“The Fraziers driving you crazy?”
She didn’t think she needed to say more about her and Colin. She’d said too much already. “The family does visit rather often.”
“With or without their clothes?” Tris asked.
“It’s too early to laugh about it,” Gemma said, but she did smile.
“You want more chocolate?”
“No, that was enough. I better get back to work—if Rachel’s had time to remove Colin, that is.”
“Sure,” Tris said, but he had his head down and he made no motion to move.
Gemma looked at him. “Is there something you want to tell me? Or ask me?”
“Heartwishes,” he said. “Have you found out anything more about that?”
“No, and I’ve been searching. Did Colin tell you about it?”
“Yes.” He looked at her. “Mind if I tell you a story?”
“I would love to hear anything that takes my mind off my own problems.”
“Colin and I had breakfast the day he left for the fire and he told me about the Heartwishes Stone. We laughed about it. That night I told my sister and niece. I meant it as entertainment, but Nell believed every word I said, and she got quite upset. She said that she’s part Frazier and the wish from her heart was that her father would come home and that they’d get to stay in Edilean. She had Addy and me stand up, and repeat her wish three times. She said she wanted to make sure the Heartwishes Stone heard us.”
When he was silent, Gemma waited. He seemed to have more to say.
“Last night Addy got a call that her husband had been shot in Iraq and—”
“Oh!”
“No, it’s okay. He’s all right, or will be. He’s been flown to a hospital in Miami. My parents live in Sarasota, and they drove down there immediately. Jake will be fine, but his injury is bad enough that he’ll be discharged from the army. He’ll be home for good in about a month.”
“That’s wonderful,” Gemma said.
“There’s more. Before Jake signed up, he was a top car mechanic, and he had a good job in Detroit. The owner of the garage where he worked said that when Jake returned, the job would be waiting for him.” Tris looked at Gemma. “The morning after Nell made her wish, we heard that the place where Jake was supposed to go back to work blew up. It was at night and no one was hurt, but now Jake has no job to return to.”
Gemma leaned back in her chair and looked at him. “What else?”
“On the same day we heard about the explosion in Detroit, Mr. Frazier’s head mechanic at his service center just outside of Edilean gave notice that in four months he’s moving to California to be near his wife’s relatives. Mr. Frazier called me to say that Jake had the job if he wanted it. That was a few days ago, then last night the call about Jake’s injury came in. It’s as though Nell’s wish came true, in less than a week, and all of it happened after she made her wish.”
“You do know that it’s all coincidence, don’t you?” Gemma said.
“I’m sure it is, but then today . . .” He looked hard at her.
“You mean me?”
Tris nodded. “Yes. Rachel told me—”
Gemma drew in her breath. “That Mrs. Frazier made her husband wish for grandchildren.”
“Right.”
Gemma swallowed. “But wouldn’t they come from Jean?”
“Colin won’t tell me what’s going on with her, but what if they did stay together?” There was anger in his voice. “Will she commute back and forth to Richmond?”
“I saw a law office here in town. Maybe she could—”
“Infiltrate MAW—the law firm of McDowell, Aldredge and Welsch? My cousin is one of the partners, and I can tell you that they’d never let an outsider in.”
“But she’d be Colin’s wife. She’d belong,” Gemma said, even though the words stuck in her throat.
“It won’t happen,” Tris said firmly.
Gemma ran her finger over her plate to get the last bit of chocolate, and put it in her mouth. “How long have you disliked Jean?”
“Since she ran her hand up my thigh at a party.”
“Did you tell Colin?”
“I tried to, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Gemma thought about what he’d told her. “Look, I’m sure this Heartwishes thing is just a family myth. If it were true, the Fraziers would have been granted wishes for centuries, but I can’t see that they have. Or have they?”
