four

I rode with Dan in the front seat of his car while Moira squeezed into the back with several large wrapped boxes. Dan and I chatted occasionally during our ride but Moira remained ominously silent. As we approached the city, the sky turned from black to a soft charcoal gray of reflected light. The road curved downward as we descended the long hill toward the Golden Gate Bridge. The topmost pillars of the bridge poked up through a dense layer of fog. The downtown area, still clear and brilliantly lit, was outlined against the black waters of the Bay. We drove onto the bridge. The stars were swallowed up and the temperature dropped another ten degrees, misty droplets covering our windshield.

Brooke and Rob’s home is at the corner of Clay and Cherry just two blocks south of the Presidio. By the time we arrived, the front door and street-level garage were wide open. Rob had pulled his car into the garage next to David’s car, parked there for safekeeping during the honeymoon. Matt had pulled in behind Rob and was supporting a not-very-sober Andy out of the car and up the inner stairway to the house. Given Andy’s condition, Brooke had insisted on driving his car back to the city. The garage was full and Dan was forced to find a spot on the street two doors down.

As he cut the engine, Moira leaned forward and grabbed her brother’s shoulder. “That was meant for me,” she whispered.

Dan turned and glared at her. Moira climbed out of the car and, without another word, walked up the stairs to Brooke’s front door.

I shot a glance at Dan, but he ignored my look. “What did she mean?”

“Who knows?” He shrugged. “Everything’s a drama with Moira.” He climbed out and I followed him around to the trunk. He reached inside and began to load my arms with presents. “Can you manage all this, Julia?”

I nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

“Great. I’ll get the rest.”

I climbed the long stairway and entered the foyer. Brooke and her mother had already rearranged a jumble of presents into an organized pile on the hallway table. Dan entered behind me. We dropped our boxes and cards at the end of the table and I did my best to incorporate them into the arrangement.

Dan touched my shoulder. “I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t forget, I’ll give you a ride.”

“Thanks, Dan. Hope it’s not a bother.”

“Not at all. I’ll just say good night to everyone.”

I followed him down the hall into the kitchen. Dan gave Brooke a kiss on the cheek and bent down to hug his mother. “Night, Mum. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Brooke took me by the arm. “Julia, I left some pajamas and a robe and slippers for you. We have a sofa bed in the den that’s very comfortable. Matt’s already settled into one of the guest rooms and Moira and Andy have another. I hope that’s okay with you. Sofia, our housekeeper, isn’t here tonight—she’s visiting her daughter—but I’ll help you make up the bed.”

“Oh, I can do it, Brooke. Just point me to the linen closet.”

Brooke led me out of the kitchen and through the foyer to the other side of the house. She opened two cabinet doors next to a guest bathroom. Reaching inside, she pulled out a stack of linens. “Here you go. There are extra blankets too in case you need them. Come back to the kitchen after you’ve settled in and we’ll have a nightcap.”

The den was directly over the street-level garage, on the same floor as the foyer, living room, library, dining room, and kitchen. The second and third stories were bedrooms and a home office. Geneva had given me the grand tour of Brooke’s house the night of the rehearsal dinner, and the space was starting to feel familiar. The main stairway connected all the levels, and a back stairway, originally designed for servants, led from the backyard to the kitchen and then to the upstairs rooms.

I hauled the sofa bed open and pulled sheets over the mattress, adding a blanket and pillow. I dug my jeans and a T-shirt out of my bag. I couldn’t wait to extricate myself from the bridesmaid concoction I’d worn all day. I folded the dress and wrapped up the shoes, knowing full well they’d end up as a charity donation. Once I was decent, I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and headed back to the kitchen.

Brooke and her mother were already at the table with glasses of wine. Brooke, elegant as always, wore a white silk robe highlighted with a black embroidered floral design that trailed over one shoulder and across the back.

“Julia, dear, come sit down and join us.” Mary twinkled up at me and patted the chair next to her. Brooke placed a delicate crystal wine glass in front of me and filled it with a pale white wine.

“I’m exhausted, Julia, I don’t know about you. Mom, another one?”

Mary shook her head. “No, dear, I’ve had enough. I’m off to bed. I’ll see you in the morning, darling.” She stood and, touching the top of Brooke’s hair, kissed her cheek. “I love you.”

“Love you too, Mom.” Brooke squeezed her mother’s hand.

