Читать книгу Almost Crimson - Dasha Kelly - Страница 13

EIGHT

MAGIC

CECE LOOKED THROUGH THE BACK window where Doris had stood. The yard was enclosed only because all three neighbors had a fence or a thicket around their properties. The stellar feature for this small yard was an arching tree in the corner with two thick trunks. CeCe had attended one of Doris’ Fourth of July parties and remembered wanting to pull the library book from her bag and sprawl out beneath that tree.

CeCe started to walk through the house when the voices in the kitchen shifted from jovial banter to hushed, official tones. There were three small bedrooms, two baths, a dining room, and a living room. CeCe stood in the living room estimating how many books might fit into the wall’s cubby shelves when she heard a voice behind her. She spun around, shrieking.

“I’m sorry, CeCe,” the man said, stepping back and spreading his arms to draw CeCe’s eyes to the round belly buttoned inside his salmon-colored shirt. “It’s not often I’m able to sneak up on anyone.”

CeCe held on to her chest, willing her heart to stop racing. She grinned at the short, portly man with a retreating hairline. She was arrested by his emerald green eyes, the way they smiled at her.

“I’m Brian Clark,” he said. CeCe shook his outstretched hand as Doris soft-soled into the room.

“Well, we know who’s not getting invited to any haunted houses,” Doris said.

Everyone laughed. CeCe wondered if she’d actually heard this stranger call her by name.

There was a brief, clumsy silence, like would-be lovers uncertain of who should kiss who first.

“Doris has herself one helluva house, huh?” Brian said.

“Yeah,” CeCe replied. “I’ve only been here once, but it was so full of people I really didn’t get a chance to see all of her touches. I mostly remember the yard.”

“The tree,” Doris said. “That’s right. I remember.”

“I still feel like I know the house,” CeCe said, looking around them. “Doris talked about it all the time. She loved this place.”

Doris and Brian smiled at CeCe, then at one another.

“That’s a high compliment, don’t you think, Doris?”

Doris nodded, her eyes shining.

CeCe’s antennae went up. This guy was no renter, but he wasn’t a friend, either. She’d never heard Doris mention anyone named Brian Clark. CeCe looked at the dumpling of a man and hoped Doris wasn’t trying her hand at playing Cupid again. Matchmaking was one area where her friend was not gifted, though she gave great advice once the connections were made. CeCe felt Doris’ eyes on her and resolved to humor her dear friend for as much of the afternoon as she could bear. At least he had a sense of humor, CeCe thought. Their lunch date wouldn’t be too painful.

“Tell me, CeCe,” Brian said, slipping his hands into his pockets and talking at his shoes. CeCe braced herself for the awkward exchange. “Can you picture yourself in this house?”

CeCe’s brows raised.

“Picture myself?” CeCe said, tilting her head to one side. “What do you mean?”

Brian looked to Doris, so CeCe did, too. Her friend’s eyes were wide with anticipation and her bright berry lips were pursed together. CeCe could see her friend wanted to explode.

“I’ve known some pretty amazing women in my life,” Doris said with a deep breath. Her hands were clasped together in front of her chest, like prayer. “In big ways and small ways, I wouldn’t have been able to finally make the life I wanted for myself without them.”

CeCe waited for another story about the Ladies, but Doris stepped forward and took CeCe’s face in her hands. Doris had never positioned herself as a mother figure for CeCe, but they both had cherished the obvious opportunity for their friendship to fill aching spaces: Doris’ miscarried baby girl so many years ago and CeCe’s miscarried childhood. Doris’ hands were soft and warm, like her eyes. CeCe didn’t know why, but she wanted to cry.

“You’re one of those amazing women, kiddo,” Doris said, her voice plush and sweet. “You’ve got a good head on your shoulders and a great heart in your chest. From the first day I met you, I knew I was going to like you.”

CeCe’s tears began to brim. So much love they’d harvested in that food court. Doris had given her advice and confidence and reality checks and courage. She was humbled to know Doris had seen a fighter in her all along. Doris smiled at her and used her thumbs to wipe away her tears.

“When Doris called me about revising her will,” Brian’s voice broke in and the women took a step back, “naturally, I introduced a number of options for her properties. Her boys. Area nonprofits. We even talked about making it a free residence for college kids working at the mall through the summer.”

CeCe frowned at the idea of keg parties spiraling out of control in Doris’ back yard.

“Doris reminded me this is more than a house,” Brian continued. “This home is the icon for freedom and success.”

“Good God, Brian, you sound like you’re delivering the Ten Commandments,” Doris said. “Move, smarty-pants.”

Brian dropped his head to hide a blush as Doris elbowed past him to take CeCe’s hands again. Her eyes were soft and proud.

“On the outside, we don’t have much in common, you and me,” Doris said. “You know what’s the same about us?”

CeCe shook her head.

“We’re good-hearted people patiently waiting our turn for a little good luck, right?” CeCe turned it over in her head and conceded a nod and sideways smile. Doris tugged at their hands and pulled CeCe closer. Her expression turned serious.

“The other thing we have in common is that we never learned how to dream. I was never allowed to and you never had the luxury. Nothing like magic or good luck had ever blown our way before.”

Doris clasped their hands together and pressed the knot of their fingers to her chest. CeCe was pulled off balance, startled by Doris’ strength. She looked at her friend with confused anticipation, ready for another gut buster. The women stood eye to eye at five-foot-one, and Doris’ eyes shone with tears and affection.

“I want you to have this house, CeCe,” Doris said. “Have it. No money and no strings. Just some lucky magic to help you see that you are greater than your circumstances. You are stronger than the things in life that have made you afraid.”

CeCe snatched her hands from Doris’ grasp to try and catch the squeal rocketing from her throat. She couldn’t believe the sounds her ears were taking in. Did Doris say she was giving her a house? A whole house?

“You could put the universe in your handbag, if you wanted to,” Doris said, her eyes electric now, “but, kiddo, you gotta learn how to dream. You deserve to learn.”

CeCe looked from Doris to Brian in disbelief and then around at the empty walls of the house. Her house. She couldn’t intercept the wailing, not this time.