Bells, Rings & Angels' Wings

by Linda Randall Wisdom

  “No, thank you. I don’t have a lot.”

  “Well, once you finish, come on over. I have a lovely dinner waiting for us. Just walk in.” In a flurry of peacock silk she went back inside.

  With Libby’s temper still simmering, it didn’t take her long to unload the car and take everything upstairs. After stowing the perishables in the refrigerator, she changed her clothes and headed back downstairs to Cyn’s.

  When she entered the kitchen, a rich, mouthwatering scent tickled her nostrils. Cyn stood at the stove ladling stew into two bowls.

  “A secret recipe, and I never tell anyone what I put in it,” she informed Libby after gesturing for her to sit. She set the bowls on the table along with a basket of warm sourdough rolls.

  It took only one spoonful for Libby to know it was one of the best stews she’d ever tasted. “As long as you don’t tell me there’s yak or crocodile in this, I don’t care,” she told her in between spoonfuls. “This is fantastic.”

  “So you won’t mind if it’s rattlesnake?”

  Libby’s head snapped upward and she probably would have screamed if she hadn’t seen the crafty look in the older woman’s eyes.

  “Only if you left the rattles out. They’re always so nice and chewy.”

  Cyn smiled. “Now, tell me what you think of our town so far,” she urged.

  A part of Libby wanted to confide in Cyn about her true niche in the town, but she feared Cyn wouldn’t believe her and might think she wasn’t all there. Or even worse, she would believe her story and insist on trying some crazy hocus-pocus to get her back to her own reality.

  It is never wise to bring others in, Libby. Cyn would understand, but she can’t help you. Only you yourself can help you.

  Libby postponed her reply by picking up a piece of bread and spreading butter on the warm surface.

  “Everyone I’ve met seems very nice,” she said finally, opting for an answer she hoped a truly new person in town would give.

  “I guess you haven’t had a chance to meet any men,” Cyn said. “And don’t tell me you left someone behind because I can’t imagine any man in his right mind letting you go.”

  Libby’s smile was wistful. Tyler hadn’t let her go; it was she who had let him go. “No, no one. That’s why I’m here.”

  “Then we’ll have to see about you meeting some nice young men. Bonnie knows about every event that goes on in this town. Actually, she knows what’s happening in the whole county. She and her husband used to go dancing every weekend until a couple months ago. They still go out sometimes, but she says it’s too difficult to dance now. I swear their baby will come out dancing.”

  “I would think you’re no slouch in the social department,” Libby said with a sly smile as she sipped the wine Cyn had served with the stew.

  The older woman preened under the sincere praise. “I must admit that Harold Lutz thinks I’m pretty hot.” She patted the intricate curls piled high on her head. Two onyx chopsticks with tiny pearls dangling from the ends had been plunged among the bright red curls. “We’ve known each other since grade school and I’m sad to say that takes a little of the mystery out of it. Not to mention he’s someone who prefers to stick close to home, while I’m usually adding another stamp to my passport.”

  Libby thought of Tyler. “But sometimes isn’t it nice to know someone who has no secrets from you?” she asked.

  Cyn clicked her tongue. “Darling, everyone deserves a few secrets. It gives the relationship some spice. If you know someone as well as you know yourself, there are no surprises for you. No excitement to rev up the senses. And believe me, an old lady like me enjoys those surprises just as much as a young woman like you does. You need a young man who will give you all the spice and surprises.”

  Libby decided it wouldn’t hurt to test the waters.

  “I haven’t heard about too many men, but one name that’s come up is Tyler Barnes,” she mentioned as casually as she could.

  Cyn bestowed on her a smile filled with cunning pride. “My, my, Libby, you are a daring one. That Tyler is more than hunk material. He’s every woman’s dream. Too bad Renee Carter has him tied up with a big red bow. People have been taking bets as to when they’ll set a wedding date.”

  Dismay settled in Libby’s stomach like a lump of lead.

