Cupid to the Rescue: A Tail-Wagging Valentine's Day Anthology

by Lisa Mondello

  He opened the computer and pulled up a file labeled Kat-Bk. Covers.

  “Let’s talk about your book covers first, which means font, logo, color, mood—an attractive picture that will make the book fly off the shelves—so to speak. Let’s say, fly into someone’s e-reader.”

  “Okay…” she drew out the word. “I’m listening.”

  He shifted slightly to study her. Blank expression except for a narrow line in her forehead. “So, would I be correct in thinking you’re clueless?”

  She leaned back, her body stiffening, and then she giggled. “Why should I deny it? The way I see it, my job is to write the book—not a small thing—and pay someone to do what I can’t.”

  “Fair enough, but now sit up and learn. I need your input if we’re to come up with your brand. Luckily, I ignored the cover and actually read your first book, so I’ve got some ideas. You’re my client now, and I want you to be happy.”

  That fabulous smile lit up her face, and Brandon knew he’d sit there all night, if necessary, in order to keep seeing it. As he spoke, however, Kat got more excited. A logo hinting of a college campus with Dana Moretti in profile. Or facing out. He showed her both. A Foul Day on Campus across the top with the series name across the bottom: A Dana Moretti Mystery, Book 1. With a touch of a key, he flipped their positions.

  “Lots of choices,” Kat said. “I like that. And I like where you placed my name, and the font size. Readers will see it.”

  “That’s the idea,” he said. “I put Dana in a red sweater. Red stands out. Readers will recognize her soon, and know that this is the series they want.”

  “Right. Good idea.” Her face scrunched up. “I kind of look good in red myself.”

  Her inflection carried such surprise and innocence, he couldn’t stop laughing. “I know, Ms. Alter Ego Moretti.”

  “Oh, you’re right. I forgot about that for a moment.” She tapped her fingers over her mouth. “But you know what? I think Dana is developing a life and personality of her own.”

  “Probably a very good thing. Allows you to be more creative.”

  “I agree. She needs a much stronger personality than mine.”

  He almost fell off the chair. “Right,” he said, keeping a straight face. “A stronger personality than a Super-Avenger girl.”

  Now, it was her turn to laugh. “Oh, Brandon. This really is fun. When bad stuff happens later on, and it will, I hope we can remember some silly moments like this.”

  He stood and took her in his arms. “I hope we’ll have lots of silly moments to choose from by then, hopefully a long time from now.” She rose on tiptoe and he leaned down. Kissing her was such pleasure. He felt her love swim right through his being, but he caught himself before they went too far. He had paying clients to attend to in the morning.

  “C’mon, sweetheart. We’ve got more work to do.” He led her back to the table. “Since we’re creating your brand, Kat, you need to be happy with what we do now. So let’s look at a possible cover for the second book.” He’d already designed a mock-up with the logo and series name and showed it to her alongside the first book. They looked darn good, and he visualized more to come. “What do you think?”

  He didn’t expect tears. Lots of them. How did this happen? One moment laughing, and the next…? Pushing the computer away, he took her hand. “What’s wrong, Kat? None of my clients ever cried.”

  She just shook her head. “Nothing,” she whispered. “It-it’s perfect. Just perfect. But so real.”

  He kept listening, kicking himself. Totally in over his head. What did he miss along the way? Talk about clueless! If the design was that good, she should have been at least a little bit happy. “Maybe working together this way wasn’t such a great idea,” he finally said. “I can call one of my artist friends for you to work with instead.”

  “No!” She grasped his hands. “Brandon…it’s scary. All of it. I’ve wanted this, and pictured this for so long, and now…I’m totally anxious, thrilled, amazed, frightened. I could go on.”

  Now he got it. “Afraid of success? Or afraid of failure?”

  “Tissues. I need a tissue,” she said, going to the counter to get some.

  He waited, his heart sinking when she took the entire box back to the table.

