*
Once Gino got his nosebleed under control, he tried to put Lucinda’s curse out of his mind, but as hard as he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about what the old woman said. As Gino approached the intersection, the light changed. He stopped and patiently waited for the light to change again, and when the green WALK light came on he stepped off the curb.
A car careened through the red light and didn’t see Gino walk into the crosswalk. Gino was caught by the side mirror and sent spinning along the fast-moving vehicle. Tires screeched as horns blared loudly. Gino was thrust to the pavement and knocked unconscious.
*
Cassandra put the customer’s purchases in the paper bag with the receipt and then handed it to the woman while Spider sat in the front window sunning himself. He watched Cassandra closely. This was a routine that went on ever since Lucinda’s illness caused Cassandra to make the long trip here to help out her aunt. Cassandra had looked forward to getting away, for four years she studied hard in the hope of finding a job after graduation, and once getting that diploma finally, it was frustrating to hear the job market dried up. Even more frustrating was sending out resume after resume in search of the perfect job that never materialized. She now found the activity of the shop enjoyable and relaxing and she was not looking forward to leaving once Lucinda deemed her help as being unnecessary.
“The sandalwood incense should be in by the end of the week,” Cassandra said pleasantly.
“I’ll stop back then,” the customer said before she turned and walked out.
As she left, Mitch slowly entered the shop just as Cassandra looked up and said, “Have a nice day,” to the customer.
Cassandra was surprised to see Mitch and even more surprised to see him out of uniform. He sensed what she was thinking and then smiled.
“I’m off duty.”
Cassandra raised her eyebrows and laughed. “Let me see,” she said, pointing a finger at Mitch. “You’re here for a potion?”
Mitch just raised his hands as a grin crossed his face while he shook his head. “Not me.”
Lucinda walked in with a tray and two cups of tea. She looked at Mitch and then smiled politely. “I didn’t know we had a customer.”
Mitch looked a little embarrassed and regretted coming now, but felt the need to see Cassandra and, for the life of him, he didn’t know why.
“I can’t really stay,” Mitch apologized.
Lucinda set the tray down on the counter and then handed Mitch one of the cups of tea. She wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Lucinda could see Mitch was interested in Cassandra even though there might be another woman in his life.
“You do have time for this,” Lucinda motioned to the tea. “Don’t you?” she said in a way that Mitch could not refuse the invitation.
Mitch politely accepted the cup. Once he took it from Lucinda, she quickly glanced at her watch.
“Oh, I’ve got a cake in the oven,” she said and then turned to Mitch. “You don’t mind if I leave?”
Mitch shook his head, but Lucinda was already out of the room. Cassandra was a little embarrassed by Lucinda setting them up.
Spider had been sitting in the corner of the shop watching the whole exchange. He slowly got up and followed Lucinda out of the shop.
Cassandra turned to Mitch. She shook her head and quickly said, “I’m sorry.”
Mitch held up the cup of tea and smiled. “Don’t be. I really did want to talk to you.”
“About what?”
Mitch set the cup of tea on the counter and then walked over to the shelf with the suncatchers hanging on the edge. He picked one off the shelf, held it up to the light, and admired it as it sent rays throughout the room.
“I was thinking about buying one of these for my mother.”
Cassandra walked over and looked at the suncatcher as Mitch let it twirl. “That’s a really nice one. I’m sure she will like that.”
Spider quickly came back into the shop carrying the packet of love potion he took from Rosy. He jumped up on the counter and sprinkled a little in each of the teacups.
Lucinda walked back into the shop in time to see what Spider had just done. She said nothing, just smiled to herself as Spider jumped off the counter and scurried over to the front windowsill and jumped up. The cat tucked the little pouch under his paws so no one would see it. Once he rested comfortably on the sill, he turned and watched Mitch and Cassandra with extreme interest.
