Chapter Eleven

Buncombe County Cards on the Table

C ullen was unusually nervous. Was it because he'd planned a ruse to get his sister and her boyfriend together? Or was it because he was planning on having "the talk" with Chi-Chi? In either case, he couldn't stop pacing the back of his workshop. Luna brought him his usual breakfast treat of scones and a latte. Normally, Cullen would grab the scone from the plate and take a huge bite, but not that morning.

"You okay?" Luna eyed him closely.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

She was still holding the plate with the untouched scone. "Because you usually dive into this." She held it up in front of his face and then set the coffee on the workbench.

"Stomach is a little off." Cullen wasn't lying. He'd had butterflies all morning.

"Oh, I know—you're excited about your date with Chris," she teased.

"Aren't you the funny one?" He grabbed the scone from the plate. "It's about tomorrow night."

"What about it?"

"You know. Dinner. Me. Cooking. Chi-Chi. And all the rest."

"Ah. Right. Cullen, it's going to be fine."

"Are you sure about that?" He knitted his brow.

"I know I've been a terrible judge when it comes to my own romances, Chris notwithstanding. I just happened to luck out with him."

"It took you an entire year to ‘luck out.'" He made a finger quote with the hand that wasn't wrapped around the pastry.

"True. But look how long it took for you to ask Chi-Chi out to dinner. Several months. And now you're a couple."

He brushed the crumbs from his mouth. "I suppose."

"Don't be daft." Luna rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Okay, so sue me. I'm nervous." Cullen slowly ate the rest of the scone to avoid further conversation.

"Well, don't be. If anyone should be nervous, it's me."

"How so?" he mumbled.

"Chris wants to talk to me about something."

"And that's bad, why?"

"Same reason you're nervous. We're insecure."

"Yes, you mentioned that the other day. Must be in our DNA." He finally smiled.

Luna took the empty plate, turned, and walked toward the showroom. "Don't forget the boutonniere. Turquoise." She chuckled. True, she was nervous, and that strange feeling hadn't left her. Was it the old memories? No, because she'd had that sense of discomfort before she saw the dresser. Maybe the tablet would help. She sat behind her easel, shut her eyes, and began to draw. When she felt she was finished, she opened her eyes and saw a stick figure of a boy holding hands with a stick figure of a man. Chris and Carter, perhaps? Well, that wouldn't be unusual. She heaved a big sigh. Granted, she felt less of a sense of foreboding than she had earlier that week, but there was something in the air. Something wasn't quite right. She looked at Wylie, who was sitting at her feet. "Do you have any clues you could share?"

He put his head down and covered his eyes with his paws. "You're not helping." She leaned over and gave him an affectionate rub. She spotted Chi-Chi opening her shop. She was wearing a beautiful yellow kaftan with matching yellow ribbons woven in her braids. "Yellow ribbons!" Luna jumped up and grabbed her laptop. She sent an email to Brendan's last known address, quoting one of the lines from Blazing Saddles in the hope it would trigger a response. She waited patiently as Chi-Chi walked across the atrium, followed by Ellie. When the two women entered the café, Luna closed her laptop and began to make their coffee. "Good morning, my beautiful friends."

"E. káàrò!" Chi-Chi smiled. She looked like a big helping of sunshine. "Good morning."

"And a fine good morning to you! You look lovely." Luna smiled back. "Ellie, you too are looking lovely. I especially like your shoes." Luna pointed to Ellie's saddle shoes. Ellie's wardrobe was simple but stylish. Even when she was sitting on the floor of her office, she looked put-together. Maybe it was her white, blunt, chin-length haircut that gave her a sophisticated air. Not a lot of women could pull it off. Luna pulled her braid around to the front. "I've been thinking of cutting this off."

Both Chi-Chi and Ellie asked, "Why?" at the same time.

"It's a little dated." Then Luna looked at Chi-Chi's long hair. "Not yours. You do so many different things with yours. Mine is either pulled back with a headband, in a ponytail, or a braid. I feel like I'm boring."

