4 Cupids Curse (12 page)

“And do you?”

“Do you what?” Levi asked as he stomped the snow from his boots after letting himself in through the front door.

“
I was just asking Ellie if she was interested in a serious relationship at this point in her life,” I informed Levi.

“Of course she’s not. Are you
, El?”

“I might be open to something along those lines,” Ellie countered. “With the right guy.”

Levi frowned. “Are you talking about Rob? I thought you were just friends.”

“We are,” Ellie confirmed. “For now.
”

Levi got the strangest look on his face. A look that made me wonder if he was into Ellie more than he let on.

“How are things going with Barbie?” Ellie asked.

Levi took off his jacket and hung it on the coatrack by the door. “If I said horrific
, I’m afraid that would be putting it mildly.”

“She still mad?” I wondered
.

“
Mad
is much too tame a word. I really thought she’d shrug the whole thing off and move on to the next guy, but instead she’s turned into a raving lunatic.”

“Oh no. What did she do?” I asked.

“I guess in all the flying dishes the other day, I neglected to get my key back. When I got home from the gym this morning, I was greeted with fabric squares on the floor of the living room.”

“Fabric squares?”

“The fabulous B must have thought I needed a new wardrobe because she let herself in and cut almost all of the clothes I own into little squares. Luckily, she didn’t think to check the laundry, so I have a few things left. It’s going to cost a fortune to replace everything she destroyed.”

“Ouch.”

“Ouch is right. Not only did she destroy my clothes but she took a bat to my television. That girl is bad news.”

“Did you call Salinger?” Ellie asked.

“No. For one thing, I don’t actually have any proof she did it. For another, I just want to put this all behind me.”

“It sounds like she could be dangerous,” I pointed out.

“I changed the locks. If she comes back, I’ll call the cops. Where’s Zak?”

“He went to pick up Chinese food. He should be back in a few minutes.
”

“So have you made any progress on the case?” Levi asked.

“A bit.” I filled them in on everything we’d learned to date, including the fact that Blythe had been married before.

“It does seem odd that
she would tell you that she’d been a teacher if she hadn’t,” Levi said. “And I agree that if she’d been a teacher, she would most likely have been fingerprinted. Everyone who works in our school system has to not only be printed but also has to undergo an extensive background check.”

“Maybe she worked for a private school,” Ellie suggested.

“Perhaps,” I admitted.

“
You can just ask her where she taught,” Ellie proposed.

“Trust me when I tell you that the least amount of time I have to spend with th
at woman, the better. Still, if I happen to get trapped in her company again, I guess I can ask her.”

“I’m not sure I’m quite as convinced as you are that your dad
’s girlfriend is the demon you think she is, but it does seem like there are some inconsistencies where she’s concerned,” Ellie commented.

“She’s staying with
Dad this week,” I informed my friends. “Dad asked me to watch his dogs while Blythe has her house fumigated.”

“Who fumigates in the middle of winter?” Levi asked.

“I know! Right? That’s exactly what I thought. I really get the feeling that she’s just looking for an excuse to be at his house on a full-time basis.”

“You think she plans to check in but never check out,” Ellie guessed.

“It makes sense. She wants to live with my dad and he’s hesitant. I wouldn’t put it past her one bit to worm her way in.”

“Yeah, but your dad loves Tucker and Kiva,” Ellie pointed out. “I can’t see him giving them up altogether.”

“Yeah,” I said. “I know you’re right. Still, it doesn’t mean Blythe won’t try to get rid of them.”

“You don’t think she’d
. . .”

I knew exactly where Ellie was headed. “I think she’d do whatever she needed to do to have things work out the way she seems determined for them to work out.
”

“The whole thing gives me the creeps,” Ellie
said with a shiver.

“Tell me about it. I’m not sure
exactly how I’m going to accomplish it, but I promise she’ll be gone from our lives by the end of the month.”

Zak and I decided to return to his house after Levi and Ellie left. Now that I knew my mom was there, I didn’t feel right about leaving her alone, and I certainly wasn’t going to spend any more nights away from Zak, so we decided I’d just stay with him for the time being. We packed up the cats, and Zak, Charlie, Lambda and I made the short trip down the beach. After we got everyone settled in, we decided to take a nice long soak in the hot tub.

