by Multiple
“What is it?” Claire asked, halfway expecting her to say “Dust.”
“Seasons Sparkles. They make it every holiday. ‘A Spray To Add Sparkle To Your Day!’” It was a perky advertisement, and it worked. Claire had to have it as well.
She was finishing the sale when she noticed a woman so beautiful she looked dangerous enter the area two counters over. It took a moment for Claire to realize why she knew her. Audray! Her long blond curls fell and bounced in mid-air as she leaned into the counter to examine something. She sprayed perfume on her wrists and smelled it with eyes closed. She seemed to enjoy mesmerizing the sales clerk, who was a young man. She held up her wrist to him.
“What do you think?” She flashed him a smile.
“Uh, nice. Very nice. Good on you,” he responded with a blush and quickly looked down.
Audray looked back at him as if to say, “Of course it’s nice.” Even Claire had a hard time pulling her eyes off her beautiful face and slender body.
Audray purchased the bottle and then wandered off. Claire watched her stroll the counters, salespeople feigning friendship with broad smiles as she passed, especially the men. Claire suddenly felt a bit challenged. Something boiled inside her stomach. The taste in her mouth was slightly sour. Did this woman know the effect she was having on everyone around her? Of course she knows. Does she think about Daniel at all? Claire decided she did not. She hated this woman, a very unpleasant emotion for an angel, and not one she often felt.
The pink bottle Audray sprayed on her wrists called to Claire. She applied one spray and rubbed the other wrist on top. She liked the fragrance, an infusion of sweet flowers including jasmine, and a little orange spice. The bottle read Pink Passion.
A poor substitute.
She took the offered sample and added it to her bag, then went in search of Audray, who had entered the Men’s department.
Audrey stood with the hairy man from Daniel’s dream. She held up a blue and white striped long-sleeved shirt. He gazed at it from behind her, chin on her shoulder. His hands found their way under her shirt. One was on her breast, the other headed down under the front of her skirt. A couple nearby gawked in disbelief, then moved away, whispering. Audray watched them leave with a sultry smile, like she relished making waves. She stepped back, pressing into the man’s crotch and threw her head back in a laugh. The man’s mouth was on her neck. She turned her head to do a quick scan of the area, when her green eyes rested briefly on Claire. Her eyes narrowed, as if to say Claire was not worthy of her attention.
Claire stood her ground and stared back without a smile. She truly despised this woman and tried to say so with her eyes.
Audray raised her chin, and then abruptly turned to face the man, whispering in his ear. They walked arm in arm to the dressing room area, grabbing a fistful of shirts right before they disappeared around the corner. Audray released a hard steely stare that was predatory and vicious.
Claire shivered. She was not afraid of them, but repulsed. By the look on the dressing room monitor’s face, even she knew they were going to have sex. Probably happened all the time. If Claire had respect for the couple, and she didn’t, she would leave them to it. She showed a sweater to the monitor as she took the room next door to the couple.
As soon as the door closed, she went into disappear mode. She heard sighing followed by the soft shifting of material and the metallic clinking of a belt buckle. Claire stood on the vinyl-covered bench and peered over the top of the partition.
It actually excited her to see him with his pants down around his ankles, his engorged cock seeking to enter Audray from behind. They had not bothered to remove her skirt, which was bunched up tightly around her waist. Her blouse was unbuttoned. Her hands were stretched out in front of her, pressing onto the glass of the mirror where she was watching herself. The man pushed aside her white lace thong underwear. She bent her knees and extended her ass toward him as he entered her from behind.
“Oh, baby, yes,” she said. “Oh, give it to me, give me that fat cock. Ram it hard.”
The man grunted, his hairy legs jerking to the actions of his groin. He reached forward, grabbed one breast, and squeezed. He yanked her body roughly to him, impaling her deeper, a large hairy hand buried in her lower belly. Her long locks bounced in time to his thrusting as she raised her face to the ceiling.
