by Corman, Ana
Ruth saw the tears glisten in Dana’s eyes. She unscrewed the lid and shook the M&M’s into Dana’s hand. “When I was a kid my grandmother would always bring me to the beach by her house. I loved throwing shells back into the surf. She told me that every time you throw something back into the ocean you’re supposed to make a wish. So now that you’ve accomplished your dream of making it to the five-year mark, you have to make a wish of what you want from your life from here on in.”
Dana gently balanced the pink M&M’s in the open palm of her hand. She stepped before Ruth and touched her face. “You’re very special.” She turned and faced the wooden fence and closed her eyes. She brushed away the tears on her cheeks and bowed her head. She stood stone still as the breeze flirted with the layers of her purple dress. Moments later she raised her head. She took one step back and took one M&M from the pile before tossing the rest high into the sky. They both looked down and watched each chocolate treat plop into the raging surf.
Ruth stood close beside her. “What did you wish for?”
“I took the liberty of making a wish for each M&M you gave me. I wish for continuing good health for myself and everyone I love. I wish to walk in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure as long as I can. I wish to visit the Vatican. I want to take a hot-air-balloon ride. I’d like to go back and visit Ireland. I want to see the bookstore continue growing in its success. I want to see Catherine in a happy relationship.”
She turned to Ruth. “I’ve wished for five years for this time to come. It’s here and you’ve made it so special. So I didn’t need to toss in this last M&M to make that wish.” Dana took the last M&M and held it before Ruth’s mouth. She slipped it in between her parted lips and was jolted by the heat soaring through her at that simple touch. “My breast cancer enriched my life in so many ways. I feel so blessed that it’s gone and you’re here to stay.”
Twenty-Three
RUTH DROVE HER PORSCHE beneath the Spanish archway and parked by the front doors. She unclipped her seat belt and smiled at the astonished look on Dana’s face. “Gorgeous, isn’t it?”
“Oh my, yes. Catherine told me about Olivia’s home but this is truly spectacular.”
Ruth walked around the car and opened Dana’s door for her. She held out her hand and watched Dana’s long, slender, shapely legs slip out of her seat.
“I saw some amazing homes during my twenty-five years as a real-estate agent, but this is staggering.”
“Wait till you see the inside.”
“I can’t wait.”
Ruth guided Dana through the front door and into the spacious foyer. Dana stared up at the domed stained-glass ceiling and blinked several times. “It’s so beautiful.”
“Well, you finally made it. I was just about to spring Abbott and Costello loose.”
Ruth and Dana turned as Olivia walked toward them.
“You do that and you’re fired,” Ruth said. “Besides, you said I had till midnight and it’s only nine.”
Dana slipped into Olivia’s warm embrace. “Your home is stunning.”
“Thank you. I’m so glad to finally have you here. How was the sushi?”
“Excellent. The company was equally wonderful.”
“I’m just grateful that Ruth has someone to drag out to raw fish besides me.”
Dana turned to see two beautiful women walk toward her.
“Have you met Zoë and Echo?” Olivia said.
“I haven’t had the pleasure. But I’ve seen them in our bookstore. It’s lovely to see you both again. Catherine told me your daughter’s due in eight weeks. How exciting.”
“We can’t wait,” Zoë said.
“I hope you had less traffic traipsing through your bathroom this evening.”
Echo smiled. “We had a very peaceful evening for a change.”
“Haven’t they finished your bathroom yet?” Ruth asked.
“Finishing touches should be done tomorrow. We’re getting a little tired of the horde of men who’ve been coming and going through there. Come on up and we’ll show you what they’ve done so far.”
“I’d love a tour of this palatial home,” Dana said.
Ruth looked through to the living room. “Can I say hello to Abbott and Costello first?”
“They’re sound asleep on their favorite pillow. Let’s do the tour and then you can get them all riled up again.”
