Gerri Hill - The Rainbow Cedar

"I better get busy. I don't hear any work going on so I guess the guys are waiting on me."

"Okay, yeah. I should finish up too."

"Oh? You're already done for the day?"

Drew sounded disappointed and Jay shook her head. "Just with picking out the last of the colors. Then it's shopping for paint."

"You don't do all this yourself, do you?"

"Any type of faux painting, yes. But I have someone who helps me with wall painting. She's a college graduate with a degree in petroleum engineering who doesn't want to leave Austin." Jay shrugged. "And she works for fifty cents more than minimum wage."

"Quite the bargain then," Drew said with a laugh. She headed for the door, then paused. "If you're up for it, we could swing by Rhonda's for a drink later."

It was said so casually, so friendly, Jay couldn't think of any reason to decline. So she smiled and nodded. "I'd love it."

"Great."

Jay watched her go, her gaze glued to her backside as she bounded down the steps and out into the yard. It was hot, she reasoned. A cold margarita would go down nicely after work. She spun around, a grin on her face. She shouldn't have accepted, she knew. But Drew Montgomery wasn't someone she could resist.

She stopped short, her smile turning into a frown. Resist? Oh, of course she could resist her. That wasn't what she meant. It was just... well, it was hot out.

"I never saw you again. Did you slip out early?" Drew asked as she settled into the booth opposite Jay. She'd changed shirts—in the privacy of her truck this time—before joining Jay on the sidewalk. And despite Jay's attempt to look disinterested, Drew saw her glance into the cab of the truck many times. She knew Jay was in a relationship, knew she wasn't interested in her, but still, sometimes when Jay looked at her, she had the impression Jay was fighting with herself.

"I got claustrophobic. I don't know what it was. All those women, all that noise." Jay waved her hand dismissively. "I just needed some air."

"Yeah. It was a bit crowded. Years ago, I used to love Tammy George. But she's gotten older, I've gotten older. She just doesn't do anything for me anymore."

Jay laughed. "I know what you mean. I was thinking the same thing." Jay leaned closer. "And all those young girls there. How do they even know who Tammy George is?"

"Well, she's still attractive and she can still rock."

"And apparently draw a crowd."

Drew paused, waiting while Rhonda brought their drinks over. A margarita for Jay and a beer for her.

"Here you go, ladies. Chips and salsa, on the house. Enjoy."

"Thanks, Rhonda."

Drew smiled as she watched Jay reach for her drink, the audible sigh turning into a satisfied groan.

"God, that's good." Jay looked up. "I think I'm addicted to them."

Drew held up her beer. "I've never developed a taste for tequila." She grinned. "And don't tell anyone, but I have a fondness for fruity drinks."

"Would ruin your image, would it?"

"Oh, absolutely." Drew shoved a chip into her mouth after scooping up salsa.

"How was your date the other night? You said it was a first one," Jay asked.

"She's the friend of a girlfriend of a friend of mine."

"Huh?"

Drew laughed. "My friend Val, her girlfriend is good friends with her. Sheila."

"Oh. And how did that work out?"

"It was okay. She's a bit young for me, I think. She wanted to go bar-hopping at straight clubs after Tammy George. Frankly, I couldn't keep up. I doubt there'll be a second date."

"Do you have these blind dates often?"

"Far too often, I'm afraid. Friends can't stand to see me single and can't understand how I can be content going home to an empty house every night." She held up her empty beer mug to Rhonda, then glanced at Jay's glass, still half full. "But I work hard during the week. I'm usually too exhausted for dating."

"And why exactly are you still single?"

Drew tilted her head. "What kind of question is that?"

"You're attractive, you own your own business. Why hasn't someone latched on to you?" Jay grinned. "Or do you have some really annoying habits that run them off?"

"Not that I'm aware of. But at this stage in my life, I'm not out just looking for a good time. You can get that anywhere. I've got this image in my mind of the type of woman I'd like to spend my life with." She leaned forward. "Certain qualities that appeal to me. And so far, I've not found her. And so I'm content going home to an empty house. I don't want to just settle."

"What are you? Mid-thirties?"

"Yeah. Thirty-six. You?"

"Thirty-two. "Jay twirled her glass, then looked up, meeting Drew's eyes. "Can I ask you something personal?"

Drew nodded.

"I love your name. But Drew ... where did it come from?"

