Secrets, p.8
Secrets, page 8
Luna realized that instead of relaxing, she was getting energized and knew she had to turn down the kilohertz.
She went to her bookshelf and rummaged through her collection of New Age books. She found the one she had used in her class from several years ago, written by Albert Taylor, a former NASA aeronautical engineer. If he didn’t give it creds, then who could? She’d remember to quote him next time the subject came up. She laughed. Uh, maybe not. Not quoting, just not ever bringing it up. It was spooky even for her.
Before she settled down, she let Wiley out the kitchen door to the fenced-in yard so he could have his final outdoor break for the night. She peeled off her clothes, taking one last sniff before she tossed them in the laundry basket. It was a mix of smoke and lavender fields. She smiled, thinking about her makeover in the ladies’ room. God bless Chi-Chi. She wrapped Chi-Chi’s skillful braid around her head, covered it with a towel, and jumped into the shower. Satisfied she had managed to wash the dust and air freshener off her, she pulled on her favorite terrycloth robe, then padded to the kitchen to let Wiley back in. She made a cup of hot chocolate, tucked the book under her arm, and headed to her bedroom, Wiley at her heels.
She thumbed through the well-worn pages, reading the notes she had scribbled in the margins. A sense of elation came over her. She might not skyrocket into the astral plane, but she was going to set her mind on dreaming about Marshal Gaines.
* * *
The next morning, Luna awoke refreshed and buoyant. She always kept a pad and pen next to her bed in case she had a dream she thought worth remembering and dissecting. In her dream, she was at Cullen’s house with Chris Gaines. Cullen was showing Chris his new fly-fishing equipment. That was a given since they had discussed it over dinner. She hadn’t seen any of Cullen’s new gear yet, but in her dream, she watched Cullen show Gaines a spindly thing with orange and red spikes. The words “casaba melons” came to mind, so she wrote them down.
She bounced out of bed, and Wiley did the same. The two raced to the kitchen, Wiley yapping with excitement. His squirrel buddies were trying to get into the bird feeder again. It was their morning ritual. Squirrels, Wiley, and coffee.
Luna switched on the TV to see if anything had blown up while she was asleep. Just another politician hawking the latest book on “enough already.” A few minutes later, Wiley was scratching at the door for his breakfast. Luna let him in while she was still clicking the remote when she came across a cooking show. Then it hit her. She would invite Gaines over for dinner the next time he was in town. Why hadn’t she thought of that sooner? For someone with a good brain and instincts, hers did not seem to work on matters of the heart. Her heart. She shook her head. “What do you think of that idea, Wiley? Invite the marshal for dinner?” He woofed again. “Right, pal. If that doesn’t start a fire between us, then I’m giving up!” Wiley made a grumbling sound before lying prone and pulling his paws over his eyes.
Luna finished her coffee and shuffled her way to the bathroom, where she gave herself a discerning check. Except for a few wayward wisps of hair, the braid was still intact. She studied her face closely in the all-too-powerful magnifying mirror. “Why did I buy this thing?” She moaned, eyeing the pores that appeared as craters. Then she reminded herself that it was better if she caught the flaws before anyone else did. Why she cared so much was because she was in her midthirties and still single. Not that she had any intention of letting herself go, but why not be at the top of your game for as long as possible, looks included?
She splashed cold water on her face, then applied a daily moisturizer and eye balm. That was followed by a light foundation, blush, a dusting of shimmery eye shadow, a sweep of mascara, and pale lipstick. Pretty, without looking like she was going to a gala. The next challenge was deciding what to wear. She was standing in front of her open closet for what seemed like an eternity when her phone rang. It was Cullen. “We’ll be there in about ten minutes.” Luna was caught off guard. She had been staring at her closet for an eternity. Now she had to hustle. What hadn’t she worn in front of Gaines before? She racked her brain. A blue silk tunic at the far end of the closet caught her eye. She had been saving it for a special occasion and decided every day is a special occasion if you’re healthy. Today was as special as any other. Even more. A pair of slim white pants and a pair of metallic flats finished off her outfit. She grabbed her collection of bangle bracelets and hoop earrings just as Cullen’s SUV was pulling into her driveway. Wiley was already pacing the floor, his tail wagging a mile a minute.