“This is so nice,” I
sighed as I laid back my head and looked up at the stars. The weather had held, so Zak had started a fire in the indoor/outdoor fireplace and retracted the roof of the pool room. There were billions of stars twinkling in the night sky like diamonds on a dark background.

“More champagne?” Zak asked before topping off my glass.

“I’d love some.”

“I’ve been thinking about doing this ever since you mentioned it the other day.”
Zak set the now empty bottle aside and began kissing my neck.

“I have to admit I was pretty devastated when you suggested we go out instead.”
I groaned as he made his way just a bit lower.

“I know.” Zak continued to kiss me
. “Keeping my promise to your mom and lying to you was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.”

“Good
.” I grinned. “I wouldn’t have wanted lying to me to be easy for you.”

“Never.” He found my lips.

“I’ve been thinking about the fact that I’m going to have a hard time,” I said as Zak ran a finger along my jaw.

“A hard time?” Zak prompted.

“Lying to my dad,” I managed to finish the sentence. “I think the best thing that can happen is if we facilitate a meeting between the two.

“The best thing that can happen
?” Zak nibbled on my ear.

“Well
, maybe not the
best
.”

The next day was Sunday and I had nowhere I had to be. The shelter was closed, and Jeremy had agreed to go in to tend to the few animals we hadn’t yet placed. Zak and I had shared an amazing night and I had spent most of my sleeping hours dreaming about picking up exactly where we left off. I rolled over and reached for the man of my fantasies only to find an empty bed.

“Zak?” I opened my eyes. The sky was blue and the sun was reflecting brightly off the freshly fallen snow out
side the bedroom window.

I looked around
, but the room was obviously empty. Even Charlie was gone. I quickly dressed, then hurried downstairs to find out what was so important that it had compelled Zak to leave me alone in his big bed.

I heard the sound of their laughter before I saw them. Apparently
, Mom and Zak were in the kitchen, and based on the sound of dishes being moved, combined with the giggling coming from the room, I had to assume they were making breakfast while having a tickle fight.

“Morning
, sweetheart,” Mom called to me. “I hope we didn’t wake you.”

“No, I woke
up on my own. What’s going on?” I focused my attention on Zak.

“I woke up
early, and Madison was awake as well, so we decided to make breakfast.”

“Is it a funny breakfast?” I couldn’t believe I was actually jealous of my ow
n very pregnant mother, who was sitting on the window seat with Marlow and Spade.

“Zak was just telling me some stories about you as a teen,” Mom f
illed me in. “They were really pretty funny. I can’t believe how much I missed.”

“Don’t
worry.” I sat down on one of the bar stools lining the kitchen counter. “I’m still pretty hilarious, so I doubt you missed much. What are you making?” I asked Zak.

“Omelet
s?”

“Sounds good. Where are the dogs?”

“I let them out in the yard.” Unlike my yard, which has no fence, Zak’s estate was completely enclosed in the front of the house, although it was open in the back, where the lawn met the beach. “We can let them in after they work off some of their energy. Four dogs make for quite a commotion the first thing in the morning.” Zak set a cup of coffee in front of me.

“I’ve already eaten
, so I think I’ll go up and get dressed,” Mom informed me.

“Do you have plans for the day
?” I asked Zak as I sipped my coffee and Mom waddled away.

“Some interesting information came up as a result of my backg
round search for Blythe Spalding,” Zak informed me. “I thought I’d follow up on it.”

“Interesting how?”

“Blythe had been married at least once before getting hitched to Tim Ravenwood. I found a wedding license from 2007, when Blythe Bonham married Peter Spalding.”

“Okay
, so what happened to Peter?”

“He died.”

Now I was really feeling bad for Blythe, and I didn’t like the feeling one bit. “How did he die?”

“Allergic reaction to peanuts.”

I frowned. “I know accidents happen, but aren’t people who are allergic to peanuts usually really careful about what they eat?”

“Usually, but I guess you can never know for sure if something was cooked on the same grill or in the same pan.”