Claire was hoping to dampen the couple’s pleasure just as Audray looked up and their eyes met. Of course, their eyes couldn’t really meet, because there were just dark pockets where Claire’s eyes would be, carefully outlined in black by Countergirl, shaded in beautiful hues of green and pink. What Audray saw was only the makeup. No neck or body attached to it, either.
Audray shrieked.
Claire’s made up face, with the wide Cheshire cat grin, lowered back down to her side of the wall. She shifted back to human form before she left the dressing room as whispers, protestations, and the sound of arms and knees knocking into the tiny booth came flying behind her. With her keen angel senses, she heard the door to the cubicle swing open, but Claire was already around the corner and well out of sight.
Claire couldn’t remember when she had felt so completely satisfied.
She walked past the salesmen in the cologne section and batted her eyes seductively. The younger one of the two blushed and looked down. Good. The makeup was working. There’s more than one siren in this store.
Doris was waiting for her outside Macy’s, but looked at her in confusion when she waved her down. “I wish I had a camera! They just won’t believe this at the transport station,” Doris said. “I didn’t recognize you!”
“Don’t tell them, Doris. I didn’t buy anything for my face but lipstick … and some sparkle,” Claire was timid about this. She handed Doris the receipts.
“Sparkle? They sell dust there at Macy’s?”
“Well, it’s not the same. I mean, it’s just for looks; it doesn’t give you anything else.
“I should hope not. Can it be healthy then?”
“Oh, I think it’s harmless. It comes in a little can with a spray button on it.”
Doris shook her head from side to side. “You are one hot lookin’ babe. You look more like those girls of Carmen’s.”
She meant the guardians that worked with the streetwalkers in the human World. Many of these young human girls were addicted to drugs. These tough angels were responsible for saving a few of them, but not many. Their risky lifestyle, considered a form of suicide, was what brought them up to Triage’s attention. Most of the time it was too late by the time the call went out.
Since Claire respected the difficult work these angels did, she didn’t take offense at the comment.
She looked at the vision of herself in the large glass window just outside Daniel’s dining room, saw the price tag on the new jacket she was wearing, and pulled it off.
Chapter 13
“I’ve got a lead on a new gallery for your work.” Josh told Daniel as he sipped on his beer. “It’s in Marin, but I think the location is perfect. Old, restored building they are just finishing up.”
“Good, I’ll need the space soon.” Daniel dove into his spinach salad as the waitress brought over some whole grained bread in a wicker basket. After she left, he leaned into the table and whispered to Josh, “And, I need the money. Big time.”
“I hear you. How about I spot you some cash until your next sale?” Josh pulled out his wallet, fat with money. He started to peel off hundred dollar bills.
Daniel held up his hand. “No, man. I don’t do that.”
“Don’t be stupid, Daniel. Just consider I bought one of your paintings—how about the one in the fire?”
“Josh, that’s charity and you know it.”
“I know a talented painter when I see one.” Josh stood up, “I need a trip to the loo. Be right back. Here,” he said, handing Daniel a wad of bills, “study those for me while I’m gone.”
Daniel looked aroun
d the room to make sure no one had noticed, covered the bills with his palm. The wad of money was tempting, calling to him through his flesh, but there was no way he would accept Josh’s generosity. It didn’t feel right to him. He moved the substantial cash under Josh’s napkin so he didn’t have to look at it.
Just as Josh was returning from the men’s room, Audray and her new boyfriend entered the restaurant. She was syrupy sweet as she made a point to bend down to kiss Daniel on both cheeks, revealing her cleavage. She smelled of fresh sex. Her boyfriend looked pissed.
“Ah, sweetie, how’ve you been?” she said to him, feigning concern.
Neal cleared his throat. Daniel thought perhaps he was looking for an introduction. Audray ignored him, of course. Being someone she cared about was a dangerous thing, he reminded himself.