  She stayed standing, pacing a bit, as though she had too much energy to calm down. “I’m afraid of both, Bran. Success and failure.” She flipped her hand in a motion of disgust. “So much for my rational mind that can solve quadradic equations. No help there.”

  When she got into range, he gently pulled her onto his lap. “Just talk to me.”

  She raised her head, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. “Thank you,” she said. “For everything. All this work…the effort… No one else, not even Nonna, believes in me the way you do. You’ve actually brought to life—you’ve validated—this lonely road I’ve been on. You can’t know how much that means to me. I love you for it.”

  A lot of responsibility seemed to rest on his shoulders. This was a side of Kathy he didn’t know. So insecure. But he had to be honest. Her investment in time, energy, and emotion was too big to lead her down the wrong path.

  “I enjoy designing for you, Kat, not because I want you to be happy, which of course I do, but because I liked your book. I’ve been around the publishing business, but from a design angle only. I’m not an editor or reviewer, so I’m no expert. I have a feeling, however, that if you continue writing, you’ll find readers for your stories.

  “If I had thought the book was terrible”—he shook his head—”I don’t know exactly how I’d tell you, but I would not have done all this.” He tapped the computer screen. “In all honesty, my love, I wouldn’t have encouraged you.”

  He watched her absorb his words, her fingers steepled as she left his lap and stood.

  “What would you have done instead?” she asked.

  His mind raced. She’d gone to school for math, not writing. He’d spent years training in his field. Dozens of art and computer design courses. Degrees and certificates. “I would have told you to take writing classes,” he finally said as he held his breath.

  That sunshine smile appeared again, and he sighed in relief. “I’m a step ahead of you, Bran,” she said. “How do you think I’ve gotten this far? I’ve been taking courses and workshops for the last four years, and I used to be in a critique group. Dana Moretti Mysteries have been the result.”

  He rose and twirled her around the kitchen, the dogs yapping at their feet. “I’m happy for you, Kat. I’m happy for us both. And I’m really happy you liked my ideas.”

  “Oh, I’ve gotten to like a lot of your ideas lately.”

  Hugging her close, he said, “How about we run with the dogs and try out a couple of those ideas afterwards?”

  She nodded, blushed. “Another good time to savor.”

  “We’re just starting out, sweetheart. We’ve got a lot of good times ahead.”

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  On a late Sunday in January, Kathy sat at her kitchen table with Brandon and her parents, glad to finally have them meet.

  “That was a good meal, Kathy. I’m happy the recipes came in handy, and I’m even happier that Dad and I are finally here.”

  Maybe that was true for her mom, but between the first handshake and sitting down to dinner, her dad and Brandon had been tiptoeing around each other like two boxers dancing in their respective corners. Now her dad sat opposite her, seemingly relaxed, as he leaned back in his chair. Maybe the hearty meal had mellowed him.

  “Thanks, Mom. We’re happy you came here, too. And as for your recipes…well, I think I finally figured out how to do pasta right.”

  She glanced quickly at Brandon, who tried to bury a chuckle. “Oh, she has her methods,” he said.

  Phone calls hadn’t been enough for her folks. And her Christmas visit seemed like years ago to them. They were used to seeing her at least every weekend. With only one more chapter left to write in her current story, s
he’d invited them down, actually shocked they hadn’t simply shown up before now on their own.

  “So how about you come home next week,” said Joe Russo, “and let Brandon meet your brothers. You’re lucky they didn’t come with us today. Your mother talked them out of it.”

  “I can just imagine, but they’ll have to wait—”

  “She hasn’t finished that book yet,” interrupted Marie. “That was the point of-of getting away. So don’t nag at her, Joe.”

  Her folks had definitely been shaken up, maybe trying to understand. Maybe. “My writing schedule hasn’t changed. I’ve got at least another month here, if not more.” In fact, this might be a good time… She glanced at Brandon. He caught her eye and shrugged in a way that put the ball in her court.

  “More?” echoed her mom. “What do you mean?”

  “This is a nice town,” Kathy replied. “We both like it here.”

