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Mark Jefferson was Tami’s husband. The washed-up actor had a few minor roles in the late eighties, but his true talent was conning women into giving him money, gifts, and a bed to sleep in. He’d hit the jackpot with Tami. She’d not only been willing to share her bed, but she’d agreed to marry him so he could get his hands on the generous dividends she received from her shares in her ex-husband’s corporation.
“How is he?”
“Fine.” Tami lit her cigarette, her motions jerky, as if she was hiding some inner emotion. “He’s flying home from Los Angeles today.”
“Was he working?”
“Soaking up the sun. He claims that Chicago is colder than the arctic during the winter.”
Rayne grimaced. She’d forgotten how bitterly cold the city could be in January. “He’s not wrong.”
Tami took a deep drag, blowing the smoke out of the corner of her mouth. There was a tension around the older woman that made Rayne wonder if all was well between her mother and her younger, overly handsome husband.
“So why are you here?” Tami abruptly demanded.
Or maybe the tension was because her daughter had landed on her doorstep, she wryly acknowledged.
“I have a show next month. I brought my paintings so the gallery can frame and mount them.”
“Ah, yes.” A genuine smile touched Tami’s lips. She might not have motherly feelings for Rayne, but she was willing to take pride in the fact her daughter had become a world-famous artist. “I read the article about your exhibition in theTribune. Do you want me to hold a reception here?”
Rayne shrugged. The reception was always the worst part of an exhibition. If it was up to her, she’d give it a miss. Unfortunately, the gallery owner insisted that she spend at least a few hours mingling with the guests.
“I think the gallery has already arranged something.”
“Of course.” The smile faded. “How long are you staying in town? I can have a room prepared.”
“Thanks, but I already have a reservation booked at the Drake. I’ll only be in the city for a night or two before moving on.”
“I see.”
An awkward silence settled between the two women. Rayne squashed a sigh. It was painfully familiar.
“If you don’t mind, I have something in the attic I’d like to get.”
Tami blinked. “The attic?”
“Yes.”
“No one’s been up there in years. I’ll send Mary to clean—”
“There’s no need,” Rayne interrupted. “I don’t mind a little dust.”
Tami wrinkled her slender nose, but she managed to avoid glancing down at Rayne’s jeans, which were clean but speckled with flecks of paint.
“What do you want up there?”
Rayne hesitated. She didn’t really want to answer. The past was something she firmly believed should be left where it belonged. Locked in a dusty attic. But over the past couple of weeks, she’d been plagued with a need she couldn’t shake. At last, she’d crawled into her van and driven from Nevada to Chicago, determined to clear her mind. She had to come to the city anyway. Two birds, one stone.
“Did you see the news about Tina Champagne?” she grudgingly asked.
“I know her daughter was involved in some scandal.” Tami clicked her tongue. “I never did approve of your connection to that family.”
Rayne didn’t point out that her only connection with the actress was attending St. Cecilia’s School for Girls along with Tina’s daughter, Lucy. Or that she hadn’t disapproved until Mark Jefferson had mentioned that he’d met Tina Champagne when he first arrived in LA. He’d all but implied they’d been lovers, but Rayne had serious doubts the beautiful Tina had any interest in yet another pretty boy hoping to make it big in Hollywood.
“Seeing the story reminded me that I never unpacked my belongings after I returned from Austria. There are a couple of things I’d like to dig out.”
She didn’t mention that the item she wanted was a gift Lucy had sent to her for graduation. After the terrifying events of that day, she’d completely forgotten about it. Now she was curious to see what her friend had gotten for her.
