Free Shattered Silk by Barbara Michaels Page A

and very forgiving. It deplored her impetuous and ill-considered action in leaving so precipitously and requested-implicitly, if not in so many words-her humble appreciation for the consideration that was being shown her. The boxes contained her clothes and personal belongings, swathed neatly in tissue. Not a scrap had been overlooked, including a couple of limp bras she had meant to throw away, and a pair of sneakers with holes in both toes.
    Karen methodically tore the note into tiny bits and flushed them down the toilet. Then she threw the piece of chocolate cake she had been about to eat into the disposal and went out and jogged for four miles.
    She did not see or hear from Mark. She didn't expect to. (At least that was what she told herself.) Nor did she expect the encounter that took place one afternoon toward the end of the week.
    Julie had left early, to finish shopping for her approaching vacation. Not five minutes after Julie took her departure Rob followed her, with a look that dared Karen to object. She was at the back of the shop, checking a shelf of costume jewelry over which one customer had lingered long without buying-it was all right, everything seemed to be there-when the door chimes rang. Half concealed by a hanging tapestry, she looked up to see the girl who had been with Mark on his first visit.
    She knew she should emerge at once, smiling and helpful. Instead she hunched her shoulders in a half-crouch, hoping the shadows would hide her, while her thoughts raced in uncontrolled confusion.
    He's not with her. Of course not-he won't come again. It's probably the armoire she wants. She's attractive, but not as glamorous as I thought…Her hair is beautiful-lovely curling red-gold. It looks real, too. Get out there. Stop skulking. She'll see you in a minute and you'll feel like a fool. Say something. Something witty, intelligent…
    She edged out from behind the tapestry. "Hello."
    The girl turned with a start. "Hi. I didn't see you at first. It's so dark in here."
    It was a common complaint, and Karen seized with relief on the memorized response. "I'll be glad to turn on more lights if there is something you want to examine closely. I'm afraid Julie has stepped out for a moment, but if you need help-"
    "I know she isn't here, I saw her leave. I wanted to see you. You are Karen, aren't you?"
    "Yes."
    The girl came toward her, smiling, her hand out. "I'm Cheryl Reichardt. Mark's sister."
    "Sister," Karen repeated blankly.
    Cheryl laughed. "I don't blame you, everybody reacts that way. We don't look one bit alike."
    The statement was certainly correct. Cheryl was as fair as Mark was dark, and her round face and dimpled cheeks were the antithesis of Mark's austere features.
    Karen gathered her scattered wits and took the outstretched hand-just in time, for Cheryl, flushing slightly, had started to withdraw it. "I'm glad to meet you. Are you visiting, or do you live in Washington?"
    "I live with Mark, actually. He asked me to come and keep house for him after my husband died."
    "I'm so sorry." Karen's response was genuine; it seemed impossible to think of this cheerful young woman as a widow.
    "It's been a couple of years," Cheryl said, her lifted chin and determinedly matter-of-fact voice assuring Karen that sympathy would be unwelcome. "But I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't been for Mark. Joe left a few thousand in insurance, but we didn't have much saved, and my folks are living on Dad's pension, and with a baby to support…"
    She paused to draw breath. "You have a child?" Karen asked.
    "Little Joe. He's not a baby, he's four now. Want to see his picture?" Without waiting for a reply she reached in her purse and took out her wallet. "This was taken on his last birthday."
    Karen's heart gave a queer, painful lurch. The little boy had his mother's mop of fair curls and a funny turned-up nose, but his shy smile reminded Karen of a look she had sometimes seen on Mark's face.
    "Do you have any