’re right. All this shouting isn’t helping Allen. Barry…" The blonde grimaced then squeezed her stepfather’s hand in a truce.

The big man gulped gratefully and enveloped Allison in a bear hug, her breasts crushing against the hardness of his chest. Tears welled within the husky lawyer’s sorrowful blue eyes. "Oh, Allison… I am so sorry."

"How is Allen?" Julia broached the question hopefully.

"There was a slight change for the better." Allison grimaced, trying to maintain her composure. If Allen happened to wake up, she didn’t want him to see her crying and upset. "I’ll take you in to see him, Barry."

"All right." Barry exhaled heavily and followed Allison down the passageway.

Julia scanned the room for Susan or Helen but was not able to locate either. Sighing, the older woman seated herself near the front desk. She didn’t know which was worse, Barry’s gross irresponsibility or her niece’s callous attitude towards the stepbrother who adored her.

Finally, the caramel-colored attorney walked through the entrance briskly, toting an overnight bag. "Hi." She took a seat next to Julia.

"Hey. Where’s everyone else?" Julia queried.

"Susan took Beau home for the night. She said they needed to rest but would be back first thing in the morning." Helen rolled her dark eyes and scoffed. "That woman is a piece of work."

"She is." Julia chuckled. "You and Allison staying all night?"

"Allison is. I already went back to our place and got a change of clothes and things for her." A wistful look entered Helen’s eyes. "I’d love to stay. She’s trying to get them to let me to stay even though I’m not family."

"It’s unusual to see a brother and a sister as close as those two are. I suppose with the age difference and all, Allison feels more like a mother to Allen." Julia murmured thoughtfully.

Helen stood up and smoothed her blouse. "You could say that again, Julia."

Barry and Allison emerged from the corridor, both wearing somber expressions on their faces. "Jul, mind getting us all some munchies from the cafeteria?" The big man took a twenty-dollar bill from his wallet and handed it to Julia.

Once the older woman left, Barry looked earnestly at his stepdaughter and his law colleague. "Why didn’t you two tell me about your relationship? How long y’all been together? I don’t bite, ya know."

Helen gave Barry a semi-grin while Allison avoided the big man’s penetrating gaze. "Well?" he prodded.

Helen nudged her lover; she should be the one to explain. Allison began in a whisper, gradually meeting Barry’s face. "I remembered before what you said at the beach about homosexuals and… there’s the age difference. And the race issue too. Momma hates–"

"Allison, sweetheart." Barry bent down and cupped the blonde’s face with his strong hands. "Look at me. I’m happy as long as you’re happy." He kissed her forehead and winked at Helen. "Take care of her."

"Thank you, Barry." The blonde stared at her stepfather with wide-open green eyes.

"Now will you tell me what happened? Why did Allen go off shooting y’all?" Barry sat down wearily and rubbed his temples.

Helen glanced purposefully at Allison. "Tell him everything."

The blonde shook her head. "Later. I’m so exhausted. I just want to sit in Allen’s room and take care of him."

"I’ll stay with you tonight." Barry spoke earnestly. "If you want me, that is."

The blonde gave the big man a grateful look. His culpability in the shootings was tormenting him, and Julia was right. Slinging around blame wouldn’t do any good. "Thanks. Julia’s back." The older woman returned with a heap of goodies and passed them around.

"Looks great!" Barry tried to be cheerful for Allison’s sake.

As the blonde opened a candy bar, Helen put her arms around Allison’s waist and whispered into her ear. "Can I have you for a few minutes before you go back to Allen?"

"Sure." Allison twirled around and inhaled the sweetness of Helen’s smell. "Thanks for getting my things, sweetie." She brushed Helen’s lips against hers.

Next to the lovers, Barry fidgeted awkwardly. "Jul and I are gonna walk around for a bit. Be back soon." He squeezed Allison’s hand then was gone.

"Come on," Allison murmured. "Let’s talk in Allen’s room. To hell with the hospital people." The hospital was nearly deserted at this time of the night, near the witching hour, and only a couple personnel here and there roamed the halls.

