Chapter Twelve

Monday Where in the World Is Brendan Nelson?

T he center was closed for the day, and Luna took the opportunity to do some sleuthing. Brendan had never returned her text, so she decided to call. She got a recording saying the mailbox was full. It was perplexing. Brendan wasn't the type to let something go unattended, especially his voicemail. Ever since that summer, when he'd managed his sister's healthcare, he'd felt responsible for his family and was always on call for any skirmishes, misunderstandings, or emergencies. He was the eldest, so it was incumbent on him to keep the peace among his five siblings.

She checked her junk mail. Nothing there. Something wasn't right. She reached out to a mutual friend.

"Anthony! It's Luna. How are you?"

"I am rather excellent. And you?"

"Couldn't be excellenter," Luna joked. She was always coming up with new words or portmanteaus, joining two words to form one, like mockumentary for mock and documentary, or brunch for breakfast and lunch. She had come up with one recently: shneakers , shoes that have rubber soles like sneakers. It was a mystery why the fashion industry hadn't adopted it yet.

"What's going on?" Anthony was always upbeat.

"Have you heard from Brendan?"

"Now that you mention it, I haven't. Been too busy with the kids. Yeah, he usually reaches out during the holidays, but I didn't hear from him last year."

"Me either. We were emailing daily during the pandemic, but then all communication stopped."

"I suppose you tried to email him? Text?"

"Yep. I even tried to call, but the recording said his mailbox is full."

"Now that's strange. And a bit unsettling. He'd never allow that."

"My thoughts exactly. Is there anyone you can contact to see if he's okay?"

"I'll reach out to his nephew. I have his info somewhere."

"Great. Thanks." Luna let out some air. "Be well and behave."

"What fun is that?" Anthony hooted. "I'll be in touch. One love."

One love . It had been his sign-off ever since she first knew him. And he was right.

Not being a particularly patient person, Luna decided to do some searching on her own. She Googled Brendan. Nothing. She Googled his wife. Nothing. She went to LinkedIn and sent a message through their site. That could take a few days. She drummed her fingers on the table. She had to do something to busy herself. There was still a lot of stuff to sift through, but she'd left the box of mementos at home. More drumming. Maybe she'd ask Cullen if he needed some help. Besides, she wanted to interrogate him about his dinner with Chi-Chi. She fixed a cup of cappuccino for him and signaled to Wylie. "Come on, pal. Want to go to the dog park?"

He let out an enthusiastic Woof!

Luna walked to the sliding doors, and Wylie made a beeline to the designated doggie area. Ziggy and Marley were already sitting in the shade of a white oak. During the construction, Ellie had made it a point to keep as much of the vegetation as possible, especially the trees. The landscaper built the gardens around the foliage.

Cullen was at his workbench when Luna entered. "So? How did it go?" she asked.

"How did what go?"

"The dinner you were planning for Chi-Chi." Luna folded her arms and tapped her foot. "Spill."

"I'll have you know, little sister, I told her Saturday night after we left your place."

She gave him a shove. "Get out!"

Cullen was beaming.

"I gather she took it well?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, she did."

"So? Details, please."

"I don't kiss and tell." Cullen made a gesture of locking his lips and tossing the imaginary key over his shoulders.

"Oh, man. Don't do that to me," Luna whined.

"I am a gentleman. If Chi-Chi wants to share anything with you, that is her prerogative. I, on the other hand, choose to remain silent."

"Ugh," Luna snorted.

Cullen was quite amused at his sister. And after his conversation with Chi-Chi, he was in a very fine mood. Almost light on his feet.

"I am going to assume you have taken the relationship to a new level." She raised her eyebrows.

"Get your mind out of the gutter," he chided.

"Oh, stop. That's not what I meant. And that is not something I want to know about, either."

"Let's just say we have come to a mutual understanding about our feelings for each other."

"Thank you! That's all I wanted to hear." She gave him a big hug.

"So what brings you to my humble workshop, besides harassing me?"

"I thought maybe you could use some help with my dresser."

"Actually, that's not a bad idea. Do you want to do a complete update reno, or a restore?"

"I'm thinking an update. The past is the past."

