Fabric of Life Read online

  The spring air was warm enough that they didn’t need sweaters. As they strolled down Ruby Riverwalk, the stream and its well-cared-for greenway bordered the brick sidewalk. Benches invited tourists to stop and sit between shops. Annabel’s house was only two miles from Thea’s. She and Rachel walked it in silence, enjoying the peace and quiet of the setting.

  When they reached Annabel’s impressive Queen Anne style house, Thea thought of the many times she’d visited here with Gabe. When they were young and dating, Gabe built his guitars and dulcimers in the carriage house at the back of the property and sold them in the first floor shop that was once the house’s ballroom. The shop was closed off from the rest of the house, separating it from Annabel’s living quarters on the first floor. Gabe and his parents had lived upstairs, using the entire second floor, until his parents retired early and moved to California.

  At the moment, a renter lived upstairs and he displayed his garden sculptures in the shop’s front windows.

  “I run fresh rolls to Annabel every morning when Isak and I are done stocking his shelves,” Rachel said as they climbed the cement steps to the porch. “Sometimes she remembers I’m coming, and sometimes she doesn’t.”

  Thea nodded. “I buy groceries for her every week and stop to get her prescriptions. I try to check in every few days, but I worry about her medicine and if she eats right.”

  “Isak and I take care of her yard and gardens, and I give her her medicine,” Rachel said. “I keep it at the bakery and bring it with her rolls. She forgets that she takes them and was taking three or four prescriptions a day. This way, I know she’s getting the right amount.”

  Thea stared at her daughter. “You never told me.”

  “I didn’t want you to worry. You have enough going on with Josh and Hannah right now.”

  Tears prickled behind Thea’s eyes. Damn it! She’d turned into a damn water fountain. She brushed them away. “I’m proud of you.”

  Rachel smiled. “I hoped you would be. That matters to me.” She gave a quick knock on the door at the side of the house and pushed it open. “Annie, are you here?”

  A tiny woman with a face as wrinkled as a raisin hobbled to meet them. Short, dark red hair-- freshly colored with henna--framed bright gray eyes and a big grin. “Hey, girls, good to see you.”

  Annabel had been a high school chemistry teacher who could make bulky football players cower in the hallways. She was tiny of frame, but mighty of temper, as feisty as a house wren, and her chuckle was more mischievous than a school girl’s. “What brings you here?”

  Thea gave a sigh of relief. Annabel was her old self today, thinking clearly. Thea wasn’t sure what made the difference between one day and the next, but she never knew how she’d find Gabe’s grandmother or what caused her confusion.

  “We have some bad news,” Rachel said, going to the wine-colored, velvet settee and sitting down. Annabel sat on the matching sofa across from her, and Thea chose the oak rocking chair with the flowered cushion.

  “Bad news? Did I forget to turn in my grades for the final quarter?” Annabel asked.

  “Nothing like that,” Rachel said. “But we learned today that Gabe was killed in a car accident.”

  “Gabe?” Annabel frowned. “Was he in one of my classes?”

  “He was Muriel’s son, your grandson,” Rachel said.

  Annabel looked at Thea. “Your Gabe?”

  “My Gabe,” Thea said. At least Annabel remembered who she and Rachel were.

  “You poor thing.” Annabel cocked her head to one side and thought. “That must mean that he was your father,” she said to Rachel.

  “And your grandson,” Rachel said.

  Annabel thought some more. “I knew that I must have a family, but I never see them, do I? Maybe that’s who called today, said they were coming to visit.”

  Of course, Thea thought. The police would have notified Gabe’s parents about his death.

  “Muriel and David moved to California,” Thea said.

  Annabel’s gray eyes brightened. “My Muriel?”

  “Yes, I’m sure they’ll want to fly home for the funeral,” Thea said. Had they tried to call her yesterday? Her answering machine must be on the blink again. Hannah was usually the culprit.

  “Muriel made beautiful dolls. Did you know that?” Annabel asked.

  “I have some of them in a collection,” Rachel said.