“Come on, boy!” Luna grabbed her backpack, thinking maybe it was time to retire the hippie-dippie thing. She flung the coat closet door open and pulled out a decent-looking tote bag and quickly transferred her stuff. She let out a big breath of air as she unlocked the front door and stepped outside. “OK. Here we go,” she muttered under her breath. Wiley was already at the rear passenger door, barking his “hellos” to the men in the vehicle.
Gaines jumped out and opened the door for her and her pooch. “Your chariot awaits.”
Playing along, Luna put out her hand so he could assist her into the cab. “Why, thank you, kind sir.” He made an exaggerated bow.
“Please be sure to buckle up,” he instructed her. “And Lord Wiley as well.”
“But of course.” Luna enjoyed the little play they were performing for each other. Wiley sat next to her in anticipation of getting himself buckled in as well.
Gaines returned to his seat. “Tallyho, old man.” He quipped at Cullen.
Cullen groaned. “Thank goodness it’s not a long ride.”
“Party pooper,” Luna joked. She couldn’t hold her curiosity. “So how was the rest of your evening?”
“I’m going to be about three grand in the hole by the time your brother finishes with me,” Gaines said wryly.
“What do you mean?” Luna was surprised.
“He has a few very nice pieces of furniture that would look great in my place.”
“Cul? You’re going to sell him stuff from your house?” Luna was even more surprised.
“He was digging the dining-room table. If you recall, he wanted the table from the Millstone estate, but you commandeered it. I thought it would only be fair if I sold him the one I found. They’re very similar.”
“And what else are you going to try to fob off on him?” Luna poked at her brother.
“The wardrobe I’m working on. But that’s in the shop. It’s for Carter’s athletic equipment.”
“What else?”
“A dresser. The midcentury oak piece that’s in my dining room.”
“I don’t want to clean you out, man,” Gaines responded to Cullen’s inventory.
“That is a very nice piece. Are you sure you want to give it up?” Luna asked. “You spent a lot of time on it.”
“Shush. I have this guy on a hook. Let me reel him in,” Cullen said conspiratorially.
“Right. Sorry,” Luna whispered. “Speaking of hooks, did you guys discuss flies?”
“Since when were you ever interested in fly-fishing?”
“Just curious.” Luna wondered about her dream.
“He showed me his new Cabela’s Adams,” Gaines said over his shoulder.
“Did you say ‘casaba melons’?” She got a bit of a chill and sank back into the seat.
Both men laughed. “This is why I don’t bring her fishing with me.” Cullen glanced over in Gaines’s direction.
“I don’t like worms,” Luna retorted.
“See? She doesn’t know the difference between a worm and a fly.” Cullen chuckled.
Luna was still reeling from the casaba melons. Had she really intruded on their energy the night before? It had only happened when she was in the same room with someone and that one time when Cullen was camping. And it was always planned. Never from miles away. For the first time in a long time, she spooked herself.
“Next time you’re out this way, we should take in some trout fishing,” Cullen offered.
Now Luna was beginning to feel like the little sister again. But then she remarked, “And I’ll cook whatever you guys catch for dinner.”
“Now, that sounds like an invitation I can’t resist,” Gaines said cheerfully.
Luna tried to avoid pouting. Well, she was halfway there about making dinner. Now she had to figure out how to get her brother out of the way. She’d cross that bridge when she came to it. Meanwhile, she was happy there would be a next time.
They pulled into the back of the art center and Cullen parked the SUV. Luna waited for her prince to open the door for her. She was not disappointed. Gaines put out his hand, which she gladly grasped and gracefully exited the vehicle. Cullen was on the other side freeing Wiley from his halter.
Gaines made a crook in his arm and threaded Luna’s arm through it. “If there were a puddle, I would gladly lay my coat before you.”
“Well, ah do declare,” Luna said in her most convincing Southern drawl. “For a Yankee, you are quite the gentleman, Marshal Gaines.”