"Good. I'll strip it down. Meanwhile, look through the paint chips and the hardware samples. It's a simple shaker style, so you could do a lot with it."

Luna flipped through the paint chips. "How about a red lacquer with Asian design pulls? I can put it in my dining room and use it as a sideboard."

"Excellent idea."

"I know," Luna mugged.

"Always the modest one," Cullen tossed back.

Luna turned pensive. "So." She took a deep breath. "I tried to get in touch with my friend Brendan in Minnesota," she admitted.

"And?"

"And nothing. He hasn't returned emails or texts. And yes, I tried to call him, but his mailbox was full."

"So? What's the big deal?"

"It's as if he's vanished into thin air. I even called our mutual friend Anthony, and he hasn't heard from him, either."

"It's hard to keep track of people when they live almost a thousand miles away."

"Yeah. But that's just it. We had been emailing regularly during COVID. You know, to keep ourselves occupied while we waited to be unmasked. And then we kept in touch once a week or so, once we were sprung from lockdown."

"When was the last time you heard from him?"

"Before his birthday. Last November. I sent him a funny e-card, but never got any notice he received it. Then I didn't hear from him for my birthday. First time in fifteen years."

"And you're just starting to wonder what happened?"

" Life happens. Time manages to slip past you. I know it's no excuse. But finding all the mementos made me realize how long it had been since I heard from him."

"What are you going to do? You can't exactly fly to Minnesota and hunt him down. Maybe he doesn't want to be connected with his past."

"But why?"

"Beats me, but people do things that others can't understand."

"Aren't you the wise one today?"

"Yes. Yes, I am." He walked over and checked the paint chip Luna was holding. "That'll be striking."

"And that, dear brother, was my plan."

"Okay, now go find someone else to play with. I have work to do."

Luna stuck out her tongue and gave him a raspberry.

"Always the mature one." Cullen chuckled and shook his head. "Now scram."

Instead of going back to the café, Luna decided to go for a walk in the gardens. Maybe it would help her feel more grounded.

Luna sat under a maple tree that still had one of Devon Scott's wind chimes hanging from a branch. It was peaceful. Lovely. She thought she would suggest to Ellie that they keep it there. It added a bit more Zen to the Zen Garden. She stood and faced the sun. It felt good on her face. She did a few Qigong movements, embracing a new day with a bright future ahead. Luna knew it would be an adjustment for her, Chris, and Carter, but there was a lot of caring among them, and she was confident they could work it out. After a few quiet moments, she sensed someone approaching. It was Chi-Chi, with a big smile on her face.

"E. káàrò!" Chi-Chi called out to Luna. "I thought you might be here. It is a beautiful day, is it not?"

"Yes, it is. You are here late today," Luna noted.

"I had to pry my brother from the clutches of Jennine," Chi-Chi huffed. "Imagine. He had been with her for two days!"

"That must have been an ugly scene." Luna snickered.

"He was supposed to meet me at the shop and inspect the stones he brought the other night. I am glad I put them in my safe. He is drunk on whatever that woman has done to him."

Luna cackled. "Please, stop. I don't want my imagination to get anywhere close to that." She patted the bench she was sitting on. "Join me."

"Have you spoken to your brother today?" Chi-Chi asked slyly.

"Yes. I was in the shop picking out a color and hardware for my dresser. I'm going to turn it into a sideboard for my dining room." She waited for Chi-Chi to carry on the conversation.

"Did your brother mention anything to you?"

"About what?" Luna was trying to contain her glee.

"About the chat we had the other night?"

"I don't follow you." Luna was lying, but she didn't want to betray her brother's trust.

"Please. I am not a fool."

"Okay. He said you had a talk, and it went well."

"And you didn't ask?" Chi-Chi gave her a suspicious look.

"Of course, I asked, but he was tight-lipped."

Chi-Chi settled her back against the bench. "He told me he loved me."

"Oh, that's wonderful, Chi-Chi." Luna put her arm around her friend. "I am so glad he finally was able to tell you."

"You knew about this?" Chi-Chi was taken aback.

"I knew how he felt about you. I also knew he wasn't sure how to convey it. He's not the overly expressive type. Just in case you hadn't noticed."

