“Excuse me, but I just wanted to go over the weekend plans.” Cullen folded his arms and gave her a look.

  “Sorry. There is something bugging me, and I just can’t figure it out.”

  “That’s what you said earlier.” Cullen softened a bit. “Have you tried drawing something?” he asked.

  Luna picked up her first drawing.

  “A question mark,” Cullen noted. Then she showed him the next one. “Two question marks.”

  “I hope it doesn’t mean we are going to have money problems.” Luna sighed.

  “Doubtful,” Cullen said. “Our cash flow is good, and I have a lot of jobs ahead.” He paused, knowing his next few words might set her off. “What if you stop obsessing about what you don’t know and focus on what you do know?”

  Luna tilted her head and looked up at her brother. “Have you met me?”

  He grunted. “You got a point, Sis. Sure you’re okay, though?”

  “Yeah. It will eventually reveal itself to me.” She sighed.

  “See? Give it some time to percolate in that fertile brain of yours.”

  “Thanks, Cul.” She stretched. “So tell me more about this new area you want to explore? I didn’t know you had an interest in classic cars.” She peered at him.

  “Maybe it’s my age, but I’m finding things that have been around for a long time have value.” Cullen wasn’t lying about that. “Furniture, lamps, sconces. Why not auto interiors?”

  “Well, you’ve done a lot of work with leather and reupholstery. I guess it makes sense,” Luna said thoughtfully. “Have any idea where you want to start?”

  “Not really. I figured I’d look around. Talk to people. Find out the process, steps, do some networking. The usual.” Cullen was beginning to think this actually could be a good idea. At least worth looking into for real.

  “Chris is coming around three, right?” Luna asked.

  “Yeah. We’ll head over to the car show and then grab some dinner.”

  “A guys’ night out?” Luna teased.

  “You could say that. Chris and I haven’t spent a lot of time together for a while. It’ll be good to catch up.”

  “I hear ya. We haven’t seen each other in three weeks.”

  Cullen stopped suddenly. “Oh gee, Sis, sorry. I didn’t mean to impede on your time with Chris.”

  “No problem. I’m glad you invited him. I was going to see what he was doing this weekend anyway. Chi-Chi and I are going to have dinner together, so we can all meet up at my place afterward.”

  “Sounds like a good plan.” He kissed her on the top of her head.

  Luna touched the spot. Odd. He hadn’t done that in a very long time. “Cul? Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yep. Couldn’t be better.” He smiled and walked toward the adjoining door to his showroom.

  Then she remembered and called out, “Chris said to make it a turquoise boutonniere.” She scrunched up her face.

  “Stupid joke.” With that, Cullen knocked on the doorjamb, turned, and left.

  Luna shook her head and looked down at Wylie sitting at her feet. “What do you think, pal? Is it me, or is everyone acting a bit off?”

  He lay down on the floor and put his paws over his eyes.

  “Just as I thought.” She bent over and ruffled the fur around his ears.

  * * *

  Chi-Chi nervously clicked on her walkie-talkie to speak with Cullen.

  “I cannot pretend about things,” she said heavily.

  “What’s wrong?” Cullen asked.

  “I almost spilled the rice with your sister.”

  “Spilled the beans,” Cullen corrected.

  “Whatever you call it. I do not like lying to people.”

  “Why? What happened?”

  “Nothing, really, but when she told me Christopher was coming this weekend, I said I was happy it worked out. Then she asked me ‘what worked out,’ so I told her I said a prayer that she and I could get together.” She sighed. “I feel so foolish.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Luna is a very spiritual person, and she advocates creative visualization. Manifestation. You know, that kind of stuff. She probably took it along those lines. You were thinking about it, and it happened.” Cullen was trying to soothe Chi-Chi’s angst.

  “But seriously, Cullen, if you want me to be a part of any mischief, I am not going to be able to lie.”

