Page 83 of Proof
“And quiet!” Luna replied.
Gail lit the grill, while Luna made a salad and started working on the potatoes. They were bopping and weaving to the music of Earth, Wind & Fire. Max got out of the way and settled on the cool tile in a corner of the kitchen.
Gail picked up the platter of meat. “Rare?”
“Of course! It loses all its nutrients if you cook it too long.”
“And this is why we’re friends.” Gail laughed as she returned to the patio and plopped the thick sirloins on the hot grate.
Their timing was in sync, and everything was ready within the next fifteen minutes. They decided to eat inside and watch Jeopardy!, each trying to outguess the other. When the question was Known for “Boogie Wonderland,” they both dropped their forks.
“Weren’t we just dancing to that a half hour ago?” Gail flinched.
Luna chuckled. “We were, indeed. This kind of stuff happens to me all the time. The TV talks to me. I actually keep a journal every time it happens. I’m trying to establish a pattern.”
“So what do you think it means?” Gail picked up her utensils and resumed consuming the juicy beef.
“I really don’t know, except I think it’s a reminder to pay attention.”
“Pay attention to what?” Gail asked, holding her suspended fork filled with mesclun greens.
“Pay attention to what’s around you? See if it relates to anything you’re doing. My ex-boyfriend Michael made fun of me. He kept saying it’s just a coincidence. But my response was, ‘How many coincidences can one have in a day?’ A week? A year? He couldn’t answer me. So I broke up with him.” Luna sniggered.
“You did not. I mean you didn’t break up with him because he couldn’t answer your question.”
“It was part of the whole ‘Luna/lunatic’ thing. He tried to convince me I was a bit off, and not in a funny, kind of nice way. Now, to be fair, I know I’m different, but I’m not off. I figured if he had no interest in pursuing the possibilities, then I was wasting my time.”
“I know what you mean. It’s difficult to have a debate with someone who has already made up their mind.”
“Exactly. It’s like trying to push a string.” Luna wiped the juice from her lips. “He was an arrogant dude.”
“When did you date him?”
“Right after college. I was attracted to his brilliant intellect. He may have carried a wealth of information, but I could go to the library for that. I didn’t need someone to belittle what I believed in.”
“Sounds manipulative.” Gail took a sip of her wine.
“Very controlling. At one point, he tried to convince me I should see a therapist.”
“Ha! That’s funny, considering you majored in psychology.”
“Well, according to him, psychology is playacting. Only psychiatrists really know how the mind works.”
“I take it that was his profession?”
“Yep. He was a resident at the local hospital. That’s how we met. I was working with some kids who were in the system.”
“How long did that relationship last?”
“About five minutes,” Luna said with a straight face. “Seriously, about three months. Even Cullen didn’t like his attitude, and you know he’s pretty mellow about most people.”
“True. How is he doing?” Gail dug into another helping of potatoes.
“Great. He and Chi-Chi have developed a nice relationship. I should say that he’s in love.”
“Oh, good for him,” Gail cooed. “I always liked him, not as in like-like, but he’s a good guy. I enjoyed it when he visited us at school and would take us out to dinner.”
“He’s a good sport. And he loves Chris. They’re pals. They went to a car show together a couple of weeks ago. Cullen is thinking about adding classic-car restoration to his repertoire.”