Daniel stood, although she didn’t deserve the respect he showed her. “Audray.” Turning to Neal, he continued, saying, “My name is Daniel DePalma. We’ve met before. You were screwing her on my loveseat—the green one, by the fireplace—where she and I used to do it all the time.” He turned to Audray. “Remember that, sweetie?” He addressed Neal again. “She always did like that place.”
A definite chill had descended upon the restaurant. Josh grinned, but Daniel could see the smile was forced. “Neal, Daniel here was Aud—”
“I know who the hell he was, God damn it.” Neal tugged on Audray’s arm. Her eyes widened as he led her to another part of the restaurant, but she managed to secretly blow Daniel a kiss. Josh and Daniel sat back down. With eyebrows raised and a sigh on his lips, Josh picked up the money and stuffed it back in his pants.
Daniel watched Audray’s ass as it swayed from side to side, almost hitting the little tables in her wake. The woman is diabolical. And damn hard to forget.
When he looked up, Josh was studying him.
“I have a cure for that, you know.”
“Time is doing a pretty good job.”
Josh nodded his head slowly. “Yes, I can see that. It’s doing a really remarkable job.”
“Fuck it.” Daniel stood up and threw his napkin on the table. He motioned for the check.
Josh got up. “Daniel, don’t do this, man. Look, I’ve got some ideas. Let’s get out of here and go grab some coffee across the street.”
The waitress came back with a sheepish smile on her face. “Mr. DePalma, I’m sorry.” She was a little too loud. “Your credit card’s been declined. I’m so sorry.”
Daniel’s hands made fists at his sides as he looked around the room at a few patrons who had noticed the interchange.
“Not a problem, this was supposed to be my check, anyhow.” Josh handed her a one hundred dollar bill.
The two men strode down the rain-swept sidewalk, headed for Starbucks. “Just one more thing I get to deal with,” Daniel grumbled. “There should be plenty of money in my account. Lately, though, it’s like the bank’s computer just doesn’t like me. I have never seen so many holds and rejected checks—all of them mistakes. It’s damned embarrassing.”
“You don’t have to justify anything to me, Daniel. I believe you. I just think you should take some of my money, as an investment in your future.”
“No, then I would owe you.”
“Suppose I make it a purchase, a gift.” Josh stopped. “There is no crime in taking money from a friend who freely gives it.”
“Except that you will own me.”
Josh let out a chuckle, almost a cackle. His eyes began to water. “I’m going to remember that line for eternity.” He shook his head and continued walking.
Daniel insisted on paying for the two cappuccinos, with cash. They stood at the coffee bar and looked out through large picture windows onto the traffic outside.
“I get to feeling pretty good about myself, and then this crap happens,” Daniel said.
Josh nodded. “You’re getting your professional life back on track, but you still need some serious female attention. You need to lock yourself in a room with three or four lovelies and just have at it, my friend. Get good and drunk and good and screwed.”
“Not my style.” Daniel couldn’t help but bring a smile to the corners of his lips. “Although it’s sometimes a pleasant thought.”
“Consider it done! My gift from me to you. You won’t take my money? There are a couple of lovely ladies that owe me big time, and they will blow your mind. I’ll set it up for this weekend, then. I won’t take no for an answer. It’ll be my investment in your well being.”
After stuffing her Macy’s shopping bag into her transport duffel, Claire elevated to the second floor hallway, and then opened the doorway leading to the attic above Daniel’s bedroom.
She could fully stand about two feet on each side of the ridge board. Late afternoon sun gilded tiny particles of dust kicked up by her yellow Crocs as she crossed the room to look out one of the two dormered windows. They faced each other on opposite sides of the wide but shallow space.
It seemed the perfect place to be. It was warm, still, and filled with sunlight. She removed her jacket, laid it across the back of the chair, and sat down. She inhaled the scent of old dust and wood. It felt cozy in spite of her nearness to the windowpane.
The house is waiting for him too.
