I entered The Elskede and saw Victor Overbye covering the reception desk. Surprised he wasn’t checking anyone in or out, I walked over to say hi.
“Godmorgen, Felicia.”
I sighed, leaning against the counter. “Good morning, Victor.” He was eleven years younger than me and I was happily married, but his Danish accent encouraged my crush. His blonde hair and blue eyes didn’t discourage it. “How many days?”
“Sixteen. And she hasn’t had the baby yet.” He smiled, shaking his head. “Sophia asked me to ask you for helpful ideas to encourage labor. She says she’s quite ready.”
“I don’t know that I’m the one to ask.” I laughed. “Rafe was late and Etta’s delivery turned into an emergency situation.”
What little color he had on his face drained. “Should I be worried about my sister?”
I shook my head, wishing I hadn’t said that. “For as many things that could go wrong, most babies are born without complications. I’m sure your sister will be fine.” I paused to watch the worry on his face ease. “I think we have more to worry about. You could decide to stay once you get home.”
“I’d never do that. My girlfriend lives here.”
“Oh, really?” I was surprised. But I shouldn’t have been. He was a good-looking twenty-four-year-old. Victor should have a girlfriend. A trail of broken hearts wouldn’t have been a surprise. “Anyone I know?”
“She’s going to join me for the second week home. I want her to meet my family.” Victor smiled, avoiding the question.
“So, it’s serious?”
He nodded. “I’m hoping she’ll be my fiancée by the end of the year.” Victor shook his head. “So, what brings you to The Elskede this morning?”
“I have a new investigation and I don’t know where to begin. So, I thought I’d start here.”
“What kind of investigation?”
“Trees. Who is trying to tear them down and figure out a way to stop them.”
He shrugged. “I majored in linguistics. I’m not sure I can help you out.”
“Linguistics, huh? What did you plan to do with that?”
“Interpreter. It serves me well here. I am often using my language skills with tourists.”
“What languages can you speak?”
“Danish.” He laughed. “And English, of course. German, Mandarin, Japanese, and French.”
I started to tell him that I spoke French, but a guest had arrived to check in. I excused myself, trying to return my thoughts to my problem. Pearl Tarkey’s trees. Without an idea where to begin, I headed to the kitchen. Perhaps Chef…
My thoughts were interrupted when Pablo grabbed my arm and pulled me into his office. “I was hoping you’d stop by.” He slipped his arms around me, pulling me to him.
After the first kiss, I pushed him back. “Pablo, not here.”
Disappointed, he leaned against his desk. “Then, why are you here?”
“My brother agreed to babysit the kids, so I thought I’d start my investigation. The problem is that I don’t know where to begin.”
He sighed, rolling his eyes. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but do you want some help?”
“You want to help me help Pearl…”
“I’m offering to let you bounce ideas off me.” He clarified. “I have a real job to do, but I’m willing to be a sounding board. What do you know?”
“The letter she showed me is from the City, but she knows it’s not the City who wants to tear down her trees.”
“How does she know that?”
“She deals in information. I don’t want to know how she knows. The point is that the Valley Oak trees that line her property are on her property. No one should have the right to remove them but her.”
He shrugged. “Okay, so what does that tell you?”
“That someone who doesn’t have the right to remove them intends to do it anyway, because they can.” I shook my head, frustrated. “Paul suggested it’s the electric company.”
Pablo laughed. “In this area? Not likely.”
“I know. That’s more likely in areas of the country where the lines aren’t buried. Overhead lines are usually the excuse the utility companies give for doing it.” I shook my head, remembering my research. “And you wouldn’t believe some of the things the customers have said about it online. I did research on it when I was writing Power Struggle.”
He smiled. “I loved that movie. It was a big hit.”
I nodded. It was a big summer blockbuster in 2004, the summer before we met. The story of one man’s quest to take down the company who destroyed his property. It was set in Generic City, Midwest. And it was one of the few scripts I’d written that my brother starred in.
It was the reason Paul had suggested the local electric company.
“Well, why don’t you get a snack before you leave? You can tell Chef he's gonna have to pony up that money.”
