“Nothing, bucko,” Mikey answered. “I just was sitting around, thinking, ‘What am I going to do for Christmas?’ and it came to me that Bella said the guest suite in your house was magnificent so I figured I just had to spend time there and, therefore, invite myself to Christmas with all of you, so here I am!”
Jason grinned and declared, “You’re mental.”
“Yes, indeed I am,” Mikey replied, sounding proud of Jason’s assessment.
“Oh my God! School!” Bella shouted. “Kids, car! Mikey, I’ll be back in twenty minutes, tops.”
“Elle, I’ll take them this morning,” Prentice offered.
“No, it’s out of your way and you have that meeting. I’m good, Mikey’s good.” She was hustling the kids to the door then she suddenly changed directions, dashed forward, threw herself in Prentice’s arms, pressed a quick kiss on his mouth and dashed back, going back to her babbling. “Mikey, coffee, toast, get your stuff settled in the guest suite, twenty minutes.”
“Bye Mister Mikey! Bye, bye, bye!” Sally jumped up and down as Bella hustled her forward at the same time shoving on a pair of shoes.
Jason waved behind him and they all hurried out the door.
The minute it closed, Mikey turned to Prentice.
“I’d give you a hug if I didn’t think you’d punch me. Or I’d offer you a million dollars if I didn’t know you’d turned down fifty-four or if I actually had a million dollars.” His voice lowered and his eyes grew bright when he finished, “So, Prentice Cameron, the only thing I can do is say thank you.”
Prentice tilted his chin up slightly and gave Mikey a moment to compose himself before he commented, “I’m guessing we passed inspection.”
“You all get gold stars,” Mikey replied and Prentice grinned.
Then Prentice’s eyes went to the door and he asked, “Have you ever seen her like that?”
Mikey looked behind him toward the door and answered, “Yes, often, at school.” He turned back around. “After she lost you, when she was vulnerable and he could beat her down, rarely.”
Prentice’s jaw grew tight.
“Prentice,” Mikey said softly, “that was then, this is now. Let it go.”
Prentice tilted his chin again but this time it was more of a jerk.
Mikey’s voice was still gentle when he stated, “Annie tells me she’s not self-harming anymore.”
Prentice’s eyes narrowed. “You knew about that?”
Mikey nodded. “Both Annie and I talked to her. She was seeing a doctor.”
The color went out of Prentice’s face. “She’s not seeing a doctor now.”
“She’s also living thousands of miles away from her abusive father with whom she used to live in the same city and, regardless of her age, he was unrelenting in his attention. And she doesn’t have photographers breathing down her neck because she’s not attending all the soirees and high-brow events her detestable ex-husband and then her despicable father demanded she appear at which, by the way, she loathed. Instead, she’s living in a beautiful house with the only man she’s ever loved, helping him raise his children. So,” Mikey threw out his hand absently, “I’m no psychologist, but I’m guessing she doesn’t need a doctor anymore.”
Prentice wasn’t convinced. “Life has a way of twisting and turning.”
“Yes,” Mikey agreed. “It does. And usually one can go with the flow. But when one finds they can’t, they need a strong, solid anchor.” He nodded to Prentice. “You aren’t made of iron but I think you’ll do.”
Prentice didn’t reply then again, he didn’t need to. He was Bella’s anchor and they both knew it.
That was why Mikey smiled before he clapped and exclaimed, “All right! I need coffee and you need to get to a meeting.”
“I’ll bring in your bags,” Prentice offered.
“I’m gay, not disabled.” Mikey smiled through his refusal. “Go to your meeting.” When Prentice didn’t move, Mikey started waving at the door, saying, “Shoo, shoo.”
Prentice shook his head but slapped Mikey on the shoulder.
“Good to have you back, mate,” he mumbled before he strode to the door, grabbed his coat off a hook, gave Mikey a departing nod and left.
Mikey stared at the door, the tears he wouldn’t allow himself to shed earlier pooled in his eyes and he whispered, “Have a good day at work, Superman.”
Then Fiona watched as he turned to the coffee.
