Evening Stars (15 page)

Then he was standing and walking across the room. Naked. Her gaze dropped to his impressive ass as he left, then took in the full frontal as he returned.

He paused by the side of the bed. “Are you staying?”

The tone was questioning but tentative. So at odds with his usual cocky attitude. She looked at his face.

“The night?”

He nodded without speaking.

She would have guessed he preferred to sleep alone, so the question surprised her. “Do you want me to?”

He looked at her then. Something filled his blue eyes. Something that looked a lot like sincerity. “Yeah, I would.”

In that heartbeat, she realized he wasn’t out for a piece of ass. That, despite the attitude and good looks, he was just like everyone else. Looking to connect, to belong, to be accepted. Maybe not forever. Maybe, as he’d said, for the few months he was in town. But right now, that was plenty for her.

“Only if I get to be on top next time,” she said.

He grinned. “You just keep getting better and better.”

* * *

Saturday morning Averil worked in the store. Cindy took care of the customers, leaving Averil to sort through the box of jewelry they’d unearthed.

She knew almost nothing about how to tell real stones from fake. Cindy had found an old loop so Averil could look for a stamp that might indicate an artist or designer. Or if the metal was gold or silver. Very nice people actually stamped a piece when it was sterling silver or fourteen-or eighteen-karat gold.

Penny strolled around, exploring. She had settled into her new life easily. Averil couldn’t figure out why someone would have dumped her. She was housebroken, friendly and affectionate. She supposed there were awful people everywhere, and she should be happy she’d been able to save Penny.

She opened another shoebox filled with jewelry and began to sort them by type. Those with flaking stones or settings were obviously not the genuine article, but there were several gaudy pieces she thought might be the real thing.

The front door opened. Averil looked up and saw Nina walk in. Her sister looked slightly bemused, as if she hadn’t yet figured out it was morning. Not a surprise, considering Nina hadn’t come home the night before.

Nina glanced around the store, spotted her and came over. Penny hurried toward her, her long tail wagging. Nina paused to pet her.

“I didn’t know you were seeing someone,” Averil said, picking out a pair of earrings. The blue stone could be glass or it could be sapphire. She put them in the “maybe” pile.

Nina pulled out a stool and sat down. Her hair was combed, but she wasn’t wearing makeup and she had that “I haven’t showered yet” air about her.

“I’m not seeing anyone,” she said, then shook her head. “All right. I guess I am.”

“Can I assume the someone is a guy? Unless you’re taking after Mom these days. You didn’t come home. Or call.”

She waited for her sister to snap that it wasn’t her business, but instead Nina flushed. “Yes, well, I should have called. I’m sorry.”

Curiouser and curiouser, Averil thought. “So where were you?”

“Out. With a friend.” Nina paused. “A male friend.”

“Thanks for the clarification. Anyone I know?”

“I don’t think so. You, ah, did....” She cleared her throat. “No, you don’t know him.”

“Okay, then. You still have the glazed look. It must have been quite the night.”

Nina’s mouth twitched. “It was.” She picked up a brooch in the shape of a large rose. “This is hideous.”

“I agree. But I’m thinking the stones might be pink sapphires and rubies. I’m sorting as best I can. I thought we’d take everything to a jeweler and get a price on appraising it all.”

“If you think it’s worth it.”

“Some of the gold is stamped, so we know that’s genuine. A few of the items around here are valuable. Mom hated to price anything above twenty bucks. Cindy’s been doing research. Not everything is going to make the center stage of
Antiques Roadshow,
but some of it is worth more than it’s been priced.”

Nina rolled her eyes. “Are you sure that’s not wishful thinking?”

Just then Cindy walked past them carrying a box with three dolls poking out.

“Now, three hundred is for all of them, right?” the customer was saying.

“Yes. I’ll write up the invoice. Will that be cash or credit card? We don’t take checks.”

Nina turned back to Averil. “Three hundred dollars for dolls?” she asked in a low voice.

