Everyone’s still troubled about the big cuss-cuss this weekend: Carla and Hailey’s cat fight over Brian in the kitchen; Kaya and Angelina linking up again, shutting out crazy Polly. And the Police Chief learning his daughter was enrolled at the arts college, instead of the regular university, where he pictured her doing freshman orientation. Putting away that she’s staying with me—in me cabin.
Angelina didn’t see me with Lauren, since she was holed up with Kaya from last Chewsday when they left the Avalon together. I must have talked about Lauren, though, because Angelina had told me to keep away from her. Saying Lauren’s too young.
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But that’s not true. If it were, I’d have seen it first thing. Don’t remember the first time I saw Lauren, but if Angelina was laying down the law, I knew the girl enough to be interested. Anyway, while Angelina and Kaya were whooping it up at Kaya’s place, our band Awake was backstage, between sets. I set down my guitar and turned around. And Lauren was standing right in front of me. And you know what I saw? A woman full up with radiance. That was the beginning.
Before I only saw direction, or the paths people were seeking. Now I see the light inside most people. Now I see the beginning whenever I close my eyes. I see one fire burning night and day.
Police Chief Clay got caught off guard. He didn’t know his daughter wasn’t in a UNC dormitory. But Lauren didn’t hide anything. Friday she drove home and told him she had enrolled in the Arts Consortium. And he told her, no, she hadn’t. ’Pon his thinking, to the fullness, she wasn’t studying art.
So yesterday he drove to Angelina’s in a fury, because Lauren wasn’t where he thought she was. For which—the Chief blamed me.
My fault? I felt cut. Since he wasn’t kidding, I said, “You can’t lead her, Chief. She has to capture her own truth.”
He laughed, and while he enjoyed what he thought was a joke, I invited him to dinner tonight at the Eden Café. Carla says the meal’s on the house because I’ve been helping her adjust. She’s sorry she left my brother Brian and can’t believe he’s in love with Hailey. Even though he loves Hailey so much everyone sees it. They are like twins, Hailey and Brian. They share the same spirit. Carla’s light has a lower frequency. Which might be why I can see it so easily—it’s never so bright I need to look away.
Today I helped Carla move into an apartment not far from the café. And I consoled her. I’m waiting for my dinner with da Chief and Carla’s here rapping her knuckles on the table. To mean—Da Big Bout Ya just walked in.
After he sits down, I say, “Hail, big Chief.”
“Trevor, enough of that stuff.” Carla comes up. She’s going to wait on us, special. The Chief orders beer and a burger. I tell Carla, jasmine risotto in honor of our friend Jazmine. For something to say, before we get down to it, I tell the Chief that Carla now owns a quarter share of the restaurant.
He doesn’t believe it. Turns out he and Angelina and his wife and her brother have always owned it.
“Angelina made a deal with Carla, though. She owns Angelina’s share.”
The Chief gets up to ask Carla. She has plenty of staff working tonight and sits down to confirm it. Crescent Rheingold, who’s signed up for a full first year at the arts college, brings us the food and drink. Carla sips iced tea.
She and the Chief shake hands now that they’re partners. Carla says she’ll leave us alone so we can talk.
The Chief says, “Why don’t you stay? No reason for secrets. Okay, Trevor?”
“ ’Course.” The Chief has decided he doesn’t mind Lauren going to art college. “Because if Angelina’s behind it, it must be for real.”
What troubles him is Lauren following me. “Quite frankly.”
“She’s not following me, Chief. She follows the light inside her. And Lauren is filled with light.”
“Now that’s why I invited Carla to hear us talk. No riddles or sing-song, Trevor. Tell me straight.”
“He who has ears hears it…”
Carla slaps my shoulder. “Trevor, stop playing.”
“I’m not gonna hurt your daughter, Chief. I have a rule: Don’t lie and don’t do things you hate. Ask Lauren. Ask Angelina.”
“I talked to Angelina and she agreed with me.”
“Talk to her again. Right, Carla?”
“You can trust him,” Carla said. “Trevor’s a capturer. But he’s right about nobody following him. And,” she looked at me, “it’s true you don’t hurt people. More like the opposite. You show them how free they are.”
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