Forecast (23 page)

Rowie’s eyes flitted around the studio. She was just about to launch into her prediction for the next day, and so far there was no sign of Drew. For the first time all week she felt relaxed and in tune. She turned her attention to the monitor and concentrated on the national weather.

“The downpour resulted in a flash flood. Fortunately there were no reported injuries, apart from a Jersey cow who lost her footing.” Rowie pointed to California. “And more bad news for Californian fire fighters, with the searing temperatures here to stay.”

A quick scan of the studio. Still no Drew. Rowie beamed at the camera. “I know I owe you an apology. I’ve been about as reliable as a Manhattan pay phone recently. Difference is, I’ve never had problems getting connected before. Hopefully everything is okay tonight. Let’s give it a go.”

Rowie moved into position. Her chin tilted upwards. A pinprick of energy settled on her forehead and began to expand. The heat spread and she felt the connection, felt the power rise, sucking her backwards into the place where she found her facts. The fog descended, the veil lifted … It worked …
She was there!
Images flashed before her.

“The fires aren’t over in California yet. There will be four more days of burning. I see big flames … many houses destroyed. Take heed and there’ll be no lost lives. The heat wave extends … I’m getting Hawaii … heat, heat … a heat wave. Expect Hawaii to be hot …”

Something moved beside her. Damn it! It was him, she could feel it. She paused for a moment and then tried to reconnect. “Hawaii is …”

It was no good. She broke concentration and glanced sideways at Drew who was standing a couple of feet away, wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt.

“Hawaii is handsome!”
What!
Rowie slapped a hand across her mouth. That just came out. She began to panic. Fear clawed at her stomach. Why was he doing this to her? Why? And then she knew, without a doubt, that she didn’t have the strength to fight him. All her energy had gone into trying to stop herself from loving him.

She regrouped and stared straight at the camera. You win, Drew, she thought. You win. “Hawaii is over-rated. It’s hot and completely unappealing at this time of year. Back to you Bill and Tina.”

Bill looked like he was about to explode. “Is that it? What about New York?”

Rowie shrugged. “Oh Lord … I don’t know. Your guess is as good as mine. Let’s see? September 1st … it’ll probably be sunny all day tomorrow.”

Tina gave a big fake smile. “Great! No weather … again. Is there anything you do know, Rowie?”

Rowie glared at Tina. “I know you two are made for each other.”

Bill and Tina burst out laughing.

“Good one, Rowie,” Bill snorted. “You can’t predict the weather, but you can come up with that?”

“I’ve known since the first day I met you both,” said Rowie. “You’re destined to be together.”

Tina rolled her eyes. “Why that’s …” She turned and caught Bill’s eye. “Ridiculous, isn’t it Bill?”

Bill nodded, yet seemed unable to break Tina’s gaze. “Preposterous … Tina.”

Rowie gave a careless shrug. She didn’t care what they thought anymore. “You’ll be married within a month.”

Bill pretended to be horrified, but was obviously thrilled. He tried to regain control of the situation, but kept glancing at Tina like an infatuated schoolboy. “Okay! That’s all from us here at the
rather crazy
newsroom. Goodnight.”

Tina looked like she was about to swoon. “Night … Bill.”

Eleven million viewers across the Tri-state area watched in amusement as Bill grabbed Tina and gave her a passionate kiss in time with the closing music.

We’re the first, we’re the best, we’re a cut above the rest. Nobody delivers quite like us … USBC news.

“Guys!” hissed Shin. “Not on air, you mutants.”

But Tina and Bill were completely oblivious to the commotion they were causing. They’d finally found each other.

*

Shin appeared next to Rowie and removed her mike. “I don’t know how Drew got in here. I tried to keep him out.”

“It’s okay, Shin. It’s not your fault.”

“Rowie!” Jess was marching furiously towards her, but stopped short when Rowie raised her hand.