Echo took Dana and Ruth on a guided tour of the entire house and ended in the living room. Zoë poured everyone a cup of tea as Echo pointed at the pile of fur nestled peacefully on a huge pillow by the roaring fire.
“Oh, look at my babies. They look so content.” Ruth headed for her beloved ferrets, kneeled down by their pillow, and started rubbing their heads. Abbott and Costello looked up at her and bounded into her arms.
Dana squeezed Echo’s arm. “How in the world did you manage to get them to look so peaceful at such a perfect time?”
“I put them on the treadmill for twenty minutes and let them wear themselves out. They love it.”
Dana laughed behind her hand. Echo joined Olivia and Zoë on the couch. Ruth sat on the floor caressing her pets, then pulled at something stuck in Abbott’s fur and examined it carefully between her fingers. “Why are there bits of plaster stuck in their fur?”
The silence in the room was deafening. Everyone stared at Ruth as she placed Abbott and Costello back on the pillow and stood tall. “All right, who’s going to tell me what happened?”
No one answered. Ruth reached into the brass holder beside the fireplace and grabbed the wrought-iron poker. The three housemates scattered. Dana reached for the poker and took it from Ruth’s hands. The girls huddled together behind the couch.
Dana laid her hand on Ruth’s waist. “Abbott and Costello got into Echo and Zoë’s vanity and wouldn’t come out. Catherine and Olivia brought Maya over and she flushed them out. End of story. A little plaster never hurt a ferret, did it?”
Ruth grabbed a bunch of pillows and threw them across the room at the girls. They screamed and dove behind the couch.
Dana grabbed Ruth’s arms. “Stop it. You should be ashamed of yourself for throwing pillows anywhere near a pregnant woman.”
Zoë popped her head up from behind the couch. “Yeah, you should be ashamed.”
Dana touched Ruth’s face. “Nobody intended for Abbott and Costello to get stuck in the vanity, and nobody was hurt. Well, maybe just Olivia’s head when she smacked it against the toilet bowl and the wall trying to get Abbott.”
Ruth stepped away and threw her arms in the air. “I don’t believe you guys. I trusted you with the well-being of my Abbott and Costello. How could you let them get into the vanity and then send a cat after them? They were probably terrified. I’m amazed they didn’t keel over and die with fright.” She turned to Dana. “And you knew this happened and you didn’t tell me?”
“I just told you.”
“Yeah, after I had a weapon in my hand.”
Dana motioned to the ferrets. “Look at those two. Do they look any worse for wear? You should just be grateful that the girls were all kind enough to care for your pets on such short notice so you could go be with your mother.”
Olivia peeked around the edge of the couch. “Yeah, you should be grateful.”
Ruth threw her an icy stare. “This from a woman who called me dispensable at our staff meeting today.”
Olivia threw a pillow right back at her. “You threw a breast in my lap.”
The girls burst into laughter. Dana wished Catherine were here to share in the fun. She found herself believing her daughter belonged here, in this warm, wonderful house filled with so much love.
She cautiously took Ruth’s hands. “You know better than most that there are so many worse things in life than having your ferrets take up hiding in someone’s vanity.”
Ruth looked down at their hands. “How can I stay angry when you put it like that?”
“That’s the point. It’s not worth it. All is well and yo
u have your beloved ferrets back in one piece.”
“I’m still not happy that you didn’t tell me this sooner.”
“Why would I do that? I had no intention of ruining a great sushi dinner. Besides, someone was supposed to give those two a bath and dispose of the plaster evidence.”
The girls started pointing wildly at each other. Ruth folded her arms across her chest. “So, you were going to hide the evidence and not even tell me about this if I didn’t find the plaster myself.”
“That was the game plan,” Olivia admitted.
Ruth looked back at Dana. “So what else are you hiding from me?”
Dana gazed intently into Ruth’s eyes. “I’ve never been able to hide anything from you. That bothers me more than anything.”
Ruth skimmed her fingertips across Dana’s cheek and gathered her in her arms.
