TheCrystal

by Sandra Cox

  She grunted as something stepped under the dog and onto her chest. Bright blue eyes set in the center of a seal-point face stared at her unblinkingly. “Jericho!”

  Both animals had shaved spots and bandages. Bitter waves of remorse washed over her. I didn’t even ask about them.

  “Welcome home, dear.” Tamara looking like an elderly fairy in her gossamer-like dress beamed at her over Ned’s shoulder.

  “Thanks.” Gabby felt tears threaten as she gazed into a face that had become so dear in such a short period of time.

  “How did you get the animals here?” Christopher asked.

  “I sprung them from the animal hospital they were recuperating in and had them flown in.”

  Christopher shoved the animals off and hauled Gabby to her feet. Animal hospital? Recuperating? The fairy-like creature immediately embraced her. Gabby was engulfed by soft whispery material that smelled of lavender. Gabby closed her eyes and hugged back. “It’s good to see you Tamara.”

  “How are you, dear?”

  “Better by the minute,” she replied giving Tamara a one hundred watt smile. She glanced over to see Christopher watching her, a dazzled expression on his face, which he masked as soon as he saw her looking at him.

  Billy gave a yawn huge enough to unhinge his jaws. “I’ve got to be going.” He turned toward the door.

  “Goodnight,” Christopher said absently, watching Gabriella.

  “Night all.” Billy stepped onto the veranda and pulled the door shut behind him.

  Tamara put her arm through Gabby’s and drew her into the room. “You’ve had a terrible ordeal my dear. And though I don’t know the particulars I’m anxious to find out.”

  Tamara sat down on the cream-colored sofa and drew Gabby down beside her. “Your father is coming. He should be here any minute.”

  “Well, isn’t that just a cap to a perfect evening? I think I’ll pour myself a drink.” And matching actions to words Christopher walked to the beautiful Florentine style bar and poured a Scotch. “Aunt Tam? Gabriella?”

  Tamara shook her head.

  Gabby massaged her temples with her fingertips. The side of her head throbbed and white lights flashed behind her lids, preludes to the migraines that plagued her in North Carolina. “I’ll have whatever you are having,” she said turning to Tamara.

  Tamara turned to Christopher, “Just a glass of wine, dear,” then muttered under her breath, “I hope I don’t need anything any stronger.”

  Tamara studied Christopher and for the first time, noticed the right side of his face. The area around his eye was an unbecoming shade of purple. “What happened to you, Christopher dear?”

  “Gabriella hit me.”

  “If you didn’t want to tell me, you could have simply said so.” Her voice was filled with gentle reproof.

  Christopher walked over and handed Tamara a glass of white wine and Gabby a double Scotch.

  Gabby looked at the glass and back at him and her eyebrows soared.

  He shrugged. “You said whatever I was having.”

  Gabriella took a sip of the golden liquid and felt it travel a warm path straight to her stomach. As she set her glass down and turned to Tamara someone pounded on the door.

  Tamara sat her untouched glass of wine on the mahogany coffee table. “I imagine that is your father.”

  Christopher swallowed the Scotch in one gulp, squared his shoulders and answered the door.

  Gabby stood up.

  She looked at the tall, burly man standing in the doorway and felt an unexpected rush of love. ”Daddy.” Her voice caught in her throat. She cleared it and tried again. “Daddy.”

  He shoved Christopher out of his way and hurried toward her.

  Stopping in front of her he enveloped her in a rib-crushing embrace. He released her and held her at arm’s length. Tears stood in his eyes.

  “My darling girl, are you all right?”

  Gabby could only nod. Her dad was not normally a demonstrative man.

  “Where have you been? What happened?”

  “Let’s sit down, Dad and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  He didn’t budge. “What happened, Gabriella?”

  Gabby sighed and rubbed the right side of her temple, repeating the matra I will not get a migraine then said in a rush, “I was kidnapped, taken to the mountains in North Carolina, escaped, fell into a ravine and was found by a wonderful human being who took care of me.”

  The sergeant stared, stunned, his arms dropping to his side.

