The First Nine Lives of Isabella LaFelini

by Harvey, Rhonda

  “Yes. Transformed. This afternoon—while we were in Manhattan! And get this—I was caught by the dog catcher.”

  “Dog catcher?”

  “Yeah, dog catcher, animal control officer, whatever. Anyway, he grabbed me with one of those metal loops on a long stick—you know, like we saw in that show about capturing alligators? Anyway, he caught me and crated me and was gonna put in the pound until they could make sure I wasn’t the cat eating pigeons!”

  “Pigeons? How…how did you get away?”

  “Nonna Rose saved me,” Isabella said simply. “I don’t know what she did to distract the guy, but she sneaked onto the truck and grabbed me, crate and all.”

  “So she knows?”

  “Ty, I think she knew before it even happened. She kept watching me and asking me if there was anything I needed to tell her. Creeped me out, if you want to know the truth. It’s like she can see through me to my soul or something. Anyway, she was able to say some words in Romani—that’s Gypsy language—and brought me back out of it fast. I asked her the words but she wouldn’t tell them to me…well, except in English.”

  “Well,” Ty thought about it, “so we can just use Google Translate and …”

  Isabella sighed. “Nope. That doesn’t work. They have ‘Romanian’ but not Romani. Do you think it would make any difference? Do you think that Romanian and Romani are the same? Because I did try it, and those words don’t look anything like what Nonna said…”

  “Um, no, Isabella, I’m pretty sure that they aren’t the same. When you come home, we’ll look it up and try to figure it out. Isn’t there some way to get your grandmother to tell you?

  Isabella sighed. “Nope. I made the mistake of telling her I thought the curse would be cool if I could control it. She went ballistic. Seriously. Went so far as to call me an idiota, and yes, it means just what you think: idiot.” She sighed again. “You think you might be able to find something out for me?”

  “I can try,” Ty told her, sounding more confident than he felt. “What were the words?”

  “Long ago the family was cursed. I want to help them to avoid the worst. Lift the curse from this little cat, so she can get her human form back. That’s it. Got it?”

  “Hold on, am trying to write it all down.” There was a long pause before Ty said anything else. “Okay, let me see what I can find. I’ll call you. When are you coming back?”

  “Not until the weekend. I almost forgot to tell you—Nonna Rose says it’s my necklace that makes the transformations come on, although she says I would still transform because of the curse—maybe just not so easily. She said the necklace belonged to pirates, which makes it bad luck. I dunno what to think, but I put it in my suitcase, just to be on the safe side. Oh, and another thing? She says that I have to be careful—and that if I transform nine times, I might stay a cat.” She said this so matter-of-factly that Ty was stunned.

  “Holy crap!” he exclaimed, borrowing Isabella’s favorite phrase. “How can you be so calm about it? Stay a cat? OMG, I’m freaking out here and you’re calm? What is wrong with you?”

  Isabella rolled her eyes and let out a sigh of disgust. “Ty, you know what she used as ‘proof’ that it could happen? Five-times-great grandfather Giovanni’s beautiful nineteen-year old daughter disappeared. And then a little white kitten showed up in town, and it took to Giovanni. That’s all.”

  “That’s all? That’s all?” Ty was really freaking out now. “Isabella, you could stay a cat? And that doesn’t worry you? Wait. Nine times. Nine times. How many times has it been? Um…let’s see, the first time at your house, then when your mom almost caught you, then…”

  Isabella sighed with exasperation. “Six times, Ty. Six. But it’s not a big deal. I’m telling you—what happened to great-times-five grandfather Gio’s daughter was not part of the curse. I’m sure she ran off with some good-looking guy. I’m not worried, why are you?”

  “Isabella, you are crazy. Sometimes you worry over stupid things. Then, when you have something that you should worry about, you don’t worry at all!”

  Isabella laughed. “Yeah, maybe you’re right, but Ty, honestly, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about with this. How are things at home?”

  “Boring without you. My mom keeps finding things for me to do—wish you were here so I had an excuse not to do them! How are things there? Other than the obvious, I mean? How’s your friend, Sierra?” He hated to ask the question. “Have you…have you told her about you…about your transformations?”

