“The two thousand dollars that you gave Shane Whittle to get your initials out of Stella’s second tell-all. And he will testify to that.”
Elliott’s shoulders dropped, defeated. “So, this is it. This is the end of me. That will be my legacy—plagiarism. No one will remember me for the quality of my writing. For the awards that I got for my own writing. They’ll assume that the second book was plagiarized as well. But it wasn’t. It was all me. No one will care. My publisher will drop me. My agent will drop me. My fans . . . Celeste won’t even be able to look at me. My life will be ruined. I’ll be an outcast. And all of this because of Stella Kirby. Why couldn’t she mind her own business? Why did she take such glee in ruining lives?”
“Mr. Guest, did you kill Stella Kirby?”
“I was glad that someone else had done it. But I’m no murderer.”
Back outside, Finn assessed the distressed look on Lorna’s face. “Don’t say it. You feel sorry for him.”
“I do. Even if he’s innocent of murder, news of the plagiarism coming out will absolutely ruin his life. Such a shame. Everyone makes bad decisions, but this one really is going to be the end of him.”
“I’m not so sure about the innocent of murder part. He does seem completely out of his mind frantic about the thought of people learning about the plagiarism. I think he would’ve done anything to stop Stella from airing his secret. Anything.
“So, this is what needs to happen. There were a few unmatched prints in Stella’s house. Now we have the grounds for a warrant, to take Guest in and get his prints and see if they match the unmatched prints in Stella’s house. In the meantime, I’m going to tail him and make sure he doesn’t go anywhere. You sit tight. This thing might be over very soon.”
*****
The following day, Max could barely focus on his classes. He was so preoccupied with Lorna and the bombshell she had just dropped on him. How could this be happening with the woman he was already planning on spending the rest of his life with?
As he was walking down the hallway, a young man ran after him. It wasn’t a student from his own classes, and at first, he didn’t recognize the boy, but then realized that it was the kid with a terrible acne problem he had seen in the hallways a hundred times. Except the acne was gone. His skin was smooth and as clear as . . . Lorna’s.
“Mr. Crowe. I just wanted to ask you to tell Ms. Sinclair how grateful I am about what she did for my skin. It’s changed everything. It’s like having a whole new life. I don’t even know how to thank her.”
“Of course. Of course, I’ll tell her.”
Later, in the middle of a class assignment, Max couldn’t help but notice that London had turned into quite the Queen Bee. Kids were buzzing around the stock market tycoon and London was glowing,. All of her old insecurities had vanished. She was going to be just fine. Lorna did that.
For so long, Max had meditated on how beauty can mask evil. Did it also mask the goodness and kindness of someone from him because of his blind assumptions?
He and Lorna had bonded over their mutual losses. Yes, they had both lost parents. But her scars . . . what a miserable cursed life she must have endured. And then life offered her one miracle lifeline. How could he have made her feel bad for grabbing onto it?
*****
Although she was feeling just fine, Lorna saw that she was scheduled for a follow-up exam with Dr. Svenson. There was so much going on in her life right now that perhaps it would be all right if she called and rescheduled.
“Ruby, it’s kind of hard to go in to see the doctor this week. Could we push the date on that?”
“Oh, I’m so glad you called. You were next on my list, actually. I needed to cancel your appointment. Dr. Svenson is out of town. He and Melody are in Vegas—on their honeymoon.”
It was the closest to fainting that Lorna had ever experienced in her entire life.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Delphine’s home was a soothing place. But neither the environs nor the cup of tea that she was pouring for her guest were likely to calm Lorna’s nerves.
“This is all my fault. This isn’t just flirtation and dates. They got married! And it never would’ve happened if I hadn’t done that love spell. It means I’m changing the course of people’s lives, and I don’t have the right to do that. Forcing people to feel love for one another. I never should have done it.”
“That’s not what the spell does, dear. It doesn’t force anyone to feel anything.”
“But it’s making everyone fall in love. You should see what’s happening over at the library.”
“There are many different kinds of love spells. And some of them are forceful. And manipulative. And ethically questionable. The one I taught you is one of the best kinds, I think. It doesn’t force anyone to feel love. But if you’re already the object of someone’s affection, it removes their fears and inhibitions and it compels them to speak their heart. That is all.
“So, you needn’t beat yourself up. The two people in question already had feelings for one another, I promise you. They were simply too afraid to voice them.”
Lorna started to come down from her panic. Perhaps she hadn’t done anything terrible. Melody and Dr. Svenson! Who would’ve thunk it?
“You did a wonderful thing with that love spell. As you’ve discovered, the opportunities for love and romance are plentiful for those who possess beauty. Not that beauty is an absolute prerequisite for love. You began loving Bella and she was far from a beauty. You’ve seen women so happy in love they can hardly stand it, who aren’t beautiful.
“And let’s be honest. I’ve never won any beauty contests myself. Oh, I’m pleasant enough. And I could have convinced any man I wanted to see me as a beauty. I just never saw where it would have made my life better. My life’s been pretty fantastic. That fellow of mine in Atlantic City—did I ever tell you I had a fellow?
