This was beyond my realm of experience. I needed backup for this one. Patrice, maybe? No, I couldn’t do that to my sis.
Somehow what I’d seen this time was different from the rest of my visions. This spirit was strong enough to make me see their experiences through their own eyes. But the boy was no average ghost. He wasn’t operating alone.
Lord, Aggie. You know who that was.
But did I really?
I didn’t know how, but a door was open in the shop again. This couldn’t be good. I prayed that I wasn’t the reason for the paranormal attention. What happened next would be up to the spirits.
I just hoped we were all ready.
Chapter Seven—Aggie
Detra Ann stepped into the shop looking like a million bucks. And not just her; baby Chloe was dressed up like a baby doll. I swear, I was a little jealous of Detra Ann’s sense of style. I mean, I had a style, but there was nothing million-dollar about it. “Thank goodness you’re here, Boss Lady. Your favorite client just left, and I am sure she’ll be calling you. I swear that woman has it out for me.”
Detra Ann laughed. “Good old Mrs. Biederman. She never fails to amaze me.”
Rolling my eyes, I agreed with her, “Yes, and she was in rare form today.”
“That’s what it’s like working with the public, though, Aggie. Mrs. Biederman is set in her ways and expects people to jump when she says jump.”
Frustrated that she was so dismissive of Mrs. Biederman’s attitude toward me, I couldn’t just let it go. “She’s always looking down her nose at me,” I huffed. “She thinks I’m a drug addict. I mean, really?”
Detra Ann’s perfect eyes widened slightly. “It’s not just you, Aggie. She is cruel to everyone. Just brush it off. Please?”
“Easy for you to say. She likes you, or so she says, but okay.” It did bother me. Far too much.
She smiled warmly and said, “Why don’t you go and take a break for a little while? My little assistant can help me.” Chloe giggled as Detra Ann tickled her tummy.
That was the best idea I’d heard all day. “Fine, I will leave it all in your cute little assistant’s hands.”
“Take as much time as you need.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I headed toward the stairs that led to the apartment. Chloe’s laugh echoed through the shop. She was such a happy girl. Before I even got to the stairs, I heard her little feet running toward me. “Miss me already?” I asked, turning to meet her. But it wasn’t Chloe running up behind me. She wasn’t there. She was still with her mom.
Suddenly, the sound of pitter-pattering feet didn’t feel so heartwarming. I took that as my cue to vacate the premises.
*****
An hour passed, and then another, and nothing happened. Thankfully, I didn’t hear footsteps anymore. The steam from the coffee cup swirled up, and the aroma was comforting. It had been a long day, and nothing seemed to be going right. Maybe it was late in the day for coffee, but I felt as if I needed it. I needed something a little stronger than tea. I needed normalcy. I wasn’t sure coffee would give it to me, but it was worth a shot.
My phone vibrated, interrupting my peace and calm. Probably Patrice telling me she was going to be late again. I knew the message wasn’t from my parents, since they always called. They didn’t really believe in texting. They were old-school in that regard. Okay, in a lot of ways.
I sipped my coffee and tried to forget the horrific scene that kept playing on repeat in my mind. No amount of coffee could shake the memory of the smell of melting flesh. Yes, his skin melted like hot wax dripping off the side of a candle.
Swirling the coffee around in the cup, I stared out into the emptiness of the room. It wasn’t a huge space, but it was my palace of solitude, for whatever that was worth. I would never fully be alone. Not now.
My phone lit up again, sending an irritating buzzing through the space, but I welcomed it. I flipped it over. Maybe this was a short text from Boss Lady informing me that my break was over. It was nothing of the sort.
We need to talk.
Phoenix! Four words that I didn’t expect, and just reading them twisted my stomach into a knot. I longed to hear from him, for him to respond to me, but this wasn’t what I wanted. These were not words of endearment or reconciliation—at least they didn’t seem like it.
I responded with only one word. When?
Tonight.
Great. Did I really want to go?
Where?
Our usual. I’m playing at 7 p.m. Just hang out. We can chat afterwards. I miss you, Ags.
Now those were words I had longed to hear. I didn’t even mind him calling me that dreadful nickname, Ags. Sounded too much like Hags.