"Are you saying you're thinking of a makeover?" Ellie tilted her head.

"I'm not sure, but I think my odd mood might be because I'm in a rut."

"You? Rut? Hardly," Ellie protested.

"Seriously. I've had this same Boho look for fifteen years. Maybe more."

"Was there something in that dresser that is making you feel passé?" Ellie asked as she pulled out a chair.

"You have such beautiful hair." Chi-Chi took hold of Luna's braid. "It would be a shame to cut it."

"I'm finding a few gray hairs. I dunno. Maybe something to freshen it up." She pulled her hair from Chi-Chi's hand and scrutinized it.

"I would suggest you wait a few days before you do anything drastic," Ellie urged.

"Huh." Luna wasn't known for waiting and wanted to take a pair of scissors to her hair immediately. "Maybe I'll make an appointment at the salon next week. I don't want to shock Chris."

"Good idea. Why don't you ask him what he thinks?" Ellie said.

"Ask Chris what he thinks about my hair?" Luna balked. "What do men know about hair, except when they are losing their own?"

Chi-Chi and Ellie laughed. "That doesn't seem to be Chris's problem. At least not yet," Ellie added.

Luna's eyes brightened. "What if I go to a wig store and try a few on? This way, I'll have an idea of what I like and what looks good on me."

"Now that sounds like an excellent idea," Chi-Chi said.

"Sometimes I'm smarter than I look." Luna chuckled. "But right now, I'm not thrilled with how I look."

"Perhaps I should help you with your makeup today. And we can do something interesting with your hair," Chi-Chi offered.

"For instance?" Luna was intrigued.

"What if I do gypsy braids instead of this?" Chi-Chi picked up the end of Luna's hair again.

"Gypsy braids?" Luna asked.

"It's a mixture of box braids and loose tendrils. A slightly undone look," Chi-Chi suggested. She pulled her phone from the hidden pocket in her kaftan and searched for photos until she found a style she thought would look good on Luna. "Like this."

"I like it. And I like that ombre coloring too," Luna said, referring to the gradient change from medium brown to brownish blond.

"Do not get ahead of yourself or me. Let us start with the braids. But I do agree. The colors would look nice with your complexion."

Luna checked the time. "How long will it take?"

"About an hour."

"Do you have time now?"

"I do not. But I can do it before we go to dinner."

"Perfect. I'll surprise Chris when we meet up with the guys later."

Ellie brought her cup and plate to the sink. "That sounds like a very good plan. I must get to work, but I want to see your masterpiece before you leave."

"Leave it, Ellie. I'll take care of it," Luna called over to her.

"Thank you, dear. Have a good morning." Ellie gave Wylie a pat on the head before she went out the door, followed by Chi-Chi.

Luna checked her email. No response from Brendan. Nothing. Strange. She scrolled through the contact list on her phone. Brendan Nelson was still there. She sent a text. Sometimes people responded to text messages faster than email, and sometimes people would only send text messages. They didn't even call anymore. Social media. The Internet. All an illusion of communication. People spewed out messages, hoping someone would care. Someone would listen. Luna flicked herself on the cheek and repeated Ellie's words: " ‘Let's not be cynical, dear. As long as the people you care about communicate with you, that's all that matters.' Right, Wylie?" He let out a low yowl. "At least you pay attention."

The minute the center opened, people began pouring in. It was slightly overcast, which brought folks inside, but they were still able to have lunch outside on the patio, walk through the gardens, or take their pooches to the dog park.

Luna glanced across the inner lavish courtyard and noticed a sign on Jennine's door. She couldn't read it from where she sat, so she picked up the walkie-talkie and buzzed Chi-Chi.

"What's up with your neighbor Jennine?"

"I do not know. Why do you ask?

"There's a sign on the door. Go see what it says," Luna urged.

Chi-Chi huffed. "If that is your wish."

"Well, it is. And it should be yours, too. Remember, she's out with your brother. What if something happened?"

