Part 66 (2/2)

”And, just to put it all out there, Cora, the dead one, bought me a ton of s.h.i.+t when I was with her working undercover on that illegal gambling gig I was investigating.”

”Ah,” I whispered, quite in the know about this as it, too, had been shared with me (carefully) by the lovely, and alive, Cora, not to mention Noc had not spoken of it at length, but he also had not s.h.i.+ed away from mentioning it before.

”Frannie,” he called, regardless of the fact I was right there.

”Yes?” I asked.

He was studying me closely. ”Not that this is for Nordstrom shoe department, and I can make sure Josette is good for a while so we can go get a coffee if we need some alone time to hash it out, but things have changed with us and,” he kept studying me, ”you seem down with that.”

”Well, I am,” I shared.

He looked dubious. ”You are?”

I pressed closer.

”I am not your first lover, Noc, and you are not mine. It would be unkind to make you feel uncomfortable and definitely not contrite for having lovers before me, or further, making you feel unease in mentioning them when you speak of your life. But more, it would be a waste of words and emotion for both of us in going over such when it's history. We're together now and it's only our future that interests me, not a study of the past we can do nothing about.”

He grinned. ”Just in case you forgot, gonna remind you that you're the s.h.i.+t, sugarlips.”

I smiled back. ”Indeed I am.”

He bent and gave me a brush of the lips, lifted his head and queried, ”Can't believe I'm askin' you this, but you want more shoes?”

I couldn't believe he was asking that either.

Thus I didn't answer.

I just broke free, took his hand and entered the lap of the G.o.ds.

I opened then closed the mirror which was actually a cupboard in Noc's bathroom.

I did it again.

And again.

I smiled to myself at the ingenious use of s.p.a.ce that included a charming hidden compartment and then opened it again in order to put the bottles I'd purchased at the mall inside it.

These bottles included cleanser, something I would need to use on my own face to rid it of the paint without Josette at Noc's to a.s.sist me (and this, oddly, elated me).

Also moisturizing lotion, which the woman who sold us our cleansers shared with us was a crucial element in our ”skincare regime,” this moisturizer having two varieties, day and night.

And then there was toner, something which was explained but I still wasn't quite clear on its purpose, just that it was vital to my skin appearing ”healthy” and required Noc to take us to a place called a ”pharmacy” so we could buy ”cotton wipes” in order to use it.

The perfume I'd purchased I'd set on the counter surrounding Noc's basin. The bottle was far too attractive to be hidden away in a compartment, no matter how clever that compartment was.

”It's called a medicine cabinet.”

I jumped at Noc's voice and turned to see him leaning in the doorway, watching me, a look of soft satisfaction on his face.

I felt my spirit settle into that look and asked softly, ”Why is it called that?”

”You put what you put in it just now, but it was invented back in a day when there wasn't much of that stuff. Mostly it was where you stored medicine.”

”Ah,” I murmured, watching him and not moving because he was not moving, just standing in the doorway, leaning his shoulder into the jamb, his eyes gentle on me.

It was, of course, after our trip to the mall and Noc had returned Josette to Valentine's, where she a.s.sured us she was quite happy to experiment with her newly-acquired skills with the microwave in order to make her supper that night and again watch the television. ”Where I learn much of this world,” she'd said.

I felt some guilt, however, for I knew she was saying such with only a hint of truth. Mostly, she wanted to be certain Noc and I had time together.

This was her adventure too, and as such she shouldn't be spending it sitting in an empty house (for Valentine again was not there upon our return or even when we'd left), eating alone and watching a box, no matter how interesting what played on it was.

But for now, I was back at Noc's where he said he'd make me dinner while I put away the purchases I'd made to keep at his home and where I'd be sleeping.

Needless to say, Josette and I very much enjoyed our time at the mall. We'd done as Noc said we'd do, filling his Suburban to the brim with our bags.

In other words, there was a good deal for me to put away.

And I had been doing just that while Noc had been in his kitchen cooking.

I was surprised he had these skills but only because, in my world, a man such as him would have servants to do these things for him.

In this world, it seemed everyone cooked for themselves, which I found most odd and vaguely alarming for there might come a time when I was expected to do the same and I had no desire to do so.

I didn't think much on that. I thought simply of going through my marvelous purchases and putting them away while I smelled the pleasant aroma of Noc's efforts filling the house.

”Is dinner ready?” I queried when Noc said nothing and continued not to move.

”Not quite,” he replied.

I tipped my head to the side and asked quietly, ”Is all well?”

He looked to my perfume bottle on the counter and back to me.

”Absolutely.”

He said this firmly but his manner was peculiar.

”You seem in a strange mood, my love,” I whispered.

With a suddenness that was astounding, his energy filled the room, wrapping me in its warm embrace with such fierceness, it almost made me gasp.

But even as this happened, his reply was calm.

”No, baby, just enjoying our first night of normal.”

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