Celeste Files: Unlocked

by Kristine Mason

  He grinned. “I still can’t believe you finally did it,” he said, picking up his wine glass. “Here’s to having you around more.”

  She tapped her glass to his. “I’m around.”

  “You might be here, but your mind isn’t. Or you’re busy planning menus, paying bills, dealing with marketing. Since the article in Chicago Magazine came out, the bakery has been swamped. You could almost hire another manager.”

  “You’re right, and I’m sorry. It’s not fair to you or Olivia.”

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “Celeste, I’m proud of you. You’ve pursued your dreams and built a thriving business. I know hiring people eats into your bottom line, but I’d love to see you free up even more of your time. You’ll need to if we’re going to have another baby.”

  “I see,” she said, a little annoyed. “So now that Jenny is managing the bakery you’re finally and ever so graciously going to give up your super sperm. Very kind of you. I’m glad you’ve made this decision for us.”

  He squeezed her hand before she could pull it away. “Don’t act like I’m trying to call the shots where our family is concerned. You know I want more kids.”

  “On your terms,” she said, pushing her plate aside.

  “That’s not true. We both agreed you’ve stretched yourself thin between Olivia and the business. Having another baby will put additional pressure on both of us.” He let go of her hand, then took his plate and stood. “Call me selfish, but I’ve missed my wife.”

  She stared at John’s back as he rinsed his dish. Yes, she’d been busy juggling career and motherhood, but she hadn’t thought about how her business had affected her marriage. Other than nagging her about hiring extra help, John hadn’t said much about how she ran the bakery or that he’d felt neglected. Between his travel schedule and her devotion to the bakery and Olivia, she realized they really didn’t have much private time.

  As Olivia continued to polish off her dinner, Celeste stood and went to the sink. She ran a hand along John’s back. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

  “I’ve been asking you to cut back on your hours since Olivia was born.”

  “And I did.”

  “No, you rearranged your schedule and brought work home. I’m tired of sitting on the couch alone while you’re in front of the computer dealing with payroll or whatever.” He took the dishtowel off the counter and, drying his hands, faced her. “I want another baby, but I need you to be around more.”

  He was right. She’d been running on empty. There were many nights when John would put the moves on her, but she’d been too tired to love his body. That wasn’t how she’d envisioned their marriage, and the only person who could change their current unhealthy situation was her.

  “Let me run the numbers. For now, I think I can afford to hire an assistant manager, which would free up my time to take care of payroll and such during the day, rather than at night.”

  After setting the towel on the counter, he placed both hands on her shoulders. “Do it because you want to, not because of me.”

  “Mama?” Olivia called, and stretched as far as her highchair straps would allow.

  John chuckled, and, after wetting a paper towel, went to their daughter. “How can you be so chubby when half of your food is on your face?” he asked Olivia, and cleaned her cheeks and mouth. “Come on, munchkin. Let’s take a bath.”

  “You’ve been gone all week,” Celeste said, and began cleaning the kitchen. “Let me finish up in here, then I’ll take care of Livy’s bath.”

  “I have my girl covered. I’m sure you have work to do anyway. And, no, that wasn’t a dig.”

  She rubbed his arm and gave Olivia’s damp cheek a kiss. “My work is finished.”

  He reached around and grabbed her waist. “Good. That’ll give us time to practice our baby-making skills.”

  Relieved they were back to teasing rather than on the verge of arguing, she smiled. “Practice does make perfect.”

  After he left the room, and she cleaned the kitchen, her mind was on John and what he’d said. If he’d thought she was stretched thin now, what would he say if he knew about her visions, and that she was learning how to better understand her psychic abilities? Thank God Jenny had called before she’d told John her suspicions regarding Kelly’s mom. A new manager, and even an assistant manager, might help relieve the pressures of running her own business, but in reality she was trading one stress for another. Spending time with Maxine, practicing how to psychically ground herself while trying to discover if Kelly’s mom had been murdered would take hours from her day.