Tris gave a bit of a grin. “No. If it had been up to Mrs. Frazier, her daughter would never have attended medical school. Her wish would have made Ariel stay in Edilean, get married, and she’d have six kids by now. And if Mr. Frazier had his way, all of his children would be crazy about cars and want to take over the family business.”
“It’s a good thing there is nothing that does grant wishes, isn’t it?” Gemma said. “Everyone’s wish would conflict with everyone else’s.”
“Not to mention people getting angry and wishing ill on others,” Tris said.
Gemma looked at him. “And what about you?” she asked. “If Nell is part Frazier, so are you. If you did have a wish, what would it be?”
“I . . .” He leaned back in his chair and didn’t seem inclined to say any more.
“I told you about my stupidity with Colin, so you can tell me your secrets.”
“Yeah, but I’m a doctor. I’m used to people’s secrets.”
“And I’m an historian. I’m used to two-hundred-year-old secrets.”
He smiled. “All right. I’m looking for her.”
“Who?”
“The one they write all the songs and novels about. My sister says I’m too romantic, but I feel that I’ll know her when I see her.” He took a breath. “And I want her to like me for more than what I do or what I look like.” He looked down at his plate for a moment, then back at Gemma. “Maybe the Heartwishes Stone works for my sister, but it’s not working for me.”
“It’s not possible, of course, but I wonder what could have activated the Stone now after all these years.”
“You. Maybe you opened something in those papers. Maybe the Stone is in there but you haven’t seen it.”
“Not possible,” Gemma said. “I’ve been through all the boxes. There was only paper in them and a few sentimental things.”
“Such as?”
“Ribbons, lockets full of strands of hair, the usual Victorian sentimentality.”
Tris just stared at her.
“I really don’t believe in magic,” she said. “And I’d think that you, as a man of science, wouldn’t either.”
“I wouldn’t usually, but in the time since Nell put on her little drama and made her wish, everything has turned upside down. I didn’t get to bed last night, and I’m taking Nell and Addy to the airport today.” He ran his hand over his face. “I went to the office early this morning to write some prescriptions for patients before I left. My head was full of Jake’s return, then you showed up with your story about Colin, and . . .” He raised his eyebrows. “I think I need some sleep.”
“I agree,” Gemma said. She saw a customer wander by and knew the store had opened. “If you’re like Colin, you better get out of here before people start asking you to look at their warts.”
They stood up, gathered their trash, and put it in a bin.
Tris put his hand on her shoulder. “Thanks, Gemma. You needed to talk to me, but I ended up doing all the talking.”
“I enjoyed it. I miss my friends from school.” She rubbed her arm. “And I especially miss working out with the boys.”
“Oh, right. That’s what gave you the body the Internet is drooling over.”
“Not quite,” she said, laughing.
“You’ll meet Mike at the barbecue. He’s a major jock, so you two can . . . do whatever it is people do in a gym.”
“I guess you were born with those pecs and you don’t know what a forty-five-pound plate looks like.” They were walking toward the back of the store.
&
nbsp; “I stop in now and then and do a bit,” he said as they reached the back truck ramp. “I’m beginning to see what Colin finds so fascinating about you.”
“Is that why he called me Jean?”
Tris didn’t laugh. “What are you going to do the next time you see him?”
“I’ll act like it was nothing. No big deal—and it wasn’t.”
“I think that will be more difficult than you think,” Tris said. “Listen, if you have any symptoms of, you know, tell me, will you?”
“I’ll be crying on your doorstep.” They had reached his car. “Today I’m going to start some serious research on this Heartwishes thing.”
“Let me know about that too,” he said as he got into the car.
“Every word.” She pulled her BlackBerry out of her handbag. “Let me have your e-mail address and I’ll tell you everything as I learn it.”
Smiling, he told her—and he wrote her a prescription for birth control pills.