Echo and Zoë looked at each other and widened their eyes in surprise. Olivia spoke quietly. “That’s quite a hug.”
Twenty-Four
LAURA ZIPPED UP HER SWEATER, marveling at the pure joy on her children’s faces. Their concentration was fierce as they carefully followed Catherine’s directions in the construction of their moat. They filled pail after pail of fine beige beach sand and tossed it aside to establish a waterway around their elegant castle. Catherine placed cocktail toothpicks in each turret; Amanda stood and watched the tide fill their moat, and Sean placed a small American flag at the portal to the main entrance.
Laura dug her painted toes into the cool beach sand. It was a beautiful warm March morning, promising to leave the rainy season behind. Laura loved bringing her kids to this spot on Mission Beach. You truly had the sense of being on a narrow peninsula with the Pacific Ocean spread before you and Mission Bay behind. The paved boardwalk showcased many colorful people zipping by on wheels of all kinds or bravely strolling along. A people-watcher’s paradise. The pastel-colored homes and condos crowded the boardwalk, vying for their claim of prime real estate.
Catherine leaned back on her heels and examined their work. “Now, that is one fine castle, fit for Prince Sean and Princess Amanda.” They all applauded the masterpiece.
Sean grabbed his boogey board. “Come on, Amanda. Let’s go surfing.”
“Stay in close,” Laura called to her children as they ran into the gentle surf. “I don’t want you going out too far.”
“We will, Mom,” Amanda called back.
Catherine picked up their pails and shovels and placed them beside the cooler. She brushed the sand off her legs. “How do you keep up with those two?”
“It’s a challenge most days, trust me.”
Catherine eased onto the big Mexican blanket beside Laura and gladly accepted the bottle of water. “Thank you. I’m parched.”
“You know, I’m not sure who has more fun building those huge sandcastles, you or them.”
Catherine smiled. “It brings back such fond memories of when I was a kid. My dad taught me everything I know about sandcastle architecture.”
Laura kept a watchful eye on her children as she hugged her knees in tight. “I remember the day we tossed his ashes into the ocean like it was yesterday.”
“Me, too. I always feel a connection to him when I look out at the Pacific. It’s a nice feeling.”
They sat together in comfortable silence as Amanda chased her Barbie boogey board along the gentle swells tumbling toward the shore.
“Did you decide how soon you want to see Olivia?” Laura asked.
Catherine brushed a spot of sand off her ankle. “I talked to her yesterday. We decided to go on a hike together on Sunday. It’s only been three days since we saw each other, and I feel like there’s a big hole in my life. It doesn’t make sense. I want time away from her, and I need to be with her.”
“I don’t think love is supposed to make sense.”
“Is this love, Laura? I don’t know what it is I’m looking for, or what sign I’m waiting for, to feel confident about Olivia. I think I’m terrified of getting close to Olivia for fear of losing her like I lost Alexis and Kayla. I keep dwelling on the obstacles between us, but it’s more than that.”
“You were just as cautious with Alexis before you committed to her.”
“Look where that got me.”
“My point is I thought you and Alexis were a perfect couple. Who could have ever predicted she would betray you like that?”
“What could I have done to prevent it?”
“Absolutely nothing. It was Alexis’s choice. Unfortunately, it destroyed you and Kayla. You’ve spent the past two years picking yourself up and rebuilding your life. Now Olivia has come to you. You’ve had a rocky start, yet you both care so much for each other. I’ve only spoken to her that one time at the store. But I saw the way she looks at you. I watched the way she talks to you. I saw the look in her eyes when I blasted her for upsetting you. She cares deeply for you. There is no such thing as reassurances when it comes to relationships, Catherine. You know that. All you can do is go with your gut feeling and follow your heart.”
Catherine shook her head. “Why are you supporting Olivia all of sudden? You’re the one who wanted to commit her to the gallows.”
