Disclaimer: If I owned the sons of Ipswich, I wouldn't be writing. J
- -
I have to say this, Greg's sister shows initiative. She was so happy with the monetary freedom I gave her, she beat Jimmy's ass right in the hotel room and got my money wired to me, well, Alona's money. I still have her name and number in my book for my emergencies.
Mrs. Randall recapped the whole humiliating tale of Jimmy running off with his tale between his legs to her canasta group. I'm certain that he's gone for good with the whole business community understanding he's a cheat.
Freddy, my dad's old business manager and now mine, accepted working for Alona and I promised to help her with her financial reports, although, she's really much better at math than I am. No more accountants. I was proud of her and I told her as much.
Our mother was able to stay out of the whole affair. How she restrained herself I'll never know, but she let us handle the entire thing and barely flinched when Mrs. Randall's bloody tale was told. I was proud of her too.
- -
The next afternoon…
"My dad used to take me here when I was a little girl. We'd order hot tea and sit and read books in that corner booth over there." I motioned to the booth now occupied by a businessman on his fancy pants laptop. It was actually the same model as mine, so I kept from commenting.
As I stepped into line, Reid followed. "So, when you said we should get a drink, I didn't think you meant coffee." he said smiling.
"Actually," I clarified, "You suggested a drink, I merely agreed. Besides," I shrugged, "you said you were busy tonight. We're up." I ordered a black coffee and a shot of espresso, Reid ordered a regular coffee with 2 sugars. I smirked at him for no real reason and left him to grab the drinks while I harassed the businessman for the booth.
"Good job." Reid commented once we sat down.
I shrugged with no betrayal of conscience about what I had done. "What? I like regularity."
Reid nodded. "We all do." I made a face when I caught on to the constipation side of the comment. "So, Harvard?"
I nodded. "Technically, I can take over my dad's business without a degree, but it would really help me to expand."
"That's why you were talking to that Beckett guy?" he asked.
"Yeah. I'm fighting tooth and nail with this guy, Gavin, to build on the property."
Reid smiled. "What do you want to do with it?"
I laughed. "Well, I have to admit, a big part of it is screwing Gavin on his golf course idea."
"Old boyfriend or something?" Reid asked cautiously.
Grinning I answered, "Not in a million years. A man scorned, among other things. The golf course thing is just a way to kiss his father's ass and impress him at the same time. Though, I do admit, it was a good idea."
"The property is big enough?"
"Close but no cigar. Gavin already bought the surrounding land. That's why it would screw him." I said the last part with an evil smile and Reid just shook his head.
When he looked up, he continued, "You never said why you want the land."
I set down my coffee. "Stables." I said solemnly.
"Horses?"
I nodded. "My grandmother used to own some when I was younger. My dad had wanted to get some, but he never got around to it. He used to love riding with us at my gram's."
Reid looked at me for a moment. "Your dad is really important to you, huh?"
Shrugging, "I miss him. Everything I do is for him. I want him to be proud of me."
I saw his eyes glaze over for a second. "I know what you mean."
"Nuggets." I said randomly pulling him out of his spell.
"Huh?"
"What are you doin' tomorrow night?" I asked grinning.
He shrugged (a lot of shrugging going on). "Nothing I guess."
"Let's go out." Something flashed across his face. I couldn't place it, but I knew what it meant. I don't date. "I didn't mean it like dinner and a movie. I meant going to a bar. I know this great place. Doyle's. My friends and I've gone there for years."
Reid nodded, accepting the offer. Settled.
- -
They had made a night appointment for two reasons. 1) They didn't want anyone to see them walking into, as Reid so delicately put it, "Ms. Cleo's" office. And, 2) Tyler said he had read someplace that the moon helps direct power. Caleb bought it, so they had set up and evening appointment. The four boys had gone together. I expect is was a lot like why you bring some one with you to a doctor, to ask questions while you process.
Entering the shop front, they looked the place over. It was a lot less obvious as you would have thought. A lot of the stuff in the shop was of Wicca and pagan symbolism, and was specially designed for witchcraft, but no foggy mist, no crystal balls, no magic wands. It was very… subtle.
An older woman emerged from the back and smiled at the boy's appearance in the shop. "I thought I heard someone come in." she said with a smile.
Reid snorted. "Shouldn't you have seen us coming."
The psychic glared. "Do not assume to know how my powers work." She turned to the others and motioned for them to follow her to the back. This room was even more normal than the first. There was a worn soft pink couch in the corner and a 20 in TV facing it. There was a sports news program on that she quickly shut off. In the other corner, there was a card table that she had obviously already pulled up three extra chairs.
Pogue grinned. "So you did see us coming."
The woman shot him a smile as she motioned to the chairs. "Sit." They did. She looked at them all and then to Caleb and offered her hands. "Take my hands." she instructed. He did and she closed her eyes.
The psychic smiled. "You have great power. Do you know where you get it?" she asked eyes still closed.
Caleb shook his head and she smiled bigger before dropping his hands. "The girl is the key. She will help everything fall into place."
Reid watched her. The psychic still had her eyes closed. "What girl?"
"The one that almost died." she stated matter-of-factly.
"Kate?" Pogue asked praying for a no.
"What do you mean almost died?" Tyler questioned.
Reid looked up. "Isabella."
The woman smiled. "She doesn't yet know it, but she's the key."
Caleb looked guilty. "I almost killed her?" he said questioningly.
Laughing, "No child. She's stronger than you think. You didn't get her anywhere near death."
"Then who did?" Reid asked coldly.
He saw her hesitate, but opened her eyes opened glazed with tears. She answered grimly, "Her father."
- -
Sarah went to bed early so I figured Caleb was hanging with Reid. The sports report played in the background, but I wasn't really paying much attention since I really didn't care about anything but football. My laptop was stuck in my room and I didn't want to bother Sarah, so I just sat reading the latest issue of People and listening to my English notes on my Ipod. The phone rang two separate times, but I let it go to voicemail. I really didn't feel up for conversation. Instead, I set down the magazine, turned off the TV, and grabbed a towel heading downstairs.
- -