5. Chapter Five
Chapter Five
The Moonlit Corridor
RAFA
Rafa was just closing a sale for one of Claire’s statues of the Autumn Witches when his mother arrived with Aveline.
“Sorry we’re late,” his mother said as she held his arm and let her eyes wander throughout the display of artwork and sculptures.
“Very impressive,” Aveline commented as she examined the art. “We took a wrong turn, sorry for missing Sal’s speech.”
“No harm done. Sal’s just around the corner; come say hi.” He escorted them to Sal, who was speaking to her father, Thirdy.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Iris said, touching Sal’s arm and offering a warm smile. “Sal, congratulations and so sorry for being late.”
Sal squeezed Iris’s hand affectionately. “Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m glad you’re here. I know how busy you guys are.” She turned to her father and said, “This is my father, Thirdy. Dad, this is Mrs. Iris Tovar, Rafa’s mother, and Aveline Tovar, Rafa’s eldest sister.”
His mother turned to Sal’s father. “Mr. Poe, you must be so proud of her.”
“We finally meet, Mrs. Tovar. And yes, when Sal sets her sights on something, nothing stops her,” Thirdy said, shaking his mother’s hand and nodding to Aveline.
“Charmed to meet you both.” Soon, Sal’s mother joined them, along with Nora.
Sal flashed a smile that didn’t reach her eyes when they approached.
Rafa was quick to pick up on her unease. He moved closer and squeezed her hand before letting it go again. “Perfect timing! Mom and Achi, this is Sal’s mother, Dottie, and her younger sister, Nora,” he said. “Mrs. Poe, this is—”
“Yes, we know about you and your family.” Dottie grinned, her shiny outfit commanding everyone’s attention.
“You have?” asked Aveline.
“Mom—” Sal began.
“Of course! We read one magazine that featured you and your siblings,” she said to Aveline. “They say you’re the new generation of quiet wealth. You must be very proud, Mrs. Tovar,” she said, turning to his mother.
His mother’s soft smile remained as she eyed Sal and said, “Yes, everyone must be so proud of Sal. It’s an amazing exhibit. We were just saying how sorry we were that we missed her opening speech.”
Dottie let out a chuckle. “I’m sure you have more pressing things to do.”
Nora, who had been listening off to the side, stifled a giggle of her own.
Aveline gave Rafa a thoughtful expression, but before he could change the topic, Sal said, “Oh, I just remembered. I have someone asking about one painting. I’ll just circle back to them.
” He tried to meet her gaze, but she avoided eye contact, maybe because she did not want him to notice her unease.
She said her quick thanks and disappeared into the crowd.
Aveline gave Rafa a tight smile when Sal left, as though telling him to give her some space. She was perceptive as always, and the best Rafa could do was steer the conversation into friendlier territory.
SAL
There was a hidden moonlit corridor in Autumn Town that Sal sometimes visited to gather her thoughts.
She snuck into the corridor, breathing out a sigh of relief once she found her favorite spot.
Leaning against the marble wall, she gazed at the moon and reflected, Thirty-five years old, and Mom’s subtle digs still affect me. She shook her head.
Then a figure in the shadows moved, and she turned to it instinctively, standing upright. “Who’s there?” she gasped, taking a few steps away.
“Wait...” called a deep voice.
A striking figure in a tailored suit stepped out of the shadows. It was Harmon Moon. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I wandered around and ended up here,” he said, stopping a few feet away, as though careful not to startle her even more. “The moon grabbed my attention.” His tone was soft as he placed his hands in his pockets. “Do you come here often?”
Sal studied him for a moment; by his steady gait and measured distance, he looked like he meant no harm. She took a deep breath, and felt herself relax. “Yes. To clear my head.” She sat on one of the stone seats, gazed at the moon, and then at Harmon, who had taken to facing the moon as well.
He nodded. “I can see why. The last time I walked through a corridor like this, I was in Italy, where they call this structure a loggia.” His voice was deep and soothing. “It’s a beautiful place to think.”
The only man Sal allowed herself to be alone with was Rafa. But as Harmon inched closer, she didn’t feel the need to remove herself. She felt her heartbeat quicken, and a flow of intrigue bubbled from within her when he stopped nearly two feet away.
“I’ve never been to Italy, but thanks for the info.”
“Your fiancé never brought you?” he asked, sounding sarcastic. It was enough for Sal to give him a wry look.
