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“No worries. I was a little shaken when I saw it was Cullen calling. I thought it was an emergency. Chris comforted me.” Luna used air quotes for “comforted.” “And then the power went out.”
“Not between the two of you I am guessing?” Chi-Chi gave her a sly grin.
“Nope! There was enough heat and energy to light up the sky.”
“That is truly funny. The power goes out, and you spark your own!”
“It was sweet and passionate.” Luna was recalling the memory in her head. “And the best part? There were no awkward moments. Before, during, or after. It was as if we had been together before.”
“Well, you have been together before.”
“Yeah, but not like that!” Luna blurted.
“I believe you had been thinking about that moment for a very long time. You had it well choreographed in your head.”
“How interesting you used the word ‘choreographed’ because that’s exactly what I thought when I woke up.”
“It should not surprise you that you function on a slightly different wavelength than most people.” Chi-Chi smiled.
“I know. The funny thing is, I get excited whenever it happens. For me, it’s a validation that there is a divine force, an energy that flows; and we are truly a part of it.”
“You know I would agree with that.”
“It’s right in front of us, but most people, including me, miss the hints. The signs. The clues, so I get excited when someone else is experiencing it.”
“Yes. It is very invigorating.” Chi-Chi nodded. “And also reassuring. Speaking of reassuring, how did you leave it with the fine marshal? Are you in fight-or-flight mode? Que será, será mode? Which I doubt. Or, I am enjoying this ride and I will not pull the emergency brake because I’m in insecure mode?”
“I’m working on the insecure thing. Between you and Cullen, I am reminded to avoid the self-sabotage. I have very strong feelings for Chris. I know he has feelings for me as well. We’re both a little jumpy when it comes to relationships, so it’s good we waited until we got to know each other. Welikeeach other!” Luna exclaimed.
“How did you leave it? Future plans? I know that is an anxiety trigger for all of us.”
“Ya know, we didn’t address the fact that we made love for the first time. There was no ‘about last night’ conversation. And we weren’t all over each other this morning. We were affectionate, yes. A couple of hugs, kisses on the cheek, a pat on the heinie. I pattedhis.” Luna giggled. “It seemed so natural. Then we packed a lunch and took an hour hike.” Luna went on. “Oh, and he made a copy of the note and a page of the diary and is going to hook me up with a handwriting analyst.”
“You could not go an entire twenty-four hours without bringing up your sleuthing.” Chi-Chi tsk-tsked.
“I amme, remember? Anyway, he’s working on that piece, and Ellie and I are going to the library this week to look up fires between 1999 and 2001. There couldn’t have been many. Or maybe? I guess we’ll find out.” Luna’s excitement was growing. “I really think I’m close to figuring this out. At least a good part of it. It feels really close.” Luna mused and thought about the woman Tori. “I am sure she is connected somehow. But I don’t think she is aware of it. If I am making any sense.”
“You lost me on that last sentence, but that is OK. Tell me, were you able to come up with some plans for Chris’s house?”
“Yes we did. He had already started ripping down the wall between the kitchen and dining area but realized it was a load bearing wall and so he can’t remove all the two-by-fours. I came up with an alternative. An island cabinet and countertop with a decorative pillar on each end. Not ideal, but less expensive than bringing in steel beams.”
“How was the rest of the house? As bad as he described? Brown?”
“Yeah. Brown paneling. Again I came up with a makeover that didn’t require ripping off the paneling.”
Luna pulled out her sketchbook and showed Chi-Chi the rough drawings. “The yard is beautiful, and there’s a large picture window in the living-room area, and a patio door in the dining area. I thought he was going to break out in a sweat when we started talking costs. But I explained unless he plans on selling the house in the next ten years, he doesn’t have to do high-end appliances.”
“Very wise.”
“And I get to help him pick everything out.” Luna clapped her hands together. “This is going to be so much fun!”
“I am very happy for you, Luna. You have a special glow about you. More so than you had two days ago and, believe me, your wattage is always higher than most people’s.” Chi-Chi chuckled.
Luna’s cell phone rang. It was Gaines. She got all fluttery. “Hi,” she answered.
“Hey. Just checking you got back all right.”
“Yes. Sorry, I should have called, but I had to pick up Wiley, then Chi-Chi came by.”
