The First Nine Lives of Isabella LaFelini

by Harvey, Rhonda

  “Man, that smells good,” Rick said as he inhaled deeply. “What is this? White garlic?”

  “With onions and no ricotta cheese,” Luci provided. “It’s Isabella’s favorite. They custom make it just for her!”

  “I think they should name it after me,” Isabella piped up.

  “Yeah,” Ty grinned widely, “they could call it the ‘bad-breath special’!”

  “Oh, stop!” Isabella playfully punched Ty in the arm, and he pretended to punch her back. Luci sat across the table watching them, wondering why they didn’t seem to know that they were attracted to each other. Thank goodness they don’t know it! she thought to herself. It would be just one more thing to worry about! She looked at Rick, who was playfully teasing the kids and wondered, Luci Corbett LaFelini, how did you get so lucky? First Bobby LaFelini, now this guy. Not that I’m thinking of marrying him, she quickly scolded herself. Still, he’s a nice guy— a truly nice guy. And he seems to like my daughter. And miracle of miracles, Isabella seems to like him!

  As everyone continued to eat, Isabella looked around the table. It was a nice scene, and seeing her mother happy made Isabella feel all warm inside. Still, she couldn’t shake a nagging doubt that there was something too perfect about Rick Tomasetti. He sure seemed like a great guy—but…it’s just our first meeting, Isabella thought, if there is something wrong with this guy, I ’ll find it!

  Nineteen: Something Fishy in the Neighborhood

  THREE WEEKS LATER, Isabella still hadn’t found anything “wrong” with Rick Tomasetti. He was charming, giving, fun to be around. He had managed to get her and Ty backstage passes to a Beyonce concert as a gift for Ty’s birthday, and they had even met the performer herself, even though Ty was too nervous to even say a word to the talented actress/singer.

  “So, are you going to go on the boat with us or not?” Luci asked Isabella over breakfast, snapping Isabella out of her reverie.

  “Huh?”

  Luci sighed. “Where are you today? I asked you twice if you are going with us on the boat?”

  Boat. Isabella thought a moment. She remembered her mother saying something about going out on a boat with her and her boyfriend. “Um, give me the details again?”

  “Isabella!” Luci sighed. “Don’t you ever listen? Rick is going to rent a deep-sea fishing boat. We’re going to go out into the Sound. Friday, because it’s my day off. We’ve had this conversation at least twice!”

  Isabella shook her head. “Sorry, I’ve just had a few other things on my mind, Mom. Yeah, I’ll come. If you want.” Mischievously, she tested her mother, “Maybe you want to be alone with Rick?”

  Luci smiled, knowing her daughter well enough to know a trap when she saw one. “Well, that’s thoughtful of you, but he really wants this to be a family outing.”

  “Well, can Ty come, too?”

  Luci laughed, “Yeah, well, he’s practically family. Sure, why not?”

  “K. Thanks, Mom. I’m gonna go call him. What time are we going? Is it an all-day thing?”

  “Yes, most of the day, anyway. We’ll leave about nine o’clock and get back around six or so. Don’t worry—I’ll pack a lot of food. I know how you and Ty eat!”

  It was Isabella’s turn to laugh. “Yeah, well, Ty eats more than I do, Mom. That’s a long time on the water. Do we have enough sunblock?”

  “Good point, my fair-skinned beauty! We don’t want you looking like a lobster. I’ll pick some up on my way home from work. I need to get going. Call Ty and if I need to talk to his mom about it, let me know!” She bent over and kissed Isabella goodbye. “Have a great day, sweetheart!”

  “You, too,” Isabella answered, suppressing a yawn that her mother’s acute hearing heard anyway.

  “Isabella, if you’re tired, go back to bed. It’s what summer vacation is for—sleeping in and having a good time! Love you!”

  Isabella didn’t want to go back to sleep; she and Ty had planned on going fishing on the bridge into town, and she had things to do to get ready. However, she yawned again. Maybe just a quick nap, she told herself. I’ll set the alarm so that I don’t oversleep.

  Thirty minutes later, Isabella awoke to the chirp of her alarm clock. Ugh, she thought to herself, that was the shortest half hour of my life… She stretched and let out a little scream as she realized that she had transformed in her sleep. Again. It was the first time since New York, and Isabella had hoped that the words Nonna Rose had muttered over her then were enough to break the curse forever. No such luck.