  He whirled on Christopher and grabbed him by his shirt. “This is all your fault.”

  Christopher’s eyes gleamed a warning. “Let me go, old man.”

  Gabby pulled at her father’s sleeve. “Daddy, let him go.”

  Ned whined uneasily.

  Jericho sat on the floor a safe distance away, his tail wrapped around his body, his head moving from side to side as he watched the two antagonists.

  Sergeant Bell spit out through gritted teeth, “You belong behind bars and by God I’m going to see that you get there.”

  Christopher’s jaw clenched and his knuckles whitened. “Get out of this house and don’t come back.”

  “Oh, I’ll be back, sonny and with a warrant.”

  Tamara floated toward them. “That’s enough.” She didn’t raise her voice. “Shame on both of you. Gabriella has had enough to deal with without watching two adult males act like they are thirteen years old.”

  Both men subsided, looking ashamed.

  “That’s better.”

  She walked to the small bar and poured Scotch into a cut-crystal glass then walked over to the sergeant and handed it to him.

  He slammed it back in one swallow then deliberately turned his back on Christopher.

  “Tell me about this wonderful human being who rescued you, honey.”

  “Yah, tell him about your mountain man and the cozy little cabin you were holed up in.” Christopher’s lip curled back in a sneer.

  “What are you insinuating you young scoundrel?” her father roared. Then he looked down at Gabby his brows drawing down like miniature thunderbolts. “What mountain man?”

  “Mr. Bell,” Tamara’s voice remained calm, “I must ask you to lower your voice by several decibels.” She turned to her nephew. “Christopher, don’t antagonize him more than you can help.”

  “If I go make some tea can you two keep from killing each other?” She glanced from one man to the other, then at Gabriella. “Dear, you may feel free to slay anyone you like. Right now I’d say they both deserve it.”

  “I think I’d like to come with you if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course, dear.”

  Christopher looked around. “Where’s Beatrice?”

  “Her back was bothering her. The poor dear took a sleeping pill. Now you two sit down and don’t say a word until we return. I look forward to Gabriella’s tale and Christopher’s. My, I do believe it’s going to be a long night.” She floated out of the room, the scent of lavender trailing behind her. Gabby followed close behind.

  His tongue hanging out, Ned tagged behind Gabby. Jericho gave a long stretch then languidly followed Ned.

  Gabby glanced back in time to see Christopher roll his eyes.

  * * * * *

  The fragrant scent of orange and another spice that Gabby couldn’t identify filled her nostrils as Tamara steeped a tea ball into a fine china teapot. Painted red roses decorated the delicate porcelain, which was rimmed with gold.

  Gabby looked around at the spotless kitchen. Gleaming copper-bottomed pots and pans hung from hooks around the island stove. A rooster motif border circled the top of clean white walls. The floor was checkered with white and forest green tile.

  Slipping off her sandals, Gabby squished her toes against the cool tiles.

  “Would you get the cups out, dear? They’re in the corner cupboard. ”

  Gabby walked to the white cupboard with ivy painted on it and opened the door. She got out four cups
and saucers that matched the teapot. Before her brain had an opportunity to filter her thoughts she blurted out, “Christopher said having the globe and seeing his face in it was as good as an engagement. Of course, he was just joking.” Then gave a mental groan. Where the hell had that come from? One sip of Scotch and I’m a babbling fool.

  Tamara laughed, a light tinkling sound, with just a hint of complacency in it. “So you’ve seen my nephew’s face in it, have you?”

  “Yes.”

  “You alluded to it once in the garden, but you seemed reluctant to add a name to the face. Since the globe only acknowledges my family, it had to be Christopher.”

  Walking over to Gabby, Tamara laid a hand on her cheek. For a moment, Gabby leaned into it feeling the warmth of Tamara’s palm against her face.

  Tamara slowly withdrew her hand, smiling. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have for my daughter. The globe chose wisely.”

