“That’s it.” Mavis smiled her approval.
Jessie returned it weakly and then looked down at Duke who was yapping at a man who was reading the paper next to them. Because of the dog, they were outside enjoying the street café, which would have been delightful if Lucifer would be quiet and hadn’t wizzed on her left Minnie for that matter.
“I still can’t believe he did that,” Mavis said, glancing down at her slipper. “You naughty boy.” She scooped up Lucifer and fed him a piece of the doughnut on her plate. “It must be because he feels threatened by it.”
The word it definitely held a note of scorn Jessie noticed.
“But don’t you worry; I’ll get you some proper house shoes today.”
Proper? Jessie couldn’t believe her ears. This woman was worse than her ex-mother-in-law if that was possible. She counted to five, and then ten, as she watched the little devil dog lick her plate.
“Oh,” Mavis sighed, pulling him back. “Shame on you,” she scolded her dog.
“It’s alright.” Jessie scooted the plate across the table. “I’m finished with it anyway.” She took another sip of her coffee and glanced across the street to an old used bookstore.
“I think I’d like to take a peek inside that store.”
“The Ancient Mariner?” Mavis asked in a scandalized tone. “I never set foot there.”
Jessie knew then it was a heaven on Earth.
“They carry P-O-R-N.” She spelled the word, covering Lucifer’s ears.
Jessie choked on her coffee. She wasn’t into the stuff herself, had actually had issue with her ex-husband’s obsession with it. . . . Okay, perhaps she felt a little abused by what people chose to do with it, but she tried not to judge. They were adults after all.
“Second hand porn.” Mavis leaned close to whisper.
Okay, admittedly, that was gross. Jessie looked again at the store and its seemingly innocent window displays of books and gifts.
“The committee is hoping they close their doors soon.”
“The committee?” Jessie asked, wondering if she’d let her mind wonder and might end up signing a power of attorney over to the woman or having dinner plans with her son at the very least.
“The town’s historical committee.” Mavis nodded, giving the man behind the paper a secretive glance.
The C.I.A. would have approved the technique, Jessie thought. “Do you know of another book store in the vicinity?” she asked.
“Dear, I know of something even better.” Mavis beamed.
“What?”
“The library . . . and it’s on the historical register.”
Jessie watched as Mavis smoothed her hair, gloating over the news. Admittedly, she had scored on that one.
“And there is a lovely hairdresser around the corner that does amazing things, and a clothing store.”
Jessie immediately lost her smile. Was she actually suggesting?
“These shorter haircuts are just so much more sophisticated. Don’t you think?”
She was! Jessie tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. If she wasn’t careful this woman was going to turn her into a Stepford Wife for her son. Jessie stood abruptly, causing the cups to rattle on the table and spilling coffee for the second time that day.
“Oh, my,” Mavis said as a trickle made its way over to splash on her dog. “Poor little Duchy.” She pouted as she dabbed the spill with a napkin. “I guess you’re even now.”
Jessie just stared at her stupidly. Even? How could they be even? Her dog had piddled on her foot and received a drop of coffee in return.
“Well, we won’t go into that now,” Mavis managed to chastise her anyway.
“Where is the library?” Jessie asked as she placed a tip on the table. She wasn’t going to let this get to her. She was going to go back to the house and take a relaxing bubble bath. Blow dry and curl her long hair, and then after her shoe was suitably laundered she would. . . . Well, she’d do something! She’d get a life! She might even invite her fantasy pirate to join her.
Chapter 3
The woman behind the counter smiled as Jessie entered the library. Mavis had stayed outside to walk her dog. Although she promised not to be long, Jessie felt like she’d been offered a reprieve from a battle zone.
“May I help you?” The librarian’s whispered question made Jessie want to turn heel and run for some odd reason. The feeling didn’t dissipate, it worsened, when the woman’s expression turned sour as Jessie squished by her in a wet Minnie and matching flannel outfit. She pulled the sweater coat a little tighter together at the top.
