Banjo Man Read online

  The slam of the phone was Rick’s signal to wipe the grin off his face. “Something wrong, darlin’?”

  Laurie was already tearing through the one closet in the room, pulling out jeans and a sweater. Her brows formed ridges above her flashing eyes as she tugged on her clothes.

  “I can’t believe she did that. I mean, can you believe it?” She shot Rick an exasperated glance but allowed no time for an answer.

  “And there are two of them! Lordy! Can’t you just see my father’s face?” She ran her fingers quickly through her hair, grabbed her purse, and headed for the door. “Oh!” She spun around, remembering. “Rick …?”

  Rick had decided minutes before that he rather liked his place in the twilight zone; it seemed relatively safe. Now he rolled onto one lean hip and drawled seductively. “That’s me. The guy in the bed … alone …lonely as hell.”

  Laurie melted inside. Lips in a pout, she looked down at him longingly. “Oh, I do wish I could join you, but”—she sighed—“instead I have a favor to ask. Two, actually.”

  One thick brow lifted slowly.

  “May I please borrow the keys to your Jeep for an hour or so?”

  “Sure.” He reached over to the small table beside the sofa bed and tossed the heavy ring to her. “And the second, darlin’?”

  Laurie nibbled on her bottom lip and started backing out the door. “Well, Rick, I, ah … Could you be out of here in thirty minutes … twenty-five, maybe?”

  She threw him a wisp of a smile and disappeared. The door slammed behind her.

  The phone was ringing wildly as she walked back into the apartment with the two teenagers in tow; she had known it would be.

  Laurie threw her purse on the chair and glared at her younger sister. “It’s him, you know. Your father!”

  Katy O’Neill looked neither frightened nor surprised. She tossed her head, and her uncontrollable chestnut-red curls flew about her face. She was as lovely as her sister, but with a rebellious twinkle in her eyes that turned heads and caused parental ulcers.

  “Laurie, Dad will believe anything you tell him; you know that. Nuns, even ex-nuns, don’t lie. Tell him … tell him you needed me.” She grinned over at her pixielike friend. “Right, Heather? I mean, we’re not bad company.”

  When the phone finally stopped ringing, the silence that followed was anything but soothing.

  Laurie stared at the two young girls. Her anger returned full force, having been softened only temporarily by the irresistible joy of seeing her younger sister. She’d always had a special affection for Katy, maybe because Katy always did exactly what she pleased, all the things Laurie would have given her eyeteeth to do, but could never quite pull off. Responsibility and other people’s expectations always steered her right back onto the straight-and-narrow path, before her toes had ever felt the thrill of unorthodox soil.

  This latest antic, though, was just plain stupid.

  “You can’t expect to stay here with me, girls. You’re only eighteen! Good grief, you need to get back to college, to graduate, to—”

  “From Holy Family College?” Katy groaned mournfully. “Laurie, do you have any idea what it’s like out there? I mean, all the young nuns go to school there, too, and we have the same rules. It’s worse than a—” She blushed, but stubbornly finished her sentence. “A convent! And I’m no nun.”

  Laurie sighed, torn between sympathy and annoyance. “It’s your own fault, Katy. You could have gone somewhere else, if you’d just studied a little in high school. But you didn’t, and Mom and Daddy thought this would be good for you, because … well, because you’d get more attention there. More—”

  Her voice floundered to a stop. She did not want to be lecturing her sister, sounding like her parents or some prim Mother Superior. She knew Katy hated the small college, and honestly couldn’t blame her. It was a good school, but not for someone with the rebellious spirit of Katy O’Neill. To Katy, it must feel like a prison.

  She stood silently in the middle of the floor, the morning sunlight dappling her face.

  “Hey, Laurie, your hair looks really nice!” Heather offered, her voice light as a bird’s chirp. “I thought it would be, well, kind of jagged, you know, like you cut it with pinking shears.”

  Laurie’s laughter broke the tension.

