Falling Awake (12 page)

That was progress of a sort, Isabel thought, applying the positive thinking techniques she was studying in the Kyler Method manual.

“Yes,” she said, going for upbeat and optimistic, “but it could take time to build up a client list. That’s why I’m very grateful to you and Farrell for giving me a chance to work as an instructor here for a while.”

“You’re family,” Leila said flatly. “Can’t have you out begging on the streets.”

“I don’t know that I would have ended up on the streets,” Isabel said, trying not to let her irritation show. Leila meant well, after all. “If push had come to shove, I could have gone back to my old job.”

“Answering phones for that psychic hotline operation? Don’t be ridiculous. Mom and Dad were horrified when they found out what you were doing there.”

“It was a living.”

“It was an embarrassment.” Leila sighed. “By the way, have you told Mom and Dad that you got fired?”

“No.” Isabel slouched deeper into the sleek leather sofa. “I learned a long time ago that it’s best if I don’t give them too much information until I’ve settled into a new job. It just upsets them.”

“I suppose there’s no need to e-mail them the bad news.”

“Look on the bright side. They’ll be giddy with relief when they find out I’m going to work for you and Farrell for a while.”

“Yes, but they’re not going to be so thrilled when they find out you’re planning to set yourself up as some sort of psychic dream consultant.”

“We’ve been through this a million times, Leila. I’ve told you over and over again that I do not consider myself to be psychic.”

“You’ve worked for at least two so-called professional psychics, to my knowledge.”

“You know, some folks would say that giving seminars designed to teach people how to tap into the creative potential of their dreams is not a whole lot different from doing psychic dream consulting.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Leila said instantly, outraged. “The Kyler Method is a proven technique that can be applied to any aspect of one’s daily life. There’s no reason it won’t work with dreams.”

“If you really feel that way,” Isabel said quietly, “would you mind telling me why Farrell doesn’t want me here?”

Leila froze. “Of course he wants you here. Why do you say he doesn’t?”

“Call it a wild hunch but every time I run into him in the hall he seems to be looking for a way to avoid me. I get the impression that it wasn’t his idea to offer me this job.”

Leila’s mouth tightened. “It will work out.”

“Damn. I knew it. I was afraid of this.”

“Afraid of what?”

“You convinced him that he had to give me a job because I’m family, didn’t you?”

“For the past year, Tamsyn and I have been encouraging Farrell to add new courses to the syllabus. Kyler, Inc., must stay competitive. Classes in dreams are trendy. They’ll pull a new market.”

Her sister’s strange mood sent a trickle of unease through Isabel. “In other words, Farrell did not want to bring me on board as a new instructor. You and Tamsyn pressured him into it, didn’t you? No wonder he isn’t acting real happy to see me.”

“I wouldn’t worry about Farrell, if I were you.” Leila abruptly rose to her feet. “It certainly isn’t your fault if he isn’t happy. As far as I can tell, nothing pleases him these days.”

Isabel was shocked by the bitter edge on her sister’s words. “Leila, what’s wrong?”

For a moment she thought she was not going to get an answer. Then she saw the glint of tears in Leila’s eyes. She leaped off the sofa and hurried around behind the desk to hug her tightly.

“Tell me,” she whispered.

Leila said nothing. But the tears spilled down her cheeks.

Isabel rocked her gently. “Tell me, please. I can’t stand not knowing what’s making you so unhappy.”

“Oh, Isabel, I’m afraid that Farrell may be turning into a carbon copy of Dad.”

“What?”

“It’s true.” Leila yanked a couple of tissues from the box on the desk and blotted her eyes. “It used to be Farrell and me. We were a team. But now it seems to be Farrell and the business. That was the way it always was with Dad, remember? The only thing he cared about was the next big deal.” Leila sniffed into the tissue. “And the next beautiful young wife, of course.”

“Leila, you aren’t trying to tell me that Farrell has gotten involved with another woman, because I wouldn’t believe it. Not for a moment.”

“No, of course not.” Leila grabbed another tissue. “Farrell is too honest to cheat on me. But he’s consumed by the business these days. He’s always talking about new directions and goals for Kyler. He spends half the night in his office going over marketing and expansion plans. He even postponed our vacation to Hawaii. Do you know how many dinners I’ve eaten alone in the past month?”

