* * * *
Sachi’s voice split through her skull like an ice pick driven between her eyeballs. “Boss? You okay up there?”
Mandaline rolled over and groaned again as the world spun and threatened to sling her off the bed.
“Boss?” She heard Sachi’s steps on the stairs as she came up. Then the sound of her in the bedroom doorway. “Mandaline? Are you all right? You left the stairwell door open. I’ve been calling you for five minutes.”
“Kill. Me. Now. Please, in the name of all that’s holy, in the name of Hecate, just fucking kill me.”
She heard Sachi’s sad sigh. Her friend walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. “What happened? I’m guessing you tied one on solo style?”
“You’re not killing me. Why aren’t you killing me?”
She heard Sachi get up and walk out to the kitchen, followed by the sound of her getting the coffeemaker going. She returned a moment later with a cool washcloth, which she placed across Mandaline’s brow. “You know you and the grape aren’t buds.”
“You still aren’t killing me. And it wasn’t grapes. It was blueberry wine.” The cold, damp cloth felt like heaven on her flesh.
“Ah, she’s cracking jokes. She is in her right mind.”
“If you don’t hurry up and put me out of my misery, I’m firing you.”
“No you won’t. You luuubs me.”
“Yeah? Well, I thought you luuuubsed me, too, and yet you aren’t killing me.”
“Do I need to recant my vow not to hex people and throw a good one on those two, or just take great pleasure in throwing them out the front door if they show up here again? Or do I need to bring my skeet gun in with me to run them out? I have it in the car. I can go get it right now.”
Goddess bless her, Sachi was fiercely protective of her friends. “No,” Mandaline said. “No guns, unless you’re using it to fucking kill me like I keep asking you to. No throwing anyone out of doors. And please don’t hex them. If you won’t kill me, you’re not allowed to hex them.”
“Well, that’s probably for the best. I’m sure I’ve racked up enough bad karma in my days already. I don’t need to add hexing to the list. And shooting them might get me arrested.”
Mandaline carefully sat up, holding the cloth to her head. “Ellis freaked out last night after another one of those sexy visions hit us.”
“Freaked out how?”
“Accused me of drugging him and trying to go after his and Brad’s money.”
Sachi stared at her in disbelief. “Go on. Pull the other one.”
“No, really. He’s close to a mental breakdown, I think.”
Storm clouds darkened her expression. “He’s close to getting my damn fist in his snoot, is what he is, next time I see his ass!”
“No, seriously. It’s okay.” She flipped the washcloth over and pressed it to her forehead again. “Brad came back last night. I guess I cried myself to sleep in his arms.”
“Huh? Back up. I think you missed a step.”
“I was tanked when he got here. He carried me to bed.”
The eyebrow went up.
“We didn’t do anything,” Mandaline clarified. At least, that’s what she thought. It was hard to say for sure because of the big, fuzzy blur from the wine.
“Oh. Well, that sucks.”
“Ellis and I both need a few days to cool off,” Mandaline said. “Please, don’t be mad at Ellis. He’s just…” She sighed. “He isn’t dealing well with this.” I can’t believe I just said that.
“I’m guessing things with Brad are on track, at least.”
“Not really. He thinks a relationship between just him and me wouldn’t work, that it needs to be all three of us.”
She let out a snort. “What’s Julie say about it?”
“Apparently, that is what Julie says about it.”
“Oh. She always did have a good head on her shoulders, as well as a kinky streak a mile wide.”
Mandaline stared at her.
“Well, who do you think gave Libbie her reading list to start with, huh? Have you even checked Julie’s Kindle? That redheaded witch was queen of the pervs in our little group.” She pointed at Julie’s closet. “I’d be shocked if you don’t turn up a box of unmentionables somewhere in there.” She snapped her fingers. “That’s it! We need to find one of her vibrators and use it for the sex magick chant tonight!”
Mandaline stared at her.
“I’m serious,” Sachi insisted.
“I know you are. That’s what scares me.”
Sachi grinned. “Come on. You know life is far more interesting with me around.”
“That’s one word for it.”
“Hold on. Let me get you something to help your head and return you from zombiedom into the land of the living. You look like an extra for The Walking Dead.” Sachi left the bedroom and Mandaline heard her go downstairs. She returned to the apartment a moment later. After a stop by the kitchen to pour Mandaline and herself coffee, she walked into the bedroom and handed Mandaline a mug. Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small brown bottle.
“Peppermint oil. You know the drill, lady.”
Mandaline set the mug on the bedside table and dabbed some of the oil along her forehead and the nape of her neck. She put the damp washcloth back to her forehead again. A moan of relief escaped her. “You’re a genius. An evil genius, but still a genius.”
“Hey, I’ll take compliments how I can get ’em.” She grinned.
She sipped her coffee, the caffeine and peppermint oil working together to help knock back her headache and nausea. After a few minutes, she felt halfway human again. “Thank you, sweetie.”
Sachi cocked her head. “You really think Ellis will come around?”
“I don’t know.” She studied her half-finished mug of coffee. “I hope so.”
“You have no clue what you want, do you?”