  Like a kid let out of the principal’s office, Katy flew across the room and hopped onto the unmade sofa bed. She glanced at the tangle of sheets. “You sure are a restless sleeper, sis! This bed looks like it went through quite a struggle. Heather, come on, let’s be good houseguests and help Laurie straighten up.”

  Laurie felt her cheeks burn. Turning away, she hurried into the kitchen. Little did Katy know what had gone on in that bed! It was a delicious secret.

  The only disappointment was having had to chase Rick Westin out of her bed at six o’clock in the morning. She had grown to love these mornings.

  But this was no time to get all hot and bothered again!

  Cooling her face in the refrigerator’s chill interior, she pulled out a carton of eggs, butter, and milk. In minutes the eggs were scrambled and the smell of fresh coffee filled the room.

  “First off, ladies,” Laurie called into the other room, “we are going to eat breakfast. Then I’m going to call the office and say I’ll be late. And then, I hope before Daddy calls again, we’re going to figure out how to handle this mess!”

  To everyone’s incredulity, William O’Neill didn’t call again, and Laurie soon left for work, promising the girls tickets to a fantastic banjo show that night if they behaved themselves and left the sights of Washington in one piece. And, she insisted, by the time she returned, she wanted a complete list of buses going back to Pittsburgh!

  “ ’Morning, Laurie,” Paula greeted her as she staggered in the door shortly before noon with her arms full of reports.

  “Oh, Paula, I’m so sorry I’m late, but you wouldn’t believe how badly this day has started!”

  Paula laughed at Laurie’s distraught look. “So I hear! And how is your sister? I thought you’d take the day off to show her the sights. You’ve got time coming.”

  Laurie’s mouth dropped open. “Now, how in heaven’s name did you know my sister was in town? I didn’t mention it when I called. The office grapevine amazes me!”

  “Not the grapevine this time, I’m afraid; your father called the senator this morning.”

  “He what?” Laurie blanched, reaching out to the edge of the desk to steady herself.

  “Yes, and he seemed mighty upset. Why, he scolded me, can you imagine? He seems to think you shouldn’t have invited Katy here.”

  “Invited her?” Laurie’s blood began to slow boil.

  “Well, yes, that’s what he said. And I can some-what understand his point, dear. It’s hard for young people to catch up on their studies. Maybe you could have waited until spring break; it’s not far off.”

  Laurie’s head was spinning. She could just hear her father explaining to Senator Murphy how faulty his older daughter tended to be in her judgment. Imagine, inviting Katy to take off for the big city. Another mistake made by dear, naive Laurie. But then, she was inexperienced, sweet child. Fragile, not intended for the big, bad world. Perhaps the senator could wisely advise her on this matter.

  Bitter tears stung Laurie’s eyes. This was more than she could handle.

  She didn’t even know whom to aim her anger at: her father, the senator for listening, or Katy and Heather for making up such a ridiculous story!

  “Paula”—she ground out her words through clenched teeth—“I think I’ll take you up on your suggestion and spend a little time with my sister. I have a sneaking suspicion she might need close surveillance until I can get her on the first bus back to Pittsburgh! Here”—she dumped the papers on Paula’s desk—“these are the reports the senator will be looking for.”

  Paula ignored the papers, her voice full of concern. “Laurie, you seem upset.”

  “Paula, what you see is not ‘ups
et.’ It’s angry! I don’t mean to take it out on you, but I could just scream. I’m not—no, I am not—going to let people push me around and manipulate my life. No, sir, no more. If my father calls again, tell him I’m meeting with the President and cannot be disturbed!”

  The flurry of air from her exit sent the papers fluttering to the floor. “Oh, well,” a very confused Paula murmured to the empty office as she took off her glasses and wiped them gently, “Mondays aren’t terrific, even at the best of times.”

  Laurie walked for eight blocks before she cooled down. She stuffed her hands in the pockets of her tailored coat and explored the cracks in the sidewalk with great precision. At least they were relatively straight; you couldn’t say that about anything else in her life right now!

