Chapter 10

Shane drove into the Hollywood hills in her old battered truck.  She was dressed somberly in a black suit, white shirt, and black tie.  Her hair was slightly tamer than was her usual style.  As she left her truck and approached the Reed mansion, she smoothed her hands down her thighs nervously.  The door opened before she had a chance to ring the bell.  The housekeeper greeted her more warmly than was her usual wont.

“Go on up, miss.  She’s a real mess.”

Nodding her understanding, Shane made her way to Maeve’s bedroom.  As she entered, Maeve didn’t even look up.  She stood very still.  She looked like a statue–her face, flawless and distant, until you reached her eyes…ravaged with a grief so profound which she did not bother to disguise with glamour.  When Shane reached around her tentatively, embracing around her shoulders, the spell was broken, and her face crumpled up in an expression that matched the devastated eyes.  Leaning on her young friend, Maeve cried silently as Shane rubbed her shoulders, murmuring quiet words of comfort.

“He’s in a better place now…no more pain.”

Eventually, Maeve took a deep breath and pushed away from Shane.  “I know he is better off now…but I will miss him terribly.”  Looking down at herself, she rubbed her hand gently across her midriff.  “At least I will be able to keep a piece of him with me.”

About a month had passed since Maeve had first asked for Princess Meredith’s help, and the first part of her request had been fulfilled.  Merry and Galen–a green haired, part pixie sidhe, had performed the fertility rite.  Now Maeve was just a couple of weeks pregnant, with Gordon’s child.  And today, they were going to his funeral.

“These last few weeks, he has been so pleased.  I wish he had stayed long enough to see this child born,” Maeve mourned.

Shane comforted her silently, with a gentle hug.  After a while, she murmured in her low voice, “Come on, it’s time to go.”  And she led her downstairs to the limo that awaited them in the circle drive.  On their way to the memorial service, Shane quietly held her hand, offering only the comfort of her presence, not knowing what could be said to console her friend.