“He’s quite a guy. Anyway, I have this little rule for myself. No magic in Atlantic City. It’s a little challenge for myself. Experiencing life like a commoner. Not unlike roughing it in the woods.
“Of course, my favorite scarf got stolen, and I didn’t let myself use magic to get it back. You know what my fella said? ‘Beauty such as yours needs no further adornment.’ Yeah, I know. He’s a keeper.
“We all need love. And some of us are luckier than others. Are we going to hog all that love to ourselves, or do we help share it? You have a special gift. You have a duty to help remove some of the impediments that stand in the way of people finding their happiness.”
Lorna’s eyes filled with tears. “I do want other people be happy. But I want be happy too. And now I don’t think I will be. Max . . . Max . . .”
Delphine looked off into the distance. “Maximilian Crowe is on his way to find you, right this moment. Time for you to be heading home.”
*****
Max was sitting on her front porch when Lorna drove up, with the most sheepish and apologetic look on his face. She sat down on the front porch steps beside him.
“Jorge asked me to thank you for what you did for his skin, for his life. Things are totally going to be different for him. Would you believe he already has a girl? Or at least, someone who really looked as if she would love to be his girlfriend. And London. I can’t thank you enough for London.”
“They’re both really sweet kids. I was so happy to be able to do something for them.”
Max nodded. “So . . . what are your other skills besides dermatology?”
“Apparently, I have a talent for love spells.”
“Did you . . . did you put a love spell on me?”
“The first time you met me in the coffee shop, when you were so rude, did you feel like you had a love spell on you?”
“Umm, not really.”
“And in the park, after the jump roping, were you feeling the love then?”
“Not at all. I couldn’t get away from you fast enough.”
Lorna couldn’t help but join him in a laugh.
<
br /> “No, you are not under the influence of a love spell.”
“Then why do I feel so bewitched? I feel completely under your influence.”
“I’m only influencing you with the power of an ordinary woman.”
“That can be a whole lot of influence. I want to kiss you so badly.”
Lorna taunted him. “What’s stopping you?”
After he heard that, nothing was stopping him. Lorna’s first kiss. It had been imagined so many times and in so many dreams and daydreams. Was this just another beautiful daydream, or was this actually happening?
Max looked at her very intently. “Would you like to . . . would you like to . . . take this inside? Of course, we don’t have to. I don’t want to rush you. Ever. We can sit here. We can sit in the car. We can go to a movie. We can go out to eat. Whatever you want, and whatever you’re ready for.”
“I want to take this inside.”
Max leapt to his feet, and pulled Lorna up with him. “Excellent idea.”
More kissing followed on her living room sofa.
“I can’t believe how nervous I am,” Max chided himself. “I broke up with my last girlfriend over two years ago. I haven’t done this in a very long time.”
“Neither have I,” Lorna said, which was really stretching the truth.
“Well, you know what they say. It’s like riding a bicycle. You never forget.”
Lorna put an outstretched arm to hold Max at a distance while she tried to gather her courage. “I’ve never ridden a bicycle.”
“Oh, it was just a silly metaphor. You know, I was actually talking about sex.”
“So was I. I’ve. Never. Ridden. A Bicycle.”
It took several moments for that stunning revelation to sink in.
“You can’t be saying what I think you’re saying.”
“I’m saying exactly what you think I’m saying.”
“But you’re . . . you’re—didn’t you say that you’re forty-two years old?”
“Yes, I am. But I’ve never had a boyfriend. Not in my entire life. And you know exactly what I looked like for most of my entire life. Men wanted nothing to do with me. So here I am, at forty-two years old, never having ridden a bicycle.”
Max could finally believe it. But it was astonishing news, nonetheless.
Lorna was a bit incredulous. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but this actually seems like a bigger surprise for you than the whole witch thing.”
“Well, it sort of is. I mean, I knew that witches existed. But a forty-two-year-old—”
“Don’t say it. After tonight, it won’t be true.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” he asked gently.
Lorna grabbed him by his collar firmly. “Are you kidding? If I’d had the nerve, riding a bike would have been at the very top of my bucket list. The very top. And if I was forced to narrow my bucket list down to three items, riding that bike would still be at the very top. Okay?”
That was all Max needed to hear. “If I’d had the nerve, then riding a bike with you would have been the first item on my bucket list. So, sounds like we’re on the same page.”
Lorna sighed with relief. At long, long last. She beamed. “You know, I’ve been doing my best to prepare myself for this. My overly helpful new friends have provided me with all kinds of manuals.”
She leapt up and brought back The Kama Sutra and a few other choice publications to show him. “These were very helpful. Although, if I had known that I would need them this soon, I would have studied a little harder.”
Max gently pulled the books from her hands and laid them aside on the coffee table. He took her hand and pressed it against his heart. “I’m your manual.”
Lorna laughed nervously. “Ah, one of those fancy 3-D manuals.”
“And fully interactive,” Max assured her.
*****
The next morning was filled with . . . more affection and more bucket list sharing. And Max got the opportunity to show off his cooking skills.
“What kind of food goes well with . . . bicycling?”
Lorna tilted her head. “Trail mix?”
