Fabric of Life

by Judith Post

  She took her wine and walked to the studio. She didn’t have to be alone anymore. She had Gabe.

  When she climbed the steps, he was waiting for her. “I heard Josh packing his tools and zipped down to see what was up,” he said. “He must have been able to sense me, because he talked to the room as if I was there. He told me that you asked him to leave.”

  Tears welled in Thea’s eyes. “Did I do the right thing?”

  “What else could you do? It’s my fault this happened to you. I played with Josh’s bookmark. You’re the one who got stuck doing the dirty work to fix what I screwed up. I’m sorry I put you through this.”

  Thea thought about how angry Josh was when he stomped to the barn to pack and how he’d softened his stance when he came to say goodbye. “Josh didn’t hate me when he left. He wasn’t happy with me, but he didn’t think I was being a complete bitch.”

  Gabe laughed and wrapped her in his arms. The last time he’d touched her, a chill blanketed her skin. This time, it was like being wrapped in mist, enveloped with a cloud.

  “You’re getting warmer.”

  He moaned. “You feel so good.”

  “You can feel me?”

  “God, yes.” He clung closer. “I used to love your smell.” He inhaled deeply. “Hey, I can get a whiff of you. Mmmm, this might not be heaven, but it’s close.”

  He chuckled. “Is it good for you?”

  “I’m here, aren’t I?” She could feel him step away.

  “I feel sort of selfish,” he said. “First, I messed up Josh, and then I messed up our marriage. Then I die, and what do I do? I come here and make a play for you when I don’t have anything to offer you. If I’d just told you about Josh and gone to the light, if I were out of your life, would you meet someone else, have a real marriage with real perks?”

  Her gray eyes sparked. “Don’t you ever leave me again, Gabe. Never.”

  He sighed and moved close. “I don’t want to. This works for me, if it works for you.”

  She sighed too. “Good, that’s settled. I don’t ever want to lose you again.”

  Chapter 29

  Hannah woke early, came to Thea’s bedroom, and pushed her shoulder. “I want to go to Cynthia’s and see Mom.”

  Thea was expecting that. “Go. Be home before it gets dark.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay away longer? Maybe you’d like to send me away, too.”

  Thea snapped, “No, I only banish one kid at a time.” Her reply was snittier than she’d intended, but her patience was wearing thin, and Hannah wasn’t even trying to see her side of the problem. Was that a ten-year-old trait? She tried to remember what Rachel and Josh were like at that age. Boys, she remembered, got mouthy when they were ten. Girls were supposed to be in a good phase. But then, Hannah wasn’t your typical little girl.

  “I’ll see you when I see you,” Hannah said and turned to leave.

  Thea pushed herself up on one elbow. “Hold it right there, cookie. I know you’re upset, so I’m trying to be nice, but if your little fanny isn’t home before dark, I’ll hunt you down and make you sorry.”

  A relieved look washed over Hannah’s face, and Thea realized that Hannah needed more than “nice” right now. She needed reassurance. Still angry, though, she marched from the room and slammed the door when she left the house.

  Thea sighed. Who said raising children was rewarding? She pushed herself out of bed and climbed the stairs to the kitchen. She needed coffee.

  After her shower and morning routines, she went to the quilting loft and tried to concentrate on the many-colored butterfly wings that she was stitching together. She assembled three of them, then gave up. She couldn’t concentrate.

  As usual, when she was upset, she ended up in the kitchen. This was going to be a long day, and she needed something to distract herself. She was going to cook.

  “Thought I’d find you here,” Gabe said, drifting through the front door.

  “Do you think it’s safe, leaving the studio?” Thea asked.

  “Aggie told me there are a lot of spirits drifting around town right now,” Gabe said. “Our scaredy-cat ghost hides during the day, so no one sees her.”

  Thea frowned. “But don’t the other spirits wander around at night, too? Ghosts don’t sleep.”

  Gabe shook his head. “Nope, most ghosts stick around because they’re attached to people. When the people sleep, we mellow out.”

