Chapter 25
deal with the devil
ANNIE
Annie walked out of the treatment room, an hour sports massage complete, and washed her hands at the sink. Her mom had an Ayurvedic massage upstairs, and Gran was at the front desk. As she removed the oil from her hands, she looked back at the day so far. It was only 3:00 and she’d had a busy morning, then spent midday at a crime scene, and now somehow was back at work as if there wasn’t a crime scene nearby.
She totally understood why Gabriel had texted, booking himself into the Spa along with his mother. Gran upgraded them to their largest room; she had a half hour before her next client’s hot stone massage.
Her client came out of the room, face still crinkled from the face cradle cover, walking slow, an easy smile on their face. She walked him to the front desk, parting with, “I’ll see you next week, after your tennis tournament. Keep doing those stretches I showed you, okay?”
Movement caught her eye; Gabriel was at the entrance with a rolling suitcase in one hand and an orchid in the other. Annie opened the door for him to enter, and her client to exit. Gran stood up and said, “Oh, you remembered her orchid. Annie, here’s the key. You take him up, and I’ll turn over your room for the hot stone appointment.”
Annie took the orchid from Gabriel, and the key from Gran, and walked him up the stairs. “You’ve got our best and biggest room,” she said. “When’s the last time she was here?”
“She flew to almost all my competitions and tournaments, all over, but never came here to Crystal Valley. Now she’s finally here, and there’s a,” he let out a breath slowly, “murder, and a crime scene next door, and Elaine with a real estate agent. I’m hoping she’s not horrified.”
That struck Annie as pretty extreme. “She’s never been to Crystal Valley?” Annie put the old-fashioned key in the door and turned it–she liked the aesthetic of the old world metal keys they’d had made, instead of plastic key cards. She opened the door with a flourish–this was her favorite room. “You’ve lived here since you were in middle school.”
Gabriel shrugged.
“This is the Evergreen Suite. A friend from college painted the forest wall mural,” Annie said as they walked in. The warm, deep hues of pine and fir from the wall continued throughout the room in the dark green couch, pillows, accents, and the potted bonsai on a table by the window. Annie placed the orchid next to it. “Here’s the sitting area, there’s the bedroom, and bathroom through there. This is a pull-out; it’s really comfortable.”
She put the key on the desk; it felt a little weird to be in the room with Gabriel, and a bed in view; it shouldn’t be, she told herself, but that didn’t keep it from being awkward. It’s not because I like him, she thought, but edged toward the door.
“Ric is cooking an amazing dinner tonight–Indian. It’s a warm afternoon, so feel free to use any of the outdoor spaces. The pergola where we’ll have dinner is super cozy. If you need anything, just ask!”
She fled downstairs and busied herself with desk work. Gran came back with an, “All set for your hot stones.”
Annie and Gran were reviewing next month’s schedule when they heard footsteps on the stairs; Gabriel announced with little kid excitement, “She’s here!” He bounded out the front door, shaking the leaves of the potted plant, leaving the door open as he ran to the rental car that had just parked.
Annie looked at Gran, and in silent agreement they padded over to the window by the open door to watch a vivacious woman, shorter than Gabriel, pull him into a bear hug. Her black, straight hair reached her shoulders with not a hair out of place, and her black palazzo pants and unwrinkled pink blouse showed no signs of having been crammed into an airplane seat for hours. “She looks perfect,” Annie said.
“To look like that after flying internationally? That requires a deal with the devil,” Gran said.
“She’s never been here before, to Crystal Valley,” Annie whispered.
“That’s not possible.”
“Gabriel said never,” Annie said, still whispering.
They got quiet so they could eavesdrop.
“Look at you, mijo. My little boy! You seem healthy,” Maricela put her hand on the injured shoulder that had undergone so many surgeries. “Como’ esta’s?”
“I’m good, Mama. Don’t worry. It’s been an…eventful day but, good news, I’ll be staying here with you.”
“Perfect!” Her face smiled, but her eyes kept some of the worry in them. “I stopped in duty-free and got plenty of chocolates.”
“Then we have double, because I shopped, too.”
She gave Gabriel another tight hug, and then pulled her suitcase out of the car, a full-size one. “I have presents.” Gabriel lifted it and said, “What are they, rocks?
“Your Tia’s salsas. Hers are better than mine, but don’t you dare tell her I admitted that. I think she uses witchcraft to make them so good.”
“Tell me she included her mole,” Gabriel said. “So good I don’t care if it’s witchcraft.”
“Of course.” She reached to touch Gabriel’s cheek. They seem so close, Annie thought, like it hasn’t been months since they’ve seen each other. And that she’s never been to Crystal Valley before.
Suddenly, Annie and Gran jumped as Lilly put her head between theirs, asking, “Spying?” She chuckled at their jump scare.
“Of course not,” Annie denied quickly. Her mom sighed. “She looks perfect after all that travel.”
Gran tsked and looked at Annie. “I’ll say it again: deal with the devil.”