“Leila, hold on here—”

“Farrell is absolutely obsessed.” Leila sighed. “Just like Dad.”

“Whoa, stop right there.” Isabel released her, took a step back and waved her arms to get her sister’s attention. “As I recall, and my memory is quite clear on this point, Farrell has always been passionate about his business.”

Leila shook her head. “Not the way he is lately. He used to
practice
the Kyler Method. He always claimed that the hallmark of a good executive was the ability to delegate. He was conscientious about keeping a balance in his life. Until a few months ago, we both left the office at a reasonable hour. We took weekends off. Went to Hawaii a couple of times a year. But lately, Farrell seems driven to devote all of his energy to Kyler, Inc. The company is all he cares about, as far as I can tell.”

“I don’t know what to say. I always thought you and Farrell had the perfect marriage.”

“No relationship is perfect.” Leila turned away. “But I am very good at projecting the right image, aren’t I?”

“Leila?”

“That’s what I do, isn’t it? Pretend that everything is perfect. I’ve been doing it all my life. Talk about positive thinking. I was doing the Kyler Method before it was even a gleam in Farrell’s eye. I’m the original Pollyanna.”

Isabel patted her shoulder. “Have you tried talking to Farrell?”

“Of course. But he always finds a way to avoid the subject. He keeps saying that he just needs a little time. I’m feeling trapped. I’m not sleeping well and when I do sleep, I have the most disturbing dreams about—” She broke off, grimacing. “Never mind.”

“Hey, it’s okay to go there with me. Dreams are my thing, remember?”

“No offense, but I don’t need you to tell me that I’m having anxiety dreams. Who wouldn’t in my situation?”

“Sometimes it helps to talk about them,” Isabel said. “It can clarify issues.”

“The dreams are about children, Isabel.” Leila tossed the used tissue into the trash. “I don’t think there’s any clarification needed. I intended to be pregnant by now. You know that. I even drew up plans for the nursery.”

“I know how much you’ve always wanted to be a mother. I thought Farrell was big on having a family, too.”

“He said we should put it off until Kyler, Inc., was established on a firm footing. And I agreed. But things are going well now and he’s still making excuses. He says the business needs his undivided attention. Remember how Dad always used to say that whenever he couldn’t make it to a school play or go on vacation with us?”

“Farrell is not Dad,” Isabel said.

“I keep telling myself that, but I’m starting to feel so
alone,
the way Mom must have felt when she realized her marriage was falling apart.”

“You’re not alone,” Isabel said quietly. “I’m here. Don’t ever forget that.”

Leila managed a watery smile. “Thanks. You know, I’m sorry you lost your job at the Belvedere Center for Sleep Research but I’m really glad you’re in town for a while.”

“Trust me, I’m glad to be here, too.” She glanced at her watch. “Got to run. My next class starts in three minutes. Kyler Method instructors are never late. Sets a bad example.”

“Isabel, about this Ellis Cutler. What, exactly, do you know about him?”

“Well, he told me that he’s a venture capitalist. Advises start-up companies and finds investors to finance them. You could call him a business consultant, I suppose.”

Leila frowned. “A business consultant? And he wants to hire you to analyze his dreams?”

“Go figure, huh?”

h
e was waiting for her when she emerged from the seminar room that afternoon. She didn’t see him immediately because she was the last one to leave, but she could feel him. It was like coming too close to an electric fence. Little shocks pulsed through her.

He was wearing his dark glasses indoors again. She wondered if he wore them to bed and immediately got a sexy vision of him walking toward her across a bedroom wearing nothing but a pair of sunglasses. She felt herself turn violently warm.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, trying not to look excited.

“I told you I’d get back to you.”

“Oh, right.”
He’s a potential client. Smile, for heaven’s sake.
She smiled. “Have you decided if you want to contract with Wright Dream Analysis?”

“Uh-huh. Mind if we discuss the details of the contract over dinner?”

She went blank. “Dinner?”

“In a restaurant. You know, where you order the food off a menu and people serve it to you?”

“Oh, dinner.”
Not a date,
she told herself.
He’s asking you out for a business dinner. Huge, massive difference.
“Sorry, it’s been a long day.”