"You make a good point. Hold on." Chi-Chi walked over to Jennine's door. "It says, ‘Be back in a jiffy.' What does this jiffy mean? I hear it all the time, but it makes no sense to me."

"It's a unit of time. Some argue it's one-one-hundredth of a second, while others claim it's one-sixtieth of a second. Because it's such a quick period of time, it's become slang for very fast ."

"I do not know if I will ever understand your slang."

"Well, we've got plenty of it." Luna laughed, then went back to the original question. "I wonder where Jennine went?"

She had barely finished her sentence when Jennine appeared from the back of her shop, wearing what looked like lingerie. "Oh, Chi-Chi," Jennine said. "I'm so glad you're here. What do you think of my outfit? Do you think your brother will like it?"

Chi-Chi was aghast. Her first reaction was to say, "Only if you're going to a bordello." That was a word she knew. Instead, she took the polite route. "I am not sure where you are going, so it is difficult for me to have an opinion."

Jennie flashed her capped teeth. "Well, I know where I want to go." She winked at Chi-Chi.

"I am certain you do." Chi-Chi's stomach was turning somersaults. "I thought you were going to go out to dinner."

"Oh, yeah, that too. So whaddya think?"

"I think it's very . . . diaphanous."

Jennine furrowed her brow. "Dia-what?"

Chi-Chi thought quickly. "Gossamer. Delicate." She was not accustomed to stretching the truth, and those two words were the only ones that were appropriate, other than calling the outfit cheesy or flimsy.

"Yes. Delicate. Exactly what I was going for," Jennine cooed.

In addition to my brother , Chi-Chi thought to herself. "I made a reservation for you at Blue Ridge."

"Fancy." Jennine was impressed at Chi-Chi's choice of restaurants. "Glad I went home to change."

"I must get back to work." Chi-Chi turned and moved quickly to her shop. She clicked on her walkie-talkie. "We will not be going to Blue Ridge," she said to Luna.

"Whatever you say. So, what is Jennine up to?"

"What do you think she is up to?"

"From here, it looked like she was getting ready for a role in an old Hollywood movie."

"I do not like horror pictures." Chi-Chi smiled at her own joke.

Luna chuckled. "You're funny. It doesn't matter where we go, but we should call ahead."

"Yes. Let's go to the steakhouse. I need a piece of red meat."

"Wow. Jennine really gets under your skin, doesn't she?" Luna asked, knowing the answer.

"I do not want to discuss it. We shall eat meat, creamed spinach, and baked potatoes."

"You got it, girlfriend. Let's leave at six. Sabrina and Lucy already agreed to cover for us."

"Excellent."

"What time is Abeo arriving?" Luna asked.

"Around five. That will give me one hour with him, and then he will be on his own." Chi-Chi snickered.

* * *

It was just after three when Chris arrived at the center. First stop was Luna's. She was with a client at her easel while Sabrina covered the front. If Luna had a reading, she would pay Sabrina or Lucy extra money to mind the café. Chi-Chi was right. Luna had more clients than she could handle and was feeling a little guilty about pulling the pages away from their regular routine. But no one seemed to mind. Stillwell Art Center was an oasis of cooperation.

Chris tipped his fingers in a salute and motioned he was going to Cullen's. Before the guys headed out, they stopped at the café to discuss their plans for later. Chris immediately walked over to Luna and gave her a hug and a kiss. On the lips. Very important. They all figured they would be finished with their dinner around the same time and decided to meet at Luna's for a nightcap. Afterward, Chi-Chi would go back to her—hopefully—empty house. She and Cullen still hadn't slept with each other, and Chi-Chi was adamant about keeping it that way. At least for the time being. Not that Cullen ever made a move. They kissed plenty, but only in private, and that's where it ended.

