Falling Star

by Laura DeLuca

  “Happy, this is Drew,” Lainey introduced. “Drew, meet Happy, Master Drummer and one of the leaders of the Witches’ Council up in North Jersey.”

  “Former leader,” Happy amended as he took Drew’s hand. Though his fingers were rough and work-worn, his smile was genuine. “I hadda give up that gig after I got myself involved with one of the women up there. She couldn’t work with me so I did the gentlemanly thing and stepped down. I’ve never been one for all that organization anyways. Gotta live free. You know what I’m sayin’?” Drew had no clue what the guy was talking about but nodded anyway, so Happy continued. “Well, it sure was nice to meet ya, Drew. Hope you’re being good to my girl here and I sure as hell hope you can keep a beat better than the rest of these mother f-ers.”

  Drew pursed his lips. “I’m afraid I’ve never touched a drum in my life.”

  Happy was horrified by that revelation. He turned to Lainey with a frown. “Where’d you pick up this yuppie, kid?”

  “On the beach.” Lainey giggled. At least she left out the part about the pepper spray. Luckily, that answer appeased the drummer.

  “Then I guess he can’t be all bad.” Happy winked at them. “Now go over and see Sharon, why don’t ya. I’m sure she brought along an extra drum or two. Always prepared, that lady.”

  Even from the distance Drew could see Happy was right. Sharon had several drums around her, and Elisa and Erin already tapped lightly on their own. Bidding Happy farewell, the couple inched forward to join Lainey’s friends, but they made slow progress. Every few inches someone stopped to say hello or meet Lainey’s new companion. Some of the folks she introduced had eclectic names such as Luna, Lord Henry, and Raven, but there was also a Michelle and a Wendy in the crowd. Most wore long skirts, Guatemalan pants or tie-dye shirts. Drew wondered if he’d wandered into a miniature, contemporary version of Woodstock, and he probably stuck out like a sore thumb in his designer jeans and leather jacket.

  “Does everyone here follow the pagan path?” Drew whispered.

  Lainey was taken aback, though the question seemed logical to Drew. “Oh, no. A few of them sure, like Happy and Wendy. They arrange a lot of the events like this. They even set up a big campout every Beltane. But really, this drum circle is a very diverse group, spiritually speaking. There’s a bit of everything—Christian, Buddhist, agnostic. We all come for the music. Drumming is a practice as old as time and it awakens something deep inside of us. It reminds us our beliefs aren’t all that different—they all stem from the same basic legends. It’s only the names that change from place to place. Besides, everyone enjoys a good drum circle. After all, we all begin and end life with a single heartbeat and that beat is at the core of our being.”

  It made sense and it was refreshing to see so many different colors, creeds, and nationalities mingling so peacefully, holding hands around the bonfire. They were completely oblivious to their differences because their focus was on their similarities. Sure, Los Angeles had a pretty diverse selection of people, but here there were no pretenses—no judgments or unspoken condemnation like there was at the Hollywood parties where the biggest concern was who would make it on the best dressed list. Everyone here was completely genuine and it added a whole different vibration to the atmosphere.

  “Lainey! Drew, over here!” Sharon waved them over, and the pair quickened their pace. Sharon patted the sand and once they got comfortable, she gestured to the cajón and pair of bongo drums beside her. “I brought along a few extra drums for you.”

  “Thanks to me,” Erin added with a cocky grin. “When I saw you two drive off together after work, I knew Lainey would never make it home in time to get hers.”

  “Three guesses about what they were doing,” Elisa snickered under her breath. “Not that I’m judging. The only action I’m getting these days requires three triple A batteries.”

  Drew ignored Elisa’s not so subtle implications. “Erin, did Nate tag along with you tonight?”

  Erin shook her head. “Not this time. He loves banging on a drum, but it’s a school night and he’ll be in bed in half an hour. My sister is staying with him.”