  Hopefully she’d uncover the truth behind Kelly’s mom very soon. Even if she did, she’d still have to make sure she knew how to control her visions. When she’d been pregnant with Olivia, she’d experienced no psychic phenomena, but she suspected that was due to the trauma she’d suffered and not her pregnancy. Now that her mind no longer repressed her gift, she hadn’t a clue as to how that gift would be affected during pregnancy. Worried her sensitivity to the dead might increase, she would need to make sure she listened to everything Maxine could teach her.

  Another baby.

  She’d always wanted a big family and couldn’t wait to give Olivia a brother or sister. Her daughter’s squeals reached into the kitchen. A bigger family would mean they couldn’t stay in John’s condo for much longer. If she hired an assistant manager, they might not be able to save quickly enough to move into a bigger place. Instead of putting the cart before the horse, she’d concentrate on right now. And right now, she was ready to put her daughter to bed, then make love to her husband.

  When she reached Olivia’s room, she stood in the doorway and watched as John finished zipping their daughter’s footie pajamas. He then scooped up Olivia and, snuggling her close, quietly sang Hush Little Baby. When Olivia hugged him back and sighed, tears welled in Celeste’s eyes. John was a good man and father. She loved being married to him and knew in her heart she had to be honest with him.

  Together, they put Olivia to bed. After they shut off the light and went into their bedroom, he pulled her close. “I’ve missed you this week,” he said, kissing her along the throat. “There was a psychic advisor shop in the storefront across from my hotel. Every time I saw it, I thought of you.”

  She had her opening. “And what did you think?”

  “About this,” he murmured, and slid his hand beneath her yoga pants. “And this.” He ran his palm along her breast.

  Her breath hitched as desire curled through her belly. “The psychic made you think of my butt and boobs?”

  When he chuckled, his warm breath fanned across her lips. “Never saw her, but the store made me glad my psychic went into baking instead of fortune-telling.”

  “That’s too bad,” she said, pushing his sweater up his torso and over his head. “Now that my time at the Sugar Shack is going to be freed up, I was thinking about finding a mentor to help me regain my psychic powers.” She grinned and ran her hand along his hard chest. “For the good of mankind, of course.”

  “Of course.” He pulled her shirt off, then unhooked her bra. “But I prefer living with a sexy baker.”

  “Why’s that?” she asked, breathless when he dragged her pants down her legs, then pressed her against the mattress.

  “I’ve gotten used to your creepy gnomes,” he said, kissing a path along her stomach. “But the psychic stuff…not so much.”

  Although turned on and anxious for him to kiss his way to between her thighs, she couldn’t help resenting his comment. “Are you saying that when I still had my gift, it used to creep you out?”

  He stopped mid-kiss and looked up at her. “Creepy is for the gnomes, not my wife.” He stood, removed the rest of his clothes, then settled her on the center of the bed. After covering her with his big body, he smoothed her curls away from her face. “I love you, every part of you. But when you were having visions, it scared the hell out of me. I don’t want what happened in Wiscons
in to ever repeat itself. I love you too much to lose you.”

  The sharp blades of guilt pierced her chest. “I love you, too. And I’m not going anywhere.” She reached between their bodies and stroked him. “I do have a prediction, though.”

  “What’s that?” he asked, grazing his lips along hers.

  “I predict we’re going to stop with the chitchat and practice our baby-making skills. Twice.”

  “Twice?” He smiled against her mouth, and his breath quickened. “That’s a prophecy I can live with,” he said, then kissed her.

  As he deepened the kiss and began to make love to her, her thoughts remained on John and the pleasure he brought her. But once they were both sated and she was curled against his body, the guilt returned. She couldn’t tell him about Maxine or Kelly’s mom, or that her earlier conversation with Ian confirmed that Maxine was the real deal. While she didn’t want to lie to her husband, she also didn’t want him reliving what had happened to her in the past, or stressing over what could possibly happen in the future. Once she had a better understanding of what she was capable of and how she could control her gift, she would tell him the truth. For now, for his peace of mind and hers, she’d keep him in the dark and pray that what her mind had unlocked wouldn’t ruin their marriage.

  Or, this time, kill her.