  Gabe’s mother had been a doll maker and sold her creations in the front shop. When she married David, a carpenter, he converted the carriage house into a woodworking studio. That’s where Gabe and Josh had learned their love of wood. Gabe’s family lived in the big, old Queen Anne until warm temperatures and the lap of waves took his parents to San Diego.

  “I’ve always been happy here,” Annabel said.

  “It’s a beautiful home,” Thea agreed.

  “With lots of wonderful people.” Annabel looked out the side window at the lights shining in the shop windows up and down the street. “I never want to leave.”

  Thea and Rachel glanced at each other. How long could Annabel stay if she got any worse?

  After saying their goodbyes, they let themselves out. They were half way down the block when the sculptor, who rented the second floor of Annabel’s house, hurried after them. When he caught them, he took a few minutes to catch his breath.

  “I’ve told Annabel over and over again, but I don’t think she remembers. I’m moving to Chicago at the end of the month. My brother and I are opening a shop there, but I don’t think Annabel should be left alone. I found her wandering up and down the stream a few days ago, and she didn’t know how to get home. I had to lead her back. It’s not the first time.”

  “Thanks for telling us. We know she’s getting worse, and that we have some tough decisions ahead. We’ll think of something,” Thea said. “And good luck to you in Chicago.”

  “It might be time to put her in a home,” he said. “I know she won’t like it, but she’s not safe by herself.”

  He turned and went back toward his apartment.

  Thea and Rachel started walking home. When they reached the long driveway that wound up the hills to the house, Rachel surprised Thea by saying, “Isak and I both love Annabel. We could move in upstairs and try to keep an eye on her.”

  “You and Isak? Now?”

  “We’ve talked about it, but I wasn’t sure how you’d take it.” Rachel held out her left hand and wiggled her third finger. A tiny diamond glittered in the dimming light. “He gave it to me today. We’re going to get married soon.”

  “You’re so young.”

  “You were nineteen when you married Dad.”

  “And we got divorced.”

  “You still love each other.”

  “But we couldn’t handle the tough times. We weren’t ready.”

  Rachel twined her fingers through her mother’s. “Dad’s a wonderful person, but he’s so easy-going, he might not ever have been ready. If Melissa hadn’t been there, he’d probably have been all right, but you were always the strong one. Josh and I knew who’d give us hell and who’d let us slide. Dad was the slider. You hit things head-on.”

  “This is so fast,” Thea said.

  Rachel shook her head. “The minute I saw Isak’s aura, I knew he was the one.”

  “Really?”

  “It’s a giant golden halo that surrounds him,” Rachel said. “I want to bathe in his light.”

  Thea thought about that. Isak was the most stable person she’d ever met. “You’re so young. It’s so sudden,” she repeated. Hell, she sounded like a broken record, even to herself.

  “Moving in with Annabel? Yeah, I hadn’t planned on that, but I have to admit, it would be perfect.”

  “You’re not married yet.”

  “We will be.” Rachel gave her a sideways glance. “Would you cast us out if I lived in sin?”

  “Cast you out? How could I?”

  Rachel squeezed her hand. “See. It would all work out.”<
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  “Someone’s going to have to be with her all the time,” Thea said. “It’s a huge responsibility. You help Isak at the bakery. Who’ll watch her then?”

  “Isak’s mom. She has to use a walker, but her mind’s still sharp. They’ll make a great pair.”

  Thea shook her head. She couldn’t imagine such an odd combination.

  Rachel patted her hand. “Think about it.”

  “But what about your weaving?” Thea asked. “You’re in training. You’ll have so many things to do. How can you get to them all?”

  “Everything will be flexible, and the weaving always comes first. But I have to admit, the farther away I am from the studio, the better.”

  “Why?”

  “It bothers me sometimes, is all. Doesn’t it you?”

  Later that night, Thea thought about Rachel’s question as she sank into the rocking chair on the deck. Weaving was a huge responsibility, yes. But she loved it. It was her life, her calling.