  Gabby straightened, panicked and began to babble. “I’m sorry, Tamara, we aren’t engaged. I don’t know what possessed him to say that, besides a sense of humor that’s odd at the best of times and I certainly don’t know what made me repeat it.” And wondered why she felt a stab of regret that she wasn’t marrying the self-centered egotistical man who managed to turn her whole world upside down.

  Tamara merely nodded and patted her hand. “Of course, dear.”

  “Not that we are engaged because we’re not but does this mean you relinquish your claim on the globe to me?”

  Opening a cabinet door, Tamara pulled out an expensive brand of mixed nuts and placed them on the tea tray along with chocolate chip cookies Beatrice had made the day before. “It has been in my family for generations.”

  Gabby’s heart began to pound and her palms sweat. “I’m sorry. I truly am, but it’s my globe.”

  “Yes, dear, I believe it is.”

  Gabby was playing with a ceramic spoon holder on the stove. At Tamara’s words, it slipped through her nerveless fingers and shattered against the tile.

  Neither woman seemed to notice.

  “You mean it?”

  “You are going back to Springfield aren’t you?”

  Gabby nodded. “I can’t stay here,” her voice was barely above a whisper. “I need to go home. Dad needs me and I need him. I need to regroup. I need to get away from your nephew. I’m just not up to going the rounds with him right now.” Tears formed in her eyes and slid down her cheeks.

  Tamara stepped around the ceramic shards and gathered Gabby in her arms. “There, there, dear. It’s all right. Everything will be all right. You and the globe will be coming back, sooner than you think.”

  Gabby lifted her head from the older woman’s shoulder and stepped back. A sting in her left foot reminded her of the shattered spoon holder. “I better clean that up.” She sniffed, reached for a paper napkin and blew her nose.

  “You take out the tea tray and I’ll clean this up.”

  Gabby nodded, wiping her eyes. Then with the agility of a former waitress, heaved the tray above her right shoulder and walked into the living room. The dog and cat trailed behind her hoping for treats.

  The room was large but there was a cozy grouping of chairs and a sofa in front of the fireplace. Gabby sat the tray down on the fruitwood coffee table.

  The men came over to join her. Gabby poured them each a cup of tea. She watched Christopher sip his absently. The steam rose from his cup like a small vapor cloud, but he didn’t seem to notice the heat, his mind apparently elsewhere.

  Why did she feel such a strong pull toward this infuriating man? It was time and past that for Tamara to tell her why she was the only one who saw Christopher’s face in the globe.

  At that moment, Christopher lifted his nose from the teacup and looked into her eyes. Gabby had the same sense of swirling colors enveloping her as she did when she looked into the globe. She was drowning in the deep emerald pool of his eyes. And there was a message there, she’d swear to it. What was he trying to tell her?

  She was literally lifting her hand toward him, when she heard her father say in a hearty voice, “There you are.”

  Tamara glided into the room. Gabby’s arm dropped to her side. The men stood sipping their tea, the silence strained.

  She sat down on the couch beside Gabby, leaving the chairs at opposite ends of the sofa for the men. Both men sat down.

  “I suppose Gabriella has told you that she is going home with her father for awhile.” Tamara’s bird-like bright eyes darted about.

  “Well, of course, she is,” Jimmy Bell boomed.

  “You can’t. I won’t allow it,” Christopher said.

  Gabby’s head snapped up. “You have no say here.”

  His voice cutting, he banged the cup on the table, stood up abruptly and began to pace. “We’re engaged remember?”

  “Engaged!” Sergeant Bell roared. “She’s not marrying the likes of you, bucko.”

  Both Christopher and Gabby ignored him.

  Gabby felt her eyes snap like burning coals. “That was a sham. You just told John Paul that to get me off the mountain.” Her lip curled in a sneer.

  The cat, the dog, Sergeant Bell and Tamara all swung their heads back and forth as they watched the two protagonists with fascination.

  He whirled around to face her. “You just don’t get it do you? Didn’t Tamara tell you the legend?” Ignoring the hushing motions Tamara was frantically making. “You don’t have a choice. I don’t have a choice. We are bound together until one of us leaves this earthly vale of tears and then I’m not so sure even then we can get rid of each other.”