  “Oh-em-gee!” she screamed in her little cat voice, “Not again!” She leapt from her bed and padded into the kitchen, where she leapt again, this time upon the kitchen counter. With her front paw, she nudged the phone off its cradle. She tried speed-dialing Ty with her paw, but she couldn’t quite manage the dexterity needed, so she leaned into the phone and pressed the buttons with her nose. The phone rang three times before Ty picked up.

  “Hey, Isabella,” Ty said before she had a chance to say anything, “I was just gonna call you. Wassup?”

  “Ty,” she started in her little cat voice, “I need you to come over. It happened again. Maybe you can help me call Nonna Rose? Her number isn’t on speed dial…”

  “Be right there,” he said and hung up before Isabella even had time to thank him. She shook her little cat head. At least I have Ty, she thought, he’s always there for me!

  Ty must have run because he was at her kitchen door in a matter of two or three minutes, while the walk between their houses usually took at least five. “Hey, Isabella,” he panted, “got here as fast as I could.”

  “C’mon in, Ty,” she told him. “You must’ve run the whole way!”

  Ty seemed to be blushing. “Um, yeah…what is with this street anyway?”

  “Why? What do you mean?”

  Ty sat for a moment, bending at the waist, breathing hard. “Another one of your neighbors is having septic tank issues?”

  “You mean the Bakers? Ty, they’ve had that backhoe over there for more than a week.”

  He shook his head. “No, not them. Those new people two doors down, the Overmans?”

  Isabella looked confused. “Ty, what are you talking about?”

  “They have equipment in their yard—and there are men digging it up.”

  “Huh,” Isabella was thoughtful, “I didn’t even think they were around. I thought my mom said they were going to China for two weeks. Well, anyway, the heck with the neighbors…let’s call Nonna Rose. You remember Mom’s little phone book is in the drawer by the sink?”

  Ty got up and walked over to the drawer. “Yep, here it is. I’ll dial it for you,” he said with a grin.

  “Yeah, really funny, Ty.” Isabella managed a frown on her cat face. “You know I can’t do it on my own!”

  “Just kidding, Isabella, sheesh. Here, it’s ringing.” He held the phone to her ear.

  “C’mon, Nonna Rose, answer the phone,” Isabella pleaded. “C’mon…”

  “Give her a second,” Ty urged, “she is an old woman, after all…”

  “Shh,” Isabella glared. “Nonna? It’s Isabella…”

  Ty looked at Isabella with relief.

  “Si, Nonna. It has happened again. What? Nonna, I’m a freakin’ cat. You need me to say that in Italian?” Isabella’s exasperation was apparent. “Si, Nonna. Sono un gatto, va bene?” She could not believe that Nonna Rose was insisting she speak in Italian when she knew how desperately Isabella needed her!

  The old woman chuckled, then said the same words that she had muttered over Isabella in New York. “Vai a dormire, mio piccolo gattino.” Go to sleep, my little kitty.

  Ty thanked Nonna Rose and hung up the phone before carrying Isabella, who had already fallen asleep, to her bedroom. He set her down gently on the bed and left the room.

  Isabella slept nearly three hours before she emerged from her bedroom as girl Isabella. Ty was sitting at the kitchen counter, watching the Cartoon Network on the little television her mom somet
imes watched while trying out new recipes.

  “How…how…” Isabella asked while yawning, “…long was I asleep?” She yawned again and opened the refrigerator door, although she was unsure of what she was searching for.

  Ty didn’t look up from the tiny screen, “‘Bout four hours. I made myself a sandwich; hope you don’t mind. I found some tuna salad on the top shelf…it was really good—not too much celery…”

  “Tuna! Dude! You ate my freakin’ tuna?” Isabella was outraged. She slammed the refrigerator door and glared at him.

  “Um, yeah. Sorry, but I was hungry. I was gonna ask you if it was okay, but you…you weren’t yourself yet. Isabella,” he started, “um, I was beginning to get a little worried. You were a cat for a long time this time…”

  “Not so worried that you stopped from eating my lunch.” Isabella scowled and then stopped. “Four hours is a long time to be asleep, isn’t it, Ty?”

