Without You. Mary Baxter Lynn

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СКАЧАТЬ it’s most always true.”

      “It is not.”

      “You look like hell, Darcy. When was the last time you had a good night’s sleep?”

      “Will you just get off my case, for heaven’s sake?”

      Hallie thinned her lips. “Okay. So what do you want?”

      “What makes you think I want something?”

      This was also part of the game—act innocent, then pounce.

      “I’ve had a bad day myself,” Hallie said, “not that you’re interested—” Her voice cracked. “Let’s cut to the chase before this conversation really turns nasty.”

      “You hate me, don’t you.”

      “No, Darcy, I don’t hate you. If I did, I wouldn’t keep letting you tramp all over me.”

      Darcy muttered a nasty word. “No matter how hard I try, I can never be as perfect as you.” Her tone was bitter and full of hostility.

      Hallie cringed. “I don’t recall ever expecting you to be like me.”

      “You never said that, but I can read it in your eyes. You think I’m a failure.” She clutched the pillow tighter, and her eyes and voice grew fiercer. “But I’m not.”

      Hallie bit down on her lower lip to refrain from retaliating. It would only add insult to injury. Anything she could say now would only add rich fuel to an already out-of-control fire. But none of what Darcy had said was true. Quite the contrary, in fact.

      Hallie had gone overboard for her sister’s welfare, her efforts all stemming from unselfish love. However, Darcy would never be convinced of that, especially when she was in such a state, which was the majority of the time now. An overindulgence in alcohol never failed to alter her personality.

      When she wasn’t in such wild disarray, Darcy had a sweet, vulnerable side that touched not only Hallie but others with whom her sister came in contact. Her smile, when turned on full wattage, could charm a canary out of a cat’s mouth.

      “How can I help?” Hallie finally asked into the long silence.

      “I’d like something to eat.” Although Darcy’s tone still bordered on the sullen, at least she wasn’t in attack mode.

      “How ’bout a bowl of soup?” Hallie couldn’t contain her eagerness. Darcy was far too thin, which Hallie was certain indicated she drank most of her meals. The idea that she might actually eat a meal was encouraging. “Or a chicken salad sandwich?”

      The food had come from the deli near her firm, but both choices were excellent. Since she rarely cooked, Hallie had made it a point to find the best takeout places. Food was not a top priority for her, either, but not for the same reason as Darcy’s, thank goodness.

      Darcy frowned, then shrugged her slender shoulders. “I’ll take the soup.”

      Moments later, Hallie returned to the living room with a steaming bowl of vegetable soup and crackers. Unfortunately, Darcy only sipped two spoonfuls before shoving the bowl aside with a deeper frown. “That’s all I can eat.”

      Hallie noticed that she looked green, but refrained from voicing her thoughts, not wanting to set Darcy off again. “Would you like to crash here for the night?”

      “No.”

      “Please. You look exhausted.” And ill, Hallie wanted to add, but again she kept her mouth shut.

      “I need some money.”

      Hallie’s heart sank. “What for?”

      “Because I need it,” Darcy flared.

      “Not good enough.”

      “Damn you, Hallie. You’ve got more money than you can spend. Why make me beg?”

      Hallie closed her eyes and counted to ten. She didn’t need this. Not today, not when she’d had the bricks knocked out from under her by Jackson’s unexpected appearance. Even now, thinking back on that moment made her weak all over.

      “How much money I have is beside the point. If you’re going to buy more booze—”

      Darcy lunged off the sofa, her sunken eyes blazing against her pale features. “All right, already,” she cried. “There’s a warrant out for my arrest.”

      Hallie grabbed the back of the chair to keep her knees from buckling. “Oh, Darcy.”

      “I know what you’re thinking, but you’re wrong. It’s for speeding tickets that I haven’t paid.”

      Hallie suspected the explanation was a bald-faced lie. On second thought, maybe it wasn’t. Darcy knew it would be easy enough for Hallie to check that out. “How much do you need?”

      Darcy told her. She went to her purse and counted out the bills. Once Darcy had stuffed the money into her jeans pocket, she turned and headed toward the door, only to pause, bend over and groan.

      Hallie raced to her side. “What’s wrong?”

      Darcy’s reply was to empty the contents of her stomach onto the hardwood floor.

      Frightened and mortified, Hallie said, “Come on, let me help you to bed.”

      Darcy shook her head. “No, I have to go.”

      “But you’re sick.”

      “It’ll pass. It always does.”

      “You mean this has been happening consistently?”

      “For a while. After I eat, mostly.”

      “Darcy, please, don’t leave. You need help.”

      “I got what I needed.” With that, she opened the door and disappeared into the night.

      Sick at heart, Hallie dropped her head into her hands, her body trembling. What was wrong with Darcy? You didn’t just throw up all the time without reason.

      Pregnancy?

      Waves of horror went through Hallie. Was that why Darcy had come and why she’d wanted money?

      Hallie closed her eyes and felt the tears saturate her face.

      “How come you didn’t tell me you were back?”

      At the sound of Terrance’s voice, Jackson turned and absently gestured with his hand. “I just needed some time alone.”

      “Want me to leave?”

      “No. Have a seat.”

      “How ’bout I pour us a drink?”

      Jackson shook his head. “No, thanks. I’ve already tried that.”

      “Drinking yourself СКАЧАТЬ