  “What are you talking about, Kathy?” Her dad’s voice was rising. “Where’s here? This is a summer place. Good for vacations. Not a real place like Boston.”

  Laughing was not an option. “When I first got here, Dad, I thought exactly the same way. Living right on the beach is fantastic, even in winter. Getting to know a group of ROMEOs, adopting a couple of the cutest doggies, and meeting such wonderful people… I thought we were living in a magical place. Like in the Wizard of Oz. That it wasn’t real.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying. This is just a temporary place so you can get the writing out of your system.”

  She choked back a scream. Come on, Brandon. Help me out.

  As though he read her mind, she heard, “But we learned, Mr. Russo, that Pilgrim Cove is as real as anyplace in the world. The vet’s wife went into labor and we had to look after the dogs in his kennel, their preteen daughter needed our support. Then the storm came on New Year’s, and we lost electricity for twenty-four hours. Despite all the adventures—and don’t forget the original accident—we kept working our jobs full-time all the way through. If that’s not real life, then what is?”

  Her dad’s eyes narrowed, and he looked at Marie. “Nonna did not do us any favors with this big idea. I don’t like it. She’s our only daughter, and I want her back in Boston.”

  “And I want her to be happy.”

  Like a deflated balloon, her dad slumped back. Kathy rushed to his side and took his hands. “I love you, Daddy. You’re not going to lose me.”

  A gentle hand stroked her cheek, and she asked, “So how long did it actually take you to drive here?”

  He shrugged. “An hour, maybe?”

  “Is that really so bad? If I wound up in any of the Boston suburbs, it would take that long to get to your house. Traffic rules in Beantown, Dad. You know that.”

  Her mom started to clear the table. “I’ll do it,” said Brandon. He nodded at the door. “Why don’t you take your folks for a walk on the beach? There’s no wind today, and the hounds will appreciate it.”

  And give us some time alone. She glanced at her parents. “You guys up to it?”

  They reached for their jackets. “Might as well get the lay of the land,” grumbled Joe. “I’ll take Sheba. She doesn’t cause trouble!”

  #

  Surprisingly, her folks were quiet when they started walking on the hard sand. The dogs behaved, although her mom took the familiar Sheba while her dad handled Rocky and she kept Cleo with her. “Amazing how they get along.”

  “Rocky gets all the credit for introducing Bran and me.” She’d mentioned the roadside rescue in passing, but now regaled them with the full account.

  “Look at our daughter, Joe. Look how pretty, how animated.” Her mom looped her arm with Kathy’s. “Is he the one, sweetheart?”

  Kathy halted, and suddenly tears threatened as she looked from her mom to her dad and back again. “Oh, yes. He is very much the one.” She took a deep breath. “I’m thirty years old, not a child. But these feelings are new to me. I know how important family is to us, and I want so much for you to at least like him.” She paused and added, “Affection and even love can come later.”

  Her mom kissed her, and Kathy looked at her father. “Dad, you won’t succeed in scaring him off, so I hope…”

  “If I scare him off, my Katarina, then he’s not the one for you.”

  She guessed this was not the time to mention that Bran used the same words of affection. My Katarina.

  “Ready to go back? I invited Bran’s aunt and uncle for dessert. He has family, too.”

  “Then let’s meet ’em.”

  She distributed plastic bags. “Not before this!”

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  “Showing them my new book designs was a genius move,” said Kathy that night as they lay in bed.

  “Genius? Hardly. It was a no-brainer. I had to get him on my side. What better way than to show him I’m on your side?”

  She rolled over to see him better. “It was more than that,” she said. “I didn’t hear another word about getting the writing ‘out of my system.’ Maybe they finally understand that it’s part of me.” She sighed. “A part that doesn’t pay well.”

  “Not yet, but later on…who knows?”

  “Hmm…” he said, clearing his throat. “How do you feel about getting in touch with Quinn’s granddaughter, Lila, and asking about rentals here? All- year-round rentals?”