Mitch walked over to the counter and set the suncatcher down. He reached over for his cup of tea and took a sip of its contents. All the while he did that he never took his eyes off Cassandra.
All Cassandra could do was blush as she walked behind the counter and rang up the suncatcher.
“Your mother will be very pleased with your choice.”
“Her birthday is the end of this week.”
Cassandra took his money and put it in the till. She smiled up at Mitch and then gave him his change. She nervously took a sip of her tea.
“Does she live around here?” Cassandra asked, trying to make idle chit-chat and not knowing what else to say.
“Just outside the city.”
“I haven’t seen much of the city yet.”
Mitch drank some more of the tea. He stared at Cassandra for the longest time. It was as if he didn’t know what else to say as he glanced around the shop nervously.
Spider meowed suddenly and shook his head as if confused, and then, as if a light went off, Mitch turned to Cassandra.
“Why don’t you come with me? I’ll show you the city and the surrounding area.”
“I do have the shop to run,” Cassandra said with a frown.
Lucinda stepped forward and cleared her throat. “Nonsense,” she interrupted. “I can watch things for a day.”
Cassandra shook her head at Mitch. “I don’t want to inflict undue stress on my aunt,” she said.
Actually, Cassandra was thinking of the visit earlier from Gino and feared he would be back retaliating against her aunt. She really didn’t know what Gino was capable of or the people he would send to keep Lucinda in line.
Lucinda cut in quickly. “I ran the shop long before you came, I’m sure I could manage a few hours on my own.”
Mitch took the package from Cassandra, their hands touched, their eyes focused on one another, but neither said a word. Finally Cassandra stepped back and picked up her teacup and quickly took a few sips.
Mitch looked nervously at Cassandra. “How long are you going to be helping your aunt?” he asked.
Mitch didn’t want to sound too anxious because he had already told Cassandra he had a girlfriend. By all accounts, once that was established he should have kept his distance. But he threw caution to the winds. Showing her around and stopping in to visit his mother wasn’t really like a date. Plus the fact Rosy never liked going to see his mother. He didn’t know why, but the two just didn’t hit it off.
Cassandra shrugged and then turned to Lucinda. “Depends on how long she’ll have me.”
Mitch smiled politely. “You’re a nice addition to the neighborhood,” he said, picking up his package. He turned to Lucinda and nodded. Mitch then walked out.
Once Mitch was out of the shop, Lucinda turned to Cassandra with a sly look across her face. She had been hoping for this for a few days now. Mitch was a nice young man. Granted, Lucinda felt bad that he already had a girlfriend, but she also knew that if it was a strong relationship he would not be seeking the company of another woman. So for that reason Lucinda didn’t let the fact there was a girlfriend bother her.
“He does have potential,” Lucinda said.
“Remember, he also has a girlfriend.”
“But he’s not taking her to his mother’s for her birthday,” Lucinda said. It was that fact that made her think there was hope.
“He’s just being polite. She probably has work, and you know how sons love talking to their mothers.”
“I don’t know about that. All I have
is Spider, and we don’t have a problem communicating.”
Cassandra shook her head and then turned to Lucinda. “Would you mind watching the store a few minutes. I’ve got to run an errand.”
Lucinda motioned for Cassandra to leave. Spider walked over to Lucinda and jumped up on the counter. He looked at the two tea cups, then meowed.
“What do you mean it didn’t work?” Lucinda picked up the cat and stroked its fur. “It won’t work if they are already in love.”
Lucinda pulled Spider to her chest and cuddled her loving pet. Spider purred loudly. She just walked over to the front and looked out at Cassandra walking down the street.
Chapter 14
Gino had spent four hours in the emergency room. They had to take x-rays and blood tests and by the time anyone bothered to review them, Gino could have gone home for all anyone cared. About the most anyone was concerned with was when he had his last tetanus shot. Gino had called Rosy as soon as he got to the emergency room and expected her to rush right over.