“No, thank you.” Jessie felt the shame down to her toes and tried to melt away in the maze of shelves that lined the main hall. The truth was, Jessie Anne Phelps was a rule follower. The stress of not towing the line invariably made her more uncomfortable than disobeying ever could.
She found the ancient world history section first. The feeling of something from her previous life of sanity felt soothing. It wasn’t going to last though, she knew as she peeked over her shoulder at the librarian. Nope, Jessie was headed for the alternative section allocated to the back of the building. She entered the main hall, once again passing the true literature and three other people as she strolled beyond even the fiction to the place where the Scientology and supernatural were housed.
Jessie could almost feel the eyes of the librarian as she mentally shook her head and filed her permanently in the back shelves of her mind. She glanced over her shoulder and noticed Mavis enter with her dog. Jessie darted into an aisle that felt safe until the titles flooded her awareness. Past lives, Kundalini effect, crop circles, and books on how to grow herbs assailed her. She was in the hippie section.
Jessie stared at the titles more aware than ever in her life that she may be more like Mavis than she realized. That, she could easily change. She looked both ways before she reached forward and selected a book on midwifery.
“Are you pregnant?”
Jessie nearly jumped out of her Minnie Mouse slippers at the sound of his voice. “What?” she asked, looking over at him before casting a guilty glance at the spot on the floor left by her shoe when she jumped. “What are you doing here?”
“Have you soiled the floor?” he asked in surprised amusement.
“No, I have not!” She lifted her chin defiantly. The next thing she knew he was on eye level with her feet.
“I’m quite sure I detect the odor of urine.”
“Get up from there,” she hissed as she stepped away from him to peek around the shelf toward the entrance. She could see Mavis and the librarian in a deep discussion. She glanced back to the pirate that she was only moments ago fantasizing over having a bubble bath with. “It’s Lucifer’s, not mine.”
“Sure, use the devil made me do it excuse.” He grinned. “I did try to warn you,” he said as he peered over her shoulder at the book she carried.
She snapped it shut. “You never said that the little devil dog peed on everything and everyone!”
He leaned back, folding his arms over his chest. “I will never understand women or the current fashion.”
“You must leave me alone,” Jessie said firmly.
“And if I don’t?”
She glanced down the main aisle to see Mavis making her way toward the back. “Oh, no.” Jessie returned the book to where she had taken it from and turned to face him. “You have to leave.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want them to catch you.”
They can’t even see me.” He chuckled.
Well, I can, and you are too distracting. She peeked around the corner again. Mavis had stopped to chat with one of the elderly gentlemen Jessie had passed on her way back.
“You care what they think?” he softly whispered close to her ear. It was almost a caress and she sighed despite herself.
“No-yes, I don’t know,” she said, turning back to see his all too knowing, smug smile of self-satisfaction. “What?”
�
��You think I’m distracting?” He raised an eyebrow, the dimple in his right cheek growing deeper.
“Oh, please.” Jessie rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Anyone in their right mind would be questioning their sanity.”
“So,” he took a step closer to her, “you still doubt me.”
“Let’s just say,” Jessie’s whisper was an octave higher, “insane is a new area for me, and I’d like to keep it to myself for a day or two.”
“You still do not believe I am real?” He looked wounded as he asked it.
“Real? You are see-through.” Jessie pointed out. “And I really don’t want to spend my night at the local loony bin.”
“But why not?” He shrugged. “You might enjoy yourself. They play cards and spend the day roaming the halls in their pajamas.” His eyes grazed her footwear and colorful pants before looking up her body and pausing on her breasts.
She took a deep breath in reaction to the assault. He smiled innocently when his gaze finally returned to hers.
“You might actually find the way the Sun filters through the trees over the duck pond quite peaceful, and there are plenty of people to speak with, besides me that is.” He reached forward and lifted a wisp of hair that had fallen across her shoulder.
Her eyes narrowed on him as she took a tiny step back. “It sounds like you are well acquainted with the place.”
