Miss Fortune (33 page)

Come on , Flynn! she said, laughing again. Its not as if I thought this was going anywhere, she said, motioning vaguely to the bathroom. I mean obviously, youre British, Im American, we live thousands of miles from each other, our lives are very different

But I thought we were entirely compatible. You said so yourself.

Phhht , she snorted with a roll of her eyes. Yeah, I did. But you know, the fact that we both like Coldplay does not mean that we are going to be a couple. I was just talking! she said, and stepped around him. You took it too seriously. You know me, I like to talk. Chatter chatter chatter. She opened the bathroom door; a rush of cold air hit him square in the face, sobered him even more. Speaking of chatter, Im going to have to run. I have to call some people tonight and make sure theyre bringing stuff to Thanksgiving. And a turkey. I really need to get a turkey.

Flynn followed helplessly behind her, padding out into the bedroom and standing there like an idiot as Rachel found her clothes and began to dress, wishing he could think, could find a way to tell her everything. But his professional self convinced him not to say anything, not yet.

She chatted on about the turkey, but he was silently and fiercely debating what he should tell herif he told her she was part of an investigation, he would tip his hand, and they might lose a very valuable link to solving it. He could not forget the job he was sworn to do, or the fact that he was breaking every law enforcement convention that he knew by falling in love with her. But that was the rubhe wanted to be with her, because he, too, had fallen in love, and God, he desperately wanted to say so.

Which left him standing there, wondering exactly what he intended to begin withwhere had he thought this would all lead? Did he think hed never have to face the truth? It was inevitable, and he was wholly unprepared to deal with it, bloody fool that he was.

Hed fucked it all up, and it was not something that could be easily rectified. Certainly not while he was standing bare-arsed wearing nothing but a towel.

So he just stood watching miserably as Rachel dressed and stuffed her big bag full of her things that were scattered about, and when she turned to face him with that blindingly false smile, he opened his arms, wrapped her in an embrace. Rachel responded by pressing her face to his shoulder, and her body sagged against him.

Rachel

But she suddenly lifted her head, stepped out of his embrace. So youre coming Thursday, right? she asked.

Yes, of course, he said, trying to sound reassuring.

The bird did not bite. Great ! she exclaimed. And now, Ive really got to run. She gave him a peck on the cheek and quickly proceeded to the door, her wet braid swinging above her hips.

He shoved both hands through his wet hair in despair. Ill ring you later, all right? he called after her as she reached the door.

Okay! she said, and with a cheery wave, she walked out the door. One oclock! Dont be late! And the door closed.

Flynn stood there for what felt like hours, staring at that closed door, his hands on his hips, his mind racing badly, until he realized he was freezing quite to death.

OKAY, so now she had finally reached that pinnacle of achievement, had performed that singular, crowning act that would forever label her a giant loser. It was unwritten rule numero uno, the one thing a girl never did unless she was a certified imbecilenever tell a guy you love him first. Augh !

She raced away from the Corporate Suites and into the oblivion of night, trying to outrun her humiliation. Naturally, she was stopped in her escape by a red light.

With a moan, Rachel laid her head against the steering wheel. Idiot, she muttered beneath her breath. Did you really believe all that witchcraft stuff could change the universe? Youre still Miss Fortune.

A honk behind her brought her head upthe light was green, and she threw the car into first gear, hit the gas, and hurtled through the intersection, made a sharp right, and turned into the lot of a small market. The sign said they closed at midnightit was ten to. She grabbed her bag, dashed inside with the thing banging against her leg, then race-walked the aisles until she found what she was looking for.

Yes, the baking aisle, with every type of brownie mix known to man. With a box of extra-moist and fudgy Duncan Hines and a carton of eggs, she ran to the checkout, dug in her purse until she came up with the required $3.37, and slipped outside just before midnight.

At one-thirty, she was sitting in the floor of her living room, a freshly-baked pan of brownies in her lap and a fork in her hand. She was methodically eating the brownies between gulps and sobs of bitter, bitter disappointment.

In the middle of one particularly big bite, however, she spied the stupid spell book on a little occasional table in the dining room, and felt a hot rage wash over her. Damn Dagne and her witchcraft! No, no, that wasnt fair. If

Dagne jumped off a bridge, she wouldnt necessarily followwait. Scratch that. She might. But the point was that Dagne hadnt given her this false sense of confidence, she had given that to herself.

