“Is this a day-care center for dogs?” Abeo’s eyes widened.

“Not exactly.” Chi-Chi explained about the service the center provided for tenants and guests with dogs.

“And no cats?” Abeo joked.

“No, dear brother.”

A few minutes later, Lucy strolled into the shop. “Hello, Lucy. This is my brother, Abeo.”

Lucy held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

“We’ll be getting some sandwiches and taking them to the patio if you need me.”

“No problem,” Lucy chimed.

Chi-Chi and Luna often joked that “No problem” was a standard answer from the pages. Chi-Chi and Abeo walked across the atrium and into the Blonde Shallot. Chi-Chi introduced her brother to Rita and picked two of the day’s specials, then signed the check. As they were heading toward the patio, they bumped into Luna rushing past them with pastry boxes.

“Hey!” Luna said with a surprised look on her face.

“Luna, this is my brother, Abeo. He arrived two days early.” Chi-Chi rolled her eyes.

“Nice to meet you, Abeo. Chi-Chi has told me so much about you!” Luna was trying to do a Jedi mind trick to see if Chi-Chi and Cullen’s plans were still on track.

“I told Abeo he would be on his own tonight. He wasn’t very happy.”

Voila. It worked. Luna chuckled. “I am sure you will find something interesting to do. The center is open tonight for a music ensemble. A string quartet. Sorry I am going to miss it. Listen, I have to dash. I am already running behind. Enjoy your dinner. See you Sunday. Bye!” Luna raised her one free finger, waved, and scooted away.

“She seems interesting.” Abeo watched the whirling dervish exit the atrium.

“Yes, she is. Very. Come, we don’t have a lot of time, and I want to enjoy my lunch.”

They walked through the beautifully landscaped atrium. Abeo looked around in awe. “I can understand why you like it here. The creativity, the openness, the landscaping inside and out. It is a haven for artists.”

“And visitors alike.” Chi-Chi unwrapped her roast beef, cheddar, bacon, and horseradish sandwich. “Ellie wanted it to be a destination point for people to see artists work but also for people to congregate. We have monthly events. Some artists hold workshops. It is truly a work of art in itself.”

“And so is this sandwich.” Abeo grinned with delight.

During the next half hour, they chatted about Abeo’s trip and their parents. Neither of them were married and they commiserated about the underlying pressure they would get from their mother and father. Abeo mentioned that their mother had tried to match him up with the daughter of one of her friends, but Abeo said the woman was spoiled and demanding. “More than usual,” he joked.