“Oui.” He nodded, rubbing the silken strand between his fingers.
“Are you telling me that you find pleasure in tormenting those poor souls?”
“Torment?” He shook his head, dropping his hand. “You misunderstand. Most just need someone to talk to and enjoy my visits. They are lonely too. Oui?”
“No.” She put her soggy foot down. “I am not lonely.” She stepped forward. “I just need some peace and quiet,” she said a little too loudly.
“Ah, but I am lonely, ma chérie.” The longing in his eyes made her own heart ache before, that was, he disappeared, sending nearly every volume on the shelf clattering to the floor in his vaporous departure.
“Oh, dear!” Mavis turned the corner. “Whatever have you done?”
Jessie looked down at the dozens of books that now lay scattered across the back aisle and wanted to melt into the floor . . . or hurt a certain ghost. How could he have done this to her? He knew she wouldn’t be able to explain that a ghost had knocked them off their shelves.
“I’m not sure how it happened,” Jessie said as she picked up a book and placed it on a shelf. The librarian soon joined Mavis at the opening of the aisle.
“Oh, no!” she gasped and she took the book from Jessie’s hand. “They must be catalogued properly.” She turned to Mavis. “You need to take her out of here before I call the police.”
“No need for that, dear, this is Kate Sawyers’ niece, and I’m sure she didn’t intend to do it.”
“Other than explaining a lot,” the librarian practically shouted in a strangely loud whisper. “It also means that she is not welcome here anymore.” She pointed to the door. “Out!”
“Come, dear,” Mavis said as she ushered Jessie outside.
Jessie could hardly keep back the tears, she’d didn’t know when she’d felt more mortified. She glanced at the blue haired biddy beside her and felt immense gratitude that Mavis had the decency to at least stick by her side in her moment of shame. Perhaps she’d judged too harshly and all because she had listened to him!
Jessie’s lip trembled. . . . She couldn’t believe it! She’d just been kicked out of the public library. Jessie stood in stunned silence on the lawn outside, staring back at the building until the warm trickle of liquid on her ankle made her look down. Lucifer had his leg poised over her right shoe. How could such a little dog have such a big bladder?
“Duke!” Mavis shouted. “Bad doggie!”
Jessie whole heartedly agreed. The little dachshund was bad to the bone!
“You know that shoe store I told you about is just around the corner, and I know the manager,” Mavis nodded encouragingly, “and then we could stop by the hair dresser afterwards.”
“I just want to go home,” Jessie said dully.
“Nonsense, dear,” Mavis said. “Any other time I would say, yes, but today I say we will not let this defeat us.”
Jessie looked at the woman and didn’t know whether to kiss her cheek or run in the other direction. Obediently, she allowed Mavis to lead her away. She followed behind the dog, slapping the concrete sidewalk with her sodden feet until she looked up. “Mavis,” Jessie said, darting inside the forbidden bookstore. “I’ll be right back.”
“Oh my,” Mavis tsked, looking up at the sign depicting an old wooden seaman and the leg lamp that stood in the window.
~*~
“Hello,” an older man with a worn button-up sweater called out.
“Hello,” Jessie said boldly lifting her chin, almost daring him to kick her to the curb. She felt more like a soldier than a shopper.
“Just let me know if I can help you find anything,” the gentleman said before adjusting the glasses on his nose. He sat on a stool behind the counter and resumed reading the book in front of him.
“Thank you.” Jessie took a deep breath to fortify herself as she looked around. It looked average enough. Like every other used bookstore, slash, gift boutique she had seen. She walked past shelves of eclectic pieces of all types. She spied a Betty Boop doll next to a Power Ranger from the late 1980’s. She lifted its arm, then wished she hadn’t as it started to walk off the shelf. She grabbed it before it hit the floor.
“Sure I can’t help you find something?” the shopkeeper called out.
Jessie replaced the escapee and lifted the Betty Boop doll up. “How much for this?”
“You have a good eye, young lady, but sadly I can’t sell her. Have to wait till a good customer comes in to see her.”
