Lynn Osterkamp - Cleo Sims 03 - Too Many Secrets
Page 23
“She’s doing a great job of supporting Ian and helping him let go of his anger toward Brandi.” Elisa said. “And—get this—he’s not just angry at what Brandi did today. There’s more. That hunk sitting next to Brandi is her new boyfriend. He’s an Elvis tribute artist.”
“He’s what?”
“You know—he does Elvis improvisations. Puts on shows. Anyway Brandi is moving to Las Vegas with him. She’s planning to get a gig as an exotic dancer.” Elisa laughed.
“You mean one of those girls who dances topless and gives lap dances?”
“That’s it. Ian hates the new boyfriend, hates that Brandi is moving to Vegas, and really hates the exotic dancer plan. Even worse, he feels like she was using him and now that she can’t use Sabrina’s money anymore, she’s dumping him.”
“Phew. That’s intense on top of grieving his mother’s death. Maria has a huge challenge helping him deal with all that. Please tell her I’m there for her if she needs any help.”
“I will. But fortunately Ian isn’t just leaning on Maria. Gayle and her daughter Nicole were back there too. Gayle was really there for Ian and Nicole was talking about sadness in a way that seemed to be reaching him. Apparently he’s staying with them now.”
Elisa pulled up in front of my office to let me out. “You need to get some rest and enjoy the holidays, Cleo,” she said. “Build up your energy for our New Year’s Eve party.”
“Rest, relaxation, and holiday parties,” I said. “Sounds perfect.”
§ § §
Two days later - Dec 24
I’ve always loved the night before Christmas. Anticipation hangs in the air as the frenzy of holiday preparation recedes and the celebration begins.
Pablo and I were curled up on my couch, with a fire crackling, Christmas carols playing in the background, and pine-scented candles burning on the coffee table. Lights twinkled on my Christmas tree decorated with Gramma’s antique ornament collection. My gift to Pablo, a top-of-the-line digital camera, sat under the tree wrapped in glittery paper.
We’d visited Gramma that afternoon for a special Christmas Eve lunch at Glenwood Gardens. Tomorrow we’d be at his parents’ house for Christmas dinner with his sister and brothers, nieces and nephews. Tonight was our special time.
After a romantic candlelight dinner of shrimp scampi and Caesar salad, we moved over to the couch, where we snuggled and fed each other bites of a decadent black forest cake. I felt soft, warm and cozy. But I sensed some impatience or excitement in Pablo. Maybe he was eager to open his gift.
I was ready to move on to the gifts. I’d spent a lot of time researching and picking out the very best camera for Pablo and I couldn’t wait to see how he liked it. “Are you ready to open your present?” I asked, pulling my arm free to point at the box under the tree.
He unwrapped himself from my arms and turned to face me, taking my hands in his. “I want to give you my gift first,” he said with a huge grin. I can’t stand to wait another minute.”
“Great,” I said, looking around the room. “Where is it?”
“You’ll see in a minute,” he said. “But I have to tell you about it first.” He looked lovingly into my eyes and spoke softly. “The Boulder Police Department had a couple of openings. I applied and they’ve offered me a job, starting next month. It will mean I can live in Boulder.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny box, which he popped open. A gold ring with a huge sparkly diamond in the center. “Cleo, I can’t imagine the rest of my life without you by my side. Will you please marry me? I want to live here with you in your grandparents’ house and raise our baby together.”
My heart overflowed with love for him. He cared enough to take a big risk, changing jobs so we could live where I wanted to live. He trusted that we could build a happy life together here with our baby. Could I match his trust with my own? Could I put aside my fear that he would not always be there for me? Did I want to take the chance?
Suddenly it felt right. Us together for the rest of our lives. Us raising our baby here in my grandparents’ house. Us helping and supporting each other through life’s ups and downs. Us loving each other for years and years and years.
“Oh, Pablo,” I said. “It means the world to me that you would move to Boulder so that we can be together. I love you so much, and yes, I want to marry you.”
As he slipped the ring on my finger, we fell back onto the couch in a hungry kiss. My head spun into a dreamy place where visions of our fabulous future floated before my eyes. At the same time, my ears tuned in to a distant voice, “Yo, Cleo. Awesome re-entry. Surfing those big waves. Outrageous!”
# # # # #
Other Books by Lynn Osterkamp
Read the other Cleo Sims mysteries on your Kindle:
Too Near the Edge
Too Far Under
For more information about Lynn Osterkamp and her writing, visit her webpage at http://www.lynnosterkamp.com
Acknowledgements
Again I acknowledge Raymond Moody, M.D.‘s Reunions (Villard Books, 1993), which was the inspiration for Cleo’s Contact Project. Also, Afterlife Encounters by Dianne Arcangel (Hampton Roads Publishing, 2005), and Without Conscience by Robert D. Hare, Ph.D. (The Guilford Press, 1999) were helpful references as I wrote this book.
Many thanks to those who read and edited drafts of this book, especially Marian, Janet and Andrea from my Boulder Media Women’s critique group.
As always my husband, Allan, and my daughter, Laurel, were my go-to readers who went through draft after draft, giving me useful notes and unwavering support. I couldn’t have done it without them.
About the author
Lynn Osterkamp, Ph.D., MSW, is the author of three mystery novels, Too Near the Edge, Too Far Under; and Too Many Secrets; as well as two nonfiction books, numerous articles, manuals and national newsletters. Her professional experience includes hospital and hospice social work, university teaching and research, special education, and long-term-care ombudsman. She lives in Boulder Colorado, where she works for Boulder County Aging Services.
*
[LO1]Do Cleo and Elisa think Ian might have conflict about leaving w/o knowing where his mother is?