  And by the time she had circled the Washington Monument three times, she knew it wasn’t just Katy and her father that had her mind and heart Indian-wrestling with each other. It was Rick. Her banjo man had woven such a romantic web around her that she had forgotten there was a real world out there: her parents, her family, her past, and her future. Oh, he had woven himself right into the very fabric of her being, and he was stuck there—right at the heart of her. Pull him out and something would surely break. But she had reality to deal with also.

  She sighed, and then she noticed the little green spikes of grass poking their way up along the path, and the warm breeze lifting her hair. She realized suddenly that it wouldn’t be long until spring arrived in full bloom—her first spring as Laurie O’Neill, woman.

  The thought brought a soft glow to her face and helped soothe the churning inside her. Now if she could just get all the wrinkles ironed out of her life, it would certainly be a spring to remember.

  Lifting her chin determinedly, she started to make some decisions. The first step was to get Heather and Katy on the bus to Pittsburgh. And then she’d deal with Rick Westin.

  But, as had been the pattern of Laurie O’Neill’s life lately, things didn’t happen quite that simply.

  Her apartment was empty, except for some junk dumped on the oak table. There was not a sign of the girls except for an open closet door that showed their hasty getaway—in two pairs of Laurie’s new pants! She wandered into the kitchen and was absently grabbing for the refrigerator door when she spotted the note in Katy’s left-handed scrawl.

  Dear Sis—

  A friend of yours called—the banjo player—and offered us lunch in Georgetown (imagine!) and a whirlwind tour! Said any sister of yours must be a terrific gal. I said, “Right on!” See you!

  Katy and Heather

  P.S. The pants are a tad tight, but look great. Love ya.

  Laurie’s mouth tightened to a narrow, white-edged line. She stared at the note, at the refrigerator, out the tiny window at the grass moving in the soft spring breeze. How dare he whisk them off like that! This was her sister, her irate father, her problem! And she damn well wanted to handle it herself! Everything was getting out of hand.

  The volatile combination of tiredness, worry, and confused, tangled emotions set off her Irish temper with the force of fireworks. But, short of calling in the CIA, there wasn’t one thing she could do about it.

  Laurie glanced at her wristwatch for the seventeenth time since seven o’clock. The deafening silence in her apartment was driving her crazy, and she still hadn’t heard a single word from Rick or the girls. Obviously they had planned not only their day, but their evening, without her!

  A spurt of good, old-fashioned anger brought a spot of color to each cheek. Well, she knew where to find them, and find them she would. Then they’d all see whom they were tangling with!

  A cab was impossible to find, of course; traffic was horrendous, and the show was half over when she finally got to the theater. No one was out front at the ticket window, but she caught her first lucky break when Hans Hanson, Rick’s producer, wandered into the lobby just as she rushed through the door.

  “Laurie! Hey, glad to see you again!” He swept her up in his arms like a long-lost friend and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Rick’s been looking for you!”

  “I bet! Has he got company tonight, two teenagers?”

  “Your sister? That kid’s a honey!”

  “Oh, I’m going to wring that little honey’s neck.” She winked at Hans’s look of surprise. “But I promise to wait until the show’s over.”

  In seconds he had ushered her into the brightly lit room and straight down to the front table.

  “Katy!” Laurie exclaimed between clenched teeth as she sat down. “You are in big trouble.”

  Katy and Heather grinned happily. “Oh, don’t be mad. You said yourself we’d be coming to the show, and we’re guests—of the star!”

  “Hmmmph.” Laurie did not want to be drawn into her sister’s contagious excitement.

  “Laurie,” the younger girl continued breathlessly, “he’s absolutely wonderful. If being convent-bred will bring me a man like that, I’ll stay at Holy Family College for the next fifteen years!”

  Laurie fought to hide her grin. “Katy, you are avoiding the subject. I thought Rick would drop you off at the apartment. I expected you to come pick me up, or at least call—”

  “Oh, I know, I know,” her sister whispered, “but Heather and I talked him out of it. I’ll explain everything later. Don’t worry about anything, Laurie. It’ll all be fine.”

  She patted Laurie’s hand with such blatant condescension that all of Laurie’s pent-up feelings of anger and confusion swept back in one powerful gust. She glared at Katy’s heavily mascaraed eyes and crimson cheeks. “Don’t you tell me everything will be fine, little sister!”

