Goddess of Spring (41 page)

Persephone met her mother's eyes. If Demeter wanted the truth, she would give it to her. “I miss it, Mother. I did not intend to, but I fell in love with Lina's world. It is so vibrant and messy and
alive.
And they did not know I was a goddess. They did not know I was your daughter, yet they embraced me.”

“Was it not Carolina that they embraced?” Demeter asked gently.

“No. I wore her body, but the soul was mine.”

Demeter shook her head sadly. “Carolina said the same thing to me, only I did not listen to her. I believe that was a mistake.”

“What if there was a way to correct your mistake?”

“This time I would listen.”

Persephone smiled fondly at her mother. “Good. I have an idea.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“ARE you sure you want me to leave early? I really don't mind staying,” Dolores said.

“No, honey.” Lina waved a linen napkin at her. “I insist. It's not busy and we're going to close in thirty minutes. Anton and I can handle it.”

“Well, if you're sure . . .” Dolores said dubiously.

“Oh, go on! Lina and I will be fine alone. Who do you think I am, Mr. Incompetent?” Anton huffed.

“I have never called you Mr. Incontinent—at least not within your hearing.” Dolores dissolved into snorting giggles at her own joke.

Anton drew himself up into his full Southern belle glory. “Ah'll nevah be niiice to you again!” he said, raising his fist in the air.

Lina laughed. “I don't think Scarlett would have worn those boots.”

“She would have if she had been gay,” Anton said smugly.

“Okay, ya'll, I'm leaving.” Dolores opened the door and then hesitated, smiling back at Lina as she said, “It's nice to hear you laugh again, boss.” Then she hurried out into the Oklahoma evening.

Surprised by Dolores' words, Lina stared at the closed door.

“It is, you know,” Anton said, touching her arm.

“Thanks,” Lina patted his hand. “It feels good to laugh again.” They smiled at each other. “I'll take care of closing up out here. Why don't you finish the dough in the back? It should be ready to be separated and put into the bread pans.”

Anton nodded and scampered through the French doors separating the kitchen from the café. Lina was taking the PIZZA DEL GIORNO sign from the wall so that she could change it to read the next day's special, when the front door jangled open.

“I'll be with you in just a moment!” she called without turning around. “You're in luck; I still have one pizza of the day left. It's a lovely three cheese blend with garlic, basil and sun dried tomatoes.”

“It is one of my favorites, but I have been dreaming of a thick slice of warm gubana with butter spread over it.”

Lina froze. That voice. She knew that woman's voice as well as her own. Lina turned and was struck anew by the goddess's beauty. She was wearing jeans and a snug knit sweater, and she had her long hair pulled back into a thick ponytail, but her casual clothes did nothing to dispel her unique loveliness.

“Hello, Lina.”

“Hello, Persephone.”

Persephone smiled. “That is one thing we can count on—we would recognize each other in the middle of a teeming crowd.”

“I—” Lina ran her hand across her brow as if she was trying to wipe away her confusion. “I didn't expect to see you. This is a surprise.”

Before Persephone could respond, the door chimed again. A tall, handsome woman stepped regally into the bakery.

Persephone sighed and glanced over her shoulder.

The woman chose a table near the front window. She sat as if readying herself to hold court.

“I had a feeling Mother would follow me,” Persephone said.

Anton breezed from the kitchen.

“Ohmygod, who knew we would get a rush right before closing?” Like a feather, he fluttered up to Demeter. “May I bring you something?”

The goddess raised one eyebrow at him. “Wine. Red.”

Anton tilted his head, considering. “Is the house Chianti okay?”

“If Carolina has chosen it, I will abide by her will.”

“Oh, sweetheart, you are right about that. Our Lina knows her wines,” he cooed. “Anything else?”

“Anton!” Lina suddenly found her voice. “You can go back to the dough. I'll take care of both of these ladies.”

Demeter raised her hand to silence her. “No. I am enjoying this”—she returned Anton's considering gaze—“young male. You two must talk. He shall attend me.”

Anton shot Lina a
so there
look.