Witchcraft! What was up with that?

Incensed by her own stupidity, Rachel shoved the half-eaten pan of brownies aside, came to her feet, marched across the room to that ridiculous and pink spell book (who the hell put spells in pink leather?), and knocked it off the occasional table with an angry swipe of her hand. The book fell off and landed open.

Oh please, Im not falling for that again, she said defiantly, but bent over nonetheless and peered down. It had fallen open to a spell designed to rid yourself of negative energy.

Idiots. Whoever writes this stuff is an idiot, she muttered, and hatefully kicked the spell book. It skid across the wooden floors, beneath the dining table and out the other side and came to a rest next to the hutch. It was, she could see, still open.

Cautiously, folding her arms defensively against her, Rachel walked around the table and went down on her haunches in front of the spell book.

Escaping Negative Energy and Reviving the Chakra with Positive Energy

Rachel squinted again, read the instructions. All she needed was a piece of lavender clothhad that, hanging around her neck. And the herb anise, which she knew she had plenty of, thanks to Dagnes spell shopping. Green tea, a bowl made of silver (she stood up, looked at the hutch. Yep, still had the bowl Myron had given her), and an amulet.

Well, hell.

Okay, she didnt believe in witchcraft, and she would not be sucked into believing that it actually worked, thank you. But on the other hand, she had all the stuff, and she was wide awake, thanks to half a pan of double fudge chocolate brownies. It was just something to do until she was ready to go to bed, that was all.

Rachel picked up the spell book with two fingers and marched back to the living room to prepare the last spell she would ever, ever do.

That night, Rachel went to bed with a tummyache, having devoured the rest of the brownies, but having also swallowed down most of her humiliation. She fell asleep quickly, and was soon dreaming of a field of yellow flowers.

In her dream, she was wearing a long, flowing silk white gown like the damsels in distress always seemed to wear. As she walked through the field, every flower grew taller and taller, and as she touched them, they gave her positive energy. Rachel touched so many flowers, she was practically floating above earth, and was laughing as she went.

Then at the end of the field, she noticed a figure, and as she drew closer, she realized it was Flynn. Still wearing nothing but a cheap, flimsy towel.

RACHEL awoke with a start Thanksgiving morning with the sick realization that in the time it took to make a gigantic faux pas with Flynn, she hadnt heard a word from Dad since sending him that e-mail. Was he coming? Oh God, shed been so freaked out by what shed done that she hadnt remembered to call him.

Of course, there was no answer at either his penthouse apartment or his cell.

Dagne was the first to arrive with her so-called famous Brussels sprout and cauliflower casserole and found Rachel frantically picking up the clutter in the living room when she came in. But Dagne walked straight through to the living room and into the kitchen without a single word.

As it was unlike Dagne to do anything without speaking, Rachel followed her.

Dagne was standing in front of the fridge, a beer in hand.

Hey, Rachel said.

Hey. She took a big long swig of her beer, then put it down on the breakfast bar with a huge bang.

Whats the matter?

Glenn.

Whatdid something happen? Is he bugging you?

Dagne rolled her eyes, swiped up the beer, and took another long swig of it before answering, Hardly. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Remember that date we had? You know, the night we did the spell? I thought it went great. I met him at Fratangelos, we had a couple of drinks, we went back to my place and I havent heard from him since. Not a peep.

But that was only two or three days ago, Rachel reminded her.

It was four , thank you very much. I think he dumped me. And dont try and talk me out of it. That asshole dumped me, I can feel it.

But what about the spell? Rachel tried, in spite of having decided yesterday that it was, at least in her case, a bunch of hocus-pocus crap.

I dont know, Dagne said, staring thoughtfully at the peeling wallpaper above the window. I just have this really funny feeling that something isnt right Wheres Flynn? Is he coming?

Rachel had not told Dagne about her brush with stupidity yet, and quickly turned her attention to the potatoes on the stove. Supposed to, she muttered.

Great. At least one of us is going to have a good time. I cant wait to

Hel-lo-oh!

Dagne looked at Rachel. Chantal, Rachel said.