* * *

The guys drove to the exhibit center, chatting about the latest baseball stats. Chris wanted to tell Cullen about his promotion, but also wanted to tell Luna first. Maybe he'd make an announcement after dinner. Then he had second thoughts. It should be something they shared together. In private. He also didn't want to discuss the impending custody battle. That was a lot of important information he had to keep to himself for a few more hours. Once they arrived at the car show, it was easy to be distracted. The smell of polish and leather filled the exhibit hall. Everything from a 1912 Ford Model T to a 1969 Chevy Camaro and a Volkswagen bus were on display, fetching tens of thousands of dollars. The bus had a sticker price of 63,500 dollars, more than a current luxury SUV. Cullen was amazed. A green 1955 Chevy Bel Air caught his eye. Then the price tag made him do a double take. That, too, was over 63,000 dollars.

Chris made his way over to a 1959 red Ford Thunderbird with a V8 engine. "Only twenty-five-thousand dollars. Not bad, really."

"I always figured you for a T-bird or a Mustang," Cullen remarked. Then he turned to Chris. "Maybe this isn't such a bad idea after all. I'm going to chat with the owner of that Bel Air and see if I can get a fix on what investment in time and money is required in order to make a profit."

"I'm going to continue to drool over this baby." Chris leaned into the window of the driver's seat. It was in excellent condition. But did he really need a new car? He strolled among the other pristine cars. It could be a good hobby, if he ever had the time.

About an hour later, Cullen caught up with Chris. "Sorry. I really got a boatload of information. Most of these guys love to talk. And talk. And talk."

"I get it. The T-bird dude was trying to talk me into buying that car. I had to walk away, because he almost had me pulling out my credit card," Chris said.

"It is a beauty," Cullen added.

"Don't encourage me. I have a lot on my plate, and buying a new-old car isn't on the table right now." He thought for a moment. "Did that come out right?"

Cullen laughed. "Spending too much time with my sister, eh ?"

"Actually, no. Don't tell her, but I really do miss her."

"Wow. Don't tell me that, either!" Cullen joked.

Chris couldn't keep it in any longer. In fact, it might be a good idea to run his thoughts past Cullen. "Listen, I'm about to embark on a very serious mission."

Cullen looked stunned. "Seriously?"

"It's not work-related." He was saving that tidbit for later. "Lucinda and Bruce are moving to Chicago. He has an opportunity to join a practice there. So I'm filing for full custody."

"That is a serious mission. I suppose you have no other choice, right? It would be terrible for all of you if Carter had to move."

"Correct-o-mundo. I can't let her take Carter to a city where major crime is up and he's eight hundred miles away."

"She can't just up and leave, right?"

"Not if I have anything to say about it. Besides, we have a binding agreement, and neither of us can take Carter out of the state without notifying the other person. She wanted to do this just between us. Didn't want to go the legal route. Doesn't she realize I work in law enforcement? I knew she was an airhead, but I didn't think it was filled with helium."

Cullen let out a guffaw. "Wow." This time, it was a different kind of wow . A heavy load kind of wow .

"We were in my lawyer's office the other day to discuss this, and she left in a huff."

"Shouldn't she have her own lawyer?" Cullen asked.

"Yes, but I wanted someone to start the conversation. See how she'd react. I could have bet on her having a hissy fit."

"She can't possibly think she can just up and leave with your son."

"She thinks being a mother is some kind of free pass for anything. ‘A boy needs his mother.' That routine. And from what Carter said, she has very little interaction with him. You know what he told me? He said he felt like a visitor when he was at his mother's house. It nearly broke my heart. A kid shouldn't have to feel that way with his own mother."

"Wow." Cullen's vocabulary was reduced to monosyllabic words. "And he never said anything to you?"

"Not a word. But Carter is like that. He doesn't want to disappoint me. Her. His teachers. He's a borderline overachiever. But I'm not going to discourage that, unless it becomes a problem."

"Parenting is no picnic," Cullen pondered.

"Carter and I have a great relationship. He'll talk to me about anything. Anything except how he feels being at Lucinda's. I guess the problems there have become more evident to him the older he gets. When he was younger, he had a lot of distractions. Lucinda's parents would visit on a regular basis, so he was usually surrounded by people who paid attention to him. They moved to Scottsdale, so he rarely sees them now. Plus, he's going through puberty."