Helen took the younger woman’s hand in hers and interlocked their fingers. Allison led the lawyer down a few hallways then they arrived at Allen’s room. The room was sterile and lifeless, devoid of any humanity. The walls and floor were stark white. A bouquet of plastic flowers graced the center of a metallic pink table and impersonal prints beautified the walls. There was no sound except for the steady hum of the monitors and machinery keeping track of the patient’s progress. The room’s single bed was occupied by a pale blonde boy, his head and chest wrapped in bandages. His chest rose and fell weakly and his eyes fluttered in sleep. Allison’s jaw tightened at the sight of the small figure in the large hospital bed.

"I can’t believe Barry." Away from everyone and alone in the boy’s room, Allison seethed. "Leaving a loaded gun in the open! I know, I know. It won’t do any good to blame but still…" She stared at Helen with astonished sea green eyes. "All those horror stories and…"

"Shh." Helen’s hands slipped up Allison’s arms, bringing her closer. "Chalk it up to the ‘It can’t happen to us’ mentality."

"Yeah." The blonde sat next to the towhead. "Oh, kid…I love you." She kissed his pert nose gently.

"Allison, come here." Helen took her lover’s hand and tugged her off the bed. "I know this isn’t probably the best time to bring this up but…" The dusky attorney paused, her fingers stroking the younger woman’s cheek. "On the way to the hospital right after I heard someone had been shot, I realized something. For those agonizing minutes in the car, I imagined life without you. And I couldn’t bear the thought." The taller woman ran a fingertip across Allison’s lips. "I was so happy to find out you weren’t seriously hurt." She smiled through teary chocolate brown eyes. "I love you, baby. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You and me, together. Us. I want a whole baseball team of kids with you. Even a football team if that’s what you want. We’ll build a huge house out in the country."

The blonde’s heart thudded noisily within her and she gave a genuine smile of delight. She swallowed hard, her own eyes filling with tears. "Oh, Helen!" Ignoring the protests from her wounded limb, Allison threw her arms around the lawyer and spoke in a weak and tremulous whisper. "Oh. Oh. I love you too."

"I’ll take that as a yes?" Joy bubbled in Helen’s laugh and brimmed in her eyes.

"Yes. Oh God, yes!" Allison exhaled a long sigh of contentment, her mood suddenly buoyant. "I’d love to be with you, Helen, to have a family with you." Powerful relief filled Helen as Allison pressed the lawyer’s open lips to hers. "I love you, Helen." The older woman drank in the sweetness of the blonde’s kiss, feeling the heat from Allison’s body.

"Okay, then." Helen chuckled, wrapping her arms around Allison’s neck. "It’s settled." Their eyes met and locked for a few moments, both women filled with unspeakable elation.

"Once Allen gets a little better, by tomorrow hopefully, we’ll call mama and Kabuo. Mama’s gonna have a heart attack. We’d better watch out for her." Allison chattered excitedly, already envisioning her future with Helen.

One of the myriad monitors hooked up to Allen whistled loudly, rhythmically. Allison ran to the boy’s side, her back beginning to ache between her shoulder blades. "Allen?" She hovered above him, optimistic.

His eyes fluttered open and he tried to decipher his fuzzy surroundings. Slowly, Allison’s voice penetrated his consciousness. "Al?" He could hardly breathe.

"I’m here. I’m here." Happy tears flowed down the blonde’s cheeks. She leaned over and brushed a wayward piece of hair out of Allen’s face.

"No." Allen suddenly remembered where he was and why. "I hate you. Get outta here. I don’t wanna see you. " He looked away studiously.

"Hey!" A middle-aged doctor strode briskly into the room and began to examine the patient. "How ya doing?" He grinned easily at Allen.

Allison stepped back from the bed, clutching her hand to her heart. He didn’t know what he was saying, under the influence of all those drugs and sedatives. A sensation of intense sickness and desolation swept over her and her heart ached with searing pain.

"Excuse me." The doctor smiled affably at Allison and Helen. "Mind leaving for a few minutes? You’re upsetting Allen."

The blonde’s eyes widened and she fled the room, tears sizzling down her face. "Allison!" Helen caught up with her lover down the hall. "What did Allen say?"

The blonde mumbled into her lover’s breast. "He said he hates me. Wanted me to leave."

"Oh, baby." Helen stroked Allison’s back reassuringly as she heaved deep sobs. "He’s received a lot of shocks today plus all those medicines he’s on. Shh."

