“Why did you do that?” Lily wiped her hands off on her apron.
“Cause, we’re gonna frame this baby.” She kissed the dollar and tucked it into her pants’ pocket.
“Why not frame the twenty?”
“Cause that one will help pay our light bill due next week. Have you got any spare change?”
Lily shook her head. “Nope. Remember last time I had any money was on my birthday.” And she had a broken down car she still couldn’t drive to show for it. “Why? Do you want me to get you a soda from the store?”
“No.” Her mom rummaged through her purse and tossed a few quarters, two dimes, and dozens of pennies into the tip jar.
“Why are you doing that?”
After opening the register and taking out two one dollar bills, her mom threw those in as well. “Basic psychology. People will tip more often if the tip jar has some money in it already. An empty one will take much longer for someone to add to it.” She winked.
“Never knew that. Maybe we should put the twenty bucks in it then.”
“It doesn’t work that way.”
“How do you know if no one’s ever tried?” Lily leaned against the counter. “Can’t hurt.”
“Oh, here come some more customers.” Her mom practically glowed with delight.
“Hi, I’m Camie Barnes,” the woman held out her hand to Lily’s mom, but her voice was syrupy sweet like saccharine. “I don’t think we’ve met. Are you two new to the neighborhood?”
“Betty Thomas. My daughter, Lily.” She nodded in her direction. “We’ve been here for years. I used to work at Sunset Café.”
The woman snorted, then plastered a smile on her face but it looked more like she was auditioning for a laxative commercial. “I see. W-well welcome. I hope your quaint little shop… lasts. The last owner had a deli here, quick service not so good food. I do wish you and your daughter better luck.” She paid for her teen’s ice cream and left.
“Guess we’ve moved up the food chain.”
What was her mom talking about? That woman looked at them like they were garbage someone had swept into a corner. “What do you mean?”
“We’ve had our first snotty customer.” She tapped her finger to her mouth. “And I’m thinking if sales go well, we can expand to more things… like ice cream cakes. That guy earlier said he liked cake. Many people enjoy cake and ice cream together.”
“Hold that thought.” Lily wiped off the ice cream scoop on her apron. “We’ve got a bunch of kids coming this way.”
A bus load full of fifth graders stormed in with two teachers, who looked ready to pass out trailing behind them.
For the next hours, Lily and her mom rang up sixty-three customers. They’d both skipped lunch.
Aunt Martha and Jessica entered their faces red from passing out flyers all day.
“We are done walking through the city. I think I know every street by heart now.” Jess fell into one of the empty chairs. “Please tell me our efforts worked.”
“Oh, they did and more.” Lily’s mom beamed. “Care to relieve us?”
“Sure.” Aunt Martha groaned as she too sat down. “As long as I don’t have to walk any more… ever.”
“Come on kiddo, we’re gonna grab some lunch. You two want us to bring anything back?”
“No, we ate on the subway when our shoes started to smoke and melt to the pavement.” Aunt Jess half-waved, sweat dripping off her narrow face.
“Let’s go pick up some pizza or something.” Lily followed her mom outside. Anything but ice cream. “There’s a place the next street over.”
“Sounds good.” Her mom, straightened her shirt, frowning at the vanilla smear along one edge.
“No one will notice.” Lily shut the front door after them. Her Aunt Martha had stenciled Ice Dreams on the glass in teal letters.
Already, the sun baked her skin as they strolled down the sidewalk. A dog walker past them with a nod, her eight dogs on a leash panting. Lily wondered if dogs could eat ice cream. When she got back to Ice Dreams, she’d have to look that up.
“Oh look, a craft shop.” Her mom peeked through the glass window. “They have picture frames too, and we need a few for the flat. I want it to look more personal, the place looks bear at the moment with no pictures.”
“Okay.” Lily’s stomach was already growling, because she was hungry and the only thing on her mind was food, not nosing around a craft shop. Lily entered the shop and rummaged through the shelves. Knickknacks and craft books from crochet to quilting lined the shelves.