"Wow." Cullen blinked several times. "I don't know how you do it. I can barely figure out my sister, let alone be responsible for a kid. And I've known her for almost forty years."

Chris laughed. "I don't know if anyone will ever figure out your sister, but it's fun trying."

The two walked to their car and drove to one of Chris's favorite bistros. Good food, casual atmosphere. They continued their conversation, with Chris saying, "I'm worried about how Luna is going to take this change. It's going to be a pain in the butt until the legal work is wrapped up. Lucinda is not going to go quietly, but if the judge gives Carter the option of staying with me, she will have the biggest conniption in the history of North Carolina."

"She wouldn't dare just take him, would she?"

"She may be a helium-head, but she's not completely daft. She knows she would be committing a federal crime by taking a child illegally out of state, and as it happens, I am a federal marshal who works in child abductions."

"Excellent point."

"Besides, I think Carter would put up a fight. He knows the rules. And he doesn't want to go. We discussed this the other night. We're lining up our ducks, and I'm preparing for a lot of screaming and yelling. On her part, not mine."

"What does Luna think about all this?" Cullen asked.

"I haven't told her yet, so please don't mention this to her until I have the opportunity. What I want is your opinion. What do you think she'll say? Her reaction? If I get full custody, it's going to change things. When she comes to Charlotte, Carter will be at home with me. And it will be a challenge to come here every other weekend, unless I can find somewhere for Carter to go. Maybe he can stay at a friend's, but we're not there yet. It's going to be an adjustment, for sure."

Cullen sat quietly for a moment. "Luna loves you. And she loves Carter. Sure, it will be an adjustment, but Luna is a free spirit. She'll go where the universe takes her." Cullen smirked.

Chris laughed. Cullen wasn't wrong. If it felt right, Luna would go with the flow. He hoped it would feel right to her.

They finished their dinner, got the check, and drove to Luna's house. Chris had left his car at the center; Luna was going to drive him back there the next day. The lights were on, and soft bossa nova music glided from the windows. They could hear Chi-Chi singing along with the sultry music. Had she any idea how seductive she was? The men looked at each other as if reading each other's minds. "I give you a lot of credit, my man," Chris said. "I'd be taking a cold shower every night."

"Don't think I don't." Cullen snickered.

Luna greeted them at the door and gave Chris a peck on the cheek. Chi-Chi continued to sing and sway to "The Girl from Ipanema" by Ant?nio Carlos Jobim. Cullen thought the words—about a man who does not know how to tell a woman he loves her—could not be more appropriate at that particular moment.

Luna put down her glass of wine, took Chris's hands, and started to move back and forth with the music. That prompted Cullen to do the same with Chi-Chi. Wylie wisely moved out of the way. A dreamy dance party was taking place in the living room. The next song on the album was "Manh? De Carnaval," a slow, repentant song known in English as "A Day in the Life of a Fool." But Astrud Gilberto sang it in Portuguese, which was so much more romantic. The two couples were in sync with the music and each other. Luna's eyes began to tear. Chris lifted her chin and said, "You okay?"

She rested her head against his chest. "Never been better."

Chris hoped his news wouldn't taint her mood later, but he had to tell her. She was part of his life, and if he intended to keep it that way, he had to lay the cards on the table. Things were about to change.

The couples danced to the alluring music for almost an hour. It wasn't until the music stopped that they realized no one had spoken the entire time.

Chi-Chi was the first to say something. "I am sorry to break this beautiful mood, but I must see what trouble my brother has gotten into."

"I don't know if you really want to do that," Luna said. "Maybe you should call to be sure he's not at your house with you-know-who."

Chi-Chi nodded and pulled her phone from her purse. "Should I text him?"

"Probably a good idea," Cullen encouraged her.

Chi-Chi typed: Abeo, are you with Jennine? And not at my house?