“Good night, Julia.” Mary smiled as she pushed through the swinging door to head to her upstairs room.

Brooke breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, at least we got through it all. I still can’t believe Moira pulled that stunt today.”

“It’s strange she’d lose consciousness like that, don’t you think? Just from two glasses of wine?”

Brooke shrugged. “If that’s all she had. She’s supposedly not drinking any more.”

“Where is she now?”

“She and Andy went up to her room. She always stays in the same guest room when she’s here.”

“She stays over a lot?”

“Oh, yes. It’s her second home. I mean, she has her own place, her own apartment, but it’s small, and she’s head over heels in love with Ashley, so she stays over a lot to spend time with her. I’m really upset about today. I just can’t have her around Ashley if she’s drinking or … worse. Rob would go ballistic …” Brooke took a sip of her wine and gave me her full attention. “So … what about you, Julia? We haven’t had much time to chat. Anyone in your life right now?”

I smiled. Brooke was well aware of Michael’s death, and like everyone else, she expected me to have moved on. I was getting tired of explaining why I hadn’t.

“No, not yet.” I shook my head. “Maybe someday.” The subject of Michael reminded me that I hadn’t returned a call from Celia, Michael’s mother, my former would-have-been mother-in-law. The business of the wedding had given me an excuse to delay. I dreaded returning her call. After Michael’s death, Celia had done everything possible to avoid speaking to me. According to her logic, I was responsible for his death. If he hadn’t been rushing to meet me, he would never have been struck by a hit-and-run driver. His sister Maggie had done her best to heal the breach, but it had gone on so long, I’d given up hope. The fact that Celia had called was decidedly strange. I had no idea what she wanted, but I could guarantee one thing. The conversation would be psyche-bending.

I’d procrastinate one more day and call back tomorrow, I decided. I finished my wine and felt a sudden fatigue wash over me. I knew if I didn’t fall into a bed soon, I’d collapse on the floor. “I better turn in, Brooke. Thanks again for putting me up.”

“No bother at all. You go ahead. I just have to let Cassie out.”

“You have to walk the dog at this hour?”

“Oh, no. I take her down to the garage. Her doggie door leads to her run in the backyard. Thank goodness the gardeners clean up out there.” She laughed and rose from the table. “We let her out to play in the yard as well, but she loves to jump the fence when we’re not looking.”

Just then, Cassie, a large yellow lab, bounded into the kitchen and nuzzled against my hip.

“She’s beautiful. Is she good with kids?” I asked.

“Oh, yes. She’s a retired service dog. She’s really more Rob’s dog than mine. He’s trained her. She’s very smart.” Brooke nuzzled Cassie’s face and was rewarded with a big slippery lick. “Aren’t you, girl?”

Cassie sniffed my leg and I patted her head. Before I could get out of the way, she lifted her head and lapped at my cheek. I laughed. “I guess I’m used to my cat, who’s a lot less demonstrative.”

Brooke stood up. “Come on, Cassie. Let’s go downstairs.” Cassie, nails clicking on the tile floor, bounded after her as she left the kitchen.

I stifled a huge yawn and found my way back through the foyer to the den. I slipped out of my jeans and T-shirt and into the pajamas Brooke had loaned me. Snuggling under the sheets, I pulled the comforter up to my chin. I was forgetting something. Oh yes—Wizard, my cat. He was at my grandmother’s house in North Beach, where I’d stayed while helping my friend Gale reorganize her shop, the Mystic Eye. This had been followed by almost three days of wedding preparations. With all the activity, it was easiest just to camp out in North Beach, close to everyone. I live out on 30th Avenue, in the outer Richmond. My place is small, but I love it. I’m just a few blocks from China Beach and the Golden Gate straits, where the fog rolls in every afternoon and the foghorns lull me to sleep at night.

I knew Wizard wouldn’t be dealing with my absence well at all, in spite of the fact that my grandmother constantly feeds him treats. He usually climbs onto the bed with me as soon as I’m in it and his purring lulls me to sleep. Poor Wiz. I sent him mental kisses. We’ll both be home soon.

I heard footsteps and a door closing. The walls of the house were solid, but I was sure I heard Brooke downstairs in the garage calling Cassie back into the house. After that, all was quiet. I picked up the book I’d packed and settled in to read a few chapters. I was working my way through a study of astrological chart comparisons.

The page began to blur before my eyes and I must have drifted off. I slept until the explosions woke me.