“I know. It’s crazy. Some of the lunch boxes are worth hundreds, too. There are some beautiful quilts, and we found several boxes of linens. I called Boston and asked her to stop by to give us her opinion on them and—”

Nina’s expression sharpened. “What do you mean you called Boston? Boston King?”

“She’s the only Boston I know.”

“You can’t call her.”

“Why on earth not? She’s a textile artist. I don’t expect her to know the value of anything, but I’ll bet she can spot which ones we need to be careful with and also give us the names of some local experts.”

Nina stood and put her hands on her hips. “You can’t
impose
on people like that.”

“I’m asking a friend.”

“Since when are you and Boston friends?”

“I’ve known her for years. I’ve taken art classes with her. We email every now and then. How can you not know this?”

“You
email
with her?”

Averil didn’t get the problem. “Why are you so upset?”

“She’s
my
friend. You’re talking to my friends.”

“Do you realize this is the third sentence in a row where your voice has gone up? You’re getting shrill. You’re also acting like a crazy person, Nina. I suppose I should tell you I also asked Deanna to come in and look at a few of the antiques. They might carpool, and I’ll be talking to them together. Can you stand it?”

“Go to hell,” Nina said loudly. She turned on her heel and left the store.

Averil stared after her until the front door of the store closed, then slowly shook her head. “That was the weirdest thing ever,” she told the dog. “Your Aunt Nina is turning into a loon. Sex is supposed to make you mellow. She must be doing it wrong.”

Penny wagged her tail.

Averil turned back to the box of jewelry, but instead of studying the next piece, she pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and texted Kevin.

Just had a run-in with the evil queen. She makes me tired.

What were you fighting about?

A good question, she thought.
I have no idea. She’s in a mood. You know how she gets.

I also know how YOU get.

Averil decided to take the comment in the spirit she was sure her husband meant it.
You’re saying I can be difficult.

That’s one word for it. Gotta go.

Okay. I love you.

She waited, but there was no response. Because he was busy, she told herself. There couldn’t be another reason.

* * *

Nina stepped out of the shower still annoyed with herself for letting Averil get to her. She shouldn’t be surprised, she told herself as she toweled off and reached for her body lotion. Of course her sister would start invading every aspect of her life. That’s what Averil did. Soon she would be working part-time at Andi’s office and pretending to be a nurse.

Averil had always weaseled her way in to whatever Nina was doing. Whether it was getting her own tiny uniform and flags for drill team or visiting nearly every weekend while Nina was at UW for the last two years of college. Everyone adored her sister. Everyone asked about her. Averil became the favorite.

Nina reminded herself that she and her sister had a strange sibling/maternal relationship, and of course there would be friction. That all those years ago, Averil had only been trying to fit in and be important to Nina. She wasn’t trying to make everyone like her better.

She reminded herself to relax. That she was an adult now and could handle what was going on. Her knee-jerk reaction wasn’t something she should allow herself to continue. Her friends would stay her friends, whether or not they had anything to do with Averil.

As Nina dressed, she remembered her ambivalence as a child. She’d been responsible for her sister and therefore wanted the best for her. But sometimes Averil made that difficult...or impossible. Complications, she thought, reaching for the blow-dryer. And because of her annoyance, she’d just burned through the last lingering tingles of well-being left over from her night with Kyle.

Unfair, she thought, picking up her brush. Last night had been so amazing. And unexpected. Kyle was an attentive lover and sure knew what he was doing. She’d felt cherished and satisfied. He’d been funny and easy to be with. She’d thought she might worry about her less-than-perfect body, but he’d seemed happy enough with her, so she’d decided not to care, either.

She finished with her hair and tidied up the bathroom, then made her way into the kitchen. Of course Averil had left her breakfast dishes in the sink, along with bowls and pans. Apparently carrying things all the way to the dishwasher, three inches away, was just too much to ask. There were...

Nina saw the plate on the kitchen table. On it were a stack of dark, chocolate brownies covered in plastic wrap. There was also a note, “I’m hoping you’re staying out all night with a man, big sis. So these are to keep up your strength. Xoxo.”