  Cyn shook her head. “Renee tried to hook him back in high school, but he’s a wily one. She left in a huff and married a computer programmer who moved her to Kansas City. She got a divorce a few years ago and moved back here. Her public reason was to be close to her parents, but we all know she’s still hoping to snare Tyler.”

  See what happens when you want Tyler out of your life? He gets caught up with wild women.

  Libby instantly thought of a few choice responses to Matthias’s less-than-gentle reminder.

  Ah, ah, ah, a lady doesn’t use words like that.

  At this moment, you non corporeal being, I’m not a lady!

  She was startled to notice Cyn watching her with an intensity that was unsettling.

  “You have such an interesting aura,” Cyn murmured. “I studied auras under a wonderful psychic who lives outside of London. She could look at people and immediately know a lot about them just by studying their energy field.”

  “Really?” Libby said with a brightness that felt incredibly forced.

  Cyn nodded, still studying Libby. “I have a knack in seeing auras. Yours is intriguing,” she murmured. “It’s filled with the many changes in your life. And you will have even more changes in the near future.” She stared at Libby, but her gaze appeared to be looking at something not visible to the naked eye.

  Libby shifted uncomfortably under the woman’s close scrutiny.

  “You’re not going to tell me I have food on my sweater, are you?” she asked in light voice in hopes of changing the mystical mood hanging over them.

  Cyn blinked several times. It was as if she’d just come out of a trance.

  “You’re here to make choices, aren’t you?” she said in a quiet voice. “Choices that will affect the rest of your life.”

  The room may have been warm, but Libby could swear she felt a chill clear through to her bones.

  “Isn’t a choice always involved when one moves to a new locale?”

  Cyn shook her head. “Not the choice you’re here to make.” Concern etched her features. “Oh, Libby, what have you gotten yourself into?”

  “The only thing I’ve gotten myself into is moving to a new town and taking a new job,” she replied, lying without a qualm.

  She remained as calm as she could under Cyn’s analytical gaze. The older woman still looked skeptical, but didn’t contradict her. Libby knew she’d have to watch her step around Cyn.

  “Tell me how your second day with the little darlings went. Have they driven you into a strait jacket yet?” Cyn asked as she picked up her glass of wine. “Some of the stories Bonnie told me were almost scary. Perhaps that’s why I never had children. They can be so unpredictable at times.”

  Libby told Cyn about one of Josh the troublemaker’s escapades. That afternoon, he had flushed Candi’s doll down a toilet—a caper that nearly caused a flood in the bathroom and a flood of tears from Candi.

  “At that age, unpredictable is just a part of their charm,” Libby said. “But there’s one little girl who, sadly, is having problems with the class.” She recalled how Becca stayed to herself most of the day unless Libby and Bonnie urged her to join the others. “Her name is Becca. No one is sure whether her parents just abandoned her or what. And she doesn’t know enough about her family to give the authorities any help in finding them. So she’s presently in foster care.”

  Cyn nodded. “Bonnie told me about her. Poor little thing, to just be left like that. Bonnie said the authorities are still trying to look for her family. If only she could tell them something.”

  “The thing is, you just look at her and you want to gather her into your arms. You want to promise nothing bad will ever happen to h
er,” Libby murmured.

  Cyn reached across the table and covered her hand with her own. “Then that’s just what you do, darlin’. You hold on to her.”

  IT WAS LATE before Libby collapsed into bed. Still, she had trouble sleeping. Too many memories of Tyler kept her from closing her eyes.

  The worst memory for her was the image of Tyler looking back at her tonight in the parking lot. No, not looking at her, she sadly corrected herself. He’d looked through her because he had no idea who she was.

  How could he not remember her? She could recall all the memories they’d made together. Why couldn’t he?

  She was the one who’d shared her cream-filled cupcakes with him. She’d loaned him her math homework so he could pass that class in eighth grade. She’d brought him burgers and shakes when he was stuck at home with the chicken pox.

  But he was the one who’d cried after they’d made love for the first time, because he hadn’t realized how magical their union would be.

