After dessert and coffee, Louie returned to the table. “Can I get you anything else?”
“No, thank you. I’ll take the check, please,” Gaines offered.
“Oh no, let us pay. You drove all this way. It’s the least we can do,” Cullen protested.
Gaines pushed his blazer aside, displaying the badge on his belt. “That’s an order.” He gestured to Louie. Louie was slightly taken aback, but then understood it wasn’t meant to intimidate. It was the marshal joking with Luna and Cullen.
“Official business.”
Louie bowed in accord. “Coming right up, Officer.”
Luna, Cullen, and Gaines got a kick out of the exchange. “Thanks, Christopher. It has been a pleasure.” Cullen added, “Next time, it’s on Luna.”
Luna rolled her eyes and shook her head. “My brother, the big spender.”
Guffaws came from both men. “Seriously, next time you are in town, we’ll take you to a nice place.”
“This was great,” Gaines replied. “But I just might take you up on that offer next time I’m around.”
Luna got wobbly again. Next time.
After Gaines paid the check, they stood and headed toward the door. Cullen turned to both of them. “Want me to drop you off, sis?”
She thought she was going to punch him. But before she could respond, Gaines chimed in. “I’ll take her back. It’s on my way.”
“Cool. Thanks,” Cullen responded, as if he didn’t know it wasn’t exactly on the way, but he was happy his sister was in such a playful mood.
Cullen and Gaines shook hands. “Good luck with your place,” Gaines said sincerely. “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Cullen replied with, “Enjoy the tour!” and walked toward his car as Gaines and Luna strolled to the Jeep.
Again, he opened the passenger door for her. I could get used to this. It was an act of kindness and courtesy. Being weak or feeble had nothing to do with it. There should be no shame in exhibiting good manners.
In spite of the hectic and exciting event, Luna was still bouncing with adrenaline. It was as if she and Gaines had known each other before. Maybe, she thought. In another life? She smirked.
Gaines looked over at her. “Care to share?”
“Huh?” Luna was off in her own little world; her thoughts were spinning, recounting the frenetic day and the wonderful surprise of Marshal Gaines showing up. “Just thinking about today. It was exhilarating.”
“You must be beat,” Gaines offered.
“No, not really. That was why I smirked. It’s as if I’ve drunk a gallon of coffee.”
“Adrenaline,” Gaines commented.
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Luna was astounded at the way they were in sync. But that wasn’t anything new. She had felt that way from the day they had met.
He smiled but kept his eyes on the road. “Turn here, correct?”
“Yep.” Luna was sorry the evening was coming to a close as he pulled into the driveway and put the Jeep in park. She acquiesced to her new approach of being cool and calm. But also being herself. “Hey, thanks for coming. And the sunflowers.” She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. He froze for a moment, then jumped out of the driver’s side and walked over to hers. He opened the door and held out his hand. She took it gladly. Once she was on solid ground, Gaines kissed the back of her hand. She swooned.
Gaines broke the mood. “See you tomorrow?”
Luna was floating on air. “Absolutely.”
“Good.” He let go of her hand. “What time should I show up?”
“Ten? I’ll have coffee and scones waiting.” She gave him a warm smile.
“Sounds good. Sounds delicious.” He waited in his Jeep until Luna was safely inside her house.
Wiley was expressing his joy at seeing his mommy. Luna flashed the porch light once, indicating all was well.
And it was.
Chapter Eight
The Stillwell Art Center
The next day
Most of the artists and vendors arrived at eight thirty to set up before the center opened at ten. There had been people gathering outside since nine o’clock. Perhaps it was the Lincoln Corsair they were raffling off that brought the visitors. Ellie had decided to wait another day to pull the name of the winner, allowing for more contenders and proceeds to go toward the foundation. Entrants wrote their contact info on their tickets so they did not have to be present to win, which satisfied the prior evening’s participants.
