Page 18 of Proof

“Somebody want to go out and play?” Ellie leaned over and spoke to them. All at once, the three bounced to their paws and wagged their tails in a drumbeat rhythm.

“I’ll take them down,” Luna offered. “Come on, you guys.” The dogs were already at the top of the stairs before Luna had left the office. The three canines were waiting at the large sliding patio doors long before Luna could catch up with them. On Monday and Tuesday, when the center was closed, the automatic door opener was not engaged. A human had to hit the button. The dogs were pacing, and Wylie gave a soft woof, urging Luna to move faster.

“I am going to have to teach you guys how to do this,” Luna said, as she quickly pushed the big red button twice. The doors moved slightly, then closed. “See? This is how it’s done!” She repeated the movement. The dogs were giving her the stink eye. “Oh, come on, you guys! You’re smart. One of you should be able to do this.” She did it one more time. “No? Well, fine.” She hit the button, but this time, she let the door stay open. She swore she heard one of the dogs fart at her on their way out.

Luna went into Cullen’s showroom and walked to the workshop in the back. Her dresser remained by the far wall, untouched since the day it had arrived.

“You plan on going through all of this any time soon?” Cullen asked as he rewired a midcentury ceiling fixture.

“I should probably pack everything up and take it home, but being around the dresser while I’m going through my stuff gives it that extra energy.” Luna wasn’t talking about cereal, or caffeine-laden beverages. She was referring to the vibration of the piece itself. “Everything is made of energy, you know,” she reminded Cullen for the zillionth time.

“Did you hear me give you an argument?” Cullen said as he carefully replaced the globe.

“No. Just a friendly reminder.” She chuckled. “Getting excited about your date?”

The question threw him. All day, he had been thinking about arranging a special date with Chi-Chi. It was time they had that “grown-up” conversation. He wanted it to be romantic and private. He was toying with the idea of preparing dinner for her. He thought about contacting her brother Abeo and getting a Nigerian recipe from him. Then he worried he would do a terrible job, and it would turn out inedible. But if they went to a restaurant, it wouldn’t be private. Then there was the insecurity and fear that she might not feel the same way he did. Who would be more embarrassed?

He stopped abruptly. “What date?” He knew Luna was psychic, but could she be that good?

“Oh, do I sense something?” Luna raised her eyebrows.

Yes. She was that good.

Cullen immediately became defensive. “What are you talking about?”

Luna placed her hands on her hips and cocked her head. She didn’t have to say a word. She knew she had him. She took a step back, pursed her lips, and began to tap her foot.

Cullen tightened the screws on the globe while Luna tightened the screws on him. “Okay. Okay.” He wrapped the fixture in protective Tyvek and placed it in an equally protective box lined with sheets of foam. He turned, leaned against the workbench, crossed his ankles, and mirrored her folded arms.

Luna pointed a finger at him. “Crossed ankles. Folded arms. Up against the bench. Hmm. Interesting. You are hiding something, and your back is against the wall.”

“Let’s not overstate the obvious. My back is against something.” Cullen’s voice was serious.

Luna could feel his anxiety. “What’s going on? Everything okay?”

He took a deep breath. “I’m in love with Chi-Chi.” Luna resisted the temptation to say no kidding, but she knew this was huge for Cullen. Mr. Buttoned-up was letting his emotional guard down.

“Cullen, I think it’s wonderful.” She walked over to him and gave him a big hug. “So what’s wrong?”

“I haven’t told her yet.”

Luna pulled away, stared him in the face, and slowly repeated what she had just heard. “You haven’t told her yet.” It wasn’t a question. She’d thought he would have told Chi-Chi by now. Maybe not tell his sister, but not tell Chi-Chi? Luna was stunned. Her brother wasn’t all touchy-feely, but given his love for Chi-Chi, that they had been dating for over two years, Luna had assumed they would have verbalized their feelings for each other.

“Huh. Is there any particular reason?” Luna was sincerely perplexed.

Cullen looked down at the floor. “I guess I’m afraid of rejection.”

Luna knew now was not the time to tease her brother. “Oh, Cullen, Chi-Chi adores you.”

“But does she love me?” He looked up.

“It would appear she does, but as far as expressing emotions, neither of you are very good at it. I mean, you guys laugh, get angry, and all that. But verbalizing something deep? Ha. Chi-Chi maintains her dignity, and you . . . well, you are even more close-mouthed. Unless you’re annoyed at me.” She put her hand on his arm. “Tell her, Cul. Time—it keeps ticking. Make the most of it by letting everything flow. And I don’t mean by being indifferent. I mean let your feelings flow with your words. If she feels the same, then you can dismiss all the fear you’re carrying right now. If she doesn’t, then you know the answer, and you can carry on. Plus, you owe it to her. Your honesty.”

Once, when they were kids, a branch snapped and caught Cullen in the face. It was the only other time she’d ever seen a tear in his eye. Except for now. She gave him a big hug. “Now go do it, or I’ll start calling you ‘Sissy Pants.’”

He dabbed his single tear with his knuckle and then let out a big huff. “Okay, so here’s my question. Should I cook dinner for her?”

“Well, wait. Are you planning on proposing?” Luna asked.