  Erin folded her legs in the sand, and again Drew recognized the now familiar pattern in her skirt. Though hers was a deep blue, it was still emblazoned with stars and made from similar billowy material. Beside her, Sharon’s attire was eerily similar—again the exact same design, but in green. All four women were dressed in identical skirts, except for the colors. Drew was certain they must’ve planned it, but was afraid to ask in case they hadn’t. Turns out he didn’t have time for idle conversation anyway.

  “Is everyone ready?” Happy strained to be heard over the roar of the fire and the waves in the background. As soon as he spoke, every voice on the beach hushed with respect. “Since we have some beginners in the crowd, we’re gonna start out with a simple heartbeat. If ya get lost as we progress to more complicated grooves, you can always return to the heartbeat. It goes like this.”

  Happy tapped the drum three times—one quick beat and two slow. Oddly enough, it did sound very much like the steady pulse of a heartbeat, thumping in a slow and steady pattern. Lainey had grabbed the cajón so Drew took the bongos. He studied the motions of her hands a few strokes before lifting the drums onto his lap. He took a moment to admire the rich hand painted tribal designs before giving the animal skin a shy, tentative pat. It wasn’t difficult at all to pick up the beat. Soon his raps became more confident and blended perfectly with the dozens of other drums around him. Though each instrument was as unique as the hands that worked them, the varying tones created a breathtaking symphony, enhanced even more by the sound of the crashing waves in the distance.

  “That’s it,” Happy encouraged from his spot in the center of the circle. He used his drum as a chair with the base between his legs. “Let the Great Spirit take you. Move with it and let everything else slip away.”

  Those were the last words spoken as the light rapping continued. Most of the people around Drew had closed their eyes, swaying in time with the gentle rhythm. Eventually, the pulse escalated to a more intense rendition. There was still a steady—thuuump, thump thump, but the pace quickened, no longer a quiet relaxed beat. Instead, the exhilaration and excitement grew with the increased tempo. It wasn’t as complicated as Drew had expected, and he was able to keep up with the simple three stroke pattern, though he didn’t dare try the more elaborate tempo that began to emerge. Lainey, Erin, and Elisa stuck with the heartbeat as well, but Sharon’s hands moved with an experience and dexterity that rivaled even the circle leader.

  “You’re doing great,” Lainey whispered beside him, never missing a note. “Loosen up a little. Don’t worry about making a mistake. Like Happy said, feel the beat inside you and move with it.”

  Again the pattern shifted, becoming even more heated. Some of the experienced drummers stood with their instruments, dancing along as they continued to play. The music was so heavy Drew could feel it in his very core, as though his body kept time. The need to move became too demanding to ignore. Drew shut his eyes and swayed, almost drifting away completely as he became one with the steady rhythm. His bare toes, sunk into the sand, were the only thing that grounded him to the earth. The warm flames of the bonfire added to the euphoria. It was strange, but the feel of the drum in his hands, the knowledge of how to strike it just right, was almost as primal as sex. It brought him back to the beginning of time, unifying him not only with those around him, but with the earth and the ancestors who had come before them.

  The others on the beach must have experienced that same ancient connection, but they were able to express it more vocally. Several voices rose in a chant. They weren’t words exactly, more of a humming that resonated from deep within them. Drew wasn’t certain if Happy initiated the mantra or one of the other participants, but before long, the deep drone intermingled with the constant thrum of the instruments.

  “Screw this. I need to dance.”

  Elisa dropped her drum in t
he sand and sprang to her feet, hips gyrating, thin arms raised high over her head. She pirouetted in graceful motions, moving in time with the music. It was a condition that was contagious. It didn’t take long for Erin to jump up and follow Elisa’s lead. The blue and red in their skirts swirled and blended as they moved, their colors magnified by the light of the fire. As though part of their dance, the two of them bent over at the exact same instant, each reaching a hand out to Sharon, inviting her to join them. As though mesmerized, Sharon set down her drum and stood. Then all three women gestured to Lainey.

