Belinda Blake and the Birds of a Feather

by Heather Day Gilbert

  I should’ve remembered that Ava kept in close touch with Stone’s dad. “They should have,” I said. “He brought gorgeous flowers and we hung out at the local coffee shop for a while.”

  Ava giggled into the phone like a giddy teenage girl.

  “But,” I continued, “he’s not the right one for me. I figured that out when he was up there.”

  Disappointment charged her voice. “But why ever not, dear? He has so many good qualities. I can’t see any drawbacks to him.”

  “There’s just one glaring one,” I said, watching for my exit sign. “And his name is Jonas Hawthorne.”

  * * * *

  When I drove up, the security guard, Val, opened the gates to the Carrington estate. As I headed past the security booth, I slowed when I saw that Red was sitting inside next to Val. Both burly men had seen me at my absolute worst and had backed me up in my times of need. I felt a wave of gratefulness at the sight of them.

  “Glad to have you back,” Val said.

  Red gave me an awkward smile. “I guess Mister Stone told you I proposed? Susan loved the ring.”

  I squealed. “I’m so thrilled for you both! I can’t wait for the party Friday night.”

  “Susan will be glad to see you,” Red said.

  I drove past them, winding around to my small driveway. I glanced over my stone carriage house. Everything looked intact, with the exception of the harvest display on my porch. The straw was sagging from one too many rains, so the miniature gourds now looked like they were about to take a permanent dip into the galvanized tub.

  After straightening things up, I unlocked the door and went inside. The air smelled a little stale, so I cracked the window over my sink. My answering machine had several messages, and the majority of them were pet-sitting clients, wondering when I’d be available again. But the final message was from Susan Snodgrass, who sounded as if the entire world had just been handed to her on a platter. Her Southern accent made it all the more endearing.

  “Oh, Belinda! Red proposed and it was the most romantic thing in the world! He took me into Manhattan and we went out on a private boat cruise around the Statue of Liberty. As the sun was setting, he popped the question! And that ring! I can’t wait to tell you all about it! Call me when you get back.”

  I felt a bit emotional as I went back out to grab my toiletries bag from the car. So Red had come up with a super-romantic way to propose. I felt so proud of him.

  Of course, Stone the fifth chose that exact moment to drop by. He strode up to my car.

  “Belinda! I saw you pull up and Val said you were back. How was your trip?”

  I had so much to catch him up on, but I knew what he was wondering about. “Guess what? I kind of caught a killer again.”

  He didn’t even look shocked. “I knew you were digging into something. I want to hear all the details—maybe Friday night, though, because I’m supposed to be working from home today.” He reached up and closed my trunk after I’d taken my bag out. “So, are you ready to get back to the ol’ grindstone? I have a friend who bought this new pet ferret, and I swear he doesn’t know what he’s doing with it. I told him you might be able to give him a lesson.”

  I’d never handled a ferret, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t read up on them. “Sure, you can give him my number,” I said.

  “Good.” His casual, suave demeanor shifted a little. “So, how’re you feeling about Greenwich these days?”

  I didn’t want to be pushed into a decision. “It’s home for now,” I said.

  Stone seemed to accept my noncommittal answer. “You coming Friday night, then? Red and Susan said they didn’t want gifts, just the pleasure of our company.”

  I thought of the endless piles of gifts at Rosalee and Peter’s engagement party. Gifts that would all have to be returned now. “Sounds perfect,” I said, thankful Red and Susan would have a happier ending.

  He gave me a hesitant smile, as if he wanted to say more, but he didn’t. “Excellent. Okay. I’ll see you around seven on Friday. I’d better get back to it.” He turned and walked back toward the manor house, wearing chinos and a poplin button-down shirt even though he was working from home.

  Yes, I had chosen Jonas. But Stone deserved to know that I had. I worried that telling him was going to deal him a greater blow than he’d let on.

  * * * *

  I spent the rest of the week getting caught up with clients and updating my Twitch stream. On Friday morning, I took the train into Manhattan to keep an appointment with one of my clients from last year, Reginald Foley.

