Page 206 of The Seven Rings
Dogs went streaking by to set up a din of barks and growls at the Gold Room door. Owen and Trey rushed in behind them.
Pride didn’t stop Sonya from burrowing in Trey’s arms.
“It was that bird, that horrible bird.”
“We saw it hit the windows.” Holding her, he looked over her head at the smears on the glass. “What the rain doesn’t take care of, we will.”
“No cracks.” Owen held Cleo against him as he examined the glass. “We could hear it hit, like a freaking bomb, but no cracks in the glass. Your protection voodoo works, Lafayette.”
“I’m going to do it all again, to make sure it keeps working. That wasn’t weak sauce, Son.”
“Not this time. She’s been doing some of her usual,” Sonya explained. “Making noise. Add a bolt of lightning that wasn’t really.And then she brought out bigger guns. Mixed metaphor. I’m a little shaken up.”
“I wonder why.” Trey kissed her forehead as the dogs, and Pye, hurried in. “I think that’s all she’s got for now. You’re okay.”
She appreciated he’d made it a statement.
“I bet this is what set her off. Holy shit, Cleo.”
“I’ll second that.” Trey stepped over to the painting. “This is… just a lot of wows. They’re together. A wall of together. If you’re putting this in the show, I’m putting in a preemptive bid.”
“It’s Sonya’s. It’s Astrid’s, Catherine’s, Marianne’s, Agatha’s, Lisbeth’s, Clover’s, Johanna’s. It’s the manor’s.”
Owen turned her. “Come here, gorgeous.”
When he’d finished kissing her, Trey brushed him aside. “I’m seconding that, too.”
Cupping Cleo’s chin in his hand, he brushed his lips on hers.
“I have to say, all this? Especially that.” Sonya gestured toward the painting. “Seriously overshadows the fact we’re getting a purple couch.”
Owen’s expression caught between appalled and stunned. “A what?”
“Game room? Purple?” Trey managed to look less of both, but not by much. “Seriously?”
“You’re going to love it.”
“You’d think that,” Owen muttered.
“And we’ll tell you all about it, but I want a glass of wine. It’s been anther really big damn day.”
On the way out, Sonya checked the closet.
“I guess it’s not going to get any bigger. Maybe tomorrow.”
The next morning ran on routine until Sonya shut down to help Cleo pack and load paintings into what she still thought of as Collin’s truck.
“I appreciate this, Son. Kevin and I could handle it, but you’ve got a really good eye on placement.”
“I love being part of it. It’s all so much fun. And tonight, I just know you’re going to pack people in.”
“Either way, I’m good. I got to paint my way through the summer,and now I get to show my summer off. Kevin’s keeping the show up for two weeks.”
On the last trip out, Sonya paused at the door. “Jack, I’m counting on you, and everybody, to look after Yoda and Pye.”
The answer came in the sound of a bouncing ball, and Yoda scrambled toward the back of the house.
“And that takes care of that.”
