Dentelle #3 Guardian series

by Bowhay, Heather

  “What?”

  “Not on you specifically,” Ben said, shaking his head at Ash. “But on Dentelles.”

  “Huh?” I mumbled, having just taken a big bite of my sandwich. “What do you mean? Did you find anything?”

  “We did some googling,” Ben said proudly.

  Ally leaned forward. “Yeah, and we found a bunch of stuff about Dentelle being some lacelike pattern they used in the old days for decorating book covers or something.”

  “But,” Ben interjected, waving his spoon around the air “we didn’t think that was why,” he glanced over his shoulder and lowered his voice significantly, “the ancient Guardians chose the name Dentelle. I mean, wouldn’t they want something more distinctive for a person with both Guardian and Amethyst talents…”

  Ally pushed her food to the side and leaned forward. “Then we found something much more interesting –”

  “Yeah!” Ben interrupted. “Apparently, high on some tropical –”

  “Hey, big mouth,” Ally said, slapping her hand over his face, muffling his voice. “I get to tell her the good part. Got it?” His brows furrowed but he nodded, so she lowered her hand and looked at me. “So, there’s this hill way up in the cloud forest of Mauritius Island. And on this hill are these two amazing trees – the only two trees of this species still living on the planet. And get this;” her blue eyes flared with excitement, “They are called Bois Dentelle! They have sprays of long white, bell-shaped flowers with lacy petals and are supposed to be absolutely beautiful.”

  “Beautiful and rare,” Ben confirmed. “And they did look pretty awesome in the pictures we found.”

  I set my sandwich down and sputtered. “You’re making this up. I…I’ve never even heard of this…Marytus –”

  “Mauritius,” Ally corrected.

  “Finally, something she hasn’t heard of,” Ash said, waving his orange-stained fingers in front of my face.

  “Oh, they exist all right,” Ben said. He leaned back and crossed his arms. “And the islands are right smack dab in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Supposed to be like some enchanted tropical paradise or something.”

  Ash smacked me on the back, and I cringed at the thought of his orange fingerprints on my clean white blouse. “Hey, isn’t this amazing news?” His eyes gleamed, and I wondered at his smug expression. He wiggled his eyebrows up and down, looking absolutely ridiculous.

  “I suppose so,” I said cautiously, looking around the table.

  “Yeah,” he continued, finally wiping his hands on a napkin. “Funny how it all works out, isn’t it? I remember the first time we met, and you castigated me for being named after a tree. And now here we are,” he said, a full smile plastered on his face, his dazzling green eyes alight with humor, “both named after trees. Looks like we’re back on equal ground…”

  Ally and Ben started laughing, and then Ben turned to Ally and said, “Castigated? What’s up with that?”

  Giggling, Ally said, “I think he’s trying to impress her with big words like she was doing to him on the day they met.”

  “You know it,” Ash said.

  I thought back to my first encounter with Ash, when he’d opened the front door and I’d tripped and fallen into his arms. Yes, I’d been rude that day. It hadn’t helped that he’d parked that flashy motorcycle in my parking spot. But it was his cockiness that had pushed me over the edge. If I remembered correctly, he’d even accused me of “checking him out.” So yeah, I’d probably dished out a few nasty comments. For a split-second, I thought about apologizing, but since I wouldn’t mean it, why bother? Besides, he’d enjoy it more if I played the game. And there was no point in playing if I wasn’t playing to win.

  Sighing, I brushed my hands together and took a deep breath. “We might both be named after trees,” I said, batting my eyelashes, “but it’s obvious we’re not on equal ground. Nope. It appears I’m on much higher ground.” I shook my head and stuck out my lower lip like I was really sad about it. “And according to Ben and Ally here, we’re talking high in the hills of a tropical paradise.” I grabbed his shoulder. “And remind me, where is it that those dime a dozen Ash trees grow? Oh, don’t answer that. We all know they’re just about anywhere, everywhere, and nowhere in particular.” Just to show off, I drilled him with Essence.

  His face broke into a huge grin and he laughed loudly. “Damn, woman. I’ve taught you well.”

