The Road To Love: Love by Degree / The Rain Sparrow

“You remember Ellen Cunningham, don’t you?” Reed said.

“Not that college girl your brother’s renting a room to—” Danielle stopped abruptly, shock etched on her perfect features. “You’re Ellen Cunningham?”

“In the flesh.” Still trying to keep things light, she cocked her head toward Ralph and spoke stagily out of the side of her mouth, turning the remark into a farcical aside. “I wasn’t at my best when we met the first time.”

“You were fiddling around with that electrical outlet and Reed was horrified,” Danielle inserted, her voice completely humorless, her eyes narrowed assessingly. “You didn’t even look like a girl.”

“She does now.” Ralph beamed her a brilliant smile.

“Yes.” Danielle swallowed, her face puckered with concern. “She looks very...nice.”

“Thank you.” Ellen bowed her head.

“I’ve made a terrible mess of things,” Danielle continued, casually handing her half-empty glass to a passing waiter. “Reed mentioned the party weeks ago, and Mom and I had this ski party planned. I told him I couldn’t attend and then I felt guilty because Reed’s been so sweet, escorting me to all the charity balls.”

Ellen didn’t hear a word of explanation beyond the fact that Reed had originally asked Danielle to the party. The other woman had just confirmed Ellen’s suspicions, and the hurt went through her like a thousand needles. He’d invited her only because Danielle couldn’t attend.

“There’s no problem,” Ellen said in a bland voice. “I understand how these things happen. He asked you first, so you stay and I’ll leave.”

“I couldn’t do that,” Danielle murmured.

Reed’s eyes were saying the same thing. Ellen ignored him, and she ignored Danielle. Slipping her hand around Ralph’s arm, she looked up at him and smiled, silently thanking him for being her friend. “As I said, it’s not a problem. Ralph’s already offered to take me home.”

Reed’s expression was impassive, almost aloof, as she turned toward him. “I’m sure you won’t mind.”

“How understanding of you,” Danielle simpered, locking her arm around Reed’s.

“It’s better than hand-to-hand combat. I don’t really care for fighting.”

Danielle looked puzzled, while Ralph choked on a swallow of his drink, his face turning several shades of red as he struggled to hide his amusement. The only one who revealed no sense of humor was Reed, whose face grew more and more shadowed.

The band struck up a lively song and the dance floor quickly filled. “Come on, Reed,” Danielle said, her blue eyes eager. “Let’s dance.” She tugged at Reed’s hand and gave a little wriggle of her hips. “You know how much I love to dance.”

So Reed had done his share of dancing with Danielle—probably at all those charity balls she’d mentioned. Ellen had guessed as much and yet he’d tried to give her the impression that he rarely danced.

But noticing the stiff way Reed held himself now, Ellen could almost believe him.

Ralph placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get out of here.”

Watching Reed with Danielle in his arms was absurdly painful; her throat muscles constricted in an effort to hold back tears and she simply nodded.

“Since we’ll be skipping the banquet, shall we go have dinner somewhere?”

Ellen blinked. Dinner. “I’m not really hungry,” she said.

“Sure you’re hungry,” Ralph insisted. “We’ll stop at a nice restaurant before I drive you home. I know where Reed’s place is, so I know where you live. Don’t look so shocked. I figured it out from what you and Danielle were saying. But don’t worry, I understand—impoverished students sharing a house and all that. So, what do you say? We’ll have a leisurely dinner and get home two hours after Reed. That should set him thinking.”

Ellen didn’t feel in any mood to play games at Reed’s expense. “I’d rather not.”

Ralph’s jovial expression sobered. “You’ve got it bad.”

“I’ll be fine.”

He smiled. “I know you will. Come on, let’s go.”

The night that had begun with such promise had evaporated so quickly, leaving a residue of uncertainty and suspicion. As they neared the house, her composure gradually crumbled until she was nervously twisting the delicate strap of her evening bag over and over between her fingers. To his credit, Ralph attempted to carry the conversation, but her responses became less and less animated. She just wanted to get home and bury her head in her pillow.

By the time Ralph pulled up in front of the Capitol Hill house, they were both silent.

“Would you like to come in for coffee?” she asked. The illusion she’d created earlier of flippant humor was gone now. She hurt, and every time she blinked, a picture of Danielle dancing with Reed came to mind. How easy it was to visualize the other woman’s arms around his neck, her voluptuous body pressed against his. The image tormented Ellen with every breath she took.

“No, I think I’ll make it an early night.”

“Thank you,” she said affectionately. “I couldn’t have handled this without you.”

“I was happy to help. And, Ellen, if you want a shoulder to cry on, I’m available.”

She dropped her gaze to the tightly coiled strap of her bag. “I’m fine. Really.”

He patted her hand. “Somehow I don’t quite believe that.” Opening the car door, he came around to her side and handed her out.

On the top step of the porch, Ellen kissed his cheek. “Thanks again.”

“Good night, Ellen.”

“Night.” She took out her keys and unlocked the front door. Pushing it open, she discovered that the house was oddly dark and oddly deserted. It was still relatively early and she would’ve expected the boys to be around. But not having to make excuses to them was a blessing she wasn’t about to question.

As she removed her coat and headed for the stairs, she noticed the shadows bouncing around the darkened living room. She walked over to investigate and, two steps into the room, heard soft violin music.

Ellen stood there paralyzed, taking in the romantic scene before her. A bottle of wine and two glasses were set out on the coffee table. A fire blazed in the brick fireplace. And the music seemed to assault her from all sides.

“Derek,” she called out.

Silence.

“All right, Pat and Monte. I know you’re here somewhere.”

Silence.

“I’d suggest the three of you get rid of this...stuff before Reed comes home. He’s with Danielle.” With that, she marched up the stairs, uncaring if they heard her.

“With Danielle?” she heard a male voice shout after her.

“What happened?”

Ellen pretended not to hear.

* * *