The two walked in step to the back of Cullen’s workshop and entered the building. “You two done playing Rhett and Scarlett?”
“Oh dear brothuh, why must you be so crass?” The accent continued.
“And I thought the ride here was going to be long.” Cullen shook his head, but he was secretly enjoying the playfulness between the marshal and his sister. Now, if only he could get in some kind of rhythm with Chi-Chi.
As they made their way through the workshop, Luna reluctantly disengaged her arm from Gaines and pointed to the mysterious trunk and the contents. “There it is. And over there is the diary and the box of memorabilia.”
Gaines looked over at Cullen. “Mind if I take a look?”
Cullen laughed. “I’m willing to bet that if you don’t, you will be incurring the wrath of Luna.”
Luna made a snarky face. “I’m going to pick up my order at the Flakey Tart. See you in the café in a few minutes. Come on, Wiley.” Wiley eagerly followed Luna to the massive sliding doors that led to the patio and park. Alex gave a wave, and Wiley bounded in his direction. “See you in a bit,” Luna called out. Alex gave her the thumbs-up.
Luna crossed the large indoor landscaped atrium and saw Chi-Chi opening her shop. Jimmy Can-Do had been there at the crack of dawn to place his work around the atrium. To that day, no one had ever caught a glimpse of him. Such an odd thing.
Luna gave morning greetings to everyone she saw, receiving the same in kind. The light coming through the glass ceiling made for a beautiful sunny mood. It didn’t hurt that her crush was in town either. She hurried to the pastry shop, where they had her morning order ready. “Thanks, Heidi! Have a good day!”
“Hey, Luna! Got a sec?” Luna heard Rita from the Blonde Shallot call out.
Any other morning would have been fine, but today she didn’t want to miss a minute of Gaines’s time to brief him on the trunk. “If you walk with me.”
Luna guessed Rita was perhaps a couple of years older than she. Maybe thirty-eight or nine. Luna knew she was married to a teacher and had two teenagers in high school. Luna had met the family at the grand opening and they often stopped by on the weekends.
It wasn’t often the other tenants would hang out with each other. With the exception of Chi-Chi, Cullen, and Luna, most would go their separate ways at the end of the day.
Rita lowered her voice. “Can I ask you something?” Rita spoke with a bit of hesitation.
“Shoot!” Luna said as she walked briskly back to the café.
“I heard you are into psychic stuff.”
Luna looked around. A lot of people knew, but to what extent she wasn’t sure since most of her clients were supposed to be on the down-low. She didn’t want visitors who loathed the idea of the paranormal to be insulted or put off by her presence. Luna was in protection mode when it came to Ellie and the center.
“I’ve been known to do readings if that’s what you mean.”
“Yeah. That.”
“Why do you ask?”
“It’s about a friend of mine,” Rita said.
“Does she want a reading?” Luna asked hurriedly.
“No, it’s for me.”
“Sure. No problem.” Luna set the boxes down and pulled out the wicker baskets. “How about later? Around five?”
“Great! I’ll buzz you on the squawk box.” Rita waved, and Luna continued to get the café ready.
Ellie and Chi-Chi started in her direction. Ziggy and Marley were already in the dog park with Alex and Wiley.
“E kaaro.” Chi-Chi bowed in respect.
“E kaaro,” Luna replied. “Namaste.”
Ellie always got a kick out of their morning greetings. “It’s such a nice way to start the day. It gives it a fresh feeling.”
“And that is exactly what it is supposed to do,” Chi-Chi said in her beautiful, articulate, singsong voice. Her enunciation was impeccable.
“So what do you fine women have on your agenda today?” Ellie asked.
“Cullen managed to talk Chris into crashing at his place last night,” Luna said mildly.
“And why not yours, young lady?” Ellie gave her a suspicious look.
“It wasn’t the right time,” Luna defended herself.
“It was Cullen who offered first,” Chi-Chi backed up her friend.
“Well, that’s too bad. I was hoping for a little dish,” Ellie teased.
“Dish?” Even though Chi-Chi had a marvelous grasp of the English language, some slang made no sense to her.