During the next week, Gemma had difficulty concentrating on her work. She’d read for an hour, make notes, and try to fit all that she was learning into what she knew. But at the end of the hour, she’d stare into space and think about Colin. She kept going over every second of their time together, every word they’d exchanged, and especially their brief moments in bed. She rationalized his calling her Jean. Gemma had asked Rachel, and she said Colin and Jean had been together since he graduated from college. So of course he’d make a mistake, since they’d been together such a long time, and besides, he’d been very tired that morning.
For the first day, she thought about nobly telling Colin that what had happened between them was “nothing” and that it wouldn’t happen again. She prepared her speech with the precision of a commencement address.
But Colin didn’t show up, so she couldn’t tell him anything. Nor did he call or text her. Was he feeling guilty? she wondered. Was he agonizing over how to tell her that he was sorry for what he did? Was he preparing what he was going to say as carefully as Gemma was gathering her defense?
Day after day, she imagined a new scenario, that he had confessed to Jean about what he’d done, how he hadn’t been faithful to her. Would they stay together? Break up?
Gemma worried constantly about her job, knowing that it could be taken from her. To lose the perfect job, and for what? To have a roll in the hay with a man who had a permanent girlfriend? It wasn’t worth it!
On the other hand, if Colin did break up with Jean . . .
By the time Tris was to pick her up for the barbecue, she had run through so many emotions that she honestly didn’t know how she was going to react when she saw Colin. Her hope was that he wouldn’t be there and she wouldn’t have to deal with him.
11
TRIS PICKED GEMMA up at eleven. The first thing she asked him was if Colin would be there. She hoped not, but in case he did show up, she had her speech ready to explain why she had fallen into bed with him.
“I don’t think so,” he said, “but if he does come, he might have Jean with him.” He glanced at her as he drove. “Can we men look forward to a girl fight?”
“You wish! So how’s your brother-in-law?”
“Better,” Tris said, smiling. “My dad’s a retired doctor and he said Jake’s injuries look good. They’re healing well and the prognosis is for a full recovery.”
“What about Nell?”
“She’s the happiest child on earth. Addy said they had to pull her away from Jake last night. And how about you and Mrs. F’s wish?” He looked down at her flat stomach.
“I bet you still believe in the Easter Bunny. Is this Merlin’s Farm as good as it says on the Web site?”
“You’ll have to judge that for yourself. But talk to Sara. She knows a lot about the farm’s history.”
“How many people am I going to meet today?”
“A dozen or so humans, and maybe Mr. Lang. He’s in a class all to himself.”
“Sounds interesting,” she said. “I’d like to hear about when the FBI agents were here.”
“We were overrun by them. And the Secret Service. Ask Mike. He’ll tell you all about it. On second thought, he probably won’t tell you anything. He’s a man who loves to keep secrets. Ask Sara.”
Tris turned into a driveway and before them was what Gemma knew was a very old house. Only many years could cause walls and a roof to sag in that particular way. She’d often paid entrance fees to visit houses just like it. “Oooooh,” she said, her eyes wide.
“You and Sara are going to be best friends,” Tris said as he parked the car in front of the house and gave a quick burst of the horn.
The front door opened and a pretty young woman came out. “Tris, if you wake my babies, you’re dead meat,” she said.
“Put some whiskey in their formula and they’ll go right back to sleep,” he said as he went to his trunk and opened it.
“I’m going to tell the La Leche League you said that, then see if you’re laughing,” the woman said as she turned to Gemma. “I’m Joce and I think I found Julian.”
“That’s great,” Gemma said. “Did you bring any data?”
“It’s only a few sentences and it’s all in my head.” They started toward the house.
“Hey!” Tris called. “I have lots of stuff to carry in and I need help.”
“After the horn and the whiskey crack, no woman is going to help you. Maybe I’ll send Luke out,” Joce said as she opened the door.
The next hour was a blur for Gemma. She met people she’d been hearing about since she arrived in Edilean, and it wasn’t easy to keep names and faces together.
Tess was an extraordinarily beautiful young woman, hugely pregnant, and married to a tall, good-looking lawyer named Ramsey McDowell.
