As soon as Goebel left, Sophie smiled at the frightened woman. "There was a baby born in the nursery many years ago. He needed a little help crossing over to the other side to find his mother. I can a.s.sure you, you won't be hearing any cries or seeing any strange shadows."

"How can you be sure?"

"I don't know. I just am. It's part of my gift, and I don't question it. I suppose there are reasons why. If I need to know, then I will. It's hard to explain. I'm a work in progress."

"I can't thank you enough. I guess . . . if I hear any more crying, you will come back?"

"Of course, but you're not going to hear anything. Like I said, the little guy needed some help locating his mother. I helped him to find her, and he's at peace now."

Julianna smiled, her eyes sparkling like two shiny pennies. "I can't thank you enough."

Sophie simply nodded and allowed the young woman to guide her to the door.

As soon as it closed, she whipped a cigarette out of her purse and lit up. The inside light was on in the car, so she could see Goebel shaking his head. She took three drags, pinched the fire off the cigarette, and kept the b.u.t.t in her hand. She might be tacky, but she wasn't going to toss a cigarette out on someone's lawn.

Relieved to be out of that house, she got inside the car and leaned her head back on the headrest.

"All is good?" Goebel asked as he shifted into reverse and backed out of the driveway.

"Yes, I think I can safely say the Tarwicks aren't going to hear any more crying, at least not from that nursery."

"Then I say we stop at Perkins, have a little bite to eat. I have something I want to show you after we finish. And they have a smoking section."

Sophie eyed Goebel in the semidarkness. "Is this something I need to be concerned about, something I won't like? You hate sitting in the smoking section."

He shook his head. "I'll manage. Now you're gonna have to wait and see. At the moment, I want something in my stomach. Aren't you hungry?"

"I'm always hungry," Sophie answered.

Goebel swerved into the nearest Perkins, which stayed open twenty-four hours a day. They had good coffee, and their omelets were some of the best.

Inside, the hostess led them to a booth in a quiet corner in the back of the restaurant, the smoking section. Sophie lit up as soon as they sat down.

Once they'd placed their orders, Goebel took Sophie's hand in his. His large hand was rough and calloused; it gave her a sense of protection. "You're gorgeous, you know that?"

Sophie's antennae instantly went on high alert. "I look like c.r.a.p right now, and we both know it. Now you're really scaring me."

"You always look beautiful to me, Soph. Can't you sense when I'm being totally honest? I'm in love with you."

She smiled. "I try not to tune in to the vibes you give off. I'd be in trouble, otherwise. And the feeling is mutual, but, of course, you already know that."

The waitress brought their orders, and for the next fifteen minutes, the only communication between them was the clattering of silverware and slurps of hot coffee. When they were finished, and their plates had been removed, Sophie lit up. "I won't be able to smoke in public too much longer. South Carolina's sure to follow the rest of the country in banning indoor puffing."

"And they can't do it soon enough, as far as I'm concerned. I want you around for a long time. Tossing those smokes is a good idea."

Sophie crushed her cigarette out. "You're starting to sound just like Mavis and Ida."

Goebel looked at the check and removed his wallet from his back pocket. "You ought to listen to them, too." He tossed a twenty and a ten on the table.

"Oh, hush! I will quit eventually, just not today."

"Think about it," he said, reaching for her hand again.

She would, when the time was right. She'd tried to stop smoking more than once. She had to be mentally ready, and she wasn't. When the time was right, she would quit. Toots too, she thought, grinning.

Outside, they were greeted by a warm breeze, the night skies clear, almost blue-black. Stars shone so brightly, their brilliance illuminated the darkened parking lot. Sophie thought of all the years spent in New York City, stars blocked by the tall buildings and the thousands of lights. Oh, they were there, she knew that. It was just difficult to spot them.

Inside the SUV, Sophie couldn't help but wonder what Goebel had up his sleeve, especially so late at night. Maybe he'd rented some wild honeymoon suite at one of those fancy bed-and-breakfasts in Charleston. If that were the case, it wasn't a bad idea. They slipped in and out of Toots's place like two h.o.r.n.y teenagers, which reminded her of Ida when she would sneak out to meet that fraud, Dr. Sameer.

Goebel had a small efficiency apartment in Charleston. The walls were thin, and the neighbors were nosy. And she was known to get a bit rowdy when things were going good. By "things," of course, she meant hot and heavy s.e.x.

"You're too quiet," Goebel remarked as they headed to wherever he was taking her.

"I'm wondering what you're up to, that's all. You sure whatever this is, it's safe? And legal?"

He laughed and reached for her hand. He did that often, and she liked it. Walter had been such an unaffectionate jerk.

"You can tell me in about five minutes. But just to ease your worries, it's safe and very legal."

"Safe" and "very legal," she thought, not sure if I like the combination!

"I trust you, Mr. Blevins." And she did. With her life.

Chapter 22.

Bernice made a fresh pot of coffee, making sure to use Toots's Kopi Luwak special blend. "How do you take your coffee, son? Last time I saw you, you weren't a coffee drinker."

