Celeste Files: Unlocked Part 4

Relieved they were back to teasing rather than on the verge of arguing, she smiled. "Practice does make perfect."

After he left the room, and she cleaned the kitchen, her mind was on John and what he'd said. If he'd thought she was stretched thin now, what would he say if he knew about her visions, and that she was learning how to better understand her psychic abilities? Thank G.o.d Jenny had called before she'd told John her suspicions regarding Kelly's mom. A new manager, and even an a.s.sistant manager, might help relieve the pressures of running her own business, but in reality she was trading one stress for another. Spending time with Maxine, practicing how to psychically ground herself while trying to discover if Kelly's mom had been murdered would take hours from her day.

Hopefully she'd uncover the truth behind Kelly's mom very soon. Even if she did, she'd still have to make sure she knew how to control her visions. When she'd been pregnant with Olivia, she'd experienced no psychic phenomena, but she suspected that was due to the trauma she'd suffered and not her pregnancy. Now that her mind no longer repressed her gift, she hadn't a clue as to how that gift would be affected during pregnancy. Worried her sensitivity to the dead might increase, she would need to make sure she listened to everything Maxine could teach her.

Another baby.

She'd always wanted a big family and couldn't wait to give Olivia a brother or sister. Her daughter's squeals reached into the kitchen. A bigger family would mean they couldn't stay in John's condo for much longer. If she hired an a.s.sistant manager, they might not be able to save quickly enough to move into a bigger place. Instead of putting the cart before the horse, she'd concentrate on right now. And right now, she was ready to put her daughter to bed, then make love to her husband.

When she reached Olivia's room, she stood in the doorway and watched as John finished zipping their daughter's footie pajamas. He then scooped up Olivia and, snuggling her close, quietly sang Hush Little Baby. When Olivia hugged him back and sighed, tears welled in Celeste's eyes. John was a good man and father. She loved being married to him and knew in her heart she had to be honest with him.

Together, they put Olivia to bed. After they shut off the light and went into their bedroom, he pulled her close. "I've missed you this week," he said, kissing her along the throat. "There was a psychic advisor shop in the storefront across from my hotel. Every time I saw it, I thought of you."

She had her opening. "And what did you think?"

"About this," he murmured, and slid his hand beneath her yoga pants. "And this." He ran his palm along her breast.

Her breath hitched as desire curled through her belly. "The psychic made you think of my b.u.t.t and b.o.o.bs?"

When he chuckled, his warm breath fanned across her lips. "Never saw her, but the store made me glad my psychic went into baking instead of fortune-telling."

"That's too bad," she said, pus.h.i.+ng his sweater up his torso and over his head. "Now that my time at the Sugar Shack is going to be freed up, I was thinking about finding a mentor to help me regain my psychic powers." She grinned and ran her hand along his hard chest. "For the good of mankind, of course."

"Of course." He pulled her s.h.i.+rt off, then unhooked her bra. "But I prefer living with a s.e.xy baker."

"Why's that?" she asked, breathless when he dragged her pants down her legs, then pressed her against the mattress.

"I've gotten used to your creepy gnomes," he said, kissing a path along her stomach. "But the psychic stuff...not so much."

Although turned on and anxious for him to kiss his way to between her thighs, she couldn't help resenting his comment. "Are you saying that when I still had my gift, it used to creep you out?"

He stopped mid-kiss and looked up at her. "Creepy is for the gnomes, not my wife." He stood, removed the rest of his clothes, then settled her on the center of the bed. After covering her with his big body, he smoothed her curls away from her face. "I love you, every part of you. But when you were having visions, it scared the h.e.l.l out of me. I don't want what happened in Wisconsin to ever repeat itself. I love you too much to lose you."

The sharp blades of guilt pierced her chest. "I love you, too. And I'm not going anywhere." She reached between their bodies and stroked him. "I do have a prediction, though."

"What's that?" he asked, grazing his lips along hers.

"I predict we're going to stop with the chitchat and practice our baby-making skills. Twice."

"Twice?" He smiled against her mouth, and his breath quickened. "That's a prophecy I can live with," he said, then kissed her.

As he deepened the kiss and began to make love to her, her thoughts remained on John and the pleasure he brought her. But once they were both sated and she was curled against his body, the guilt returned. She couldn't tell him about Maxine or Kelly's mom, or that her earlier conversation with Ian confirmed that Maxine was the real deal. While she didn't want to lie to her husband, she also didn't want him reliving what had happened to her in the past, or stressing over what could possibly happen in the future. Once she had a better understanding of what she was capable of and how she could control her gift, she would tell him the truth. For now, for his peace of mind and hers, she'd keep him in the dark and pray that what her mind had unlocked wouldn't ruin their marriage.

