Chapter 60
RAINE
“Good morning, Leo.”
“Good morning, Miss Fischer.” He places my coffee in front of me after another staff member has helped me with my chair. “The gentlemen are out this morning.”
“Yes, Kieren has gone back to Crest Wing, Evander left for London, and Roark is checking on Mt. Tecorin today.”
“I have a castle scheduling question for you.”
“For me? Sure.” It’s weird. Leo’s never asked me anything about the castle.
“Being that the holiday is so important where you come from—”
“Christmas?”
“I was thinking of Halloween. Will the castle be celebrating it this year?”
“Halloween? I . . .” First, it’s hard to believe that it’s already Halloween. It’s also terrifying. I’m trying not to worry about not having the lightning, while at the same time, I’m falling even deeper in love with each of my guys. “What have you done in the past?”
“In recent years, the kitchen has made food and passed it out to a few children who come begging at the door.”
“It’s not begging Leo, it’s trick-or-treating.”
His head cocks to the side.
“Not begging. It’s cute. I think that’s a good idea. I’m sure the children liked it. What did the kitchen make?”
“Raclette in ramekins.”
“Potato and cheese in small casserole dishes?”
His bushy gray eyebrows shoot up.
“And they like that?” I can’t help the quirk of my lips.
Maybe the kids did. If that had happened back in my neighborhood at home, the sidewall of the castle would have been covered in rotten egg yolks, and smashed ramekins of potatoes, but these are Swiss children.
“Perhaps we could buy some candy or make some cookies. Give options. I didn’t realize trick-or-treating was a thing here. ”
“It’s relatively new here,” Leo says.
“Well, it can be a lot of fun, and it might be a good way to make up for some of the bad PR the guys have in the village. We could do a haunted house?”
The smile that spreads across Leo’s face isn’t what I expected at all.
“I’d be happy to help.”
“I would like that.” Leo steps toward the kitchen.
“Leo, there’s something else I’d like to ask you . . .”
Ijust need a sweater. The weather’s broken, and the collection room at 68 degrees no longer feels as wonderful as it did back in August. I quickly step to the back of my closet and grab one of the pieces of clothing from the other realm.
I shouldn’t, but the fabric is so much more comfortable, both soft and stretchy, warm and cool.
I’m punching my arm into the sleeve when a splotch of color catches my eye.
It’s not a splotch of color. Not at all.
It’s the Monet, the one from the guys’ office.
It’s hanging on my wall. I sink to the rug and stare up at it.
There’s a Monet in my bedroom. In. My. Bedroom.
How am I supposed to sleep at night now?
I head back down to the collection in a daze.
All afternoon while I’m working, I keep thinking about the haunted house for the village kids.
And how much fun it could be. I’m making good progress with the collection.
The reality I’ve come to accept is that proper conservation of a mass of art this big would take me a lifetime.
Heck, it could take two of me two lifetimes.
A good half of the room has been put in the new cabinets, and the rest of the paintings are at least stacked properly.
But I’ve yet to open the large boxes from galleries.
I’m just counting on the fact that a gallery knows how to send a painting and it’s safer in there than out here—unlike a hundred of their stranded friends.
I’m eating my lunch when Wren texts.
Wren: How is my happy sister?
Me: Happy. But it’s weird because I am.
Wren: How are your bosses?
Me: I don’t know.
I add a shrug emoji, and hit send.
Mostly because I can’t think of what to say. That Evander’s tongue is better than a flower vibrator? Or that I came twice while Roark rode me across the bed last week? Or that Kieren and I have the best conversations before dinner and he’s made me look at kitchen counters differently?
Wren: I’m guessing that means complicated?
Me: Very.
Wren: And?
Me: And I can’t say more.
Wren: Okay, okay. But if you want to talk about it, I’m here.
Me: Thank you. Love you. Where are you, anyway?
Wren: Sydney. It’s midnight. I’m going to bed soon.
Me: Okay.
Wren: But if you change your mind and want to tell me, I’ll totally answer.
Me: I won’t.
