Page 32 of Dark Truth

“Not really, no.” I gave her a pointed look.

“I hope you feel better soon.”

“What’s wrong, Emily?” Roxie asked, not immune to the nonverbal communication that had been going on.

“Nothing, just a tummy bug. I’ll be fine,” I lied, but I didn’t like it.

“Poor thing. I shouldn’t have teased you. I thought you had a hangover or something, or maybe a migraine. You’d left your sunglasses on, so I thought it must be one of those.”

“No, I haven’t had a migraine since—” I’d been about to say since I got pregnant but put the brakes on that. “Not in a while now.”

“Good. I hated seeing you in so much pain.”

We went back to eating, but before long Jessi and Roxie started to chat. Roxie told her about Elmo’s, about how she’d gotten into the business, and Jessi just gaped at her.

“You were dancing at clubs when you were sixteen?” Jessi hadn’t been raised in poverty, but she hadn’t had rich parents. However, she had been raised in my family’s house, and had been very sheltered for the longest time. Since she’d married Trent she’d seen a lot more of the world, but like me, she hadn’t been exposed to the darker side of life.

“My dad ran out on my mom, and Mom became an alcoholic. I had to make money somehow. A cousin of mine told me about it, and well, here I am. Still doing it all these years later.”

“You made something more out of it. That’s what Emily said. She’s so proud of you, you know?”

Roxie’s gaze flicked to me, and I saw something like tears sparkle in her blue eyes, but she blinked them away in an instant. “I only did what I had to do. I enjoy the art of it now. In the early days, it was a nightmare. Men are such sleezebags, but I got lucky and had a group of women who protected me. They kept the worst of the men away from me and showed me the ropes.”

“I’d like to see you perform,” Jessi shocked me by saying, and I gaped at her. “What? Art is art, and what she does is art.”

“I know, but, I just can’t picture you…” I sputtered. “You aren’t going with me with Dylan. I’m putting my foot down about that. Seriously, I’m not walking in that place with Trent in tow.”

“No, it’s not about that. I just want to appreciate what she does. I admire her ability, that’s all. You really do amaze me, you know?” Jessi turned to say to Roxie, who just smiled politely.

“What do you think?” I asked my friend.

“It’s fine with me. I don’t have any objections. You know me, I don’t make a lot of demands on anyone.”

“No, you don’t. I don’t want you to feel like an exhibit either.”

“Oh girl, stop! I’m an exhibitionist, obviously, or I wouldn’t do what I do. It’s not a problem. I promise. Don’t worry.”

“Well, if you’re sure?” I knew what she’d said, but I wanted to be really sure.

“Cool it, Emily. It’s fine. I’d be happy for you to bring Jessi. Your other sister-in-law, if she wants to come.”

“Laura? I’m not sure it’s her thing, but I’ll—” I paused when Jessi waved her hand at me.

“Oh, yeah, Laura wants to come too. She’s even more amazed than me.”

“Really?” Roxie and I asked at the same time.

“Indeed. She’s captivated by the grace of it all. I think she might start taking lessons or something. She’s fascinated.”

We both watched her, and she smiled. “I’m serious. She really likes it. Plus, she thinks Mason might get a kick out of it. You know she’s pregnant, and older than him, and well, I think she wants a confidence boost.”

“I can give her lessons. Gentle ones if she’s pregnant,” Roxie amended at the end, and I felt myself blanch. Roxie didn’t seem to notice, though, because she was ordering another drink.

“I guess it’s a plan then,” I said to cover up my silence and yawned.

“You should get home and rest until you feel better, Emily,” Roxie urged, but I shook my head.

“No, it’s doing me some good, being out of the office and in the sunlight. I get so cold in there sometimes.”