I’ll see you tonight.
*****
“Why do you look like the cat that ate the canary?” Detra Ann smirked as I helped her tidy up the day’s receipts.
Smiling, I replied, “No reason.”
“Really, because you look like you are about to float away. I know that look.”
“Well, if you must know, Phoenix messaged me.”
“Obviously. Was there ever any doubt?”
“What do you mean?”
Detra Ann crossed her arms. “It’s obvious that you heard from Phoenix because you are smiling. I love that. You never smile like that for anyone else.”
She was right. Phoenix had a way of melting my heart, and I just couldn’t help myself. It was a love-hate relationship with him. I hated how vulnerable I was around him, but I had fallen madly and deeply in love with this person. He was intoxicating to me.
“It’s that noticeable, huh?”
Detra Ann held her thumb and finger up in the air, barely an inch between them. “Just a little bit.”
“He drives me nuts, though.”
“They typically do when you’re madly in love with them.” She winked. “But it’s worth it in the end.” Chloe let out a sweet giggle. “See? Even Chloe agrees,” Detra Ann said with a smile.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Okay, I get it. I’m transparent. I can’t believe it, though. I thought I was hiding my feelings from everyone.”
“Mommy. I play?” Chloe pointed to the other side of the room.
“Yes, sweetie. You can play, but don’t break anything,” Detra Ann responded with a tinge of worry in her voice.
Chloe clapped her hands together. “Play with me.” Such a sweet little voice. I couldn’t help but smile looking at her. It was wonderful that she wanted to play with her mommy.
“I can’t play right now, honey,” Detra Ann replied with an impatient frown. Usually, she had a lot of patience when it came to her daughter, but she was getting irritated. Wait, was she irritated with me? “Aggie has to leave too.”
“Not Mommy. Friend play with me.” Chloe pointed toward the corner of the room next to her. Cutting my eyes over toward where she pointed again, I nearly jumped out of my skin. The boy from my vision was in the shop, and he was staring at Chloe! No, now he was staring at me! His dark eyes pierced through me and made me wince.
“What is it?” Detra Ann asked me as she watched Chloe and me standing stock still.
Like the flame of a kerosene lamp, he fluttered away. “Nothing. A shadow, I think.”
“I don’t believe you. What is it really?”
Trying to keep my composure, I answered with faux confidence. “Pay no attention to me. I’m fine. Why don’t you and Chloe head home? I can close up, and Patrice is on her way home.” Okay, how much had Henri told her? Did she know Sierra was coming out tomorrow?
Detra Ann reached over the counter. “Only if you’re sure?”
“Of course,” I reassured her, “I’ve got it, Boss Lady.”
She sighed and began gathering up Chloe’s many toys. “Thanks, I really should get Chloe home for dinner. Let me know how your date goes.”
“I will.”
“Chloe,” Detra Ann called out, “let’s go home.”
I watched Chloe from across the ro
om, and to my horror I could see that her invisible companion floated beside her again. His dark eyes contrasted with the illumination of his pale skin. At least he wasn’t manifesting as a melted blob of flesh with lifeless black eyes this time. The child parted his gray lips as he passed, exposing rotting gums and teeth. I wanted to throw up.
My body froze, suspended in time with a million thoughts running through my head. I had to let Detra Ann know, but my voice was lost in the moment. How did she not see him? Nothing but a single breath was released from my mouth as the door slammed shut behind them.
Dear God!
“Aggie?” Patrice’s voice called out from the back of the shop. It sounded muffled through the throbbing that filled my ears.
The shop felt dark, and shadows appeared to fill every empty space, slowly moving toward me, threatening to envelop me within the darkness. Clenching my hands into fists, I whispered a stern “No!” under my breath. I could hear Patrice moving toward the front of the shop.
Whoever that little boy was, he most definitely had a dark presence attached to him. My heart ached for his little lost spirit. But as I stood my ground, my eyes shut and the word “No” screaming in my brain, he began to retreat. Thankfully, as I opened my eyes, light began to fill the room again. The sunlight, or what was left of it for the day, creeped back into the space. My shoulders released, and I could breathe again.