Or, this time, kill her.

Chapter 5.

CELESTE CARRIED OLIVIA to Kelly's front door. This morning's weather was a repeat of yesterday's and, according to the local meteorologist, the weekend should result in more of the same. If only she didn't have the responsibility of the bakery, she would stay home wearing her lounge pants and sweats.h.i.+rt, curl up under a blanket and watch mindless movies. But she had more than the bakery to worry about, or running Olivia to the daycare. She had another appointment with Maxine.

Her stomach fluttered with nervous energy as she knocked on Kelly's townhouse door. Maxine had suggested she bring an item back to her North Astor home that Celeste could use for another reading, but she had no idea how she would accomplish something like that without Kelly questioning her. She'd considered keeping the blanket, yet didn't think that was right. Especially if Kelly called the daycare looking for it.

The door swung open, and her friend greeted her with a weary smile. "Morning. Thanks for helping out today." Kelly's brown eyes were swollen, underscored with dark circles and held a sadness Celeste could relate to. It had been over five years since her mom had pa.s.sed, but the loss still hurt.

"I'm so sorry," Celeste said, and, still holding Olivia, half-hugged Kelly. "How are you holding up?"

Kelly ran a hand over her dark-brown hair, which had been pulled back into a sloppy ponytail. "Okay." She let out a sigh, and motioned for Celeste to come inside. "I just don't get it," she continued. "My mom planned to meet her girlfriends for lunch today after her morning doctor's appointment. Tomorrow evening, she and Ann were supposed to go to the theater."

Ann. Celeste had a quick memory of the woman's name, along with the threat to her life. "Who's Ann?" she asked.

"My mom's best friend. She's a nurse and is-was-staying with my mom to help her." Kelly tugged at the cuffs of her baggy sweats.h.i.+rt and hugged herself. "Ann was the one who found her. She's beside herself."

"We all are." Kelly's sister, Lea, entered the room carrying a little girl. Dressed in a stylish cream-colored sweater dress, dark-brown leggings and tall brown boots, Lea looked as if she were going out for dinner and drinks rather than making funeral arrangements. "h.e.l.lo, Celeste," Lea said, tucking her straight brown hair, cut in a severe yet s.e.xy bob, behind her ear. "Thank you for taking the girls to the daycare."

"Oh, Celeste, I'm sorry." Kelly hugged herself tighter. "I forgot to ask if you would mind taking Lea's daughter, too. Her daycare had to shut down due to a flu outbreak."

Daycare? She must have been mistaken about Lea's au pair. "Not a problem," Celeste said, then, facing Lea, offered her condolences.

Lea's chin trembled slightly and her eyes misted with tears. She blinked several times, then cleared her throat. "Thank you. Whatever our mother's reasons for taking the coward's way will-"

"Lea," Kelly gasped. "How could you say such a thing?"

Lea's jaw tightened. "I won't apologize for feeling bitter and angry." She set her daughter down when the little girl began pulling on Lea's earrings. "My last conversation with Mom was...never mind. I don't want to talk about it."

Kelly's husband, Dale, entered the room carrying their daughter, Avery. "We better get going. I'd like to make it back into the office by lunch." He glanced to his wife, his gaze drifting over the clothes she wore. "As it is, we're going to lose money this week."

"My boss is giving me three days' paid bereavement leave." Kelly glared at her husband. "We'll be just fine."

Lea rolled her eyes. "For Christ's sake, Dale. Don't be such an insensitive d.i.c.k. If you need the money that bad, I'll loan it to you."

Dale snorted. "You mean you'll max out another credit card."

"Screw you," Lea snapped. "I'll have you-"

Celeste cleared her throat. "If the girls are ready to go, I'm ready to leave."

Lea looked to where her daughter played with a doll on the carpet. "I apologize, Celeste. My brother-in-law is a cheap son of a-"

"Enough," Kelly shouted. "I don't appreciate you people swearing around the girls or embarra.s.sing me in front of my friend." She turned to her husband. "We don't need you to come with us, so go to work."

"Well, I want to be there when you meet with the attorney. Just because you're a paralegal doesn't mean you understand the law."

G.o.d, Celeste couldn't stand Dale. Kelly was a bright woman and had worked for the same attorney for the past fifteen years. She'd guarantee Kelly knew more about the law than Dale, who worked in the IT department for the Chicago Transit Authority.

