Bubbles and Troubles (12 page)

“I would welcome both cooperation and company, Gavin Rossi,” Calvin stated. “I will halt all plans to sell and develop Prescott Woods with the understanding that you and the folk of the woods will provide me with help in the manor’s upkeep.” He cast hopeful eyes on Paloma. “And I’ll hope for friendly company as well.” Paloma’s face registered no emotion as she silently looked away.

Chapter Thirteen

Six months later…

Dora placed a last long blossom of green Bells of Ireland in the enormous arrangement and stepped back to admire it. Rich plum chrysanthemums, lime-green spider mums, purple salvia and delicate sweet lavender filled the deep glass pot. Dora had used fresh green acorns to fill the bottom of the pot, and the vibrant colour contrast was stunning.

“It looks fabulous, Dora,” Carmen praised. “I knew you’d come up with something gorgeous for the first annual Prescott Fall Festival.”

“Thanks, Carmen.” Dora smiled. “I guess I’ve learnt a thing or two in fifteen years of running Bohemian Rhapsody. My B&B guests appreciate fresh flower arrangements, you know. And speaking of fabulous—damnation, girl! You look like you’re ten years younger! I mean, you’ve always been beautiful, but you look amazing since you’ve been spending so much time out here. There must be something in the water here at Prescott Manor, huh?”

“Uh, I guess so.” Carmen flushed and made a mental note to put an aging glamour on herself when out with mortal friends. It wouldn’t do if she remained at the height of her youth and beauty while everyone around her continued to age.

Dora crossed her arms over her silk kimono robe and deepened the crevice of her already-impressive cleavage. “Thank you so much for making all this happen, Carmen. You’re a miracle worker, girl! You talked Old Man Prescott out of selling the woods and you even got him to open up the manor to the town, like in the old days.” She swept an admiring gaze over the fabulous décor of the entry room. “I mean, look at this place! I expected it to be amazing, but this goes beyond my wildest dreams!”

“It is spectacular, isn’t it, Dora?” Carmen agreed. Of course, Dora knew nothing about the countless hours of elven labour that had been required to bring Prescott Manor back to its former glory. The Prescott Woods elves had repaired, reupholstered, painted, buffed and decorated like mad during the last months. Their tireless work had been a marvel to behold, Carmen thought, although it was just as impressive to see gruff, authoritarian Gavin bend to one knee to thank each and every elf for his or her hard work. In the back gardens, replanted by the gnomes, dragonflies, butterflies, hummingbirds and bluebirds swooped among the blooms while chipmunks and squirrels darted among the stone statuary. Carmen was pleased to see the real forms of the glamoured creatures in shadowy outlines. It was only fitting that the gnomes, tree spirits and elves were here to enjoy the party, too. Carmen even caught a whiff of trolls in the air and knew that the shy, lumbering creatures were hanging back unseen in the woods.

“The biggest miracle of all, though, is that you now live on Prescott property. You still haven’t explained how that came about, Carmen,” Dora scolded. At the far end of the lawn, Carmen’s new cottage stood. It straddled the edge of the woods and the plush lawn of Prescott Manor. Like the Manor and Castle Speranza, the cottage had been built with troll, gnome, and elven hands and looked as though it had been there forever.

“Well, there’s really nothing to tell,” Carmen replied. “Calvin was more than willing to have a tenant to help him with legal odds and ends, as well as with upkeep of the manor. I sold my house to help fund the building of this new one, and here we are.”

Dora shook her head in disbelief. “Yes, but how—”

“Ladies! It’s time!” Beth burst into the room in a swirl of fuchsia silk and a tinkle of beads. Her auburn bangs fell over the colour-coordinated headband across her forehead. At her heels was Monica, her daughter, similarly clad in a matching, beaded bra, belt, and skirt set. Monica, however, had chosen royal blue to accent her honey-blonde hair and blue eyes. Bernice and Deb entered from the glass French doors that led to the lawn. Grey-haired Bernice, the Charade librarian, sparkled in lavender, while carrot-top Deb showed off her slender curves in a forest-green ensemble.

“Wait for me!” Colby called out. Her sleek blonde hair blew back from her face as she raced to join the group. Colby had chosen a rich shade of rose for her belly-dancing costume. Black-haired Dora whipped off her kimono to reveal her wine-red outfit. It magnificently accented her lush breasts and nipped her waist and full hips. Carmen wore her birthday gift from half a year ago—the lovely bronze belly-dancing attire that her friends had given her. Carmen did a mental count of her dancing troupe—Beth, Monica, Bernice, Deb, Dora and Colby. “We’re missing one. Come on, slowpoke!” she directed to the shuffling footsteps in the hall.