  “What are you regretting now?”

  Libby sat up in bed and squinted through the darkness. It took a moment for her eyes to become accustomed to the lack of light. By then she could see a faint figure seated in the chair by the window.

  “It’s not fair that he’s with someone else.”

  Matthias smiled. “Who said life is fair?”

  Libby thrust her fingers through her hair. “By rights, I should be telling myself this is a bad dream. That all I have to do is wake up and I’ll discover everything is back to the way it was.”

  “My dear, you want a perfect life and there is no such thing. You have to learn that life goes on no matter what. Self-pity can last only so long, Libby,” he continued in a softer voice. “It was time for you to move on with your life. Don’t worry, you’ll know when you’ve done just that.” He disappeared as abruptly as he’d appeared.

  She flopped back on her pillows, contemplating his words. “I still say it’s unfair.”

  “WHY CAN’T YOU JUST STAY here?” Renee pouted as Tyler left her house, tucking his shirt back in his jeans.

  “I have an early day tomorrow,” he said as he strode to his truck. “We’re starting on that new job.”

  “But, honey,” Renee practically whined, rushing after him. She threw her arms around him and pressed her body against his. “I’ll even make you breakfast,” she cooed.

  Tyler grinned and pressed a hard kiss against her lips. “You wicked woman, you. Are we talking Belgian waffles and maple syrup?”

  She stepped back, a pout on her face. “Well, no.” Everyone knew Renee didn’t cook. It was considered practical to keep her out of the kitchen at all costs. “But what’s so wrong with staying the night? Afraid of your reputation?”

  “You got it.” He kissed her again to halt further pouting. “I’ll pick you up at seven Friday night.”

  “Maybe I won’t be here,” she said loftily, tossing her head.

  Tyler knew better. Renee would act as if she couldn’t care less, but she’d be there waiting for him.

  “See you then.” He climbed in his truck. “Now get inside before you freeze into a beautiful Popsicle.”

  Tyler glanced in his rearview mirror as he drove off. Renee still stood in the yard, her robe wrapped tightly around her body.

  Renee Carter had been prom queen and homecoming queen their junior and senior year in high school. And Tyler had been only one of many who’d wanted to be king to her queen. Not to mention get in her pants. Many boys were grief stricken when she’d left town after graduation and settled in a nearby town to go to college. It was even worse when word came back that she’d married.

  When she got a divorce four years ago and returned to town, Tyler was one of the first to invite her out. Since then they’d seen each other at least once a week.

  Tyler knew a lot of people figured they’d get married sooner or later. And maybe they would. But hell, he wasn’t even thirty yet. He had his whole life ahead of him. He wasn’t going to be pushed into anything he wasn’t ready for. Not to mention he kind of hoped Renee would start taking some cooking classes.

  He suddenly remembered his comment about Belgian waffles. Why had he asked her that? He couldn’t remember if he’d ever had anything other than plain old waffles.

  When he reached his house, he parked his truck in the driveway and walked into the house. He stopped in the kitchen long enough to snag a beer from the refrigerator before heading for the living room. The house was chilly, so he kept his jacket on as he drank his beer.

  He felt unsettled, almost out of sorts. He wasn’t sure why, not after the night he’d just had—dinner out with Renee, then back to her place. Except a face kept intruding.

  Because it had been dark and the parking lot wasn’t well lit, he hadn’t been able.to make out the woman’s features very well, but he felt as if he’d seen her before. Light-colored hair, medium height, body looking bulky because of the heavy coat she wore. Trim ankles…Every once in a while, his thoughts would occasionally travel back to her. Why?

  He wished he knew.

  It wouldn’t take long to find out who she was. That was the nice thing about small towns— someone new always attracted attention. Ironically, Tyler hadn’t even thought about whether she might be married or not. In his heart he couldn’t consider that problem.

  Chapter Seven

  Libby literally flew down the stairs to the garage door. She couldn’t believe she’d slept right through her alarm.

