All Fired Up (12 page)

“Then where’s all his stuff?”

“At the brownstone, waiting to be picked up like everything else.”

“Wait a minute, he stayed at the groomers overnight? Why?”

“Can we talk about this later? I really have to go. And seriously, get a little caffeine in your system or something. You’re not making much sense today.” He hung up.

Her heart slowed to a normal rhythm. Snickers just hadn’t moved in yet. That’s all. For a week, though? Weird, but at least she knew where he was.

She didn’t want to call Brad back and ask him why she didn’t have a job to go to, so she decided to ignore that for the moment and head out to Brooklyn instead. At least she could get Snickers’ things.

Once dressed in jeans and a T-shirt she recognized, she took the elevator down. It didn’t surprise her to find the building had a doorman.

“Hi…Dexter.” Thank goodness for name tags.

“Morning, Mrs. Volk.”

Hearing her married name made her smile.

“Do you have the keys to my car? I can’t seem to find them.”

“Your car, ma’am? I thought you sold that to Dr. Welborn in 9B?”

“Oh. Yes, you’re right. Sorry, habit.” Her mother’s car was gone, too? Good thing she knew her way around the subway system.

***

Sheets of newspaper littered the floor of the living room. Boxes towered in stacks marked
Goodwill
and
Storage
. The walls and windows were bare. Her rugs were rolled and bound with packing tape. No sign of the ring of ashes anywhere.

The home she’d grown up in looked abandoned and sad. With all its trappings packed away, her home was somehow less itself. The happy memories seemed as thin and distant as vanishing fog.

She drew her fingers across the chair rail in the nook, the nicks from her father’s rocking chair runners clearly visible on the base board. The door frame going into the den still held her height measurements from ages one through eight.

Something squishy squeaked beneath her foot. A pink and yellow rubber mouse, the tail long ago chewed off, stared blankly up at her. Once Snickers was moved in, she’d feel more at home in the loft.

Gathering his things into a plastic grocery bag, she looked around for something else to take back with her. One of the boxes marked
Goodwill
hadn’t been sealed yet. She rummaged through the paper-wrapped items, pulling off just enough wrapping to see what they were.

An award from work, her cordless phone, a jar candle. She put the award in a box marked for storage and crammed the candle in her purse. She reached into the box and pulled out another item and unwrapped it. Alrik’s talisman.

The bird looked different than she remembered. Graceful and beautiful. Almost alive.

Rewrapping the carving, she put the candle in the bag with Snickers’ stuff and the talisman in her purse.

Before heading into the city, she went to the Dollar Discount and bought a new litter box, litter, cat food and some treats.

Dexter opened the door for her when she got back to the apartment building.

“Quite an armful you’ve got there, Mrs. Volk. Care for some help?” He smiled as graciously as he had that morning and rang the elevator for her.

“No thanks, I’ve got it.”

The doors opened and she got on, nodding goodbye. Did they really need to live in a building with a doorman? He was a nice guy, but she could push the elevator button herself.

The light on the answering machine blinked. Three messages. The buttons had symbols instead of words. Very European. It took her a minute to determine which one meant play.

A message from the groomer. Snickers was ready. Wonderful! She jotted down the number so she could call for directions.

Next was Jeana inviting her to lunch the next day at their usual spot. Their usual spot. They must still be friends which meant Jeana hadn’t slept with Brad. Calleigh determined to do her best to forgive and forget. If Brad got a second chance, so should Jeana. She was family. And besides, that awful night had never happened.

Finally, Brad confirmed he would be late and not to hold dinner. Which was good, considering she didn’t have a clue what she’d be fixing.

When she got back with Snickers, she fixed his litter box and set out bowls for food and water. He walked around sniffing and inspecting.

“I know, Snickems. It’s not exactly home, is it? It will be…we just have to get used to it. And add a few things.”

Snickers meowed plaintively.

“And buy a scratching post. Good idea.” She ruffled his fur on her way to the bedroom.

Where to put the carving? The nightstand drawer was too shallow. Some further investigation revealed a dresser drawer full of bras and panties. The talisman was
not
going in there. She settled on the bottom shelf of the nightstand, atop a stack of art books.

She ate a bowl of cereal for dinner, watched a little TV, then decided on a hot bath. She lit the candle she’d brought back and set it on the bathroom counter. The spacious tub looked out over the city through a bank of windows. As the sky darkened, the lights twinkled brighter. The city glittered like an antique brooch, tarnished but still beautiful.

The bath water cooled, but still she sat there.
Tomorrow will be a better day.
A shiver ran through her. Time to get out, the water was sucking the heat out of her.

Brad came home so late, she barely registered his arrival. She heard him shower, felt the bed move when he got in, mumbled a response to his good night.

If she had dreams, she didn’t remember them when she woke. Filling the coffee pot while Brad got ready, she wondered what lunch with Jeana would be like.

Snickers meowed to be fed just as Brad called her name. She dumped a can of food into the cat’s dish and went back to the bedroom.

“Sorry I got home so late. Is everything taken care of at the brownstone?”

She ignored the question and sat on the bed cross-legged, her drawstring pants pooching out around her middle.

He glanced at her. “Do you have to wear those? They look like old man pajamas.”