He took his empty ice tea gla.s.s and placed it in the dishwasher. "Remember, I live in Washington State, birthplace of Starbucks. You can't live there and not drink coffee."

"I didn't think of that. I don't like that old s.h.i.t, uh, stuff. It's too strong," Bernice said.

The click-clacking of dog toenails announced Coco and her BFF, Frankie.

"And to whom may I ask do these adorable little fur b.a.l.l.s belong?" Daniel asked.

"Frankie, the weenie, belongs to Dr. Becker, sort of. Toots takes care of him all the time. And her majesty"-Bernice nodded at Coco-"belongs to Mavis. Coco expects you to bow to her."

"Well, they're adorable. I've been thinking about adopting a pet myself." He scooped both dogs in his arms and carried them to the table, letting both of them sit on his lap. "And, Mom, it's okay to say s.h.i.t in front of me." Daniel laughed, then pulled her close for a quick hug. "I've missed you. Missed being a part of a family. I like it that all you old gals are living together. From what you've told me, there's never a dull moment around here."

After Bernice made a light dinner of fresh salmon and a mixed green salad, she had talked nonstop, trying to fill Daniel in on the highlights since he'd been away. When she got to the part where Leland died-and how fast life had changed for all of them-she stopped, took a breath, then told Daniel about her near-death experience. She was just getting to the good part, when she heard someone come inside.

Coco growled, and Frankie raised his ears.

The front door banged extra loudly, startling Bernice. "Toots and Phil must be home," she said.

"I heard you, and, no, they are not home. It's me," Ida said, pulling a piece of Louis Vuitton luggage behind her. She peeked around the corner into the kitchen. "That coffee smells divine, Bernice. Pour me a cup while I change clothes."

"And who might that be?" Daniel asked when he heard Ida.

Hearing they had company, she entered the kitchen. When she saw the man sitting next to Bernice, she stared wordlessly. Her heart was pounding so rapidly that she thought she might pa.s.s out.

"h.e.l.lo," she said, her voice rising.

"And h.e.l.lo to you," Daniel countered. Both dogs wiggled, and he set them on the floor. "Cute little b.u.g.g.e.rs." They ran to their favorite corner in the dining room, where their daytime beds were located.

"Ida, this is Daniel Alan, my long-lost son," Bernice announced.

Clearly, she hadn't expected this. Bernice offered up a big grin. "Handsome, don't you think?"

Taken aback by her bluntness, Ida suddenly felt shy, not her normal confident I-can-have-any-man-I-please self. "Nice to meet you, Daniel. Your mother doesn't speak of you often enough. I had no idea she had a son . . . your age." No, from what Ida had heard from Toots on the rare occasions they'd discussed Bernice's son, she had imagined an overweight, slovenly, lazy slob. This man now seated at the table was anything but. Tall, broad-shouldered, cobalt blue eyes, and hair with touches of gray, in just the right places, he certainly was not what she had envisioned. Looking at him through the eyes of a professional, she was positive that he would make an excellent model. With the dark blue eyes, strong jaw, and sharp cheekbones, she could definitely see him on the cover of a magazine. Quickly she did a mental calculation, according to what she knew. He must be in his fifties. He did not look his age at all. Ida wondered if he'd been using her creams, but she wouldn't dare voice her thoughts.

"Ida, don't get any ideas," Bernice warned.

Ida wanted to melt into the gleaming oak floors like the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. Embarra.s.sed, and surprised as she was, Ida smoothed the side of her hair. "I'm going upstairs to change. I'll come back down for that coffee."

"And you can pour it yourself, you demanding twit," Bernice called out after her.

"Mom, I've never heard you speak to someone like that."

"Listen up. If you stick around long enough, you'll understand. Ida is a spoiled, self-centered b.i.t.c.h."

"I heard that," Ida called from the other room.

Bernice flipped her the bird, another habit she'd picked up from Toots. When she realized what she'd done, her face turned beet red.

Daniel, on the other hand, began to laugh so hard he doubled over. "I can't believe I just saw you do that."

She shouldn't be acting this way in front of Daniel. Why, he probably thought she'd lost her mind, or was senile and in the early stages of Alzheimer's. She was starting to think and act more like Toots daily. She smiled because Toots was good people-foul mouth, flipping finger, and all. It wasn't so bad to think she was acting like her dearest friend. "Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking."

"Mom, stop apologizing for being yourself. Remember how you tried to teach that to me? Remember what an a.s.shole I was for the first thirty-plus years of my life? I like that you know how to use that finger. I do it myself when the occasion calls for it. Now tell me more about Ida. Her face looks very familiar to me."

Oh, c.r.a.p! If Ida heard that, her head would swell ten times bigger than it already was. But he was bound to find out sooner or later, so it might as well be sooner, and from her rather than Ida. "You might have seen her on The Home Shopping Club. She has a line of cosmetics, which are selling faster than ever. I think she's a great businesswoman, but she is a . . . spoiled old thing."

