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“Will do! See you at the soccer game.”
Lots of “byes” and “see yas.”
As the other women went their separate ways, Tori was staring into space. Maybe that’s what she needed. A good psychic. A medium. Whatever they’re called. She wondered how she could find out more about it. Her. Maybe she, too, would take a little trip to the center on her day off, which was Saturday and Sunday. She then realized she would have to explain to her husband why she was going to an art center. Too many questions. She could take a personal day during the week. Tori worked at a small law firm as an assistant. There were three partners in the firm, and they rotated taking Wednesdays off. She could coordinate with her boss.
Luckily for Tori, she was well organized. She had to be. At the age of ten, she was the adult on duty. If it weren’t for Tori, her little brother J.T. wouldn’t have a clean pair of pajamas. There would be no meals, no lunch to take to school. In spite of the lack of adult supervision, Tori ran an efficient household. Her father would hide cash in one of the hutches for food and supplies. Only Tori knew where the money was hidden. Her father made sure of that. He didn’t want Tori and J.T.’s mother spending it on booze. Yes, Tori had the sense and organizational skills out of sheer survival. But planning ahead for herself? There was never any time for that.
Tori thought about J.T. She wondered where he was. How he was. It stunk, not having a family. Even if she hadn’t run away, she still wouldn’t have a family. Sure, she had one parent and a brother. But that didn’t constitute a family. They were simply human beings sharing some of the same DNA, bound together legally, and existing under the same roof. She really thought her life would be different by now. Maybe it wasn’t too late. Sheprayedit wasn’t too late.
Tori took one more spin through the bakery department. A woman was handing out samples of something called rugelach. It was a small crescent pastry swirled with a cinnamon filling. The buttery flakes melted in her mouth. The sign read:
$20.00DOZEN
She hesitated, but then she decided she was worth at least six little cakes. If he knew she was spending ten bucks on what he would consider cookies, he’d have a cow. But Tori had a flash of confidence.So what. Too bad. She marched up to the counter and placed her order. As she glanced at her reflection in the bakery case, she could have sworn she had grown a couple of inches taller.Must be the sugar.She smiled to herself. Things were going to be different. She wasn’t sure how, but she was determined to fix her life. Then she remembered something someone had once said. “You can’t fix people. You can only fix yourself.”
Tori took the white paper bag from the woman behind the counter, thanked her, and smiled.Who would have thought a small mixture of buttery dough and cinnamon could cause an epiphany?She was going to approach things a little differently now. Sure, he’d think she was being the obedient wife, but two can play at the manipulation game.
She pushed her grocery cart toward the deli section and ordered a half pound of bologna and a half pound of American cheese. She never understood why that was her husband’s favorite sandwich. He’d be thrilled. Frankly, she didn’t care if he was thrilled or not, but this was the first step in taking back some of her own power. Since she had been a strong ten-year-old child, she could be a mighty thirty-eight-year-old adult. Tori could hear him bragging at work, “Hey, look what the old lady made for me.” God, how she hated that expression.Old lady, my ass.
Chapter Five
Stillwell Art Center
The same day
Cullen placed the blanket and its contents on his long worktable. “I’ll get to the diary lock tomorrow.”
Luna frowned.
“Listen. I know that as soon as I get it open, you’ll be digging into it like an archeologist. You’ll be engrossed for hours. Days,” Cullen said evenly. It wasn’t the first time he had had to convince his sister to take it easy. Slow down. “Besides, I don’t know about anyone else, but I could use some dinner. It’s past six.”
“And I have to get Marley and Ziggy home before my board meeting,” Ellie said.
“I’d be available to get something to eat.” Chi-Chi hoped she hadn’t crossed a line. It wasn’t unusual for all of them to share a meal, but when it came to Cullen, she always waited to be invited. She also had her own crush going on.
Luna still stood with her arms akimbo. “Huh. Traitors.”
Everyone chuckled as Chi-Chi linked her arm through Luna’s. “Come, girl. You need to make sure you are robust for this new puzzle.”
Luna shook her head and pulled Chi-Chi toward the café entrance. “Gotta lock up.” Luna felt her cell phone vibrate in her apron pocket. When she reached in and saw the caller ID, she stopped in her tracks. “Whoa.”
“Something good?” Chi-Chi asked with a playful grin.
“I . . . it’s . . . him.” Luna began to blush.
“Well, don’t be stupid, girl. Answer it.”
Luna took in a deep breath. “Well hello, Marshal Gaines. To what do I owe this pleasure?” Her eyes went wide at Chi-Chi, as if asking, “Did I do that all right?” Chi-Chi gave her an encouraging nod.
Gaines cleared his throat. “Hello, Luna-tic.” Luna could hear the smile in his voice. “How are you?”
“Very well, thank you. And yourself?” She was trying to keep the tremor out of her voice.
“Great. Listen, I know it’s short notice, but I am heading back to Charlotte, and I have to pass through Asheville. Any chance you guys are free for dinner?”
“Funny you should ask. Cul, Chi-Chi, and I were about to head out for a bite to eat after we take Wiley home. Where are you now?”
“Just outside of Weaverville. I wasn’t sure what time I would be nearby; otherwise, I would have phoned sooner.” He paused. “Do you mind if I join you?”