“He would if he had time, but he’s very busy, and I’m very busy with this…” Sal said, waving her hand at the loggia, as Harmon had called it.
“That’s a shame,” he said under his breath.
“Why so?”
“Well, if it were me, I’d make time to bring you wherever you wanted to go.”
Sal felt her cheeks go warm. “A practiced charmer, I see,” she said, trying not to sound too taken with his appeal.
He bowed his head as he grinned again, and a pair of dimples emerged. This was terrible. Sal loved a handsome man with dimples. “Do you need company?” he asked. He leaned against the marble wall, hands in his pockets, while the moonlight illuminated his attractive face.
“No, I’m the only company I need for now. That and the moon,” she answered with a smile. “But you’re welcome to stay.”
After a moment of silence, Harmon spoke again. “I saw a painted piece from the collection of Ms. Liang. Were you two very close?”
“Like sisters,” she said, still looking up at the moon.
“I’m sorry for your loss. But something tells me that’s not the reason you’re alone out here.”
Sal gave him a knowing look. “A charmer and an empath.” She grinned with a slight chuckle. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Nah, I’m just nosy,” he joked. “But you were brilliant up there during your speech. I hope nothing anyone says makes you forget it.”
“Okay, I’ll take that, Mr. Moon.”
“Harmon,” he corrected her.
“Sal,” she responded.
Harmon blinked. “Sal…” he breathed, and her heart skipped a beat at hearing him say her name. “I’ll leave you to your thoughts and with your moon then,” he said, pushing himself away from the wall and departing from the corridor.
She remembered he had wandered there by mistake. “Do you know your way back?” she asked, but when she turned, he had already gone.
***
A few moments after she left the moonlit corridor, Sal found Rafa in the crowd, speaking with Willow and Auden.
“You two should really check your phones more often,” Willow said with a sigh as Sal approached them. “We need a toast! We’ve officially sold The Art Cards from Nowhere.”
“So soon?” Sal gasped. “It’s only been a few hours.”
“Who was the buyer?” Rafa asked.
“The buyer wishes to remain anonymous until the collection’s delivery,” she recalled. “It was sketchy at first. I was apparently talking to a representative—but they offered to pay in full after signing the paperwork, and they did.” Willow pulled out a check for an enormous sum.
“My God, Willow, that’s three times the asking price!” Sal said.
Willow nodded. “It’s a manager’s check,” she revealed, “which makes me wonder what type of person can request a manager’s check to be drafted at this hour and this quickly.”
“Who indeed,” Rafa agreed, looking lost in thought.
Willow clicked her tongue. “Are you sure none of your rich eccentric friends were just feeling a little generous tonight, Rafa?”
Rafa gave an awkward smile. “Not sure any of them would be that generous. Looks like this person really wanted the collection.”
“They could be my worst enemy for all I care, and I’d still be relieved,” Sal exclaimed. This was such great news; now Sal wouldn’t have to worry about keeping Autumn Town afloat without Rafa’s help.
Just then, a scrawny guy emerged from the crowd and handed a form to Willow. “The delivery form, Miss Nolan,” he announced. Willow took the form from him with a smile and a nod. It was the form she had the buyer’s representative fill out. What she saw made her eyes widen in surprise.
Sal inched closer to Willow. “What is it?” She inspected the form. “It says the buyer lives at…Cedarthorne Estate?” she announced. “That old mansion?”
“Yes, the estate beyond the emerald lake,” Willow answered, eyes still glued to the form.
“Cedarthorne?” Auden repeated. “Isn’t that where all the ghost stories about the witches originated?”
“Yup,” Willow raised her brows. “And it looks like Sal and Rafa are going to deliver it there,” she said, offering Sal the form.
Sal took it slowly. “You’re not coming with us?” she asked.
“No,” Willow replied and jutted out her lips.
“Why not?” Rafa asked.
“That place is haunted.”
“I didn’t know you were afraid of haunted houses, Willow.” Rafa snorted.
“Well, that place is an exception,” she said, shaking her head. “Good luck.”
If there was any hint of caution in Willow’s voice, it didn’t register.
All Sal knew was that her days of worrying about whether she could keep Autumn Town afloat were over for now, and no haunted house would take that away.
It’s just a quick delivery, she thought; nothing would go wrong. So for now, they would celebrate.
She grabbed a glass of wine from a roving server and hoisted it up. “Cheers!” she said, and they clinked their glasses and enjoyed the rest of the night.