by L. K. Kuhl
I bit my lip. “I really shouldn’t…oh, what the heck. Can I gain that much in one week?” We both busted out laughing, and didn’t stop until I pulled into Blinker Burger’s parking lot.
After we had eaten, I thought of something else I would like to scratch off of my to-do list today just so I could quit worrying about it. “When we get done here and after the flower shop, I need to go to the bank. Is your mom working today?” I shook the ice down in my soda glass and poked the straw down deeper to get the last drop.
“Yeah, she is. She works every day, except for half a day on Saturdays and Sundays. Why? You giving some of your money away?” Claudia smiled, sticking a cold, wilted fry into her mouth.
“Great, and yep, I am actually. I plan on giving my folks six million of it as a gift from me for everything they’ve done. If they want to split it with Josh, they can, but…I’ll let them make that choice.”
“Do they even know about the money yet?”
“No. I never did know how to break the news to them about where I got it.” My eyes surveyed Claudia’s face.
She winced. “What will you say?”
“I haven’t thought about it yet. Have any good ideas?”
“How about the truth? They know about Mandy, Matt, and Tate, don’t they?” She paused. “It shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Yeah…and they didn’t freak out too bad, believe it or not. And I guess I did show Mom Tate’s picture. She just doesn’t know we dated…and all of that.”
“You still don’t need to tell her that, although it wouldn’t hurt. There’s nothing that’s going to happen, anymore, anyway. But if they didn’t freak out too bad after finding out you spent the summer with ghosts, then telling them about thirteen million dollars should be a cinch.” She shrugged, sipping up the last drink of her orange soda pop.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’ll just sit them down and tell them the truth when I give it to them.”
We drove to the flower shop, and my shoulders instantly relaxed. “Oh, Cindy, that color’s perfect.” I gazed at her handful of delicate roses. They were the perfect shade of purple, just right to match my bridesmaids’ dresses. “They’re beautiful!”
The flower shop owner’s face lit up with a smile, and a look of relief washed over her when she saw how happy I was. “It’s called China Rose.”
“They’ll be just right.”
We went back to the car, and Claudia slammed the rusty door a couple of times, trying to get it to shut. “Off to the bank, now?”
“Yep, this should be the last thing to do today.” I stepped down hard on the gas pedal to beat a car that I had unintentionally pulled out in front of.
Alice Bunker had her back turned to us when we walked into the bank—busy reading over paperwork, a pen stuck behind her ear.
Claudia leaned over the counter. “Psst, Mom, it’s me.”
Alice spun around to greet us with an inviting smile. “Hello, girls, you surprised me.” She stuck her paperwork back into the manila envelope. “What brings you here today?”
“Hi, Mrs. Bunker. I’d like to withdraw some money out of my savings account today.” I rubbed my hands together, bouncing up on my toes.
“I bet you’re getting ready for the big day, huh? It’s not far off now, is it?” She brought out a receipt booklet and pulled the pen out from behind her ear.
“One week. I want to get some money out for my parents. A gift.”
“Oh, that will be so nice for them. Let’s see, how much would you like to take out?” She had her pen raised and ready.
“Six million.”
She blanched. “Account number?”
I rattled off my six digit number. Her hand shook as she wrote it down. She punched it into the computer, and an odd look came over her face. “Wait right here, and I’ll be back.” She scurried off behind a large wall scattered with pictures of horses and different western scenes.
She came back a couple minutes later, stricken, her face still pale. “Sophia.” Her voice had dropped to a low whisper, and her eyes darted down to the counter. “I’m afraid you don’t have the six million dollars in your account to draw out.”
I balked, thinking I didn’t hear her right. “What do you mean? Did you say what I think you said? Did you say there isn’t six million in my account? How much is in there?” My knees weakened and blood whooshed through my ears.
“Sophia, there’s nothing in your account.” Alice shook her head in despair. “Not one penny. I talked to Donna, the other window clerk, and she said it was all withdrawn yesterday.”
