Bella Luna

by Sharon Struth

  But when she met John, she had handed him her trust. Spilled the one secret about her real identity, a fact she’d told no one since leaving California. And he’d gone and used her trust against her.

  Much as she wanted to believe Leo at his word, just handing over such a valuable commodity wouldn’t come easily.

  She could try the honest approach: ask if he’d open it for her and let her confirm the money wasn’t there.

  No. If she were in his shoes, she’d be insulted not to be taken at her word. Besides, for her own peace of mind, she had to check that one last place. If she found nothing, she’d take it as a sign to let go of the distrust guiding her all these years. A first step in moving beyond a life of skepticism in others.

  There must be a key. Maybe on the key ring he always tossed into the small dish on the kitchen counter.

  Rose tried to ignore the internal nagging reminding her that rationalizing wrong moves could be a very bad thing.

  Chapter 18

  Rose cleaned the bar area, her feet aching and her face sore from smiling while talking up the wines at Litchfield Hills Vineyards. Dan’s call left her jumpy, glancing over her shoulder each time the door opened, suspicious of guests she didn’t know. She’d never been so glad to have a work shift come to an end.

  Sophie exited the storage room and came over to the bar with a box of new wine glasses. “Thanks for starting the cleanup, Emma. You’re always right on top of things. Whenever Trent plays, we get large crowds. I’m exhausted.”

  “I’ll sleep well tonight.”

  Laughter in the corner of the room made her turn. Trent and his wife, Veronica, packed their gear on the other side of the tasting room. They’d performed together earlier. Their affectionate glances at each other suggested they couldn’t wait to get home and be alone.

  Dave Felton, Bernadette’s husband, walked toward the in-love pair. It surprised Rose to see Dave wearing jeans and a button-down shirt when they’d met earlier, although logically she understood clergy didn’t walk around all day in their preaching apparel. Talking with him had sparked an idea on how she could get back at Leo for his little haunting stunt.

  On his way past her, Dave yelled, “Hey, Trent, I’ll give you a hand carrying those out.”

  The trance between the love-lost couple was broken as they glanced his way, smiling, but their disappointment seemed obvious. Same way Rose had felt when Bella’s damp nose interrupted her kiss with Leo the other night. Just how far they’d have gone if it weren’t for the canine intervention was a question she wanted answered. Knowing he wasn’t dating either of those women gave Rose permission to daydream about Leo in a romantic light.

  “Night, Charlie.” Meg exited the back room and came over to the bar, stealing Rose’s thoughts.

  As Sophie filled the shelves with glasses, she glanced up at Meg. “What on earth is going on with you two? A few nights ago, you weren’t sure where you stood with Charlie. Tonight I almost dropped a case of wine when I rounded the corner earlier and found you two lip-locked.”

  Rose laughed. “So did I. You guys jumped like two kids caught at their lockers by a teacher.”

  Meg waved them both closer while glancing around the nearly empty room. “It was those questions you gave us during Outlander night. I decided to invite Charlie for coffee yesterday morning at Sunny Side Up. I figured I’d tell him about the questions, ask him to give them a try.”

  “And what happened?” Rose got excited, hoping to finally make some progress on her article.

  “Well, we started them. The first questions were easy. Kind of fun. I think they relaxed us both. But then they got a little more personal. Very revealing.” Her face softened into a smile; then she sighed. “Talking so openly made me like Charlie even more. We didn’t answer all the questions because he needed to get back to work. But then we went out last night, and…” She blushed. “Well, let’s just say we got to know each other better.”

  Sophie reached out and squeezed Meg’s hand. “Hon, it’s everything you deserve. He’s a great guy.” She turned to Rose. “Since we’re on this topic, Duncan and I tried them. I honestly figured it was a silly exercise, but damned if I wasn’t wrong.”

  “Do you mind sharing?”