"You don’t understand, Helen. You’re not a mother! My son, my son, the boy I’ve taken care of for all his life just told me he hates me. Yesterday he was ready to move in with me and now he never wants to see me again. I knew this custody thing was a bad idea!"

"Well, damn it, Allison! What the hell happened, anyway?" Helen yelled at Allison. "I told you to not talk to Susan, or to at least leave Allen at the apartment while you did it."

"Don’t give me that ‘I told you so’ attitude!" Allison screamed through her tears and stepped away.

"I’m sorry." Helen reached for Allison and forced the blonde into her arms. "I’m sorry. I’m sorry."

From the far end of the hallway, Barry spotted the highly emotional couple and sped to their side. "Is Allen okay?" His eyes bulged open.

"He was awake and talking a few minutes ago." Helen ran her hand across Allison’s back soothingly. "He’s still upset."

A small glow returned to the big man’s heart and he dashed to his stepson’s room. "Allen?" Barry approached the doctor at the bedside.

"Get him out of here." Allen’s whisper was a snarl. For all he knew, Barry had been

aware of the truth since before his marriage to Susan.

*****

The group of anxious visitors sat in the nearly deserted waiting room. The air was thick with tension and worry. Silence and stolen glances permeated the room. A rapping sound broke the silence and Allison saw that the big man had started tapping his fingers against the cold plastic hospital chairs. She rested her head against Helen’s, which was on her chest. Her lover was breathing softly, sleep softening the lawyer’s harsh edges. Barry contemplated his next move.

Susan made a grand entrance into the waiting room, her multi-colored print skirt flowing a few feet behind her. She sat down with a flourish next to her husband, eyeing him critically. The three women seemed exhausted, probably from spending the entire night pawing at her Beauregard, begging for his attentions. If she hadn’t been so tired the night before she would have stayed to guard her territory vigilantly. But she had her son, Beauregard’s child and namesake, to care for, and she had cleaned up the mess left behind by the shooting. Thankfully, the police had carted off Priscilla’s body to spare her the trauma of again seeing the once-regal feline smashed into a bloody mess.

Allison glanced at the clock. It was four-thirty in the morning. Where had the last few hours gone? She gritted her teeth in preparation for yet another assault from her mother. The way Susan had been eyeing the three women in the room, newly arrived bystanders might think that there had just been an orgy, not a tragedy. The blonde sent a silent message to her mother, her green eyes pleading not to make a scene.

Barry smoothed his rumpled hair and suit. "I’m going to get more coffee. Y’all want any?"

Julia shook her head. "Yes. I’ll go get some. Allison, why don’t you come with me?" She glanced pointedly at the blonde. Allison got the hint and reluctantly parted with her lover, who had been using her as a pillow. Allison kissed Helen’s head and gently laid her back against the wall, tucking a jacket around the tall lawyer. They departed quickly, detecting unease between the Cannizarros.

Barry and Susan sat in tense silence. The big lawyer was awaiting his wife’s assault. How irresponsible he had been, how horrible, his negligence, his carelessness. When the awaited barrage didn’t happen, he slowly turned to face his wife who was simply staring at the opposite wall. Maybe Susan was still in shock. "Susie. I’m sorry. It was irresponsible of me to leave the gun like that." Barry ran his hands through his thick dark hair and rubbed his temples furiously, his heart stilling at the prospect of the consequences. "If I could change things, I would. If I could give my life in exchange for Allen’s, I would do it in a heartbeat." He tentatively placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder and looked into her eyes expectantly.

Susan shook her head and smiled. "Oh, Beauie! It was a tragedy but mistakes happen. Forget about it." She grabbed her husband’s hand and squeezed it firmly, stopping the hand’s circulation. "I love you, Beauie-poo. I left Beau with the Newtons. They’ll watch him for a few hours. A hospital isn’t quite the appropriate place for a four-year-old boy." She shrugged and flipped the TV on with a remote sitting beside her on a rickety old wooden table. "Ooh! Oprah’s on! It’s a rerun but it’s an old rerun." She leaned back in her chair happily, absorbing every word of the TV hostess’ wisdom. Susan proceeded to talk a mile a minute about her latest manicure and how upset she had been to break a nail in midst of the clean-up process. She quieted only when the beverages arrived.

