Chapter 80

 

FREI CLATTERED AWAY behind me as I hesitated halfway between her and Renee. I wasn’t sure what I could say to Renee that would help so I stared up at the stars instead. I smiled as the tune of Moonlight Sonata once again filled my head.

When Fleming had stomped off, her aura was dimmed to the point I couldn’t read it but her glare at me told me that Renee would have to work hard not for her to make things difficult.

At least more difficult.

“Shorty, what you doin’ catching flies?”

I smiled. “You’re real overworked, you know that?”

“Ah, your grandpa is taking a nap with Tiddles. I got to keep busy.”

It was a nice picture to hold onto. It sounded happy and comfortable. Home.

“An’ you’re still collecting dust . . .”

“What do I say to help?” I asked and nodded toward Renee. “That lady was a big part of her life an’ I . . .” I rubbed my hand over the back of my neck. “I ain’t got a clue about that stuff.”

Nan swooshed to my side. “Stuff?”

I waved my hand about. “Love stuff.”

“Now what you talkin’ ’bout? You know all ’bout it.” She poked me and I got an icy shiver up my side.

“I mean . . . that kinda love.” I shrugged. “How can I help if I don’t really get it.”

Nan chuckled. “By being you.”

I felt her fade and took a breath. Somehow I did that a lot before talking to Renee. Somehow it always felt like I was heading into a battle of some kind. A battle with whom, I weren’t real sure. I strolled over to her, hoping I could try and be calm. That maybe calm would help her.

“Hey.” I took a seat on what had once been a tree of some kind. Now it was a stump and I mumbled a quiet warning to any critters who resided there. I hoped they didn’t have teeth or stings.

“Hey.” Her aura seemed to sigh for her.

“I don’t get sharing.” I shook my head at my own words. “I mean, I ain’t an expert or nothin’.”

Renee stared out at the water which lapped against the bank.

“What I mean is that I can’t offer no advice but . . . well . . . I know you’re hurtin’ an’ well . . .” I sighed and got off the stump as one critter objected to me being there. It had fangs of some sort and I weren’t looking to get acquainted with them. “That’s kinda it. I know you’re hurtin’ and I want to help.”

Renee smiled. “She thinks I’m in love with someone else. It didn’t go down well.”

That explained the fireworks in Fleming’s aura. “But she married somebody else.”

Renee nodded.

“So what gives her the right to get snippy?” I folded my arms. “If anybody should be mad, it should be you, right?”

Renee’s gaze drifted back to the river. “Either way, I still hurt her and I didn’t want to.”

“You got a good heart is why.” I walked a little way, not sure if I should get closer to her. Her aura was filled with so many things that I couldn’t read it.

“Thank you.” She smiled but it was a sad one.

“So what is it about this person, whoever she is, that has you all worried.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. “She that much of a mean, hardheaded person?”

Renee laughed. “She’s the most wonderful, gentle, sweet person I’ve ever met.” She studied her fingers. “It’s not that I don’t want to tell her but she might not want to see it. It won’t make her a nasty person if she doesn’t feel the same way.” She sighed. “Knowing her, she’d be supportive even then.”

“That ain’t enough, huh?” I stared at the water too.

“It would hurt. It would hurt like Abby is hurting.” Renee bit her lip. “I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to cope with it.”

I rubbed my neck again. I didn’t know how to help. I couldn’t make no one love her. I didn’t think she’d want me to. Love was a prickly subject I guessed. Folks got hurt. “You know, you always make me hear songs in my head.”

Renee raised her eyebrows.

“I like that.” I shrugged. “I ain’t sure why it is, but I like it.” I looked up to the stars. “Guess that ain’t much but . . . well . . . you’ll always have me around.”

“I hear music too.”

I chuckled. “That’s the radio in Frei’s car.”

Renee got up and walked to my side. She looked up at the stars. “No, I mean that I hear music around you too.”

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. “Good. ’Cause whoever she is ain’t gettin’ you without a fight.” I winked at Renee. “Mrs. Squirrel an’ I don’t really want you changing who you are for nobody.”

She squeezed me, her aura dancing the way I loved to see it. “You make me happy that I’m me.”

Frei roared the car up to us and I nodded. “I’m happy you’re you too.”

“Aeron . . .” Renee dropped her gaze to the car and then lifted it to me. “You know I’m here if you need to share.”

“Hey, I like Frankenfrei, she’s cool and awesome but not in . . . well . . . not that kind of love.” I squeezed her and walked toward the car then stopped. “Besides, she ain’t you.”

Renee smiled right the way through her aura. She held up her hand as I opened my mouth. “Don’t spoil it with a quip about your stomach.”

It rumbled as if on command.

“I’m more than just a chef, Lorelei.” Her tone shifted into playful as I clambered into the back seat next to her.

Frei just rolled her eyes.

I winked at her in the mirror. “Yeah, you’re some chef.”

Renee poked me.

Frei roared the car into life.

“You cook a mean Croque Madame?”

Renee scowled up at me. Her stomach rumbled and I grinned. “See, some part of you agrees.”

Frei muttered something under her breath.

Renee’s aura narrowed like her eyes. “It does not.”

“Does too.”

Frei slammed the car to a stop. “I haven’t eaten since . . . I don’t remember when. Stop. Talking. About. Food.”

Renee and I exchanged a look. I knew I saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”

Frei roared off again.

“She’s kinda cranky when she’s hungry,” I whispered to Renee.

“She’s cranky because she messed up her hair,” Renee shot Frei’s way, poking out her tongue.

Frei raised a bored eyebrow and went back to driving.

“Good to know that you missed us,” I said with a chuckle.

“Not to mention the Lorelei family reunion,” Renee added. “You wait until they all start with the Nan-isms.”

I smiled down at Renee. “Lucky, ain’t you?”

“Yes.” Renee smiled up at me. “I think that maybe I might be.”

I weren’t sure what was going on in her head but her aura did its little light show and I felt it warm me. I wasn’t sure if I’d helped her at all but I got the feeling she knew I was trying and it made a difference.