  Cullen laughed. “You have the highest level of integrity. That’s why everyone loves you.” Then he froze. Had he ever told her he loved her? For real kind of love? Sure, there were many times when any and all of them would sign off with “love you,” but had he ever looked into her eyes and told her exactly what she meant to him? Maybe what he should really be refurbishing was his ability to express his true feelings. Unlike his unfiltered sister, Cullen was always buttoned up, whether it was his shirt or his feelings. Maybe it was time for a change in wardrobe, physically and emotionally.

  Chi-Chi noticed the pause in Cullen’s usual chatter and realized he was considering what he’d actually said. But in her heart, she knew they all loved each other, and they were lucky to have such a strong bond of friendship. She and Cullen were romantically involved, but they’d never talked about where their relationship was going. Maybe it was time for that conversation.

  Chapter Four

  Stillwell Art Center

  Tuesday, Late Afternoon

  Luna’s Dresser

  Cullen felt a little creepy about going behind his sister’s back with the ruse of wanting to get into classic car refurbishing in order to play matchmaker. Not that Luna and Chris needed to be matched, but Cullen was concerned about his sister’s mood and the fact that she and Chris hadn’t seen each other in three weeks. Cullen knew from experience that long-distance relationships were not easy to maintain.

  He thought the world of Chris, but he sensed Luna’s growing discomfort. She would never admit it. At least not to him. Maybe not even to herself. Cullen always wondered how she could be so brilliant when it came to reading other people, but so clueless about her own relationships with men. But Chris seemed to be the exception, though the distance and lack of commitment were worrisome. Not that Cullen should judge. He was as guilty of ignoring the elephant in the room as anyone else. If Luna and Chris had talked about a commitment, she’d never mentioned it to him. The class ring and “going steady” was cute, but it wasn’t an engagement ring. He shrugged. It really wasn’t any of his business, but Luna was his sister, and he adored her. What he really needed to focus on was his own relationship and what it meant to him and to Chi-Chi. But that would wait until the weekend, after he’d had time to rehearse what he was going to say to her. First, he had to figure out exactly what that was.

  The buzzer from the rear loading dock rang. Cullen went to the back of the workshop and opened the door. A small pickup truck had pulled in.

  “Hey, Cullen! Look at you—all grown up, with a business in this fancy place!”

  “Duke! How the heck are you?” Cullen grasped the seventy-something man by the shoulders. Back when Cullen’s parents had their antique business, Duke was their delivery driver. When Luna and Cullen were kids, Duke would let them ride in the flatbed of the truck and take them to a pumpkin farm or an apple orchard. No one would imagine doing that now, and it was nearly horrifying to think about what could have happened back then. Like drinking out of the garden hose, thought Cullen. “Come in! Come in!” He slapped Duke on the back.

  “This is some setup you got here.” Duke smiled, showing off his two gold molars. He took in the large workshop with its pristine workbench and wall of tools. He whistled. “Never thought you’d be in the furniture fixin’ business.” He shoved his hands into his overall pockets and marveled at the space.

  “Yeah, well, I always had an interest, and along came an opportunity, so I took it.” Cullen nodded. “Follow me. There’s someone who will be very surprised to see you.”

  The two men walked slowly from the workshop through the showroom, Duke stopping at almost every piece of restored furniture. “You do all this yourself?” he asked in awe.

  “Yessir.” Cullen pointed up to the ceiling fixtures. “Got busy with some lighting, too.”

  “Man-oh-man. You’re some kind of wizard there, kid.” Duke’s head was moving in all directions. He didn’t know what to look at next. “How’d you come into all this?”

  “Well, you know my folks wanted to retire and had a lot of inventory. I didn’t want to be solely in the antiques business, so I started with what they had on hand, then began working on my own projects. Almost everything here is my work. I only have a couple of pieces left from their business.”

  “Man-oh-man,” Duke repeated. “They sure must be proud.”

  “I hope so. You know my dad. Not much for touchy-feely stuff or handing out compliments.”

  “Yeah, but you always knew somehow he was proud of you. And your sister. By the way, what is she up to these days?”

  “Follow me.” Cullen walked to the door that opened to Luna’s café.

  “Duke!” Luna squealed with pleasure when she spotted them. “What on earth are you doing here?” She gave him a huge hug, staying clear of his scruffy beard.