* * * * *
“Bella, no. What you’re saying is you want four different colors of cream,” Mikey declared in a disgusted tone and Fiona agreed with him.
You need blue, Prentice LOVES blue, Fiona screamed.
Bella hesitated, looking mystified and maybe a little scared.
She glanced at Fern and asked, “Can we see that blue swatch again?”
Bella, Mikey, Annie and, of course, Fiona were in Fern Goodacre’s little shop. Fern sold candles, candleholders, pretty, unusual jewelry made by locals, frames, artsy knick knacks and other gift items. Fern also had a small side business in interior design that she ran from the back room of her shop.
A lot of local folk said Fern was really good but Fiona was not the type of lass who would hire an interior decorator so she didn’t know. But Janice MacHolm used Fern to decorate her sitting room and Fiona always thought it was really lovely.
They were all crammed in the back room of the shop and Annie and Mikey (and, of course, Fiona) were also cramming their ideas into Bella’s head.
Which might have been a wee bit out of line but, good God, the woman had picked four different colors of cream!
“Can I just say,” Fern started, glancing at Mikey and Annie, “I actually like the cream on cream.”
“What?” Mikey cried, openly aghast.
“See, this has a little salmon,” Fern said, separating swatches on the table they were sitting around, “this a little blue, this a little more blue and that one, well, that one’s just cream.”
Annie tilted her head to the side and pointed. “Well, that one is blue and that one is kind of blue but the rest just look like cream to me.”
Fern was gazing at the swatches and her eyes went funny. “Actually, I’m thinking it would be kind of brilliant, subtle, fresh, clean, bright but with hints of color making it warm and interesting.” She looked at Bella and grinned. “I really like it.”
“You do?” Bella asked quietly.
“Aye. I could work with this, definitely,” Fern replied.
“Really?” Bella breathed.
“Let me put some ideas together,” Fern offered. “I’ll work on it tonight, come over to see the space tomorrow and we’ll talk more.”
“I’d like that,” Bella smiled.
“But it’s all cream!” Mikey exclaimed.
Bella bit her lip and her eyes slid away, clearly tentative and worried.
Fiona watched Bella. She hadn’t seen that look from Bella in awhile.
This decorating business was for some reason causing her anxiety so Fiona decided to lay off and she also decided to get Mikey, who was the naysaying ringleader, to do the same.
Shut it, mate, she shouted at Bella’s friend.
“Seriously, girlie-girl, those rooms are huge filled with windows, you can so go bold,” Mikey, clearly not like his friend and unable to hear voices from beyond the grave, declared.
“Bold,” Bella whispered and looked at Mikey. “Fiona was good with bold, the rest of the house –”
Mikey paled at her words, having been informed of why they were on their errand, and he turned to Fern instantly. “Cream. Cream is good. Work with the cream.”
“No,” Bella said, her gaze had slid beyond Fern and she got up, scooted around the small space and pulled out a roll of peacock blue fabric. She turned to her audience and said, “This is gorgeous.”
“I love that,” Fern said, getting up to join her and touching the fabric. “No one’s ever used it and I’ve always wondered why because I think it’s lush.”
“It’s bold,” Mikey announced.
“It would be great for toss pillows or something. Just a splash of color,” Bella replied and then looked at Fern and asked, “Don’t you think?”
“Oh I do!” Fern said excitedly. “All that cream framing these bright flashes of blue. Only toss pillows or maybe a bedroll. Perfect!”
“I like it too,” Annie declared.
“Is someone going to wait on me?” They heard asked peevishly from the door and everyone turned to see Hattie Fennick standing there.
Fiona turned too and when she did, her ghostly body went completely still.
Hattie Fennick was glaring at Bella with such hate, if Fiona had breath, that look of frank, open hostility would surely have stolen it.
Danger, Fiona thought.
Then Hattie scowled at Fern with such ill-will that Fiona thought she was being silly about the way Hattie glared at Bella.
Hattie hated everyone. She was a notorious cow.
And Hattie was also incapable of being dangerous. She was just a bitter, little nobody who no one liked because she took out her bad temper on anyone who was unlucky enough to cross her path.
