Once More With Feeling by Nora Roberts

you,” Julie said in a low, furious voice as they entered Raven’s bedroom. “I’m supposed to be your friend. You’d never let me go through something like this alone.”
    â€œPlease, don’t be angry with me.” Raven swayed on her feet as Julie stripped off the dark suit jacket. “It’s something I feel is my responsibility, just mine. I’ve felt that way for too long to change now.”
    â€œI am angry with you.” Julie’s voice was tight as she slipped the matching skirt down over Raven’s hips. “This is the only thing you do that makes me genuinely angry with you. I can’t stand it when you do this to yourself.” She looked back at the pale, tired face. “Have you eaten?” Raven shook her head as she stepped out of the skirt. “And you won’t,” she concluded, brushing Raven’s fumbling hands away from the buttons of the white lawn blouse. She undid them herself, then pushed the material from Raven’s shoulders. Raven stood, unresisting.
    â€œI’m having dinner with Brandon,” Raven murmured, going willingly as Julie guided her toward the bed.
    â€œI’ll call him and cancel. I can bring you up something later. You need to sleep.”
    â€œNo.” Raven slipped between the crisp, cool sheets. “I want to go. I need to go,” she corrected as she shut her eyes. “I need to get out; I don’t want to think for a while. I’ll rest now. He won’t be here until seven.”
    Julie walked over to pull the shades. Even before the room was darkened, Raven was asleep.
    ***
    It was some minutes past seven when Julie opened the door to Brandon. He wore a stone-colored suit with a navy shirt open at the throat. He looked casually elegant, Julie thought. The nosegay of violets was charming rather than silly in his hands. He lifted a brow at the clinging black sheath she wore.
    â€œHello, Julie. You look terrific.” He plucked one of the violets out of the nosegay and handed it to her. “Going out?”
    Julie accepted the flower. “In a little while,” she answered. “Raven should be down in a minute. Brand . . .” Hesitating, Julie shook her head, then turned to lead him into the music room. “I’ll fix you a drink. Bourbon, isn’t it? Neat.”
    Brand caught her arm. “That isn’t what you were going to say.
    She took a deep breath. “No.” For a moment longer she hesitated, then began, fixing him with her dark brown eyes. “Raven’s very important to me. There aren’t many like her, especially in this town. She’s genuine, and though she thinks she has, she hasn’t really developed any hard edges yet. I wouldn’t like to see her hurt, especially right now. No, I won’t answer any questions,” she said, anticipating him. “It’s Raven’s story, not mine. But I’m going to tell you this: She needs a light touch and a great deal of patience. You’d better have them both.”
    â€œHow much do you know about what happened between us five years ago, Julie?” Brandon asked.
    â€œI know what Raven told me.”
    â€œOne day you ought to ask me how I felt and why I left.”
    â€œAnd would you tell me?”
    â€œYes,” he returned without hesitation. “I would.”
    â€œI’m sorry!” Raven came dashing down the stairs in a filmy flutter of white. “I hate to be late.” Her hair settled in silky confusion over the shoulders of the thin voile dress as she stopped at the foot of the stairs. “I couldn’t seem to find my shoes.”
    There was a becoming blush of color on her cheeks, and her eyes were bright and full of laughter. It passed through Brand’s mind quickly, and then was discarded, that she looked a little too bright, a little too vibrant.
    â€œBeautiful as ever.” He handed her the flowers. “I’ve