Julia and Allison walked back into the room and silently handed the Cannizarros two steaming hot cups of coffee, one black, one with more sugar and cream than coffee. They sat in their own seats and sipped at their respective drinks, eyeing the couple nervously.

Barry’s chest puffed with rage and he grabbed the remote control from the redhead and pressed the power button. Nothing happened to silence the television and he marched to its stand and jabbed at the button until the picture finally faded to black. He twirled around, his finger pointed accusingly at the trembling Mrs. Cannizarro. "Shut the fuck up! Going on and on and on about your stupid nails."

Susan jumped from her chair, enraged. She interrupted her husband’s angry wave of words. "I have to look good. For you. Don’t you care about the fact that I…I want to look attractive to you?" She screamed at her husband, abandoning all sense of public decorum.

"Not while your own son is in the hospital, fighting for his life! You’ve talked about yourself, anything and everything except, except, to ask how your own child was doing. You haven’t asked about him, you haven’t gotten angry at me for the gun thing, you haven’t asked your own daughter how she was doing, you haven’t volunteered one single word of explanation. It’s all right for you to be angry, to be upset; you can look bad. I mean, it’s your son that’s in that room, not you!" He pointed angrily down the hall, his face mottled with red rage, his eyes taking on a life of their own.

Susan gasped and gripped her chest, sending glances in Allison’s direction. What had she told him? Susan knew at that moment, she should have stayed at the hospital to supervise the situation. God knows what was going to happen next. "Beauregard. Calm down, please. I do care, I just…" She began to sniffle and sob, tears streaming down her face. She thrust her hands downwards, and stomped her foot, nearly breaking off the heel of her bright red heels. "I called the hospital right before I came here. I know Allen’s regained consciousness. I can’t speak about Allen! It just upsets me so. Of course I’m angry about the gun but those things happen!" She wailed and held out her arms for her husband to comfort her.

Barry stood unmoving, shaking his head. The redhead was giving a good performance but she hadn’t seemed one bit upset upon her arrival at the hospital and regardless of her emotional state, why hadn’t she checked in to visit Allen? Susan dropped her arms after a few seconds, realizing that her husband wasn’t going to fall for her ploy this time.

"Susan." Barry’s voice was icy and distant. "Why don’t you tell me what happened? I’m sick and tired of getting the runaround. It’s just like with Sam! ‘I don’t know what happened.’" He mimicked his wife and stepchildren’s behavior, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You acted like you didn’t know anything about her departure and now this! Y’all act like you don’t know why or what happened. Tell me. Now." He stared her down with his ocean blue eyes, daring her to defy him. He crossed his arms in a defensive posture and towered over the redhead. "Tell me about Sam and Allen."

Helen had awakened to the raised voices and held Allison in her warm embrace, hoping that the blonde wasn’t be upset. "Darling, would you like to go and give them some privacy?"

Allison shook her head and whispered into her lover’s ear. "I want to hear this. I’m so glad that Barry finally found his spine. Let’s see if he hangs onto it. I do hope that momma will tell him the truth and get it over and done with." She sighed and straightened up, ready to face her mother if the need arose.

Julia remained rooted to her seat, a dark eyebrow raised in inquiry. She was curious as to what the vile woman was going to concoct–most likely not the truth.

Susan’s body stiffened and went rigid. She threw back her head, her hair not moving from their perfectly coifed positions. Defensively, the redhead crossed her arms and glared back at her husband. "Honestly, how can you make such a public scene? Whatever will people think?" Her jowls flapped in indignant fury as her eyes grew steely. "I can’t believe you, Beauregard."

Barry growled. A deep, low rumbling sound pushed past his throat and reached the redhead’s ears, causing her to pale slightly under his murderous, studying gaze. "Cut the crap." His teeth snarled and sparkled in the unnatural fluorescent lighting. He seemed to grow in size and his jacket strained against his tensed muscles.

