by S S Bazinet
Michael returned a puzzled look. “Why would I give up on you?”
“Because I’ve been a problem. I’m always making things difficult for myself and everyone around me.”
“That’s just a concept you were taught to believe as a child.”
Arel sat down on his bed and clasped his hands together. “I guess you’re right. My mother hated me from the time I was conceived.”
“Yes, and your father wished you were dead, too. But whatever they thought, it didn’t change the beautiful soul that resides in you.”
“For a long time I lost touch with my soul. If you hadn’t showed up in my life and kept encouraging and helping me all this time, I’d still be floundering.”
“Even before I showed up in physical form, you never lost that spark of longing inside of you.”
“If you say so, but I don’t remember much of a spark, just the shame and guilt I felt.”
Michael went over to Arel’s dresser. He picked up a glass angel and held it up for inspection. “You would have tossed this in the trash if you truly lost that spark.”
Arel had to swallow hard when he thought about the small crystal object that Michael was holding. “My poor grandmother, I miss her. She was a very kind lady who loved me. Before my father barred her from our house, she gave me that angel. She promised that he’d look out for me.”
Michael set the angel back on the dresser and sighed. “I wish I could have helped you more, but—”
“But I think you did help me. Sometimes, after my father beat me, and I lay in my bed crying, I’d hold that little angel. It would help me to get to sleep and escape the pain.”
“Very hard times indeed.”
“But that’s all behind me now.”
“Yes, and this is a very special day.”
Arel got up and went to the mirror, examining his facial hair for anything that wasn’t in line with perfect grooming. “I hope I look alright. Claire is so beautiful. I don’t want to be a disappointment.”
“Is that why you’ve been so busy with the house? I don’t think there’s a corner or rug that you haven’t cleaned or vacuumed.”
“And you and Carey have helped too. Thank you for that.”
“I just checked the lawn. You’ll be happy to know that it’s leaf free. The compost bin in the garden is full to overflowing.”
Arel walked over to the spacious bedroom windows, noting how Michael had tidied the garden and readied it for winter. “I’ve probably gone overboard, but having spotless tile floors and a house that’s at its best seemed important. When Claire gets here, I want her to see beautiful things everywhere she looks.” He turned to Michael, hoping to steady a sudden bout of nervousness. “Do you think I’ve done a good job?”
“Arel, the house couldn’t be more immaculate.”
“Is that a good thing or not?”
“Beauty and order are part of who you are. Don’t let your doubts erode your self-confidence or your belief in your good intentions. And please know that when I look at you, I see someone who always tries his best, a person who’s caring and kind.”
Arel returned a weak smile. “I hope that’s enough for Claire.”
* * * * *
When Arel saw Claire walking towards him in the greeting area of the airport, he was a little surprised. Then he remembered she was coming from an ambitious dig in a hot and humid country. Her rumpled clothes and mussed hair were a result of what she’d been through.
He straightened the lapels on his finely tailored, Italian suit. He’d overdressed and felt a flush of foolishness mar his expression of happiness. But as Claire got closer, nothing could stop the flood of delight that coursed through his body. He rushed forward the last few yards, closing the distance between them. “Welcome to Chicago, my love!”
Claire laughed. “Aren’t you the dashing gentleman! Are you going to a wedding or some gala event after you get me home?”
Arel shook his head. “When we get home, all that I want to do is look at you.”
Claire pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. “First thing that I want is a shower.”
“Of course,” Arel said as he shifted a well-worn backpack off her shoulder. “If you’d like, I could run you a bath, and you could soak.”
“No, that’s not necessary. A quick shower will be fine. Besides, it can be a water saver.”
Arel sucked in a breath. “Of course, I forgot about how conscientious you are.”
Claire slipped her arm around his. “Yes, we only have one planet. It’s important to do everything we can to respect it.”
When they got to the parking garage, Arel was happy that Carey had washed the car. But then he thought about Claire’s statement and made a mental note to avoid any unnecessary water expenditures in the future.