The gala drew a lot of ink in local print, as well as social media bombardment. Still, Ellie was thrilled beyond belief at the turnout. She thought about the initial interaction she had had with the Bodmans. He was gentrified, cordial, and warm without being smarmy. The sister was quirky, funny, and astute. Interesting combination. Ellie remembered at the end of the interview that Luna took Ellie’s hand, and said, “You are doing a wondrous thing. Have no fear. It will all work out.” And she gave Ellie a kiss on the cheek.
Though it was the innocent gesture of a kind and loving young woman, Ellie felt it was some kind of omen. A message. It was going to be all she imagined. Gosh, how she missed Richard. This was spectacular, but it would have been much better had he been there to watch the development of Ellie’s vision. On the other hand, if he were still alive, would she have had the passion, vision, and fortitude to pursue such an undertaking? She pondered that thought. They say that everything happens for a reason. Well, if the reason for her inspiration was Richard’s death, she wasn’t keen on that reason. Whatever the case, she had to accept it and be grateful. And grateful she was.
Ziggy and Marley made their way to the open doors on the west side of the courtyard and out to the dog-park area. There was always someone on duty for doo-doo patrol. It was usually a student, looking to pocket some extra cash for making sure that people picked up after their dogs. And people were happy to tip the pooper scooper. The area was kept immaculate.
Ellie decided to make her first stop at the café. A good cup of coffee was always appreciated. Plus, she wanted to chat with Luna a little more. Luna was conversing with Lebichi (Chi-Chi) Stone, the Nigerian silver-jewelry artist who had a gallery on the south side of the building, across the courtyard from the café. Her name meant Look Unto God. Chi-Chi had come to America with her father and mother when she was nine years old. Before moving to the States, her father had worked in Kano, Nigeria, one of the few places in Africa where silver was to be found. He had been employed by a company that made ceremonial bowls, and Chi-Chi had shown an interest in the craft at an early age. As she grew, so did her fascination with jewelry, using her father’s knowledge to make handcrafted items. After high school, she studied metalsmithing and fine-tuned her craft. During summer breaks, Chi-Chi would visit Nigeria and bring gemstones back to incorporate into her work.
She started displaying her pieces at jewelry trade shows, where she received high praise and a lot of sales. Her jewelry prices ranged from $500 and up for a bracelet, $200 for earrings, and upwards of $1,000 for necklaces. For the holidays, she would make smaller, less expensive pieces that sold out within days. Chi-Chi didn’t want her business to become a jewelry manufacturer. She wanted to remain an artist, so she jumped at the opportunity to secure a space at the Stillwell Art Center. She had an apprentice working with her, but Chi-Chi would design all the pieces put up for sale.
Chi-Chi was a work of art herself. She was tall, with a honeyed complexion, a high forehead, and high cheekbones. Her hair was in long braids, often wrapped over her head and ending in a collection flowing down her back. She regularly wore colorful caftans with matching head wraps. Each day, she would wear one of her stunning bracelets, a pair of earrings, and a lavish necklace. Invariably, she would end up selling what she was wearing that day to a customer. In some ways, Chi-Chi reminded Ellie of Luna. Both were free spirits. Creative. Sensitive.
“Good morning, you beautiful women.” Ellie gave each of them a peck on the cheek. “We have qui
te a turnout today!” Ellie gave a sweeping look across the courtyard.
“We sure do, and last night was fabulous,” Luna gushed. She had reason to. The night before revealed something she had hoped for, a positive indication that Marshal Gaines felt something for her. As a person, and a female.
Chi-Chi spoke with the slightest accent as she offered her enthusiasm. “I sold over three thousand dollars’ worth of jewelry last night and took orders for another five thousand dollars’ worth.”
“Wonderful!” Ellie clapped her hands. “Last night was a roaring success. I had no idea people would be digging into their pockets to support the center.”
“Yes, but a lot of these people thrive on telling their friends how much money they donate.” Luna sighed.
“Well and good, because we raised over seventy thousand dollars! Let them talk as much as they want as long as they keep writing checks!” Ellie guffawed.
Luna and Chi-Chi chuckled in response.
“I’d better get back to the studio,” Chi-Chi announced. “Lots of work to do. Ta.” She blew a kiss and floated across the courtyard.