Chi-Chi chuckled. "Yes, he did seem a little uncomfortable."

"Remember, I am his sister. I know what goes on inside that skull of his. I've never seen him this gaga over anyone before. Sure, he's had girlfriends, but he was never head over heels about any of them. I was beginning to worry that he'd never meet anyone."

"Probably as much as he worried about you before you met Chris."

"True. But he'd never say it to me, either." Luna laughed. "Ready for coffee?"

"Yes. And a scone, please."

The two women walked arm in arm back to the café, where Luna prepared their morning coffees. "Why don't you ring Ellie?"

A few minutes later, the three were gabbing about the news, music, and pondering why there weren't any more good movies.

"Too much superhero, action, adventure. It's dizzying," Ellie stated.

They moved on to a new subject, and Luna proceeded to tell them about Chris's promotion. "He'll be doing some training, but most of his responsibilities will be paperwork. He called it being a glorified clerk."

"Hardly," Ellie scoffed.

"The good part is that he will be doing nine-to-five office work most of the time, so he'll be able to have a better schedule for Carter. Chris has been juggling it for a long time. And, if things go the way he wants, he'll have full custody of Carter."

"Carter? Full custody? What happened?" Ellie asked.

"Lucinda and Bruce are moving to Chicago. He's joining his uncle's practice."

"This seems sudden. Or did Chris know about it?" Ellie asked.

"He just found out last week. Apparently, they plan on moving in the fall. Chris said she hasn't told Carter yet, so they've made a pact. Carter is going to spy on Lucinda and Bruce." Luna cackled. "He told Carter he was filing for full custody, and Carter was more than happy to hear it."

"Well, it appears you had a full weekend." Ellie smiled.

"Indeed."

Ellie turned to Chi-Chi. "And what about you, my dear?"

Chi-Chi began to blush and fan her face. "Let us say that I am very content with my relationship with this woman's brother."

"This is what I like to hear. My girls being loved by two wonderful men. And trust me, there aren't many of them out there."

"Don't we know it." Luna chuckled.

Within the hour, they finished their tête-à-tête . Chi-Chi had returned to her shop when Abeo slinked in like a criminal. Full of shame. Chi-Chi uttered a tsk-tsk.

"Oh, but you were the one who set up the dinner, were you not?" He tried to throw the blame in her direction.

"It was dinner that I arranged. Whatever transpired afterward was of your own doing."

Abeo jerked his head. "Have you met that woman?" He shivered. "She is someone you do not contradict."

Chi-Chi laughed. "Why are men so stupid?"

"It is not stupid. It was an ambush."

"Stand up," Chi-Chi ordered.

"What?"

"I said stand up!" she repeated. He obeyed.

"You see? You are taller than I am. You are bigger than I am. You are not a victim."

"You don't know that woman." Abeo shook his head. "It is very difficult to say ‘no' to her."

"Repeat after me: ‘No.'"

"No," he obliged.

"See. It is that easy." Chi-Chi was laughing to herself. It had gone exactly as she intended. Though she hadn't anticipated it would go on for two days.

* * *

Back in her café, Luna opened her laptop again. She was on a mission. She typed in both Brendan's and his wife's names again. Still nothing. Once again, she found herself drumming her fingers on the table. She jumped when her phone buzzed with a new text. It was from Anthony. It had a crying emoji and a postage stamp – sized photo of Brendan with a very brief obituary. She started to shake. She kept reading the short notice over and over:

Brendan Nelson, age 37, born November 28, 1986, in Greensboro, NC. Died January 27, 2024. A summer memorial is being planned.

Tears were streaming down her face. "This can't be. It just can't be," she said out loud. She read it again. "But why? How? And there's no mention of any of his family members, including his wife." She immediately phoned Anthony.

He answered with, "I can't believe it. Did you get my second text?"

Luna was sniffling. "No. I've been frozen on this one."

"Well, you need to read the next text. It's bizarre."

"Hang on." Luna swiped her phone to read the second notice:

Eileen Lovecraft age 37, born July 5, 1986, in Minnetonka, MN. Died January 30, 2024. A summer memorial is being planned.