  “Interesting, the opposite of what I’ve always pictured.” Thea shook her head. “I’m so frustrated. I feel like I should be doing something to find and stop that damned ghost. You can’t guard the studio forever, but I don’t have a clue what to do.”

  “Hey, this is new for all of us.” Gabe came to look over her shoulder. “It’s a good time to cook. Let your mind play with the problem. What are you making?”

  “I got hooked on the Nigella Bites cooking show on TV, so I bought her cookbook. She made this seafood curry that I’ve been wanting to try.”

  Gabe read the ingredients. “Shrimp. Salmon. Bok choy. Coconut milk. A little fancy, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, and it makes enough to feed an army.”

  “Perfect. You can be the good Jewish mother and take a big pot over for Rachel and Isak.”

  “I don’t have bok choy or salmon.”

  Gabe patted her back. “That’s why God created stores. Now, get out of here and don’t come back until you’re loaded down with seafood and fish sauce.”

  She smiled. “You’re good for me. Do you know that?”

  “I know, but I’d better get back to guarding my post. No reason to take chances. I just wanted to see you for a little bit this morning.” He drifted away, and she grabbed the keys for her car.

  The only place to buy the unusual ingredients she needed for the recipe was at the specialty market on the far side of town. It was close to the winery, and all of the rich people shopped there, not because the Oriental items were so expensive, but because Jason Guthrie stocked more fresh tuna steaks and crab legs, lobsters and fresh fish than anyone in the county. He ran a seafood market on one side of his weathered brick building and a seafood restaurant on the other. He also had a wall lined with wines from Les Smith’s winery and wooden barrels filled with crusty French breads from Isak’s bakery. Add to that a huge, oak cart loaded with fresh greens each day, and a person could make a wonderful meal with one stop.

  Thea was early enough to beat the crowd. She was weaving her way between melons when Melissa Smith stopped her cart beside hers.

  “Out buying stuff for a big celebration meal? I heard you kicked another man out of your life. Must be your way to clear out clutter.”

  “I’m not in the mood,” Thea warned.

  “Wonder if this man will come back like Gabe did,” Melissa went on.

  Thea ignored her.

  “What’s it like having a ghost for your significant other?”

  There was a genuineness about the question that stopped Thea. Melissa must have been truly attracted to Gabe. “Not bad, actually,” she said. “Really comfortable. We get along better than ever. He’s happy with it, and so am I.”

  “Bet the sex is great.” Melissa’s tone was sarcastic, her attitude defensive.

  Screw this, Thea thought. She’d tried to be nice, but Melissa’s claws had come out again. “Sex isn’t everything,” Thea said. “Oops, sorry, in your case, I guess it is.”

  Melissa glared. “How’s Gabe adjusted to having such a short life span?”

  “He’s not thrilled. He wasn’t supposed to die yet.” Thea watched Melissa’s reaction closely. “Someone tampered with his bookmark. He was supposed to live a lot longer.”

  “Can people do that?”

  “No.”

  “Then who?” Melissa asked.

  “I’m looking into that.”

  “How?” Melissa was watching Thea too sharply. Was she worried?

  “I’m a weaver. I have my ways,” is all Thea would say.

/>   Melissa looked uncomfortable. She glanced at her watch. “I have a luncheon party today. I’d better go.”

  As Thea watched her grab smoked-fish dip and crackers, she decided that Melissa was acting a little strange lately, not her usual “in your face” self. She’d ask Rachel to “bump” into her. Maybe Rachel could see something in Melissa’s aura that would give her a clue as to what was going on.

  Chapter 30

  Most of the town was at Sheila Grayson’s funeral the next day.

  “If someone unraveled Sheila’s bookmark on purpose,” Thea told Rachel on their drive over, “or sent someone to do it, if you look at peoples’ auras when they go up to the coffin, maybe theirs will change a little. Guilt or worry. It might show, don’t you think?”

  “I’ll try,” Rachel said.