Paloma, her wild flame-red hair billowing over her bare shoulders, ran in breathlessly with mint-green chiffon trailing behind her. “Sorry,” she explained, blushing. “I…got caught up in something.”

From upstairs, Carmen heard a distinct crash, followed by Calvin’s unmistakable cursing. She glared at Paloma. “Honestly, haven’t you tormented that poor man enough?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Carmen,” Paloma snickered. “And besides, can I help it if he’s clumsy?”

Calvin thumped down the winding staircase and into the foyer. “Damnedest thing,” he grumbled. “I’d swear I had put that vase on the table where it belonged, but there it was, right in front of my door, just waiting to get smashed.” He gave Paloma a curious look, but she tossed her coppery curls and looked away. “Anyway, I don’t want to miss the show, Carmen, so I’ll deal with the broken vase later. Break a leg, ladies.” Calvin went outside to join the seated gathering of mortal Charade residents and the fluttering and scampering glamoured audience of Prescott Woods inhabitants.

The Masked Charaders, a live band that specialised in belly-dance music, was seated to one side of the performers’ wooden dance floor. The band, although somewhat hastily assembled, had proven to be a vast improvement over Carmen’s Middle Eastern CD collection. Korbin had been thrilled to learn about the music and culture of the Middle East. He’d spent countless hours at the Charade library with Bernice, poring over the history and significance of various instruments before choosing his favourite. He played the
Dumbek
, a goblet-shaped drum that provided the rhythm to the songs. Marcus, Deb’s husband and co-owner of Tie-Dyed and Gone to Heaven, had played clarinet in college, so it had been relatively easy for him to master the
Zumara
, a type of double clarinet. Paul Treble, one-time bagboy at Bushel and a Peck and current officer of the Charade Police Force, was the biggest surprise. Paul had taken to the
Kanoun
—a stringed instrument with a sound similar to a harp’s—like a duck to water. Carmen suspected that his interest in producing belly-dancing music stemmed largely from a desire to get closer to Monica, Beth’s daughter. Though Monica was now a freshman at Eastern Kentucky University, Carmen had seen her strolling with the earnest police officer during weekend visits home.

Korbin, Marcus, and Paul picked up their instruments and the sensual sounds of Middle Eastern music floated over Prescott Manor. Carmen and the rest of her troupe slid their fingers through the loops on their
Zills
and slithered out of the French doors one by one. They clapped their golden finger cymbals and rolled their hips in perfect, provocative rhythm.

Carmen spied Brock in the front row sitting next to Gavin. Lowell had an aisle seat on the other side of his father. She was relieved to see the three men beside each other, their past conflicts apparently resolved. Lowell kept one calloused hand on Dax’s golden coat as he watched the show. Carmen felt a pang of jealousy, but she knew that Dax and Lowell made a great partnership. The sweet, loyal Lab had softened Lowell’s thorny disposition somewhat, and Carmen had witnessed first-hand how much Dax enjoyed exploring the woods with him. Carmen also couldn’t help but notice how Lowell appeared transfixed by Dora’s curvaceous figure. He leant forwards in his seat and licked his lips as he watched Dora’s plump, smooth thighs wiggle and sway.

Carmen moved through the practiced steps easily and stole a glance at Gavin, the stern patriarch of the clan. Like Lowell, he’d seemed to soften a bit, but he was much harder for her to read. He seemed uncertain at times about his changing place in the woods, although she knew he’d never give voice to any insecurities. With the new influences and new connections to the outside world, perhaps Gavin felt threatened, Carmen mused. She shimmied in a watercolour wash of bronze silk and arched into a deep backbend.

The last months had been a flurry of building and planning. Along with the renovations to Prescott Manor and the construction of her own small but luxuriant cottage, Castle Speranza itself had undergone an outdoor facelift. Carmen had supervised an enlargement of the chicken coop and raised some chicks in a hatchery to add to her flock of egg-layers. Paloma, although still prickly at times, had warmed over their discussions about the chickens. Spare Tire now followed Paloma about like a star-crossed, strutting lover through the newly planted flower gardens around the castle.

