Page 71 of Proof

“Molto bene! Change is good.” He inspected her new threads. “Everything. Bellissima! You want to sit inside or outside?”

Luna looked at Chi-Chi. “Outside?”

“It’s your day, my new friend.”

Gorgio walked them to a table on the sidewalk and handed them menus. “Something to drink?”

“I think I’ll have a pinot gris. Really chilled,” Luna said.

“I shall have the same,” Chi-Chi answered.

Gorgio walked briskly inside and returned with a bottle in a stainless-steel cooler, along with two glasses. “Make that three glasses, please. Cullen is joining us,” Luna explained.

“What are you in the mood for?” Luna asked Chi-Chi.

“Nothing too heavy. I put too many little cakes in my stomach.”

“Cappellini? It’s light. Maybe pomodoro or with lemon and garlic?”

“Now I am hungry,” Chi-Chi said while perusing the rest of the menu.

“I think I’ll have shrimp scampi over capellini,” Luna said. “And a side of broccoli rabe. I’ll stink of garlic!”

“That sounds delicious. I do not mind you smelling like garlic.” Chi-Chi laughed. “But I will have my capellini with lemon.”

Luna and Chi-Chi toasted to Luna’s “refurbishment” and waited for Cullen to arrive before they placed their order. Several minutes passed, and then Wylie trotted toward the table, with Cullen lagging behind. Wylie immediately nudged Luna’s arm. Cullen stopped. Who is that? he wondered. Then he heard his sister’s voice. “Holy Toledo!” He pulled out a chair and stared. “Wow. Look at you.” His mouth was agape. “Is this a permanent thing?” He eyed her hair, then her clothes. She pulled off her glasses so he could see her makeup before she plunked them back on.

“What do you think of your sister’s new look?” Chi-Chi asked.

“She will always be the same character, but now it is in a different costume,” Cullen roared. “I have to admit, you look pretty darn good.”

“Why, thank you. I feel pretty good, too,” Luna said.

“What brought all of this on?” he asked.

“Believe it or not, the dresser. Going through all my old stuff made me realize part of me was stuck in the past. Trapped by things that I hadn’t really resolved on a subconscious level.”

Cullen hesitated, then said, “Do you think the news about Brendan had something to do with it?”

Luna let out a sigh. “It was the final push I needed. Going through the box was illuminating, but getting the news about him was the catalyst.”

“Well, it might have been bad news, but some good came from it. You really look terrific.” He could not stop staring at her.

“I agree,” Chi-Chi chimed in.

“Does Chris know about this?” Cullen poured a glass of wine from the bottle that was sitting on the table.

“No. I want to surprise him,” Luna replied.

“I can tell you this—he will be blown away.” Cullen raised his glass. “To the new you!”

Chapter Fourteen

Ten Days Later

Off to Sedona

Luna was a whirling dervish prior to her trip. She had several readings to do, a few wardrobe tweaks, organizing the café schedule and deliveries, and making sure all of Wylie’s needs were taken care of. Chewies? Check. Toys? Check. Food? Check. Doggie bed? Check. If she missed anything, Cullen could manage.

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