The Summer of Our Discontent (27 page)

“They’re not the bad snakes. We learned about them in school. He likes the stuffed animals in
Kaycee’s
room and cookies.”

“Wait. Is Fred still in the bedroom?”

“We don’t know,” Kaycee said. “He wasn’t in the animals when I woke up.”

“Kaycee, does your mom know there’s a snake in the house?”

Kaycee glanced at Sophie and shook her head. “I didn’t tell Grandma because she’s scared of them.”

“Okay, we have to find Fred before he gives your grandmother a heart attack.”

*******

Faith showed up at Rachel’s place with a paper sack, an oven mitt, and a pair of long-handled tongs she used when she grilled. Bev’s smile was pleasant as she opened the back door. “Good morning, Faith, how’re you today?”

“Great, thank you. Uh, Bev, the girls have something they need to tell you.” She looked around and realized they’d left her in the lurch. Two little faces peered from the window of the tree house. Faith laughed nervously as she looked back at Bev. “Yesterday, they smuggled a pet into the house.”

“Another frog?” Bev said with a smile.

“No, ma’am, a grass snake named Fred.”

The smile dropped from Bev’s face. She shot out the door like a rocket and nearly bowled Faith over. “In the house, it’s in the house?” she said aghast.

Faith raised the tongs. “If you want to stay out here, I’ll try to find it.”

“Please,” Bev said, clutching her chest.

Faith stepped inside with her skin crawling. She’d put on a brave face for Bev, but the thought of picking up a snake even with the tongs made her want to scream. Spiders she could handle, but snakes made her squirm, even the nonpoisonous kind that apparently her niece thought were friends. She warily stepped into
Kaycee’s
room and set the bag in the middle of the floor.

“Okay, Fred, I know you really don’t want to be in here. If you’d like a gentle trip back to the yard, kindly slither into the bag.” Fred didn’t comply. “Okay, there’s a time limit on this offer, so be quick about it.” When Fred snubbed her again, she began picking up the stuffed animals in the corner of
Kaycee’s
room with the tongs. A mixture of relief and trepidation washed over her when she didn’t find the snake.

Faith swallowed hard and got down on her knees. She looked under the dresser first, then
Kaycee’s
bed. There were only two plastic boxes with toys beneath it, no snake. “Hiding places for you are endless in here,” Faith whispered and jumped when Bev called to her.

Bev held out a phone when Faith walked to the back door. “Rachel wants to talk to you.”

“Okay, thanks.” Faith took the phone and put it to her ear. “Hey.”

“Is there really a fucking snake in my house?” Rachel bellowed.

Faith smiled at Bev and pressed the phone more firmly to her ear in hopes that Bev wouldn’t hear her daughter losing her mind. “I’m looking for it right now.”

“I told Kaycee no more animals after I found a decomposing frog in her closet. I cannot believe that child brought in a snake!”

“She had an accomplice.”

Rachel took a deep breath. “I know an expert. If he’s available, I’ll send him over to help. If you find it before Corey gets there, call me, please.”

“I will.”

“Faith, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. See you soon.”

Faith handed the phone back to Bev. “She’s sending an expert over. Would you keep an eye out for him?”

“Sure,” Bev said with a nod.

Faith went back to searching. She cleared
Kaycee’s
room, the living room, and the hall bath, and stepped into Rachel’s room. It felt odd being in there; she felt as though she were invading Rachel’s privacy. She’d never been in Rachel’s house before and was getting a self-guided tour. Rachel was a tidy housekeeper, everything had a place. Faith admired her tastes in décor. All the furniture in the living room matched, unlike at her place. The master bedroom was especially nice. Rachel didn’t appear to go for frills and lace. The queen-sized bed was covered in a white bedspread with blocks of blue lines dark and light. The matching pillow shams were outlined in the same color, and the bed skirt was white. It stood out in contrast to the dark wood of the floors. The bed stands and matching armoire were the same dark color as the floors.

Faith opened the closet door first and peeked in. Rachel’s uniforms hung in plastic bags provided by the cleaners. Jeans and sweatpants were folded neatly on the shelf above the hanging clothes. In the corner was a gun safe, beside it, her shoes sat in pairs. “Got a thing for boots?” Faith admired the rack in the opposite corner where Rachel had quite a few different styles. She closed the door and slowly went to her knees and looked under the bed. There was nothing underneath, nor was there anything reptilian beneath the armoire and bed stands. Faith was headed for the master bath when Bev called for her again.

This time when she entered the kitchen, there was a little boy with a buzz cut standing next to Corey Galvez. He didn’t look much older than Kaycee and Sophie. “Is this the snake expert?” Faith asked with a smile.

“He manages to find at least one a week, thank God they’ve never been in the house,” Corey said as she gave him a gentle push. “Go work your magic, baby. Start in
Kaycee’s
room.” She looked at Faith. “That’s where the suspect was last seen, right?”

Faith nodded. “The girls described him as being dressed in all green and unarmed,” she said as the boy passed her.

“It’s good to see you,” Corey said with a smile and looked down at the oven mitt and tongs. “Is that your battle gear?”

“Uh, yeah, this is my first indoor reptilian search.”

“Jacob will find it.” Corey turned to the door as Chance and Rachel walked in. “Backup has arrived,” she said with a laugh.

Chance kissed Corey on the cheek and grinned at Faith. “What
ya
got there, Leblanc?”

