Tribute

teacher, but turns in his original story line made him think he wanted something slightly more . . . elegant. Cold, dignified evil played better. He played around with various face types hoping one jumped out and said: Pick me!
    When none did, he considered a cold beer. Then forgot the work and the beer when Cilla’s truck pulled into his drive.
    He knew before she got out of the truck. It didn’t matter that her eyes were shielded by sunglasses. The grin said it all. He headed down, several paces behind a happy Spock, as she got out of the truck, then braced himself as she took a running leap into his arms.
    “I’m going to take a wild guess. You passed.”
    “I killed! ” Laughing, she bowed back recklessly so he had to shift, brace his legs, or drop her on her head. “For the first time in my life, I kicked exam ass. I kicked its ass down the street, across county lines and out of the goddamn state. Woo!”
    She threw her arms into the air, then around his neck. “I am Contractor Girl! Thank you.” She kissed him hard enough to vibrate his teeth. “Thank you. Thank you. I was a nervous, quivering mess until I saw that sketch. It just gave me such a high. It really did.” She kissed him again. “I’m going to have it framed. It’s the first thing I’m going to hang in my office. My licensed-contractor’s office.”
    “Congratulations.” He thought he’d known just how much the license meant to her. And realized he hadn’t even been close. “We have to celebrate.”
    “I’ve got that covered. I bought stuff.” She jumped down, then scooped a thrilled Spock into her arms and covered his big head with kisses. Setting him down, she ran back to her truck. “French bread, caviar, a roasted chicken with trimmings, stuff, stuff, stuff, complete with little strawberry shortcakes and champagne. It’s all on ice.”
    She started to muscle out a cooler, before he nudged her aside.
    “God, the traffic was a bitch. I thought I’d never get here. Let’s have a picnic. Let’s have a celebration picnic out back and dance naked on the grass.”
    The stuff she’d bought had to weigh a good fifty pounds, he thought, but looking at the way she just shone made it seem weightless. “It’s like you read my mind.”
    HE DUG UP a blanket and lit a trio of bamboo torchères to add atmosphere, and discourage bugs. By the time Cilla spread out the feast, half the blanket was covered.
    Spock and his bear contented themselves with a ratty towel and a bowl of dog food.
    “Caviar, goat cheese, champagne.” Ford sat on the blanket. “My usual picnic involves a bucket of chicken, a tub of potato salad and beer.”
    “You can take the girl out of Hollywood.” She began to gather a selection for a plate.
    “What is that?”
    “It’s a blini, for the caviar. A dollop of crème fraîche, a layer of beluga, and . . . You’ve never had this before?” she said when she read his expression.
    “Can’t say I have.”
    “You fear it.”
    “Fear is a strong word. I have concerns. Doesn’t caviar come from—”
    “Don’t think about it, just eat.” She held the loaded blini to his lips. “Open up, you coward.”
    He winced a little but bit in. The combination of flavors—salty, smooth, mildly sweet—hit his taste buds. "Okay, better than I expected. Where’s yours?”
    She laughed and fixed another.
    “How do you plan to set up?” he asked as they ate. “Your business.”
    “Mmm.” She washed down caviar with champagne. “The Little Farm’s a springboard. It gets attention, just because of what it is. The better job I do there, the more chance people see I know what I’m doing. And the subs I’ve hired talk about it, and about me. I need to build on word of mouth. I’ll have to advertise, make it known I’m in business. Use connections. Brian to Brian’s father, for instance. God, this chicken is great. There are two houses within twelve miles up for sale. Serious fixer-uppers that I think are a little overpriced for the area and their conditions. I’m keeping my eye on them. I may make a lowball offer on one of them, see where it goes.”
    “Before you finish here?”
    “Yeah. Figure, even if I came to terms with the seller straight off, there’d be thirty to ninety days for settlement. I’d push for the ninety. That’d put me into the fall before I have to start outlaying any cash. And that’s seven, eight months into the Little Farm. I juggle the jobs, and the subs, work out a