  “Your brother asked me to deliver something that was in storage.” He looked around Luna’s place with the same awe he’d exhibited at Cullen’s. “This place yours?”

  “It is.” Luna grinned. “Cullen figured if he kept me close by, he could make sure I stayed out of trouble. Welcome to the Namaste Café.”

  Duke stopped short when he looked out to the atrium. “Holy smoke! I heard about this place but never came by. Thought it might be a little too hoity-toity for me.” His jaw was agape. “This here place has a bunch of artist types, food, and all that other stuff?”

  Luna laughed. “Yep, and all that other stuff.” Duke was not quite a hillbilly. “How about a cup of coffee?”

  “I don’t want to put you out.”

  “Duke, this is a café. This is what I do. I make coffee.” She left out the psychic stuff. She didn’t want to spook the man. She had done that enough times, like when she was eleven and told him things she could not possibly know, such as how his brother had stolen five hundred dollars from Duke’s coffee can when he believed he had it well hidden in the back of the freezer. She’d thought he was going to have a heart attack when she asked him, “What happened to the frozen money?” He never answered her. It was hard enough for him to admit it to himself, let alone say it out loud: “My brother is a cheat.” He simply turned pale, got in his truck, and drove away.

  Cullen pulled out a chair. “Have a seat.”

  “I don’t want to take you away from your work.” Duke peered into the atrium and noticed the place was empty.

  Luna was reading his mind again. “The center is closed on Monday and Tuesday, but I’m usually here and keep the coffee going for anyone else in the building. I’ll give you a tour after our coffee. What would you like? Cappuccino? Espresso? Latte?”

  “Them’s too fancy fer me. Got a regular cup of java in that fancy machine?”

  “Sure do. Cream and sugar?” Luna asked.

  “Is there any other way? I mean besides all that other stuff?” He snorted.

  “Coming right up.” Luna turned toward the coffee maker and began whipping up a latte for Cullen. She also brewed a regular cup of java for Duke. While Duke was gawking at the interior landscaping and the scope of the center, she grabbed a couple of scones and brought everything to the table.

  “How’s the family, Duke? Still living in North Carolina?” Cullen asked.

  “My daughter and her hubby moved to Georgia. He got a job in Savannah working for Gulfstream Aerospace. I’m glad I made that girl go to college so she could meet a fine man. And she did. She’s a teacher, you know.”

  “I remember when she first went to school. You were so proud,” Luna said.

  “Yep. Someone in this family needed an edge-u-cation.” He slapped his knee. “Still waiting for them grandbabies.” He slurped his coffee and then shook his head. “But I don’t think that’s gonna happen. But it’s okay, I guess. They’re happy.”

  Luna patted him on the hand. “That’s all that matters. And health, of course. Speaking of health, you’re looking pretty fit!”

  “Well, I try to walk a few miles every day. And then I help out at the local farms. It’s hard to find good workers, so I lend a hand when I can. Gotta be a good neighbor.”

  Duke was a kind spirit. He’d worked for the Bodmans for over twenty years and was generous with his time. He charged a flat fee, even if the job took twice as long as he planned. But the Bodmans were appreciative and always gave him a liberal bonus each year. They also appreciated his babysitting skills, such as the times he would take the kids for a joyride while the Bodmans had business to tend to.

  “So what did you bring for Cullen?” Luna asked.

  Duke shot Cullen a look. He knew it was supposed to be a surprise, but maybe Cullen had already told her.

  Cullen cleared his throat. “Just something I came across when I checked the storage unit a few weeks ago. I’m trying to clear it out little by little.”

  “So you’re bringing stuff here,” Luna teased.

  “Only stuff that’s salvageable. And one thing at a time.” Cullen peered over his coffee mug. It was true that he’d wanted this to be a surprise—well, it still would be when Luna saw it. He’d been hoping he could refurbish it first, but knowing Luna, she would have sniffed his secret out sooner rather than later. Besides, he might do something to it that she wouldn’t like. Yes, it was better to show her right away.

  As they were finishing up their coffee, Luna spotted Chi-Chi in the distance and waved her over. A beautiful cloud of colors floated across the atrium.

