by JB Penrose
“Everything is to be auctioned for charity. Why, is there something you’d like?” Peter’s smile was half-teasing.
“I’m just wondering how you auction a painting that doesn’t exist.” Rachel turned her attention to a group of canvasses stacked against the wall. She pulled out one or two to check for a signature but never found one. Without sensing it, she was aware of his watchful eye of her every movement. She deliberately kept her back turned and blurted out her suspicion. “Aren’t you also the artist - Kerroon?”
When she turned, she saw the question obviously made him uncomfortable. A bust of Einstein had a Washington Redskin’s cap on it and she watched as Peter took great pains to get it straight. He avoided looking at her when he answered. “It’s a family connection. For me, it’s a hobby.”
“Some hobby.” It lifted her spirits to have been right. “I saw one of your shows in London a few years back.”
“A small world...” Peter studied her curiously. “Did you still want to see the observatory?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
When they stopped, Peter palmed a security plate beside a metal alloy door and the panel slid inside the wall with a quiet swoosh of air. Nothing she had seen prepared her for what he revealed.
A massive telescope was perched in the dim light on a raised landing. Computer monitors were built into the walls around it and Rachel noted the working screens as she followed Peter to the elevated office area. He activated a master control inlaid on the desk’s surface and began typing; his fingers flew over the touchtop controls that operated a telescopic lens on the roof. She felt the vibration as it rotated into position.
“Does the ceiling open?”
“No need for that.” With the press of a button, a theater-sized screen on the wall revealed live visual of the night sky.
“What magnification does he have on this? I’ve never seen the DayStar this close!”
“John would tell you it’s not the magnification, but the projection that makes it so clear to see. He patented this new close-density screen.”
“It’s crystal clear and I still can’t decide what it is” Rachel admitted. “The Aurora will have the chance of a lifetime – discovering the source of this phenomenon.”
“So you’re not one of those predicting the end of the world?” Peter asked in fun.
“Hardly,” she smiled. “I’m more to the thinking that it’s time it was saved.”
“John hasn’t been able to pinpoint the actual location; it may take some time to determine the source.”
Just as he spoke, a star fell across the screen.
“It doesn’t get any better than that.” They both laughed. “Maybe wishes do come true.”
Rachel’s heart fluttered at his nearness and she retreated to the stairs to gather her thoughts. “We should we get back to the party.”
He put her hand on his arm with a pat. “Let’s do. I’m beginning to get that Christmas spirit.”
The party was in full swing when they reached the ballroom. The crush of people kept her close to Peter, and she felt his body move to the rhythm of the band. Rachel wondered if music was another of his hobbies.
“John said you were babysitting my brother.” The stranger who approached smiled wickedly. “I knew it would have to be pretty powerful bait to get Peter to a party.”
“I told you I’d be here,” Peter feigned his defense and smiled. “Rachel Bolton. May I introduce my brother, Andrew Pierzon?”
Sandy hair accented his tanned face, but Andrew’s sharp eyes and calculated moves belied his casual looks. Rachel recognized the name of PROBE-Tech’s security director. Oddly, he was another whose presence she could not sense. Refreshing as it was, it was curious to Rachel the only people whose emotions or thoughts she couldn’t sense were at John’s party.
“So, you were the inspiration behind President Young’s campaign.” Andrew bowed in mock admiration. “The Spokesmon theme was very interesting.”
“Nathan was my inspiration. He’ll accomplish much for this country, and for the world if this conference goes well.” Her glance drifted to the differences between them. “So, you’re brothers?”
“Always have been.” Andrew fluffed the handkerchief in Peter’s tuxedo pocket. His blond features and sardonic manner strongly contrasted Peter’s dark continental coloring and European grace, but the look in their eyes definitely connected them as brothers. “We just don’t brag about it. Brag about it to Rachel,” he teased, “and I’ll give you your Christmas present.”
With a pained expression on his face, Peter played along. “It’s a fact, Rachel. Andrew is my brother.”
Rachel laughed. “All right, now I see the resemblance.”
“Good answer!” Andrew pulled the silk handkerchief from Peter’s breast pocket with a flourish and waved it back and fourth a few times.
“He loves to do this,” Peter explained. “He thinks he’s a magician.”
“Indulge me.” Andrew reached for Rachel’s hand. “Will you hold this? It’s a better gift when it comes from two people.” He placed the silk cloth in her palm and closed it tightly, leaving a small corner of the cloth exposed. He raised her hand to his lips, making an exaggerated gesture all the while holding Peter’s gaze. She thought she saw the slightest displeasure in Peter’s eyes at his brother’s flirtation.
Andrew straightened and began to slowly pull the material from her fist. Exposed, he held it up by the corners turning it front to back, nothing.
“Sorry, brother. Maybe next year.” Andrew shrugged.
“How long did you work on that trick?”
“Wait a minute. Am I supposed to have this?” Rachel opened her hand to reveal a gold ring embossed with the Aurora’s crest.