“I realize it’s possible to be widowed twice in four years, but doesn’t it seem an odd coincidence to you?”

“Actually, yes,”
Zak agreed. “For the first time, I almost believe you might be onto something regarding your suspicion of Blythe.”

“I told you.”
I felt a sense of victory as Zak slipped bread into the toaster.

“Told you what?” Mom
walked back into the room with the dogs on her heels.

“We found out that Blythe has been married twice. Both husbands died
, one from a heart attack and one from an allergic reaction to peanuts. Zak was just saying that he’s beginning to believe I might have grounds for my distrust of Blythe.”

“Do you think Hank could be in danger?”
Mom paled.

“It’s doubtful,” Zak assured her. “Still, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep checking.”

Mom sat down on the bar stool next to me. She was so tiny and petite that her belly looked like she’d tucked a basketball up under her shirt. I hoped that I’d be as cute and compact as she was if and when I decided to have a baby. The idea of having children had always horrified me, but as I watched Zak making my breakfast, even taking the time to cut the crust off the toast as I preferred, I realized that never wanting a child might have evolved into maybe wanting a child. Someday, that is.

“Okay
, so now what?” I asked as I attempted to redirect my thoughts.

“
I can continue to backtrack,” Zak suggested. “Try to find out where Blythe Bonham came from.”

He
slid a golden omelet onto a plate and placed it in front of me. I cut off a bite and sighed as a delightful yet unusual combination of tastes exploded in my mouth. “What did you put in this?’ I took a second bite. “It’s delicious.”

“Secret recipe,” Zak teased.

“You never should have made this for me. Now I’m going to insist that you cook for me
every
morning.”

“I’d be
happy to.”

I smiled.

“You should try Zak’s sticky buns,” I told my mom. “He made them for Thanksgiving and they were to die for.”

“I’ll have to request some while I’m here.”

“I’m not trying to be pushy,” I finished the last bite of the omelet, “but have you given any thought to what you’re going to do? In the long run, I mean.”

“Not really
.” Mom sighed. “I guess I figured I’d talk to your dad and then take it from there.”

“I can call him and invite him to come over
.”

“No. Not yet. Maybe after we figure
out this whole thing with Blythe.”

“As I was saying,” Zak rejoined the conversation we
’d been having before we got sidetracked, “maybe it would be a good idea if we kept on checking into Blythe’s background.”

“Now that Zoe is finished with her breakfast
, why don’t we move this to the living room?” Mom suggested. “I don’t want to miss anything, but my back is killing me, so I thought I’d stretch out on one of the sofas.”

“Y
ou have a problem with backaches?” I asked.

“Yeah. I’m afraid this pregnancy has been a lot harder than the first one. I’m not exactly a spring chicken anymore.”

“Forty-two isn’t old.”

“It is to have a baby.”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

I sat on one of the sofas while
Mom stretched out on another. Zak sat at the table where he’d set up one of his many laptops. Mom and I talked about her pregnancy and my new little sister while he typed away.

“The doctor thinks everything is going okay?”

“He does. I’ve had a few scares, but Zak has been really great about helping me through them. I texted him the other day because I was having strange cramping. He was home within fifteen minutes and had me to the doctor before I could change my clothes.”

I realized that must have been the reason
he’d left me so abruptly at lunch.

“When Zak told me the two of you were dating
, I couldn’t have been happier. He’s a good man.”

“Yeah,” I agreed, “he is.”

“I’m not sure what I would have done without him,” Mom admitted. “I don’t know if I could have done this on my own.”

“I’m glad Zak has been there for you
, but you also have me now,” I reminded her.

Mom brushed a stray hair off my face. She smiled. “I do have you. I should have told you sooner.”

“Yes,” I scolded, “you should have. And you should tell Dad,” I tried again. “He’ll be hurt that you didn’t.”

“But what if he’s mad?” Mom looked scared. “What if he never forgive
s me for messing up his life?”

I held Mom’s hand in my own. “Trust me
: he won’t be mad and he won’t think you messed up his life. In fact, if I know Dad the way I think I do, he’ll be thrilled.”

“You think so?”

“I really, really do.”