  Ty bit his bottom lip. “Well, yeah, I think so. I don’t remember you ever sleeping that long. Do you think…do you think it’s a bad sign?”

  Isabella shook her head. “I dunno. Nonna Rose said that ‘nine was very dangerous’. And that was what? My seventh transformation? Maybe it is a bad sign. Maybe I’m going to turn into a cat and stay one forever.” She hesitated and then stuck out her tongue, grinning widely. “Oh, geez, Ty, relax! I’m kidding. You’re as bad as Nonna Rose. I really don’t think that I’m going to turn into a cat forever…I probably slept longer because I was tired. I didn’t sleep much last night. Rick was over,” she pronounced his name with disdain, “and I didn’t dare fall asleep because I was afraid they might fool around or something…” She shuddered dramatically.

  “I thought you were okay with that guy? What’s going on?”

  “I’m not okay with him, Ty. Never have been. Yeah, he seems nice. And it was cool that he got us tickets to see Beyoncé. But I still don’t trust him. Not completely. Oh, by the way, he has invited Mom and me to go on his boat all day Friday. The only way I’m going is if you’re going, too.”

  “If you don’t like him, why are you going at all?”

  Isabella shook her head and rolled her eyes at Ty’s question. “Ty, you think I trust him to be out on a boat all day with my mom? Um, no! I need to be with them as much as possible. So. You comin’?”

  Ty wrinkled his nose in disgust. “Well, I guess when you put it that way…I mean, do I have a choice?”

  Isabella laughed. “Nope, not really! I guess we’ll be fishing, so bring your stuff. And I’ll make sure my mom packs a lot of food! We’ll make the best of it, anyway.”

  “Okay, you want to go fishing now?”

  “No. I want lunch now. But my best friend ate my tuna, so…”

  “Oh, come on. Let’s go down to the snack bar. I’ll buy you a hot dog.”

  Isabella feigned displeasure, but she was thrilled with the offer. “Oh, goodie, a hot dog is almost like tuna…but I guess it’ll do.” She grinned. “C’mon, let’s go! I think you’re gonna buy me a root beer, too…and maybe fries!”

  Twenty: Meeting the Neighbors

  FRIDAY CAME QUICKLY. Isabella really wasn’t in the mood to spend the entire day on a boat, but there was no way she was going to leave her mother alone with Rick Tomasetti, either. She rolled over in her bed and called Ty from the cordless phone on her bedside table. “Hey, yeah, it’s Isabella,” she told him, suppressing a yawn. “You gonna be ready by nine?”

  Ty groaned. “Ugh, do I haveta go?”

  Isabella sat up panicked. “Yes, you have to. Ty, you cannot back out on me now!”

  Ty laughed a little. “Isabella, relax. I’m going. Lemme go now, so I can grab a shower. See ya around nine. You guys gonna pick me up or you want me to walk…”

  “We’ll pick you up. We’re gonna meet Rick at the boat in Washington. So we’ll get you at nine. Don’t forget the fishing stuff.”

  “Gear, Isabella,” he corrected her with a groan. “Not fishing stuff. It’s fishing gear.”

  “Whatever, Ty. See ya in a bit.”

  Ty hung up the phone and cupped his face in his hands. Isabella was rude sometimes; she treated him like he was stupid sometimes; and yet…Face it, Briggs, he told himself, you’ve got it bad for the girl. Ugh! He slapped his face with both hands. Enough! She is a friend. Quit being an idiot about it! And with that, he got up and dragged himself into the bathroom to take a shower.

  “Mom, you sure you’re packing enough food for all of us?” Isabella called from the bedroom. “I mean, Ty eats a lot!”

  “Isabella, have I ever let you go hungry? Don’t worry about it.” Luci poked her head into Isabella’s room. “Don’t you think you should be dressed by now? It’s nearly nine, and we still have to pick up Ty.”

  Isabella sighed. “Yes, Mom, getting dressed right now.”

  “And sunblock? I left it on the sink in the bathroom. Make sure you apply it well—and everywhere you can reach. I’ll get the places you can’t. I already used it; funny how you got my fair skin instead of your daddy’s olive complexion…” Luci’s voice cracked a little at her last comment.

  “Mom, you okay?” Isabella asked, concerned.

