The Rainbow Cedar

CHAPTER SEVEN

Jay tossed her keys on the bar, still surprised at the time. Their quick drink had turned into two, along with a plate of nachos they shared. And they'd talked. And talked. She couldn't understand why she enjoyed being around Drew so much. It went past the physical attraction she felt.

"Whoa," she said out loud. Physical attraction? Sure, Drew was cute, charming. But it wasn't like she was attracted to her in that way. Not seriously, anyway. She'd teased with Audrey about it, that was one thing. Just teasing.

Because there was Katherine.

"Right. There's Katherine."

And here it was, eight thirty in the evening and her phone never rang. There was no concerned call from Katherine wondering why they hadn't talked all day. No call to check on her, and no call just to say hello. Jay tilted her head, trying to remember the last time they did talk. Yesterday? No, they'd only exchanged voice mail. Sunday, Jay had a vague memory of Katherine in bed with her but that was all. She'd spent the morning in her office picking through swatches, and had spent the afternoon with Audrey at Barton Springs pool. And Saturday, the day after she'd left the bar early, she'd been in no mood for anyone's company and hadn't even considered complaining to Katherine about their lack of time together. When she got home from the bar Friday night, the house was dark and empty. She'd gone straight to bed. Katherine had come home at two in the morning, had crawled into bed after her shower and had attempted to wake Jay, wanting to make love. Jay had simply rolled away and drifted off to sleep again. When she woke, Katherine was already gone.

So she made her way up the stairs, past their bedroom and into her tiny office. She shut the door behind her as if that could shut out the reality of what her life had become. What she'd told Drew was true. Katherine was her only family. For eight years, there was always just Katherine. Oh, they had a small circle of friends, but no close, close friends. No one she'd consider donating a kidney to or anything. And for Jay, there was Audrey. This last year, she couldn't even fathom what her life would have been like if not for Audrey.

But again, that feeling of not belonging, that nagging feeling that left her stomach tied in knots, that feeling of apprehension, of uneasiness settled over her. She felt nearly disconnected with her world as she moved to her recliner, leaning back and closing her eyes.

Alone. That was all she was.

Alone.