“I have the computer searching for any informatio
n it can dig up on Blythe Bonham,” Zak interrupted. “It might take a while. Blythe was a Bonham before every move a person made was recorded via the Internet highway. I could really use a break,” Zak decided. “It’s stopped snowing for now, but there’s another storm on the way, so I think I’ll head into town and get some more ice cream. It seems a certain individual,” Zak looked at my mom, “who shall remain nameless, has already plowed through the four cartons I bought a few days ago.”

“Chunky Monkey,” Mom requested. “And peanut butter chip.”

“I think we’re out of yogurt as well,” Zak said, starting to make a list.

“And cookies,” Mom added.

I have to admit that watching my mom and Zak as they made the list with an easygoing casualness I had never had with my mother made me feel left out in a way I’m certain neither intended. I wasn’t sure how all this would play out, but I was happy to have my mom in my life, even if it didn’t turn out to be a forever thing.

“So how are you doing?” Zak asked as we drove toward town in his truck.

“Honestly? I’m not sure,” I admitted. “Having my mother in town after not having seen her for such a long time is
. . .” I searched for the right word, “confusing. I love my mom and I’m thrilled to have some time with her. It’s just that the joy I feel over her being here is all mixed up with the fear that it will be twice as hard when she leaves and discomfort with lying to my dad. We both know that my mom’s track record for sticking around is dismal. And now I won’t have only her to miss if she leaves but my new baby sister as well. I guess the whole thing leaves me feeling unsettled.”

“Your feelings are understandable.” Zak held my hand across the bench seat. “As long as you’ve settled Charlie and the cats at my place
, you might as well stay for a while. At least until we can convince your mom to talk to your dad. It will give the two of you a chance to catch up.”

“I’
d like that. Have the two of you talked much since she’s been here?” I asked.

“Not really
. At least not about anything important. We’ve shared stories about quaint little restaurants we both enjoy in Europe and places we’ve both visited. Stuff like that. She’s bounced a few baby names off me, but I don’t think any of them are names she intends to use.”

“Like what?”

“Ambrosia, Mirabella, and Chanterelle, to name a few.”

“They’re all pretty but sort of long. I guess they could be shortened to nicknames like Amber, Belle, and Elle.”

“What would you name her if given a choice?” Zak asked.

“I really don’t know. I think that
, ideally, a name should have meaning. Having said that, it still needs to be a cool name. Something not too ordinary, but not strange either.”

“Like Zoe.”

“Exactly.”

“Does Zoe have special meaning?”
Zak asked as we pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store.

“Not as far as I know
, but my middle name is Harlow, which is sort of a mash-up of my Grandma Donovan’s name, which was Harriett, and my pappy’s name, which is Lowell.”

“Zoe Harlow Donovan. It’s nice.
But I thought Pappy’s name was Luke.”

“Luke is his m
iddle name. Lowell is a family name, which I guess has been around for generations. Pappy’s gone by Luke since he was a kid. What’s your middle name?” I wondered.

“Zion.”

“You’re kidding? Zak Zion Zimmerman? Your parents were really into Zs,” I said as I climbed out of the truck.

“Actually
, it’s Zachary Zion Zimmerman, but yeah, it’s a mouthful. Maybe a mash-up of your dad and mom’s name would work for little sis,” Zak suggested.

“
My dad’s first name is Lowell, like Pappy’s and, like Pappy, he goes by his middle name, which is Harold. Well, he goes by Hank, which is normally short for Henry, but Pappy didn’t like Harry as a nickname for Harold, so he started calling dad Hank when he was little and it stuck. My mom’s name is Madison. I’m not sure what you could get from either Madison-Lowell or Madison-Harold. Although,” I realized, “if you combine the
Har
from Harold and the
Per
from my mom’s middle name, which is Perletta, you get
Harper
.”

“Harper is nice.”

“Yeah.” I smiled. “It is. I think I’ll suggest it to Mom.”

The
parking lot was deserted. It was already well into Sunday afternoon, and most folks were probably home with family. Zak and I held hands as we walked across the hard-packed snow to the front door of the market. Zak grabbed a red rolling cart as I paused once again at the chocolates on display.