Mirror Image

Dimly at first, and then louder, she heard approaching voices. So did he. He shoved her away and gave her a smirking smile. “You’d do well to remember who your friends are,” he sneered. He rounded the corner seconds ahead of two women who were on their way to the powder room.

Their conversation died when they saw Avery. She quickly turned her back and fumbled with the telephone receiver as though she were about to place a call. They went past and entered the ladies’ room. As soon as the door swished closed behind them, she collapsed against the shelf beneath the public phone.

She broke a nail in her haste to undo the clasp on Carole’s beaded evening bag in search of a Kleenex. Finding one, she wiped her mouth, rubbing it hard, ridding it of the smeared lipstick and any taste of the hateful kiss she had endured from Carole’s ex-lover. She unwrapped a peppermint and put it in her mouth, then dabbed her tearful eyes with the tissue. During the tussle an earring had come off; she clipped it back on.

The two women came out, speaking in hushed tones as they walked past. Avery murmured needlessly into the receiver, feeling like a fool for enacting such a ridiculous charade.

But then, she had become very good at playing charades, hadn’t she? She’d fooled one of Carole’s lovers.

When she finally felt composed enough to face the crowd again, she hung up the telephone receiver and turned to go. As she did, a man quickly rounded the corner and ran right into her. Seeing only the front of his tux, she cried out in fear.

“Carole? For God’s sake, what’s wrong?”

“Tate!”

Avery slumped against him, tightly wrapping her arms around his waist. Resting her cheek on his lapel, she closed her eyes to block out the vision of the other man.

Hesitantly, Tate placed his arms around her. His hands stirred the silk against her body as he stroked her back. “What’s the matter? What happened? A lady drew me aside and said you looked upset. Are you sick?”

He had immediately deserted the limelight and rushed to her assistance, even though she was an unfaithful wife. Whatever scruples she had had against sleeping with another woman’s husband vanished in that single moment. Carole hadn’t deserved him.

“Oh, Tate, I’m sorry.” She lifted her face to his. “So sorry.”

“For what?” He took her firmly by the shoulders and shook her lightly. “Will you tell me what the hell is going on?”

Because she couldn’t tell him the truth, she foundered for a log

ical explanation. When she arrived at one, she realized that it wasn’t entirely untrue. “I guess I’m not ready to be surrounded by so many people. The crowd was overwhelming me. I felt smothered.”

“You seemed to be doing fine.”

“I was. I was enjoying it. But all of a sudden everybody seemed to close in. It was like being wrapped up in those bandages again. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t—”

“Okay. I get the picture. You should have said something. Come on.” He took her by the arm.

She dug her heels in. “We don’t have to leave.”

“The party’s breaking up anyway. We’ll beat everybody to the valet parking.”

“You’re sure?” She wanted to leave. To return to the banquet hall and possibly confront that gloating face again would be untenable. However, this was her audition. She didn’t want to blow it and be left at the ranch when he went campaigning.

“I’m sure. Let’s go.”

They didn’t say much on the way home. Avery tucked her feet beneath her hips and turned in the seat to face him. She wanted to touch him, to comfort and be comforted, but she satisfied herself with simply facing him.

Everyone was in bed when they arrived home. Silently they went together to Mandy’s room, and, as they had promised, kissed her good night. She mumbled sleepily in response but didn’t wake up.

As they moved down the hallway toward their respective bedrooms, Tate said offhandedly, “We’ll be attending several formal functions. You probably should take that dress on the trip.”

Avery spun around to face him. “You mean you want me to go?”

He looked at a spot beyond her head. “Everybody thinks it would be a good idea.”

Unwilling to let him off that lightly, she gave his lapel a tug. His eyes connected with hers. “I’m only interested in what you think, Tate.”

He deliberated for several tense moments before giving her his answer. “Yeah, I think it’s a good idea. Eddy’ll give you an itinerary in a day or two so you’ll know what else to pack. Good night.”

Bitterly disappointed in his lukewarm enthusiasm, Avery watched him walk down the hall and enter his room. Dejectedly, she went into hers alone and prepared for bed. She examined her dress, looking for damage done by Carole’s ex-lover, whoever he’d been, but thankfully found none.