“What?” I shouted, then covered my mouth. “How is that possible? No one can withdraw that money except for me.” I patted my chest, hoping to calm down my heart that kept trying to leap for its life.
“Hold on, let me get Donna.”
“Mrs. Bunker, wait…could it have been Stacy?” A shiver of animosity ran through me at the thought of Stacy taking my money.
Mrs. Bunker shook her head. “Impossible. Stacy doesn’t work here anymore, so there’s no way she could have gotten into your account. Just let me get Donna, and she can help us.”
She hurried off again, her top-heavy red hair bouncing, keeping time with her pace.
I rubbed my face and ran my fingers through my hair. “Claudia, I just don’t understand this.” An evil storm brewed in the pit of my stomach, overpowering me. “Who could have stolen my money? It had to be someone that works here at the bank.”
“I’m sure we’ll get to the bottom of this, and you’ll get your money back. Someone has to know what happened to it. I’m sure it’s an easy fix.” But her eyes darted, searching for her mom and Donna to appear.
“I hope so….”
Claudia’s mom reappeared with a classy-looking, older lady with silver hair brushed back high on her head—still a beauty at sixty-something.
Alice waved her hand at the lady. “Sophia, this is Donna.”
Donna’s kind demeanor and sweet voice matched the rest of her looks. She spoke in a low, soothing voice. “Hi, Sophia, nice to meet you. Yes, I was the one who helped with the transaction yesterday when your money was taken out. I believe it was your husband, or soon-to-be husband that came in and withdrew it. His name was Aaron Stuart. He told me he was your husband and his name is on the account.”
Floored by the news, I staggered, palm planting on my forehead. Aaron? How could this be? “I don’t understand, Donna. Aaron’s going to be my husband in a few days, but his name isn’t on the account. I didn’t think there was any way he could get to it. And how did he know my account number?”
Donna pulled my contract out from a manila folder. She pointed to Aaron’s name with her bright red manicured fingernail. “Right here is his name, Sophia. Maybe you don’t remember putting it on here that day. He did know the account number.”
His name blared back, written in bold blue ink. The answer pierced me in the heart. The way his name was written matched perfectly with the rest of the information that Stacy had filled out on the day when I opened the account. She had found a way to get to me, anyway. I silently cursed myself for even letting her handle my account. The moment I saw it was her, I should have requested someone else.
I nodded and looked to the floor. “Thank you, Donna.” My head swam, swirling in loops—ready to explode. “I think I have it figured out now.”
* * *
I slammed the door and roared the engine up loud after Claudia and I climbed back in the car. We drove home in silence, neither one of us saying a word, both knowing the overwhelming evidence of what had happened. Too angry to even speak, I squeezed my mouth shut tight, grinding my teeth. If I did, I would spit fire, and I didn’t want to unintentionally hurt Claudia.
When we drove by the brick theater, I stomped on my brakes. They squeaked shrilly, cussing me for treating them this way. The theater sat in among a bunch of other downtown brick buildings; two fire engines sat in front of the fire station across the street.
My head jerked to the left. Ten black-cloaked men stood in front of the buildings. They stretched out in a long line, standing guard, their spears and tridents armed and ready for battle. Wicked red eyes darted. Oh my, this can’t be good.
Claudia grabbed for the dash. “What’s wrong? I don’t want to die.” Her voice shook from my anger-ridden driving.
I pulled into a parking place, my tires edging over the yellow line, taking up two. “It’s them…the Livids. I haven’t seen Lidia, yet, but I feel like I need to stop and see what’s going on.”
“Wha…What? Are you sure? Isn’t it dangerous? Just keep going.”
“It is, but I need to…I have to.”
We both got out and slammed our doors, approaching them. They stood like statues. But their heads turned, following us with their eyes. I kept mine down, averted.
Lidia appeared in front of me. “Just in time, Sophia. They have Tate trapped in the alley, but I am useless. Hurry, he needs help, now. And remember, don’t look in their eyes.”