  My head fell back and I laughed out loud. After a minute, I sat back up and said, “You wish, Ash. You wish.” After the laughter finally died down, I changed the subject. “So, did you guys get the music figured out, or what?” I gazed at Ally. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a French braid, and her eye-shadow was glittery, enhancing the color of her baby blues. “And what’s with the sparkly stuff?” I added, motioning to her eyes. “Looks fancy.”

  She crinkled her nose. “Yes, on the music. Ash and Ky are developing a timeline so things run smoothly. The band will play a few live songs, and then Ky has volunteered to be our DJ. I guess he does that as a side business.”

  “Ky has a great sound system, and he even has party lights,” Ash supplied, fiddling with his leather wrist bands. “Don’t worry, Ally. He’ll have everyone out on the dance floor. Promise.” He took a sip from my water bottle.

  “Really,” I said, snatching it back. “Get your own. I don’t want your backwash.”

  “Lexi, be nice,” Ally scolded, handing him hers. Ash flashed his pearly whites at Ally, took a drink, and then made a face at me. I felt like I was ten years old again, having silent wars with my brother. “And this,” Ally continued, brushing her eyelid, “was just the Clinique ladies messing around a bit to get some ideas for my wedding. What do you think?” She fluttered her lashes.

  “The colors are nice. All that glittery sparkly stuff is a bit wild, but it makes your eyes stand out.”

  “Glad you like it.” She smiled and grabbed the Cheetos from Ash. “Because you’ll be having yours done too.”

  I almost choked on my sandwich, and Ash smacked me across the back. “You’ll make a beauty out of her yet, Ally,” Ash said jovially. He turned toward me. “You’re lucky you have her.”

  “Ben, help me out here,” I begged.

  Ally gave him a telling look, and he said meekly, “Well, you always look…good, Lexi. You just look really good after Ally works her magic.”

  “I’m so outnumbered,” I said, stretching across the table and swiping my Cheetos bag from Ally. “I totally need backup.”

  All of a sudden, I heard Jessica’s voice. “Backup for what? Maybe I can help.” She grabbed a chair, turned it backwards, and pulled it up to the table. Turned out she’d just gotten off work and was heading out when she’d spotted us in the food court.

  “Oh, don’t bother with Lexi. She’s just complaining because we’re going to make her beautiful for the wedding.”

  “That’s great,” Jessica responded. “Miss Jeans and T-shirts here could use a spa day with the girls as well as a little fashion advice,” she teased, picking up my bag of Cheetos, which was almost empty now. “Oh, by the way, Ally – Ben told me the wedding colors. Absolutely love it!”

  Ally cracked up. “Yeah well, when two people in the wedding party are Amethysts, purple just seemed appropriate. Besides, I’ve always loved purple and ivory together.”

  “Let me know what I can do to help. I love anything weddings,” Jessica said, tipping the Cheetos bag upside down. A look of disappointment crossed her face when nothing but orange crumbs dusted her hand.

  “So, what’s up with Rob? Has he popped the question yet?” I said, attempting to get even.

  She blushed furiously. “Lexi! We’re not that serious,” she paused and glanced up shyly, but the look in her eyes said otherwise. “Well, not yet anyways,” she admitted. “Although, he is talking about the possibility of moving up here…”

  “What? Really?” I asked. She smiled while biting her lip. “That’s great. I was worried he was going to try
and talk you into moving down there.” Having finished half my sandwich, I wrapped the other half back up for later. I cleared my throat and said nonchalantly, “Speaking of romance, did Madison mention who she’s been sucking face with lately?”

  “Lexi,” Ash interrupted with a deep growl.

  I looked over at him and smiled innocuously. “What? Do you have something to hide?”

  “If this is going where I think it’s going, you better keep your mouth shut. And flashing those big brown eyes doesn’t work with me, either. In fact, you’re only getting yourself in deeper.”

  Jessica laughed. “Oh, Ash! No worries. Madison told me all about it.”

  “All about what?” Ben asked, suddenly interested.

  Jessica untied her scarf and undid the top button on her white blouse. “All I know is that she had a momentary lapse of reason and things between her and Ash got…well, got a little carried away.”