  Rachel and Isak would move in together and get married, even if she thought they weren’t ready. That’s the way it worked. But Rachel had her dad’s “don’t worry, be happy” disposition. Did her daughter realize how many responsibilities she’d taken on? And how hard it would be? It was Rachel’s destiny to be a weaver, and Thea would do her best to keep her on track, but things could get messy.

  Thea sighed. She’d think about Rachel and weaving later. Not tonight. Tonight, she had to call Gabe’s parents and see if they needed help making plans for Gabe’s funeral.

  Chapter 8

  After the bus picked up Hannah for school on Monday morning, Thea went to her upstairs loft to work. Sunday had been full of preparations and phone calls. A normal day would help anchor her. She was sewing on a butterfly quilt when someone knocked at the cottage’s door. Cursing, she ran downstairs to see who was there. When she saw Melissa Smith, with a huge bouquet of flowers, she was speechless.

  “I read about Gabe in the paper this morning,” Melissa said. Her fake-blond hair was pulled back in a low ponytail. Her green eyes were hidden behind black sunglasses. “I wanted to offer my sympathy.” She pushed the bouquet into Thea’s arms.

  Thea pushed them back without a word.

  “Look, I know I tried to steal your husband. Neither of us got him, and now he’s gone forever. It sucks, but I thought this might be the time to say I’m sorry and ask for a truce.”

  “Never. It’s not going to happen.”

  “For God’s sake, it’s been five years. Isn’t that long enough to carry a grudge?” Melissa shoved her sunglasses to the top of her head and glared.

  Thea’s insides felt cold. Her jaw was stiff with anger. “You don’t know me very well. I can stay mad for a lifetime.”

  “Well, get over it. It’s a small town. We could at least be civil to each other.”

  “I am civil, or I’d chase you off the porch. I’ll stay away from you, and you stay away from me. It’s that simple. Take your flowers and go.”

  Melissa tossed the bouquet onto the deck’s floor. “No wonder Gabe slept with me. What an ice queen.”

  “Gabe slept with you because you’re pathetic. You couldn’t keep your hands off him.” Thea looked her up and down. Still stick-thin except for her new breasts. “Take your fake tan and plastic boobs and leave.”

  Melissa’s face twisted with temper. “My husband could buy and sell you, so you’d better learn to be a little bit nicer.”

  “No one can buy and sell me, and you’d better stay away or I’ll weave a life map for you and hang it on the side of my studio. Everyone will see your nasty twists and kinks.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Try me.” They glared at each other before Melissa turned on her heel and stomped down the steps.

  Thea watched Melissa get into her sleek, black Jaguar before she scooped up the flowers she’d brought and dumped them into the trash. Sympathy, my foot! Melissa had probably come, hoping to see Thea bent with grief. She’d love that, probably throw a party.

  Back upstairs in her studio, Thea measured pieces of cloth for the quilt and tried to concentrate. She knew that hate was an unhealthy emotion, one that she could safely enjoy in only small doses. It could eat at a person, making you bitter. It had taken her a while, but she thought that she pushed past it with Melissa. She’d never like her, and she’d never forgive her, but she didn’t think of ways for her die every night before going to sleep like she used to.

  It wasn’t even the fact that Melissa had slept with Gabe. Women were human, too, driven by enough lust to make mistakes. But Melissa never cared about anyone except herself, and that hadn’t changed. She was the most selfish, self-centered person that Thea had ever met.

  Thea was arguing back and forth with herself when the doorbell rang again. If it was Melissa, back for another go, she was more than ready. She raced down the steps and opened the screen to see Nancy.

  “Hi ya, kiddo. Thought I’d stop by to see how you are. Got everything done for the funeral?” Nancy held up a bottle of wine. “Is it too early to drink?”

  “Have you had breakfast?” Thea asked. “We could have wine and poppy seed bread.”

  “Works for me.” Nancy followed Thea into the kitchen.

  They carried their bread and wine onto the deck to eat. Nancy gave a huge sigh. “Damn, but it’s good to get away from the restaurant.”

  “How’s the new cook?”

  “Gaston?”

  “You’re kidding.”