“I’m not exactly ready to commit to her, either. I just want you to be happy. I don’t want you to be completely tainted by your heartache with Alexis. Besides, my gut tells me she has potential. My gut’s never wrong. Don’t you dare tell her I said that.”
Catherine laughed. “Olivia would be shocked by your support.”
“Good.” Laura sipped from her water bottle and watched her children courageously prance in the cold water. “I had a dream about you last night.”
Catherine lowered her sunglasses and stared at Laura. “What was it about?”
“We were here building sandcastles with my kids and yours. Yours and Olivia’s.”
Tears misted Catherine’s eyes. “Girls or boys?”
“Two beautiful little girls. Not as cute as my kids, but almost.”
Catherine looked out to sea, fighting back tears, trying to decide how much to tell her friend. “That’s the other thing, Laura. A big one. I don’t think Olivia wants children. She’s excited about being an aunt, but I don’t think she wants children of her own.”
Laura put her arm around Catherine. “There’s so much you still have to discover about each other, Catherine. And about yourselves. Don’t let your fear keep you from that discovery.”
Dana watched Catherine weave her way through the coffee shop. “How was your morning on the beach?” she asked.
Catherine embraced her mother. “It was great. Laura is such a good friend.”
Dana reached around for a bundle of mail secured with a thick rubber band. “She always has been. Here’s your mail. I put the lumpiest letter on top for you.”
Catherine pulled the letter out and frowned. “I can’t believe this. Olivia’s sending these packages Express. It’s a ridiculous waste of money.”
“Not if it makes her happy. Olivia has wealth from her family, darling, and she makes good money now. I think you need to accept that as part of who she is.”
“Easier said than done.” Catherine shook the package and heard the puzzle pieces rattling around. “This makes for a hundred and forty-four puzzle pieces total. Let’s go see if more of them will finally fit.”
“I’d love to. It’s pretty quiet right now.”
They retreated to Catherine’s office. Dana slipped into a chair and studied the puzzle pieces scattered across the old chest. “Look at this. You’ve made progress with the border.”
Catherine settled into a chair beside Dana and laid the envelope in her lap. “I’m not doing as well with the middle.”
Dana picked up a piece of greenery and snapped it together with another, then joined two pieces of drapery. “So open that envelope.”
Catherine laughed. “You’re more excited than I am about putting this thing together.”
“Yes, I am. And I’m going to have a fe
w words with that Dr. Olivia Carrington for dragging it on like this.”
Catherine tore open the envelope and let the pieces scatter on the old chest. “I wish you would.”
They leaned in close together and sorted each piece face up. One of the pieces immediately caught Catherine’s eye. She picked it up, searching for another piece she’d noticed the day before. She joined the two. “Look at this. It’s a woman’s face.”
“Isn’t she beautiful!” Dana moved her matched pieces of drapery over beneath the face. “And this is probably her dress. Oh, and look darling, this isn’t a butterfly wing at all, it belongs to the woman. I think she’s a fairy.”
They worked silently trying to match colors and patterns. Catherine carefully analyzed a corner piece, then decided to place it at the bottom left. “Laura thinks I should lighten up my scrutiny of Olivia.”
“That’s a big leap of faith for Laura. What do you think?”
“I think my concerns are valid.”
“Then don’t lighten up. Do what you think is right. I believe you’ll make the right decision when you’re ready.”
“How patient do you think Olivia can be?”
“If you’re what she’s wants, she’ll wait till you’re ready. That’ll be one of the tests of your love. It’s always been important to you to test the people in your life and know that they’re worthy of your undying devotion.”
“You make me sound horrible.”
“Far from it, darling. It’s important to you to know that the people near and dear to you have substance. When that’s been proven to you, you give back one hundred and fifty percent.”
Catherine stared at the vibrant puzzle pieces, trying to will them into a form she could understand. Her mother seemed far more convinced than she was that she and Olivia would be together in the end. She snapped another piece into place. “It’s not that I doubt her substance, Mom. It’s just that I’m not sure we’re right for each other.”