  Her breath caught. “Just a sec. Reality check coming.” She plumped her pillows, sat up, and stretched her fingers out, ready to count off. Then plopped her arm down. “You know, I can’t think of anything other than we’re a bit farther away from my folks and yours. I usually go into Mass Life once or twice a month, but no big deal.”

  “I visit new clients at their convenience—any time, weekdays or weekends. Being self-employed requires that flexibility. But even so, I don’t see any issues. Especially with the ferry service as another option.”

  “Right! I forgot all about that.”

  “It takes you into Rowes Wharf at Harborside. We could catch the T from there to go anywhere in town.”

  She remained quiet for a moment. “This is a big step, Bran. Really taking it to the next level.”

  He put out his hand. “I’m already there.”

  She twined her fingers through his. “Yes. Call her.”

  Her Roadside Rescues: Chapter 13

  Kathy stared at the words on her computer screen, where Dana Moretti had successfully solved another case by coupling opportunity and motive with a little geometry, trigonometry, and common sense. A Calculated Incident? Absolutely. Her character’s favorite kind. A delicious combination of math and mystery. Kathy loved putting it together.

  She placed her hands back on the keyboard, centered her cursor, and typed The End after the last line of text. She’d finished with a week to spare for revision. Deadline met. Perfect.

  She couldn’t sit still and waltzed around the room, simply celebrating a bit. She glanced at the clock, itching to tell Brandon. “I’ll be right back,” she said to her four-legged companions, and grabbing a sweater, she ran downstairs.

  His kitchen door was always left open, and she walked in to see Bran standing in the room. Of course, he’d heard her footsteps as she ran and expected her to appear. But now he held up his hand to wait, and she saw the phone against his ear, his eyes alert as he nodded every so often. He walked back into the dining room, checking his calendar—a large paper calendar.

  “Tuesday, the eleventh, one o’clock in your office. I’ll be there… Absolutely, I’ll bring some general ideas, and show you what I’ve already done for others.” He disconnected, and Kathy saw a big smile cross his face.

  “New client?” she asked.

  “Hopefully. A commercial account, just what I need to grow my own portfolio.” He winked. “I’ll be taking that ferry into Rowes Wharf.”

  She opened her arms, and he walked into them, hugging her back.

  “We can both celebrate,” she said, twirling away from him. “I finished the b
ook! Dana Moretti is on her way to a third adventure!”

  “Congratulations! We’ll have to put finishing touches on your website.”

  She squeezed his hand, so grateful he remembered without her having to ask, but not wanting to distract him from his paid work. “I can wait. I still have to revise and send it to the copyeditor to ferret out typos and other mistakes. But I am so psyched for us. Let’s go out to dinner.”

  A smile lurked; his eyes twinkled. “No more lobster! I don’t have the time.”

  “Then we’ll celebrate next week, after your visit to the new client.”

  “Potential client,” he corrected. “Let’s hope it works out, so we can afford that lobster as well as a place to live here. Did I mention Lila’s call this morning?”

  “No-o-o.” Her heart raced. “Tell me, tell me! I love the idea.”

  “Me, too. She wants to talk with us, find out about our budget, where we’d like to live, and all those details. She knows her stuff and didn’t make any promises.”

  “That’s because there’s probably very little available.” She walked closer and took his hand. “Living on the beach is rare, even in this town. Some people live on the bay, some live away from all water. That’s why Sea View House is special.”

  She looked over where Rocky lay. “I don’t think we’ll get this lucky again.”

  “We’re already lucky, Kat. No matter what.”

  She snuggled against his chest and felt his arms go around her. “You’re right, of course. I love a man whose glass is half-full.” She kissed him quickly and walked toward the door. “Finish up your business day while I go browse the internet for real estate in Pilgrim Cove. Just to get a feel.”

  “Great idea. Then we can get some burgers at the diner.”

  She gave him a thumbs-up and disappeared.

  When he knocked on her door an hour later, she greeted him with a heavier heart. “We’d better enjoy Sea View House every minute we’re here. That foundation made our rent very reasonable. We can’t afford anything I saw online.”