“Snake apprehension gear.” Faith looked at Rachel. “Is your mom okay? It’s hot out there.”

“She’s in the shade lecturing the girls right now.” Rachel looked around nervously. “I cannot believe that thing spent the night in the house. You haven’t seen any sign of it?”

“I checked everything but the kitchen and your bathroom. I—”

“Found it,” Jacob announced as he walked into the room. “It was curled up in Aunt Rachel’s shoe.”

Rachel turned around and walked out the back door. “Kaycee!”

Chapter Thirty-two

Rachel stared at bursts of color protruding from the vase that sat in the middle of her patio table later that evening. The flowers had been handpicked from Faith’s garden and were far prettier than anything she’d ever seen from a florist. Faith had even made a card that simply read,
Just Because
. Rachel smiled and sighed as she gazed back at Faith and fed her the last and most coveted bite of raspberry chocolate chunk ice cream because it was filled with chocolate chunks.

“How’d you know this was my favorite?” Rachel asked and set the empty bowl aside.

“A little snake wrangler told me. She was a bit vague on the type of flower you liked. I know sunflowers are your favorite, but I don’t have any in bloom, mainly because I haven’t planted them yet.”

Rachel reached over and stroked the curtain of hair from one of Faith’s eyes. “They’re too beautiful to cover,” she said with a smile. “The flowers pale in comparison, and they are gorgeous. Thank you for the gifts and everything you did today. My poor mother would’ve died had she found that snake. I’m not gonna say what I would’ve done, but I will say it wouldn’t have been pretty.”

Faith smiled. “I wanted to help, but I’ll be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to meeting Fred.”

“You made major brownie points with my mom. She sang your praises when I got home from work.”

“What about you? Did I earn points with you?”

Rachel reached over and took her hand. “You’re already in the bonus round with me. What can I do to earn points with you?”

Faith leaned over and kissed her. Rachel’s lips were soft, her tongue like silk. She felt Rachel’s fingers weave into her hair, her other hand caressed her neck. The volley of sensations sent electric charges racing through her body. She was breathless when Rachel broke the kiss, but she held on as she rested her cheek against hers.

“I know you feel that you have something to prove,” Rachel whispered, her breath warm against Faith’s ear. “But you don’t. I’m going into the house. I want you to come with me.”

Faith closed her eyes and nodded. Rachel took her hand and led her through the back door, then locked it. The action made it clear to Faith that she was in for the night. Quietly, they crept into the hall. Rachel stopped for a moment and looked in on Kaycee before they moved to her bedroom where she softly closed the door. Rachel wasted no time as she grabbed Faith’s shirt and pulled it over her head. Her fingers were sliding under the waistband of her shorts as they kissed.

Rachel didn’t want any more barriers between them. Clothing couldn’t come off fast enough. She kept kissing Faith as each piece fell, afraid that if she gave her a moment to catch her breath, this dream come true might stop. The room was completely silent. She could hear Faith’s ragged breathing, felt her fingers on her bare skin as they backed toward the bed. She reached behind her and swatted away the decorative pillows. She’d barely turned the covers down when she felt herself falling, then the weight of Faith’s body on hers, the smoothness of her skin.

Rachel felt like velvet beneath Faith, so warm and enveloping. Her touch was like fire, her hands roamed over her shoulders, down her arms, she touched every bit of skin she could reach. Faith felt her hands in her hair gently tugging her head. She broke the kiss and craned her head back as Rachel grazed her neck with her teeth. Faith released a shuddering breath as Rachel moved lower beneath her, kissing and nibbling the skin of her chest until she took a nipple into her mouth. There were so many things Faith wanted to do, but she couldn’t remember any of them as Rachel took control of her.

Faith’s soft moans, the taste of her skin, the tension in her body were delicious delights, Rachel couldn’t get enough. She wanted to completely unravel her, wanted Faith to feel everything she felt but was too afraid to say. She groaned as Faith pulled away from her mouth but filled it with a kiss that made her head swim. She felt herself slipping into submission when Faith’s fingers grazed a nipple, then softly pinched as her mouth moved over the skin of her neck, her chest. She shuddered when Faith’s lips and tongue grazed the other nipple before moving lower.

Faith was rushing. She wanted to take her time and explore but couldn’t trust herself not to get completely lost in Rachel’s touch. Her mouth moved over Rachel’s stomach, and she felt the muscle quiver beneath her lips. But what she wanted most, what she dreamed about doing was too close, too hot. She pushed Rachel’s legs wide, anxious for that first taste. The first stroke of her tongue and the reaction it caused when Rachel thrust against her mouth elicited a moan that she recognized as her own. She wanted to take her time, but it was Rachel who was in a hurry then as she filled her hands with Faith’s hair, urging her along.

Faith’s mouth was hot and wet, her tongue found the place Rachel wanted it most. Faith was asking for more trust, demanding it as she brought her to blissful heights and left her stranded for a few seconds before pushing her higher. She had no control over the pleas that passed her lips. Faith’s assurance that she wouldn’t let her fall this time wasn’t audible. Rachel inhaled a ragged breath and held it as that first wave within her crested and felt like it would roll forever.

Hearing her own name never sounded so sweet as it rolled off of Rachel’s tongue. Faith wanted to hear it again and again for the rest of her life. “Say it again,” she whispered with a smile.

“Faith…come here,” Rachel whispered breathlessly.