  “Haven’t seen her—she’s been at her dad’s on Long Island. But we’re supposed to get together tomorrow. Ty, she’s my best…” She considered his feelings and amended the statement, “she’s one of my best friends, but I’m not going to tell her…I’m not sure what I would say, to tell you the truth. Plus, I kinda like the fact that only you and me know…” she added a bit shyly.

  Ty, feeling pleased, couldn’t help himself. “‘Only you and I’,” he corrected, immediately hating himself for doing so. “Um, sorry. Didn’t mean it. Force of habit.”

  Isabella laughed. “Yeah, I know. You’re a nerd, Ty, but I still love ya.” Eek! Did I just say that? Holy crap, Isabella! Are you stupid or what?

  Ty was quiet for a moment, then joked, “Yeah, well, all the ladies do! Didn’t you hear? Nerds are the new coolness!” He laughed, and Isabella felt relieved. “Isabella, my mom is calling—again. Let me go. Call ya tomorrow night, k? And I’ll see what I can find on the Romani language.”

  “Thanks, Ty! I really appreciate it. Am gonna call Sierra now. Let me know if you find anything! And even though it’s not the ring, I’ll still bring ya something from New York!”

  “You’d better!” Ty was finding it hard to say goodbye. What the heck is going on? he asked himself. Why don’t you want to say goodbye?

  He didn’t know that Isabella was feeling much the same way. “Well, um, I guess I oughta go. Thanks again, Ty. Um…well, call me tomorrow night, k? I’m going to See’s house for most of the day, but I’ll be here tomorrow after…say…five?”

  “Okay, I’ll…um…call you then. Yeah, call you tomorrow.” You’re being an idiot, Ty, he told himself. Just hang up the phone. “Okay, well, until tomorrow, bye, Isabella.”

  Isabella had never realized that she liked the way he said her name. “Thanks, Ty, talk to you later. Bye.” As she switched the phone off, she felt a dull ache in her stomach, which she dismissed as hunger. “Boy, I wish Mom would get back with that Thai food!” She took a deep breath and started down the stairs to search out something in the kitchen to hold her over until her mother and grandparents returned home.

  Sixteen: A Painful Discovery

  THE WEEK IN New York went so quickly that Isabella could barely believe it. She and Sierra had spent two days together—and Isabella had cried when they parted, even though she had promised that she wouldn’t. They had promised to call more often—and Isabella knew that they would. And although Sierra had nagged her to find out what was bothering her—they had been friends long enough for Sierra to know there was a problem—Isabella had kept her word to Tyson and hadn’t said a thing.

  On the way home, Luci had a phone call that piqued Isabella’s interest. Normally, her mp-3 player was so loud that she didn’t pay much attention to her mother’s calls, but this one was different. She’s actually giggling, Isabella thought. She studied her mother carefully. Luci had a wide smile and tossed her hair back while conversing. This went on for more than forty-five minutes.

  When Luci hung up, Isabella looked at her, scrutinizing her carefully. When was the last time she had seen her mother smile like that? “Mom, who was that on the phone?”

  “Huh?” The question seemed to throw Luci. “I’m sorry. What?”

  “The phone, Mom? Who was on the phone?”

  “Um, it was Crystal from work,” her mother answered with an obvious lie. “Why do you ask?”

  “Crystal from work made you laugh like that?” Isabella ch
allenged.

  “Um…she was telling me a story about our boss. It was embarrassing for the boss, but really…um…really funny for us.” Luci finished lamely.

  “Yeah, okay,” Isabella said dubiously. She looked over at her mother again. “Mom, you’re almost out of gas!”

  “Oh my gosh!” Luci exclaimed. “You’re right! I’d better stop at the next station.”

  While Luci pumped gas, Isabella stole a look at her mother’s cell phone’s call record. “Rick? Who the heck is Rick?” She scrolled down the list of received calls. Whoever Rick was, he had called at least ten times during the week. The seed of an idea began to spring up in Isabella’s mind—and she was horrified at the thought. Maybe she has a boyfriend. A boyfriend? My mom has a boyfriend?

  Isabella had never even considered that her mother might be interested in a man. She knew that it was ridiculous—after all, Luci wasn’t yet 40, and she definitely was attractive. But a boyfriend? Where would she have met him? Did they date? How could they date if Isabella was always around? She thought about her mother kissing another man—a man who was not her daddy…a man who was a stranger—and Isabella shuddered.