There were no interior walls in the attic. Wooden studs merely stood as a testament to someone’s idea that this upper space could be a room—a glorious room. She could visualize it painted a light color, or perhaps partially covered with wallpaper in a flowery pattern.
Joyful.
In the middle of the room stood a dark brown scratched dresser with an attached cracked mirror. She regarded her reflection in the damaged glass, cut in two. She turned herself invisible, and then visible again, reliving the scary scene of a floating face in the dressing booth. She smiled and shook her head.
I’ll hear from Mother on that one for sure. But it was worth it.
It always amazed her how Father had made angels able to appear and disappear at will. Just one of many tools in her arsenal, she thought. She would need all of them this time around.
One thing would have to be remedied before Daniel got home; she would have to lose the makeup.
A bare mattress sat atop the mesh platform of an old trundle bed frame. Claire went over to it, clutching her red shopping bag. She carefully pulled out her purchases. Two white boxes remained at the bottom. She opened them up to find little pink vials of perfume. She hoped the girl wouldn’t get in trouble for giving those to her for free. She sprayed the room and walked through the cloud of spray. She hoped she smelled better than Audray did.
Daniel will be home soon.
Time for a shower.
Claire removed her clothes and stepped into in his shower. She loved the feel of the warm water and the soap against her human skin. After finishing her shower, she faced Daniel’s mirror, drying off. Turning back to disappear, she took a quick check to make sure she left no trace of the makeup. A little water shadow remained, but no other evidence that she had been there.
Before she could dress, she felt something cold, like the forefinger of a cold spirit trace down her spine. She shook herself loose of the feeling.
The towel she used was Daniel’s. It contained the scent she had grown to love. Before replacing it on the rack, she buried her face deep inside the warm cotton, inhaling. Her body tingled with excitement, every cell. She opened Daniel’s medicine cabinet and took out his lime cologne and inhaled it with eyes closed.
The best. She sighed. She’d guarded humans who smelled good only some of the time, but he smelled good to her all the time.
Which do I love more, smelling him or looking at him?
Claire returned to the attic to await his arrival, then slipped on her gown. She picked up the perfume, sprayed it in the room and walked through the wonderful jasmine scent again.
After retrieving her Sonnets from the duffel she curled up in the chair by the window and felt the
last bits of golden sunlight slowly die off as she read E.B. Browning:
“How do I love Thee? Let me count the ways.”
This poem always made her shiver. It was curious to read about love, a human emotion she had not experienced. She felt joy and sadness, and she could say she loved Father, but it was a kind of devotional love for him, not like what was described in these poems.
Like an angel, Robert had come to Elizabeth’s bedside and coaxed her to health. Claire loved that story. They had fallen in love with each other’s words, and then they met and fell in love in the physical sense. Claire tried to imagine that kind of love. It seemed to be in short supply in the human world. In Heaven it wasn’t necessary.
Or is this what I’m missing? She had never felt she missed anything before.
If the Brownings had become angels in the Guardianship, they wouldn’t know each other, she thought, as all their human memories would have been washed clean. Perhaps they lived together in a different world—one of the other ones she knew existed.
Maybe there’s a Land of Great Loves…
She would have to ask Father about this. All she knew was the Guardianship. What are those other worlds? Most angels had never seen them, except her friend Carmen. The Ladies of the Night had tremendous access all over Heaven, especially Carmen, who was the oldest angel she knew.
Rumors about other worlds and other goings on in Heaven sometimes caused big “clarification meetings,” because the imaginative angels on her squad were susceptible to exaggeration or embellishment. It sometimes brought on trouble. Mother Guardian was always on the lookout for trouble, or for things that would distress her girls. Some of the male angels in the guardianship had traveled between worlds, but they’d been sworn to secrecy, keeping the girls naive. Mother liked things to be peaceful, simple. Claire knew the angels were only told what they needed to know, and no more. But sometimes she wished they knew more.
A few hours passed before Daniel arrived home, later than usual. His mood was somber.
Something is bothering him.