“May I help you?” an older boy with windswept hair and an orange name tag with Michael printed on it asked. His dark eyes made Lily’s feet freeze to the floor.
“Pardon?”
“Are you looking for anything in particular?” He cocked his head to the side and grinned.
“Uh, you work here?”
“Last time I checked.” His smile widened. “I’m Michael Cruse, and you are?”
“You knit?” Lame.
“My grandfather owns this place, and I help out for extra cash.” He shrugged. “It beats flipping grease burgers, and I get to meet lots of women. None as pretty as you, though.”
Heat spread across her face. God, she was blushing. “Oh, I’m looking for frames. Picture frames.”
“I just need the size, your name and phone number.” He brushed back his dark hair, and her gaze followed the movement.
“Small one, enough to frame a dollar bill.” What else had he asked her? “Uh, thanks. I’m Lily.”
“Just Lily?” He leaned against one of the bookshelves with ceramic white elves and other figurines.
“Thomas.” Her stomach did a flip.
“And your phone number?”
Two could play at his game. “You just get my name for free. In order to get my number, you’ll need to impress me.”
Puzzlement filled his expression, then he smiled and her heart raced. “Fair enough.” He nodded and swept past her. “This way to the smaller frames.”
Down an aisle crammed with mirrors, frames, and throw pillows, he dug in the back and handed her a green and gold frame. When her fingertips touched his and the frame, a shock went through her. In her mind’s eye, this frame lay broken beside a pool of blood.
What the hell? She jerked her hand away and rubbed it down her jeans. “I, ah, I’ve got to go.” She stumbled back down the row, ignoring him calling her name. She had to get out of there. What was that? Her imagination playing tricks on her? Outside, she leaned against the brick wall, taking gasping breaths. Her body shook as she squeezed her eyes shut.
It wasn’t real. She’d just hallucinated. Or maybe that frame looked like something in one of the crime shows she watched. Yeah, that had to be it. Her mind playing tricks on her because she hadn’t eaten anything all day but a muffin this morning and too much ice cream in-between customers.
“Hey, are you all right?” her mom asked coming out of the store, a bag in her hand.
“Yup. All good, just starving.” Though the idea of food now made her stomach churn. “You find something that would work?”
Her mom dug into the bag. “Yup and it’s got Feng Shui colors for wealth.” She pulled out the same emerald and gold frame that Michael had shown Lily before she ran out of the craft store. Worry spread through Lily’s gut. It had to be a coincidence. It had to be.
Chapter Three
October 18th– Present day – Four years later
Every year before Halloween, Lily’s aunts went on holiday and didn’t return until February to help at the store. At least it was the slow time for the ice cream shop. Before the ice cream shop, they visited New York once, but didn’t make it to the coast. And Chicago twice.
“Do you have all your bags packed?”
Aunt Martha nodded, her red curls bouncing. “Yes. Don’t forget Camie Barnes’ birthday party. She’s ordered six ice cream cakes.” She gave Lily and her mom a squeeze. “You’ve got our cell numbers if you need an
ything, otherwise, we’ll be back when the snow starts to melt.”
“Cause your aunts are allergic to the cold?” Amanda, Lily’s best friend, came around the corner carrying hers and Lily’s sandwiches.
Aunt Jessica’s cheeks reddened, and she waved bye as they strolled out the door. Nothing ever stopped them from their annual excursion.
“Hungry?” Amanda handed Lily a sandwich and they sat at the far back table in the corner.
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you ever go with them? Your aunts.”
Lily shrugged, trying to keep the envy out of her voice. “Never had the time or money, plus there’s college.”
“They still buy you souvenirs like the plastic palm tree ones?” Amanda unwrapped her sandwich and took a huge bite.
Lily tore open the bag of potato chips and popped one into her mouth. “Yup. Soon I’ll have enough for a whole plastic forest, and I can charge admission for anyone to come see it.”
“I think you should sneak yourself into their luggage.” Amanda wiped her mouth with a paper napkin. “What can they do? Send you back if they find you?”