“Hey, I’m here. What the heck is wrong with you, weirdo?” Patrice bent down in front of me. “Can you see me?” She snapped her fingers and grinned. “Need some help?”
I wasn’t amused by her antics. “Felt dizzy, is all. There’s not much left to do but count the drawer. You know how good I am with math. I always get it wrong. I’m ready go to hide upstairs.”
“Oh yeah, what happened? Some crazed antiques collector flipped out because we didn’t have the buffet they wanted?” Patrice tilted her head knowingly.
“Very funny. No, it was the craziest antiques collector. Your favorite shopper.”
Patrice nodded. “Oh, I see. Good ol’ Mrs. B. What got her knickers in a twist today?”
“Yeah, she was on a roll. She accused me of being on drugs. You too, by the way, so don’t get a superiority complex.”
Patrice didn’t bother to hide her surprise. “Drugs? Why would she think that? What in the world did you do?”
I felt my face flush, and I tucked an errant platinum blonde curl behind my ear. It was a nervous tic, one that Patrice would be familiar with. Be cool, Aggie. “She kind of caught me at a bad time.”
“Bad time?” she asked as she locked the store and pulled down the door shade.
“I might have had a vision with her standing over me. It was a ridiculous scenario, but she shouldn’t have been in the workroom to begin with, and I didn’t hear her come in.”
“That’s not good.”
“No, not good at all. Especially with her. She’s always on my case about something every time she comes into the shop. I hate to say it, but I think she’s getting witchier.”
Patrice leaned back against the counter. “Total bummer.”
I shrugged as we began counting cash. With Patrice’s help, it didn’t take long to tally up the day’s totals and finish for the day so we could head upstairs. Tomorrow would be exciting. Sierra and her team would probably be coming to the shop, most likely after hours.
We weren’t up the stairs good when Patrice paused. “Wait a second. Is Detra Ann back in the shop? I could have sworn I heard the front doorbell ring.” She slipped her blonde hair back behind her ear. Kind of like me. Wow, I never noticed that before. We have the same tic.
I half turned on the top stair to assure her that Boss Lady was indeed gone for the day, but Patrice was not there. The terrible burnt boy’s ghostly face flashed in front of mine. A gasp escaped my throat without warning.
“What is it?” Patrice asked as she clung to the handrail.
“Nothing!” I yelped between clenched teeth.
“Come on, Aggie, you can’t tell me ‘nothing.’ You’re white as a ghost. Let’s get out of this stairwell. I don’t like the feeling I’m getting, and you are making it worse.”
Not wanting to get into it, I agreed and raced up to our apartment. “It was my imagination. I’m sorry. I had a bad dream last night, and it’s stayed with me all day. I’m still a little shook up about it.”
“Bad dream?” She closed and locked our apartment door, and I relaxed a little. “You just about scare me to death over a bad dream? What if I’d fallen, Aggie?” Her question dripped with sarcasm, but I didn’t have the energy to deal with it. “Aren’t you too grown up for all of those childhood fears?”
When I didn’t answer her right away, she plopped down on the couch and dropped her bookbag at her feet. Patrice looked past me and said, “Sorry. I know you didn’t do that on purpose. I have nightmares too. I’m not used to you having nightmares. Are you sure you’re okay? Just a bad dream, or is it something else?”
I smiled at her attempted apology. “Nothing I want to talk about now. I’ll be going out tonight, so don’t wait up for me.”
“Hot date?” Patrice asked with a smile. “Let me guess, Phoenix?”
“I don’t want to talk about that either.”
I had a fear of jinxing things. Speaking about them only seemed to curse my end goal. Keeping my relationship with Phoenix quiet was the best move. I didn’t want to get hurt, and exposing myself to that reality was a little too much to handle. Especially in front of my all-too-perfect sister. She never really knew what rejection felt like. Perfect Patrice could have any guy she wanted.
“Understood, but I better get all the deets when you’re ready.”
I nodded. “The deets? You’ll be the first to know everything. But there’s really nothing to tell.”
“Right...I’m off to get a shower. Unless you need to go first.”