“Hattie, we’re getting some ideas down for Prentice and Bella’s bedroom. Can you wait just a tick?” Fern enquired.
Hattie’s eyes went back to Bella and her lip curled.
“You’re using Fern to decorate Prentice’s bedroom?” she asked as if she wouldn’t ask Fern to paint the house number on her recycling box.
“Prentice and Bella’s bedroom, darling,” Mikey corrected and Hattie sliced a derisive glance at him before she looked back at Bella.
“So, if you’re redecorating Fiona’s house, can we assume you’re going to stay longer than a few months before you run away again?” she queried and Fiona watched Bella brace as both Annie and Mikey shifted into defense mode.
Really, Fiona thought, Hattie was such a cow.
“Hattie,” Fern said in a low voice.
“Well, everyone’s thinking it,” Hattie snapped.
“No, everyone isn’t,” Fern snapped back. “In fact, you’re the only one who is.”
“This is the one who sold Prentice and Bella’s story to that magazine,” Annie talked over the byplay, informing Mikey of Hattie’s duplicity.
“Really?” Mikey asked then raked Hattie top-to-toe with his eyes. “You obviously didn’t negotiate a good enough fee or, perhaps, you like that handbag?”
“Mikey,” Bella said softly.
“Americans,” Hattie muttered in xenophobic abhorrence.
“Poorly-accessorized, small-minded Scottish people,” Mikey muttered back, using nearly Hattie’s same tone.
Fiona giggled.
So did Annie.
“I’ll just take care of you now, Hattie,” Fern offered but Hattie walked in, slammed the candle she was holding on the wee table and glared at Fern.
“Don’t bother. I’ve decided I don’t want it,” she declared, cast a venomous gaze about the room and stormed out.
Mikey snatched up the candle and smelled it, exclaiming loudly enough for the departing Hattie to hear, “Oo, meadow, my favorite scent! I’ll take it!”
Annie and Fiona were still giggling but Fern was looking at Bella.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Bella shook her head but said, “Yes, fine. It’s not unusual from her, Hattie’s never liked me.”
“Hattie doesn’t like anyone,” Annie proclaimed.
“I don’t know,” Fern whispered and her eyes were on the door.
“You don’t know what?” Mikey asked.
“It’s just…” Fern started then she glanced again at Bella. “I grew up with her, we were in the same year as Prentice at school. She really liked him.”
“What’s not to like?” Mikey enquired then declared, “The man is hot.”
Fern grinned at Mikey. “Aye, well, he always was a fine looking lad. It’s just the way Hattie liked him.” She looked at Bella. “It always spooked me.”
Annie and Mikey (and Fiona) leaned forward as Annie asked, “How so?”
Fern shook her head. “I can’t say, can’t put my finger on it. But it was just…” she paused and shivered, “strange.”
“You. Are. Creeping. Me. Out,” Mikey stated flatly.
“Sorry,” Fern whispered on a grin to Bella.
“You know, Dougal said something once,” Annie put in softly and everyone turned to her. “Something about how he heard Hattie say something about Fiona. Something very Hattie, just mean. But Dougal said something like, ‘Reckon it’s Prentice, Hattie always hated anyone who caught Prentice’s eye.’ I didn’t think anything of it but it’s true.” Annie looked at Bella. “She barely knows I exist except to be passably nasty but she’s always been actively spiteful to you and I saw her look at Fiona once and it was downright chilling.”
Fiona’s ghostly body shivered just listening to Annie and thinking that Hattie looked at her like she’d caught Hattie looking at Bella just now which, evidently, she had.
“She made a play for him once,” Fern threw in, everyone looked at her and then instantly moved closer. “I only know about it because I overheard Old Lady Kilbride talking about it.” Fern tilted her head to the side and looked at Bella. “Sorry Bella, but it was just after you left.”
Bella gave her a small smile and Fern carried on.
“I, personally, saw the first part but I didn’t know she took it further. See, Prentice was getting pissed at the pub and everyone saw her sidling up to him, even me. It was kind of sad, really because everyone knew Prentice was upset, sorry Bella,” she said again and when Bella shrugged and gave her a small, encouraging smile, Fern forged ahead. “And everyone knows when he’s upset he gets kind of moody and they should leave him alone.”