“Ah riding in baggage is not my ideal passage.”
“True. Hey, Michael’s having an early Halloween spook house tonight at his house. Wanna go?”
“Can’t. Inventory time.” Not that she didn’t want to go, despite it being awkward with Michael and her having broken up this summer. What she really wanted was a vacation. It was college courses online and working the ice cream shop all weekend and during the week when she could. During the summer, she couldn’t even think much less have fun or date. And her tan was nonexistent. Possibly due to her reddish brown hair like Aunt Martha’s but where her aunts curled, Lily’s was straight.
Amanda threw a chip at her. “Boo, you’re no fun. Seriously, you should scram for a week as soon as your aunts get back. And why doesn’t your mom hire more help? Then you both could take a vacation.”
“I wish she could.” Lily took another bite of her sandwich, the tangy sweet mustard coating her tongue. But the shop only added a little padding to their income after the bills. The desire to splurge during the busy months was tempting, but they’d nearly lost the place when they spent too much money. The ice cream business was a seasonal one. They learned that the hard way.
“Well, I don’t see why your mom doesn’t sell this place and cash in.”
“Because it’s our business and can be passed down to Lily and her children,” her mom called out from the cash register. “I’ll be right back, I’ve got to grab a pen from upstairs, this one just ran out of ink.”
“Okay.” Lily took another bite of her sandwich as her mom left.
Amanda tapped a manicured fingernail on the table. “You know, I need help deciding what dress to buy for my uncle’s wedding in December. Why don’t you come out shopping with me on Monday. That’s your slow day, right.”
“Yeah. We’d need to leave early so I can help Mom if we get a sudden rush.”
“Surely your ice cream business can get along without you for a couple of hours.” Her blond eyebrows waggled.
Technically, it was her mom and aunts’ business. Lily was just around to help and collect the small paycheck that paid her car insurance and gas. Thankfully, she’d been given a scholarship for her nursing courses.
The door chimed, and their business neighbor, Mr. Griffin entered. Lily sighed. Why did customers always come in during her lunch?
“Be with you in a moment,” she said with a mouthful of food.
“Is that what your mom’s paying you for? Sitting around eating?” Sam Griffin, the grouchy neighbor, said. “You out of chocolate again? I wanted some on Sunday and your mom said to come back after your delivery.”
“Yup. Just came in earlier this morning.” She stood and dusted off the crumbs from her jeans. “Want two scoops this time?” Maybe she could sweeten him up and he’d be nicer.
“One scoop and pack it tight, I want my full money’s worth.”
Of course he did. Probably took the cone back to his hardware shop and weighed it each time too. “Coming right up.”
Her mom came around the corner, carrying the bank deposit slip. “Sam, did you see our delivery truck come in earlier? We got your favorite chocolate with chocolate chips and cherries ice cream in.”
“About time.” He snorted. “But they never put enough cherries.”
Amanda threw her trash away. “I’ve got to go; stepmom has me watching the toddler twins so she and Dad can go to the movies. Let me know when you want to go all Thelma and Louise and we’ll ditch this popsicle stand, even if we can’t drive to the Bahamas.”
Laughing, Lily wiped down their table, then dug the broom out of the closet. She swept while Mr. Griffin ate his ice cream. It was the only time the man didn’t wear a scowl.
As soon as he was done, he stood. “Thank you for the ice cream. I don’t know why you don’t sell this place, make a profit, and live your life.”
Her mom leaned her elbows on the counter. “Why? You plan to retire soon? I could ask the same of you.”
“No.” His face reddened. “I want to expand my shop, and since I’m on the end… it only makes sense to take your spot. Business isn’t—”
“My revenue is not your concern.” Her mom pushed off the counter and vigorously wiped at a non-existent spot on the register.
“Just saying.” He shrugged, but his eyes were hard. With a nod, he left with his shoulders slumped slightly.
“What was his deal?” Lily asked and put the broom away.
Her mom sighed. “He’s wanted this place before we moved in.” She tossed her rag in the cleaning bin. “Well, his place is crammed to the rim with auto parts.”
