Sleeping Beauty by Judy Baer

Author:Judy Baer [Baer, Judy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-11-06T09:04:41+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

C harley, his Mohawk particularly bright and perky in hot-pink and turquoise, stood at the door staring at my chest and grinning.

I didnt take that in a bad way, especially since Chester was the one he was eyeing, as the cat clung to me like a tree frog.

I see you two have bonded.

Whatever, I said wearily. He likes me in an approach-avoidance sort of way. I peeled the cat off my sweater and handed him to Charley. Chester meowed pitifully but curled up in his arms.

Who is here? Darla skidded to a stop in the doorway of the kitchen to stare at Charley.

He did make quite a sight in holey jeans, a high-necked black turtleneck, his suit coat, bright green sneakers and a collection of peace-symbol necklaces he must have lifted from an aging hippy. I hope he quits doing avant-garde theater soon. Its having a rather nasty effect on his dressing habits.

I came to see how the cat is doing. Well, hello there. Charley locked eyes with Darla and forgot about Chester.

She was framed in the doorway looking like a gorgeous kewpie doll in a vibrant yellow business suit. Darla was a cute little parakeet to Charleys outlandish parrot.

Something weird was going on again; little electrical sparks seemed to be flowing back and forth between Charley and Darla like a mini force field. Charleys brown eyes were telepathically glued to Darlas and whatever was being transmitted between them must have been mighty interesting because neither seemed inclined to break the gaze.

Then Chester put a claw into Charleys chest. He yelped and danced around pulling at the matted furball, and Darla spun around and retreated to the kitchen like a frightened kitten herself.

What was that about? I demanded when Charley and Chester had settled their differences.

A claw to the pectoral, thats what. It stung.

Not that. Whatever was going on between you and my friend Darla. Shazam! Wow! Whee! That stuff.

I make eye contact with a woman and you turn into Sherlock Holmes.

That wasnt eye contact, Charley, it was a mind-meld.

You need more sleep, Suze, youre imagining things.

For once I was sure that what was going on had nothing to do with my sleep deprivation, but I wasnt going to get any more out of Charley right now. Besides, I had Dr. Pillow in my kitchen and I was ignoring him. Bad form. Very bad form.

David was patiently waiting in the kitchen, his hands around a freshly poured mug of coffee and a suspicious eye on Darla, who was madly primping in the reflection of the toaster.

He raised one eyebrow when he saw Charley behind me but otherwise appeared unfazed by the dog and pony, er, rathercat and clownshow being played out in my house.

If it hadnt been for David, the next few minutes might have been some of the longest of my life. He was the one who kept the conversation going while I brewed more coffee and tried to pretend that Darlas and Charleys brains hadnt frozen.

When Darla

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