“No, you go ahead. I’ve got a few things to do. First things first, I need to pick out an outfit for tonight. Will you give me the thumbs-up or thumbs-down test? Your taste is so much better than mine.”
“Nope. I’m not helping you.” She clamped her lips together, grabbed her bag and hoisted it up on her shoulder.
“Why not? So much for sisterly love, I guess.”
She hugged me and tugged my hair playfully. I complained, and she ignored me. Situation normal. “You go dressed like you. Not like me. Phoenix likes you, Aggie Kelly. You and all your strangeness. Be genuine and fearless. What is it about this guy that makes you unconfident? I hope you don’t jeopardize yourself. You know what I mean. I don’t want you to become someone you’re not just to keep him.”
“What does that mean?” I asked curiously. What was up with her tonight?
“It means if you have to become someone else, he’s not worth it. Trust me. Changing who you are just to keep a guy is like selling your soul for rock and roll. It’s never going to work out. I know a thing or two about how some guys operate. I’m not saying that I think Phoenix is like that, but be you, Aggie. Have a good night and call me if you need anything. And let me know you made it home okay, alright?”
“Um, okay.” I was so surprised to hear what she had to say that I forgot about the ghost boy for a few minutes. Wow, maybe I didn’t know my sister like I thought I did. Why all this talk about selling your soul for a guy? Yikes. I shivered as I watched her disappear down the hallway. Was my sister holding something back from me? Hiding her own secrets? Obviously, she felt very strongly about what she was saying. And her new revelation made me feel special. Closer to her.
Somehow, some way, I’d be the one getting the deets on Patrice later. She’d have to do a full disclosure if she wanted me to back off. But for now, I had my date to think about. I couldn’t wait to see Phoenix. Maybe even kiss him. Yeah, that would be great. I was ready to hear whatever he had to say, but mostly, I just wanted to plant one on him.
I slid the closet doors back carefully because sometimes they came off track. I di
dn’t want to fight with my closet tonight. God, I had so many clothes. What to wear?
My phone rang, but it stopped by the time I picked it up. I noticed that I had a text from Phoenix.
Rain check. I got the dates wrong. Same time and place tomorrow night?
Rats. I hated that I’d been so excited about this date and now it was canceled. Okay, not canceled, just postponed. I sighed as I sagged on my bed. I texted back one letter.
K.
I wanted to type a lot more than that, but I decided against it. No, I wasn’t going to make a big deal about it. I didn’t want to get in a rut over the whole Phoenix thing. Maybe I’d just hang out with Patrice…we hadn’t had an actual sister night in a while. Yeah, that’s what I’d do, go hang out with my sister. I decided to take my newfound time while she was showering to clean up my closet. Man, it was a mess. I heard the shower stop, but Patrice didn’t tap on my door. I called out to her, but there was no guarantee that she would hear me. These closets were made with good wood, and the doors were fabulous. I loved the antique doors in this apartment. Not shabby at all.
By the time I got my shoes stacked up perfectly (I had twelve pairs of Vans) and hung up my t-shirts, Patrice had gotten quiet.
“Sis?” I asked as I went to her closed door and tapped on it. “Phoenix needs a rain check. What about we go to that Thai place? My treat!” Man, I was hungry for company. Sad, wasn’t it? I tapped again, and nothing happened. “Patrice? I’m coming in.”
I entered my sister’s room, but she wasn’t there. Somehow or another, she must have stepped out. She didn’t even say goodbye.
Okay, Aggie Kelly. Stop getting in your feelings. Let your sister have a life.
That’s when I found the velvet ribbon on the floor. It was soft and black. I rubbed it with my fingers, and a cold chill swept over my body. Then I felt ashamed for snooping in my sister’s room.
I closed the door behind me, but not before sticking the ribbon in my pocket. I don’t know why I kept it, but I did. I never knew Patrice to own a single piece of black clothing, and now to find this interesting thing…was it a choker? It was very curious. Oh well, time would tell. I’d ask her all about it when she got home. She was never gone too long, I thought as I waited on the couch with a paperback.
A Watch of Weeping Angels (Devecheaux Antiques & Haunted Things Book 3) Page 5