“Not the foggiest. Sometimes I want both of them, sometimes I only want Brad, and sometimes I wonder why the hell I haven’t had myself lobotomized.”
“Love will make you crazy.”
“No, love will make you do crazy things. It’s other people that can make you crazy.” She looked up at Sachi. “And I don’t want to call it love. I barely know them.”
Sachi waved away her protests. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Semantics. I’m going to head downstairs and get things opened up. Take your time. I’ve got plenty of people coming in this morning to help hold down the fort. And I’m putting a sign on the door that we’re closing from 11:30 to 1:00 for the tree planting.”
“That sounds good.”
Sachi studied her. “You could even sleep in if you wanted.”
“No, I need to get up. Get a shower.” She realized a nasty, scuzzy taste coated the inside of her mouth. “And brush my teeth.”
Chapter Eleven
The worst of Mandaline’s hangover had eased by the time Grover stopped by at ten and asked her to walk out back with him. He had four oak tree saplings in the bed of his truck, along with a shovel, several bags of mulch, and a tree stake kit.
Mandaline stared, confused and wondering if maybe her hangover was worse than she’d previously estimated. “Why four trees?”
“Sherrie down at the nursery wanted you to be able to pick which one you wanted.” He smiled. “She said take whichever one we want and bring the others back when we get a chance.”
“How much do I owe you?”
He shook his head. “Not a dime. She’s donating the tree, mulch, and stake kit.”
Mandaline took a deep breath to stem the flood of tears that wanted to flow.
Grover looked at her. “You all right, sweetie?”
“Everyone’s been so nice. I just…” She took another breath and wiped at her eyes.
He gave her a hug. “It’ll be all right. You all still doing your thing tonight?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Just a small group. The regulars. Wait, how did you know?”
 
; “Sachi told us about it. No offense, but I’m passing.” He smiled. “Not my thing, but y’all have fun.”
“Is Libbie coming tonight?”
He shrugged. “She’s not having a good day today. I think everything’s finally catching up with her. I wouldn’t count on her coming tonight. She’ll be there for the tree planting, though.”
“Lot of pain?”
“Yeah. And she’s too stubborn to go see Doc Smith.” He patted the truck bed. “So, go ahead and pick one. I’ll run the others back so it’s done.”
She shrugged. “How do I choose?”
“You could put them on the ground and see which one Pers pees on,” Sachi suggested from the back door.
Grover laughed. “I like her. She’s feisty.”
Mandaline finally picked one. Grover unloaded it and set it inside the back door while he left to return the others to the nursery.
Sachi nodded. “It’s a good tree. You did good, Charlie Brown.”
“Now we need to rob Pers of his Christmas decorations and we’re all set.”
Sachi laughed. “That’s one of the reasons I think you and I get along so well. We’re both nuts in the good way.”
* * * *
Mandaline felt more than a little overwhelmed by the crowd that had gathered around the small area the county staked out for them to plant Julie’s tree. She had expected maybe a few dozen people, if that. There had to be several hundred people there already, with twenty minutes until the scheduled start time. Many of the people she knew either by name or face from coming into the store, but even more were strangers to her.
When a van from a Tampa TV station pulled up as well, Mandaline felt her heart pound. She started to lean in toward Grover, but he’d already spotted them.
“I’m on it, sugar.” He headed toward the news crew. He’d already helped her fend off a rather pesky tabloid reporter again that morning, one who’d appeared at Julie’s wake before Grover ordered him off the premises.
Sachi’s blue eyes remained unreadable behind her dark sunglasses. She slowly shook her head and tsked at Mandaline. “If you’d just let me bring my gun—”
“No guns.”
Sachi’s disappointed sigh was audible even over the mumble of the people gathering around. “You’re no fun.” But a corner of her mouth tried to twitch up in a smile.
Mandaline smiled despite herself.
As the start time drew closer, she felt something pulling at her, a different energy. She looked around, finally turning.
About thirty yards away, standing in the shade of an oak tree and leaning against the trunk, was Brad. When he saw her looking at him, he raised a hand in greeting but made no move toward her.
She didn’t see Ellis.
She raised a hand back, then pointed at the ground in front of her in invitation for him to join her there.
He smiled, but held a hand up again with obvious meaning. No thanks. I’m good.
She turned back to face the gathering. Maybe he hates me now. Maybe he thinks I’m a lush. Shame flooded her. What the hell did I say to him last night? What did I do?
She remembered dreams, and Julie. Walking or chasing her? A closet? She couldn’t remember for sure.
Then again, after what Ellis had said after dinner, the way he’d acted, if Brad couldn’t forgive her for a little imbibing, he could go fuck himself, too.
He’s here, though. You couldn’t have embarrassed yourself too badly.
She tried to ignore her memory of the accidental blow job in his attic.
Sachi leaned in. “You going to stand there all day ignoring him, or jump his ass?” she muttered low enough no one else could hear.
“Not now, Sachi.” She glanced at her friend. “And aren’t you worried about the cameras? Why won’t you put on a hat or scarf or something?”
She shrugged and straightened. “Got my shades on. This is for Julie. I’m not about to miss it.”