Susan swallowed the excess salvia in her mouth, suddenly very afraid of what the big, hulking man could do to her. "Beauregard." She paused for a moment, thinking quickly. She threw a glance towards her wayward daughter and found nothing in the green eyes. No compassion, understanding, patience, nor answers. The redhead desperately wished she knew what Barry really knew. She pleaded silently with her gray eyes, hoping that the blonde would clue her in. Had Allison divulged any secrets to her stepfather? Or was Julia a blabbermouth?

Barry lifted his head slightly and tilted it to the side, waiting expectantly. "Answers. Now." His arms were still crossed across his chest and his wingtips tapped annoyingly against the stained linoleum floor. The tip-tap grated against the redhead’s nerves and her mouth went dry. His cold gaze seemed to bore straight into her, to the heart of the matter. Barry’s eyes had an inhuman quality.

"I don’t know. My daughter and I were conversing in the living room about daily matters when Allen Alexander came running into the room, crying. He up and murdered the poor Priscilla, shot at me, shot his own sister, and tried to shoot me again before he turned the gun on himself. Allison Alexandra, so bravely, jumped him and moved the gun from inside his mouth to his chest, sparing his life." Susan added the right tremor to her voice, careful not to emphasize her own life being in peril. She got the distinct feeling that her Beauregard was tired of Susan Cannizarro being the center of attention. "That’s all there is to it. I have utterly no idea what his motivations were. Perhaps Allison Alexandra can shed some light upon this subject matter?" She glanced to her daughter and bile rose in her throat. The colored lawyer was standing behind her daughter, both of her hands gently rubbing Allison’s shoulders, giving encouragement. Why was Allison receiving such support while Susan wasn’t getting any from her own husband?

Barry turned to Allison and lifted his brow, doubting that the women would give him any straight answers. He suddenly got the feeling that they all knew exactly what was going on and had simply left him clueless for the past several years. His eyes narrowed and remained fixated on his stepdaughter.

Allison sighed. She was tired of lying, tired of hiding the truth and playing mind games with the big man. The blonde was irritated at her mother for not having enough faith and confidence in her marriage for it to withstand such revelations. If Susan had shared everything with Barry, they might still have a fighting chance. "Barry. We’ll go into it later. I’m exhausted. I…I…."

Helen held up a hand, not caring what the others in the room thought. "Leave Allison alone. She’s been through more than y’all can imagine. She’ll talk when she’s ready." She guided her lover to a chair and seated them together, holding the blonde steadily. Allison remained unspeaking, her pulse erratic and rapid.

Barry started to speak but thought better of it as he caught a glimpse of barely restrained anger in Helen’s chocolate eyes. Defeated, he shook his head and threw up his hands, disgust evident in his features. "I’m going for a walk, get some fresh air. I have to think." He stormed out of the room without an answer from the others. Julia gave chase and followed the big man’s angry footsteps down the hall, determined to talk to him.

The blonde waited until her stepfather and Julia were out of earshot then bounced upon her feet and strode to the redhead, stopping inches from Susan. She leaned into her mother and dropped her voice, her tongue heavy with frustration and anger.

"Momma, why didn’t you tell Barry? Isn’t this enough? We’ve been running around like chickens for the last four years, trying to hide things from him. Getting our stories straight, now Allen. Listen to me, momma. This is the tip of the iceberg. More will follow, trust me. Once Allen recovers, he’s going to talk to Barry and you can’t cover your ass anymore. Plus, I told the cops the truth about everything. I’m fed up! When he gets back, I am going to talk to him and tell him everything. I don’t care what you do. You aren’t going to stop me this time." She poked a finger into Susan’s fleshy chest and the older woman winced at the painful jab.

*****

Barry leaned against a low brick wall outside of the hospital, a borrowed cigarette from Julia dangling from his mouth. He hadn't smoked in years but now was as good as any time to restart. He inhaled deeply and his eyes rolled back. "Ahh. That’s nice. Sweet stuff. Hmm. Norene was after me for years to quit smoking. Hmm." He exhaled slowly, savoring the nicotine working its way into his bloodstream.

Julia grinned at her co-smoker. "She was always nagging me too. We both quit after she died. Funny thing is she’s the one who started with the whole cigarette craze." She took a deep breath and filled her lungs with comforting warmth. They stood outside for a few minutes, enjoying the slight breeze of the pre-dawn hours.

