wasnât sure, but she thought she saw her spirit sister settle herself between her mother and father. Then again, maybe it was the smoke that suddenly billowed out of the fireplace before it was sucked back in and then straight up the chimney. âNice going, Barb.â
âThanks, Nik. Give them both an earthly hug for me, okay?â
âYou got it!â Nikki untangled herself and got to her feet to accept her flute of champagne. To Charles and Myra, she whispered, âI have orders to give you both an earthly hug. One earthly hug coming up,â she said, wrapping her arms around Charles and Myra without spilling a drop of champagne.
âShe was here, wasnât she?â Myra whispered.
âOh, yeah, she was here.â Nikki smiled. âShe approves.â
âI felt her right beside me,â Charles murmured.
âShe was between us, wasnât she, Nikki?â Myra asked.
Nikki nodded. âSmack-dab in the middle. I am so happy for you both.â
The little group started to sing âFor Heâs a Jolly Good Fellowâ and then they switched up to âFor Sheâs a Jolly Good Lady.â All off-key, but no one cared.
Cushions and blankets appeared out of nowhere as the happy guests sprawled wherever there was room. No one noticed until later that Annie and Isabelle had left the living room and returned to the building where they lived.
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âI saw how unhappy you were, Isabelle. I know how you feel. I pretty much felt like a third wheel myself. Suddenly everyone became a couple. Donât get me wrong. Thatâs a good thing. I donât think anyone will miss us, at least not for a little while, and even then theyâll think we ate too much and are taking a nap. Everyone has a partner but you and I. I think we should do something about that, and I think we should do it right now! â
âAnd that would beâ¦what?â Isabelle asked tentatively.
What indeed? âWell, you did tell me and the others on one or more occasion that you thought that guy in the Vegas casino was pretty hot. There for a while after we got back to the mountain, I thought you were pining for him. You said you looked right into his eyes and liked what you saw. You know the guy Iâm talking about, the one you socked in the eye! You even remembered his name. Stu Franklin. He said if you ever take a vacation, youâd be able to find him on the beach in the Caymans. You said if we were ever pardoned, that was the first place you were going. You even asked Charles to have his people run a profile on him, and if Iâm not mistaken, you have it in your possession.â
Isabelle sighed. âAll true, but that was then and this is now. How do you suppose one would go about finding someone on the beach in the Caymans, someone who is hiding out from the law?â
Annie could feel herself getting into it. â I know people, Isabelle,â she said vaguely as her mind raced. âListen, youâre an architect. Draw me a picture of him from memory. Do it now .â
Isabelle ran to her room and returned with a sketch pad. Her drawing pencil moved swiftly, with sure, deft strokes. Ten minutes later she held up Stu Franklinâs likeness.
Annie stared at the picture. âDamn, girl, the man looks hot! â
âHe was so hot, Annie, I felt like my eyebrows were on fire. How else do you think I was able to draw such a likeness? I wonder if he remembers me or his invitation. He probably has hundreds of beach bunnies running after him.â
âTrust me, honey, he remembers you. He singled you out.â Annie wondered if what she was saying was true. âYouâre beautiful, and he was helping you. He didnât have to do what he did that day. I think itâs safe to say, he meant every word he said.â
Isabelle threw her hands in the air. âWhat good is this going to do me except make me more sad that Iâm