"Now we wait." She sighed. Several minutes went by with no word.

"Maybe he's busy." Luna raised her eyebrows.

Chi-Chi sighed again. "I do need to get to sleep."

"Here's an idea. Why don't you drive past Jennine's house and see if her car is there?" Luna offered. "I have her address."

"I'll follow you if you want." Cullen looked at Chi-Chi.

"If Abeo is there, I do not want him to see my car," she answered.

"We'll leave your car at the Stop N' Go. He doesn't know my car." Cullen was happy to oblige in the reconnaissance mission.

Chi-Chi's eyes grew wide. "That is a marvelous idea." She hesitated. "But what if they are at my house? Then what do I do?"

Luna and Chris looked up at the ceiling.

"You can stay with me," Cullen offered. He quickly added, "In the guest room." He wanted Chi-Chi to feel comfortable, should the situation arise.

"Thank you." Chi-Chi gave him a weak smile. She was anxious to find out if her house was her own that night.

Everyone said their goodnights. "It was a lovely evening. Thank you," Chi-Chi said, with a bit more confidence.

Cullen followed Chi-Chi to the store, where she parked her car by the side of the building. She then joined Cullen in his car. As they approached Jennine's house, Cullen slowed down. "Is that her car?"

"Yes! Yes, it is." Chi-Chi was feeling less anxious. She slumped down in the passenger seat. "Can you see anything?"

Cullen peered over the steering wheel. "The lights are on, but, oh dear. Oh my." He stepped on the accelerator and moved quickly past the house.

Chi-Chi had her hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. "I suppose they were there? Together?"

"Oh, yes. Very together." Cullen was blushing over the sight of Jennine doing some kind of fan dance in front of her guest. "Wow." It was the word of the day.

Chi-Chi couldn't stop giggling. "Now you know how I felt when I found them in my living room."

"And you can't un-see something like that." He shuddered. Yes, Jennine was Blanche from The Golden Girls , for sure. Cullen drove back to the mini-mart. "Let me follow you home. It's late."

"Thank you. That is very thoughtful of you." She got in her car, and Cullen proceeded to tail her.

When they arrived at Chi-Chi's, Cullen got out and walked her to her front door. He stopped her as she was about to turn the key. "Chi-Chi, there's something I have to tell you."

"Is everything alright, Cullen?" A look of concern crossed her face.

He held her at arm's length and took a deep breath. "Chi-Chi. I love you. I've known it for a long time. I just never had the nerve to come out and say it. So there you have it."

Chi-Chi threw her arms around him and gave him the sweetest kiss. "Thank you."

Thank you? What does that mean? Thoughts were racing through his head. He choked out, "Excuse me?"

"Thank you for telling me. Please come in. I think we should discuss this."

Cullen gulped. He had no idea what was coming.

Chi-Chi gestured to the sofa. "Please, sit." He sat with his forearms on his thighs, his hands gripping his knees, readying himself for bad news.

"There is something I must tell you."

Uh-oh, here it comes. Massive humiliation.

Chi-Chi sat next to him and took his hand. "You know I am very fond of you. There is something you should know."

He was holding his breath.

"I was once married." She paused, letting the information sink in. "My parents arranged it."

Cullen's mouth dropped open.

"And it was a terrible arrangement. His name is Debare, a very mean and cheap man. After almost a year, I could no longer stand to be with him. It was very difficult for me to tell my parents. I was afraid they might disown me." She stopped for a moment. "But much to my surprise, they were not at all angry. They were relieved." Cullen listened with a blank look on his face.

"Evidently, his parents gave my parents very bad information about him. Actually, it was what they did not tell my mother and father." She got up and poured each of them a glass of water, then continued. "After we were married for three months, my husband applied for a loan and wanted my father to cosign. Before he put his name on the paper, my father did a background check on Debare. He had a gambling problem and owed tens of thousands of dollars to credit card companies."

"And his parents failed to mention this?" Cullen was appalled.