“Stop! Don’t say anything.” Rowie stormed out of the studio and caught sight of a loud Hawaiian shirt strolling up the corridor. She sprinted up behind Drew and yanked the shirt.

“Happy now?” she yelled.

Drew spun around and faced her. They stared-off for a moment and then Rowie shook her head. He wasn’t worth it.

“You look like a dick in that shirt,” she said.

She started to walk away but Drew grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. Their faces were inches apart and the electricity between them was palpable. His eyes bored into hers. She was almost glad he was holding her so tight because all of a sudden her legs felt rather weak. For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her. For a moment, she desperately wanted him to.

“Happy? Happy?” Drew hissed. “Rowie, I’m … I’m …”

Their eyes locked. Drew softened slightly. “Rowie I’m …”

Silence descended, so Rowie finished the sentence for him. “An asshole?” She shook free from Drew’s grip and stalked off.

Jess sidled up to Drew, a look of triumph on her face. “Congratulations! You got what you wanted.”

Drew looked anything but thrilled. “Yeah. Be careful what you wish for.”

*

Jess entered Rowie’s dressing room and found Rowie frantically throwing her things into a bag.

“I’m saving you the hassle of firing me,” Rowie explained.

“It’s no hassle,” said Jess. At least she was honest. “You said your powers would be fine.”

“I was wrong. Predicting things isn’t my forte this week.”

“Drew knew. That’s why he kept turning up in the studio.”

Rowie stopped and stared at Jess. “Did you tell him?”

Jess pretended to be offended, but was as transparent as glass. “No! God no, he worked it out himself. He’s ruthless like that.”

Rowie realized how blind she’d been. “You’re in love with him.”

“As if!” Jess sighed and looked defeated. “Okay, yes. Took you a while.”

“I obviously have a block where Drew’s concerned.”

“So do I,” Jess admitted.

“What a shame you’re not meant for each other. You’re similar types. You both trample on others to get what you want.” Rowie picked up her bags and headed for the door. “Good luck, Jess. And goodbye.”

Gwendolyn and Lilia were chatting over tea when Rowie arrived home. Lilia had been baking, and the whole house smelled of fresh bread. Rowie slipped her shoes off and followed her nose to the kitchen.

“Lovely woman. Obviously has faerie blood,” said Lilia.

“Don’t meet many of them nowadays,” said Gwendolyn.

It took them a moment to notice Rowie standing in the doorway, and a few seconds more to register the devastation on her face.

“Rowena, what happened?” Gwendolyn’s voice filled with worry.

“Drew, he …” Rowie couldn’t explain what he’d done. “It’s over. Everything is over. I lost my job.”

Lilia rushed over to her daughter. “There, there, it’s okay.”

Rowie’s tears began to flow. “It’s not okay. I finally had a life of my own, and now it’s gone.”

Gwendolyn grabbed some tissues off the counter and handed them to her granddaughter. “You’ve always had a life.”

“Not my own.”

Gwendolyn looked incredulous. “If not yours then whose was it?”

“I was born into this.”

“Of course you were born into it,” Gwendolyn snapped. “Everyone is born into his or her life. None of us drop out of the sky, or sprout up in a flowerbed. One doesn’t just turn around nearly thirty years into their life and go; ‘Oops, I think I got the wrong life … I’d better return it and get a refund.’ What do you plan to do? Toddle off to the big returns desk in the sky and swap this one for another? If that were possible don’t you think I’d have longer legs? Or a husband I can touch?”

Rowie grabbed a tissue and blew her nose. “What’s the use of fighting? This is it for me. I’m back, and I bet you’re thrilled.”

Gwendolyn took a deep breath. This wasn’t going to be easy, but it was time they knew. “I don’t need you back. I’ve decided to sell Second Site.”

It was as though all the air had been sucked from the room.

Lilia shook her head. Surely she’d heard her mother wrong. “Sell? I don’t understand … sell.”