“Oh, that’s where it went.” Andrew casually plucked it from her palm and presented it to Peter.
“Very nice, Andrew. Thank you.” Peter slipped it on to admire.
“So, you’re brothers.” Rachel noticed Andrew wore a similar gold ring as she’d also seen on John’s finger.
“Well, don’t tell anyone else,” Peter sided with Rachel. “I have a reputation to uphold. Besides, I wouldn’t want Andrew to think he was special.”
“Obviously not. I didn’t get a Christmas present.”
“Don’t worry. I have something very unique for you. Tonight, however, I’m at a party.” Peter turned to Rachel with a slight bow. “May I have this dance?”
“My pleasure.” She was sure.
The ballroom was alive with motion, and without another word to his brother Peter swept her into the movement. His touch was light and they moved together as though they were practiced partners. With her eyes closed, Rachel felt like she was floating away, completely forgetting her usual nervousness in a crowd.
She didn’t realize the song ended until Peter stopped dancing. The crowd around them loitered without music, and couples stumbled into their paths. The old panic of crowds returned as soon as she’d lowered her defenses. Rachel sucked in her breath and fought off the black faint starting to consume her. Peter’s fingers entwined hers and squeezed. She willed herself back to consciousness with the scent of his cologne.
Hopefully he assumed her anxiety was excitement; she preferred that to his knowing of her claustrophobia, but instinctively Peter shielded her from the aimless movement of the close crowd.
“How about something to eat?” he whispered.
She exhaled and nodded as the faintness faded.
The dining area was as active as the dance floor. Conversation and the clatter of plates overpowered the music; Rachel followed the aroma.
The dining room had been converted to a Gingerbread House, and the spicy smell made her even hungrier. Everywhere, there was food. Slow rotating fans in the ceiling circulated the delicious scents. A Christmas tree in the center was carved from green ice and flocked on the boughs with whipped cream. It towered over trays of exquisite food. Her stomach rumbled in anticipation.
“Andrew has everyone looking for you,” His other friend bowed slightly in Rachel’s direction. “Now, I can see why.”
“Yes, we’ve seen Andrew.” Peter put his arm around her. “Rachel, I’d like to introduce some friends of mine, Simon and Thaddeus. Gentlemen, Rachel Bolton.”
Simon was consummately dressed. His European tuxedo and soft accent reminded her of Peter’s. Thaddeus, however, had a Santa apron over his tuxedo and a Santa hat covering his white hair. The beard and twinkle in his eyes made him a natural for the part.
“Teddy.” He bowed slightly.
“I invited Rachel to your dinner party at Christmas,” Peter announced to their obvious surprise.
“That’s wonderful!” Teddy clapped his hands.
“Have you been to our restaurant before?” Simon asked.
“No, but I look forward to it, thank you.”
“Right now, we’re hungry,” Peter complained. “I’ve missed your cooking.”
“In that case, take your time.” Teddy shooed them toward the buffet. “Try one of everything.”
Peter pulled her by the hand, waving to his friends over his shoulder, and Rachel was grateful to have him to herself again. The noise of the crowds forced them close. “If I try one of everything, I’ll never be able to get it on my plate,” she complained.
“We’ll share,” Peter said. “And we’ll sample. You must try this. These are my favorites.” He fed her a bite-sized cheesepuff and sampled a few for himself.
“Mmmm.” Rachel added to her plate whatever Peter tasted. “You have lots of favorites!”
Teddy hovered over a small table in a cozy corner, and chased away other approaching guests until Peter led Rachel toward him. Smiling, wordless, Teddy poured wine into a couple of glasses and walked away when they sat.
“You have some interesting friends. There seems to be nothing they wouldn’t do for you.”
Peter nodded. “I’m embarrassed they think I need the help.”
“Oh, but you don’t. I mean,” she slowed her speech, “you’ve been quite the gentleman. I am enjoying myself.” Rachel was surprised to admit the truth.
The evening passed quickly in his company and she’d completely forgotten about Li’Ana. “Maybe we should find John now. He’s probably with Nathan and Li’Ana; I rode here with them tonight.”
“With the President-elect?” Peter whistled his surprise.
It took a moment to find their friends in the crowd; Rachel and Peter moved leisurely toward them at the fireplace. There was a devilish smile on Andrew’s face. John stepped aside to make room for them in the circle, and within seconds, Li’Ana maneuvered to Rachel’s side.
“Where’ve you been? John told me not to worry - that you were in quite good hands. I see he was right.”
“Peter is Andrew’s brother,” Rachel explained.
“Mr. President, a pleasure to meet you.” Peter shook hands as John introduced him.
“I’m not the president yet,” Nathan laughed.
“Well, you are to the people here,” Peter assured him. “Madam...”
Li’Ana rolled her eyes to Rachel. “Don’t be so formal,” she smiled and offered her hand. “We’re already better friends than that.”
A drum roll from the stage quieted the room.
“Attention, everyone! May I have your attention please?” Nathan stepped up on the fireplace hearthstone. “I’d like to toast-the-host.”