Chantal and Tiffinnae had come along with their five children in tow. Rachel never did get which child belonged to which woman, but after a lot of standing around in the living room, they began to disappear, one by one, out the front door. Neither Chantal nor Tiffinnae seemed to notice, as they were too caught up walking around and admiring Rachels things while Rachel pulled their very large and heavy cooler into the kitchen.

Mind if we go upstairs? Chantal shouted from the top stair.

Dagne opened the cooler, started sorting through. Oooh, pumpkin pies. And look at this, a green bean casserole, she said, her eyes getting wider. Wheres the turkey? Whos got the turkey?

Someone was knocking at the door. Flynn ! Please let it be Flynn! I do. Its in the oven, Rachel said, tripping over Dagne in her haste to get to the front door. Nervously, she threw it open with a huge smile but no one was there.

There was, however, the distinct sound of children giggling around the side of the house.

Rachel closed the door, returned to the kitchen to check the turkey while Dagne tried to fit all the food Chantal and Tiffinnae had brought into the fridge. Another knock at the door, and Rachel told Dagne to ignore it. The kids, she said.

But when Chantal and Tiffinnae finally came downstairs again, she heard Tiffinnae say, Well, come on in, Jason. Was you just going to stand out there and wait for someone to figure out you was here?

Rachel instantly came out of the kitchen. Jason, Im so sorryI thought it was the kids again.

Whose kids? Chantal instantly demanded with a dark and defensive frown.

Come in, Jason, Rachel said, taking his hand and ignoring Chantal.

She led him to the couch; he sat cautiously on the edge. Was I supposed to bring something? I didnt bring anything.

Thats all right, theres plenty, Rachel said over Chantals snort of disapproval. Just come in and make yourself at home.

Well, I certainly didnt come empty-handed, an effeminate male voice sniffed. Mr. Gregory had arrived.

Look what Mr. Gregory done brought! Chantal cried, holding up a box with several bottles of wine. Mmm-mmm, we gonna have us a fine time! she informed Tiffinnae.

Clara was rather fond of her wine, Mr. Gregory said. But I have no use for it. By the bye, I was viciously attacked with small mud pellets on my way in, he added as he shrugged out of his coat and handed it to Dagne without so much as a glance.

Chantal marched to the door and flung it open, stuck her head out the screen. RAY. SHON. DRA ! she hollered. YOU BETTER NOT BE DOING THEM MUD BALLS OR I WILL SKIN YOUR BLACK HIDE, YOU HEAR ME?

Whether Rayshondra heard her or not, they would not know, for Chantal instantly slammed the door shut, then turned and walked into the living room. That a new shirt, Jason? she asked pleasantly.

Rachel took the opportunity to introduce everyone to Dagne.

Everyone said hi, except for Jason, who sort of muttered at his toes. Then Chantal suggested Rachel needed help in the kitchen, but Rachel insisted she didnt, as she was scared to let Chantal anywhere near her kitchen unsupervised, but the woman was determined. So Rachel, Chantal, Tiffinnae, and Dagne all tromped to the kitchen together, leaving Mr. Gregory and Jason to stare at each other.

It wasnt long before they heard Sandy shout, Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, Rachel responded, coming out to greet her. Mr. Gregory was holding the door so she could maneuver in with her two grocery bags and her crutches.

Hüüi-üüi ! Sandy sang out to Rachel.

Jason, maybe you could give Sandy a hand with the bags? Rachel asked. Jason came to his feet, slunk over to Sandy, and looked down at her foot.

I thought the other one was hurt, he said. Rachel had to agree with Jasontwo weeks ago, it had been the other foot bandaged up.

Oh it was , Sandy cheerfully confirmed. But would you believe I twisted this ankle so bad I cant even walk?

She laughed. Just as I was getting off these darn things! But then one night, I had one of my attacks, you know, and I got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroomthis medicine Im on makes you pee every ten minutes and thats so annoyingwell anyway, I get up, but my sinuses were acting up so bad I could hardly think, and it was dark, and I was trying to find the wall switch, and I hit a stool, which made me sort of stagger back, she said, now re-enacting the tragic accident, and wouldnt you know it, my right ankle wasnt strong enough to recover since I had hurt it so bad, so I twisted my left ankle trying to compensate for the right!