  “Sh-h-h,” Heather and Kay said in unison as Rick came onto the stage. “He’s back!”

  Their adoring eyes swept up to the stage and fixed on the hypnotic black gaze of the man who had granted them one enchanted day and night. They stared at him like love-sick pups, but Rick only had eyes for Laurie.

  He sang the rest of his songs for her. And when it was time for his closing number, he came and sat on the edge of the stage, lit by just one pearly spot. The light etched the planes and angles of his handsome face, and brought out blue highlights in his wild, dark hair. He smiled for her, and sang their song:

  Come take my hand,

  we’ll fly away,

  Into the sky, away from here …

  Rick was at their table before the crowds had begun to leave their seats. He straddled a chair, leaned over, and kissed Laurie softly on the lips. “These two are great kids, Laurie. We’ve had a wonderful time!”

  Trying tried not to react to his kiss, Laurie frowned. “Why didn’t you call, Rick? Why didn’t you bring the girls back? I’ve been a nervous wreck!”

  Rick’s eyes moved swiftly to Katy, who was coughing loudly into her napkin. “Katy O’Neill …” His tone was low, but his message was clear.

  “Rick, I’m sorry.” Katy’s eyelashes swept dramatically down across her cheeks. “I know we promised to call before dinner, but”—she glanced quickly at Laurie, then back to Rick, “but we got a little busy … and besides, Laurie might have had other plans … like getting bus tickets, or whatever.”

  Laurie ignored Katy’s stuttered excuses, her eyes still on Rick’s face. “Rick, you knew I’d be worried. And the girls must go back. My father is furious! It’s all a mess, and—”

  Rick covered her hands and held them still on the polished wooden surface of the table. “Hush, Laurie. I’ll explain it. Everything is taken care of.”

  The room was nearly empty now. The overhead lights had been turned off, and it was very quiet.

  Laurie felt the pressure of his hands heat her body; the fire started at her wrists and blazed up her arms, until it pierced her heart. What it gave her was a delicious sense of release, as if she no longer needed to hold everything in check, no longer needed to be angry. Suddenly all she needed was him.

  She leaned toward him, welcoming his body pressing against hers as an overwhelming tired
ness hit her. “Oh, Rick, I don’t know if I can take any explanations tonight. Maybe we’d better all talk it over rationally and calmly tomorrow.”

  “It’ll have to be early tomorrow, Laurie,” Katy cut in.

  Laurie glanced warily at her sister. “Oh? And why is that?”

  Katy’s voice was soft, but her eyes sparkled happily. “Because Heather and I are leaving on the morning bus. For home. We need to be in class on Wednesday.”

  Laurie’s eyes narrowed. “Just like that? Without a fight?” Her suspicious glance circled the table. This was too easy; something didn’t make sense.

  No one’s eyes met hers. Rick was concentrating deeply on tracing tiny patterns on the back of her hands. Heather and Katy smiled sweetly into the darkening room.

  “Well?” Laurie prompted.

  “Yep. Just like that,” Katy finally replied. “We have, ah, lots to do when we get back.”

  Laurie waited, knowing there was more coming.

  “Yes,” Heather gulped out. “Easter is just two weeks off, you know.”

  “Of course, Easter. How silly of me not to have thought of it.” Laurie slipped to the edge of her chair. “What are you telling me, Katy O’Neill? What does going back home have to do with Easter?” she demanded.

  Katy threw her arms up in the air. “All right, you might as well know. You’d find out anyway! The week of Easter is—”

  “—exceptionally dull around here,” Rick interrupted, his voice soft and cajoling. “I close the show just before the holidays; gives the crew a chance to get home to families, and all that.” He shrugged, offered a grin. “And me, well, I just take care of a few loose ends around here. Begin oiling up my motorcycle—”

  “See?” Katy’s head was bobbing in agreement, the flaming waves of her hair tumbling around the sides of her face. “See, it was the perfect time, Laurie. Perfect.”