The crowd focused on John with a cheer. He stepped up on the hearth beside Nathan and directed the crowd’s attention back to the President-elect with a tip of his glass.
“Not long ago,” Nathan started, “none of us dared to hope for world peace. Today, we can imagine nothing less. There has never been an attempt such as this, where government and private businesses worked together. And not just our government, all governments; the commitment to an open-access policy. One-world. All-world!” The crowd cheered, and once again he hushed them.
“This is mostly the work of a single man. I know I don’t have to introduce him to you; his credits were here before mine! I’d just like to say how it has changed my life to work by this man’s side. I am speaking, of course, of our host tonight: Mr. John Reider.”
The crowd continued to cheer until John raised his hand. “I have only one thing to say,” he said. “Merry Christmas.”
Rachel vaguely heard the cheering. She fought against the onslaught of emotions directed at them and forced her gaze to focus over the crowd.
Her attention was drawn to a face she vaguely remembered - although Rachel was unsure where the familiarity originated, and the woman smiled back. She was beautifully dressed in sparkling white, with golden hair that fell around her shoulders in soft curls. She seemed strangely out of place in this crowd, and Rachel briefly thought she’d ask later for an introduction.
“Merry Christmas, Rachel.”
Rachel heard the chink of glasses toasting and saw Peter’s poised to touch hers. When she looked back across the room, the woman in white was gone.
“Are you alright? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.”
“No, I’m fine. Merry Christmas.” She forced herself to breathe again. “Quite a crowd.”
Nathan tried to stifle a yawn. “I apologize. John, I hate to break up this party, but tomorrow is a big day.” He looked beseechingly at his wife. “We promised each other to leave at a reasonable hour, and we’ve already missed that.”
“Are you ready, Rachel?” Li’Ana raised an eyebrow when Rachel nodded.
“I could take you home later, if you’d like to stay.” Peter offered.
“Thank you, but I think I should leave with Nathan and Li’Ana. It is getting late, or early.” Rachel laughed.
“Then let me see you to the door.” Peter whisked her away but she let him do it and smiled to Li’Ana over her shoulder.
“Sure you won’t stay?” he asked her again when they were alone.
She handed an elf the ticket for her coat. It was tempting. “Not tonight. But I’m looking forward to Christmas.”
“Yes, me too.” The look in his eyes pulled her toward him like a magnet, and his light embrace closed out everything beyond the corner where they stood. Their kiss was tentative and interrupted, but electric to her soul.
“Goodnight, Peter.” She whispered when they parted.
He smiled, but didn’t respond. She knew he reluctantly let her go.
“You’re glad you came, right?” Li’Ana asked when Rachel joined them at the door.
“I’m glad!” Rachel smiled. “And Peter asked me to Christmas dinner - if that makes you feel any better.”
“Only if you said yes.” Li’Ana squeezed her hand. “We’ll have lunch when I return from the conference and you can tell me all about it. Now I’m not so mad you’re not coming with us! Peter is very nice looking - and I could listen to him talk forever. What kind of accent is that?”
Rachel shrugged and pulled her coat tighter. There was much she didn’t know about Professor Kerroon.
She wrapped herself in the afghan and stretched out on the couch in front of the fireplace with a cup of cocoa. The excitement from the party was still with her; all she could think about was her evening with the mysterious Peter Kerroon.
It wasn’t that Rachel was such an art enthusiast. The only painting of any significance in her life was a portrait of Sun Liu, the woman whom she loved like a mother. Even that piece of artwork was unsigned, but Rachel was sure it was Peter Kerroon’s style. The familiarity of his technique had drawn her to the London showing years ago. The fact that her painting was centuries old and Peter was not kept her awake all night.
He wasn’t at all like she’d imagined. Peter Kerroon, the artist, was fresh and expressive. His colors were st
rong; his strokes were long, broad, and sure. She always got the impression every painting was a “first take”, and that he never painted over a line he had drawn.
The Peter Kerroon she met last night was polished and reserved. And she never caught a brush of his emotions. It was unusual that anyone affected her like that, or didn’t affect her.
And then she remembered it. The gold ring on his finger. The Aurora’s crest. A gift from Andrew.
Signs she had not seen before were all around her now. The gift was not a coincidence, nor was his friendship with John Reider. Each one of them wore the same gold ring. Every one of the crew, she realized.
Her head rested on the back of the sofa, not a good replacement for Peter’s shoulder as they’d danced. She let herself recall the security of that one perfect moment when the holiday lights bedazzled her vision and they flew around the ballroom. She didn’t realize when she began to drift off.
It was the same in every nightmare. The white mist surrounded her like a cloud, reflecting the colors of a rainbow she couldn’t see. Each layer was like a vibration, always in motion. The clouds wound around her legs, binding her step. Rachel began to panic – her vision darkened.
“One who is a child of Light
Spokesmon of eternal Life
Truth revealed from skies above
Lost is found whose Gift is Love.”