  Actually, I really went to see Reginald’s ball python, Rasputin, because the snake had once done me a tremendous favor. I knew he hadn’t really meant to, but I felt I owed him anyway.

  Reginald welcomed me into his apartment on the Upper West Side, where he’d spared no expense when it came to his aging snake. Rasputin’s cage was front and center in the living room, and it had been decked out like a regular snake spa with heat lamps and jewel-encrusted water dishes.

  I leaned in to get a closer look at the glossy black-and-gold python. “Has he gotten even bigger?” I asked.

  Reginald looked like a proud father. “I think so. The vet’s amazed at how healthy he is for his age.”

  As if responding to my voice, Rasputin poked his head out of his plastic cave and peered in my general direction.

  “He misses you,” Reginald said. “You know, we’re coming up on Thanksgiving, and my brother wants me to visit his family in Chicago again. You wouldn’t happen to have an opening to watch Rasputin, would you? I can’t let my brother’s monster children get around him.” He shuddered.

  I looked back at the python, remembering our last Thanksgiving together. That month, I’d had a lot of firsts—my first days in my carriage house, my first time feeding a ball python, and my first run-in with a cold-blooded murderer.

  “I’d be glad to,” I said. “But he might have to travel to Upstate New York with me, if that’s okay?”

  Reginald smiled. “I trust you with his life.”

  * * * *

  I stopped for an oversized piece of pizza at one of my favorite places on Broadway. Looking out the pizzeria window, I watched the perpetual bustle that was Manhattan. There was always something you could do here, from shopping to art galleries to eating at exclusive restaurants.

  Yet if I moved to Larches Corner, I knew my adventures wouldn’t cease—they would just change shape. Given my mom’s propensity to take on new projects, I could hardly be bored for long.

  Much as I had missed Mom and Dad, I didn’t really want to live with them. I’d rather have freedom, like Chloe did, in her apartment. Maybe she’d want a roommate?

  I doubted I could scrounge up any kind of a living pet-sitting there, though. I’d have to rely on my Twitch stream until another job came up.

  I shook my head and took a huge bite of pizza. I loathed thinking about the future. I preferred to wing it, taking opportunities as they presented themselves to me. And no one was forcing me to move out of the carriage house. I could stay in Greenwich as long as I wanted to.

  But now the question was, did I even want to?

  * * * *

  Katrina called when I was taking the train back to Greenwich. “And just when were you planning to tell me all about Jonas?” she demanded. “Mom said you two kissed?”

  I caught her up to speed on where Jonas and I were in our relationship, and Katrina seemed beyond ecstatic. “You two were meant to be together,” she said. “I can’t wait to see everyone at Thanksgiving. You’d better invite him over and I’ll pump him full of my homemade rolls, show him what a fantastic family you come from.”

  “As if he doesn’t already know.” I got serious. “So…I guess Mom told you about Ella van Dusen and what happened at the house?”

  Katrina’s voice took on an edge. “She
did. Yet another reason I want to see Jonas, to give him a big hug for saving you two.”

  “Hey, I wasn’t completely helpless, you know. I had a plan.”

  “Oh, yeah, Mom said something about a tire iron.” She chuckled. “Hey, sis, next time don’t bring a tire iron to a gun fight.”

  “Very funny. But I was wondering—do you think someone like Ella would ever change? She’s killed multiple times, and in very premeditated ways.” I found myself hoping the answer was yes, for Tracy’s sake. And even for Ella’s.

  “I’d have to research it. Child killers are so rare, BB. Usually younger people kill in the heat of the moment—maybe they get frustrated with a child they’re babysitting, or they lash out at a teacher. But to plan murders like Ella did…I don’t know. New York doesn’t have the death penalty, so you don’t have to worry about that for her.”

  There were worse things than death, though.