More like can’t but really, really want to. But it’s not something I can do.
Wren: One more thing. Did you see there was another anonymous buyer for another Monet? I’m just saying . . .
Me: Get some good sleep, Wren. When are you back in NYC?
Wren: Forty hours. We got here this morning. Have a good afternoon.
Me: Good Morning
Wren: Good Night
I smile at the words of our silly tradition. That’s the thing with Wren. She always knows what time it is where I am. But our insider joke fills me with her love.
Kieren strolls in. “Hello, beautiful.” He pulls me in for a kiss.
“You’ve been doing a lot of work. It’s a lot more put together in here since yesterday.
” He’s been away most days this week, going through the portal.
Roark’s been away a few evenings, and Evander will be away tonight.
But for the most part, the four of us have been inseparable.
He stops at the side of my desk, where the old desk chair used to be. I asked Leo to get Kieren a new chair, and it was dropped off right before lunch.
“Did you get that for me?” he asks.
“Yes. You looked so scrunched up in that old chair.”
Kieren tugs me in for a hug and lifts me off my feet and sits in it. “It’s perfect,” he says, holding me in his lap.
“I’m glad you like my surprise.” It’s hard to surprise the guys. They can afford anything. And really, this isn’t even something I bought him.
“I like everything about you, Raine.” He holds my gaze. “Are you almost done for the day?” I like the way Kieren’s eyes always travel up to the painting behind me. Every day when I gaze at it, I find something new too.
“I . . . I suppose I am. I started early this morning. I could be done.”
“Perfect.” He sets me on my feet and waits while I shut things down. Then Kieren takes my hand, and we walk down the south-side hallway.
“Leo told me you handed out potato casserole to children last Halloween?”
“Potato casserole?”
“Raclette?”
“Oh yes, Leopold makes the best raclette.” He blinks at me like it’s not a problem and why wouldn’t children like to have potato casserole?
“Right, well. I thought we could decorate some of the castle for Halloween and then get regular candy. Or even . . .”
“What?”
“Well, there’s this house near downtown where I grew up, and they give out full-size candy bars.”
“Not raclette?”
“No, I . . . I mean, I’m sure it was the best raclette around.”
“Raine?”
“Yes?”
“I know that the village children are expecting chocolate. But Leopold was in charge of it.”
I’m biting the inside of my cheek. Leo’s been so supportive and kind to me. And now I’ve made him feel awkward or bad about what he was doing.
“Raine?” Kieren’s tone drops as low as Roark’s. “What’s that look on your face?”
My sister and the apartment gals have told me over and over that my facial expressions give my thoughts away. That I’m transparent. But I’ve never had a guy tell me that. Not once. “It’s nothing.”
Kieren stops and takes both my hands in his. “No. What is it?”
“I . . . I just hope I haven’t hurt Leo’s feelings. That’s . . .” That’s the last thing I wanted to do. Leo’s becoming like the grandfather I never had. “Leo’s important to me, and the thought of hurting his feelings is horrible.”
“I’m sure you haven’t hurt his feelings.” Kieren kisses the top of my forehead.
“You’re sure?”
“Leopold is tougher than you think.” Kieren walks me to the foyer stairs.
The curtain over the portal is drawn shut.
“I have an email to send before dinner. Do you want to sit with me in the den? I believe your book is still there.” He smiles.
Yesterday, Evander took it out of my hands, placed it on the sofa next to me, and made stars burst behind my eyelids.
“I want to go talk to Leo. See you at dinner?”
“I will definitely see you at dinner.” His lips hit mine, and watching him walk into the den, I almost change my mind.
I find Leo in the kitchen, directing the kitchen staff.
“Miss Raine! I have done some research on American Halloween. It will be a fun project!” A stack of printouts flutter in his hand. “Look at all the things I’ve found. There’s even a store in the village. I would like to get some things today. They’re closed tomorrow.”
Relief fills me. Not only is he not upset but he seems thrilled. “I could go for you?”
“Oh, that would be wonderful. Let me find Percy.”