  “Have a good day!” Cyn sang out from her backyard, where she was busy putting out plastic sheets and extra soil to protect her flowers during the harsh winter.

  Libby arrived at school before Bonnie and took a turn around the classroom to make sure everything was in order. She straightened up a stack of books and under the shelves found a couple of crayons that she dropped in one of the crayon buckets.

  When she turned back around, she found Miss Regina standing in the doorway.

  “I came by to tell you that Bonnie won’t be in today. She has a doctor’s appointment this morning and talked about coming in after she was finished. I told her you seemed to be able to handle the children just fine on your own.”

  “I hope everything is all right,” Libby said with concern. Recollection of her own uncomplicated pregnancy with Sara flitted through her brain.

  Miss Regina placed her hand on her arm for reassurance. “I think she’s just anxious to have her baby. She said she’s tired of not seeing her feet. By the way, Bonnie has an aide come in some days, which helps when you have the children doing an art project.”

  Libby grinned. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep the whips and handcuffs nearby in case they threaten to revolt.”

  “Wow! We saw a car crash into another car, and I think one guy’s head rolled on the street!” Josh loudly announced as he bounced into the room. He hopped over to the cubicles where the children kept their lunch boxes and coats and stashed his Batman lunch box in one that was marked with his name. He pulled off his coat and threw it in after his lunch box. “It was really cool. I even saw blood on the road!”

  “I’d say someone got into the sugary cereal today,” Miss Regina murmured as she left the room. “Oh my, he’s going to be a handful this morning.”

  “You’re more than welcome to stay!” Libby called after her.

  “Don’t worry, dear. I have confidence in you.” With the wave of children streaming in the door, Libby’s workday had begun.

  SO SHE’S A BLONDE.

  Tyler stood at attention with a drill in his hand as he stared across the busy construction site to the crowded playground.

  His attention was mainly centered on the young woman supervising a game of dodgeball. She appeared to be having as much fun as the kids were.

  Since she was bundled up against the cold, her figure was hidden from him, but what he could see he liked.

  “Some boss you are if you can’t keep your mind on the work,” a grizzled man in coveralls told him around the ciga
r he was chomping on. He looked in the same direction as Tyler. “No wonder. She’s a honey, all right.”

  Another man joined them. “She must be the teacher who’s replacing Bonnie.”

  “So she’s single?”

  “Yep.”

  “I sure wouldn’t mind taking her out dancing.”

  “Yeah, I bet she could teach me a few things.”

  Tyler was silent during the exchange. He couldn’t stop watching her. He wasn’t sure why, but he could swear he was feeling stirrings of what he could only think of as jealousy. And he didn’t even know the woman’s name! Yet he felt as if he should know it.

  She wasn’t close by, but he could swear he could smell the vanilla fragrance of her perfume. He knew all about the way her smile tilted up one side of her lips. He knew she’d have an honestto-God giggle when she was truly happy. And could he smell waffles and maple syrup?

  “Good morning, gentlemen. I’m glad to see you have nothing better to do than stand around wishing you were over there playing on the swings and teeter-totters,” a male voice barked.

  They practically sprang to attention. Fred Chambers had been a drill sergeant in the Marine Corps until he retired and started up a construction company in his hometown. Just because he owned the company didn’t mean he stayed in an office. He was happier working on-site with his men while his wife ran the office. All his years in the marines had honed his command skills to a fine point Along with his voice.

  Fred glared at Tyler. “What about you, Barnes? Since you’re standing around acting like some floppy dog, I gather you have your section done.”

  “I’m just about there, Boss,” he said, almost saluting. Past episodes warned him it wouldn’t be a good idea, even as a joke. “Sorry. I just wanted to look at something that brightens up the day.”

  Fred glanced at the playground. “If you know what’s good for you, you won’t be looking at other women. I’ve heard Renee can be pretty ruthless if she thinks someone’s poaching on her property. That little girl over there could end up getting hurt.”