  “Carried away how?” Ben asked at the same time Ash said, “Oh, really? What exactly did she say?”

  Jessica tugged back and forth on her scarf as if contemplating whether to impart more information. Ash leaned forward and fixed a penetrating gaze on her, so Jessica said, “Without getting myself in trouble here, let me just say that, even though she says kissing you was a big mistake…” At this point Ben whistled and Ash shot him a dirty look. Ally pointed her fork at me and gave me a see-I’m totally-trustworthy-and-didn’t-tell-Ben-anything-about-it-look, and I winked. Jessica continued, “I think she really does like you. She’s just scared of getting hurt. And of course, she’s an emotional wreck right now. You know, worried she and Jason will have to move to Maine and say good-bye to all her family. Please don’t give up on her, Ash. I think you’re a perfect match.”

  “She sure doesn’t,” he said, crumpling the napkin in his hand. “But there is definitely something between us.”

  “You mean like nitroglycerin,” I teased.

  Ignoring me, Ash said to Jessica, “You just keep putting in a good word for me, will ya?”

  “You got it.”

  “And don’t worry; we’re going to figure something out. I don’t know what. But there has to be a way we can all stay in Bellingham,” Ash said, his voice full of resolve.

  “Yeah, you better,” Ally said, gazing at Ash imploringly. “I refuse to lose my best friend.” She looked at me with a worried expression.

  He reached out and grabbed her hand. “We’ll figure this out, Ally. I promise.”

  Jessica pulled her dark brown hair out of the hairclip and released a huge breath of air. Her bangs fluttered away from her forehead. “Okay, changing the subject, here. I don’t want to talk about depressing things, so let me tell you something funny instead. I don’t know if it’s national whacko customer day or what? But you wouldn’t believe what I’ve had to deal with.”

  “No doubt,” Ben said, slapping the table. “I had a guy, probably about thirty years old, who started juggling apples in the middle of the produce department. He wasn’t bad – had five going at once, but then one fell, and he let them all drop. Or splat, rather. All he said was, ‘Oops, I probably should have used oranges.’ Then he actually put them back on the shelf, all smashed and dented, and walked off.” We all shook our heads. “Sorry I interrupted your story, Jess. What happened with you?”

  “No worries. But get this.” She rested her arms on the table. Her eyes were wide with excitement. “What would you think if a customer came through your line with a box of doughnuts, a box of doughnut holes, and a bottle of Elmer’s glue?” She tapped her hairclip against the table, slowly nodding her head.

  Ash, Ally, and I burst out laughing. “Seriously?” Ally asked.

  “Yep. That was it.”

  Ben looked baffled. “I don’t get it.”

  Ally socked him in the head. “Think about it. Doughnut holes and glue…to attach them back inside the doughnuts.”

  Ben started laughing. “Oh yeah, I get it. That’s too funny. It takes all types.”

  “That’s nothing,” Jessica broke in. “I asked a guy if he wanted paper or plastic, and–”

  “Why would you ask that when we don’t even have plastic bags anymore?” I interrupted, looking at her like she was the lunatic.

  She swiped her hand through the air. “Oh, because I helped out at the Ferndale store for a few days, and they don’t have the plastic bag ban like we do. So, I was back in the habit of asking customers if they wanted paper or plastic again. Anyways, the guy today replies, ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter. Either one. I’m bi-sacksual.”

  “No way,” Ash said, and we all started cracking up.

  “True story.” Jessica’s eyes rounded. “I’ve heard a lot of things, but I have to tell you, that was a first. Then there was the guy who had three different types of deodorant and wanted to know if he could test them out…”

  As a familiar pounding started in the back of my head, I closed my eyes. Jessica’s voice faded to the background. The swirling colors rushed wildly together like metal shavings flying toward a magnet, ultimately forming images:

  A blue truck driving erratically in our store parking lot

  The truck driving through the open air doors and into the store

  People scrambling in all directions as the truck crashed through a display

  A man and his child being struck by the truck as it plowed into the checkstands

  The images ended, the colors dispersed, and my eyes shot open. I gripped the edge of the table and jumped to my feet.

  Everyone stood abruptly, and Ash grabbed my arm. “What?”