“Okay. I think we’ve taken the bicycling analogy as far as it should go. No, omelets! We need omelets.”
As if life wasn’t good enough already.
*****
Lorna was in Dr. Svenson’s office undergoing a routine follow-up, but what interested her most was the doctor’s irrepressibly cheerful demeanor.
“Ruby tells me that you are now a married man,” Lorna began cautiously. “A Vegas wedding! I mean, I can’t fault your choice of bride. Melody is absolutely wonderful. But wasn’t that awfully . . . spontaneous?”
It was a very legitimate question. The doctor sat down close to Lorna. “You know I was married a very long time ago. And I had two beautiful girls. So, I don’t have any regrets about my divorce because it gave me my lovely daughters. And while I used to wonder if my obsession with my career was the thing that destroyed my marriage, I have to look back at all the lives that I saved, and if my marriage was the price to be paid, then I can’t have any regrets about that either. Nothing was more important than giving those sick people a chance to live long and healthy lives. So, no regrets.
“The funny thing is, for a man who has no regrets, there are still always regrets. I have seen such happiness around me, such happiness and love. And I wasn’t envious, you know. I was just happy for them. Truly. Because I knew that was not going to be my destiny.
“Melody? I have known her for years at the library. And I always felt her mind and her heart, and I always wanted to be a part of her life. But how could I even think that she might feel the same way? I couldn’t even entertain the possibility. And now she is my wife! What an apropos name, Melody. She is the music and the harmony that was missing and now fill me with such delight.”
His happiness brought tears to Lorna’s eyes. She couldn’t wish for anything better for her dear friend Melody. The world was starting to look like an unbearably beautiful place. Oh, except for the murder part.
*****
If Lorna thought that she was going to spend her first night with Max without undergoing an obligatory debriefing by her sex ed team, then she was sadly mistaken. In all likelihood, if she hadn’t agreed to meet with them, they would have hunted her down in the streets and conducted their interrogation in a loud and public fashion.
“The important thing is, don’t leave out anything,” Jules instructed.
“And did you have to tell him about the no experience thing, or were you able to fake it?” Chloe wondered.
“And don’t worry about the man’s ego,” Lexi directed. “We want to know whether or not this man did right by you.”
Their keen interest didn’t come across as nosy or gratuitous. Lorna was actually grateful that they took such a strong interest in her well-being. It certainly wasn’t a discussion she could have with her library friends!
“It changes everything, doesn’t it? I mean, we liked each other so much. But in the great scheme of things, we still didn’t know each other very well or for very long. Before our night together, sometimes we were on the same wavelength and sometimes not. Sometimes, he felt like a complete stranger, and sometimes, it felt that we had known each other forever. There was so much insecurity. Does he like me? Does he really like me? Will he still like me tomorrow? Is there anything about myself that might make him not like me?”
“Cut to the chase,” Chloe urged. “What about the sex?”
“Have you seen Phantom of the Opera? It’s the most incredible thing. It has to be my favorite musical. The movie is okay for visuals—great visuals. But, best to see it live. There’s this song and it’s called Point of No Return. I always knew that it was about sex. The Phantom is asking Christine, the young woman, to live with him forever in his underground isolation and renounce the world above to be with him. I always related so much to that character.”
Jules was willing to go with the flow. “So,
if you were Christine, you would you have made the same choice that she did? Yeah, it’s one of my favorites too. So, who would you have picked?”
“She wasn’t the character I could relate to. Being the object of desire of two different men? No. I was the Phantom. When I watched that story, I was the Phantom. And Point of No Return means that the two people are about to be changed forever. And that’s exactly what happened with me and Max.
“Afterwards there was no more doubt and insecurity and questioning. Just certainty, and the sweetest security, and this unbreakable connection. That’s something that you all didn’t tell me. He and I are together now, and it’s everything I dreamed it would be. I remember something that he said to me when he was fixing the omelets—”
“Omelets? What kind of omelets?” Lexi demanded.
“I think he used Gruyere cheese and fresh mushrooms. And he used those tiny little red potatoes with onions to make homemade hashbrowns.”
The other three women salivated.
“Tell me that he was only wearing a towel. Because omelets and a shirtless man are a pretty unbeatable combination.”
“Well, after breakfast, his shirt did come off again,” Lorna recalled shyly. “And so much happened—it was such an experience. I know it’s insane, and maybe I’m just overly influenced by my doctor, who just got married out of the blue to someone he’d only been dating for a few days.
“It just feels like that’s where we’re headed. This is what they’re talking about in all those songs, and poems, and fairytales, and all the love stories. This is what they were all talking about. This is what the beginning of happily ever after feels like.”
Lexi, Chloe, and Jules looked at one another, incredulous. They had come for titillating details and they wound up with this dreamy reverie. None of them had heard anything quite like it. But it had the ring of completely unvarnished truth.
“Maybe we’re the ones who should’ve been taking notes from you,” Chloe conceded.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that way about anyone,” Jules confessed.
“How about never?” Lexi admitted. “I’ve had a lot of fun in life. And I have no regrets about any of it, but . . .”
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