Once they finally got around to releasing Gino, he still had to wait for Rosy to arrive because they would not let him go home unless someone picked him up. Otherwise they wanted him to stay there for observation. Gino eventually had to wait another two hours till Rosy finally made it into the emergency room. It angered him how insensitive his cousin seemed to be with his needs. Granted, they were never really that close but he somehow expected more of her than what she was willing to give.
“Took you long enough,” Gino snapped when he finally saw her stroll up to the desk.
Gino hobbled over to the door with a cane. His foot was in a brace because of a bad sprain, his arm was in a sling to keep it immobile for a few days. The bandage on his nose was a reminder of just how close he came to it being more serious. Rosy hurried up to Gino; she tried to assist him but only made matters worse when she accidentally kicked his sore foot.
“You bitch!” Gino yelled.
“Well, get the damn foot out of my way,” Rosy snapped.
Gino motioned for her to move. But Rosy was too busy eying up the young interns and doctors to care or listen to him. Finally Rosy reached over and grabbed Gino’s arm that was in a sling. He winced in pain.
“What are you doing?” Gino said sarcastically.
“I want to help,” Rosy replied, snapping the chewing gum in her mouth.
“Then get me out of here,” Gino ordered.
“What’s Rocco going to say?”
“Nothing,” Gino quipped, and then handed Rosy the cane and reached in his pocket with his good hand. “I got the goddamn money out of the old woman, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, but look at you now,” Rosy mocked.
“It was an accident.”
Rosy shook her head while handing the cane back to Gino and then stared at him for the longest time. “Strange things happen to people who cross that old woman.”
Gino walked ahead of Rosy. But then she realized he needed her help so she quickly ran up to the door. As she swung it open, the door accidentally knocked Gino’s sore leg, sending him screaming as he turned and almost hit her with his cane, if not for the people in the lobby watching them.
Rosy realized how close she came to being another casualty as she hurried over to the line of taxis waiting near the entrance to the hospital. As they were walking across the street to where the long line of yellow cabs was parked, a car sped past them. When it backfired Gino hit the pavement, leaving Rosy standing there in shock. When Rosy regained her composure and looked at the people around her staring at Gino in disbelief, she finally reached down and grabbed his arm to help him up.
“You should see if the doctor can prescribe you some of that Prozac,” she said and then quickly added, “You’re a mess.”
Gino struggled to get up as Rosy picked up his cane and handed it to Gino. He just grabbed it from her without as much as saying another word and walked off to the first cab in the long line.
Rosy rushed after him with open arms. “I’m just trying to be helpful.
“I don’t need your help, and I don’t need you telling anyone what just happened either!”
Rosy just shrugged as she watched Gino struggle to get into the cab. She walked up and shut the door and then went around to the other side and got in.
*
Gino hobbled into the pool hall and quickly walked over to the bar and just sat on the stool while glancing around. He turned to the bartender.
“Beer,” Gino said.
Two tough-looking thugs walked over to Gino, they had given him the once-over when he walked into the pool hall.
“You look like shit,” the one closest to Gino said with a grin.
“Yeah, you should see the other guy.”
The two thugs just smirked as the one turned to the other with raised eyebrows before turning back to Gino.
“Rocco was looking for you.”
“Did he say what he wanted?”
“No, but he didn’t look happy.”
“Well, I’ve been busy,” Gino said and then held out his hands.
Gino leaned the cane up against the bar; he took out a wad of bills and peeled a couple of fifties off and gave each man a few.
“What he don’t know won’t hurt him.”
They walked out of the pool hall leaving Gino standing at the bar. Gino turned to the bartender.
“Where’s my beer?
The bartender just shrugged as he reached for the bottle of beer, opened it, and slid it to Gino along with a glass.
*
The window was open, the curtains swayed in the slight night breeze. Spider sat on the windowsill watching Cassandra toss and turn as she struggled in her sleep. For some reason the cat was intrigued by the caregiver of his master.