My insides quivered, and my chest heaved with a flurried pant. I didn’t know how to go about this. These things were dangerous, but I had to save Tate. “Claudia, we need to try to get buckets of ice water.”
“Buckets of water? I’m confused.”
“The fire station, hurry.”
I ran across the street and searched the fire trucks for buckets. Finding only a couple of small ones, I filled them from a hydrant in front of the station.
“I’ll try to go find ice in that old grocery store.” Claudia ran for Sam’s Market about two blocks down.
Careful to keep my head down, I ran to the line of Livids. I closed my eyes and threw the buckets of water on them. They screeched loudly, but it barely fazed them. With their spears jabbing at me, their chants grew louder.
Others were screeching and chanting behind the barrier of the ten Livids. This had to be where Tate was.
Claudia hurried back with two bags of ice. I didn’t know if it would be enough to get rid of them, but at least it would be a start. We ran back to the fire station, and I filled the buckets while Claudia poured the ice. After we each grabbed one, we raced back across the street.
I pointed, knowing she couldn’t see what was happening. “Just throw it here.”
We both threw our buckets, and four of the ten vanished, just melted away into thin air.
“Good job. But we need more.”
We raced back again and again, using up all the ice. But we did manage to melt away four more. Five larger ones swirled around Tate, jabbing him, knocking him down. He looked worn and tired.
He looked up, relief sweeping over his face when he saw me, but it lined with worry. “Be careful, Sophia. There’s one right behind you.”
Something from behind grabbed and bound me. I couldn’t move. I’d been captured. He came around to face me. His eyes were beacons, glowing red hot—scorching, trying to pierce and burn me. What am I going to do? There has to be a way out of this.
Tate kept his eyes on me—they pleaded, wanting to help. But the Livids kept jabbing him, getting in his way. He couldn’t break free. “Don’t look at him! Keep your eyes shut!”
They held me, entangling me inside some sort of snare. My arms were bound to my sides with a net-like contraption, the growing heat from the Livids paralyzing me. But I kept my eyes pinched tight, praying for some sort of miracle to make this all go away.
A wave of cold water drenched me, taking my breath away. The Livid disintegrated, and I was released. Claudia ran off for more ice, her bucket flailing.
The remaining Livids had Tate down on the ground, jabbing and poking him, chanting and screeching. A new large one had joined the group, with rich black iridescent feathers and large wings. He had to be the leader. His large hook-beak opened and closed, and he paced a circle around Tate, coming in for the kill to carry him off once his energy and fight had faded.
I needed to think, think quickly. Tate would be gone, becoming a Livid if I didn’t do something fast. The buckets made our fight too slow. I raced to the fire station and searched, uncovering a brittle water hose from behind the building. Upon seeing the holes that had worn through the surface, I grimaced, but fought to untangle it anyway. This had to be better. Let’s hope it worked.
Claudia came back with more ice while I screwed the hose to the spigot on the side of the building. “We won’t need that. Just turn the water on and I’ll blast them. It should be cold enough coming from here.”
Claudia nodded, turning the knob full blast while I lugged the hose across the street.
The cold water rushed out like a dam had broken, and, just as the large, feathered one was about to grab Tate up in his beak, he vanished right in front of my eyes. The others disappeared right along with him. Tate fell to the ground in a heap.
I rushed to him. “Tate, are you alright? Did they hurt you?”
“I’m okay. Just a little tired.”
“I was so scared. You can feel the damage they do?”
“Yes, they are from my realm. I can feel everything. Thank you, Sophia. I must go now.”
And just like that, he vanished from my life again.
Chapter 29
The ride back to Claudia’s was silent and stiff. Nerves still on fire, I was a frazzled mess and drenched. I couldn’t believe what we’d just went through and then Tate had just left. He didn’t even say good-bye.