“Hey, I may have no idea where to even begin with this, but I’m not giving up yet.”
He kissed me. “Of course you’re not.”
I left Pablo in his office and headed to the kitchen where Chef and Isabel were beginning lunch preparations. “Good morning.”
Chef nodded at me. “Good morning Felicia.”
“Good morning.” Isabel smiled.
“Tania has the morning off?” I knew she usually covered weekends.
Chef nodded. “Yes. I thought she deserved it after covering for me this week.”
“We both did.” Isabel smiled at him.
I tried not to react to her obvious crush. He seemed oblivious to it. “You probably owe her more than just the morning off.”
“She has the day off.” Isabel offered. “She said she planned to use the opportunity to shop for her upcoming vacation next month.”
I made a mental note to ask Tania about her upcoming vacation, wondering if she was going anywhere fun. I lived vicariously through Pablo’s employees’ adventures. My adventures revolved my kids. As much as I loved them, I missed the days when I could travel wherever, whenever.
Chef shrugged. “Yeah. She said something about heading out of the country for a week in early November.”
Out of the country? In early November? I did the math in my head and realized that put her out of the country the same week that Victor’s girlfriend was supposed to join him in Denmark. I smiled, keeping the secret to myself.
“Pablo said you’re trying to get my debt forgiven?”
Chef’s question brought me back to my investigation. “That’s only if I can figure out who is trying to tear down her trees and stop them.”
“You should talk to Bo.” Isabel offered.
My shoulder burned at the idea of returning to Lompoc. I had a few thoughts I wanted to share with Jorge and Bo about my artwork. “Why would I want to talk with Bo?”
Chef laughed. “Your brother didn’t exactly make the best impression on Felicia.”
She sighed. “Did you call his husband Marge Simpson?”
“She made the mistake of mentioning Pablo.” He laughed harder.
Isabel shook her head. “I am sorry for my brother’s actions. He can be a bit … protective of those he loves.”
That was one way to put it. I could feel the fountain pen burning my shoulder. “Protective? You know he marked me.”
She smiled. “Can I see it?” She walked over to me. “Is it … is it in a place where I can see it in here?”
Shaking my head, I slid my arm out of the sleeve of my green hoodie so she could see my right shoulder.
Isabel took her glove off and touched my shoulder with her bare hand. “It looks good. It’s perfect for you, you know.” She stepped back so I could put my hoodie back on. “I’d show you mine, but then I’d have to take off my chef’s coat.” Her head turned toward Chef.
I glanced at him. He was focused on lunch preparations, uninterested in our tattoos. “What is it of?”
“It’s a chef’s hat.” She turned to wash her hands in the sink. “And it’s only on my arm. Not in any risqué place. I mean, my brother gave it to me.”
“Do you have any other tattoos?” I wasn’t sure why I asked.
She lowered her voice. “I have a few that Ashton did for me.”
Chef turned his head at that comment. “I doubt Jorge would approve of that.”
“Well, it would be gross to have my brother touching me where they are.”
I cleared my throat, eager to end the conversation. “You never said why I should talk to Bo?”
“He’s an environmental studies consultant. If there’s an environmental reason to tear down the trees in question, he’d know.” She dried her hands and returned to lunch preparations.
“Don’t forget to put the gloves back on before handling those mushrooms. I don’t want to be sending you to the hospital.”
Isabel smiled at him. “It’s nice to know you care.”
“Of course I do. You’re like a sister to me.”
She erased the smile from her face, disappointed in his response.
Isabel was twenty-two. I decided finding her a boyfriend might be my next mission, after saving Pearl Tarkey’s trees.
“Do you have anything I can eat? I’d love a snack before I leave.”
“Of course. Let me fix you up something.”
“Thank you, Chef.”
“No, thank you. I’ll owe you, if you succeed.”
I glanced at him and then Isabel. His debt wasn’t his only problem I intended to solve. And as soon as I was done eating the delicious snack that I didn’t need, I would be heading to Lompoc to work on his biggest problem.