  Luci swallowed hard. “Yes, I’m fine, thank you. Just…just…missing your dad. I still do, you know. Even though I really like Rick, Isabella, you know that Bobby LaFelini was the love of my life. I don’t know if you ever fully get over losing the love of your life…”

  “Hey, Mom,” Isabella thought quickly and changed the subject, “I know you’ve been working doubles all week, so you might not have noticed, but did you see that the Overmans were having septic trouble, too? Although I thought you said they were in China…?”

  “Septic trouble? Again? Boy, I swear this street is cursed, Isabella! Thank goodness the septic system in this house was replaced only a couple months before we bought the house. Otherwise, I’m sure we’d be next!”

  “But what about the Overmans, Mom? Aren’t they away? How would anyone know they were having trouble if they’re out of the country?”

  “That’s a good question, Isabella. Maybe I’ll check on it. Hurry up and get dressed!”

  As Isabella dressed, Luci walked over to the neighbors and interrupted the man operating a backhoe, digging deeply into the Overmans’ yard.

  “Excuse me, I’m Mrs. LaFelini. I live over there,” she pointed to the little white house she and Isabella shared. “What’s going on here?”

  The backhoe operator just glared at her before a tall man walked out of the Overmans’ garage. “Hello there, may I help you?”

  Luci thought she detected a New York accent, but she wasn’t sure. “Yes, hello. I was just asking the gentleman here what’s going on. I know that the Overmans are out of the country so…”

  The tall man chuckled. “Oh, I see. Well, my brother is lucky to have such observant neighbors!” He extended his hand. “Frank Overman. I’m house-sitting while my brother and his wife are away. And just my luck—the septic tank backed up into the washing machine! And into the sink. And onto the floor in the utility room and…”

  “Ugh! Enough! I’m so sorry,” Luci sympathized. “This is the third house on this street to have septic trouble! Well, I’ve got to get going. Sorry for your trouble, Mr. Overman.”

  “Frank, please. And don’t worry about it, Luci. I’ll be sure to let my brother know what good neighbors he has!”

  Isabella met Luci on the front lawn. “Hey, I was looking for you. Everything all right?”

  Luci, looking distracted, answered her, “I’m not sure.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Luci shook her head. “It’s probably nothing.”

  “What’s probably nothing?”

  “The Overmans have a house-sitter. He said he’s Mr. Overman’s brother. But I don’t remember Elliott saying anything about having a brother.”

  “Maybe he’s Mrs. Overman’s brother?”

  Luci shook her head again. “No. I’ve met both of Beth’s bro
thers. Not only that, he knew my name.”

  “What do you mean he knew your name?”

  “He called me ‘Luci’. I’m almost positive that I introduced myself as ‘Mrs. LaFelini’, but he called me ‘Luci.’”

  Isabella felt a chill go up her spine. “Mom? Maybe we should call the police?”

  “And tell them what, Isabella? That he knew my name? I’m probably overreacting. Either Beth and Elliott told him my name or I introduced myself as ‘Luci LaFelini’. At any rate, from the septic trouble he described, he’s got his hands full.” She paused thoughtfully, then continued, “Are you ready? What about Ty? Are we picking him up?”

  “We’re picking him up. He has all that fishing stuff…er…gear,” she corrected herself and thought that Ty would be pleased she did, which in turn made her feel pleased.

  “Well, okay. Help me load the cooler into the back of the car. And be sure to pack the sunblock, all right?”

  “Sure, Mom,” and as both women worked to pack the car for their day at sea, neither could stop thinking about their neighbor and the rash of septic trouble on Craven Street.

  Twenty-One: The Kool-Aid Incident

  ISABELLA HELPED TY load the fishing gear into the car, and while she did, she filled him in on her mother’s encounter with Mr. Overman’s “brother”.

  “Ty, we need to look into what’s going on over there. Tomorrow. I’ll…” her voice dropped and she continued, “transform. That’ll let me snoop around a little unnoticed.”

  Ty nearly dropped his tackle box. “Are you outta your mind? Isabella, are you even thinking? You can’t risk it. It’ll be your eighth time. Remember what Nonna Rose said?”

  Isabella grinned. “I told you before. I’m not worried about that. Nonna Rose is great, but she’s really superstitious, Ty. We need to find out what’s going on over there. Dontcha think it’s weird that three houses on my street have had septic trouble? Doesn’t that seem a little too coincidental?”