The sun had stopped its shy peeking and was rapidly rising. In less than a half-hour, it would be brashly shining in the morning dew. Light traffic traveled down both lanes of the boulevard in front of the hospital, a harbinger of rush hour coming upon them. Taxicabs paused every now and then in front of the hospital entrance to deposit passengers at the curb. Ambulance sirens and lights peppered the atmosphere and medical personnel streamed back and forth along the sidewalk.

Julia chattered aimlessly with her former brother-in-law, studying him. He was the kind of man who shaved often or risked an overrun of unruly chin hair growth. Barry’s cheeks were already fuzzy with rough, bristly hair. His normally neat black hair was rumpled and stuck straight out. The big man’s azure eyes were bloodshot and small purple suitcases rested beneath them. His tie was undone, shirt unbuttoned, and his pants were wrinkled. He looked like a frightful mess. In her eyes, Beauregard Bartholomew Cannizarro had never been more handsome than he was this early spring morning.

Julia was seeing the real Barry. Not the immaculately groomed lawyer or public persona but, rather, the Barry who spent early mornings playing with Sam and Lucas. The man who rushed to help her and Julio whenever they needed him. A vulnerable and completely human man. The man her sister had been madly in love with. The same man she was falling in love with. Julia reached out to cup his chin and stroked his cheek with her thumb. She was about to speak when something caught her eye. Barry turned around and watched with fascination at the sight unfolding before him.

A long leg encased in a black boot and tight jeans snaked out of a bright yellow cab and planted itself firmly on the ground. Gracefully, the remainder of the body pulled itself out of the cab. Julia gasped as she recognized the new arrival–none other than her niece. Sam threw some dollar bills to the driver and hauled a small duffel bag, a laptop case, and a backpack out of the cab. She paused as the car drove away, studying the hospital. She pushed her sunglasses up to perch on her head, flipping back her long raven black hair.

Sure that this couldn’t really be happening, Barry studied his daughter for the first time in over four years. She was only twenty-five feet away. She was as beautiful as ever. Tall, slender, muscular, tanned. She wore form-fitting jeans and a tight white T-shirt with black boots and a beat up leather jacket. She had grown her hair out, from shoulder length, to mid-back, and her face had acquired a hardness to it. She would be perfect for the cover of some motorcycle magazine. Barry’s mouth went dry as he realized that Sam was right there, in front of him, in the flesh, not just an image in a framed picture. He whispered to Julia, extinguishing his cigarette with his shoe. "What… how did she know? Is that really her?"

Julia smiled and put out her cigarette, no longer angry with her niece. Sam had a heart after all. "I called her and told her about Allen. I didn’t know she was coming, though."

They stepped towards her and before they knew it, Barry threw his arms around his daughter and hugged her close, crying and babbling like a baby. Sam stiffened, straightened, and coldly pushed away her father. Her face betrayed no emotion. She didn’t acknowledge him nor his presence, save for the chilly shove.

Julia bit her lower lip, knowing that Barry must be in terrible pain, having his daughter treat him like he didn’t exist. Sam’s blue eyes brightened immediately upon seeing her aunt and she swept the smaller woman in her arms. "Aunt Julia!" She hugged the woman for a few moments and held her at arm’s length. "It’s so great to see you. I sure missed you. I decided to come and visit you and Allen." She flashed an irresistibly devastating grin.

The older woman hugged her niece, glad she was present. Sam was acting like such a child, ignoring Barry and his entreaties like a five-year-old kid with his fingers in his ears, eyes closed, and shouting ‘Nyah, Nyah.’ The younger woman strode into the hospital without another thought. "Auntie, where’s Allen?"

Julia signed to the taller woman before her. "Sixth floor. Elevator’s right there." The trio fell into step and got onto the elevator.

Barry’s heart ached at his daughter’s brusque treatment of him but at least she was with him and willing to breathe the same air he breathed. He waved for her attention and signed awkwardly, rustily, making it instantly obvious he had not signed once in four years. "Hi, sweetheart." He raised his eyebrows expectantly.

Sam ignored him blatantly, staring ahead into the reflective elevator walls. She turned to her aunt and signed fluently. "How’s Allen doing?" The big man struggled to understand.