Part 3
Solvang 2
gagengirl entertainment
I entered The Elskede and saw Victor Overbye covering the reception desk. Surprised he wasn’t checking anyone in or out, I walked over to say hi.
“Godmorgen, Felicia.”
I sighed, leaning against the counter. “Good morning, Victor.” He was eleven years younger than me and I was happily married, but his Danish accent encouraged my crush. His blonde hair and blue eyes didn’t discourage it. “How many days?”
“Sixteen. And she hasn’t had the baby yet.” He smiled, shaking his head. “Sophia asked me to ask you for helpful ideas to encourage labor. She says she’s quite ready.”
“I don’t know that I’m the one to ask.” I laughed. “Rafe was late and Etta’s delivery turned into an emergency situation.”
What little color he had on his face drained. “Should I be worried about my sister?”
I shook my head, wishing I hadn’t said that. “For as many things that could go wrong, most babies are born without complications. I’m sure your sister will be fine.” I paused to watch the worry on his face ease. “I think we have more to worry about. You could decide to stay once you get home.”
“I’d never do that. My girlfriend lives here.”
“Oh, really?” I was surprised. But I shouldn’t have been. He was a good-looking twenty-four-year-old. Victor should have a girlfriend. A trail of broken hearts wouldn’t have been a surprise. “Anyone I know?”
“She’s going to join me for the second week home. I want her to meet my family.” Victor smiled, avoiding the question.
“So, it’s serious?”
He nodded. “I’m hoping she’ll be my fiancée by the end of the year.” Victor shook his head. “So, what brings you to The Elskede this morning?”
“I have a new investigation and I don’t know where to begin. So, I thought I’d start here.”
“What kind of investigation?”
“Trees. Who is trying to tear them down and figure out a way to stop them.”
He shrugged. “I majored in linguistics. I’m not sure I can help you out.”
“Linguistics, huh? What did you plan to do with that?”
“Interpreter. It serves me well here. I am often using my language skills with tourists.”
“What languages can you speak?”
“Danish.” He laughed. “And English, of course. German, Mandarin, Japanese, and French.”
I started to tell him that I spoke French, but a guest had arrived to check in. I excused myself, trying to return my thoughts to my problem. Pearl Tarkey’s trees. Without an idea where to begin, I headed to the kitchen. Perhaps Chef…
My thoughts were interrupted when Pablo grabbed my arm and pulled me into his office. “I was hoping you’d stop by.” He slipped his arms around me, pulling me to him.
After the first kiss, I pushed him back. “Pablo, not here.”
Disappointed, he leaned against his desk. “Then, why are you here?”
“My brother agreed to babysit the kids, so I thought I’d start my investigation. The problem is that I don’t know where to begin.”
He sighed, rolling his eyes. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but do you want some help?”
“You want to help me help Pearl…”
“I’m offering to let you bounce ideas off me.” He clarified. “I have a real job to do, but I’m willing to be a sounding board. What do you know?”
“The letter she showed me is from the City, but she knows it’s not the City who wants to tear down her trees.”
“How does she know that?”
“She deals in information. I don’t want to know how she knows. The point is that the Valley Oak trees that line her property are on her property. No one should have the right to remove them but her.”
He shrugged. “Okay, so what does that tell you?”
“That someone who doesn’t have the right to remove them intends to do it anyway, because they can.” I shook my head, frustrated. “Paul suggested it’s the electric company.”
Pablo laughed. “In this area? Not likely.”
“I know. That’s more likely in areas of the country where the lines aren’t buried. Overhead lines are usually the excuse the utility companies give for doing it.” I shook my head, remembering my research. “And you wouldn’t believe some of the things the customers have said about it online. I did research on it when I was writing Power Struggle.”
He smiled. “I loved that movie. It was a big hit.”
I nodded. It was a big summer blockbuster in 2004, the summer before we met. The story of one man’s quest to take down the company who destroyed his property. It was set in Generic City, Midwest. And it was one of the few scripts I’d written that my brother starred in.
It was the reason Paul had suggested the local electric company.
“Well, why don’t you get a snack before you leave? You can tell Chef he's gonna have to pony up that money.”