Nina closed her eyes and swore, then reached for one of the brownies. They were soft and nearly melted on her tongue. How was she supposed to stay mad now, she wondered as she ate the brownie, then thought about having a second.

Before she could figure out the complexity that was her relationship with her sister and her own need for sugar, the doorbell rang.

She crossed the living room, aware that her heart was pounding and she couldn’t stop smiling. Kyle, she thought happily. He’d said he was busy this weekend but maybe he’d—

She opened the door and was surprised at her visitor. “Dylan,” she said, stating the obvious.

“Hey, there’s a wine tasting down by the marina. Want to come with me?”

She thought about the dishes in the sink and how, aside from cleaning the house, she had no fun plans for the weekend beyond eating a batch of brownies her hips and thighs really didn’t need. Then she looked at her former lover and remembered how she’d felt in
his
arms all those years ago.

The unexpected image was nearly as potent as remembering her night with Kyle. Great—a couple of orgasms and she’d turned into a total slut.

“I’d love to,” she said. “Let me get my keys.”

She collected her purse, keys and a hoodie, and followed him out the door.

The late morning was sunny, but still cool. Summer was slow to arrive in the Pacific Northwest. The weather gradually cleared and there was less rain each month, but real warm temperatures often didn’t show up until late July or even August.

Despite the nip in the air, Dylan had the top down on his convertible. She laughed.

“Seriously? It’s barely sixty.”

“But it’s sunny,” he said with a shrug. “I have to take advantage of that.”

“You are such a guy.” She slipped on her hoodie and zipped it.

“Are you going to complain about your hair? Because I can put up the top.”

“You’d rather give up your car’s reason for being than listen to a woman complain about her hair?”

“Pretty much.”

“I can’t decide if that is noble or very, very sad.”

He grinned as he held open the passenger door. She got in and then twisted her long hair into a coil and tucked it under her hoodie.

“Leave the top down,” she told him. “I hate it when men over thirty start to sob.”

“But it’s okay if they’re twenty-nine?”

“They’re still maturing.”

He chuckled as he got into the driver’s side and started the engine. “Okay, young lady. Let’s get you drunk.”

“We sip at a wine tasting. We do not get drunk.”

“It’s okay to cry if you’re younger than thirty, and you can’t get drunk at a wine tasting. Are there other rules?”

“Dozens. I can send you a pdf later.”

They drove to his condo building and parked in his spot. They took the elevator to the ground floor, then walked out into the bright sun.

The grassy area between the marina and the duck boat rides had been roped off and there were booths and tables. Nina counted at least a dozen Washington wineries in attendance, some from as far away as Walla Walla.

Dylan led the way to the entrance and paid for the two of them. They were given colored bands for their wrists and handed a wineglass decorated with an event logo.

“I never get asked for ID anymore,” Nina said, as they strolled to the first booth. “It’s been years. Isn’t that sad?”

“You want to look twenty?”

She stared at him. “All women want to look younger.”

“Why? You’re what? Thirty? Talk to me when you’re pushing fifty.”

“Hey, what happened to the sympathetic guy who was worried about my hair?”

“I don’t get the age thing. You are what you are. Who cares about the number?”

“So speaks a man who has never read a fashion magazine.”

His green eyes crinkled with humor. “And yet I feel completely satisfied with my life. You look great. Why sweat it?”

“Just stop talking or I’ll hit you.”

“Violence. Unexpected and a little exciting.”

“Oh, please.” She was still laughing when they reached the first booth.

“Hi,” the woman behind the makeshift counter said. “Today we’re pouring our Merlot and our Malbec. The grapes are grown in the state. The weather in the Columbia Valley is perfect, with long sunny days and cold nights.”

Five minutes later Nina knew she was a fan of Malbec. “I know way more about growing grapes than I should,” she admitted as they moved toward the next booth. “I hate that it’s science. Winemaking should be a mystery with a hint of magic. It’s like finding out what’s in the secret sauce.”