  Katrina continued, her voice soothing. “Belinda, you have a big heart. One of the biggest hearts around. That’s why everyone loves you. But you have to learn to protect that heart. It sounds like Ella played you every which way she could. Just because she’s only thirteen, that doesn’t mean she’s as innocent as you were at thirteen. Her sister died tragically when Ella was quite young, and she chose unhealthy ways to cope with it. I’m not saying she can’t be rehabbed—she probably can. But whether she’ll ever be safe to send back out into society is another matter.”

  I glanced out the train window and realized we were nearing the Greenwich stop. “I have to go, sis, but thanks. I appreciate your perspective, as always. And tell Jasper he’ll get to see Auntie Belinda before long.”

  “Maybe someday he’ll have an Uncle Jonas, too?” Katrina joked.

  “You never know,” I said.

  27

  It didn’t take me long to get ready for the billiards party since I was already dressed up from my trip into Manhattan. I scrunched my curls with styling paste and swiped on lipstick, then I grabbed the congratulations card I’d written and got over to the manor house with five minutes to spare.

  Stone met me at the door, and Dietrich wasn’t far behind him.

  “I’m so glad you returned,” Dietrich said, stepping around Stone to give me a dramatic hug. “Stone told me you couldn’t make it to my art show because you were in the country with your parents, and he seemed a bit worried you might never come back.” He linked his bony arm under mine. “You’ll never cut and run on us, will you, darling?”

  I couldn’t promise that, so I distracted our artist friend by turning the conversation back to one of his favorite subjects—his artistic accomplishments. “I heard the show was a roaring success, even without me.”

  Gesturing wildly as we walked to the billiards room, Dietrich elaborated on which pieces sold to which famous socialites. Stone walked by my other side, shooting me crazy looks during Dietrich’s entire spiel. These two really were like the brothers I’d never had.

  Susan rushed over to greet me as soon as we stepped in the billiards room. She was every inch a Southern belle, in a bubblegum-colored sheath dress, chunky necklace, and nude patent heels. As usual, her choppy auburn hair was perfectly trimmed and she sported a perpetual tan. “Belinda! Girl, I’ve missed you!” She brandished her diamond ring at me. “What do you think?”

  “It looks even better on you than it did in the store,” I said. “Did Red tell you he looped me in on his stealth mission to find your ring?”

  Susan laughed. “I’m glad he did. Goodness only knows what he might’ve chosen if he’d been on his own. His taste runs toward the intensely masculine, I believe.”

  Lani moved my way with a tray of goodies. She handed me a glass of peach sweet tea and a barbeque slider with slaw. “Since she’s originally from South Carolina,” Lani said in an undertone.

  “Excellent choice,” I replied, turning back to Susan. “So, when’s the wedding day going to be?”

  “We’ve decided to just have family for a small beach wedding. It makes the most sense because we aren’t spring chickens, you know.”

  Red leaned in. “I beg to differ.”

  My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw the way Red was dressed. I was used to seeing him in chauffeur’s attire, but tonight he wore a tailored light-colored suit and a turquoise shirt with a checked bow tie. He wasn’t wearing a hat, so I could actually see the buzzed red hair that had given him his nickname.

  “Why, hello, Red,” I said. “You’re looking snazzy.”

  “Thanks, Belinda. You probably guessed that I didn’t pick this outfit myself. We’re glad you could come,” he said. He gave Susan a kiss on the cheek. “You want to play some pool?”

  Susan nodded, then took my hand and clasped it. “Be sure to catch me in a bit,” she said. “I want to hear everything about your trip.”

  That would take longer than she thought, but I nodded. As she walked off, Stone eased over to my side, sipping on his sweet tea.

  “Yeah, about that trip…” he said.

  “Were you spying on our conversation?” I asked.

  “Maybe a little. But this is a smaller room. Sound travels.”

  “Dude, this room is huge. You were spying.”

  “You got me,” he said. “Want to sit down?”

  Before I could object, he steered me to a seat at a booth. The Carringtons spared no expense on the billiards room.

  “I feel like something happened when you were up there—besides your typical sleuthing stuff,” he probed. “You’re different somehow. Care to explain?”