In the distance Cassandra ran through the meadow with Mitch. The blue sky was cloudless; the sun’s brightness warmed the couple as butterflies swirled around them and the flowers drifted like an ocean of color swirling in the breeze. Mitch slowly picked her up and in slow motion twirled her around and then slowly lowered her as he wrapped his arms around her tightly.
Clouds formed quickly on the horizon and suddenly the sky turned a dark blue-gray. The wind picked up, lightning struck in the distance and quickly got nearer. Thunder cracked through the air vibrating the ground. Cassandra covered her ears as she tried to shield herself from the noise. Mitch let go of her as Cassandra reached out to him to hold him close. Their hands touched, but he was being pulled from her grasp. Cassandra tried to hold on to him but she could not reach his extended hand.
Suddenly Cassandra sat up quickly. Her breathing was labored as she searched around the room. In the shadows on the other side of the window Spider went unnoticed by her as she finally realized it was only a dream, a dream she had been having often. She didn’t know what it meant because Mitch seemed to be creeping into her subconscious a lot lately. This dream was a little different, but nevertheless Mitch was in it and he seemed to be drifting away from her. In her previous dream she saw him drifting into the bright light.
*
Gino laid low for a few days, letting his body heal itself. But the four walls were closing in on him and it was time to make his presence known. Gino knew Rocco would be looking to talk to him about the merchants and for him to hand over the money from the weeks proceeds. Before picking up Tillie, his love interest of late, he had the cab driver stop off at the pool hall.
Gino tossed a bill at the driver, and then struggled to get out of the car. He slowly hobbled into the old smoke-filled room. Two of his men were playing a game of pool. When they saw Gino, they set the pool cues down.
“Don’t you guys have work to do,” Gino snapped
The one held up his hand. “You can’t get blood from a turnip.”
“What are you telling me.”
“Rocco had another crew collecting earlier this week.”
“You sure?” Gino asked.
“They had no reason to lie. So what do we do no
w.”
Gino shrugged as he glances around the room, then turns back to the men. “Give me what you got, I’ll think of something.”
The bills were tossed on the pool table. Gino quickly picked them up and then handed each man a cut. Rocco didn’t know how much was collected. He would make up something when he saw Rocco.
*
Gino then picked up Tillie. It was time he made his presence known. She helped him out of the cab, and slowly Gino hobbled into the restaurant holding her arm. The bandage on his nose was long gone but the bruise was clearly visible. The waiter guided them to their table and then pulled out the chair for Tillie.
“Is there anything I can bring you from the bar?” he asked.
“Scotch on the rocks,” is all Gino said.
The waiter turned to Tillie; she replied in her high-pitched, squeaky voice, “Could I have one of those drinks with an umbrella in it?”
The waiter turned to Gino who just smirked. “Bring her an Old Fashioned and stick an umbrella in the goddamn thing.”
Tillie puckered up her lips and pouted. “Are you mad at me,” she quipped, looking up at Gino with pathetic eyes.
Gino just reached over and patted her on the chin. Under normal circumstances he would have thought her cute but he was in no mood to play games. His body was still in pain, so all he could muster up to say was, “Don’t be difficult.”
Tillie glanced around the room. “Well, I wanted to go dancing.”
“You know I can’t,” Gino snapped and then slapped his leg. “Besides, DeeDee, I need to rest.”
Tillie turned to him suddenly with a surprised expression on her face. “DeeDee?”
“I...I...” Gino tried to argue.
Tillie got up quickly, tossed the napkin on the table, and kicked him in the sore foot. The waiter almost got knocked over as he walked over to the table with the drinks on a tray. Tillie quickly shoved her chair back and knocked it over before storming out of the restaurant. The waiter just set the Scotch on the rocks down and then stared at Gino as he held up the Old Fashioned with the umbrella sticking out of the drink.
The Curiosity Shop: A comedy of errors about witchcraft Page 9
