Chapter Three

Stillwell Art Center

I t took several minutes of phone chaos before Luna and Chris finally had a moment to chat.

"Lu, your brother invited me to a car show this weekend."

"Yes, he told me he was going to. But boy was he acting weird about it." Luna also thought to herself, That was kind of fast.

"You're not kidding. He actually asked me what I was wearing." Chris chuckled.

"Seriously? ‘ What are you wearing?' How bizarre. Maybe he's been inhaling too much glue in his workshop." Luna laughed.

"I don't want to assume I'll be staying at your place, but I was already planning to call you to see if we could get together when Cullen beat me to it." He cleared his throat. For a smart, strapping man, he was jelly when it came to Luna. "Sorry. I should have checked with you first."

"Don't be ridiculous. I understand your bromance with my bro," she teased. "Now if you said you were coming out to visit my brother and made no plans to see me, well, then we would have a problem," she said. "You will be staying with me, correct?"

He stuttered. "Yes . . . yes . . . of course."

"Unless you have a better offer?" she joked.

"No. Not at all. We may not be back until after ten, and I don't know what you have planned for the evening."

"Well, I can tell you that as of now, I have no plans, and if I did, I would most certainly change them for you." She wasn't lying or being patronizing. Any time she could spend with Chris, she would give up whatever else was on her agenda.

"You are a doll," Chris replied.

"Since you and big bro are going out, I'll check in with Chi-Chi to see if she wants to do something, and then we can all meet up later."

"Sounds good." He paused. "Thanks for being so accommodating."

"Accommodating? Isn't that a bit formal?" Luna peered at her phone. Something was up. She could feel it. But what was it?

"I don't want you to think I'm taking advantage of your good nature." Chris winced, hoping he wasn't digging himself in too deep.

"Puh-lease." Luna stretched out the word.

"Sorry. Long day, and it isn't even close to noon."

"No prob. Let's touch base after I talk to Chi-Chi, and then we can finalize our plans for a sleepover." She was almost blushing. So was he.

"Great. See you Saturday. And tell your brother I want a turquoise boutonniere."

"Huh?" Luna asked.

"Private joke. Talk later."

"Okay. Bye." She ended the call but kept staring at the phone.

After a few minutes, Luna got up, went back to the easel, and flipped her sketch pad to a clean page. She closed her eyes and began to draw. This time, it was two question marks. She stared at it. "Very strange," she said to no one. She absentmindedly played with the large John Jay College of Criminal Justice ring that was hanging on a chain around her neck. Chris had given it to her when they went to New York on a wild adventure involving kidnapping, art, and deception. She smiled. It was always an adventure with him.

Luna picked up her walkie-talkie. Every shop at the center had one so the proprietors could keep in touch without using their cell phones, and in case there was an emergency. Luna beeped Chi-Chi's line. "Hey, girlfriend. Want to have dinner with me on Saturday?"

"That would be lovely," Chi-Chi answered.

"Yeah, Cullen and Chris are going to a car show, so we are on our own. We can meet up with them later."

"Oh good—I am happy it worked out."

"What worked out?"

Chi-Chi realized she was about to expose her and Cullen's behind-the-scenes interference. "I was praying that you and I could spend some time together." She held her breath, hoping it was a good save. She hated to lie.

"Uh, okay. You know you never have to pray to spend time with me, just ask." Luna looked at the walkie-talkie with a questioning expression. Is everyone acting weird, or is it me?

"Thank you. I very much appreciate it." Chi-Chi was cringing. Better to end the conversation before she stuck both feet in her mouth, and she wore a size ten. "I must go. Let's speak later. Goodbye."

It wasn't unusual for Chi-Chi to be abrupt. But this time, Luna felt an undercurrent. Her friend was hiding something. She was now convinced everyone was acting weird. She moved back to the sketch pad and ripped off the previous drawing. She was tapping her pencil against her cheek when Cullen walked in. "Now what?" she sneered.

"Excuse me, but I just wanted to go over the weekend plans." Cullen folded his arms and gave her a look.

"Sorry. There is something bugging me, and I just can't figure it out."

"That's what you said earlier." Cullen softened a bit. "Have you tried drawing something?" he asked.