  Melissa went up with Les, and Rachel said, “Nothing for Melissa, but Les’s aura is fluctuating with nervous energy. It was doing that the last time I saw him, too.”

  Thea frowned. “I can’t picture Les hurting anyone.”

  “He feels guilty or nervous about something,” Rachel said.

  “And Melissa’s fine?”

  “It’s hard to explain, because most reds are warm and sensual, but Melissa’s aura is a deep, dark scarlet--selfish and cold. But steady.”

  When Melissa passed their pew, though, and glanced at Thea, Rachel said, “Whoa! That brought some darts of bright red. There’s some energy when she looks at you.”

  Cynthia entered the old church, saw them, and came to sit with them. “Toby wanted to come, but I wouldn’t let him miss school for a funeral. He liked Sheila, though. She used to invite him up on her porch and give him lemonade.”

  “Everyone liked Sheila,” Rachel said. “I’ve never known a kinder person.”

  Cynthia’s face suddenly went blank, and she quickly turned her head. Thea twisted to see who’d entered the church and saw Randall Raker strolling down the aisle. As usual, Cynthia’s ex exuded wealth and confidence.

  “Now, he has an interesting aura,” Rachel whispered. “It doesn’t glow. It roils. All shades of red. Talk about a power personality.”

  Thea watched him go to the casket, narrow his eyes, and study Sheila Grayson. “Any changes?” she asked.

  “More energy. There’s something going on there,” Rachel said.

  Cynthia leaned closer to say, “That’s because nothing makes Randall happier than money, and he’s going to make a small fortune on Sheila’s death. He’s probably counting the dollar signs up there.”

  “Why would Sheila’s death help Randall?” Thea asked.

  “Because Sheila doesn’t have any heirs. Her son died in Vietnam, and her husband’s been gone a long time. Randall’s selling her old Victorian to some big chain that’s been trying to get a toe into Emerald Hills for a long time. He won’t make tons of money on that--all of Sheila’s money goes to charities--but rumor is, if Randall got the chain this, he’d handle the rest of their real estate deals.”

  “But why would a big chain want to run a tea shop?” Rachel asked. “What will happen to the Bickersons? I like them. We supply them with their scones.”

  “There won’t be a tea shop. Randall’s given them thirty days to move out. The chain’s making Sheila’s old Victorian into a bed and breakfast.”

  “But that’s horrible. They’re doing really well.”

  Cynthia made a face. “Like Randall cares. He’s making a fat percentage off the sale with more sales to come. That’s all that matters to him.”

  “Where will the tea shop go?” Rachel asked.

  Cynthia shrugged. “I can’t think of any openings in town. That’s why Randall got so many brownie points for landing this deal. Everything else is taken.”

  A moment later, the young couple who ran the tea shop entered the church, and everyone grew quiet. Leesa Bikerson raised her chin slightly as they walked to the casket. Samuel slid an arm around her shoulders. Leesa pressed her lips tightly together when they paid their respects to Sheila. Both refused to look in Randall’s direction.

  “Sheila was really fond of them,” Rachel said. “She wouldn’t like it that they’re being booted out of her house.”

  That made Thea think. “How did Randall get the right to sell the house, anyway?”

  “The bank uses him when there’s an estate sale. The sad thing is, Sheila had asked her lawyer to draw up papers to will the Bickersons the first floor of her house to use for their tea shop. That way, when she died, they’d still be safe, but she died before she signed the papers.”

  Thea thought about what Aggie had told her--to look for the person who benefited from the deaths.

  Someone cleared his voice at the end of their pew. They lifted their heads to see Randall smiling down at them.

  “I’ve heard that two heads are better than one, but three? It must be an interesting discussion.”

  Cynthia stiffened. “Hello, Randall.”

  “No Toby? I thought he’d be here.”

  “It’s the end of school. He had two tests today.”

  “That’s my boy, business first, pleasure later.”

  Cynthia’s lips went thin when Randall declared “That’s my boy.”

