by Lexi Witcher
“Let’s get some hot chocolate before we go to meet up with Cherie.”
“Okay.” I rubbed my hands together and blew on them, wishing I’d thought to bring my gloves with me.
Leopold took my hands between his and rubbed them before blowing on them. His breath was so warm tingles ran up and down my spine and my own breath caught in my throat. He sheepishly looked up at me through thick lashes and his dark eyes bore into mine as he slowly kissed the tips of my fingers, caressing each one with his lips. If only he’d really kiss me like that, but I know he can’t or won’t. Not yet.
As if he knew where my thoughts had gone, he dropped my hands and went to get the hot chocolate. I let out the sigh I had been holding and watched him leave. I buttoned my coat and stuffed my hands into my pockets while I waited for him to return.
The chilling wind began to blow along the center of the mall and I shivered.
Dodie.
I blinked. Had someone just called my name? I listened closely and scanned the area.
Dodie. Dodie, come to me.
There it was again. Was I imagining things? I continued to look around the ice rink to see if I saw anyone I recognized, but the only person was Leopold and he had his back to me as he stood in line for the hot chocolate.
I pulled the collar of my coat closer together at the neck and walked toward the refreshment stand, deciding I didn’t want to wait alone for him to return. Maybe I didn’t even want to wait long enough to get the hot chocolate. I glanced at my watch and saw it was almost time to meet Grandma.
“Hey, I changed my mind about the hot chocolate. Can we just go?”
He looked at me with his brows furrowed together clearly studying me. “Sure. If that’s what you want.”
“It is. I think I just want to go home.”
“Okay.” He stepped out of line and wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close as we head back toward the bistro and where we’d parked. We didn’t talk, which was fine with me and I tried not to think about what happened so he wouldn’t read my thoughts.
Grandma was waiting for us with the car running when we got to the parking lot. She sat in the back seat alone, holding her head with one hand. She tried to act like everything was fine as we got into the front of the car, but I could tell something was wrong.
“I’m going to let you drive, Leopold. If you don’t mind,” she said.
“No I don’t mind. Is everything okay, Cherie?”
“It’s been a long day and I think this afternoon’s excitement has caught up to me. Did you two have fun?”
“Yes.” I handed her my phone and showed her how to work the photo gallery while Leopold maneuvered the car from the parking area to the street, leading to the interstate.
“These are all lovely dresses, Dodie. Which do you like the best?”
“That’s the problem. I like them all, but I know I have to choose one. If this is the type of dress I should wear.”
“Yes. It’s definitely the right style of dress for the evening. Let’s plan on coming back on Saturday and making a final decision.”
“Okay.”
I took my phone back and turned around, putting my seat belt on as Leopold merged the car onto the interstate. I adjusted the heater when the temp got a little too warm and the windows began to fog up. While I played with the controls Leopold reached over and took hold of my hand, giving it a little squeeze. I looked at him and he winked before returning his hand back to the steering wheel.
Chapter Sixteen
The rest of the week seemed to fly and before I knew it, Saturday had arrived and Grandma and I were headed back into Dover to the mall to look at dresses. All thoughts of the strange voice calling my name had been put out of my mind because I had too many other things to worry with. Schoolwork for one. Chemistry class with Leopold was turning into a challenge. I paid far more attention to him physically than the lessons he was teaching. He’d ended class early twice because of it. He’d given me a stern lecture the first time and the second he’d assigned a ten page critical essay that I had to prepare for Monday.
No one was to blame but me. I knew he could read my mind and yet I’d found it hard to concentrate so shielding my thoughts was out of the question. I’d watched his lips move as he spoke and the next thing I knew I was recalling how they’d felt when they’d kissed the tips of my fingers at the ice rink. And the thought of kissing had led me to imagining he’d kissed more than my fingertips, he’d been unable to stop there, and he’d pulled me into his arms and pressed his lips to mine.
My first real kiss.
I sighed, remembering how warm I’d gotten and that is when Leopold had slammed the textbook closed and stormed out of the kitchen only to return a few minutes later with an essay question. I didn’t care how many essay questions he assigned me. I couldn’t stop thinking about kissing him. In fact, I was almost afraid I’d die without knowing what it felt like to kiss a boy. And I feared that is why I’d become so obsessed with imagining Leopold kissing me.
I sighed again and released my seat belt.
“What’s wrong, Dodie?” Grandma asked, parking outside the mall.
“Boys.”
“Boys as in plural? Or just one boy in particular?”
I faced her and saw the knowing smile on her lips.
“A particular boy.”
“But he isn’t really a boy, now is he? He’s more like a man trapped in a young body.”
“I think that is our problem. He’s so much older and wiser than I am. I’m too young, but I think I’m falling for him.”
“First crush?” she asked.
I nodded.
She pulled the keys out of the ignition and dropped them in her purse. “Don’t worry. I’m sure everything will work itself out. Just give it time. If it is meant to be it will.”
“But what if it’s not?”
She winked at me. “Then they’ll be another boy and another until you find the right one. That’s why dating is so much fun.”