Luna picked up her first drawing.

"A question mark," Cullen noted. Then she showed him the next one. "Two question marks."

"I hope it doesn't mean we are going to have money problems." Luna sighed.

"Doubtful," Cullen said. "Our cash flow is good, and I have a lot of jobs ahead." He paused, knowing his next few words might set her off. "What if you stop obsessing about what you don't know and focus on what you do know?"

Luna tilted her head and looked up at her brother. "Have you met me?"

He grunted. "You got a point, Sis. Sure you're okay, though?"

"Yeah. It will eventually reveal itself to me." She sighed.

"See? Give it some time to percolate in that fertile brain of yours."

"Thanks, Cul." She stretched. "So tell me more about this new area you want to explore? I didn't know you had an interest in classic cars." She peered at him.

"Maybe it's my age, but I'm finding things that have been around for a long time have value." Cullen wasn't lying about that. "Furniture, lamps, sconces. Why not auto interiors?"

"Well, you've done a lot of work with leather and reupholstery. I guess it makes sense," Luna said thoughtfully. "Have any idea where you want to start?"

"Not really. I figured I'd look around. Talk to people. Find out the process, steps, do some networking. The usual." Cullen was beginning to think this actually could be a good idea. At least worth looking into for real.

"Chris is coming around three, right?" Luna asked.

"Yeah. We'll head over to the car show and then grab some dinner."

"A guys' night out?" Luna teased.

"You could say that. Chris and I haven't spent a lot of time together for a while. It'll be good to catch up."

"I hear ya. We haven't seen each other in three weeks."

Cullen stopped suddenly. "Oh gee, Sis, sorry. I didn't mean to impede on your time with Chris."

"No problem. I'm glad you invited him. I was going to see what he was doing this weekend anyway. Chi-Chi and I are going to have dinner together, so we can all meet up at my place afterward."

"Sounds like a good plan." He kissed her on the top of her head.

Luna touched the spot. Odd. He hadn't done that in a very long time. "Cul? Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yep. Couldn't be better." He smiled and walked toward the adjoining door to his showroom.

Then she remembered and called out, "Chris said to make it a turquoise boutonniere." She scrunched up her face.

"Stupid joke." With that, Cullen knocked on the doorjamb, turned, and left.

Luna shook her head and looked down at Wylie sitting at her feet. "What do you think, pal? Is it me, or is everyone acting a bit off?"

He lay down on the floor and put his paws over his eyes.

"Just as I thought." She bent over and ruffled the fur around his ears.

* * *

Chi-Chi nervously clicked on her walkie-talkie to speak with Cullen.

"I cannot pretend about things," she said heavily.

"What's wrong?" Cullen asked.

"I almost spilled the rice with your sister."

"Spilled the beans," Cullen corrected.

"Whatever you call it. I do not like lying to people."

"Why? What happened?"

"Nothing, really, but when she told me Christopher was coming this weekend, I said I was happy it worked out. Then she asked me ‘what worked out,' so I told her I said a prayer that she and I could get together." She sighed. "I feel so foolish."

"Don't worry about it. Luna is a very spiritual person, and she advocates creative visualization. Manifestation. You know, that kind of stuff. She probably took it along those lines. You were thinking about it, and it happened." Cullen was trying to soothe Chi-Chi's angst.

"But seriously, Cullen, if you want me to be a part of any mischief, I am not going to be able to lie."

Cullen laughed. "You have the highest level of integrity. That's why everyone loves you." Then he froze. Had he ever told her he loved her? For real kind of love? Sure, there were many times when any and all of them would sign off with "love you," but had he ever looked into her eyes and told her exactly what she meant to him? Maybe what he should really be refurbishing was his ability to express his true feelings. Unlike his unfiltered sister, Cullen was always buttoned up, whether it was his shirt or his feelings. Maybe it was time for a change in wardrobe, physically and emotionally.

Chi-Chi noticed the pause in Cullen's usual chatter and realized he was considering what he'd actually said. But in her heart, she knew they all loved each other, and they were lucky to have such a strong bond of friendship. She and Cullen were romantically involved, but they'd never talked about where their relationship was going. Maybe it was time for that conversation.