Dolly Departed

'You mean like rooms in a dollhouse?'

'Not exactly, but close. Each room box is self-contained and can be an entirely different setting with no relationship to any others. What makes them really unique are all the tiny pieces of furniture and accents that go inside the room boxes. Some hobbyists are extremely creative and make their own furnishings.'

'Humph. .' Nina leaned on the worktable, flashing her polka-dotted pink and green nails. How long would it have taken to paint on all the little polka dots? Probably hours, Gretchen thought.

'And your mother wants to fix them?' Nina asked. Gretchen shrugged. 'It all depends on the police investigation. If they aren't sure Charlie died from natural causes, who knows when they will be through with her shop?'

'If putting the room boxes together helps Caroline through her grief, I'll be there to help my sister.'

'Oh, right.'

Aunt Nina didn't know a thing about dolls. She trained miniature dog breeds to travel in their owners' purses, teaching them to duck down and hide if they entered an unfriendly environment like a restaurant or grocery store. It was a perfect career for her. She had no competition and no real overhead costs. Nina had created her very own exclusive service industry, and she had more clients than she could manage. But dolls?

No way.

Her aunt kept herself busy training dogs, perfecting her psychic abilities, and matching her accessories to her outfits, not necessarily in that order.

'Don't forget I've been hanging around with doll collectors,' Nina said, as though she knew exactly what Gretchen was thinking. 'I love to decorate, and you and Caroline know everything there is to know about doll repair. I'll be able to tell you where all the pieces go. We'll be a great team. I'm getting a psychic message right this minute.' Nina's long fingers connected with her forehead in a telepathic pose. After listening hard, she said, 'We were meant to do it.'

In Gretchen's opinion, Nina's psychic abilities were entirely trumped up. None of her aunt's otherworldly announcements had ever amounted to anything.

'I don't know if we should,' Gretchen replied. 'What about all the work piling up right here?'

'Between the three of us, it won't take long,' Nina argued.

'I'm sure April would like to help, too. That would speed it up.'

April was the Phoenix Dollers' favorite doll appraiser. She wore tent-sized muumuus, drove a banged-up white Buick, and lived in a dilapidated house in Tempe. She didn't care for any material possessions except for her prized collection of miniatures. Gretchen chuckled to herself every time she envisioned the large woman engulfing a mini doll in her chubby hands.

'April,' Nina repeated the name acidly. 'She's always hanging around. This should be just family.'

'But April collects miniatures. She'd bring a lot of experience to the project.'

'She should stick to appraising dolls.'

'I thought you liked April.'

'I do. We've just been seeing too much of her.'

Gretchen glanced sharply at her aunt, who had been uncharacteristically catty lately. If she didn't know better, she'd think Nina was jealous of the time Gretchen spent with April.

Gretchen lifted the dress on Charlie's penny doll and noted the stamp on the doll's back. 'Charlie's doll is fascinating,' she said. 'See the stamp on its body? It was made in Germany some time in the very early 1900s, one of the more expensive penny dolls. April could tell us more.'

Nina scowled at another mention of April's name.

'Wait. .' She paused dramatically. 'I feel something coming in. Yes, you need a reading.'

'A reading?' Oh, no. I have to keep my aunt away from New Age shops. Over time, Nina had progressed from analyzing colored auras to communication with spirits. Now what? Readings?

'I bought my first set of tarot cards,' Nina said, 'and I'm practicing. You might discover your true self.'

'I've found my true self. See, here I am.'

'You're such a pragmatist.'

In spite of all her aunt's hype about her special ability as a psychic, she hadn't managed yet to impart anything unusual, helpful, or remotely close to remarkable.

'I still don't understand why Mom wants to put the room boxes together,' Gretchen said.

'Maybe Caroline needs the closure.' Nina studied the little colored dots on her fingernails. 'Besides, it might give you an opportunity to see more of a certain man.' She glanced slyly at Gretchen. 'Detective Matt Albright's divorce is almost final. But, of course, you know that.'

Gretchen pretended disinterest by shrugging her shoulders. Buff, hunky, masculine Matt. Separated, living alone, but technically still-married Matt. The M word bothered her tremendously.

Matt's mother Bonnie was president of the Phoenix Dollers Club and the biggest blabbermouth on planet Earth. If she found out Gretchen had gone out on a date with Matt, his soon-to-be ex would find out, and that could create all kinds of serious problems for the detective. And for her. They had to slow way down and keep their relationship casual while he waited for his divorce to be finalized. Nina knew about her niece's attraction to the detective, but Gretchen didn't want the rest of the doll community to know.

What if he went back to his wife? If they reconciled, wouldn't she feel foolish if everyone knew? You bet. But her decision to avoid Matt made him that much more intriguing and sexy. She hadn't been able to get him out of her mind.

'Don't pretend indifference with me,' Nina said.

'I like to travel light,' Gretchen said, repeating her old mantra. 'And he comes with a lot of baggage.'

'Look who's talking? You spent seven years with a cheating man.'

Steve. The years she'd wasted with the self-indulgent attorney! How naive she'd been. All those 'business trips.'

She'd still be buying his line if one of his little 'distractions' hadn't called and spelled the entire thing out for her. The discovery that Steve had been unfaithful had felt like Camelback Mountain boulders crushing the air from her body. She'd thought she'd never breathe again. But she had.

'You make it sound like I knew he was playing around all along,' Gretchen said. 'The minute I found out, I ended it. No baggage here.'

Nina peered at Gretchen's face as though hoping to read her mind. 'One lunch date with Matt, and you've been dodging him ever since. What happened? Did he forget to use utensils? Did he make lewd and inappropriate sexual advances to the waitresses? What?'

Gretchen shrugged. 'He was interesting, comfortable to be with, considerate-'

'Those certainly are serious flaws in his character. I can see why you're avoiding him.'

'You're too pushy. Give me some time.' Gretchen felt a twinge of guilt for speaking so harshly.

'Is his wife still stalking you?' Nina asked, not even noticing Gretchen's tone had become brisk and impatient.

'Or rather, his soon-to-be ex?'

'Once in a while I spot her. That's another good reason to stay away from him.'

'She's a nutcase, all right,' Nina agreed. 'You know, Bonnie really wants you to get together with her 'Matty.' I bet she's the one who spilled it to Kayla. His own mother is making his life impossible.' Nina clasped her hands together. 'But why think depressing thoughts? What do you think about restoring the room boxes? Let's do it. Say yes, and I'll teach Nimrod more tricks.'

'I'll say yes if you promise not to teach him any more tricks,' Gretchen said, remembering the parade fiasco and her horror when he'd dashed into the street after hearing his 'parade' command.

'It's a deal.' Nina looked quizzical but was too caught up in her own drama to ask for an explanation. 'But you aren't going to mention our plan to April, are you?'

'She'll find out,' Gretchen said. 'How do you think that will make her feel if we've excluded her?'

'But-' Nina started to say.

'No buts.'

'Well, if you insist.' Nina rolled her eyes theatrically. Gretchen worried about what was going on with her two buddies. She'd hate to see anything come between their friendships. Maybe working on Charlie Maize's room boxes