  “Go with them,” Drew told her when Lainey gave him a concerned glance, probably nervous about leaving him alone in unfamiliar territory. “I’ll be fine. Better than fine if I get to see you perform.”

  It was the truth. Drew wanted to see her dance, to move with the fluid grace that made her his own private elemental spirit. She’d thrilled him with her voice the night they met. Now it was the timeless movements of her body that titillated him. Lainey allowed the steady drumbeat to wipe away any inhibitions until she was completely free, with no concerns about who watched. Except this time, his nymph, his siren wasn’t alone in the magic spell she weaved. Joined by her three spiritual sisters, they created a perfect circle. They twisted and turned, their bright skirts flaring until it was difficult to tell where one started and the other stopped. It was as though they had merged into a single entity, one divine being, moving in the type of synchronization that took professional dancers years to master. It was so easy to see they were all connected on a level that went well beyond the physical.

  “Stunning.”

  Drew sighed under his breath when all four women raised their arms at the same moment. Their fingers touched, and their skirts swirled like a living maypole of whirling colors. It was the most beautiful thing Drew ever witnessed. Lainey and her friends were so consumed with following the heartbeat and the chanting, they didn’t even consider someone might be observing them from the shadows, but Drew was instantly distracted by a series of bright flashes—ten or more coming in quick succession.

  “What the hell?”

  Someone was definitely watching ... maybe even spying on the drum circle. Drew was certain the light had come from behind the dunes. He hated to turn away from the music and dance, but he forced himself to check over his shoulder, squinting and straining his neck to see in the misty darkness. When the reeds rustled, he leapt to his feet, the bongos falling forgotten in the sand. He’d seen enough camera flashes going off in dark corners to recognize the danger they presented. He didn’t want some perverted peeping Tom snapping photos of Lainey and her friends, even if this was a public event.

  Not on my watch.

  Drew stomped in the direction of the perpetrator, certain he knew exactly where the light had originated from. But when he reached the dunes, the area was completely deserted. Not only were there no sneaky photographers whacking off in the cattails, there weren’t even any footprints to indicate a hasty getaway. Could he have imagined it? Was he so delusional he had hallucinations of paparazzi showing up even in the most innocent of settings? He definitely must be at least a little paranoid, because he practically jumped out of his skin when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

  “Drew, what are you doing?” Lainey asked, her voice tinged with worry. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah.” Drew assured her, but he was still distracted. His gaze kept straying back to the empty dunes. “I swear I saw someone taking pictures back here, so I just came over to check it out.”

  Lainey wasn’t as concerned by that as he’d expected. In fact, she shrugged in disinterest. “That wouldn’t surprise me. This is a popular spot for local photographers to get some good nature shots.”

  Drew hadn’t considered that possibility, but it made sense. This wasn’t Los Angeles where reporters hid around every corner, but it was an area where nature lovers enjoyed sneaking out for a quiet rendezvous. Drew really needed to settle down or he’d wind up with another migraine.

  “All right then.” Drew put his arm around Lainey’s waist. “I didn’t mean to take you away from your friends. Let’s head back to the party.”

  Drew followed Lainey to the bonfire, where the beat of the drums was still going strong. He savored the sound of the music, the warmth of the flames, and even the feel of the sand between his toes. Lainey pulled him out to dance with the girls, and with the steady beat pounding through his body, Drew allowed himself to be carried away with it again. He didn’t bother coming back to reality until the night was over.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “I’m out of here for the night¸” Lainey announced, snatching her handbag from the back of her chair. “I promised Drew I’d help with some painting over at his house.”

  Erin shook her head as she switched off her computer monitor. “I still can’t believe he bought that old place. I’m not sure if that’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard ... or the creepiest.”

  “You’re such a cynic.” Stephanie popped her head into the room. She already had her jacket buttoned. It appeared Lainey wasn’t the only one in a hurry to get out of the office that day. “I definitely think it’s romantic. You two are always talking about soul mates and destiny and stuff. How can you believe something like this is anything less than fate?”