  Chapter 5

  CELESTE CARRIED OLIVIA to Kelly’s front door. This morning’s weather was a repeat of yesterday’s and, according to the local meteorologist, the weekend should result in more of the same. If only she didn’t have the responsibility of the bakery, she would stay home wearing her lounge pants and sweatshirt, curl up under a blanket and watch mindless movies. But she had more than the bakery to worry about, or running Olivia to the daycare. She had another appointment with Maxine.

  Her stomach fluttered with nervous energy as she knocked on Kelly’s townhouse door. Maxine had suggested she bring an item back to her North Astor home that Celeste could use for another reading, but she had no idea how she would accomplish something like that without Kelly questioning her. She’d considered keeping the blanket, yet didn’t think that was right. Especially if Kelly called the daycare looking for it.

  The door swung open, and her friend greeted her with a weary smile. “Morning. Thanks for helping out today.” Kelly’s brown eyes were swollen, underscored with dark circles and held a sadness Celeste could relate to. It had been over five years since her mom had passed, but the loss still hurt.

  “I’m so sorry,” Celeste said, and, still holding Olivia, half-hugged Kelly. “How are you holding up?”

  Kelly ran a hand over her dark-brown hair, which had been pulled back into a sloppy ponytail. “Okay.” She let out a sigh, and motioned for Celeste to come inside. “I just don’t get it,” she continued. “My mom planned to meet her girlfriends for lunch today after her morning doctor’s appointment. Tomorrow evening, she and Ann were supposed to go to the theater.”

  Ann. Celeste had a quick memory of the woman’s name, along with the threat to her life. “Who’s Ann?” she asked.

  “My mom’s best friend. She’s a nurse and is—was—staying with my mom to help her.” Kelly tugged at the cuffs of her baggy sweatshirt and hugged herself. “Ann was the one who found her. She’s beside herself.”

  “We all are.” Kelly’s sister, Lea, entered the room carrying a little girl. Dressed in a stylish cream-colored sweater dress, dark-brown leggings and tall brown boots, Lea looked as if she were going out for dinner and drinks rather than making funeral arrangements. “Hello, Celeste,” Lea said, tucking her straight brown hair, cut in a severe yet sexy bob, behind her ear. “Thank you for taking the girls to the daycare.”

  “Oh, Celeste, I’m sorry.” Kelly hugged herself tighter. “I forgot to ask if you would mind taking Lea’s daughter, too. Her daycare had to shut down due to a flu outbreak.”

  Daycare? She must have been mistaken about Lea’s au pair. “Not a problem,” Celeste said, then, facing Lea, offered her condolences.

  Lea’s chin trembled slightly and her eyes misted with tears. She blinked several times, then cleared her throat. “Thank you. Whatever our mother’s reasons for taking the coward’s way will—”

  “Lea,” Kelly gasped. “How could you say such a thing?”

  Lea’s jaw tightened. “I won’t apologize for feeling bitter and angry.” She set her daughter down when the little girl began pulling on Lea’s earrings. “My last conversation with Mom was…never mind. I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Kelly’s husband, Dale, entered the room carrying their daughter, Avery. “We better get going. I’d like to make it back into the office by lunch.” He glanced to his wife, his gaze drifting over the clothes she wore. “As it is, we’re going to lose money this week.”

  “My boss is giving me three days’ paid bereavement leave.” Kelly glared at her husband. “We’ll be just fine.”

  Lea rolled her eyes. “For Christ’s sake, Dale. Don’t be such an insensitive dick. If you need the money that bad, I’ll loan it to you.”

  Dale snorted. “You mean you’ll max out another credit card.”

  “Screw you,” Lea snapped. “I’ll have you—”

  Celeste cleared her throat. “If the girls are ready to go, I’m ready to leave.”

  Lea looked to where her daughter played with a doll on the carpet. “I apologize, Celeste. My brother-in-law is a cheap son of a—”

  “Enough,” Kelly shouted. “I don’t appreciate you people swearing around the girls or embarrassing me in front of my friend.” She turned to her husband. “We don’t need you to come with us, so go to work.”

  “Well, I want to be there when you meet with the attorney. Just because you’re a paralegal doesn’t mean you understand the law.”