  “Of course not. It’s funny…we both think we know so much about each other, but those questions touched on things we never thought to discuss.” She lowered her voice. “The truth is we’ve been stressed about the kids. It’s made us forget about our relationship. But in asking the questions, we talked about things we’d never have brought up otherwise. It was darn right intimate and we both shared unexpected things about ourselves.” Sophie’s dark eyes took on a faraway look and she smiled. “I didn’t think I could love Duncan any more than I do. After talking, I felt like I did.”

  Veronica and Bernadette came to the bar as Trent and Dave left carrying some equipment.

  “What’s with the whispering?” Bernadette eyed them skeptically. “Let me guess. Duncan’s finally agreed to let us see him in a kilt?” She chuckled, but Sophie just shook her head.

  “We’re talking about the questions Emma gave us,” Meg said. “Did you try them with Dave?”

  “Believe it or not, we did.” Bernadette’s expression softened and Rose focused on her response. “You know, after all my complaining how he never has time for me, he made the time for this. When we finished, it was clear to me exactly why I love him so much it sometimes hurts.”

  Their positive results would surely make for a great angle on the piece. “Did any one try to stare into each others’ eyes for four minutes?”

  “God no!” Bernadette’s eyes widened with exaggerated horror, although Rose deemed that part of the exercise a bit invasive as well. “Dave wanted to, but for some reason I couldn’t even get started. Maybe another night.”

  “Charlie and I couldn’t do it either.” Meg’s full lower lip bowed into a frown. “I told him that windows were the eyes to the soul, but he only smiled and said maybe another time.”

  A silence hung over the group. Bernadette quietly said, “I think you mean to say eyes are the window to the soul.”

  Meg’s forehead rumpled as she quietly thought for a few seconds. “What did I say? Oh, never mind, I meant what you said.”

  “Trent and I did both, the study and the eye gazing exercise.” Veronica spoke quietly, glancing back to the door where the men had left through.

  “And…” Bernadette said and they all leaned a little, waiting for an answer.

  “Typical Trent. He was eager for us to try it.” Veronica fiddled with her pearl necklace, one Rose had never seen her without. “After doing half the questions, he suggested we jump straight to looking into each other’s eyes.” Veronica crinkled her pert nose. “I told him I couldn’t, but he dared me. I caved. I love how he challenges me.”

  Sophie raised her dark brows. “So how long did you do it?”

  “The entire four minutes. It was—well, uncomfortable at first. Only the longer it went, the more I really”—she raised her hands and made air quotes with her nicely manicured fingers—“‘saw’ into Trent’s soul. It was quite unexpected, taking me into a place I’d never have imagined.” She glanced around the group. “I know, it probably sounds weird. But I almost hated for it to end.”

  Rose turned around to search for a pad and pen beneath the bar counter. “Do you guys mind if I use some of your observations in a paper I’m writing? No names, of course.”

  “I don’t mind,” Veronica said right away.

  “Me either,” the others chimed.

  The door opened and Dave stuck his head inside. “Bern, I’m tired. Are you ready to go?”

  “Yup.” She headed for the door and the others returned to their cleaning. Rose scribbled some notes about what she’d just heard.

  Dave waved. “G’night, ladies. Emma, I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  She stopped writing and looked up. “Yes, and thank you.” />
  Tomorrow morning Dave had agreed to join her plan to teach Leo a lesson. She could only hope Leo took it with the good humor she intended.

  * * * * *

  Leo closed the front section of the Saturday New York Times and lowered it to the kitchen table. He went to the stove and poured another cup of coffee. A noise sounded from Emma’s apartment. This morning, when he’d entered the kitchen, a mug for him had already been set out next to the warm percolator. Nice she’d been thinking of him, however, he liked when she was around at breakfast and wished she were here now.

  Yesterday afternoon she’d squirreled away in her apartment then left for work without a word. Talking openly about his childhood with her scratched at a scab he’d left untouched for years, making obvious the absence of having a special someone. A confidant. A close friend.

  Outside the window, the thermometer showed seventy degrees. He pushed open the window and inhaled a dose of fresh spring air. Coffee in hand, he returned to his seat and resumed reading the paper, lost in a story about the conflict in the Middle East.