Claire inspected his Mustang with a critical eye. “Pretty vehicle but I bet it’s a gas-guzzler.”
“Actually, the salesman said it did very well for the size of its engine.”
Claire patted Arel’s arm as he started to put her bag in the trunk. “I can see that you’re a bit self-indulgent when it comes to cars.”
“Am I?” Arel stood up too quickly and bumped his head on the trunk lid. Rubbing the offended body part, he frowned. “I guess I didn’t think in those terms when I bought it. Michael said a sporty model would be pleasurable to drive. He thinks I’m too serious at times, that I need to find more ways to enjoy myself.”
“Maybe this Michael fellow needs to get serious. His advice sounds rather frivolous.”
Arel hurried over to the passenger side and opened Claire’s door. She gave him a quick smile and slipped into her seat. After closing her door and walking around to the driver’s side, he felt a little disorientated. He’d never questioned Michael’s guidance. But Claire did have a point. It made him wonder. Could an angel be negligent when it came to respecting the earth? It was a question he’d never thought to ask himself before.
* * * * *
Elise stood on a chair and handed Carey some china plates from the top shelf of one of the kitchen cupboards. “Thank you for helping, Carey.”
Carey put the plates on the table and helped Elise down off the chair. “When you moved here, I think you were planning on staying for a while, weren’t you?”
Elise smiled. “Yes, the people who own the house wanted to lease it out for three years. When I saw it, I liked it so much that I took a lot of stuff out of storage. Like this china set that belonged to a great aunt. I thought it would be nice to use if I entertained again.”
“Are you going to put it all back in storage?”
“Yes, I guess so.”
Carey began to put packing material between the plates. “By the way, I had a question about a different matter. You said you stayed at a motel before you moved in here. Would you recommend it?”
“Yes, it was nice. But why do you ask?”
“My friend, Annabel, is coming for a visit soon, and she needs a place to stay.”
“The Annabel who lives in London?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s kind of a spur of the moment idea.”
“But isn’t she a good friend of Arel’s? Won’t she want to stay with him?”
Carey hesitated. “Not with Claire being there.”
“Oh, right. Peggy said something about Annabel not getting along with her.”
Carey shrugged. “Maybe she wants to give Arel and Claire some privacy. I know that Michael and I try to stay to ourselves. Of course, Arel and Claire are using the lower level, which is perfect for privacy. It’s like having their own apartment.”
Elise went to the counter and removed a bakery bag from the bread keeper. “I think it’s time for a break. What do you think, Carey?”
“I don’t know. Arel is concerned about my eating habits.”
Elise took some raspberry crème donuts out of the bag and put them on a serving dish. “Really? Maybe Arel needs to lighten up a bit. You look very fit to me.”
Ca
rey smiled broadly. “I feel great.”
“Then sit down and have a pastry with me. And while we’re eating, you can tell me more about your friend—”
“Annabel? She’s very nice. But I think she’s trying to be more independent. That’s why she’s taking this trip.”
“Did she come from a sheltered background?”
“I suppose that’s true. Now, she’s married to William. He’s kind of her opposite, an independent man of the world. Annabel wants to be more of a match. She’s trying to learn more about being on her own.”
“Good for her,” Elise said as she took a bite of her donut. A bit of raspberry filling dripped onto the plate. Elise scooped it up with her finger and gave Carey an attentive glance. “You know, Carey, your friend could stay with me.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t want to impose.”
“Don’t be silly. I have a guest room that’s perfect. When a writer friend was going to visit me, I bought a bed, linens, the whole deal, wanting to make her comfortable. Unfortunately, something came up, and she canceled. Now, I’m moving. It seems a shame to have gone to all that trouble for nothing.”
“Still, it’s very nice of you to want Annabel to stay here.”
Elise washed down a bite of pastry with some tea and dabbed her mouth with a paper napkin. “I have my Freddie, but—”
“What is it? You look a little sad.”