“Hey, I may have no idea where to even begin with this, but I’m not giving up yet.”
He kissed me. “Of course you’re not.”
I left Pablo in his office and headed to the kitchen where Chef and Isabel were beginning lunch preparations. “Good morning.”
Chef nodded at me. “Good morning Felicia.”
“Good morning.” Isabel smiled.
“Tania has the morning off?” I knew she usually covered weekends.
Chef nodded. “Yes. I thought she deserved it after covering for me this week.”
“We both did.” Isabel smiled at him.
I tried not to react to her obvious crush. He seemed oblivious to it. “You probably owe her more than just the morning off.”
“She has the day off.” Isabel offered. “She said she planned to use the opportunity to shop for her upcoming vacation next month.”
I made a mental note to ask Tania about her upcoming vacation, wondering if she was going anywhere fun. I lived vicariously through Pablo’s employees’ adventures. My adventures revolved my kids. As much as I loved them, I missed the days when I could travel wherever, whenever.
Chef shrugged. “Yeah. She said something about heading out of the country for a week in early November.”
Out of the country? In early November? I did the math in my head and realized that put her out of the country the same week that Victor’s girlfriend was supposed to join him in Denmark. I smiled, keeping the secret to myself.
“Pablo said you’re trying to get my debt forgiven?”
Chef’s question brought me back to my investigation. “That’s only if I can figure out who is trying to tear down her trees and stop them.”
“You should talk to Bo.” Isabel offered.
My shoulder burned at the idea of returning to Lompoc. I had a few thoughts I wanted to share with Jorge and Bo about my artwork. “Why would I want to talk with Bo?”
Chef laughed. “Your brother didn’t exactly make the best impression on Felicia.”
She sighed. “Did you call his husband Marge Simpson?”
“She made the mistake of mentioning Pablo.” He laughed harder.
Isabel shook her head. “I am sorry for my brother’s actions. He can be a bit … protective of those he loves.”
That was one way to put it. I could feel the fountain pen burning my shoulder. “Protective? You know he marked me.”
She smiled. “Can I see it?” She walked over to me. “Is it … is it in a place where I can see it in here?”
Shaking my head, I slid my arm out of the sleeve of my green hoodie so she could see my right shoulder.
Isabel took her glove off and touched my shoulder with her bare hand. “It looks good. It’s perfect for you, you know.” She stepped back so I could put my hoodie back on. “I’d show you mine, but then I’d have to take off my chef’s coat.” Her head turned toward Chef.
I glanced at him. He was focused on lunch preparations, uninterested in our tattoos. “What is it of?”
“It’s a chef’s hat.” She turned to wash her hands in the sink. “And it’s only on my arm. Not in any risqué place. I mean, my brother gave it to me.”
“Do you have any other tattoos?” I wasn’t sure why I asked.
She lowered her voice. “I have a few that Ashton did for me.”
Chef turned his head at that comment. “I doubt Jorge would approve of that.”
“Well, it would be gross to have my brother touching me where they are.”
I cleared my throat, eager to end the conversation. “You never said why I should talk to Bo?”
“He’s an environmental studies consultant. If there’s an environmental reason to tear down the trees in question, he’d know.” She dried her hands and returned to lunch preparations.
“Don’t forget to put the gloves back on before handling those mushrooms. I don’t want to be sending you to the hospital.”
Isabel smiled at him. “It’s nice to know you care.”
“Of course I do. You’re like a sister to me.”
She erased the smile from her face, disappointed in his response.
Isabel was twenty-two. I decided finding her a boyfriend might be my next mission, after saving Pearl Tarkey’s trees.
“Do you have anything I can eat? I’d love a snack before I leave.”
“Of course. Let me fix you up something.”
“Thank you, Chef.”
“No, thank you. I’ll owe you, if you succeed.”
I glanced at him and then Isabel. His debt wasn’t his only problem I intended to solve. And as soon as I was done eating the delicious snack that I didn’t need, I would be heading to Lompoc to work on his biggest problem.
Part 3
Solvang 2
gagengirl entertainment