“Gab. Gossip,” Luna informed her.
“Oh, I see. But what does the word ‘dish’ have to do with anything?”
“Dish it out. Serve it up,” Luna explained as she placed the scones, muffins, and croissants in the baskets.
“It also means an attractive person, especially a woman,” Ellie added to the urban dictionary.
Chi-Chi sighed. “I have been here for many years, and I still do not understand your language.”
Ellie and Luna laughed. “Don’t feel bad. I had to figure out that the word ‘dope’ meant good or cool and not just drugs or someone who is stupid,” Luna said.
“Then there’s ‘doping,’” Ellie added.
Chi-Chi closed her eyes. “Please, no more.”
Luna began to make their usual coffee when Gaines came into the café.
“Marshal! So nice to see you!” Ellie went over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Likewise.” Gaines smiled.
“Please, everyone grab a seat.” Luna gestured toward one of the café tables.
“Cullen said he’d be by in a few minutes. He had to get an invoice ready for a customer who will be here in an hour.”
“Speaking of invoices. Are you really going to clean out Cullen’s house?” Luna asked, as she was frothing the last cappuccino.
Gaines laughed as the other two women looked on in surprise. “No. Just a couple of things. I also want to take a look at what he’s done lately.”
“I would be happy to advise you, but I have never been invited to your place, so it’s difficult to make recommendations.” Luna was feeling a little brazen this morning as she carried the tray of coffee over to the table.
“Well, we’re going to have to fix that. I can use all the help I can get.” Gaines stood up and took the tray from her.
Was that a real invitation? She wanted to kick herself for even putting a negative spin on his words. Practice what you preach, girlie. She puffed up her chest. “Well, you let me know, and I will bring my sketch pad.” It dawned on her that she might get some crazy vibes from his place. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. She walked over to the counter, where she had prepared a basket of everyone’s breakfast favorites.
Ellie groaned and gleefully snatched a raspberry scone.
“You’ve been working on your place for quite a while, haven’t you?” Ellie asked.
“Yes, it’s been over eight months. I don’t have a lot of spare time these days.”
“Then you surely need Luna’s expert eye,” Ellie said coyly.
“Really. I would be happy to. Any particular color palette you have in mind?” Luna was quite sincere.
Gaines thought a minute. “Is brown a palette?”
“I do believe you need serious assistance,” Chi-Chi said thoughtfully. “Brown is not a color.”
“Not to you. You are a walking rainbow!” Ellie smiled.
“Every color has a vibration,” Chi-Chi explained.
“Doesn’t brown vibrate?” Gaines asked.
“What do you think of when you hear the color brown?” Chi-Chi asked Gaines. “Shoes? Dirt?”
Gaines flashed a big smile. “I see your point. OK, how about blue? Navy?”
“What colors do you have in your house now?” Luna asked.
“Brown sofa. Brown floors. Brown kitchen cabinets. Brown wall paneling.”
“So you were serious?” Chi-Chi seemed surprised.
“I was. But that doesn’t mean I like it.” Gaines clarified his earlier statement. “It’s the original stuff that was in the house when I bought it. Except for the couch. That was from my basement.”
“I think someone should declare a state of renovation emergency.” Ellie clapped her hands together with delight.
There was a moment of awkward silence when Gaines took the next step. “I have Carter this weekend, and the following I have a seminar. How is three weeks from now?”
“I’ll need someone to cover for me here.” Luna was between elation and panic.
“I’ll get Sabrina or one of the other pages,” Ellie offered right away. She was not going to let Luna squirm her way out of spending time with Gaines.
All eyes were on Luna. “I guess it’s a plan, then.”
She was just about to add, “Should we ask Cullen,” but bit her lip. What about sleeping arrangements? she thought.
As if he read her mind, Gaines immediately offered, “You can stay in Carter’s room. He’ll be at his mom’s.”
“How old is your son now?” Ellie asked.
“He’ll be thirteen in a couple of months.”
“That’s a very active age.”
“You’re telling me. Between his studies, his sports, his dog, and puberty, I have my hands full!”