Elise gripped her cup. “Do I still seem needy to you, Carey? Because I know the books say that all we really need is ourselves.”
Carey swallowed the remainder of his donut and smiled. “You seem okay to me.”
“But I still get lonely. Maybe that’s why I’d like your friend to stay with me. It would be nice to have someone around to talk to for a change.” Elise sipped her tea, and her eyes flashed brighter. “I also like to dabble in the kitchen. If your friend stays here, I’ll get out my old recipes and make something delicious. When it’s just me, I don’t bother very often.”
“Something delicious? That’s sounds great. I bet Annabel would love to stay here. I’ll ask her about it when I talk to her.”
“Are you sure?” Elise paused and studied Carey more closely. “Maybe you think I’m still too much of a downer.”
Carey reached for a second donut. “Elise, you’re not a downer. You’re a lot of fun. And remember, if you need a dinner buddy to try out one of those recipes, I’m always available.”
Twenty-Five
ANNABEL SAT IN Arel’s Mustang, watching the scenery whiz by. Carey had picked her up at the airport, and they were headed back to his friend’s house where she’d be staying. She hoped that Elise was as nice as Carey said. Arel’s description had been quite the opposite. “Carey, are you sure that staying with Elise is my best option? Arel said she was, you know, rather harsh.”
Carey kept his eyes on the road. “If you’re the least bit uncomfortable, you can stay at a motel.”
Annabel sat back in her seat, remembering when she’d been an angel. People could change, sometimes very quickly. William was a shining example. He’d become a very loving man in a very short amount of time. Or maybe he’d just allowed his true spirit to finally come through. She took a quick breath and looked at Carey. “Since Elise has been nice enough to extend the invitation, the least I can do is thank her.”
“Good, I think when you meet her, you’ll feel okay about being her guest.”
Annabel laughed. “I’m surprised about how quickly everything fell into place once I decided to take this trip. In just a few days, I boarded a plane. Now, here I am.”
“But it’s not that new an adventure, you’ve been here before.”
Annabel winced. “Yes, I know.”
The last time Annabel had been in Chicago, William was with her, and they’d stayed with Arel. There were a lot of ups and downs. This time she was avoiding Arel. She needed time away from him, too. She gave Carey a quick glance. “What did you tell Arel when you asked to borrow the car? You didn’t let on that I was here, did you?”
Carey grinned and returned a quick look of satisfaction. “I told him the truth.”
Annabel’s eyes flared with disappointment. “Oh, Carey, how could you? You know that I don’t want to see him, especially with Claire around. At least not yet.”
Carey continued to smile. “You didn’t let me finish. I told him that I needed to pick up a friend who’s staying with Elise. Elise’s car is in for repairs so it was the perfect explanation.”
“Oh, so Arel doesn’t—”
“Please don’t worry, Annabel. Arel has his hands full. He’s not thinking about anything or anybody with Claire around.”
Annabel shivered. “I don’t want to be unkind, but one shopping trip with that woman nearly finished me off.”
“Well, Elise isn’t at all like Claire. She was a bit severe at first, but she’s really made big strides recently.”
“Peggy told me the same thing. She also said that Elise talks a lot about you and Michael and how helpful you’ve been.”
“I’m happy we could be there for her.”
“You’re an angel, it’s what you do.”
Carey gave her a quick wink. “Yes, but there have been rewards that go beyond the angelic part. Elise found a fantastic bakery. Their chocolate cake is amazing. She also loves to cook. She’s making something special for your dinner tonight.”
Annabel felt her mood lift a little. “That’s a relief. Remember when I stayed with Arel? He forgot to shop for food, and I got pretty hungry.”
“You don’t have to worry about being hungry around Elise. And here’s the best part, I’m invited to dinner tonight.”
* * * * *
Elise was inspecting the table settings and startled when she heard the doorbell ring. Her guest had arrived. It had been a long time since she’d entertained. But that hadn’t curbed her enthusiasm or her preparations. She’d been so excited about Annabel’s visit that she had been up half the night getting ready. The sheets on the guest bed were already clean, but she washed them again to make sure they were fresh. She also gave Freddie a bath, vacuumed and bought flowers for both the guest bedroom and for the dining room table.
