"Okay, sweetie, let's get down to business," Lacey said, giving him a little push. Though they could slip through other people's bodies, they appeared and felt solid to each other.
"I want to show you someone who's gulping down drinks over by the tennis court," Lacey told him, but first she headed for Philip's tree house. She simply couldn't resist the opportunity to knock away the tree's swing seat when a girl in a pink sundress tried to sit on it.
"Lacey, act your age."
"I will," she said, "just as soon as you decide to act like an angel."
"Seems to me I am," he said.
She shook her head. Her purple spiked hair, like his own thick brown crop, did not move with the breeze.
"Repeat after me," Lacey instructed in an obnoxious teacher voice. "Ivy's breathing, Will's breathing, I'm not."
"It's just that she looked straight at me at the train station," Tristan said. "I was sure she believed‚again.
When I pulled her and Philip back, I was sure Ivy saw me."
"If she did, she's forgotten it," Lacey said.
"I have to get her to remember. Beth-" "Is feeling too rattled to help you out," Lacey cut in. "She predicted the break-in, then foresaw danger that night at the train station. She has a special gift, but she's too frightened to be an open channel anymore."
"Then Philip."
"Philip! Oh, puh-lease. How long do you think Gregory's going to put up with the kid who keeps talking about angel Tristan?"
Tristan knew she was right.
"That leaves Will," Lacey said. She walked backward and pointed a long purple nail at him. "So. Just how jealous are you?"
"Very," he replied honestly, then sighed. "You know how you feel about the actress who took your place in that film, the one you said stinks?"
"She does stink," Lacey said quickly.
"Multiply that feeling by a thousand. And the thing is, Will's not a bad guy. He'd be good for Ivy, and all I want is what's good for Ivy. I love her. I'd do anything for her-" "Die, for instance," Lacey said. "But you've already tried that, and look where it got you."
Tristan grimaced. "Time with you."
She grinned, then nudged him. "Look over there. Next to the lady who looks like she got her perm and cut at the poodle parlor. Recognize him?"
"It's Caroline's friend," Tristan said, observing the tall dark-haired man. "The one who leaves roses on her grave."
"He creamed Andrew at tennis and looked like he enjoyed every minute of it."
"Did you find out his name?" Tristan asked.
"Tom Stetson. He's a teacher at Andrew's college. I tell you, who needs soap operas when you can hang around Stone hill? Do you think it was a long, torrid, secret affair? Do you think Andrew knew? Yo, Tristan!"
"I hear you," he said, but his eyes were focused on the crowd twenty feet away, where Ivy, Will, and Beth were talking.
"Oh, the" arrows of love,"Lacey crooned. He hated it when she exaggerated her words like that. "I swear, Tristan, that girl's put so many holes in you, one day you're going to fold over like a slice of Swiss cheese."
He grimaced.
"It's pathetic, the way you look at her with those big puppy dog eyes.
She doesn't even see you. I just hope that one day-" "Know what I hope, Lacey?" Tristan asked, swinging around to her. "I hope you fall in love."
Lacey blinked with surprise.
"I hope you fall in love with a guy who looks right past you."
Lacey looked away.
"And I hope you do it soon, before I finish my mission," Tristan went on.
"I want to be around to make lots of jokes about it."
He expected Lacey to make a snappy comeback, but she kept her eyes away from him, watching Ivy's cat, Ella, who had followed them through the crowd.
"I can't wait till the day," Tristan continued, "that Lacey Lovitt falls in love with some guy beyond her reach."
"What makes you think I haven't?" she muttered, then crouched down to scratch Ella. She petted the cat for several minutes.
After two years of procrastinating on her own mission, Lacey had developed more endurance and more powers than Tristan. He knew that she could keep the tips of her fingers materialized to scratch the cat much longer than he.
"Come on, Ella," Lacey said softly, and Tristan saw the cat's ears prick.
Lacey was projecting her voice.
Ella followed Lacey, and Tristan followed Ella to a refreshment table.
Eric and Gregory were standing there. Eric was arguing with Gregory and the bartender, trying to convince them to give him a beer.
Lacey gave Ella a nudge, and the cat leaped up lightly on the table. The three guys didn't notice her.
"A bowl of milk, please."
"Just a minute, miss," the bartender said, turning away from Gregory and Eric. His eyes widened as they fell upon Ella.
Ella winked.
The bartender turned back to the boys. "Did you hear that?"
"Milk, and hurry it up, please."
Now Eric and the bartender stared at the cat Gregory craned his neck to glance behind Eric. "What's the problem?" he said impatiently. "Just fix an iced tea."