  The door to the apartment unexpectedly banged open. Emma hurried out, dressed in flared yoga pants and loose fitted T-shirt splattered with decorative cupcakes. Her Pink flip-flops slapped the floor. A red and white polka-dot scarf was folded and tied into a knot at the top of her vibrant hair.

  “Morning.” She bit her lower lip, glanced around the room. “Listen, I’m glad you’re up. Got a sec?”

  “Sure.” He put down the paper. “What’s up?”

  “I haven’t told you but there’s been some weird things going inside my apartment.”

  Bella came to Leo and nudged his hand with her damp nose, clearly not as upset as her owner. He rubbed behind the dog’s ear. “Weird? Like what?”

  “Noises, things moved. Look, I know I acted like it didn’t matter the night you told me this place was haunted, but I even heard voices one night. Scary voices.”

  “I’m sure you were dreaming.” Leo did his best to hide the shame worming around inside him over the stunts he’d pulled. “Emma, this house isn’t haunted. You’ll be fine.”

  “I didn’t believe it either, but I saw, and heard, it for myself.”

  “You’re worrying needlessly.”

  “Didn’t you tell me your last tenant left for the same reason?”

  “Well, I did. But—”

  “See. It isn’t just me. There’s no good explanation for what’s been going on in my place. Do you hear things upstairs at night?”

  “No.” He debated if he should admit to what he’d done, but to do so made him feel like an idiot. “Listen, there’s no such thing as ghosts. At least not in this house. Don’t worry—”

  “Oh, I’m not worrying anymore.” Emma walked away from him to the kitchen door. “I’ve found a solution to our problem.” She opened it and waved to someone. “Good morning! Thanks for coming over so fast.”

  A man with a friendly, round face entered wearing a cleric’s robe. He seemed familiar, but Leo couldn’t place him.

  “Leo, have you met Dave Felton, pastor at the Methodist church?” Emma stepped aside and the pastor approached Leo.

  Leo reached out and they shook hands. “Nice to meet you, Pastor.”

  “Please. Call me Dave. Emma tells me you have a spirit problem here.”

  “Big problem,” Emma answered before Leo could utter a peep. “If you can’t help us, Pastor, I don’t know what we’ll do.”

  “You may have to call one of those haunting shows. That happened to one of my minister friends.”

  Leo opened his mouth, but he closed it fast. If he confessed, she’d never let him live this down. And this pastor, who would he tell?

  “Now, Leo.” Dave removed a Bible and bottle of water from a canvas bag and put them on the table. “I heard the last tenant left because the spirits here were pretty lively. Any idea what exactly happened?”

  Leo was about to answer, when Emma interrupted again. “Like I told you, Dave, objects in my room have been moved.” She paced in front of the sink. “One picture in particular of Leo’s family. And of course, someone was murdered in this house, making the whole spirit thing more plausible.”

  Leo wanted this to end. If he could get the pastor to leave, he would privately tell her what he’d done. “Be sensible, Emma. That’s hardly proof of paranormal activity.”

  She paused in front of him. “No, it’s not. But can you explain the sounds I heard? It’s got to be paranormal. Those voices,” she said in a hushed tone and crossed her arms, rubbed her shoulders. The remorse he’d been fighting over the stupid scheme tripled. “God, they were terrifying. Nothing I ever want to wake up to again.”

  For the briefest moment he worried she might actually move out. Scared by him and his ridiculous need to have quiet. She wasn’t really even that much of a disruption! Had he known then she’d turn out to be the muse he’d been searching for—one who kissed beautifully, too—he’d never have done any of this.

  She reached out and touched Leo’s forearm. “Honestly, I didn’t say anything when it happened because it’s not like me to overreact to things. But then I met Dave at the vineyard and figured he might be able to help. You know, I’m worried about you being here, too.”

  The dark-haired pastor nodded. “Nothing like a good old-fashioned cleansing to get rid of a spirit.” He held up the bottle. “Holy water should do the trick.”