  God, Celeste couldn’t stand Dale. Kelly was a bright woman and had worked for the same attorney for the past fifteen years. She’d guarantee Kelly knew more about the law than Dale, who worked in the IT department for the Chicago Transit Authority.

  Kelly took Avery from her husband. “Just put the car seats in Celeste’s Jeep. I’m going to change Avery’s diaper. I’ll be right back.”

  While Kelly left the room, Dale barely looked at Celeste as he took her keys. When she’d first met him she had considered Dale an attractive guy, until he’d opened his mouth. She hadn’t needed to be psychic to sense the ugliness inside him, and couldn’t stand the way he spoke to Kelly and acted as if his wife were stupid. Several times Kelly had suggested they meet for a couples’ night out with her and John. Celeste had managed to talk John into having dinner and drinks with Kelly and Dale this past summer. John had lasted no more than an hour before he’d pulled her aside and told her he wasn’t about to waste a kid-free evening on a pompous prick like Dale.

  “Zoe’s diaper bag is by the door,” Lea said, then began bundling her adorable daughter. “It’s the Coach one.”

  “Are there any instructions I need to give the daycare?” Celeste asked.

  “I have everything they’ll need to know written down and tucked in the diaper bag.” Lea placed a knit hat on Zoe’s head. “Zoe has a delicate palate, so I packed her lunch.”

  Dale stepped inside and picked up the diaper bags. “What happened to your over-priced babysitter?” he asked. “Catch her in bed with your husband?”

  “I truly hate you,” Lea said, and picked up Zoe.

  Dale chuckled as he left the townhouse. Red splotches developed along Lea’s pale cheeks. She looked to Celeste. “My au pair needed to go home to Germany to be with her family. Her father was in a terrible accident. She’s a pretty girl, but my husband would never—”

  Celeste held up a hand. “Lea, you don’t need to explain anything to me. I’m not a fan of Dale.”

  Lea’s lips tilted in a small smile. “Thank you again for helping us today.”

  “I wish I could do more,” Celeste said, glancing around the room and looking for something she might be able to snag before she left. When s
he saw an angel figurine on the built-in bookshelf adjacent to the fireplace, she remembered Kelly telling her about how she’d received it from her mom on her first Mother’s Day. Guilt gave Celeste a jab. While she might be able to use the figurine to gain another vision, she wasn’t a klepto and couldn’t take a sentimental item from her friend. Which reminded her…

  She sat Olivia down on the carpet, then pulled Avery’s blanket from her over-sized purse. Kelly entered the room with her daughter bundled up from head to toe. When she saw the blanket, her eyes widened. “Where did you find that?”

  “In Olivia’s diaper bag.”

  Tears welled in Kelly’s eyes. “When I found out about Mom, I…” She looked away and buried her face against Avery’s jacket. After a moment, she let out a deep breath, then looked up at her. “I’m so glad it’s safe. My mom made that for Avery and it means so much to me.”

  Guilt gave Celeste a harder jab. “I’m sorry, I should have called or texted you that I had it.” But she’d been too busy trying to make sense of the vision the blanket had triggered.

  “It’s not a big deal,” Kelly said, as Dale came back into the room.

  “Car’s loaded.” He set Celeste’s keys on an end table. “Don’t forget to bring the obituary I wrote up last night.”

  Lea gave him a cool smile. “I’m afraid you wasted your time. Kelly and I handled our mother’s obituary this morning.”

  He gave his wife a dirty look. “Whatever. I’ll meet you at the funeral home. You two can take Lea’s Mercedes. Might as well before it gets repossessed,” he said, then left.

  “I don’t know why you stay with him,” Lea said to her sister. “He’s controlling and mean. I can’t stand the way he talks to you.”

  “At least my husband comes home.”

  Ouch. The loss of a loved one should bring a family closer, not tear them apart. “I need to leave,” Celeste said, wondering—with the way they’d openly argued—if they’d forgotten she was even in the room.

  Both women looked at her, stress and exhaustion clear on their faces. “I’m sorry,” Kelly began, “it’s been a rough morning.”