Page 10
“Where’s Trudy?” Shane asked.
A chill passed over my skin as the air behind him rippled like a mirage or heat haze. A shadow flickered behind him and vanished.
Not now.
“She’s breaking down empty boxes in the back,” Maya said, moving behind the counter to sit on a stool. She crossed one ankle over her knee, grabbing her shin as she leaned forward.
“Right. Well. Let’s put this behind us.” He glanced toward the entrance as customers entered. “I expect you to reflect on my words. I do not want to have this conversation again.” His sharp look made me want to hurl the broken statue at the back of his head as he retreated to the back.
“He sure isn’t earning any brownie points towards getting in your pants acting like that.” Maya hopped from the stool. “I need a drink after Karen-zilla.”
“It’s eleven.”
“It’s five o’clock somewhere,” she said, tossing her sleek black ponytail. “Oh yeah, this dude in line wanted me to give you a message.”
“What dude?”
“I dunno. He bought some dried licorice root and a big candle.” The hollow-eyed guy. “Seemed nice, but said it was important I tell you, ‘The princes won’t save you.’ Whatever that means.”
“Princes? The hell?”
“I didn’t get it either.” She picked up a box of tarot cards and stepped away from the cashier station as I lifted the divider. “Anyway, I’ll be over there if you need me. I’m not about to get on Shane’s bad side after that shit earlier.”
Had I known the day would continue its downward spiral, I’d have called in sick.
Right before lunch, a group of rowdy preteens entered, making a mess. When they knocked over a tower of assorted stones, scattering them everywhere, I had to ask them to leave. The cleanup cut into lunch, and when I returned, Shane provided a list of tasks he wanted completed.
Customers bombarded me with questions the entire time I worked. By the end of my shift, I wanted to join Maya for a drink, but then I remembered the apples waiting on my counter at home and my promise to make an apple crisp for Mrs. Stevenson’s family reunion.
Thankfully, no more hallucinations plagued my shift, but I still couldn’t make sense of the cryptic message the hollow-eyed guy left.
“Raelynn, can you come back here?”
I exhaled hard and finished closing the register while Maya locked up.
“Wonder what he wants,” Maya said with a smirk, leaning over the counter.
“I have no idea, but I’m ready to go home. I’m tempted to pretend I didn’t hear him.”
“You should.”
“Nah. I’m already on his bad side.” I picked up the money pouch and resigned myself to my fate. “Go ahead and head on out. I’ll take the bus.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. I know you have that dinner with Ben and Gabi soon.”
She dropped her head back and groaned. “Her chicken and rice casserole is soooo good. You should come with me.”
“Dinner with twin toddlers and a boy under the age of six after dealing with those kids earlier? No, thank you.”
“Ma keeps offering them my babysitting services. Like what? I’m my cousin’s exclusive on-call nanny? I have a life too. That’s what daycare is for.”
“You know you’d never go against your mom.”
She blew a raspberry but didn’t deny it. Her mother knew how to get her way. When Maya’s cell rang, I gave her a pointed look as she answered.
“Hi, Ma! Yes, I’m leaving now.” She grabbed her flannel overshirt off the counter. “Maaaaa,” she whined, waving over her shoulder. “He smells like feet!”