  Holy water? “I don’t think this is necess—”

  “Why don’t we start in the kitchen. Then”—Emma pointed down the hall to her apartment—“we can go straight down that way, where I live. I seem to be hearing a lot more than Leo.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Dave started flinging water directly from the bottle into the air. “Spirits in this house,” he chanted, his tone deep and serious, “be gone! Go find peace elsewhere!”

  “Emma, please.” Leo stood and went to her side, taking her arm to stop her from following in this senseless ritual. He leaned close to ear and whispered, “This is silly. You must be hearing things.”

  She shook her head and held her index finger to her lips.

  Dave kept up his chant, walking around the kitchen table. Bella followed him, and so did Emma. Every so often she’d glance at Leo and wave him over to join them.

  Leo couldn’t move. If he would’ve looked like a fool moments ago, he’d look like a bigger fool following in this ghost-cleansing parade.

  “Come on, Leo!” Emma said, her voice frantic. “You’ve got to help us. We need as much power as we can make so this spirit leaves.”

  The pastor’s voice rose. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Hear us from the world of the living, o’ wandering ghost. Please return to where you belong.”

  “This is an old house, with all kinds of creaks and sounds,” Leo pleaded.

  “Oh no. I’m positive I heard the noises. I even recorded them.”

  “You recorded them?”

  “Yup. Oh, I didn’t tell you that?”

  “No.”

  “Hold on.” Emma hurried down the hallway, her slapping flip-flops fading as she disappeared into her apartment.

  Leo glanced at Dave, who’d stopped tossing the holy water and waited, too. “Do you get a lot of requests for ghost banishing rituals in Northbridge?”

  Dave shook his head. “This is the first.”

  Emma returned. As she neared, she plunked the familiar tape recorder he’d hidden in the wall on the kitchen table.

  She pushed the start button. Her lips twitched. The eerie sounds he’d purchased over the Internet played.

  “Terrifying, huh?” Her eyes twinkled and she lifted her lips into a slow smile that turned quickly into hysterical laughter. “Oh, really, Leo? Do you want me out that badly?”

  Dave laughed, too.

  Leo couldn’t let go of humiliation building inside him. Every part of him, for reasons that didn’t exist when he’d pulled these stunts, wanted E
mma to see him as better than the man capable of this kind of behavior.

  “You should’ve seen your face.” Emma crowed as she laughed harder and fell into a chair.

  “Yeah, it’s not every day I get to do a fake cleansing.” Dave placed the holy water on the kitchen table near the Bible and removed his preaching stole. “Well worth a little of my free time.”

  Leo narrowed his eyes at them both. But the more they laughed, the easier it was to let go of his embarrassment. He finally joined them, finding relief in the admission. “Busted.” He held up his hands and smiled at Emma. “So I’ll bet you think you’re pretty funny.”

  “Hilarious.” She wiggled her brows, her bright smile making him want to draw her in close and kiss her again, only he remembered the pastor nearby.

  “So, Dave, how about a cup of coffee since your work here is done?”

  “I’d love one.”

  For the next half hour, the three of them sat around the table, reminiscing over the shock they claimed existed on Leo’s face when Dave started throwing the water. Leo couldn’t remember when he’d laughed so hard. Most of all, he found himself comforted by a new fondness for Emma. Somehow, she’d softened him. Made the angry forces inside of him settle. She’d accepted what a pain in the ass he could be sometimes. A side many others would have simply walked away from.

  Chapter 19

  “Thanks, Joanne.” Rose hung up her cell phone. All the levity from this morning’s prank had disappeared, replaced by the sharp sting of fear.

  Ten minutes earlier, John had called her close friend. Luckily, Joanne had spotted his name on caller ID and ignored it, and his message only said to call back. They both agreed she should ignore his call. Yet panic swallowed Rose whole, and the urge to run whispered in her ear.

  Where would she run, though? Further north? Or leave the country and go to Canada? She stopped the line of thinking because one thing prevented her from doing anything…money.

  She tugged up a pair of cargo shorts that gapped in the waist, slapped on a thick leather belt to keep them up, and tied her lightweight plaid shirt on her at her hips. The latest worry hung overhead like a dark cloud ready to burst.