My little car rumbled up to Claudia’s house. “I hope you get things worked out.” She pulled up on the door handle. “I’ve never done anything quite like that before, and I’m glad I could help you save Tate. Oh, and I’m sure Aaron took the money for your own best interest.”
I closed my eyes and my mouth lifted itself up on one corner, but I couldn’t form a complete smile. “Thanks, Claudia. You were a great help today, and I couldn’t have done it without you. I hope you’re right about Aaron.” My hand on the gear shift, I muttered quietly from far away. “And for Aaron’s life…he better hope so, too.”
* * *
Aaron had flown back to Denver to finish up some things before the wedding. He wasn’t due to return for two days. I picked up my phone and brought his name up on speed dial. It rang ten times, and he never did answer. I hung up and paced the floor of my bedroom.
Mom and Dad were both gone, and I breathed a sigh of relief—I didn’t want to have to talk to anyone right now, except for Aaron, and he had some heavy-duty explaining to do. Five seconds later I tried again, this time it went to voice mail. He had shut his phone off. My cheeks flushed hot, becoming enraged with each passing second. Did he know that I had found out, and he was running, trying to avoid me? I prayed I was wrong about this stabbing intuition.
I dialed his number six more times, then threw my phone down on the bed in a rage, ready to pull my hair out. Where was he? Just then, my phone rang—Aaron. “Sophia, my dear, I saw you tried to call, but a meeting had me tied up. How are the last-minute wedding preparations going? Are you getting things wrapped up?”
I was lost, not even listening to his words. “I need you to come home…now.” My voice quivered, and I shook my fist at the phone, curling my lips.
“What is it? Everything okay?”
“No, it isn’t. But I don’t want to discuss it over the phone. I need to talk to you in person.”
“Well, it’s impossible for me to break away now. Don’t be a ridiculous child.” His tone became irritable, closing the subject. “I’m sure whatever it is, it can wait a couple more days.”
I couldn’t tell from his expression over the phone if he had an inkling of what I was talking about or not. Just hearing his voice calmed me some, and I conceded, knowing that at least he still loved me…and he was going to be my husband. If he had the money in his possession, it would still belong to me. It was just the principle of what he had done that irked me and wedged in my throat like a dagger.
“Fine. I guess it can wait a couple of days. Try to hurry home sooner if you can.”
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“You know I will. Do you think I like being away from you? Just think, in a couple of days you’ll be all mine, and we can travel everywhere together.”
I nodded, knowing he couldn’t see me. “See you then.”
* * *
The two days dragged on endlessly when Aaron finally called me from the airport. Our wedding was three days away. “I’ve landed, love, come pick me up.” His car sat over at Dave’s, so I took mine.
I took deep breaths, calming myself on the way to the airport, being the dutiful wife-to-be. But it was hard, and my blood stirred the instant I thought about our upcoming conversation.
I pulled into a parking stall and Aaron came rushing out, covering his head with a newspaper to keep the light mist off of his perfectly combed hair. He pulled on the broken door handle a couple of times, then tapped on the window, a slight growl to his face. “Unlock the door.”
A slender smile surfaced while I watched his precious hair getting dampened by the mist. “Oh.” I jumped, hitting the unlock button, grimacing shyly. “It’s open now, sorry.” Then I puffed up again, knowing I had to be firm and stand up for myself. The things I was about to spew from my mouth would turn into a steamed argument, and I had to make sure I didn’t revert to my old self of being a helpless baby.
His wet face brushed mine when he slid in and kissed me on the cheek. I glanced away, wiping at the dampness. “I hope this rain clears up before our big day.” He sat his briefcase on the back seat, clicking his seat belt into place.
Not wanting to make small talk, I cleared my throat. I planned to get right to the point about the money so I could quit worrying about it. “About my needing to see you…” I stopped, watching my thumbs wrestle with each other in my clasped hands. Confrontation was hard for me.
“Oh, yeah, what were you in such a tizzy about?” A condescending smile ran amuck across his face. “What was so important that it couldn’t wait for two days?”