And where had Brock been during these months, Carmen wondered as she balanced a sword on her head during a dramatic portion of the programme. She eased her body through breathtaking contortions around the sword and smiled when she heard the smattering of impressed applause. She’d seen him, certainly, at Castle Speranza, when she and Paloma had met with the elves about the changes to the chicken coop. She’d caught glimpses of him while she’d been busy at her new home and while she’d advised Calvin about needed work at Prescott Manor. However, he’d been absent from her personal life. Perhaps that was a good thing.

Carmen joined her fellow dancers in the whirling, dizzying finale. Fuchsia, royal blue, lavender, forest green, rose, red, bronze and mint green swayed and rolled like chiffon waves in an ocean of bare arms, shoulders, stomachs and backs.

The breathless, glowing women took their bows at the end of the dance. Carmen indicated the musicians with a grateful round of applause. Korbin beamed as he stood with his fellow musicians and congratulated the dancers on their show. To Carmen, he seemed truly aglow for the first time.

Calvin stood and formally welcomed everyone to Prescott Fall Festival. He pointed out the tables with drinks and food and the booths with games of skill. Recorded Middle Eastern music began to play next to the dance floor. “And our own Carmen Foster,” he said loudly, “will commence with free belly-dancing lessons for any who’d like to learn more.”

Chapter Fourteen

The evening had passed in a haze of dancing, drinking and laughing. Somehow, Dora had managed to convince Lowell to join her onstage for a hip shimmy how-to, but it took just one hearty guffaw from Gavin to send his oldest child storming away in embarrassment.

After the last of the paper lanterns had been extinguished and the last guest had pulled from the driveway, Carmen said goodnight to Calvin and headed to her new cottage.

After living there for just one month, the slate-roofed stone cottage already felt like home. Carmen drew a steaming bath in the claw-footed tub, mentally thanking the elves for their addition of Healing Waters to her own plumbing—not that she didn’t enjoy visiting the underground spring next to Castle Speranza—but Carmen appreciated a private soak. The lace-covered picture window in the bathroom faced the woods. Carmen turned off all of the lights and opened the drapes. Her sweat-dampened costume fell to the floor with a tired tinkly thump. She pumped some warm Living Earth from the cleverly designed elven spigot and plastered her face, shoulders, and arms with the delicately scented stuff. She felt it melt into her pores and ease her tired muscles. Carmen tested the bath with one toe before slipping into the soothing, fragrant heat.

Instantly, the magic liquid soaked through her skin and through her body, infusing her once more with the life-giving strength of the Healing Waters. With an effervescent heat, the water trickled into her blood and bones. She felt it strengthening and invigorating her. Carmen smiled and sank lower into the tub.

The gnomes had enlarged the bathing cavern next to Castle Speranza, and the elves had added some of their own improvements. There was now a screened area with an additional hot tub and mud bath in addition to the public ones. The cavern also included a steam shower, dry sauna and lounge area. The gnomes and elves frequented the spot, although they also continued to use their own temporary access points to the Healing Waters and Living Earth. Mephita, now a bit of celebrity in the gnome community, held court in the original mud bath. Surrounded by wide-eyed gnome admirers, she described how she’d rescued Brock from death then had gone on to save all of Prescott Woods.

Carmen didn’t begrudge Mephita her fame a bit—she’d earned every bit of it. Carmen let her eyes slip shut and basked in the success of the Prescott Fall Festival. It was truly magical to see the denizens of Prescott Wood mingle with the mortals of Charade in an evening of fun and laughter. She’d secretly hoped to spend a few moments with Brock. He was a spoilt, self-centred child, true, but in her heart of hearts, Carmen missed his mirth-filled blue eyes and his warm caramel skin against her own. Perhaps, after her stern rebuke, he’d lost his taste for her.

“Such a shame,” she murmured, “since he tasted so very good.”

Mrrrrrr-owwwww!

Carmen sat up in the tub, her heart pounding. A wave sloshed over the side and onto a sleek orange tabby seated on the tiles. “Oh,” Carmen said softly. “Hello, kitty. I thought you might be someone else.” The cat blinked its green eyes and purred.

“Hold on and I’ll find you some tuna in the kitchen.” Carmen slid down in the tub and submerged her head. She massaged her scalp vigorously and scrubbed her face and shoulders clean before lifting her head from the steaming liquid and pulling the plug in her tub.