Silver Linings

guess that Mattie, the only one without any artistic bent, had probably always felt like a second-class citizen. Her decision to forge a career as an art gallery owner had been viewed by the other members of the clan as a final admission that she had not inherited any of the family's brilliant genes. Only Charlotte had understood and sympathized.
    “I'm sorry you had to walk in on Cormier like that,” Hugh finally said.
    “I felt so damned helpless.”
    Hugh smiled to himself in the darkness. “Paul was probably terribly embarrassed.”
    “It's hardly a joking matter, for God's sake.”
    “No, I didn't mean it as a joke.” Hugh tried to think of how to explain. “You had to know Paul. He was a gentleman to his fingertips. Took pride in it. He would never have dreamed of inconveniencing a lady. When I saw him a couple of months ago, he gave me a long lecture on how to deal with women. Said my techniques were lousy.”
    “Did he really? Mr. Cormier was obviously a very perceptive man.”
    “That's my Mattie. Sounds like you're pulling out of the shock. What did you say when Paul called you Christine?”
    Mattie shrugged as she stared at the moonlight crawling slowly up her rumpled silk shirt. “I did what people always do in a situation like that. I held his hand and let him think I was Christine.”
    Hugh studied her intently. “What makes you think everyone does things like that?”
    “I don't know. Instinct, I suppose. There's so little you can do to comfort a dying man.” She moved around a little, obviously trying to get more comfortable. “He wasn't hallucinating all the time, though. At one point he warned me to get out of there. Then he said someone would come. Maybe he meant you. And then he made a little joke. It was amazing. Imagine someone being able to joke about his own death.”
    “What did he say?”
    “He said something about intending to reign in hell, I think. You know that famous quote from Paradise Lost ? ‘Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven’?”
    “I know it.” Hugh smiled to himself with grim satisfaction. “Sounds like Cormier. He probably figured his chances of getting into heaven were slight. But he'll do all right if he goes down instead of up. I'd back him in a contest with the devil any day. Paul may have had the manners of an angel, but I've seen him—” Hugh stopped himself abruptly. No sense bringing up Paul's past. It might lead to questions about his own, and Hugh definitely did not want that.
    “Well, he thought he saw Christine again right at the very end, waiting for him, so maybe he went the other way after all.”
    “Maybe. He loved her very much.” Hugh was silent for a moment, thinking. I should have been there with you, Paul. After all these years together, I should have been there at the end. I'm sorry, my friend .
    “Thanks, Mattie.”
    “For what?”
    “For staying with him for those last few minutes. You probably shouldn't have hung around. You probably should have run like hell. But Paul was a good friend of mine. I'm glad he didn't die alone.”
    Mattie was silent. “I'm sorry you lost a friend.”
    “I just wish you hadn't had to go through that,” Hugh continued, his voice roughening.
    “It was something of a shock,” she admitted.
    “Why in hell didn't you do as you were told and follow the original flight schedule?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Hugh wished he had bitten his tongue.
    Mattie sighed. “Please, Hugh. No lectures. Not tonight. I know it will be very difficult for you to resist, but I would very much appreciate it if you would try.”
    “But, why, Mattie? Was the thought of seeing me again all that terrible? You've been deliberately avoiding me for months. Nearly a whole damned year.”
    She said nothing.
    Hugh eyed her, feeling a deep anger tinged with guilt. He brushed aside the guilt and concentrated on the anger. It was an easier emotion to deal with. “You nearly got yourself killed today because of your stupid determination to avoid me at all costs.” He swore under his breath, thinking about what it had felt like to walk up the steps of Cormier's too-silent mansion and see that ominously open door.
    There was no response from the still figure on the cavern floor.
    “Mattie?” He heard the edge in his own voice and frowned.
    She continued to stare silently out into the night.
    Hugh swore again, knowing he should not have brought the subject up so soon. But he was not, by nature, a