"I don't understand," Luna whimpered. "What happened?"

"Nobody seems to know, or if they do, they're not talking." Anthony sighed. "When I reached out to his nephew, all he did was forward the obits. Very bizarre."

"Indeed. There is no mention of any family members, and neither is mentioned in the other's notice. That is very bizarre." She reached for a napkin and wiped her face. "Any news about the memorial?"

"Nope. This was all he sent."

"But summer is coming, and nothing about a memorial? For either one?"

"Nope," Anthony said again. His voice was somber. "I'm devastated. I don't even know what to say."

"Me either," Luna sobbed. "Is there anyone we can call? His brothers? Sister? Parents?"

"I sent an email to his brother at his job as soon as I saw the text, but he hasn't gotten back to me yet."

"Okay, Anthony. Thanks. I think. Keep me posted, and if I find out anything, I shall do the same."

"One love." Anthony ended the call.

Luna continued to stare at the minuscule notification. No cause of death. No family. No nothing. She immediately logged into her laptop and searched the Hennepin Coroner's Office, checking for death certificates. Nothing. Not for either of them. Luna was mystified, shocked, and very, very sad. "This isn't right. It can't be." She kept repeating the words over and over. Wylie came running into the café as if he sensed his "mommy" was in distress. Luna wrapped her arms around him. "Oh, Wylie. This is just so terrible." She buried her face in the nape of his neck and began to sob uncontrollably.

Ellie happened to be passing the café when she saw Luna slumped over Wylie. She rushed in. "Luna! Are you alright?"

Luna looked up. Tears were streaming from her bloodshot eyes. She could barely speak. "It's . . . it's my friend Brendan."

"The one you've been trying to reach?" Ellie said.

Luna tried to control her hiccupping. "He's dead, Ellie. I can't believe it."

Ellie pulled out a chair and sat next to her hysterical friend. She placed her arms around Luna and let her sob against her chest. She was like a ragdoll. Ellie rocked her back and forth until Luna gained some composure. "What happened, dear?"

Luna blotted the snot and tears from her face. "No one knows."

"I don't understand." Ellie truly didn't.

Luna turned her phone so Ellie could see the diminutive notice under Brendan's photo. Then Luna showed her the one for Eileen.

Ellie read the notices out loud. "This is very odd, isn't it?"

"I just got off the phone with a mutual friend. That was all he could come up with. No one in Brendan's family seems to be forthcoming with any information."

"Oh, dear, dear, Luna. I am sure there is an explanation."

"But according to this, it happened months ago. And no one has any information? Still? Nothing?" She was heaving deep breaths.

Ellie didn't know what to say to soothe her friend's distress.

"What's even more bizarre is that I checked the Hennepin County Coroner's office, and there is no death certificate for either of them."

Ellie sat helpless. She shook her head. "I am sure something will turn up eventually." She knew it was a bit of an empty comfort, but it was something to say.

"Something isn't right about this." Luna held two wads of napkins against her eyes.

Ellie decided to remain silent so Luna could let off some steam.

"I mean, he was so well-liked. He had so many people in his circle of friends, not to mention his very large family. Why aren't any of them mentioned? And why aren't either Brendan or Eileen in the other's obit?" She sniffled. "I just don't get it."

Ellie got up. "Let me fix you a cup of tea." She had no idea where the idea came from that a cup of tea would soothe anything, but it sure seemed to keep the Brits stoic. Perhaps placid would be a better word? In either case, Ellie pondered whether or not the Brits put scotch in it. Now that would make sense. She rummaged through the basket that held an assortment of herbal teas. Chamomile was known for its relaxing properties, so she opted for two bags.

Luna was ruminating on the days when she and Brendan were best buddies. Ellie let her talk. More like babble . But it seemed to have a calming effect on her.

Ellie finally broke in. "Have you told Cullen?"

"No. I literally just found out a few minutes before you walked in."

"Hmm. I see." Ellie sat down again and placed the brewing tonic in front of Luna. She was about to suggest a diversion. "I've been thinking more about my idea of showcasing indigenous art for the holidays. But I need an ambassador."