“You can say that again,” Mikey put in and Fern gave him a grin.
“Apparently,” Fern carried on, “she made her play when he was walking home. I don’t know what happened but Mrs. Kilbride said Hattie was in fits. Mrs. Kilbride heard her from the pavement, shouting the house down over at her Mum’s. Her friend was there, what was her name?” Fern paused. “The one who moved to Dundee?” When no one answered, Fern carried on, “Anyway, she was saying something about Prentice being good enough for toffee-nosed Americans, sorry Bella,” she repeated on an embarrassed grimace and went on, “But not good enough for the local lasses and demanding to know what was wrong with her.”
“I’d need a whole week, twenty-four seven, to detail what’s wrong with her,” Mikey muttered.
“I hardly think Hattie Fennick is worth this kind of intense conversation,” Bella remarked.
“You’ve got to admit, it’s weird,” Annie replied.
“Okay, so she had a crush on Prentice back in the day and, because of her unrequited love, she doesn’t like me and didn’t like Fiona. That’s understandable. We have or had what she wants or wanted. And this is Hattie. It’s can’t be a surprise that she’d be poor loser,” Bella explained.
“This is true,” Annie said.
It was true, Fiona thought, but it still was spooky.
And Fiona was on the lookout for spooky.
Because spooky could become dangerous.
Watch out for Hattie Fennick! Fiona shouted at Bella.
“But, I’ll watch out for Hattie Fennick,” Bella announced and at this dramatic statement everyone looked at her funny so she grinned. “I mean, I wouldn’t want the likes of Hattie Fennick messing up my Scottish fairytale come alive, now would I?”
Mikey slid an arm along her shoulders and tucked her into his side. “Nothing’s going to mess up your Scottish fairytale come alive, especially not the likes of Hattie Fennick,” he assured and gave Bella a squeeze.
“All right,” Bella said decisively. “Now, I’ve got a bedroom to decorate. We need new furniture. And bed linens.” She turned to Fern. “Do you deal with that too?”
Fern smiled and replied, “Absolutely.”
She was breathing so heavily she was wheezing, her hand held to her throat.
“Debs, what on earth?” Bella asked, hurrying to Debs while Fiona floated along.
“The… you… Mrs. Kilbride…” Debs panted, “said you were here. I ran here the minute I saw it.”
“Saw what?” Bella asked and without another word Debs opened her big bag and pulled out a magazine.
“Oh crap,” Annie breathed as everyone got close.
“I thought they’d gone,” Bella whispered as she looked at the magazine as if it might grow teeth and bite her.
“Apparently, they had, into hiding!” Debs declared and showed Bella the cover.
On the front was a photo of Laurent and his strumpet, a bright yellow jagged line separating them, an announcement above them stating, “It’s over!”
In the bottom corner there was a photo of Bella and Prentice snogging.
Actually snogging.
Not a peck on the lips but a full on snog.
The small title by their photo said, “While Isabella Lives Happily Ever After”.
Fiona stared as Bella groaned, “Oh no.”
“Girlie-girl!” Mikey hooted. “They got a picture of you and Mr. Broody-Hot making out! Look at that! It’s gorgeous! I love it!”
Bella glared at Mikey while Annie asked, “How on earth did they get that?”
Bella took the magazine from Debs’s hand and started flipping through it.
“Remember a week ago, you, Dougal, Pren and I were at the pub?” Bella asked Annie, still flipping. “Well, Pren kissed me by the car.” Her head came up. “We thought the photographers had all gone.”
“Well they hadn’t,” Mikey commented.
“Yes, Mikey, I can see that,” Bella snapped.
“Oh, wow, hey Mikey. You’re here,” Debs smiled at him in belated greeting and Mikey returned her smile.
“Why are you so happy about this?” Annie asked Mikey with narrowed eyes.
“Because Bella’s making out with a handsome man, living the life of her dreams and that ass is alone, as he should be. And there isn’t any way he can escape this, he’ll see it and I love it. I think it’s brilliant!” Mikey answered.
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