“Chi-Chi is so beautiful,” Luna observed. “Inside and out.” She turned to Ellie. “Kinda cool that chi means ‘life energy.’ Even if it is her nickname. It fits.”
“Speaking your language, eh?” Ellie smiled.
Luna cocked her head. “I am sensing you want to ask me something.” She used air quotes for the word “sensing.” “Come. Have a coffee.”
Ellie looked around and noticed the large bouquet of sunflowers. “They are beautiful. Not easy to find this time of year.”
Luna blushed. “A colleague of mine brought them.”
There was a couple sitting at one of the tables in the corner of the café. They were far enough away for a private conversation. “Cappuccino?” Luna asked Ellie.
“That would be great. Thanks.” Ellie took a seat in the corner opposite the other couple, next to Luna’s easel.
A few minutes later, Luna brought the steaming coffee to the table.
Luna blew on her coffee and took a sip. “So, what’s up, Miss Ellie?” She smiled, peering over the mug.
“You said something to me yesterday that stuck.”
“And what was that?” Luna truly couldn’t remember. So much had happened in the past couple of weeks.
“You said ‘Have no fear.’ I thought it was a little odd. Don’t misunderstand me. I got the intention, but it was those words. My late husband used that expression often.” Ellie waited for a reaction from Luna.
“Huh. Interesting.” Luna kept sipping her coffee, waiting for Ellie to reveal more.
“Luna, dear, I know you have a penchant for spiritual things. Psychic phenomena, telepathy. It’s not a big secret. A bit on the down-low, but not classified information.” It was Ellie’s turn to pause.
Luna pursed her lips. “You are correct.” Another pause.
“And?” Ellie pressed on.
“And?” Luna echoed.
Ellie huffed. “Dear girl, I know about your extracurricular activities, if that’s what you’re concerned about. I can be quite open-minded about those things.”
“Oh, Ellie. I wasn’t sure how to handle this. I do have a small clientele, but I hadn’t decided what to do about them. My plan was to continue to do readings at my home or at the client’s house. But I was apprehensive about meeting them here.” Luna was almost apologetic. “You see, when I do a reading, I usually sketch at the same time. It’s almost like automatic writing, except I draw.”
Ellie leaned in closer to Luna. “Fascinating. Tell me more. Or better, show me. Please.”
Luna was stunned at Ellie’s interest and likely acceptance. “Are you sure?” Luna looked around the café. The couple who had been sitting earlier had left, and the place was empty at the moment. “I wasn’t quite set up to do it here. At least not yet. I wanted to find someone who could be my backup as a barista so as not to leave customers in the lurch.”
“That’s an easy fix. I’ll get one of the pages to stand guard, so to speak.”
Ellie had hired art students to work as pages at the center. They would be a source of information and assistance to visitors. There were usually two on the main floor and one on the second. She pulled her small walkie-talkie out of her tote bag. “Sabrina? Can you make coffee?” Ellie listened. “Splendid. Can you come over to the Namaste Café and hold the fort for . . .” She looked at Luna for a sign. Luna mouthed half-hour. “. . . a half hour?” Ellie nodded at Luna. “Thanks, Sabrina.” Within a couple of minutes, Sabrina appeared in the large glass doorway.
“Hey. What can I help you with?” Sabrina was a second-year art student at the university and eager to please her boss. A good recommendation from Ellie Stillwell could go a long way when she applied to renew her scholarship.
Luna got up and walked over to the counter. “You know how to run one of these?” she asked, jerking her thumb toward the cappuccino machine.
Undaunted, Sabrina gladly took charge. “I sure do. I did a short stint at Starbucks until I got the job here.”
“Fab. We’ll be over in the corner just in case.” Luna moved the easel to the other side of the café. “Follow me.” She motioned to Ellie.
Luna stood in the corner with the easel between her and the table where Ellie was sitting. “May I have a piece of your jewelry?” Luna asked from behind the sketch pad. “It’s how I do this. It’s called psychometry.”
Ellie removed a ring from her right hand. She had never taken off her wedding band and wasn’t about to do it now. But it didn’t matter which ring she chose. Luna was going to get some sort of energy from the ring. That’s how it worked for her.