Kelly took Avery from her husband. "Just put the car seats in Celeste's Jeep. I'm going to change Avery's diaper. I'll be right back."

While Kelly left the room, Dale barely looked at Celeste as he took her keys. When she'd first met him she had considered Dale an attractive guy, until he'd opened his mouth. She hadn't needed to be psychic to sense the ugliness inside him, and couldn't stand the way he spoke to Kelly and acted as if his wife were stupid. Several times Kelly had suggested they meet for a couples' night out with her and John. Celeste had managed to talk John into having dinner and drinks with Kelly and Dale this past summer. John had lasted no more than an hour before he'd pulled her aside and told her he wasn't about to waste a kid-free evening on a pompous p.r.i.c.k like Dale.

"Zoe's diaper bag is by the door," Lea said, then began bundling her adorable daughter. "It's the Coach one."

"Are there any instructions I need to give the daycare?" Celeste asked.

"I have everything they'll need to know written down and tucked in the diaper bag." Lea placed a knit hat on Zoe's head. "Zoe has a delicate palate, so I packed her lunch."

Dale stepped inside and picked up the diaper bags. "What happened to your over-priced babysitter?" he asked. "Catch her in bed with your husband?"

"I truly hate you," Lea said, and picked up Zoe.

Dale chuckled as he left the townhouse. Red splotches developed along Lea's pale cheeks. She looked to Celeste. "My au pair needed to go home to Germany to be with her family. Her father was in a terrible accident. She's a pretty girl, but my husband would never-"

Celeste held up a hand. "Lea, you don't need to explain anything to me. I'm not a fan of Dale."

Lea's lips tilted in a small smile. "Thank you again for helping us today."

"I wish I could do more," Celeste said, glancing around the room and looking for something she might be able to snag before she left. When she saw an angel figurine on the built-in bookshelf adjacent to the fireplace, she remembered Kelly telling her about how she'd received it from her mom on her first Mother's Day. Guilt gave Celeste a jab. While she might be able to use the figurine to gain another vision, she wasn't a klepto and couldn't take a sentimental item from her friend. Which reminded her...

She sat Olivia down on the carpet, then pulled Avery's blanket from her over-sized purse. Kelly entered the room with her daughter bundled up from head to toe. When she saw the blanket, her eyes widened. "Where did you find that?"

"In Olivia's diaper bag."

Tears welled in Kelly's eyes. "When I found out about Mom, I..." She looked away and buried her face against Avery's jacket. After a moment, she let out a deep breath, then looked up at her. "I'm so glad it's safe. My mom made that for Avery and it means so much to me."

Guilt gave Celeste a harder jab. "I'm sorry, I should have called or texted you that I had it." But she'd been too busy trying to make sense of the vision the blanket had triggered.

"It's not a big deal," Kelly said, as Dale came back into the room.

"Car's loaded." He set Celeste's keys on an end table. "Don't forget to bring the obituary I wrote up last night."

Lea gave him a cool smile. "I'm afraid you wasted your time. Kelly and I handled our mother's obituary this morning."

He gave his wife a dirty look. "Whatever. I'll meet you at the funeral home. You two can take Lea's Mercedes. Might as well before it gets repossessed," he said, then left.

"I don't know why you stay with him," Lea said to her sister. "He's controlling and mean. I can't stand the way he talks to you."

"At least my husband comes home."

Ouch. The loss of a loved one should bring a family closer, not tear them apart. "I need to leave," Celeste said, wondering-with the way they'd openly argued-if they'd forgotten she was even in the room.

Both women looked at her, stress and exhaustion clear on their faces. "I'm sorry," Kelly began, "it's been a rough morning."

Celeste picked up Olivia and replaced her knit hat. "It's going to be a rough few days." When she reached her SUV and opened the rear driver's side door, she placed Olivia in her seat. Kelly used the car seat in the middle for Avery, then buckled up her niece in the next one.

"I'll drop the girls off around two." She closed the car door, then walked to the other side. "Does that give you enough time?"

Kelly tied a scarf around her neck. "Plenty. Thank you again."

Celeste gave her friend a hug. "I never had the pleasure of meeting your mom. What was her name?" she asked when she pulled away.

"Sandra Welsh."

"I thought your maiden name was Dyson."

"It is, but my mom went back to Welsh after her and my dad divorced."

"I'm wondering if he'll bother to show up at the funeral," Lea said.

"Doubtful." Kelly shook her head. "Even after thirty years of marriage there's no love lost there. He's a hateful man."

"This is one subject that you and I both agree on," Lea said, then gave her daughter a kiss before closing the door.