Julia was torn. Poor Barry was trying so hard and Sam was just being a bitch. But it wasn’t her place to take sides and they could work it out later. "He’s a little better. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you. I think he’s able to talk a bit." The older woman simultaneously voiced for Barry’s benefit.

Sam nodded. "Does he still remember any sign language?"

Julia’s face brightened as she continued to sign and voice at the same time. "Indeed he does. He and Allison have been practicing and he is a whiz." Barry’s face crumpled. Now he felt like a turd. He hadn’t bothered to improve his signing.

Sam’s azure eyes stormed over at the mention of her stepsister but she maintained a steady, aloof façade. "Good." The elevator doors whooshed open and they stepped out. Julia pointed her niece in the right direction. Barry followed doggedly, thinking of a way to make amends with his daughter before she left again.

*****

Helen stood behind her lover and smiled, rooting the blonde on. Finally, something was getting done in this family. She thanked her lucky stars for having such wonderful, understanding parents like Sandra and Kabuo Vierow and wished that her companion could have the same fortune. Not to worry, with Allison in the family now, the Vierows would adopt her as their own and shower her with love and affection. She stepped up and put a hand on Allison’s shoulder, pulling her back.

Susan raised her head and spat at her daughter, slapping her resoundingly. "You whore! Who are you to tell me what to do? You’ve been lying right beside me all those years and you’re just as responsible for Samantha’s leaving! Does the little colored here know about Samantha, hmm?" She raised an eyebrow and smirked, thinking that she had won the battle.

Allison and Helen laughed in tandem and the blonde rolled her eyes. "I may have been lying but you’re the one who twisted my arm. Used Allen against me, made me lie to Barry. All I did was love Sam but you’re the one who looked upon it as something awful, something to hide and drive away and you’re the one who did it. Not me." Allison’s cheek tingled with a pink handprint outline from the physical assault.

Helen shook her head. "I know all about Sam and I don’t care. Allison’s with me now. She’s the one I love. I also know about your grandson." The dark-haired lawyer grinned smugly. "Allison and I don’t have secrets. That’s what people who love each other do."

Susan gasped and her skin paled as white as a sheet at the mention of her biggest secret. Allison had told the colored and Barry was moments from discovering the truth. It couldn’t happen, it just couldn’t! Or else her big house, her Cadillac, her jewelry, all of it, was gone. I still have a few minutes to figure something out. "I’ll let you have Allen if you swear to silence. I can’t lose Beauregard! I love him." The colored better not interfere!

Allison wavered, the bribe dangling in front of her. She was so tempted to take it and let Susan be. She shifted her weight nervously as Helen embraced her from behind, whispering into her ear. "You can still get Allen. Doesn’t Barry deserve the truth?"

The blonde considered her lover’s words carefully but quickly. She opened her mouth and spoke. Susan’s glory days were fading rapidly. "No, momma. No more lies."

Susan’s jaw dropped open at her daughter’s aggressiveness. "You can’t do this to me. Please." She wailed and tears streaked her mascara. "What do you want? I’ll give you anything."

Allison’s back arched defiantly. "You never gave me the one thing I wanted." Her voice suffocated with despair and sadness. "All I wanted from you, momma," she paused and took a deep breath, steadying herself and drawing strength from the tall lawyer’s embrace, "was love. That’s all I wanted and needed. But I never got it from you." She wiped her nose and looked away.

Sam strode confidently into the waiting room ahead of her aunt and father. She stopped abruptly in mid-step. For just a fleeting second, unspoken pain was alive and glowing in the young woman’s blue eyes. Her heart hammered against her chest and she steadied herself as deeply repressed feelings of love, hate, and bitterness threatened to course through her body.

Not only was she seeing her former lover for the first time in years, but the blonde apparently had found happiness with another woman. Straight, my ass! Allison was comfortably encased in another woman’s arms and she was kissing the corners of Allison’s mouth in an overly friendly fashion. Long, slender fingers were planted reassuringly on the blonde’s posterior.

Allison looked up at the sound of a visitor. Her throat clenched and her heart sank to the pits of her stomach as her jade depths connected with the dark-haired woman’s intense and pained blue eyes. Memories of a love affair long gone came flooding back to both of them and they held each other’s gaze for what seemed to be an eternity.

E-mail me! Sarkel_Bard@yahoo.com

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