Chapter 4

Two months later Duncan was browsing an estate sale in Massachusetts. With Prue's help, his reputation for quality merchandise was building at a nice pace. Once word got out that Prue was working for Bay Street Antiques, many of her Buckland clients became regulars.

True to his word, they worked out a schedule that allowed Prue time to take advantage of the early morning and late afternoon sunlight for taking pictures. Her passion for photography was clearly evident in the photos she showed him weekly. She had an instinct for looking at everyday scenes with a twist to reveal unusual points of view. Prue even combined her two loves by creating a comprehensive database of the store's inventory including photographic records which they converted into a catalogue.

Now that things were getting established, Duncan decided to go on a small buying tour. Prue agreed to watch the store telling him to have some fun but be back soon. While visiting Connor MacLeod, Duncan convinced his kinsman and fellow immortal to come to several estate sales. At the moment, Connor was examining an 18th-century walnut chest.

I wonder what Prue will think of the latest shipment of goods, Duncan thought checking his watch. After calculating the time difference, he took out his cell phone.

Prue just finished opening the shop when the phone rang. She smiled knowingly as she picked up the receiver.

"Bay Street Antiques," she answered.

"Hello, Prue," Duncan said.

"Hi! You're not checking up on me, are you?"

"Never. How are things there?"

"Things are fine. I sold the ceramic elephant yesterday."

"You sold Elmer?" Duncan repeated referring to the nickname Phoebe christened the unattractive statue that somehow appeared in the store's inventory. "I never thought we'd sell that piece. Prue, you're a gem. How can I repay you?"

"Hire another part-time person so I can concentrate on my photography."

"Depending how well we do with the shipment that should be arriving later today, you might get your wish."

"Will I like the new shipment?"

"Oh, I think you'll like it a lot," Duncan assured her. "Anyway, I've got to go now. Have fun."

"Bye, Duncan," Prue said and hung up the phone.

Things were progressing nicely over the past two months. The shop's reputation was steadily growing, and after selling Elmer yesterday, Prue felt like she could sell anything.

Although he valued her expertise, Duncan also knew how much she wanted to become a professional photographer and supported her efforts.

On a personal note, Duncan and Richie somehow became the brothers she and her sisters never had. None of them could quite figure out how or when it happened, but it seemed to work. They had established a pattern of having dinner together at the Halliwells' Victorian home twice a month. The men pitched in at P3 occasionally. Piper catered several dinner parties for Duncan and his clients. While trying to analyze Richie using the techniques she had learned in her psychology course, Phoebe convinced him to enroll in a few classes at the college. Phoebe even put up with Duncan's casual interrogations about her dates.

Thankfully, the three witches had few confrontations with evil recently, and neither man was around to witness it though they had come close. Hours before Duncan and Richie were due for supper, a demon attacked the women. They dispatched it with relative ease and cleaned up the evidence before their company arrived.

Still, the Halliwells knew it was only a matter of time before Duncan or Richie caught them using their powers. The witches felt a bit guilty about keeping secrets from the two men but saw little choice. They could only hope their friends would understand when the truth came out.

A few hours later, the shipment arrived. Prue's eyes lit up like a kid's at Christmas as she opened the first crate. She smiled as she took a quick inventory of the things Duncan had sent and did a rough estimate of the value. She was already making a list in her mind of potential buyers.

"So, how is the incomparable Miss Halliwell?" Connor asked Duncan after catching the tail end of the phone call. He was still unsure of the wisdom of Duncan's relationship with the Halliwells. It had been his experience that forming close relationships with mortals tended to make matters unnecessarily complicated. It was a lesson Duncan never seemed to accept.

"Things are fine," Duncan said knowing Connor's feelings about his situation, "The store is well on its way to becoming a fixture in San Francisco's antique world thanks to Prue."

"Why is it that in 400 years you still have trouble acknowledging the value of a low profile?" Connor asked.

"Stop worrying," Duncan said looking at an oak desk with matching bookcases.

"Tell me how all this happened," Connor ordered.

"I'm not sure exactly how it happened," Duncan confessed. "I was hestitant at first, but the Halliwells treat Richie and I like part of the family, and it's a nice feeling. You should try it sometime."

Connor rolled his eyes as they walked in silence for a few minutes. "Ok," he said. "So tell me about this new family of yours."

"Well, I've already told you about Prue," Duncan said wondering why Connor didn't just drop the subject. "Piper, the middle sister, is one of the sweetest women I've met in a long time. Phoebe's the youngest. Her free spirit and energy remind me of Amanda.

Heaven help San Francisco if those two were ever to get together. The resulting chaos would make the 1906 earthquake look like a tremor."

Shaking his head, Connor asked, "do they know?"

"No. Unlike Seacouver, San Francisco is fairly quiet," Duncan answered. Both he and Richie felt a bit guilty for keeping secrets from the women but saw little choice.

"It's inevitable, you know," Connor said pointing out the obvious. "It's simply a matter of time."

"We'll deal with it when it happens," Duncan assured his kinsman. Too be honest, however, he wasn't sure which of them was less convinced.