  I met his intense gaze. I didn’t want to add to his angst by hedging around. “I fell in love,” I said.

  “With Jonas,” he said bitterly. “I knew it.”

  “What? How did you know? I wasn’t even with him when you came up.”

  “So I pushed you right into his arms, was that it?” Stone sulked.

  “For goodness’ sakes, Stone. You’re any woman’s dream. But you and I just won’t work together. We’re too alike, can’t you see that?”

  He gave a stubborn shake of his head. “All I see is a beautiful, amazing woman who doesn’t want me.”

  I tried to explain. “I needed something different, that’s all. It’s not that I don’t like you. I just don’t love you.” Was I really saying these things to one of the richest and handsomest men in Greenwich? Yes, yes I was. I plunged on. “I mean, there was a time, right after we met, when I was kind of swept away by you and I thought we might work. But now I see that I was mostly just impressed that a man like you would even look twice at me.”

  “I’ll look at you all the time, if you’ll let me,” he said, giving me his brightest smile.

  I patted his hand. “There’s someone better for you,” I said. “You’ve got to believe me.”

  He frowned. “Jonas isn’t the kind of man who’s going to share you with me, even as a friend.”

  I tried not to laugh. “Would you have shared me with Jonas, if I’d fallen for you?”

  Rubbing droplets of water from the outside of his glass, he sighed. “I guess you have a point there.” Leaning closer, he murmured, “Why’d you have to get into my head like this, Belinda Blake?”

  I was thankful Dietrich sauntered over when he did, because Stone had started to focus on my lips. Dietrich leaned in and exhaled cigarette smoke directly into Stone’s face. “You wouldn’t happen to be harassing our Belinda, would you, Stone?”

  “Boys, boys,” I said. “Let’s play some cards, shall we?”

  “This joker’s wild!” Dietrich said, dancing a crazy little jig.

  Even Stone had to laugh. “Let’s get another round of sweet tea and have ourselves a party.”

  * * * *

  Red and Susan left early since she had to open her bakery early the next morning. It warmed my heart to see how proud Red was
of her, gallantly offering his arm as he escorted her out to her car. I’d long suspected that in addition to being a secret bodyguard to the Carringtons, Red was a big softie with a burning need to spoil someone. Susan fit the bill perfectly.

  I was thankful that Dietrich had kept the mood light, but he had to roll out around ten, since he was staying with his parents in Greenwich overnight and wanted a little time to catch up with them. He gave me air kisses and promised to have me over soon to look at his latest paintings. I planned to have a conflicting schedule whatever day he suggested.

  I helped Stone pick up the billiards room, because that’s who Stone was—the kind of guy who didn’t rely on servants for everything, even though he could. He’d told Lani to leave the foods on the bar so that she could go home early to her family.

  We stored the leftovers in the mini-fridge in the billiards room, then Stone turned the lights off. “Would you mind if I walked you over?” he asked.

  “Of course not,” I said.

  The moon was out and it was almost full, lighting the sprawling lawn between our houses like a silvery fairy ocean. Stone’s cologne drifted my way, a heady combo of leather and tobacco. Last year, a moment like this would have felt magical, leaving me wishing that Stone would give me a goodnight hug or kiss.

  But now, I just felt like I was walking next to a friend. A friend I’d watched go through some seriously tough times, but who had come out swinging and making more of himself than ever.

  “I’m proud of you, Stone,” I said suddenly. I didn’t know if his dad had told him that recently—or ever.

  He gave a low chuckle. “I’m proud of you, too, Belinda. I respect you for the chances you’re willing to take when you wind up looking into murders. But maybe it’s time to look out for yourself a little, and I’m guessing Jonas will be looking out for you, too.”

  We stopped on my porch, the faint glow from my hall light spilling out and lighting Stone’s thick, dark hair. I wanted him to have the same kind of love I’d found. I’d have to ask Ava to keep an eye out for smart blondes who would fit the bill.