Jessie felt her hackles raise. Was she not a good customer?
“Waitin' on Miss Katie to get back from vacation,” the man continued.
Jessie realized she may have misunderstood his earlier remark. “Kate Sawyers?”
“Why, yes.” The man smiled. “The one and only.”
“I’m her niece.”
“Well.” The man stood. “Why didn’t you say so? I’m Henry Pierson, the owner of this fine establishment.” He grinned, holding out his hand.
Jessie shook it. “Jessica Davis . . . but I’m changing it,” she amended quickly. “I’m taking back my maiden name of Phelps.” Why did she choose now to have diarrhea of the mouth? She laughed self-consciously as she wiped her hand on the front of her sweater.
“You must be the one that’s watching over her place.”
“I am.”
“I’m glad.” He smiled, letting her hand go. “House like that can get lonely.”
“I don’t know about the house, but apparently the resident ghost is,” Jessie said and immediately wished the words back.
“You’ve met Katie’s pool boy have you?” Henry chuckled. “
Jessie turned bright red and laughed in response as she picked up the Betty Boop. “When I saw her, I thought Katie might like her.”
Your aunt and I go way back,” he explained with a wink. “Let’s wrap her up for her then, shall we?” Henry suggested.
“Thank you,” Jessie said, before noticing the hundred forty-five dollar price tag. “Ah,” she stalled, doing a mental tally of her bank account.
“I’ll give you the same fifty percent off discount I give Katie.” He winked.
“Great.” Jessie sighed audibly.
“Recently divorced?” Henry asked as he walked away. “There is a room in the back that may interest you.”
Oh no! Jessie was not going into the second hand porn room!
“There are books on self-empowerment, healing broken relationships, and another one on women from Venus and men from Mars.”
Jessie shuffled her feet awkwardly as she followed him. “Do you have any on séances or the afterlife?
”
“Those would be over there.” Henry pointed toward the area just below the stairs. “Have a few by that Silvia woman and that other fellow. . . . what’s his name?”
“Edwards?”
“That’s it.” Henry nodded.
Jessie found a few titles that might prove interesting. She could smell the aroma of something pungent coming from up the stairs as she made her way around the shop. She noticed the book Henry was reading from was a cookbook entitled 101 Crockpot Delights. She figured sauerkraut and franks must be one of them.
“Have you had lunch?” Henry asked as he rang up her purchases. “Smells like mine is almost done and there’s plenty.”
“Oh, no thank you,” Jessie said. “I’ll have to take a rain check as I’m actually here with someone.” She turned to see Mavis still standing outside with her little dog. The blue haired dynamo looked away sharply when she noticed them watching her.
“Say no more,” Henry said. “That little wiener dog of hers took a leak on my shoes when I went over there for dinner one night.” He was openly smiling at her surprised expression. “Come back any time.”
Jessie was starting to sense there may be another reason behind Mavis’ boycott of the store. “I will.” She smiled, happy for the first time that day. At least the second hand porno man understood her. . . . Her life was just getting weirder and weirder.
~*~
Jessie wore her sensible one inch high-heeled shoes that looked like something June Cleaver would wear up to the front porch. She took another breath to calm her nerves as she looked at her reflection in the door. So much had changed since she had last placed this key in the lock.
She opened the door and quietly closed it behind her.
“Ah, chérie.” The scoundrel had the audacity to speak to her when she tip-toed across the foyer to the stairs.
Jessie took a deep breath and turned to face the image of a man resting on the sofa. “Whatever you do, don’t ma chérie me,” Jessie warned.
“Mon dieu! Whatever have you done?” he exclaimed when he saw her and sat up straight.
“Me?! Jessie fumed. “What have I done? You left me to face the consequences of your actions.” Her bosom heaved. “Because of you I have been kicked out of the public library.” Her lip trembled as she remembered her day.
Treasure of the Jaguar Warrior - Mystery of the Mayan Calendar (Paranormally Yours) Page 3