  “Boy, am I glad you noticed that we were so low on gas,” her mother exclaimed as she slid into the front seat. “I can’t believe I was so distracted! Imagine! We could have been stranded!”

  You always could have called your boyfriend to rescue us, Isabella thought bitterly, but she said, “Yeah, it’s a good thing. I really want to get home.”

  “Missing Ty?” her mother teased.

  “Yeah, a little. Anyone you’re missing?” she asked, unable to help herself. She almost added, “like Rick?” but bit her lip and stopped before she did.

  Luci shrugged, and Isabella could tell she was trying to act casual. “My friends, of course, but mostly my own bed and my own bathroom. I love your grandparents, but there’s something about sleeping in one’s own bed…”

  Isabella didn’t hear how her mother finished the statement because she pushed her earbuds deep into her ears and pushed the volume up on Lady Gaga’s latest hit.

  “SO YOU MEAN to tell me you haven’t transformed since you were in New York?” Ty asked Isabella for about the third time in the two days she’d been back.

  “No, I haven’t, but Ty, you aren’t listening to me. I’m almost positive that my mother has a boyfriend! A boyfriend, Ty.”

  “Isabella, I know. You’ve talked about nothing else for the past two days, and I’m sorry, but I don’t see what the big deal is. So she’s got someone. Your mother is a good-looking woman. She’s still young. Why shouldn’t she have some fun?”

  Isabella glared at him. “The big deal? The big deal is that she hasn’t said a thing to me about it. Nothing. Not ‘Isabella, I’ve met someone.’ Or ‘Isabella, I’m thinking of dating again.’ Nothing, Ty. Nothing, except this guy ‘Rick’, who called her a bunch of times while we were in New York, Ty, at least ten times! Now tell me that doesn’t sound serious! I know you better than she knows this guy—and you and I only talked twice.”

  Well, I wouldn ’t have minded if we talked more than that, Ty thought, but instead let out an exasperated sigh. “Isabella, your mother is allowed to have a life. It’s been five years since your father died…” he saw the look in Isabella’s eyes and swallowed hard, “…and she hasn’t dated anyone at all in that time, right?” Isabella nodded, so he continued. “My mom has dated lots of guys…well, not lots, exactly but three or four, and my father’s only been gone two years. Isabella, I know you want your mom to be happy, right? And you said that she seemed happy when she was on the phone with this guy, right?”

  Isabella sighed resignedly. “You’re right, Ty. Of course you’re right. I’ve been an idiot. My mother should be able to go out with anyone she wants. So I’ll try to have an open mind about this Rick guy.”

  Ty looked pleased to have made such progress with Isabella until she continued. “But I’m gonna ask her about him—and I’m gonna to do it when she gets home from work tonight. Gonna catch her off guard so she can’t lie to me anymore.”

  “Lie? She didn’t really lie, Isabella. Do you think it’s fair for her to walk into an Isabella-trap when she comes home from work tonight?”

  Isabella suppressed a smile at Ty’s reference to the “Isabella-trap”. It had been something he’d come up with after watching Isabella settle the score with Patience McCreedy, who had been gossiping about Isabella. Isabella’s trap had been so effective and so harsh that no one at school had dared to gossip about Isabella again. But instead of smiling, Isabella scowled, “Ty, I said I would try to be open minded, okay?”

  Ty read the warning signs closely, and he knew it was time to change the subject. “So, no transformations means that it is the necklace, right?”

  Isabella sighed. “Yeah, apparently. And when I think about it, it should be cool that I know what brings the transformations on. But Nonna Rose said that I can’t risk transforming anymore, that it’s too close to nine.”

  “Isabella, how does she know that nine is bad? I mean, I sure don’t want anything bad to happen to you. But your Nonna…is she just basing all that on that one story you told me about the girl who disappeared?”

  Isabella shrugged. “Yeah, I guess so. Kinda dumb, huh? Maybe there’s nothing wrong with nine at all. Maybe I can transform an unlimited number of times…” She grew quiet, and Ty thought to himself, oh oh.

  Isabella continued. “Maybe we should check it out. Try it and see what happens after the ninth time…”

  “Are you freakin’ kiddin’ me?” Ty’s voice was high and sharp. “Isabella, why would you even think about taking that kind of chance?”