Drew laughed. "When you said you wanted to ask me something personal, I thought it was going to be about my love life."

"I don't know you that well yet." Jay took a chip, skipping the salsa.

"I see." Drew took her beer from Rhonda. "Thanks."

"Are you ladies staying for dinner?"

"Oh, no," Jay said. "Just a drink."

"Very well. If you want something to snack on other than chips, let me know."

"Thanks, Rhonda." Jay looked back to Drew. "Your name?"

"My name. Well, I'm the youngest of four girls. My father is Andrew, one of five Andrews in his family, cousins and all. I was the last shot at a boy." She shrugged. "I would have preferred Andi instead of Drew though."

Jay shook her head. "Andi is too... too cutesy. Like Candi, or Toni, or something. Drew suits you better. It's stronger."

"Well, my father would be happy. Thank you." Their eyes held for a moment, and again Drew was confused by what she saw there. If this was any other woman, not one who was in a long-term relationship, she'd acknowledge the attraction, acknowledge the subtle undercurrents of electricity that flowed between them. But this was Jay, a woman she'd talked to a handful of times, a woman she'd asked out to dinner and was told a polite no, she was in a relationship. So, Drew dismissed those thoughts and instead gave in to her own curiosity. "What about your name? Jay?"

"Oh, nothing exciting. In fact, I hated it at first. I was Jessica, which suited me just fine. But in high school, there were three of us, so obviously, nicknames abounded. Jay just stuck with me." She laughed. "In fact, no one ended up with Jessica. There was Jess, there was J.C., and then me, Jay."

"Where was high school? Are you from Austin?"

Jay smirked. "Lubbock."

"Ouch."

"Yeah. The armpit. But I stayed there long enough for a couple of years of college. And then, well, things happened."

Drew raised an eyebrow. "Family?"

"Yeah, family. There was no boyfriend. It started to raise questions. So much so that my brother started following me around. It didn't take long to figure things out, you know."

"I'm sorry."

"There was no happy ending. And I know it happens a lot, I just never thought it would happen to me. I never imagined my father chasing me out of the house, waving a Bible at me. I'm totally estranged from my family still. I've not tried to contact them since I left, and as far as I know, they've not tried to find me.

"Wow. That's sad. One brother, that's it?"

"A younger sister. We were close. And my grandmother. I was really close with her. I called her after it happened, in tears, but she hung up on me." Jay stared at her empty glass for a moment before looking up. "I was twenty when I left, so it's been a while. But my grandmother, that hurt. She was special to me. I guess I miss her the most."

Drew nodded. "I don't see my family much, but it's not because we're estranged or anything. They're all still down in Houston. And when I get a break from work and want to get away, Houston isn't it," she said with a smile. "I make a point to get down for Christmas though."

"They never come here?"

"My folks come every so often. My dad's health isn't great. My sisters, no. They're all married with a bunch of kids. They're big-city girls. They think of Austin as just a college town still. The last time they were here was when my grandfather died."

"I miss having a family," Jay said. She looked around for Rhonda, holding up her empty glass with a smile. "I shouldn't have another, but what the hell."

"But you've got your own family now, right?"

Jay frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Katherine?" Drew raised an eyebrow as a faint blush crept over Jay's face.

"Right, Katherine." Jay nodded. "Sure. I mean, we've been together eight years. It's just, well, she works so much, I hardly ever see her. The last year, anyway."

Drew nodded, not knowing what to say.

"But yeah, she's my only family, really. And Audrey, she's been my rock. She's always there."

"Your therapist?"

Jay laughed. "Right. My therapy sessions."

Drew met her gaze, holding her eyes captive for a moment. "Well, if you're adding friends to your life, I hope you'll consider me. Because I really enjoy your company."

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.

"You know, we've done this a hundred times, Drew. You don't need to supervise," Johnny told her days later as they planted shrubs around the front of the house.

"I'm not supervising. I like doing this sort of thing."

"You hate shrubs."

Drew stood and wiped the sweat from her brow. "Yeah. Shrubs are boring." She grinned. "So I'll let you guys finish and I'll go inside the house—where I hear the AC running—and see if Jay will let me wash up."

"I thought we weren't supposed to ever set foot inside a new house. What happened to that rule?"

"That rule still applies to you, Johnny. But since I make the rules, I can break them."