Alex turned at the sound of her footsteps.
The stream of guests had thinned. He and his mother stood chatting next to the open front door. His eyes lit up when he saw her. This party had cheered him, it seemed. He wasn't simply going through the motions of it, as she'd feared he might. His new sensitivity, it allowed him to take more joy from the presence of others than he had previously. The smile he gave her now seemed utterly genuine.
She would not see this day ruined. Not for Alex. Not for any of them.
"Let us trade duties," Julie said, as jovially as she could. But her aggressiveness startled Edith into silence. "I insist. I shall greet the new arrivals here for a time. That way, you can both take time to enjoy this marvelous party you've put together."
"But Mr. Ramsey...," Edith began.
"Mr. Ramsey is being quite charming on the lawn, and I don't wish to draw him away from his admirers. Samir and I shall relieve you of your duties. Please. I insist."
Had she given too much of her fear away with this request? Edith studied her for a bit, then looked to Alex. "Well, I am rather parched."
"It's settled then," Alex said, taking his mother's arm. "We'll be back shortly."
"Don't rush on our account," Julie said.
And then they were gone.
Breath returned to her lungs. Blood returned to her heart.
Next to her, Samir whispered, "She's got a bit of a point, Julie. Ramses. Should he be here when--"
"Where Ramses goes, the party follows. Let us draw no further attention to Cleopatra's arrival than is absolutely necessary. Besides, if she's come here today, it is in part to see him; I cannot grant this request until her full motives are clear."
"I see, Julie. I see."
Just then, the guests she'd hurried past on her way to the front door appeared with hands extended and polite smiles. She was lost suddenly in a sea of chatter as Samir stared past her out the front door.
It was agonizing, this little charade. Every cell in her body wanted to turn towards the front walk as if Cleopatra's imminent arrival might be magically foretold by a rustling of the hedges, a strange wind though the branches overhead.
"Julie..."
When Samir seized her elbow, she was in midconversation with a charming young Swedish couple with whom Edith often vacationed.
"Julie," he said again.
Julie turned and saw her.
She was halfway up the front walk. She was alone. She had tilted her head only slightly so those wide, expressive blue eyes were visible under the great, feathered brim of her hat. Her dress was several shades too dark for the occasion, a deep blue with slashes of gold running through it. But she was striking in it, devastatingly beautiful, in fact.
When she saw Julie, she went so suddenly still it seemed as if she were preparing her body to take flight. Some of her old poise was there, the poise and fluid grace of a woman once schooled by the best tutors in Alexandria. But it was strained now.
"If you will excuse me," Julie heard herself mutter.
Samir distracted the young couple with a burst of conversation as Julie descended the front steps
.
It seemed to last forever, this short walk towards the woman, the creature, who had almost taken her life. With each step she could see more clearly that Cleopatra stood with a slight bend in her upper back, and that her breathing seemed labored. Forced.
"Why have you come?" Julie asked.
"Take me to him. Take me to Ramses."
"First you must tell me why you've--"
"Take me to him or I shall snap your neck like a reed." Desperation in the way she'd said these words. The desperation of an injured animal, not a powerful one.