  “Bless my soul, what is the boy spouting about?” The sergeant turned to Tamara for enlightenment.

  Tamara shook her head, watching her beloved nephew. She whispered, though no one heard, “Dear boy, I don’t know whether to hug you or slap you.”

  Gabby whitened. “You don’t want me.” Her voice was as low as Tamara’s had been.

  His eyes warmed to molten lava. “Oh, I want you all right.”

  “That will be about enough of that talk. You will shut up or I’ll shut you up,” Sergeant Bell promised grimly, with a look on his face that fairly shouted he’d like nothing better.

  Christopher looked abashed and muttered under his breath, “I can’t believe I just said that in front of my aunt and your father.”

  Gabby sat rigid. “I’m afraid that’s not enough.”

  Christopher threw his hands up in the air in defeat. “What can I say?”

  “That you love her you fool,” Tamara and Sergeant Bell spoke in unison then smiled at each other.

  Christopher shook his head. “This is turning into a farce.”

  Sergeant Bell stood up and walked to Gabby. “Honey, I think it’s time we went home.”

  She nodded.

  Christopher looked at her. “You are determined to do this then.”

  “Yes.” Her voice was low and dull.

  “At least stay until morning.”

  “I think it’s better we go. I’ve checked the airlines. There will be a flight leaving in three hours. Technically, it is the morning.” the sergeant said.

  Christopher looked directly at Sergeant Bell. “She will be staying with you, not at her house?”

  Gabby’s head shot up and her eyes lighted a bit. She hadn’t seen her little house in way too long.

  “Of course.”

  Christopher watched Gabriella and sighed. He looked at her father. “It’s not going to happen. You might as well put a plainclothes man at the house to watch her. She will find a way.” Before Jimmy could respond, Christopher walked out of the room.

  Jimmy looked at Tamara. “He’s a strange lad.”

  Tamara smiled. “If you take the time to look deep enough, you will find a good man with a kind heart. Many never see that deep.” She looked directly at him, causing him to blush.

  “For your sake, I will try,” he responded to the unspoken reprimand. “Now, girlie, let’s get you packed
and go home.”

  It took Gabby less than an hour to pack. When she came back down, a large duffle bag thrown over one arm and a smaller bag over the other, Billy was in the foyer waiting. “What are you doing here?”

  “Christopher called me. I’m flying you back to Springfield. This way you don’t have to worry about the animals.”

  Gabby looked conscious-stricken. “I never even thought about that.”

  “Now you don’t have to.”

  Sergeant Bell and Tamara came walking in from the living room. “Are you ready, darlin’?” her father asked.

  She nodded than ran to Tamara and hugged her. “I’ll miss you.” For a moment she felt her tipsy world righting in the woman’s warm comforting embrace.

  “It will be all right, dear. I promise.”

  Gabby smiled, blinking back tears. She stepped back and looked around. Christopher was not there. She straightened her shoulders. “Let’s go.”

  Billy grabbed her bag. They all trooped out and got in the black SUV.

  Gabby placed her hand against the window. Tamara, standing on the lit porch, waved.

  Glancing up, Gabby saw a figure silhouetted in the window of Christopher’s bedroom.

  Billy started the car. As it purred to life, he swung it out into the street.

  Gabby watched as the lone figure in the window grew smaller and smaller and finally disappeared.

  Christopher walked downstairs. He joined his aunt on the porch. Putting his arm around her, he drew her inside. “At least, you have the globe back.”

  “I gave it to Gabriella. It’s hers now.”

  “You did what?”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The doorbell rang. Gabby tripped over Ned as he raced her for the door. Since she had come back from North Carolina, neither Ned nor Jericho was willing to let her out of their sights. Gabby couldn’t really blame them. She had left them hurt and alone and hadn’t returned for…well for a long time.

  The buzzer sounded again. Picking herself up, she reached the door mere seconds after Ned. She hesitated before opening the door, all her father’s dire warnings ringing in her ears. Nothing short of her little house going up in flames would have induced her to move in with her father. He was a wonderful man but tended to forget she was no longer ten years old.