"Yes. You see, my family had more money than his, and we were all citizens of the United States. His parents believed if he married into a good family, he would turn his life around."

Cullen nodded. "Obviously, that didn't happen."

"No, it did not. But it explained a lot of his behavior. I was only twenty-one at the time, but I was not willing to forgive all of his sins if he was going to continue committing them."

"Very good point," Cullen replied.

"So, we got divorced. I have not spoken to him since."

Cullen was quickly doing the math. "You haven't spoken to him in over sixteen years?"

"This is true. The day the divorce was final was the last time I ever saw his face." Chi-Chi looked at Cullen. "I am sorry I have not told you this before."

"Oh, no. It's okay. I'm glad you did." He was still wondering where that put him on her list of priorities. "Does Luna know about this?"

"No. Only my family."

"I shall never mention it."

"Thank you. Now that you know, I hope it has not changed your opinion of me."

"Not at all!" he exclaimed.

Chi-Chi let out a big whoosh of air. "I am glad. I did not like the idea that I was keeping a secret from you."

"It's private. I mean, it's part of your past, and I don't blame you for not telling me. It's not important. At least not to me. That didn't come out right. Your being divorced is not important. You are important to me."

Chi-Chi looped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder. "I am so relieved." She sighed. "Oh—and I love you, too."

* * *

Luna was resting her head on the back of the sofa, basking in the romantic atmosphere of candles and music. "This is really nice."

"Yes, it is." Chris moved to sit next to her. He turned her face toward him. "I have two very important things I need to discuss."

Luna shot up like a geyser. "What? What is it?" She knew something was amiss.

"Please don't get yourself worked into a tizzy. Do you want the good news or the challenging news?"

Her head was spinning. "All of it!"

"The good news is I am getting a promotion. And a raise."

Luna sat on her heels. "That's great! What's the challenging stuff?"

"Lucinda plans on moving to Chicago. Bruce is going to be a partner in a dental practice there."

"What about Carter?" Luna immediately realized that was going to be the challenging part.

"I'm filing for full custody," Chris replied.

"Well, good! You should have it anyway," Luna huffed.

Chris looked surprised. "You realize that will make us a threesome on most weekends." Then he laughed. "Sorry, wrong wording." He was beginning to feel less anxious about Luna's reaction. "What I mean is, I'll have him every weekend except when he's staying with a friend."

"That's okay with me. I love Carter. We're besties.'"

"So he's told me." Chris brushed one of Luna's wisps from her face. "Like the hair, by the way."

"Thanks. Chi-Chi did it for me."

"Anyway, things are going to get dicey until this is settled."

"When are they planning on moving?"

"She said six months."

"What does Carter think about all of this?" Luna asked.

Chris looked forlorn. "He told me he's always felt like a visitor at Lucinda's. Ever since his grandparents moved, he's been feeling disconnected. But he's happy when he's with me. He said if he was given the choice, he'd rather stay with me."

"That's great!" Luna exclaimed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled him. "I am very happy for you."

Chris was stunned but not surprised. Luna had a big, open heart when it came to other people. Chris also knew she was vigilant at keeping her own heart safe. Sometimes he could feel her pulling back, but he knew it was a defense mechanism. If nothing else, Chris had learned how to read people. Not necessarily the same way Luna could, but it was something that helped create their bond. He appreciated her intuitiveness. She appreciated his strength, integrity, and methodical thinking. They were an odd but good match. Yep. Who'd a thunk it?

"There's going to be a lot of adjustments and disruptions until this is settled. But it has to happen within the next five months. She hasn't even told him yet. Carter overheard Lucinda talking to Bruce."

"This is kinda sudden, isn't it?"

"Very, but Bruce's uncle is retiring in a couple of years. He has a good practice and wants Bruce to come on board and eventually take it over."

"Well, that's good for Bruce and Lucinda."

"Exactly. What I don't understand is why she hasn't told Carter yet."

"Maybe she's afraid he'll do something rash?"

