“You couldn’t hear us through the vent in your room?” Benita used a fork to crush butter into a mixture of flour and salt.
“Don’t take your frustration out on me.” Ms. Helen pulled out a chair from under the kitchen table and sat.
Benita met her great-aunt’s gaze from over her left shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not surprised that you won’t help him with his musical.” Ms. Helen’s voice was devoid of embarrassment.
Benita sighed with resignation. Her great-aunt was a law unto herself. She spun the mixing bowl to continue crushing the butter into the flour and salt. “Can you believe his nerve?”
Ms. Helen made a noncommittal hum.
Benita released her fork. She turned to the refrigerator and selected an egg, then grabbed a mug from a cupboard. “He dumped me because I won’t move back to Trinity Falls. Then, in the blink of an eye, he starts dating this woman who’s gorgeous and obviously brilliant. Too smart for him. And I feel sorry for her when she realizes it.”
“Vaughn’s a very smart man.”
Benita snorted. She broke the egg into a cup, beat it, then poured it into her mixing bowl. She cradled the bowl as she combined the ingredients. “If he’s so smart, what made him think I’d help him with his play?”
“Before you were lovers, you were friends. Maybe he hopes you could be friends again.”
Benita cleaned off a section of the counter on which to knead the biscuit dough. She swallowed back emotion and blinked back tears. “Well, he was wrong.”
Benita didn’t want to be Vaughn’s friend. She wanted to be his lover, his wife, with all the ups and downs, and pain and pleasure that entailed. She wanted to take their relationship to its next, logical step: moving to L.A. together. But he’d said no. No to leaving Trinity Falls, and no to a future with her.
Ms. Helen continued her musings. “If it’s not friendship you’re after, helping him with his play gives you a perfect cover to try to get him back.”
Benita stopped kneading the dough and considered her great-aunt’s words. She turned to the older woman. “You’re brilliant.”
“I’ll remind you that you said that.”
Benita took in Ms. Helen’s self-satisfied expression. Theirs was a discussion for another day. For now, Benita needed to speak with a man about a play.
CHAPTER 9
After dinner, Benita drove to Vaughn’s apartment. She parked in the visitor section and walked across the lot.
The evening was still and quiet. Couples, families, and a handful of solitary residents strolled the streets for postdinner exercise. In L.A., car stereos often shattered the peace as vehicles sped past her condo. Here, the night held whispered conversations, greetings to neighbors, and bursts of laughter.
Benita rang the doorbell of Vaughn’s first-floor apartment. She felt a moment’s tension. What if he wasn’t alone? Would he invite Olivia Stark to his home for dinner? Maybe he wasn’t even here. He could be having dinner with Dr. Stark at her place. Benita gasped at the sudden sharp pain to her heart.
After what seemed an eternity, Vaughn opened his door.
“I’ve changed my mind.” She blurted the announcement. “I’ll help you with your play.”
Vaughn’s eyes widened with surprise, then narrowed with suspicion. “What made you change your mind?”
Benita hadn’t expected that question. She stalled for time. “If we’re going to discuss this, may I come in?”
“Actually, I apologize.” Vaughn stepped back to let Benita into his home. “It doesn’t matter why you changed your mind. I’m just glad you decided to help me.”
She was off the hook. “You’re welcome.”
“I’m donating the proceeds from the musical to the Guiding Light Community Center.” Vaughn closed and locked the door.
Benita regarded her longtime lover with new eyes as she followed him to his living room. He was using his lifelong dream to help the community. Could he be any more wonderful? “What made you decide to do that?”
“I told you I was on the center’s fund-raising committee. Olivia and I were in charge of the registration database.” Vaughn gestured toward his navy blue sofa and waited for her to sit.
Another stab of jealousy. Benita sat before her knees gave out under the pain. “I remember you telling me about the committee. I also read about the fund-raiser in the online edition of the Monitor.”