Grover returned, not rejoining her and Libbie and the rest of the shop’s staff who were gathered by the tree, but he stood just off to the side. He flashed her an inconspicuous okay sign.
At noon, she picked up the shovel and took a deep breath to quell her nerves. “Thank you, everyone, for coming today. In her final instructions, Julie said she didn’t want any kind of memorial or anything. This is more for us, her friends, the people who knew and loved her. Thank you to the county for allowing us to do this, and for providing the plaque that will mark her memorial tree. And a special thank-you to Sherrie over at Blake’s Nursery for donating the tree and supplies. We weren’t expecting that, but it just goes to show how far Julie’s positive energy spread throughout the community.
“Like Julie in life, this tree will be able to touch people in ways we’ll never know, her spirit able to live on through us as we keep her alive in our hearts. Those of you who knew her know she was about giving back, helping others. This tree will provide shade and enjoyment for people now and in the future. It’ll be a home to birds and squirrels, and hopefully acorns will grow new trees to keep the cycle going.
“That’s all she wanted, was for everyone to go forward and give. Not even big things. A kind word, a smile, can make someone’s day. You don’t have to be rich or well-connected to spread positive energy, love and light, and peace.”
She took a deep breath and broke ground with the shovel, passing it next to Libbie, who passed it to Sachi, and then on to another employee, until all the staff had a chance to help dig the hole. Grover stepped in then and took the shovel from her to finish the hole and make it the right size. Mandaline dropped to her knees and, with Grover’s help, set the four-foot sapling’s root ball into the hole. She dropped in a small piece of rose quartz, one of several that had been on Julie’s altar, and tucked it under the roots so it would forever be part of the tree as long as it stood.
She imagined Julie would have approved.
Ten minutes later, the tree was planted, mulched, and securely staked. She’d ignored the TV crew filming from a discreet distance as she and the rest of the staff accepted words of condolence from people who filed by. She occasionally glanced over to where Brad didn’t move from the shade of his tree. When they finally thought they could leave the gathering and return to the shop, she looked again and was disappointed to see him no longer standing there.
She tried to ignore the way her heart felt flat over that.
* * * *
They reopened the store, inundated by a crowd of people who walked over from the tree planting. It left Mandaline absolutely no time for thinking about Brad or Ellis or anything else other than taking care of customers. By the time they finally caught up, it was after two o’clock and Mandaline excused herself to go upstairs to use the bathroom and grab Pers to walk him.
She opened the stairwell door, startled by the sight of Brad sitting at the top, with Pers in his lap. She pulled the stairwell door closed behind her a little harder than she meant to and hurried up the stairs. “What are you doing here? I never saw you come in.”
He gave her that bashful smile, the one that could easily part her from her panties if she gave in to it. “You were busy. Sachi grabbed me and shoved me in here and told me to wait for you.”
“How long ago was that?”
He shrugged. “A few minutes after you opened up the store again.”
Mandaline closed her eyes and fought the urge to let out a scream of frustration. That was over an hour ago. “I’m sorry. She didn’t tell me you were here.”
“I asked her not to. Please don’t be mad at her.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because you were busy. I didn’t want to bother you.”
She sat next to him at the top of the stairs. “Where’s Ellis?”
“Home. I walked.”
“You can’t afford a taxi?”
He shrugged again. “I like walking. It’s not that far.”
“Does he know you’re here?”
He looked down at wher
e Pers was comfortably snuggled in his lap. “Nope. I told him I was going out for the day. I’m not a kid.”
She clasped her hands together and stared at them. “I’m sorry for last night,” she softly said. “I don’t remember most of what happened when you were here. I remember you came back, but it’s all…”
“Fuzzy?”
“Yeah.” She looked up at him, into those sweet brown eyes. “Why can’t this be easy? Why can’t we just…us.”
“I thought you liked Ellis. Well, before he acted like an asshole last night.”
“I did. I do. I just…” She leaned her head against him. He draped an arm around her shoulders and it felt so good. So right. “We don’t need him,” she quietly said.
He kissed the top of her head and left his lips pressed there. “But he needs us.” The warmth of his breath felt good against her scalp. “He needs us more than he knows.”
“Last night’s sort of…fuzzy,” she admitted. “I don’t normally drink like that.”
“I know. Julie told me.”
She sighed. “Why did you come back?”
He removed his arm from around her shoulders and reached into his back pocket. He produced a folded piece of paper. When he unfolded it, she realized it was a drawing.
She shivered as she took it from him and looked at it. “When did you do this?”
“Between Thursday night and Friday morning. I brought it with me because I wanted to talk to you about it.”
She looked at it more closely. “Is that…” She looked at him. “That’s me.”
He nodded. “I don’t remember doing it. I also don’t remember doing this.” He handed her a receipt.
She frowned as she studied it. “I don’t get it.” She finally realized what it was for and didn’t know if she should feel outraged or pleased. “What?”
“Look at the time stamp.”
She found it, her heart chilling. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I did that drawing, and I walked to the convenience store and back, and I have no memory of any of it. I fell asleep on the couch in the attic and woke up there.”