Ellie handed the ring to Luna, who held it in her hand for what seemed to be an eternity but was in actuality less than five minutes. Luna held the ring in her left hand and began to draw with her right. She began to speak. “I see a retro, 1950s Formica table. On the table are piles of coffee cake. The table is in the kitchen next to the basement stairs.” She kept drawing. “I also see something that looks like a big black box in the basement. But it’s not a box. It’s more like a small room. And what’s up with the TV set? Keeps going on and off.”
Luna tore off the sheet of paper and rested it on the table in front of Ellie.
Ellie sat silently. The drawing was of a table that looked like the one that was in the kitchen of the house in which she had grown up. Complete with the pink chairs and a stack of cake. There was a large square with a smaller black square inside it. She stroked the page and looked up at Luna. “My mother used to bake coffee cake for every occasion. And my father had a darkroom in the basement.” Tears started to well. “And the TV?” She pointed to a sketch of a television with rabbit-ear antennae.
“My late husband had one of these in the garage. He refused to part with it. Kept insisting he would refurbish it. But it never happened. Every time I go into the garage and see that set, I think, ‘Richard, how could you leave me with this thing?’ And then I chuckle.” Ellie pulled an embroidered handkerchief out of her bag and dabbed her eyes. It had the initials RS. It had been one of Richard’s. Ellie looked at it in disbelief. She always carried a handkerchief, but never Richard’s. She couldn’t recall how it had gotten into her handbag. She shrugged it off as something that could be easily explained. But for the moment, she was much more intrigued with what could not. How could Luna know about the coffee cake? The darkroom? And the television? She was nonplussed. Stunned. Speechless. She looked at Luna. “How?”
Luna shook her head. “I can tell you what, but it’s impossible to say ‘how.’ How is it possible? I don’t know for certain. But I do know that everything is made up of molecules, and molecules vibrate at different frequencies. Somehow, I am like a radio receiver and I pick up the frequencies that are being emitted from your ring.”
“This is fascinating.” Ellie stared at the rough sketch in front of her. “But how did you get all that information from a ring?�
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Ellie puckered her lips. “On the one hand, it’s complicated physics, but on the other hand, it’s about tuning in.” Luna took the seat next to Ellie. “I like to compare it to cable television. Some people have premium, others have basic. But we all have a connection. It simply depends on what channel you tune into.” Luna looked at Ellie. “Does this make any sense?”
“Yes it does. I like that analogy. Cable TV.”
“Unfortunately, there are people who forget to turn on the set or forget to plug it in,” Luna joked.
Ellie patted Luna’s hand. “Can you tell me more? How do you interpret this?”
Luna thought for a moment. “In a nutshell, I think it’s your late husband letting you know that he’s with you in spirit.”
Ellie laughed softly. “Do you know that he begged me to bake my mother’s coffee cake recipe hundreds of times? I never wanted to because they were so fattening!” She sighed.
“And the kitchen and darkroom tell me that your parents are with you, too.”
A small stream of tears ran down Ellie’s face. “Oh dear. Just look at me.” She sniffled and dabbed her face with Richard’s handkerchief. “And this.” She held it up. “I have never touched Richard’s handkerchiefs. They are still in the top drawer of his chest of drawers. At least they were.” Ellie looked confused.
“Oh, and then there’s kinetic energy.” Luna took a sip of her lukewarm coffee. “That’s a whole other complicated subject. But did you ever think you saw something move? Not a shadow, but let’s say a teapot?”
“A what? Teapot?” Ellie was curious.
“Yeah. Once I was standing in the kitchen with my friend Charlie, and suddenly the teapot was whistling and the water was boiling. But . . . neither of us had filled it, put it on the stove, and turned it on.” Luna leaned back in the chair. “We both looked at each other wide-eyed and said, ‘Did you do that?’ Nope. Neither of us had touched the kettle, and we had been standing there for a good fifteen minutes talking. It was really bizarre.” Luna shook her head in disbelief. “What can I say? It happens.”
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