A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

Page 143



Shutting everything else from her mind, she focused on the work at hand and when she called it a day several hours later, she knew Mr. Petersen would be pleased. It was far and away the best seascape she had ever done.

She glanced out the window, felt a flutter in her stomach when she saw the sun was going down. Dominic would be rising soon, and bringing reality with him.

Keeping her mind blank, she cleaned her brushes, wiped her hands, took off her smock and hung it up. Night was coming and the vampires of Sea Cliff would be stirring.

She was fixing dinner when the phone rang. She caught it on the second ring. "Hello?"

"Tracy? It's Bry . Can I come over?"

She started to say sure,then hesitated. Dominic would be there soon. "Tracy? I don't want to be alone."

"Sure,Bryan .Hurry."

"Thanks, Trace," he said, and hung up.

Replacing the receiver, she went back into the kitchen, only then wondering ifBryan had had dinner. Assuming he hadn't, she put another couple of pork chops in the pan.

He was at her front door before the chops had finished cooking. "That was quick," she said, closing the door behind him.

"Yeah."He followed her into the kitchen. "I feel like such a coward, afraid to be home alone after dark."
"Well, you've got good reason to be afraid. Have you had dinner?"

He shook his head. "Food's the last thing on my mind." "Doesn't matter, you've got to eat. Sit down—it's almost ready."
Bryandropped into a chair and stared at his hands. "She's coming for me."
Tracyglanced at him over her shoulder. "How do you know?" "She told me so."

With hands that trembled,Tracy filled a plate forBryan and set it on the table. "What do you want to drink?"

He looked up at her, his eyes haunted. "You don't want to know."