  Randall’s gaze turned to Thea. “I’ve heard interesting rumors about you lately.”

  “Good, I like to keep the town talking.”

  “You’ve outdone yourself this time. I’ve heard everything from stories of your cavorting with ghosts to tales of your studio being invaded.”

  “All true.”

  “Really? How interesting.” His gaze narrowed as he studied her. “Are we all at risk?”

  “Not any more.”

  His eyebrow raised. “I’m relieved to hear that.”

  “Are you?”

  Their eyes met, and Thea was determined not to be the first to look away. Randall broke first and glanced at the pew with Melissa and Les. “I need to talk to Les about a few things. Nice seeing you.”

  Thea watched his back as he walked away. Tall, trim, and tan, but somehow he gave off a deadly vibe.

  The funeral started a short while later. Thea was relieved when it was over. The minister had given many happy memories of Sheila, and the ceremony was as uplifting as a funeral could be, but it was two losses too close together. Thea hoped she wouldn’t have to attend another funeral for a long time.

  As the three women left the church, Les Smith came to talk to them. “Melissa’s busy talking golf with Randall. They won’t miss me.”

  Thea smiled at him. “You look especially happy for a man at a funeral.”

  He grinned. “Sorry. I’ll miss Sheila. She was a special lady, but I’m planning a trip to Hilton Head, and I can’t stop thinking about it.”

  Cynthia’s eyes went wide. “I can’t remember the last time you left the winery. You haven’t had a vacation in years.”

  “I know, but I have a new manager now, Lindsay Newland, and I could take a world cruise and come back and the winery would still be fine. She’s the best help I’ve ever had.”

  “How long are you going to be gone?” Cynthia asked.

  “As long as I want.”

  “I bet Melissa’s already packing.”

  “She’s not coming,” Les said.

  “Not coming?” Rachel couldn’t hide her surprise.

  “We’ve decided to take separate vacations this year. Melissa wants to go to Miami to hit the nightclubs and shop. I want to golf and fish. That’s about my speed these days.”

  “You’ve earned it,” Thea said. “You’ve put a lot of work into building the winery.”

  Les nodded. “Ethel would be proud if she were still alive.”

  “Ethel was proud of everything you did,” Thea said.

  Les’s face clouded. “I wonder what she’d think of me now.”

  Cynthia laid a hand on his arm. “She loved you. She’d want you to be happy.”

  “She was a woman of high standards. Maybe God took her so that she wouldn’t h
ave to know.” With those enigmatic words, he said, “Gotta go. Melissa’s looking my way. Can’t fraternize with the enemy too long.”

  The enemy. Thea realized that for Melissa, that’s exactly what she was.

  Chapter 31

  When Rachel got in the car for their drive home, Thea said, “Tell me more about auras. What did you see today?”

  Usually, they didn’t discuss their gifts. It was just a given that they existed, and each person respected the other person’s.

  “The aura around the head tells a lot,” Rachel said. “There’s the main color, and then there’s a smoky background.”

  The funeral parlor and church were in the residential area of Emerald Hills and instead of taking a direct route home, Thea drove to the outer edge of homes so that she’d pass her parents’ house. She halfway thought about stopping in for a short visit, but there were cars in the driveway, so she kept going.

  “Grandma Kate entertains more than anyone I know,” Rachel said, glimpsing people on the patio in the backyard.

  “The woman’s a dynamo. I hope I have that kind of energy when I retire from weaving.”

  Rachel’s face went peaked. “Don’t be in any hurry to retire. I’m not ready yet.”

  “Good, I’m not ready to be put out to pasture.”

  Rachel took a deep breath and looked more relaxed.

  Thea returned to their earlier subject. “About auras, what did you see when you looked at Randall?”

  “Every shade of red that I could imagine with a smoky gray background. That much red makes me think of lust, not love. That man lusts after power and money, and he’ll never have enough to satisfy him. The gray background was so dark that it almost felt like he has a dark personality, that he enjoys the dark side of life.”