“Can't I tempt you with something more than wine? We have an ab fab pizza today. I promise to heat it for you with my own lily white hands.”

“Pizza?” The goddess spoke the word as if it was a foreign language.

“Cheese, tomatoes, garlic, basil—it's to die for.”

“Create it for me.” Demeter said with an imperious waft of her hands.

Anton smiled smugly. Before he turned away he said, “Sweetheart, what is your name? I don't think I've ever seen you in here before.”

Lina opened her mouth, but Persephone shook her head, motioning for her to keep quiet.

“You may call me Robin Greentree.”

“Well, Ms. Greentree, may I just say that on anyone else that outfit would look like a silk muumuu, but on you it looks like something a goddess would wear. You are perfectly majestic.”

“Of course I am,” Demeter said.

“I'll have your wine right out.” Anton hurried back to the kitchen. As he passed Lina and Persephone he said, sotto voce, “I can't resist an old queen.”

Persephone covered her laugh with a polite cough. Lina scowled at him.

“Robin Greentree?” Lina whispered after Anton had disappeared back into the kitchen.

“Mother has a rather eccentric sense of humor, especially about names. Do you know in some languages my name sounds just like ‘corn'?”

“I am across the room, but I am not deaf.”

“Of course, Mother,” Persephone said.

“Sorry, Demeter,” Lina said.

The two women shared knowing looks that turned into smiles.

Persephone studied the bakery with keen eyes. “Dolores isn't here?”

“I let her go early.”

Persephone nodded. “She works hard. She deserves time off.”

“It's hard to get her to take time for herself.” Lina and Persephone spoke the words together.

They stared at each other.

“Yes . . .” Persephone said.

“Yes,” Lina echoed.

“Here's your Chianti and some bread with spiced olive oil.” Anton placed the red wine goblet and a bread basket in front of Demeter. “Your pizza will be out in a jiff.” He swished past Lina humming “Shall We Dance” from
The King and I
and fluttered his fingers amiably at Persephone.

Persephone laughed. “I've missed Anton.”

“Well, he certainly grows on you.”

“Stop wasting time!” Demeter snapped.

“Mother! Please. Drink your wine. Your pizza has to cook. Try to be a little patient.” Persephone sighed and turned back to Lina. “Being the daughter of a goddess is not easy.”

“I know,” Lina said.

“Yes, you do.” Persephone looked down at the counter and took a deep, cleansing breath. “I needed to come back.”

Lina's face was a question mark. “Why?”

The goddess met her eyes. “I am not happy. I miss my bakery—our bakery—your world,” she stuttered.

Lina glanced at Demeter, expecting her to react to her daughter's words, but the goddess continued to sip her wine silently.

“I don't understand.”

“Is there nothing you miss about the Underworld?” she asked imploringly.

Lina felt her spine straighten. “What do you mean?”

Persephone searched the mortal's eyes. “We cannot lie to each other.”

“I'm not trying to lie to you,” Lina said. “It's just that it . . .”

“It hurts,” Persephone finished for her. “I know. I tried not to think about everything I missed, too. I thought it would be easier if I chose not to remember.”

Lina nodded, struggling to keep her emotions under control.

“I will begin.” Persephone's smile was wistful. “I miss the bakery—its busy efficiency, the way it smells and sounds, and how it is a gathering place for so many different types of mortals. And I miss little things, like how Tess Miller has to have her glass of white wine precisely at the same time every day. I miss her little dog, even though he shocked Tess so badly when he snubbed me that she threatened to take him to the pet psychic. Animals do not react to me as they do to you.” Persephone wrinkled her brow at Lina. “You know, the connection you have with animals is very odd.”

“Yes, I know.”

“I think what I miss most is the way everyone looked to me to solve problems. They did not see me as a younger, incompetent version of my mother. No one ran to her after I made a decision to double check that I was being wise. They respected me and trusted my judgment.”

“You showed excellent judgment, Persephone,” Lina assured her. “The bakery is thriving. Everyone is happy.
Merda!
You even managed to get me into shape.”