She tugged her faded tee over her waistline. “They’re comfortable.”

“They’re ugly. Now what about the brownstone? Is it ready?”

“About that, I still don’t understand why we’re selling it.”

Knotting his tie, eyes on the mirror, he answered without looking at her. “I’ve explained my plan to invest the money numerous times. Trust me on this, Cal, I know what’s best.”

“I guess so.” He did deal with lots of money every day at the estate attorneys.

“What’s your plan for the day?” He adjusted his collar.

“My plan? Um, lunch with Jeana…I don’t know what else…maybe pick up a few things for the apartment.”

“A few things? Like what?”

“I don’t know, candles, a few plants, stuff like that.”

“Candles leave soot on the walls, you know I don’t like that.” He smoothed his hair before donning his suit jacket.

“Don’t I live here, too? I like candles.”

“Let’s not argue, kitten. I think I may have a job for you. Landers, Jerritt & Smyth are going to need a junior account exec and Smyth owes me a favor. He’s willing to give you an interview.”

She sat silently, not sure what to say. Junior account executive was a good position but the job sounded about as exciting as reading the phone book.

“Don’t I get a thank you?” Brad raised a single brow expectantly.

“Sorry, thanks.” She smiled halfheartedly. “I’m sure it’s a great job.”

“Cal, you’ve got to get a career sometime. I know it’s a bottom rung position but they’re willing to give you on the job training.”

“Fabulous.” She wrapped the pants’ drawstring around her finger.

If he picked up on her sarcasm, he didn’t show it. “Gotta go. Have a good lunch with Jeana.” He brushed an invisible piece of lint off his shoulder.

“Are you going to be late again?”

“Until I put this deal to bed, you can probably count on me being late every night.”

“Oh.” So much for life as a newlywed.

“Don’t look so down. You’ll forget all about these late nights when we’re dining by candlelight in Paris.”

“Paris?” She looked up.

“For our honeymoon.” He smiled.

“Oh! Paris! That sounds wonderful.” She jumped off the bed and hugged him.

“I thought you’d like that.” He kissed her again, this time on the mouth. His hands traveled lower, cupping her backside. He squeezed. “Don’t forget to hit the gym. Now, walk me out.”

Sighing, she followed him to the elevator. Apparently, somewhere, there was a treadmill missing her.

“Drop my charcoal pinstripe off at the cleaners, would you? And book a table for four at Park Avenue Cafe for next weekend. Give the maitre’d my name. My parents are coming into town and I want to take them somewhere nice.”

“What about Patois?”

He shook his head. “You know how my mother feels about venturing into the wilds of Brooklyn.”

The elevator doors opened. He got on and winked at her. “
Au revoir, mon amour
.”

“Bye.” She smiled. Paris. They had talked about going to Paris for their honeymoon, but to actually go! Thoughts of walking hand in hand on the Champs Elysee, drinking wine at a sidewalk bistro and making love in some historic old hotel under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower swirled through her head.

Maybe she would go to the gym. What could it hurt to get her dance figure back? Brad loved her. He was taking her to Paris.

She called the doorman and found out the building had a fitness center. An hour later, she returned to the apartment, sweaty and ready for a shower. She definitely preferred dancing to working out in some boring fitness center. Paris had better be worth it.

After a shower, she faced her mostly new wardrobe, wondering what outfit to wear to lunch. Jeana was a true fashionista, always pushing her to buy more interesting clothes. Sometimes, it was hard to believe they were related.

Many of the pieces on Calleigh’s side of the walk-in still had their tags. Her brows shot up when she looked at the prices. Was a designer wardrobe part of the Phoenix deal? On impulse, she grabbed one of her familiar Christian Dior boots. The soles were well worn. Apparently in this life she went out more.

She chose a Calvin Klein suit in a color the tag labeled “Pink Foil”, a simple white blouse, and a pair of Jimmy Choo ankle boots. Jeana would freak when she saw this getup.

A final brush of her hair, a kiss for Snickers and she was out the door. Taking the #4 train down to 59
^th
, she walked into Aureole in under twenty minutes.

Massive arrangements of delicately scented lilies and bright ginger blossoms flanked the interior doors. Their perfume mingled with the savory aroma of food, making Calleigh’s mouth water. Soothing piano music played in the background. It seemed like ages since she’d been here.

The maitre’d escorted her to the table where Jeana sat chatting on her cell phone. She wiggled her fingers at Calleigh then held one up to indicate she’d just be a moment more. Her blonde shag shivered around her shoulders as she nodded and laughed at something the person on the other end said. Dressed in a beautiful winter white suit and ivory crocodile pumps, Jeana looked like Ice Princess Barbie. Boobs and all.

She clicked her phone shut and stood to give Calleigh a hug and an air kiss. “Hi, how are you, married lady?”

A slightly sweet and darkly spicy scent tickled Calleigh’s nose as she returned the hug. “Good, thanks. You smell nice. What is that?”

“Carmen Marc Valvo’s new scent,
Jolie
. It’s not available for another month. We got a sample in the press kit yesterday. Isn’t it grand?” Jeana was the style editor at
Couture
, the reigning women’s fashion magazine.

“Very nice. So?” Calleigh did her best seated model pose.