"Just exactly how old is she? She doesn't look very old," Daniel said, now more curious than ever. Bernice should have never mentioned her success. She wasn't so sure that Daniel wouldn't try and take advantage of a wealthy woman. And where in the world did that come from? This was her own flesh and blood. She had no clue if Daniel was a ladies' man. He'd turned into such a handsome man; why, she just a.s.sumed that he was like his father. That two-timing SOB had looked at everything in a skirt, and then some. She could only hope that this new-and-improved version of her son hadn't picked up that trait.

"Ida is just over seventy," Bernice said, knowing that they had celebrated that milestone birthday party only a few weeks ago. She was seventeen years older than Daniel. Not old enough to be his mother, but too darned old to be his girlfriend.

"She doesn't look a day over fifty-five," Daniel said.

Ida returned just in time to hear this. "Why, thank you." She'd changed into what she called dinner pajamas. Black silk pants and matching top, which reached just above her knees. She'd added a touch of lipstick and run a brush through her hair. "Now I would love some coffee."

Bernice pointed to the coffeemaker. "Help yourself."

"Of course, I will," Ida remarked. "I don't expect you to wait on me hand and foot."

They both knew better, but neither commented. For a minute, Ida was slightly ashamed of how she had treated Bernice. The feeling left her as fast as it came. She filled her cup and brought it to the table. She sat in the chair across from Daniel. "So, what brings you to South Carolina?"

Bernice popped right in, answering, "Why, me, of course! Surely, you don't think he's here to visit you? He doesn't even know you."

"Actually, Mother is only one of the reasons I'm in South Carolina."

Instantly Bernice's face dropped to the floor and came back. What other reason could he possibly have? Curious, she asked, "What's your other reason for driving all the way across the country?"

Daniel took a sip of his coffee. "Business. During all those years I spent wandering around, trying to find myself, I went back to college. Teaching elementary school was all right for a while, but I needed to find something else that I really could delve into. I went to law school, so I've been practicing corporate law for the past eight years. I have a client in Charleston who's in a mess, and I decided to combine business with pleasure."

Bernice thought her teeth would fall out. "You're an attorney? Really?" She couldn't have been any more surprised. Yes, Daniel had done well in school, graduated near the top of his cla.s.s in college, but she'd never pegged him for having an interest in the law. Of course, she hadn't been around him for over twenty years. He was virtually a stranger to her.

Ida perked up like an instant Powerball winner. "How exciting!" she exclaimed.

Bernice knew she was feigning interest in something she knew nothing about, all in the hopes of procuring the male approval. Sophie and Toots were right. Ida was a s.l.u.t.

"The law is my life now. I couldn't ever go back to teaching," he added, more to Ida than to his mother.

"Ida doesn't have children. As a matter of fact, she hates all kids, except for Abby, Toots's daughter. Ida's one of her three G.o.dmothers. Ida isn't much of a people person, either. She likes herself too much." Bernice was not going to allow either of them to even act like they had any common ground. She would kick Ida so hard in her uppity a.s.s . . . she'd have to yank her foot out with a crowbar! Miss Ida was not going to stick her claws into her son's anything.

"For crying out loud, Bernice, you're making me sound like an ogre. I do, too, like children, and people. I'm selective, that's all." Her gentle laugh rippled throughout the dining room. Daniel caught her eye; and in return, she gave him one of her s.e.xiest smiles. She knew this to be true because she spent hours in front of the mirror practicing.

He laughed, too, the sound rich and vibrant. "Mother, I think you're embarra.s.sing your friend."

"She isn't my friend," Bernice shot back, then backtracked. "I mean, I met her because she's one of Abby's G.o.dmothers. We became friends through Toots."

"Where is Robert tonight? I thought he would be here with another one of his dreadful recipes," Ida said, taking control of the conversation. "Robert is your mother's love, uh, I meant her male friend. They like to cook. Rather, Bernice does. Robert spends his days searching for recipes." Ida shot Bernice the f.u.c.k-you look.

Daniel laughed. "I see you two bring out the best in one another. Mom, I'd love to meet Robert. If he's with you, then he must be one of the good guys."

"He's a very nice man. We are just friends, nothing more."

Ida cleared her throat and raised her perfectly sculpted brows. "So you say."

"Ida, shut up, for Pete's sake! You have no clue what our relationship's about."

"Oh, hush! We sound like a couple of schoolgirls. You don't want to frighten Daniel away his first night, now, do you?" Ida said in her most pleasant, fake voice.

Bernice rolled her eyes. "Nope, I don't. Now, before you arrived, I was having a nice conversation with my son. If you will excuse us, I'd like to finish."

Daniel stood then, stretching. Bernice watched Ida ogle him as if he were the catch of the day.

And something told her this was just the beginning.

"Actually, I'm wiped out. If you don't mind, direct me to my bed, and we can start over in the morning."

Bernice pursed her lips, something she did when she was p.i.s.sed. "You can stay in the room across from mine. The sheets are clean." She wanted to add it was the farthest from Ida's room, but she had a feeling that wouldn't matter. Maybe she should send him to her house. It wasn't like she lived there every day. She made sure to go over at least once a month to air out the place.