A mischievous smile slowly graced her lips.
“Guess we better go shopping, then,” said Erin.
26
That night, Andy beat Phoenix to their pre-arranged meeting spot atop the tall condo building overlooking the water. Andy sat looking west over the intracoastal waterway, watching the evening star rise. Venus glowed in the clear sky, bright enough to outshine the true stars.
He felt the mantle of age settle over his shoulders like moonlight—always there, even if it couldn’t be seen. How long had he looked up at the sky and watched the stars trace their paths?
A ruffle of feathers and a rush of air alerted Andy to the presence of Phoenix, who landed neatly and spoke without preamble. “Have I got some ideas for you.”
Andy continued to stare at the sky.
“What, no hearty greeting? No ‘Thank you, Phoenix, for coming up with brilliant ideas’?” Phoenix sat next to Andy. “Or even a ‘Thank you for coming to sit on this godforsaken building when you could have been off doing something far more entertaining’?”
“I’m sorry,” said Andy. “I just don’t think it’s going to work.”
“What do you mean? We were going to get some really juicy revenge together, Andy. You’re disappointing me. Where’s your famous demon work ethic?”
“It’s not what she wants.”
“Who, Erin? Of course she wants revenge. She’s only human,” said Phoenix.
“She wants to move on, Phoenix.”
“Oh. Oh, I see. So we’re done here, then? I can go? Or, I should say—we can go?” Phoenix made as if to get up.
“You can go if you want,” said Andy.
Phoenix rolled his eyes. “Oh, for the love of all that is unholy, Andy, what is your problem?”
Andy sighed. “Look, I can handle wickedness. I know how to get revenge. But what she wants now”—he raised his palms to the night sky like he was pleading—“how am I supposed to give her that?”
“The ‘moving on’ part?”
Andy nodded miserably.
“A wise chap of my acquaintance once said that living well is the best revenge.”
“Don’t quote my own words back at me,” said Andy.
“Why not? It’s you who needs to hear the damned things.”
“How does that help me with Erin?”
“Are you that stupid?” said Phoenix. “You can still help her. Whether that includes terrorizing Mark, or making his hair fall out, or cancelling all his credit cards, or whatever mad scheme you came up with, you can find a way to make it fit in with what she wants. Help her live well.”
“Help her live well,” echoed Andy.
“It’s so obvious. You’re the Finder of Lost Things, right?”
“Yes … ”
“Well, act like it, Andromalius! When her ex-husband put her through the wringer and left her high and dry—”
“That’s a terrible mixed metaphor,” Andy said.
“Shut up and listen. When that happened, she lost something. Something important.”