  “Because I also have a firm belief in psychopaths.” Erin’s blunt reply wiped the swoony look right off Stephanie’s face, but made Lainey smile. It sounded like her best friend had been spending too much time with Elisa. “And for the record, I believe in soul groups but this soul mate crap is for the birds, and not the lovebirds either. I very much doubt there’s a perfect man out there for me, but I am pretty darn sure I’ve been busting Lainey’s stones for at least three or four lifetimes.”

  Lainey flipped her hair over her shoulder as she switched the office lights off. “And that’s her spiritual side talking. You don’t even want to hear the negativity she spews when she gets into bitch mode. Besides, Drew planned on buying a house down here before we met. He didn’t do it to impress me.”

  “But it was your dream house,” Erin pointed out.

  “One I’d never have been able to afford,” Lainey reminded her. She didn’t mention Drew’s offer to add her to the deed. She still hadn’t decided how she felt about that, but Erin would certainly tell her it was way too soon. “I’d be happy to see anyone buy it, rather than allow it to deteriorate a little at a time. I think Drew understood that.”

  Erin pursed her lips together, unconvinced. “Whatever helps you sleep at night...”

  “Oh would you stop tormenting her?” Stephanie scolded. “I think it’s great that Drew bought that house. It shows how committed he is to you and that he wants to make you happy.”

  There was no winning this discussion, even with Stephanie’s backup, so Lainey let it drop. She glanced down at her watch. “Listen, I really do have to get out of here. I want to hit the store and get something to eat before I get high on paint fumes.”

  Lainey left Erin in charge of locking up for the night and waved to her two co-workers as she jogged to her Fiat. She was in a hurry to get to Drew and it wasn’t only because she was excited about home repairs. Since the night of the drum circle, she’d barely seen him. Sure, she’d fulfilled her promise of a night of steamy passion on the widow’s walk. Even when the temperature drop forced them indoors, they were still able to christen a few more rooms. Lainey hadn’t even cared about showing up for work in the same clothes she’d worn the day before.

  They’d planned to pick up exactly where they’d left off the next night, but the repairs on Blanche’s home were finished. When she wasn’t working, Lainey and her crew were at the Doll Hospital helping the older woman get her house and her business back in order. Moving furniture all night and dealing with the residual effects of the hurricane during the day, left Lainey so exhausted she’d fallen asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. That wasn’t going to happen tonight. No matter how tired s
he was, she intended to carry on with the baptism of the house. In fact, if she had her way, they’d hit every room before the sun rose the next morning.

  I’m definitely going to show Drew another side of Lainey tonight.

  Lainey grinned as she thought of the black teddy in the bottom of her overnight bag. This time around, she’d come prepared for both the night’s festivities and the following morning. One walk of shame a week was enough for any woman. She’d even remembered to bring along a pair of old yoga pants, just in case they actually got around to painting, but Lainey had a feeling that would be the last item on their agenda. The only thing still missing on her list of must-haves for the evening was food. Ready to cross that off as well, Lainey cruised her car into the parking lot of the local convenience store and dug out her cellphone. She hit the redial button and Drew’s number rung automatically.

  “Hel-lo,” he answered on the very first ring.

  “I’m on my way,” Lainey informed him as she unbuckled her seatbelt. “But I stopped to get us some munchies. Anything in particular you’re craving?”

  “Do you really need to ask that question?” There was a definite smirk in his words.

  “The faster you give me a straight answer, the faster I get there.”

  That spurred him forward. “What are you getting?”

  Lainey considered for a moment, tapping her finger against the dashboard. “Probably a cheese hoagie.”

  “What in the world is a cheese hoagie?” Drew heckled. “I guess you mean a sub, but what sort of sub doesn’t include meat? Cheese and condiments? That hardly earns the title of sandwich.”

  “If you’re gonna keep making fun of my Jersey twang, I may have to let you go hungry.” She tried to sound serious, but a stifled giggle still escaped.