  Nancy gave a wry grin. “That’s what he wants to be called. He’s a good cook. No chef, but that’s not what our restaurant’s all about. He’s a round, fussy, little shit head, young and full of himself, but he works long hours and he’s pretty damned good.”

  “I can’t see his moods bothering you much.”

  “They don’t, but arguing with a twenty year-old who’s full of himself drives the waitresses crazy. I do damage control.” Nancy gulped her wine. “But enough about me. How are you doing?”

  “I’d be worse, but Gabe’s stopped by to see me a couple of times.”

  Nancy reached for the wine bottle and poured herself another glass. “I thought nothing your family did could surprise me. I was wrong.” As Nancy took another sip of wine, light sparkled on the side of the porch and Gabe appeared. “What’s with the light show?” Nancy asked.

  “It’s Gabe. Can’t you see him?”

  “No, thank God.”

  Gabe winked at Thea. “Hi, Nance.”

  No response.

  “She didn’t hear you,” Thea explained.

  “I wondered about that. Guess it’s just you and me, babe,” Gabe said. “My spirit’s anchored to you. You’re the only one who can see or hear me.”

  “Would you quit flirting with a dead guy when I’ve come to comfort you?” Nancy complained. “How does he look anyway? Am I missing something good?”

  “He’s tall, dark, and handsome,” Thea said as Gabe faded away. “But he hasn’t got the ghost thing down very well yet. He just ran out of energy.”

  “So what else is new?”

  “He wants to stick around this time.”

  “Cool.” Nothing fazed Nancy, not even see-through husbands.

  Thea explained about finding Gabe’s bookmark unraveled in the studio, and she told Nancy about Melissa’s visit.

  “Can’t you connect the two somehow?” Nancy asked. “I’d love to be able to blame Melissa for anything and everything rotten that happens. It would be even more fun for you.”

  Thea frowned. “She’s the only person I know who hates Gabe, but I don’t see how she could get in my studio. Before Gabe died, I felt an energy. It was wild and powerful.”

  “And you don’t think it was Melissa? Too bad.” Nancy looked at the spot where Gabe had appeared. “Can he just hang around, or does he have some place better to go?”

  Gabe popped back with a sharp streak of light. “I’m not leaving unless you ask me to,” he told Thea. She repeated his ans
wer to her friend.

  Nancy raised her eyebrows. “Fat chance. You did that once, and all you did was miss him.”

  Gabe looked at his wife. “Did you?”

  “None of your business.”

  Nancy laughed, watching Thea talk to a spot on the porch. “This is going to get interesting. A romance with a spook. Who’d have thought? But if it can be done, you two can do it.”

  “First, we have to find out who killed Gabe,” Thea said.

  “Guess so, but he wasn’t here when he was alive. Things are looking up since he’s passed over.” Nancy finished her wine and stood to leave. “I can go back to work. I’m scratching you off my worry list. Looks to me like things are going to get racier for you. Just wish there was some way you two could jump each other’s bones.”

  Thea blushed, and Nancy laughed. “You’ve been trying to figure that out, too, haven’t you?”

  “Thanks for thinking of me,” Thea said as Nancy walked to her SUV.

  Gabe said, “I can’t stay long. It uses too much energy. I just wanted to check on you.”

  Thea smiled. “I seem to be doing fine, better than I expected. You’re here, and that helps.”

  Gabe bent and lightly kissed the top of her head. A chilly tingle zinged through Thea’s body. “Take care.” And he was gone.

  Thea picked up the wine glasses and went back in the house. Her heart was thrumming with a happiness she hadn’t felt in a long time. It made her feel guilty. She shouldn’t be happy, but Gabe was back. A dead Gabe, true. But he was here. She was ready to work and put her worries behind her for the morning.

  Chapter 9

  Gabe’s parents flew in for the funeral, and Thea met them at the Indy airport, an hour away, to drive them to Annabel’s house.

  “Gabe wanted to be buried in Emerald Hills,” Gabe’s mom, Muriel, said. “He wanted to be close to you.”

  “Still does,” Gabe’s father, David, said. “How many times have you seen him?” She’d told them about Gabe’s ghost when she called them. She thought it would help them, as it had her.