He gestured to the wall, pointing out the pictures with little red dots placed on the title cards.
“My clients are absolutely going to luuve them,” Bradley said enthusiastically, running his fingers through his bleached blond hair, “They’re really into the whole ocean-beachy thing.”
“I hope so,” I said.
“They’re just lovely, dear,” his aunt chimed in, touching my arm. She seemed a little overly friendly, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
I took a step back and introduced Cruz and Shayla to them. Cruz asked Bradley about his work and they drifted off together, engrossed in an animated conversation about art, design, and the best places to go for dim sum in San Francisco.
Shayla and I wandered around the gallery, taking our time to go through the eclectic variety again. I was impressed by her astute observations about both the art and the people discussing it; she made me laugh out loud more than once. What Shayla lacked in education, she made up for in intuition, and she had moxie to spare. I realized she’d probably do very well in Paris, and it made me smile.
“It looks like Cruz found a friend,” she said knowingly, nodding towards him. “Maybe he’ll lighten up a little now.”
Cruz and Bradley stood side by side, dark and light heads contrasting as they discussed the art, gesturing expansively. They seemed oblivious to everyone else in the room.
“Marina!” Cruz finally rushed up excitedly, his eyes brighter than usual. “You’re not gonna believe this!” He went on to tell me that Bradley’s aunt was running in the special election for Congressman Hill’s vacated seat.
“And check this out– She’s a total greenie! She works with some kinda marine biology research center, she’s completely opposed to the land development, and here’s the best part– if she gets elected… she can make it all go away!”
“Really?” I said, looking across the room to meet her eyes. Bradley was talking to her, and he looked up and smiled at Cruz.
Wow, I thought, how’s that for serendipity? Once again I was forced to admit that my muse powers had to be in play here. That must have been what I’d felt when I met her. Good! I’d do anything to save that land for Lue and Ethan. I smiled and nodded to Barbara Watson.
“Congresswoman Watson,” I said under my breath, marching over to talk to her.
I found out that Bradley’s aunt was a dedicated ecologist, devoted to all kinds of environmental causes. She told me her latest project had been fund-raising for a marine biology research center. She was interested in studying the migratory patterns of the many different whale species that passed through the Monterey bay regularly. I smiled, thinking that my mermaid friends could tell her all she wanted to know about that topic.
She explained that she was passionate about protecting the ocean and promoting sustainable fisheries. She wanted to attract more environmentally friendly local business, and was working to stop exactly the sort of development that we were fighting.
“We need to hold onto our local character,” she said earnestly, “And that means supporting our local farmers.”
She couldn’t have been more perfect.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” I asked her, “Because I know where you can reach a whole lot of concerned citizens.”
By the time we left, I had arranged for her to come and speak at the rally. I drove home happily, following behind Shayla and Cruz in the Ferrari. He sped off, quickly leaving me in the dust, and I said a little prayer that they’d get home safely. He dropped Shayla off and beat me back to the house, where I found him waiting on the couch when I walked in.
“That was an awesome bit of luck, huh?” he enthused.
“Do you mean meeting Bradley, or his aunt?” I asked. I was shocked to see Cruz actually blush before he regained his composure.
“He goes by Brad, and we have a lot in common,” he explained, “He went to design school too, and he’s offered to show me around the campus. We’re like… kindred spirits.”
“I see,” I said.
Then he smiled, unable to contain his enthusiasm, “I can tell he comes from money,” he added, “His parents are divorced, and he grew up spending his summers around here. Apparently his dad has a huge beach house… and a private beach! He learned to surf with the waves all to himself, and he said we should visit sometime. How about that, little miss surfer girl!”
“You sound like Evie,” I chuckled.