Luna looked up. "What do you mean?"

"I was wondering if you would like to take a trip to Sedona. On me, of course. You've visited Tlaquepaque, haven't you?"

Luna's mood began to change. "Oh yes. It's spectacular."

"Truth be told, I was inspired by it, and the Torpedo Factory, which is how Stillwell was created."

The two began discussing how the artisan village came into being. In the early 1970s, Abe Miller, a Nevada businessman, visited Sedona often. At that time, the city had only one traffic light, and Abe spent many vacations there. He particularly loved the many acres of a sycamore grove located at the south of 89A next to the bridge to Oak Creek. The property was owned by Harry and Ruby Girard, and after two years of coaxing, he persuaded them to sell it to him.

Miller was a real estate developer and a lover of Mexican art. He was a visionary, and his vision was to create a living artist community. He hired Bob McIntyre, a well-known architect who was keen on helping Miller bring his vision to life. They spent months traveling through rural villages in Mexico, taking photos and drawing sketches. The plans were fluid, changing from day to day as the Spanish Colonial complex came to life. It was a combination of tradition and innovation with a natural, organic feel. The patios, courtyard, plazas, and tiled walls were built by amateur artisans, which contributed to the authenticity of the design.

Miller also insisted the trees remain, and everything be built around them. Today, the sycamores still grew within the structures, including one in the Rowe Fine Art Gallery that twisted through the roof.

"The atrium is a nod to Miller's intentions of incorporating landscaping with art." Ellie smiled. "You see, I am not the brilliant visionary everyone thinks I am."

"Oh, but you are," Luna protested. "You truly combined the inspirations of both art centers here."

"True. I was inspired by their inspirations."

"Isn't that what inspiration is supposed to do? Inspire others?" Luna's face finally brightened.

"Indeed." Ellie patted Luna's hand. "So what do you think about my idea? I'd like you to go to Sedona and speak to some of the artists who create ornaments there. I'm thinking perhaps five or six artists, if there are that many who can contribute. I haven't been there since we broke ground here, so I'm not entirely sure what's available. That's why I'd like you to be my scout. Take a week?"

Luna blinked several times. "Oh, that would be wonderful. I have a very good friend from college who lives there now. We keep talking about getting together, so this would be perfect." She hugged Ellie. "Thank you. Thank you for your confidence in me."

"Of course. You are a very creative woman. You also have very good instincts."

"Yeah. Sometimes." Luna gathered all the wadded-up napkins and tossed them in the trash. "When do you want me to go?"

"Whatever fits your schedule. Sometime within the next month?"

"I'll check with Chris, Cullen, and Chi-Chi and see what they have going on." She sat back down and whispered in Ellie's ear, "I have to ask Cullen to . . ." She bobbed her head toward Wylie. The dog looked up at her. "Yes, I'm talking about you."

"Excellent. I'm sure either Sabrina or Lucy can cover for you."

"Good." Luna looked down at her phone. It was as if Brendan was looking right at her. She turned the phone over. "I'll also have to check with Gail to see what her schedule is like."

"Well, then, we have the beginning of a plan." Ellie got up. "I need to get back to work. Try to take it easy for the rest of the day. You've had quite a shock." Ellie gave Luna a hug and Wylie a pat on the head.

"Thanks, Ellie." Luna gave her a weary smile, but at least her lips were turning in the right direction. Luna walked out with Ellie and headed for the ladies' room. Fortunately, the center was closed to the public, so she didn't have to be concerned about how she looked. She knew she was a mess.

She splashed cold water on her face. It felt good but did nothing to mask her red, swollen eyes and nose. She gripped the edge of the long slate vanity and shoved her face close to the mirror. "Geez. This is the second time in a week you look like you went through the spin cycle of a washing machine." She dabbed her face with a few paper towels. Maybe she should go home. Take the rest of the day off. Leave the coffee machine on, so anyone who was working could help themselves. Cullen could check on it before the end of his workday.

"Get a grip." She stood up straight and scrutinized her face again. "Maybe a makeover can shift this heavy energy." She thought about the question mark on her easel. Was Brendan's death the question? That made sense, because there was no answer. She took a few deep cleansing breaths and returned to her shop.

