Rainey Nights Part 28

Chapter twenty.

Monday, August 22, four months later.

"Come on, Rainey, it's six o'clock already. I don't want to be late," Katie called from the other room.

Rainey sat on the couch in the den of their new gated community home, on the north side of Jordan Lake. She stared at the sonogram image in her hands. She worked all day at the new office on Franklin Street, in Chapel Hill. Ernie had her moving boxes and cleaning for hours. Katie met her at the door with the sonogram, all smiles and giddy. Rainey's body was tired, but her mind was numb. She looked at the fuzzy image in her hands and tried to take it all in. All those years of trying to have a baby with her former husband had failed time after time, but with healthy sperm and hormones Katie got pregnant almost instantly. They were having a baby. Rainey knew that before today, but this news was still a bit shocking.

Rainey was supposed to be leaving in a few minutes to go to the old lake property. When the land sold right away, Rainey asked no questions. She took the money and put it down on the new house. It wasn't until a month later that she realized Katie's foundation had purchased the property. Katie hired Derrick and his mother to oversee the camp she put in place and helped Derrick, who turned out to be quite bright, get his GED. He and his mother moved into the cottage away from Derrick's bad influences. He would start Junior College in the fall, studying to be a social worker.

The camp offered literacy courses at night and on the weekends. Katie also provided a safe haven for women, who had been victims of violent crimes, and their children to come enjoy the lake several weeks out of each month. Counseling was available, but it was mostly a place for them to relax and feel safe. Rainey was tasked with providing security, which she did by hiring armed off-duty cops, who happened to all be women.

Tonight, they were supposed to attend a big party, where Katie was to dig up the first spade of dirt on the foundation of the new battered women's safe house she was building beside the cottage. It would have the latest security measures, as prescribed by Rainey. The state finally agreed, with Katie's father's influence, to allow the road to be gated near the lake. A guard house would be built where the road disappeared into the woods. Katie now had something to keep her busy during Rainey's work hours. She had a purpose, which kept her from concentrating on what Rainey was doing. Katie still worried, but seemed to have come to terms with her fears concerning Rainey's chosen occupation. All the pieces of the puzzle fell into place and their life together seemed to be heading in the right direction.

Rainey's attention was torn from the sonogram by the mention of Dalton's name from the blond newscaster on the television. Dalton's trial for the murder of the young girl was scheduled to start next week. Rainey worked all summer with the prosecution team, preparing the case against him. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Dalton would get the death penalty. Still, Rainey had seen stronger cases than this one fall apart. A second trial for the deaths of the women in Durham was years down the road. Despite what she said the last time she saw him, as long as Dalton Chambers was alive, Rainey retained an acute awareness of the danger he represented.

Rainey focused on the woman with the perfect hair and makeup, trying to sound like a serious reporter, as she said, "In breaking news, there will be no need for the upcoming murder trial of convicted serial killer Dalton Chambers, who attended a pretrial hearing today in downtown Raleigh. While being transported back to Central Prison, Chambers was attacked and killed by another inmate, Chauncey Barber. Barber, who was taken to the courthouse today for arraignment on charges of murder, in connection with several gang style killings, is already serving thirty-five years to life on criminal enterprise charges. No word on what caused the attack."

Rainey heard Katie beside her. She wasn't sure how much Katie had heard until she saw the look in Katie's eyes. For a moment, there was a question, unspoken, hanging in the air. Rainey wasn't sure how to answer that question. Katie must have decided not to ask it. Her expression changed and she smiled sweetly.

As if she hadn't heard a word, Katie said, "Honey, are you still in shock?"

Rainey didn't know what to say.

Katie's smile grew at Rainey's helplessness. "I see you still have not regained your powers of speech." She knelt down in front of Rainey and took the sonogram from her hands. "You know this is all your fault. You just kept insisting on children."

Rainey looked into those sparkling crystal blue eyes and felt a wave of contentment wash over her. She could deal with anything life had to throw at her, as long as Katie was there, of that she was absolutely positive. She was about to tell Katie how much she loved her, when they were both drawn back to the blond on the TV screen.

"In other courthouse news, Cookie Kutter, a local news reporter was arrested last night for drunk driving, after police picked her up for leaving the scene of an accident in the parking lot of a well known lesbian bar in Raleigh."

Katie started laughing and turned to Rainey. "d.a.m.n, you nailed that one. You said she was way too interested in your private life."

Rainey chuckled at the picture of Cookie on the screen, being led away in handcuffs. "Yeah, I guess I did." Standing, Rainey helped Katie up from the floor. She pulled her close and whispered in Katie's ear, "Do you have any idea how much I love you?"

Katie leaned back and smiled up at Rainey. "You just remember that when you're changing three babies' diapers at four in the morning."

About the Author.

This is best selling author R. E. "Decky" Bradshaw's sixth book and the second in the Rainey Bell series. Her first Rainey book, RAINEY DAYS, won a Lesbian Fiction Reader's Choice Award and was a Golden Crown Literary Finalist for Best Mystery in 2010.

Bradshaw, a native of North Carolina and a proud Tar Heel, now makes her home in Oklahoma with her wife of 24 years. Holding a Master of Performing Arts degree, Bradshaw worked in professional theatre and taught University and High School cla.s.ses, until leaving both professions to write full time.

Other R.E. Bradshaw t.i.tles:.

OUT ON THE SOUND.

(Adventures of Decky and Charlie, # 1).

SWEET CAROLINA GIRLS.

THE GIRL BACK HOME.

RAINEY DAYS.

(Rainey Bell Series, #1).

WAKING UP GRAY.