When Darkness Falls(29)

He rolled onto his side, his back to her. “That’s good. You’ll have a good time.”

After a few minutes, Devon’s breathing told her he slept. Haley lay on her back, eyes open, for a long time.

? ? ?

The door buzzer sounded late Friday afternoon, startling Devon. Haley had left that morning for Milwaukee. He hit the entry button, though he ought to check and see who it was. Their building had no intercom. But he was expecting a package, and he didn’t feel like running down the stairs. Over the last week his energy had drained by the hour. He looked pale again, and felt tired all the time.

A knock reverberated through the apartment. Devon cracked the door.

Lydia pushed inside before he could say anything.





Chapter Twelve


Tom Dunleavy handed Haley a glass of Chardonnay. His fingertips brushed hers as he did, feeling warm compared to the cold glass. He sat across from her at the tiny table. “Great set. I loved the harmonies. Unexpected, yet they fit perfectly.”

“You’re easy to sing with.”

Acoustic blues played in the background. Tom was done for the night. Haley had joined him for his second set. Now a trio was playing.

“In what way?” Tom asked. He was in his early forties and already had strands of silver through his dark hair, and his nose was a little too long. But Haley found it difficult to look away from him.

“My ex, Brian, used to jump out of the melody all the time. And he wasn’t always on key.”

Tom laughed. “Must’ve been a folksinger. The one area where singing bad doesn’t hurt you.”

“He wasn’t bad,” Haley said. “His voice had a great warmth, and when he sang alone, he had no trouble staying on pitch. He said I threw him off.”

“Take it from me, you were not throwing him off. You’ve got perfect pitch. And you’re adaptable. Which makes sense given what you just told me. I’ve never clicked so well with someone after one run through.”

Haley was staying with John and Anne Beudel again, and Tom had dropped by their school’s Friday evening jam session so he and Haley could try playing and singing together. She’d felt a little nervous about getting on stage tonight with him with so little practice, but it had gone fine.

“It was great having the rhythm guitar, too.” Tom sipped his beer and set the glass down again. “I like concentrating on leads during the breaks.”

“Then why don’t you have a music partner?”

“I did,” he said. “My ex-wife. Soon-to-be ex.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

Tom shrugged. “Music and marriage don’t always mix. I’m thinking of starting a band this time around. That way, if one person leaves, the band can still go on. What about you? You and Devon don’t play together?”

“We sing together for fun. But his style’s so different from mine, and he’s a little, uh, cranky when teaching. Not much patience. He said that’s why he never tried to supplement his income giving lessons.”

“Maybe you should teach him.”

“Maybe. But I don’t know if I want to keep singing professionally. I’m thinking of going back to school.”

Tom leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs under the table. The side of his knee bumped Haley’s, and he shifted away immediately. But the table was small and space limited, and Haley could still feel his body heat. She thought about moving so her legs jutted into the aisle, but she didn’t. It felt nice to be near a man she shared interests with and who was asking about her. It made her feel noticed. They were out in public, so there was no need to race away from him. Nothing would happen.

? ? ?

The door banged shut after Lydia as she set her Coach shoulder bag on one of Devon’s amplifiers. She wore a knee-length charcoal-colored dress. Her lips were deep red as always, her skin pale, her hair short and black and shiny. She and Haley had the same coloring, but the resemblance stopped there. Haley was slight and, on first glance, all large eyes and long hair. In contrast, Lydia’s entire presence struck a man almost physically. The lips, the skin, her curves, the way she moved. It was hard to know where to look first.

She hugged him, then trailed her fingers down his bare arm when he stepped back.

“What are you doing here?” he said.

Her teeth showed, white and small, when she smiled. “You thought about not letting me in, didn’t you? Which wasn’t very hospitable of you, darling. Aren’t you glad to see me?”

Devon kept his eyes on her eyes and away from her body. He’d never been conscious of needing to make an effort to do that before. “What are you doing here?’

“Unexpected business trip. So I thought I’d visit.”

“How is everyone?” What was left of Lydia’s family, a sister and two nieces, lived in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.

“Dysfunctional. So the same.” Lydia spun the silver, serpentine chain bracelet she always wore around her wrist. “I’ve been worried about you. You seemed so out of it on the phone. You look terrible.”

That sounded more like the old Lydia. Devon relaxed a bit. “Thanks so much.”

“You do. So pale. And thin. And these are new.” She pointed to the areas beneath his eyes where faint, thin lines had begun to form.