  “Lordy. Who is that?” Duke asked in awe. “Some kind of princess?”

  “You could say that.” Luna winked at Cullen. “She’s from Nigeria. Makes beautiful jewelry.” Luna got up from her chair, followed by Cullen, then Duke.

  “E káàrò!” Chi-Chi nodded to everyone. Cullen got up and pulled a chair over to the table.

  Cullen introduced her. “This is Lebici Stone. Chi-Chi, this is Duke, a longtime friend of the family.”

  She reached across the table to shake his hand.

  “You are some kind of beautiful woman,” Duke said as he shook her hand. He couldn’t stop staring at her.

  “Thank you,” Chi-Chi replied with dignity, her head held high.

  “Luna tells me you’re from Nigeria?” Duke still hadn’t blinked.

  “Yes. My family came to the States when I was young. We still have some relatives there, and my brother visits several times a year.”

  Duke was enthralled. “And you make jewelry?” He was staring at her amethyst bracelet.

  “I do. This is one of my pieces.” She smiled.

  “Well, alls I can say is your work is as beautiful as you are.”

  Cullen glanced over at Luna and grinned. He couldn’t remember ever seeing Duke this enamored with anyone. It was a nice surprise.

  Chi-Chi gave Duke a humble nod. “Thank you. You are very kind.”

  Duke slapped his leg again. “How about you take me for a tour of this place?” He stood and crooked his arm. Chi-Chi looked alarmed, but Cullen gave her a reassuring nod and whispered, “He’s harmless.”

  The four of them paraded out the door into the sunlit atrium with Wylie in tow. Duke stopped short and let out a low whistle. “I heard lots of things about this here place, but just couldn’t picture it in my mind. Imagine a huge tree like that on the inside?” It was obvious Duke was not a worldly man. Maybe that’s why the Bodman family was so fond of him. He was the opposite of pretentious and looked at most things with wonder. He wasn’t a stupid man. Just far from sophisticated.

  Chi-Chi immediately took to his kind nature and began to explain all the different shops and artists as they strolled around the inside perimeter. As they walked to the automatic door that led to the patio, two German shepherds came bounding toward them. Duke let out a shriek. “What in the Sam Hill is going on?”

  Chi-Chi squeezed Duke’s arm. “Meet Ziggy and Marley,” she said. The dogs stopped abruptly and sat at attention. Cullen reached down to pet them, and Wylie gave them both a headbutt. “They belong to Ellie, the genius behind this endeavor.”

  “Scared the bejeezus out of me.” Duke was clutching his chest.

  “Sorry. We’re so used to them, we forget they can be scary for people who don’t know them,” Luna explained. She reached down and gave both dogs a “good boy” scratch behind the ears.

  Ellie wasn’t far behind the two dogs. “Hi, everyone!” She waved.

  “And that is Ellie Stillwell,” Chi-Chi explained further.

  “Hello,” Ellie said immediately.

  “Howdy, Miss Ellie.” Duke chuckled, remembering the TV show Dallas from the 1980s. “So tell me, who shot J.R.?” He couldn’t help voicing the compelling question that 83 million TV viewers once asked.

  Ellie laughed. She had lost count of how many times people had asked her that question. “It was Kristin. And he deserved it.”

  Everyone laughed. Even though the show had first aired almost a decade before Cullen and Luna were born, it was a well-known pop-culture classic.

  Cullen introduced Duke to Ellie, explaining his association with the Bodman family and their business.

  “Nice to meet you. I see you’ve already met Ziggy and Marley,” Ellie said.

  “Sure have. Gave me a good scare, they did.” He smiled as they shook hands.

  “Sorry about that. They’re really sweet unless someone tries to hurt anyone.”

  “I’m sure of that, ma’am.” Duke flashed his gold teeth again.

  “We were about to give Duke a tour,” Cullen said.

  “Excellent. I’m going to attempt to learn a new software program. Enjoy!” Ellie walked over to the large staircase that led to the second floor of the gallery, with Ziggy and Marley wagging their tails behind her.