  Quickly, I filled them in, and then Ash and I raced out of the food court. Everything happened so fast. Almost like my body was in control and my mind was just along for the ride. My feet pounded the newly re-tiled floors. As I passed the deli and the coffee shop, I kept my eyes glued to the front of the store. Adrenaline heightened my senses and gave me an energy boost that surely rivaled a shot of Essence. As checkstand #12 came into view, I spotted the man and the child from my snapshots. They were gathering their bags and about to head straight into the path of danger.

  I caught my breath and reacted. Hoping to distract them, I started screaming and waving my hands. They stopped and looked at me like I was crazy, which was great because it delayed them temporarily. But I frowned and panicked when I noticed a group of teenagers gathering at the entrance. There was no way I could be two places at once.

  A blur of blue jeans passed me on the left, and I knew Ash was already on it. “I’ll get them. You get the man and his kid,” he said.

  “Thanks.” The gaping man grabbed the child and pulled her into his arms as I got closer. He looked scared. The realization that he viewed me as the threat was totally understandable but, for whatever reason, I found it completely hysterical. That’s when I heard it. Screeching brakes, skidding tires, and a loud bang. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the blue truck colliding with the strawberry display just outside the storefront. People screamed and dove sideways as berries blasted past them. I was out of time.

  With a final burst of speed, I skidded into the front end and then dove forward like a defensive tackle. Unfortunately, this guy was holding a child and a bag of groceries instead of a football, and I was about to clobber them. Better me than the truck, though. That being said, my momentum carried all of us several feet through the air before we crash-landed and slid even further. Unfortunately for the man, he was on the bottom, carrying the weight of me and the little girl. I did my best to saturate him with Essence as we slammed into the floor.

  Feeling a rush of wind and hearing the roar of an engine, accompanied by terrified screams, I whipped my head around in time to witness the blue truck plow through the Italian grocery display that had been set up earlier in the afternoon. Then the vehicle crashed into the express checkstands, squishing them down to half the size. As the Italian food display erupted, gourmet red sauces, garlic bread, and bags of pasta rained down. I flipped back around and s
hielded the little girl and her father the best I could. It wasn’t easy. Jars pelted the floor, bust open, and sprayed red sauce and glass chunks every which way. Along with the jars, pasta bags split open and scattered assorted noodles. When a jar hit my head, I couldn’t help but cry out. My eyes were closed for protection, but they popped open when I felt something cold and wet spray across my face. I licked my lips and puckered at the tangy tomato sauce I tasted there. I could even smell the basil. I wiped my face against my shoulder. My uniform was ruined now, and my hair was certainly dripping with the stuff. Finally, grocery items stopped falling around us, and I realized the little girl was crying. More than that, I realized I was still laying on top of her and her dad. Being careful not to sit on broken glass, I moved to the side and surveyed the front end. Talk about a wet clean-up! This was going to take hours and hours of mopping.

  At least the truck had stopped at the checkstands. The engine was smoking, and a rubbery smell began mingling with the tomatoey one. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists as I watched the driver, obviously drunk, stagger out of his truck. I had zero tolerance for drunk drivers. If I had my way, there would be no three strikes and you’re out. When you were playing with other people’s lives, I believed one strike was plenty.

  Hearing sirens, I shook my head and came to my senses. I needed to see if there were any injuries I could attend to – a little unknowing assistance before the paramedics arrived. As I rose, I caught sight of Jessica and Ally bent over a couple people who were lying on the floor. People had stopped screaming, but there was still plenty of commotion. Customers from the back of the store had rushed to the front. Some were gawking or taking pictures with their phones. Luckily, there were still plenty of good Samaritans who were more concerned with helping rather than exploiting the scene.

  “Thank you. I can’t thank you enough,” uttered the man next to me, who’d sat up, and was holding his daughter tightly, rubbing his hand through her hair. She was whimpering and clinging to him. “Y-you s-saved our l-lives,” his voice cracked as he shook his head. Tears pooled in his eyes. “I lost my wife a couple months ago, and if I’d lost my daughter too, I don’t know how I would have…” He broke down and started shaking.