Carpathian 12 - Dark Melody

family. You aren't going to lose me."
    Instant tears were swimming in Lisa's blue eyes. Her fingers closed convulsively around Corinne's as if her grip could somehow keep death at bay. "You always overestimate your strength, Rina, you do. Even John said so. I want the baby too, but not at your expense. I don't want to be all alone. I couldn't stand that. I've already lost John." She laid her head in Corinne's lap for comfort. For the first time, she could feel the baby there, lying between them. She moved her head and placed her hand over the small mound.
    "It's moving," Lisa said with a kind of wonder.
    "She's kicking," Corinne confirmed, stroking Lisa's hair. "A little girl, Lisa. It'll be okay, you'll see. I know I can do this. I want the baby so much."
    "I'm sorry, Rina, I didn't mean to sound so awful about the baby. I really do want it too. I want to be Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    excited. She'll be the only thing I have left of John, but I love you. I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you. I'm sure Dayan's a really nice person. Cullen says he is. And he doesn't have the reputation of being a womanizer. I didn't mean to imply that. I don't know why I was saying all those crazy things." Lisa wailed the words, ashamed of herself.
    "I know, Lisa," Corinne crooned soothingly, "you're afraid of losing me. But I'm really not going anywhere. You just have to believe we'll be all right. It's natural, after what happened to John, to be afraid of losing family, but it won't happen. I'm very strong. I feel better than I have in years."
    Lisa sat up slowly, taking a deep breath and giving Corinne a tentative smile. "So was there really someone in our house last night? Cullen didn't say one way or the other." She glanced toward the door and lowered her voice. "I thought it a little strange he didn't want to call the police or go back to help his friend, didn't you?"
    Corinne leaned against the headboard of the bed. She was beginning to wake up, the heavy, fuzzy feeling was fading away. "Dayan talked to me about it last night, Lisa. He thinks we're both in danger from the same people who murdered John."
    Lisa was silent for a moment. "You know more about John's death than you let on, don't you?" She looked down at her hands. "You never told me, because I never ask questions. I'm like an ostrich."
    "You're not an ostrich," Corinne denied gently, refraining from smiling. "You're a beautiful young woman who suffered far too much trauma as a child. John and I both got in the habit of trying to protect you."
    "We're the same age," Lisa pointed out, "but you're the one who always took care of the details of our lives. You've had to battle the same trauma as I have, and you have a heart condition. John may have been my brother, but he was your husband. We both loved him. We both lost him. Why am I such a chicken about life? Why am I so afraid to hear anything that might upset me? That's why you didn't tell me what you knew about John, and it's why you didn't tell me about the baby. You were afraid I'd fall apart." She looked down at her hands. "I would have fallen apart."
    "Lisa" – Corinne said her name softly – "you're being way too hard on yourself. You always worried about me and took on all the jobs you thought were too strenuous for me. We work as a team together, we always have. I didn't tell you my suspicion about John's murder because that's exactly what it is, just suspicion. John and I are" – she searched for the right word – "different."
    Lisa ducked her head, shaking it, ashamed. "And I never wanted to hear about it. Not once. It was because…" She trailed off.
    "It was scary," Corinne finished for her.
    Lisa shook her head adamantly. "It made me feel left out. It created a bond between you and John that I wasn't a part of. We were always together. I wanted John to love you because I was afraid someone would come along and steal you away from us. I was the one who talked you into marrying John, remember? You told him no so many times, but I cried and fussed and acted so childish. I was afraid we wouldn't be together anymore. I was lost there for a while, feeling like I couldn't breathe. I feel that way now. Everything is so scattered. John is dead. I know your heart's been acting up lately; I've seen you fighting for air, and taking more medicine. Now you're going to have a baby, and for the first time ever you're really interested in someone."