It took a bit a digging, but she finally found her recipe box. It contained all the yummy dishes her grandmother used to make. She finally decided on lasagna because she could delay putting it in the oven if Annabel’s plane was late. But Carey’s text message let her know that all was on schedule.
She looked at the clock as she hurried to answer the door. The pasta dish would be coming out of the oven in thirty minutes. That gave Annabel time to get settled before she ate. With so many details on her mind, she forgot to grab Freddie. He took advantage of her mistake by running outside as soon as she opened the door. When he saw their visitors, he became a frenzied ball of white fur, jumping up on Annabel repeatedly.
“Who’s this?” Annabel asked as she picked him up.
Elise smiled. “His name is Freddie, and I’m Elise,” she said gesturing Annabel and Carey inside. “Please come in.”
Later, after they dined on the lasagna and Freddie fell asleep in his dog bed, the three of them sat at the table chatting and finishing dessert. Elise had baked a homemade apple pie. She was pleased to see that Annabel seemed to enjoy her cooking. Of course, Carey looked extremely pleased too. “I’m so happy you accepted my invitation to stay here,” she said to Annabel.
Annabel sat up straighter. “I’m grateful to be here. Your hospitality is so welcoming. I was a little anxious about leaving William and London, but now I feel better.”
Carey stood up. “Would you like some help with cleaning up, Elise?”
“No, thank you. I’ll put most of the dishes in the dishwasher and soak the rest.”
“Then I better be getting back home. Arel is probably wondering where I am. Even though he’s preoccupied with Claire, he’s still very aware when I come in late.”
Annabel reached out for his hand. “Thank you for all you’ve
done, and for not letting Arel know that I’m here.”
Elise frowned. “Arel doesn’t know you’re visiting?”
Annabel blushed. “No, my trip was a spur of the moment affair, and I don’t want to disturb Arel while—”
Elise could see that Annabel was troubled by something. She wanted to help. “I’ll do whatever you want, Annabel. If you’d rather not let Arel know you’re here, we’ll find a way to be sneaky.”
Annabel smiled broadly. “Sneaky?”
“Yes, if we go out in the car, you can keep your head down. In fact, I have a blond wig and big, sun glasses you could borrow if we take a walk.”
Carey gave Annabel a knowing look. “Elise is a wonderful writer with a great imagination. She can think up lots of ways to keep you from being discovered.”
Annabel’s eyes sparkled with a playful glint. “It sounds like I’m going to learn a lot from you, Elise.”
Elise glanced up at Carey. “And you can be our helper, letting us know about Arel’s comings and goings. That way we’ll have less of a chance of being spotted.”
Carey started for the door. When he looked back, his face had a mischievous look too. “Annabel and Elise, I feel an adventure coming on.”
* * * * *
At bedtime, Annabel shut the door to the guest room and paused. She liked the room’s cozy decor. It was very different from her own home. William’s tastes were more sophisticated than Elise’s. There were no delicate, lace curtains on their windows. But William was willing to compromise. He was agreeable when she added feminine touches to those areas of their home where she spent more time, like her studio.
Now, in a new environment, she walked over to the bed and examined the linens. The colors of the quilt and pillow shams were inviting. With a patchwork design of pale greens, soft browns and rosy florals, they made her think of a quiet garden. When she folded back the coverlet, the sheets were a pretty rose color, and they were extra soft to the touch.
There wasn’t a lot of furniture in the room, but there was a dresser that sported a vase full of white daisies and pink carnations. There was also a sitting chair and a side table. A nicely framed print of hollyhocks at the seaside hung over the bed. All in all, Annabel felt very comfortable when she settled into the pillow-top mattress. She drifted off to sleep thinking about little Freddie and how affectionate the puppy was.