Sara Newland was pretty in a way that made Gemma think of Raphael Madonnas. Everyone else had on jeans, but Sara was wearing a top of white lace and a skirt of pale blue linen. She too was expecting a baby.
When Tris paused in the hallway, his arms full of bags of ice, Gemma leaned near his ear and said quietly, “It looks like these people didn’t need any magic to make babies.”
“They aren’t Fraziers,” he said.
When Gemma looked up, she saw Tess staring at her. There was something about the woman that was a bit off-putting.
“I thought you were after Colin,” Tess said, her tone that of a challenge.
Gemma straightened her shoulders. “Colin is my employer’s son and he showed me around Edilean. That’s all.”
“Tess!” Sara said. “Be nice. Gemma, would you like to see the rest of the house?”
“I’d love to.” Gratefully, she turned her back on Tess. As soon as they were out of earshot, Gemma said, “Please tell me the town isn’t saying I’m going after Colin.”
“I think they’re hoping you are. He’s our friend and protector, but personally, he leads a lonely existence. Jean’s rarely around, and when they broke up a few years ago, we were all glad.”
“But they’re back together now?”
“Yeah, maybe. I’m not sure exactly what their status is,” Sara said. “Whatever is going on, they haven’t married, and there’s not been an offer of an engagement ring. This is the kitchen. We had it completely redone.”
Gemma wasn’t interested in kitchens, new or otherwise. She was concerned about the local gossip and didn’t want to be part of it. “I’m not after anyone,” she said. “I’m here to do a job and that’s all.”
Sara led her to the stairs and they went up. “I think I should warn you that you’re causing a bit of a stir around town. You’ve been seen with two bachelors, Colin and Tris. This is Mike’s and my bedroom.”
Gemma looked at a big four-poster bed that was obviously an antique, as was everything else in the room. The bed was draped with the same red and blue Indienne cloth that she’d seen at Mount Vernon. “Martha Washington style?”
“As best as I could manage,” Sara said, smiling. “Out that window you can see th
e front garden.”
Gemma looked out to see what had to be an acre of concisely laid-out rectangles and squares, all edged with boxwood. Each bordered shape contained flowers, often with an ornamental tree in the center. Red tulips would fill two boxes, while yellow tulips were in another one. In the distance Gemma could see an orchard in bloom. “It’s gorgeous. And . . . and accurate,” she said, giving the garden her highest compliment. It was an accurate layout of a formal eighteenth-century garden.
“Thank you,” Sara said sincerely. “You wouldn’t know it now, but all winter long we had backhoes in here and about fifty workmen. We put in over a hundred fruit trees and six hundred shrubs. I lost count of the bulbs and annuals.”
“Don’t get her started or she’ll tell you the Latin name of every plant,” came a deep, raspy voice from the doorway.
Turning, Gemma saw a man who was instantly familiar to her. He moved like some of the athletes she’d tutored. He had a confidence about him that came from knowing he could physically handle whatever came his way.
“Hello,” Gemma said, grinning. “You must be Mike.” She held out her hand for him to shake.
He didn’t take it. Instead, he shot out his fist as though he meant to hit her in the head.
“Mike!” Sara said.
Years of training made Gemma react instinctively. After she ducked his fist, she turned sideways to him and her hands came up to protect her face.
Mike put out his left, Gemma dipped again, and she brought her right to his ribs. Of course he blocked her, as she knew he would.
Smiling, he reached out to shake her hand. “Nice to meet you, Gemma.”
“A true pleasure,” she said.
Behind them, Sara groaned. “I can see that you two are going to be friends.”
Mike pulled a key from his pocket. It was on a ring with a pink flamingo on it. “Sara’s idea,” he said, “but the key is to my gym. You’re welcome at any time.”
“Thank you,” she said. “My side was cut and I haven’t been able to work out since I got here.”