Between Friends by Sandra Kitt Read Free Book Online

about him. Suddenly she no longer felt wary of him. What was there to fear in a man whom Lillian loved … and who brought her flowers to show it?
    Lillian stood up to greet her, and for the first time since entering the room Dallas could genuinely smile. Lillian was a small lady and when they hugged affectionately her head was somewhere near Dallas’s chest. She had to bend down to kiss the older woman’s cheek and be kissed in return. Her small, cool hands framed Dallas’s face, and her expression became soft and concerned, her smile sad. Dallas was surprised at the sudden welling of tears within herself, though her sympathy was for Lillian and not because of Nicholas.
    “Honey, I’m so glad you could come. You didn’t have to, you know. That trip from Manhattan …”
    Dallas took Lillian’s hand and squeezed it gently, looking into her hazel eyes and admiring her strength. She felt herself struggling, nevertheless, to say the right thing. She cleared her throat.
    “Of course I had to come. I … I’m so sorry for you and your husband … for your family,” Dallas said.
    Lillian made a kind of gesture, as if accepting the formality of the sentiments, but not wanting to know anyone’s feelings about her son.
    “Thank God he didn’t suffer. He was killed instantly. The doctors say if he’d lived he would have been paralyzed. Nicky couldn’t handle that.” Lillian shook her head, with a telling knowledge of her son’s limitations. “Look at how many people came today for him,” she sighed.
    It made Dallas wonder if perhaps Lillian knew, and had always known, the effect her son had on people. Lillian patted the back of her hand and, still holding it, turned Dallas to face the rest of the family.
    “This is Dallas. She’s the little girl I talk about all the time from the neighborhood. Isn’t she pretty?” Lillian boasted.
    A few people murmured hello, but Dallas was more aware of the awkward silence and stares of appraisal. Her gaze quickly swept the faces of the family members. There was no one here that she really recognized. Vin had turned away, facing forward again to stare at the open coffin of his son. His silence was understandable and seemed like a signal to Dallas that she should retreat. She turned to Lillian again.
    “I’m going to sit across the room and say hello to some of the others. I’ll be here for a while.”
    “Thank you for coming, hon.”
    “If there’s anything I can do …” Dallas mouthed automatically.
    “Call me sometime,” Lillian whispered as she looked at Dallas. “I haven’t seen you for so long. You kids grow up and move away and forget about all us old people.”
    Dallas grinned. “I don’t know any old people.” She was gratified when Lillian blushed and smiled briefly, shaking her head.
    “You’re a good girl,” Lillian murmured and then gave her attention to another group arriving to pay their respects.
    Dallas turned in relief to the opposite side of the room, where she immediately saw Valerie raise a hand to get her attention. Dallas slid into the row of chairs and sat next to her. They greeted each other with cheek air-kisses.
    “I thought you were going to stand me up,” Valerie said.
    “I didn’t come out here to see you,” she countered dryly. She peered into Valerie’s face. “Have you been crying again?”
    Valerie shook her head. “No. But I haven’t slept well since I called you. I’m just tired. What about you?”
    Dallas raised her brows. “Do I look like I’ve been crying?”
    Valerie looked her over critically and grimaced. “You look wonderful, as usual. Are you over the shock, yet?”
    “Sorry, but I was never in shock,” Dallas answered truthfully.
    “He looks terrible,” Rosemary Holland stage-whispered as she took her seat again next to her daughter. “Hi, Dallas. You just get here?”
    Valerie glared at her mother. “The man is dead. What do you expect him to look like?”
    “He looks too fleshy and puffed out.