We got out of the car and walked to the department store. The same sales clerk was working that had been here the other night and she remembered me.
“Come back for a dress?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Excellent. We got a shipment of a few more dresses this morning. You may want to take a look at them before you make a decision. As I recall you looked exceptionally pretty in the blue with the sequins bodice.” She came from behind the counter and walked toward the racks of dresses and pulled out an azure blue tulle dress with sparkles in the netting of the skirt.
“Oh Dodie.” Grandma walked forward and fingered the material. “I know you looked lovely in the dresses you tried on the other night, but I think this is it. Of course you should try it on and see if you like it first, but the color is lovely. Don’t you think?”
My mouth had gone dry when I saw the dress and I could see myself wearing it, running through the woods. I don’t know where I was going or why I was there in the dress, but there was a fog swirling around me. I swallowed, feeling a chill creep up my spine and I tried to smile. “It is lovely.”
“I’ll hang it in the dressing room for you. There’s a bra built into the bodice so no additional foundation garment is needed.” The sales clerk walked toward the dressing rooms as she talked. “And I’ll call down and have a pair of heels sent up. There’s a pair this same shade of blue that isn’t too high of a heel that I think will go perfect with it. I remember how you preferred the shorter heel.”
“Okay.”
“What about jewelry? Do you have anything selected for the special occasion?” she asked. “If not, I can have something brought over from our jewelry department.”
“That won’t be necessary. She’ll be wearing a family heirloom,” Grandma said, smiling at me.
I went into the room and changed out of my clothes, putting on the blue gown, letting it fall around my slender hips. I’m amazed at how a simple change in clothing could make me go from a d
odgy girl into a striking young woman. When I stepped out of the room, Grandma zipped up the back of the bodice and the sales clerk set the shoes down for me to slip my feet into, fastening the straps around my ankles. I walked toward the three-paned mirror and stepped up on the small rise to get a better look at myself.
“It’s a perfect fit.” The sales clerk stated the obvious.
I lifted the hem of the dress so I could examine the shoes that felt like my feet belonged in them. Though the heel was less than two inches, I did not feel like I would fall when I walked. I turned and looked at my Grandmother, smiling.
“We’ll take the dress and the shoes,” she announced.
“Excellent. Will you need a wrap or a purse to go with the dress?”
“No.” I stepped down from the rise and turned for Grandma to let her unzip me before I went into the dressing room to change back into my clothes. Hanging the dress back on the hanger, I couldn’t wait to see Leopold’s reaction when he sees me in this dress. I like the fact that he hasn’t seen me in it yet.
While we wait for the sales clerk to place the dress in a garment bag and ring it and the shoes up, Grandma and I browse the clearance rack of wraps and small clutch purses. “I have a dress this would go excellent with,” she said.
“What are you going to wear?”
“I don’t know yet, but I have plenty of cocktail dresses and ball gowns I can choose from. Believe it or not, I was quite the social butterfly at one time. I’ve been blessed that I have not gained an ounce in years so I can still wear everything in my closet. I just have to wait for some styles to become trendy again.”
Soon enough we were outside again, walking across the open mall toward the parking lot. The wind began to blow and I kept a close watch on our surroundings, recalling how I’d heard the mysterious voice the other night. Leaves blew along the concrete plaza. The ice rink was a busy place with families and groups of teens taking advantage of the opportunity to skate.
“You know, Dodie, it’s a shame that Franklin doesn’t have a skating rink. It really doesn’t have much to offer our young people anymore. Just the soda fountain that they revived a few years ago and the movie theater that can offer only two films at a time.”
“What do they do if they want to skate?”
“Most of the folks go down to Thompson’s pond once it freezes over in the winter, but that doesn’t happen until late January or early February.”
“I guess they have to travel out of town if they want to skate before Christmas?”
She nodded. “Come on, let’s head to the car. I have a surprise for you.”
Another surprise? First she tells the clerk I’ll be wearing a family heirloom with the dress to my party and now this. I wondered what it could be as a chill in the air whipped around me and the wind blew harder, making it difficult to walk.
“Goodness, this wind is biting clear through my coat,” Grandma said, pulling the collar of her coat close to protect her face.
Dodie.
Dodie, I see you. Soon you will be mine.
I gasped and stopped walking when I heard the strange voice again. It was one thing to hear my name being called, but it’s another to hear that I would soon belong to whoever was calling it. A shiver ran up my spine and I couldn’t help but imagine someone had just walked over my grave.
“What is it?” Grandma asked, turning to look at me where I stood motionless, finding it difficult to breath
I shook myself and began walking again, not wanting to worry her. It was definitely time to tell Leopold about the voice. I just hope he isn’t too upset with me for not telling him when it first happened, but I had really hoped it had been my imagination.
I finally managed to speak. “Nothing.”
“If you’re sure?” She looked concerned as if she didn’t believe me but was willing to let it drop.
I nodded and we turned toward the parking area. Grandma opened the trunk and I carefully laid the garment bag inside with the box of shoes. When she closed the trunk she winked and smiled at me, locking the car back.