  “Geez, Ty, make up your mind. First you say that Nonna is only basing her ideas on one incident—like it’s no big deal. Then you act like I’m going to go slit my wrists or somethin’!”

  Ty felt his face burn with embarrassment. “Well, gee, Isabella, I don’t want you to become a cat permanently, for God’s sake. How would I explain it to your mom? And at school?” And what would I do without you? he added silently.

  Isabella scowled. “Yeah, okay. I guess. I really was hoping we could have fun with it this summer, Ty. That we could spy on people and sneak around and do things that might make boring Bath more exciting!”

  “Well, as much fun as that sounds like it might be, I’d rather you were a girl…um… a person. If that’s okay with you,” he added, not wanting to sound too “mushy”.

  Isabella ignored the little flutter in her chest and grinned at Ty. “Yeah, you just don’t like cats,” she teased him, “I see how it is.”

  “Um, well, um, c-cats…” Ty was stammering and Isabella could swear he was blushing beneath his natural mahogany skin tone, “I just…cats are okay, I guess…I mean…aw, never mind!”

  Isabella laughed. “C’mon, let’s go down to the Point. Being stuck inside this house is making me crazy! I’ll make us a couple sandwiches first.”

  “Mmm, sounds good. Do you think your mom has any more of that chocolate cake we had for dinner last night?”

  “There’s a piece or two…and if you’re nice to me, I’ll pack that, too!”

  “Nice? How nice do I have to be?”

  “Just kidding. Why don’t you go home and get the fishing poles, and I’ll pack our lunch. Meet you in front of your house in, like, ten minutes?”

  Ty grinned at her. “That sounds great. Thanks. See ya in ten.” He started toward the door, then stopped. “Isabella?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’m glad you’re home. And yeah, I’m glad you’re a girl.” This last bit he added without thinking too much about it. He found himself a little embarrassed but pleased with his boldness.

  “Um, thanks, Ty,” Isabella replied, feeling her cheeks warm as she did. “I’m glad I’m a girl, too. See ya in ten minutes!”

  And Isabella continued getting their lunch together, grinning widely as she did.

  Seventeen: Isabella Mee
ts Rick

  WHILE TY AND Isabella didn’t catch any fish that afternoon, Isabella did sunburn her nose, much to Ty’s amusement.

  “You have freckles,” he told her laughingly as they walked home from the Point. “Spots. You could be a leopard. Or a jaguar. Spotted kitty cat!”

  “Not funny!” Isabella complained, although she did laugh. “Ty, whose car is that in front of my house?”

  “Car? You mean that bulldozer or whatever it is?” He was referring to a piece of machinery that her next-door neighbors had had to rent to repair a broken septic tank—the second on the street in the last month.

  “No, stupid, the car, the car.” She pointed beyond the backhoe to a shiny red import at the end of her driveway.

  “How would I know?” he asked, ignoring her insult. He looked at the sporty convertible. “Nice car, anyway. Really nice. You think your mom has company?” As soon as he asked the question, he winced. He knew how Isabella felt about her mother having a boyfriend—and no matter how much Isabella said she would remain open minded, he knew better than that, too.

  “Company?” Isabella broke into a run, her long red hair flying behind her as she did. “You don’t think…” Whatever she said to end that sentence wasn’t clear to Ty, who hadn’t broken into a run and figured that it was best that he lag behind.

  He grimaced. Oh, man, the very last thing I want to do is follow her into that house right now. Especially if Mrs. LaFelini has company… Isabella is not gonna be fun to be around. Still, he knew that he had to do something, so he dropped the fishing poles in the front yard and made his way into the house through the open garage door. He stepped into the kitchen cautiously, just as Isabella confronted her mother.

  “Hey, Mom. Who’s this?”

  Ty shook his head. That was Isabella. No concept of tact whatsoever.

  Luci looked surprised and jumped up from the kitchen table where she had been having coffee with a good-looking, dark-haired man. “Isabella! I didn’t realize you were home. This…um…this is…oh, hi, Ty. How are you? I thought you guys went fishing? Did you catch anything?” Luci’s voice was more shrill than normal, and Ty thought she was speaking very quickly.