"Carter? Nah."

"You know that, and even I know that, but Lucinda doesn't. She doesn't know what makes Carter tick." Once again, Chris was briefly taken aback by Luna's insight, but then again, it should come as no surprise. "One day when we were hiking, Carter made some comment about his mom. You were off on a phone call, and he and I got to chat a bit. He's pretty funny, too."

"He gets his sense of humor from me." Chris grinned.

"Obviously, because from what he's told me, Lucinda has none."

"Helium-head." Chris chuckled. "Listen, she's not a bad person. She's just selfish and self-centered. She doesn't mean any harm unless you get in her way." He snickered.

"I suppose we have different definitions of a bad person, but you know you have my support," Luna murmured. "So tell me about your new job!" She became animated. "Tell me! Tell me!"

"I'm going to be working in WITSEC. The witness security program."

"As in witness protection?"

"Correct."

"So you'll be working with criminals, eh?" She gave him a little nudge.

"It depends. Often, it's people who witnessed a crime and need protection until they testify. But, yes, there will be criminals from time to time."

"And you'll be babysitting them?"

"Not exactly. I'll be managing agents who facilitate their relocation. I won't necessarily be a handler. Every situation is a little different."

"That is so cool." Luna was enthralled.

"It is." He pulled her close and held her tight. "I'm happy you're okay with all of this."

"Absolutely."

She was relieved the cards were on the table. She'd been right about the stick figures, and it appeared the question marks she'd first drawn had been answered. Or had they? There was still that little thing nagging at her, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

* * *

The following morning, Chris noticed the box of keepsakes. On the top of the pile was the program from the Kentucky Derby.

"I discover something new about you every day, Luna lunatic."

"And what might that be?"

"You like horse racing?" It was half a question.

"Not as big a fan as I used to be. It's become a new toy for the oil-rich. It's a transaction now. These magnificent animals mean nothing to them. They're just numbers on a balance sheet." Luna got into a tear when it came to animals. "These people have no appreciation for the horses. It's only their bottom line that counts and how much they can brag to their friends." She was huffing at this point.

Chris looked alarmed. "Okay, dollface. Take it easy."

"It's just so disgusting." Luna's eyes welled up. "People are savages. It's all about money and power. Humanity is dissolving."

"Hey." Chris put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. "It's not like you to be cynical."

"Ellie said the same thing," Luna scoffed. "Probably hormones." She didn't want to mention the friend who seemed to be MIA, which was more and more vexing to her as each day passed without a response.

Chris snickered. He was relieved it was she who'd suggested the monthly roller-coaster ride. Granted, they were intimate, but hormones are a touchy subject. Definitely off-limits. "Well, did you actually enjoy it?"

"What? The Derby? For sure. It was quite an experience. None of which I care to repeat. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event. I did it. Done."

"Who did you go with?" Chris sensed there was something she wasn't telling him.

"A friend. College buddy." Luna wanted to end the conversation as quickly as possible.

Chris knew when to stop the interrogation and changed the subject. He began to tell her about the cool Thunderbird that had caught his eye.

"Midlife crisis?" she joked.

"Huh. That hadn't occurred to me. I just thought it would be cool to tool around in a vintage piece." He cleared his throat. "But your brother might be onto something. You can buy a decent car for less than five thousand dollars. If you have the time and inclination, you can turn it for a hefty profit."

"That could be a good project for you and Carter. Is he into cars yet?"

"No. He's barely discovered girls. But I think he might enjoy something to add to his repertoire." He snapped his fingers. "Let's see. He's twelve now. In five years, he'll get his license. That would be plenty of time for him to refurbish a car."

"Him? Are you going to participate?" Luna chuckled.

"Of course, but the car would be a good incentive for him. He can have it when it's finished."

"That actually sounds like a good plan. And you can do it at his and your leisure. It's not as if that work would be on a schedule like his ball games."

Chris kissed her on the forehead. "You're brilliant, you know that?"

"Kinda." Luna smiled.