After the two women said good-bye to her, Celeste climbed into the SUV, then turned the ignition. As she let the car warm up, she looked over her shoulder at the three little girls crammed together in the backseat. "Okay, kiddos, ready to go?"

When all three of them repeated, "Go, go," Celeste smiled, then s.h.i.+fted into DRIVE. As she wound her way through the busy streets, and the girls chattered and giggled amongst themselves, she replayed what she'd witnessed inside Kelly's townhouse. From the moment she'd snapped out of the first trance-like state, she'd known in her heart that whoever murdered Sandra was someone the woman had-at one time-loved. Now that she remembered an important part of the vision, she could rule out Sandra's friend, Ann. While Sandra might have remembered her friend in her will, Celeste doubted Ann would kill for it. But she couldn't rule out Lea or Dale, or maybe Lea's husband.

Whatever was in the safe had to do with money and the child Sandra had been forced to give up for adoption. Lea would obviously receive an inheritance, but Dale and also Lea's husband would be able to get their hands on the money through their wives. Dale was clearly worried about their finances. What husband would give his wife a hard time about taking a few days off from work to bury her mother? Then there were Dale's comments about Lea's maxed-out credit cards and repossessed car. If any of that were true and Lea was hard up for money, could she kill her mother to maintain the charade that all was well in her world? Could her husband?

And how was she going to do a reading without another object?

Celeste pulled up to Kid-doodles Daycare, then called Nina to let her know she was outside and could use help carrying in the three girls. While Nina and another worker took Zoe and Avery, Celeste brought Olivia inside, then went back to the SUV for their diaper bags. She opened the SUV's back end and stared at Lea's over-stuffed Coach bag for a second, debating whether she should go through it or not to see if she could find something to use for a reading. She supposed it wouldn't hurt. The daycare workers would have access to the bag, too, so it wasn't as if she was nosing around something more private, like Lea's purse. Plus, she'd return whatever she had taken before dropping the girls back off at Kelly's.

After talking herself into snooping, she began going through the bag. Other than the necessary baby gear, there was a wooden pen. Unsure if the pen would help with a reading, she slipped it into her pocket anyway, then took the diaper bags into the daycare. Once she made sure the girls were settled inside and Lea's instructions had been given to Nina, Celeste left.

Her stomach grew nauseous the closer she drove to Maxine's. Whether the queasiness was due to sneaking Lea's pen from the bag, an approaching vision or lack of breakfast, she couldn't be sure. Maxine had suggested she listen to her body and use the scribble technique to keep her grounded. Since Lea's pen was the only writing instrument she had in her car, she placed all of her energy on the most important man in her life-John. After listening to how horribly Dale had spoken to Kelly, she was thankful for John. Although she'd been upset by a few of the things he'd said last night, John had never treated her like she was incapable. He'd never tried to control her or tell her how to live her life. Instead, he showed nothing but constant support and love.

By the time she reached Maxine's, the nausea had abated and awareness settled around her. She realized scribbling wasn't the only thing that could keep her grounded. Her husband could, too.

Anxious to share this revelation with Maxine and to perform another reading, she rushed to the door, once again bypa.s.sed the lion's head doorknocker, and rang the bell. "Good morning," she said when Maxine opened the door.

"It's a beautiful morning." Maxine ushered her in from the cold, then took Celeste's coat. "A little gray for my taste, but that's okay. Come see what finally bloomed."

"Bloomed?" she asked, and followed Maxine to the parlor.

"Yes. I've had this orchid since Christmas and haven't been able to get it to bloom. The buds were there, growing bigger and bigger. But today, they finally burst to life to show off the beauty they've been hiding."

Celeste looked from Maxine's smiling face to the blue orchid. She liked Maxine, but it obviously didn't take much to make her excited. "It's beautiful. I've never been good with plants."

"I haven't either, which makes this special to me. I feel somewhat triumphant." Maxine chuckled. "Silly, I know. But it's okay to be silly once in a while and remind ourselves that, just because we're adults, we shouldn't neglect our inner child. When was the last time you were silly?"

"Yesterday." Celeste smiled at the memory. "I got down on the floor with Olivia and pretended I was a puppy. I picked up one of her toys with my teeth and crawled around so she could chase me."

"I love it. Even after the disheartening reading, you were able to separate what you saw from your personal life. That takes strength."

"I hadn't thought about it that way," Celeste said, taking a seat in the unicorn wingback chair. "But I'll admit, even after I finished playing with Olivia, I still couldn't stop thinking about Sandra."