Persephone gave her an assessing look. “Your body was a comfortable place to live, Lina. Do not underestimate your own beauty.” The goddess grinned and Lina was reminded of a cat regarding a bowl of cream. “That is another thing I miss. Mortal men are so very
appreciative.
”

“Scott,” Lina said dryly.

“Scott,” Persephone purred. “I found him to be an interesting dalliance.”

“He fell in love with you.”

“Of course he did.” Persephone shrugged her shoulders. “He will recover and be a better man for the experience. Knowing how to please a goddess is something all men should learn.”

The idea made Lina smile.

“I even miss those two creatures who live with you, especially the cat,” Persephone admitted.

That made Lina laugh. “Patchy Poo the Pud is awful, but loveable.”

“Horrid beast,” Persephone teased.

Lina nodded.

“Now it is your turn to remember. What is it you miss about the Underworld?”

“I miss Eurydice,” she said with only a slight hesitation. “The little spirit was like a daughter to me. I worry about her.”

“What else?”

“I miss Orion. I know he's supposed to be a dread steed, but he reminded me more of an overgrown black lab puppy.”

“And?”

“I miss the way the sky looked. Daylight was like a watercolor painting that someone had breathed into life. I realize that sounds ironic because I'm talking about the Land of the Dead, but it wasn't dark and gloomy there, at least not after you got to Elysia. Actually, it was the most incredible place I've ever been, ever even imagined.” Lina let her mind wander. Now that she had started talking she didn't want to stop. “Did you know that the night sky is lit by the souls of the Hyades so that when evening comes to Elysia everything looks like a beautiful forgotten dream?”

“No, I did not know that,” Persephone said.

“And the souls of the dead aren't scary or disgusting. They are just people whose bodies have become less important. They still have the ability to love and laugh and cry.”

Persephone took Lina's hand. “What is it that you miss most?”

Lina's eyes filled with tears. “Hades,” she whispered. “You fell in love with my world, but I fell in love with the Lord of the Underworld.”

“Good!” Persephone said happily, squeezing Lina's hand.

“How can that be good? I love Hades, but he loves you.”

Persephone's laughter was a joyous noise that seemed to make the lights in the bakery glow brighter. “If he loves
me,
then why is he refusing to see me?”

“You've tried to see Hades?”

“Of course. I was miserable with missing your world. Then I started hearing rumors of Hades having gone mad and the spirits in the Underworld being in disarray, et cetera, et cetera, because the Queen of the Underworld had left her realm.”

“Wait! Hades has gone mad?” Lina felt the color drain from her face.

“Oh, it is nothing. He is simply sulking.” She made a careless gesture with her slender hands. “But the rumors made me think that perhaps I was not alone in my unhappiness. So I visited the Underworld.”

“And?” Lina had the sudden urge to shake her.

“And the first thing that happened was that awful three-headed dog refused to allow me to pass.” She shivered. “Edith Anne has much better manners.”

“Cerberus gave you a hard time?”

“Hard time? He blocked the road, growling and slobbering. I was afraid to get near him. I actually had to call for help.” Persephone shook her head in disgust.

“And Hades didn't come to you?”

The goddess frowned. “His daimon appeared instead. With that hateful black horse.”

“Orion was mean to you?”

“He laid back his pointed ears and bared his teeth at me.”

“I'm sorry about that. I have spoken to Orion about his attitude. He probably just thought you were me, and when he realized you weren't, well, he should have behaved better,” Lina said.

“Yes, he should have. Anyway, I told the daimon that I wanted to speak with Hades. The daimon asked me if I was the Goddess of Spring, or the mortal woman, Carolina.” Persephone looked annoyed. “As if he did not already know! Even the spirits of the dead knew. The whole time I was traveling down that gloomy black road they watched me. At first they seemed happy, then when I spoke to them—simply trying to be polite—they drew away from me. I even heard them whispering things like ‘Someone is masquerading as Queen of the Underworld. ' ” Irritably, she brushed aside a strand of hair that had escaped from her ponytail. “I can tell you, it was certainly a disturbing experience.”