“I thought we were leaving?”
“Not yet. I told you I have a surprise for you.”
I followed her back to the street side of the mall and we walked past the bistro we’d ate at earlier in the week. A few doors down there is a café and through the large glass window I saw my mom sitting at a booth. I hurried inside and she stood up, giving me a hug as soon as I reached her.
“I’ve missed you, Dodie,” she said, squeezing me tight before letting me go.
Grandma removed her coat and hung it on the hook at the end of the booth before sliding in. “How are you, Glynis?”
“I’m good. How about you? Has Dodie been behaving herself?”
I rolled my eyes. It wasn’t like I was a child who got into mischief or would wreak havoc through the house.
“She’s been an excellent house guest. Her studies are going nicely too. Her tutor raves about her intellect and is already bemoaning the end of their time together.”
I smiled to myself. Ms. Pritz is a suck up.
“How are things working out with Leopold?” my mom asked, scooting into the booth. “I wanted to ask when we were on the phone the other night, but Robert was there. Brody came home proclaiming he didn’t care for Leopold and that was all Robert needed to hear. But when I questioned Brody, he couldn’t give me a reason why he feels that way.”
“Brody and Anson, the boy next door, don’t like Leopold because he’s different than them.”
“I see.” Mom smiled. “And what do you think of him?”
“He’s an excellent chemistry teacher and I believe he’s working hard on finding a way to break the curse.”
“But that didn’t answer my question Dodie. What do you think of him?”
I picked up the menu. “I like him.”
Grandma chuckled.
“Is there something I’m missing?” Mom asks. “Does my little girl have a crush?”
I put down the menu and glanced at her. “Is it that obvious?”
“Well, Brody said you started wearing makeup. I just figured there had to be a reason for it. And what happened to your favorite jeans, t-shirt and hoody combo?”
My cheeks heated and I knew I was blushing. I shrugged, trying to make light of the change in my dress. “I saw my closet at Grandma’s and decided I had thirty days to try to wear it all.”
“You even cut your hair, not much, but enough to tell a difference. And it’s styled different.”
I nodded. “I guess not being in the shadow of Callie and Lisa all the time made me realize I could be pretty too.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear it. I wondered when you’d recognize your own identity. I’m sure they’ll be surprised when they see you at the party.” Mom smiled and reached for a six-by-nine manila envelope inside her purse. She laid it on the table and pushed it toward my Grandma. “Cherie, Robert and I want to help with the preparations. I know you said you’d do it all, but we want to contribute too. There’s money and the addresses you asked for in there.”
“Thank you.”
A waitress came by and we placed our food order then Grandma told my mom all about her plans for the party. I half listened while thinking about the voice I’d heard again and how it said I’d soon belong to it. Was this part of the curse? Had Portia heard a voice too before she became ill with the fever and died? Or was this something new, especially for me, to try to drive me mad until the appointed hour?
Our visit with mom was too short and before I knew it we were hugging goodbye and going our separate ways. I learned one thing though. Brody wasn’t coming out this weekend. He had a big date with Sasha tonight. This was excellent because that meant that Anson would more than likely stay away too. And I needed some alone time with Leopold to discuss the voice.
He was waiting outside for us when we arrived. He had his hands shoved in his jeans pockets and he was pacing up and down the walk, which was so very much unlike his
normal cool demeanor.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as soon as I got out of the car.
He placed a finger over his lips indicating I should be quiet and I wondered who he thought might overhear our conversation. Grandma opened the trunk and I got out my dress and shoe box before we went into the house.
“Can we talk in here?” I asked him.
He shook his head.
I frowned and went up the stairs to put away my new things. It surprised me that he followed me, even into my room. He closed the door and leaned against it. This was the first time he’d ever been in my room and I wasn’t sure if he should be there, but I didn’t want to act like a scared rabbit either. So I pretended like it was no big deal that he was there.
I nonchalantly opened the closet door and stepped inside, placing the shoe box on the shelf before hanging the garment bag on the rack. I unzipped the plastic bag and let the dress spill out so it wouldn’t be crushed and wrinkled for my party. When I was finished I came out and closed the doors behind me.
Leopold was still leaning against the door, scuffing the toe of his shoe on the carpet which was again, totally unlike him. There was definitely something fishy going on and I planned to get to the bottom of it.
“Can we speak up here?” I ask, planting my hands on my hips and narrowing my gaze at him.
He shrugged his left shoulder, but kept his lips pressed together.
I walked toward him, studying him closely. “What is wrong with you? Did you do an experiment that went wrong? Is that the reason you can’t talk to me? Has the cat got your tongue?”
No more had the words left my mouth than I heard a thunderous sound like a herd of cattle stampeding up the staircase and then banging on my closed bedroom door.
“Dodie. Dodie, are you in there?”
I blinked. It was Leopold, b-but that couldn’t be possible because he was standing right in front of me.
The banging continued and I heard a thud like someone had lunged toward the door to break it open. But that didn’t make sense because it wasn’t locked…or was it? And if Leopold was on the other side of the door then who, or what, was leaning back against the door?
