Death with a Dark Red Rose
Page 25
“We’ll have to do more dancing. In the kitchen, after we do dishes. We’ll have to put Geronimo in the other room or he’ll get under our feet.”
“Sam?” I looked into his blue eyes, creased with amusement and tenderness. “You’re perfect.”
He pulled me against him and spun me around the room, and for the first time in my life I felt dizzy with love.
* * *
* * *
HALF AN HOUR later Camilla approached me; her smile was wide, her skin glowed, and her tiara was slightly askew. She wore a silver-white dress and a pink rose wrist corsage from Adam, and she clutched her silver bag against her as though it held a secret. “I wonder, Lena, if I can ask you to be a stereotypical female and accompany me to the bathroom?”
“Sure,” I said, laughing. “Lead the way.”
In the cream-colored Wheat Grass ladies’ room there was a little lobby with a couch and a coffee table, then a long mirror with a counter and stools for those who wanted to adjust their makeup. Camilla went straight to the couch and pulled me down next to her. “First,” she said, her purple eyes on mine, “thank you for this party. It is wonderful to feel so loved.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Second.” She opened her bag, took out a little pad and a pen, and snapped the purse shut again. “I had an idea for the Debenham novel.”
“Wonderful. Let’s hear it.”
“I was dancing with Adam. He’s quite graceful, isn’t he, for a man of seventy-one? And then I thought, what a romantic thing a dance is. The lights are low, the dresses glimmer, everyone has a certain mystery. And every woman is transformed into Juliet at the masquerade.”
“So that’s where our young woman can meet the man who will help her?”
“Of course. She’s been forbidden to communicate with people by these captors, but for reasons we will have to explain, they all have to attend this dance. She’s been ordered to stay in the shadows, but a man spies her—perhaps he’s watched for her since he saw her at the train station?—and he sweeps her into a dance.”
“And she pours out her heart? Or will she give him only tantalizing clues, afraid to say too much?”
“You see? We can play with it, but it would be good, yes?”
I sighed and leaned against her. “Yes. It would be very good.” I felt suddenly sleepy, there in the warm room. Across from us were our own reflections: Camilla, crowned, was in her shimmery gray-white dress. I was in a dress Sam had bought me for the occasion: a purple bodice and a black tulle skirt. On my wrist was the bracelet from Sam, something I rarely took off. I had never seen Camilla and me this way, reflected side by side, caught in a moment of love and perfect companionship.
“Camilla, did you see that?”
“What, dear?”
“Just for a minute—I looked like you.”
She put her head on my shoulder. “One or two people tonight have asked me if you were my daughter. I told them you had a wonderful mother who is here with us in spirit. But if ever someone had a daughter of the heart—” She paused to dash away a tear.
“I know, Camilla. I feel the same.”
“Ridiculous, how much I’ve ruined my makeup tonight.”
“You look amazing. Now, pick up your pen and let’s jot down these ideas before they fade away.”
We bent our heads over her notepad; I stole one more glance at the mirror, at the perfect moment captured there, and then, with Camilla, I got to work.
GROUP CHAT
Sender: Cliff Blake
Recipients: Sam West, Lena London, Doug Heller, Belinda Frailey, Allison Branch, John Branch, Camilla Graham, Adam Rayburn, Isabelle Devon
Hey, gang! Lena and I went running today, and guess what? They’ve started demolition of the Plasti-Source Gothic skeleton. I’m sure the stories in the paper have our Blue Lake Fathers and Mothers in a big hurry to yank that thing down. Not to mention the Blue Lake Ecology Commission, whoever the heck they are. And, perhaps as penance, now that everyone knows about the near miss with toxic dumping, there’s talk of them building a park there, instead. I’m cool with that.
By the way, Lena and I were joined today by the dark-haired Isabelle, who runs like a gazelle. Probably because I was chasing her like a lion. She and Lena told tales out of school, and I learned that Lena London had a poster of that dude who played Harry Potter on the inside of her locker. None of us should let her forget this.
Sender: Sam West
Reply All
Lena continues to harbor a secret lust for Harry Potter. Sometimes she asks me to pretend I’m putting a spell on her—but enough about our love life. ;)
I can’t tell you how glad I am that the Gothic monster is coming down. We have been reprieved, and the rising sun will still be ours for the viewing.
On another note, Geronimo is getting so big that he can barely have adventures. I’d put him on a diet, but he’s still a growing boy. Arabella continues to tattle on him, but she’s obviously his biggest fan. Well, she and Camilla.
Sender: Camilla Graham
Reply All
I must confess I am a Geronimo fan. He has a mighty spirit. I miss the days of him living at Graham House, but I realize that Sam House is his home. Even Lestrade and the dogs miss him, I think. Perhaps we should buy one big castle and dwell in it together with our animals.
That gives me an idea for a children’s book.
Sender: Adam Rayburn
Reply All
Camilla continues to blossom. First, she branched out from fiction to autobiography. Now, perhaps, children’s literature?
Sender: Isabelle Devon
Reply All
Camilla, if you write a children’s book about people who move in together so that their pets can share a house, I will sell it in the vet’s office. Every vet would want to carry it. Please invite me to the book signing for that one.
I would also like to thank Lena and Cliff for letting me join their running club. Their route is spectacular, with views of the lake for the whole last leg. But the best part is seeing Cliff in his tight running clothes. If I had known that he wore spandex leggings to go running, I would have been a spectator long ago.
Sender: Belinda Frailey
Reply All
We would also be thrilled to feature Camilla’s children’s book in the Blue Lake Library. Sounds like a great choice for story time.
Sender: Doug Heller
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Sam and I have occasionally been spectators (translation: hecklers) of Cliff in his spandex. I once used a Blue Lake police vehicle for a full five minutes of harassment of Cliff on his day off when I saw him capering down Route 41. Luckily Cliff is immune to sarcasm.
Yes, it’s good that it will be coming down, and I intend to be there to watch the last dark support beam fall. Anyone want to join me? I think they plan to finish up on Friday.
Sender: Lena London
Reply All
I’ll be there. This is the next happiest event in this town since Camilla’s birthday.
I can already imagine Gabby’s joy (she’s Camilla’s publicist) at the thought of Camilla branching out into children’s literature. Although I think it should be a children’s mystery. Let’s get them started early on the best stories of all.
Cliff, I’ll have you know that the picture in my locker was of Daniel Radcliffe, a talented and versatile actor, not of Harry Potter. Although I do have a Professor McGonagall wand in my drawer at Graham house, and Allison and I used to spend long hours trying to determine our most appropriate Patronus.
And I think you look very athletic in your running clothes.
Sender: Allison Branch
Reply All
Lena finally decided her Patronus was a cat—big surprise. Mine was an otter. John says hi!
Sender: Belinda Frailey
Reply All
You’re all invited to Warm House after the viewing. But first, since we have a lot to celebrate, maybe we should all take a shoe down to Shoe Corner, in true Blue Lake style. Then we’ll be in high spirits, and that calls for spirits. And maybe some appetizers made by Carl, if he’s not working.
RSVP to me or Doug.
Love you all!
About the Author
Julia Buckley is the author of the Undercover Dish mysteries and the Writer's Apprentice mysteries. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and the Chicago Writer's Association. She has taught high school English for twenty-nine years.
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