“I see.”

She glanced around to make certain that none of her fellow instructor trainees was within earshot and then lowered her voice. “Don’t tell anyone I said this, but, frankly, four hours of positive energy and creative, strategic thinking has a numbing effect on the brain. At least it does on mine.”

“All the more reason to take the evening off and relax.”

“I think you’re right. I’ll take you up on your offer of dinner. Thanks.”

“It’s a deal. When do you get out of here?” he asked.

“I’ve got one more class and then I’m done for the day.”

He grinned at her pained expression. “Good luck in getting through another hour of positive thinking.”

She straightened her shoulders. “A Kyler Method instructor finds a positive way to deal with every bump in the road. Problems are opportunities in disguise.”

“Is that a fact? Could have fooled me. It’s been my experience that problems are usually just problems.”

She gave him a sunny smile. “Shows how much you know.”

“Isabel.”
Tamsyn spoke from midway down the hall. “There you are. Farrell and I have been looking for you.”

Isabel turned.

Farrell was in his late thirties. He had an athletic frame and he was handsome in a rugged, clean-cut, western sort of way. But Isabel did not think that most people, male or female, noticed his looks, one way or another. It was Farrell’s dynamic personality that pulled you into his force field. He had charisma, loads of it. He never forgot names and faces and he could make conversation with anyone, regardless of age or background.

Isabel had once mentioned to Leila that Farrell would have done very well in politics. Her sister had laughed.
Farrell is too ethical for the political arena,
she had said with loving pride.
He couldn’t handle the sausage-making parts, the backroom deals and the compromises.

Tamsyn looked as vital and attractive offstage as she did when she stood in the carefully directed lights at the front of the auditorium. She practically vibrated with enthusiasm. Her Kyler jacket was carefully tailored to discreetly exhibit the curves and cleavage created by the expensive breast implants she had invested in following her divorce two years ago.

Tamsyn turned the full force of her high-energy smile on Ellis. Isabel sensed her intense curiosity.

“Hello,” Tamsyn said warmly. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“Farrell, Tamsyn, this is Ellis Cutler,” Isabel murmured. “Ellis, this is Tamsyn Strickland, an instructor here at Kyler, Inc.,
and my brother-in-law, Farrell Kyler, the founder of the Kyler Method.”

Everyone shook hands and said the polite words.

“Are you attending this week’s seminar series, Ellis?” Farrell asked.

His eyes tightened a bit at the corners as he studied Ellis. Only someone who knew him well would have detected the faint signs of wariness, Isabel thought. Farrell was not sure what to make of Ellis. He was being cautious.

“No, I’m here to see Isabel,” Ellis said.

“Really?” Tamsyn’s curiosity level had clearly gone up another notch. “Are you a friend of hers?”

“New client,” Isabel said quickly. “I’m starting up a private consulting business.”

Farrell winced. “The psychic dream thing?”

“Not exactly,” Isabel said evenly.

But, as usual, the correction went unnoticed.

Tamsyn rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “I’m amazed. I would never have guessed that you would be the type of man who would go in for the woo-woo thing, Ellis.”

“I am not a psychic,” Isabel said forcefully. No one paid any attention.

“Some people are fascinated with orchids and others have a thing for golf,” Ellis said. “Personally, I’ve always been interested in dreams.”

“So, dreams are a hobby for you?” Tamsyn asked.

Ellis smiled slightly. Light glinted ominously off the lenses of his dark glasses. “You could say that.”

Farrell studied him. “I assume Isabel has told you that she’s going to be teaching a course in dreams for us here at Kyler?”

“She mentioned it, yes,” Ellis said.

“I have to admit, I was somewhat reluctant at first. I’m concerned that a course on dreams might send the wrong message. We’re not about the New Age thing here at Kyler. But Tamsyn and my wife have convinced me that it will be a popular class.”

“We certainly won’t be taking a psychic or mystical approach to the course,” Tamsyn assured everyone. “We’ve made that clear to Isabel. Farrell and I want the class taught according to the same guidelines that apply to all the other Kyler Method seminars. The idea is to teach students to use dreams to inspire the creative process. Right, Isabel?”

“Right,” Isabel murmured.