“So? He can move and find a bigger space.”
“Why? He’s been here longer than us and has an established customer base. Besides, his customers, especially the kids and spouses of them, come here while they wait. If anything, his company helps our business. We’d lose money if he moved.”
“Not if someone nicer took over the spot next door, but was just as popular.”
“Oh?” Her mother placed her hand on her hip. “And you know someone that fits that description?”
Honestly, she didn’t. But anyone had to be better than Mr. Griffin. Oh, or they could be worse like Camie Barnes. Someone else could make even Lucifer look tame. “Not really. I’ve got mid-finals coming up, so I was going to study and crash, you good?”
The shop would close in an hour anyway and, with the wind howling outside with sleet, she doubted many would be breaking down the door for frozen ice cream.
“Okay. Don’t forget it’s your turn to go to the bank tomorrow. And I’ve got a manicure with Sally and Beverly, so you’ll have to close up shop.”
“Right.” Her mom’s once a week splurge. Nails and drinks with her friends.
Lily took the trash out to the dumpster, then slid back inside to retrieve her books from behind the counter. When she straightened, the green and gold picture frame holding the first money they made at the store, caught the buzzing fluorescent light. Lily stifled a shiver that raced through her. Why did the frame freak her out so much? It had since the day Michael had showed it to her.
The thought of Michael, her ex-boyfriend, made her debate going to his haunted house party tonight. She didn’t know if she could face him again and stir up old feelings that neither could pursue right now. They both had college and plans for the future. They’d clicked when they were younger, but even before he’d left for college, she’d felt their relationship drifting apart. It was better to stay away and not rip her heart again.
Chapter Four
Lily downed another energy drink, hoping it would help keep her awake to study. She stared down at her medical book and her vision blurred. The thought of changing her major from nursing to professional TV watching sounded doable. For some reason, none of the terms in this chapter stuck with her: acanthocytosis, alpha-thalassemia, heredita
ry pyropoikilocytosis, reticulosis and a dozen others that she didn’t think she’d be able to pronounce much less remember for her major test coming up.
Rising, she stretched and dragged her feet to her bedroom window. The street lights illuminated the dark boulevard. One disadvantage to living above a shop was the late night restaurants and people milling about until late. A homeless man chased after a piece of newspaper that cartwheeled down an alley. Under the awning of the Chinese restaurant across the street, a person vaped as he appeared to be watching the strip mall, towards the ice cream shop and her home. Odd.
The person was probably waiting for someone or their ride. At two a.m. Right. Her mind wandered from mugger to vampire. She needed to memorize all these blood-born pathogens. Closing her blinds, she trudged back to her desk and propped her head up with her arm. Soon, her elbow slid further and further across the desk and sleep claimed her.
***
Blood coated her palm and she rubbed it on her jeans, but the stain remained. All around her voices whispered, fingers pointing. She couldn’t breathe. Running, she tripped and fell into a hole through the ice cream shop’s floor, drowning in the metallic scent of blood. Her arms were heavy as she flailed in sticky liquid, trying to find the floor and pull herself up and out. Why did her body weigh a ton?
Gasping, she found the edge of the vinyl tile and hauled herself up. Her feet slipped in the blood. She coughed and her body trembled. There, among the crimson coating the walls, was the green and gold picture frame. The glass was shattered and the gleaming border splintered into pieces.
Mom! She spun around, sliding in the gore. Her heart slammed into the back of her throat. She screamed.
Lily jerked up in bed, clutching the sheets and panting. Sweat drenched her pajamas and bedding and a weight sat on her chest. A faint light of sunrise winked through her room as she took deep breaths to calm her racing heart. That was the last time she would binge drink seven energy beverages. She ran a hand over her face and kicked the covers off. Her body ached and her eyelids didn’t want to open all the way. She felt like she’d run a marathon, no, a triathlon, then competed in a weightlifting competition. Stripping her bed, she stuffed the sheets into the washer. After she showered and changed, she brushed her hair. Her mind filled with the images of her dream.
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