Luna sat in front of her large drawing pad, shut her eyes, and began to sketch. When she opened them, she found a rudimentary drawing of a boat. It was like something a child would draw. "Now what does this mean?" She didn't know anyone with a boat.

It had been about an hour since her meltdown. Luna thought she looked respectable enough to interact with other humans and walked to Cullen's workshop.

"You again?" he teased, until he noticed how blotchy her face was. "You okay?"

"No. I am not okay." Luna started to sniffle again. She pulled out her phone and showed Cullen the infinitesimal acknowledgement of her friend's death.

"Oh, Lu. I am so sorry." He put his arms around her. "What happened?"

"That's it. Right there. That's all she wrote. Or he wrote. But nobody wrote anything else." Then she scrolled to the next text. "Check this out."

Cullen squinted and stared. "His wife?"

"Yes." Luna sucked in her lips. "There are no other names in either obit."

"Wow." Back to the monosyllabic words.

"Yep." Luna sighed. "Well, there's nothing I can do about any of this."

"True. And I suppose you've tried to ferret out additional information yourself."

"Yep. I even checked the coroner's office. It's baffling."

"Oh, and I know how you get when something baffles you."

"Cullen, he was my friend. A good friend. It's not going to be easy to let this go."

"Listen to me. You're going to have to. You can't track down his family and demand information. They are probably still grieving."

"But what about the memorial?" Luna whined.

"Let it go, dear sister. If anything comes up, I am sure you will hear about it."

She sighed. "I suppose you're right, but . . ."

"Nuh-uh. Don't get yourself all twisted up."

"Too late. I already am," Luna huffed.

"Well, untwist yourself, girlie. Find something to occupy your mind."

"It's the timing of all this, too, Cul. You brought my dresser here, I found souvenirs of Brendan, and now he turns up dead."

"Well, that wasn't exactly the course of events. You discovered those items months after he died. You just didn't know he was dead. You tried to make contact, and you got the news." Cullen looked at her. "This is not a coincidence, Luna. Like I said, he was already dead."

"Okay, okay. I get that he has left the planet."

"Sorry, kiddo, but not everything has to be connected."

"Have you met me?" Luna snickered.

Cullen took her by the shoulders and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"What's with my forehead lately? People keep kissing it."

"Because you're so cute." Cullen chuckled.

Luna perked up. "But I do have some exciting news."

"Good. Care to share?"

"Ellie wants me to go to Sedona and scout out a few Native American artists for a holiday decoration display she's planning in the atrium."

"That's great! You'll have a chance to see Gail?"

"I hope I can stay with her. Ellie just told me about it an hour ago. I have to get my equilibrium back. It hasn't quite sunk in yet. She wants me to go to Tlaquepaque, the art center there. She also confessed she got the inspiration for the atrium landscaping from the developer. He built it around a grove of sycamore trees. There are live trees growing inside buildings." She pointed to the atrium. "Et voilà!"

"When are you going?"

"Like I said, I haven't wrapped my head around it yet. I need to speak to Chris, you, Chi-Chi, and of course, Gail."

"Okay, you're speaking to me now. What do you need?"

"Wylie-sitting?"

"Of course. You don't even have to ask me. You might have to ask him , but I'm good with it."

"Thanks. I think this trip will do me a lot of good. Sit on a few Red Rock vortexes and open up to the universe." She hesitated before she went on, but being Luna, she couldn't help herself. "Maybe it will tell me what happened to Brendan."

"Two things. One, it sounds like the perfect place for you." Cullen smiled. "And two, you need to let this Brendan thing go. You're the one who always says, ‘The universe is unfolding as it should, so let it do its job and unfold.' Don't obsess about this. You need to focus on your mission for Ellie. And have some fun with Gail." He was relieved to see his sister's mood lighten up.

"Right. I had better call her now to see when she's available. Then I'll give Chris a buzz." She got on her tippy-toes and planted a sisterly kiss on his forehead.

"What was that for?"

"It's forehead-kissing day. Didn't anyone tell you?" Luna twirled around and headed back to her café. There was lots to do.