Rowie glared at her grandmother. She wanted to throttle her. “What? You can’t.”

“I can. I’m the family elder, therefore it’s my decision.” Gwendolyn was serious. For once, she wasn’t playing games. She had made her decision and both Rowie and Lilia knew it.

Rowie’s head was spinning. “But … but …”

“But, but what, Rowena? You suddenly feel some attachment to the shop?”

“Of course I do.”

Gwendolyn rolled her eyes. “You’ve shown so much loyalty to it.”

“You have no right to treat me like this. Just because I want something else in life doesn’t mean I don’t love the shop.” Rowie turned to her mother. “Mom, say something.”

Lilia’s face was etched with betrayal. “I’m sorry, Rowie.”

“For what?”

Anger surged through Lilia like lava through a volcano. She pointed at her mother and Gwendolyn lurched backwards, as though lightning had poured forth from her daughter’s fingertip. “For raising you around such a manipulative old banshee,” she roared. “How dare you do this to me, Mother? How dare you.” Lilia burst into tears and ran wailing from the room.

“Now look what you’ve done,” screamed Rowie, as she raced after her mother.

Lilia was sprawled dramatically across the couch, sobbing into a cushion that had ‘Where There’s a witch There’s a Way’ stitched across one side.

Rowie wrapped her arms around her mother. “We’ll be okay, Mom.”

Lilia lifted her head, her green eyes clouded with grief, her face already blotchy from crying. “You will be. You don’t want to be there. But I do. That shop is my life. I’m fifty-one … three … ish. I can read tea leaves and tarot cards and speak to the dead. Who the hell will employ me?”

“You’re a brilliant woman, Mom. Someone will see that.”

Lilia laughed hysterically. “Oh yes … so many jobs for psychics out there. I can imagine the reference: Extensive herbal knowledge, can astral travel for work. What good will all that be on my Subway application?”

Now Rowie was a bit confused. “Subway?”

Lilia sat up, hysteria rising again. “Yes, Subway. It will be the only place I can get a job. I can be a psychic Sandwich Artist and predict everyone’s orders.”

With one mournful sob, Lilia disappeared through the door and up the stairs, her tiny heels clattering all the way to her room.

Rowie turned to the portrait beside her. “I envy you, Sylvie. Orphaned at 12. Free to enjoy … the inquisition. It had to be a hell of a lot less dramatic than this.”

For a moment, it looked like Sylvie was about to nod.

Lilia paused outside Hirsch Shocoladen and, for the third day in a row, gazed at the window display while she made her choice. She was still reeling and couldn’t believe how her mother had betrayed her. The past four days had been a haze of anger and grief. Lilia was madder than ever before. Normally she retreated into her dreams and remained quite numb. But this time she was Vesuvius. She felt a ferocious anger boiling her blood. She filled with panic when she considered life without the shop. But mostly, she simply … felt, and she hadn’t felt anything for such a long time.

Her eyes flickered across the rows of Austrian chocolates: the Altmann & Kuehne gift boxes filled with liliput sweets or marzipan fruits. The chocolates bearing images of Austria’s regal past: Emperor Franz Joseph I truffles, Sissi-Kugeln and Mozartkugeln. And of course the trays of gourmet truffles, handmade by Herr Hirsch himself.

She made her choice and entered the shop, breathing in the scent of chocolate and spice.

“Ahhh … Madam Shakespeare! Name the man who has hurt you and I vill cut off his head.” Hans Hirsch’s voice boomed through the shop, his Viennese accent as sweet as the confectionary he sold.

Lilia laughed. “I’m afraid I can’t blame a man for my daily appearances, just a chocolate addiction.” And my evil mother, thought Lilia.

“Vell at least you are addicted to fine
shocolade
. Hirsch, not Hershey’s. You are a lady with fine taste.”

“And expensive taste, Hans.” Lilia pointed to half a dozen truffles and Hans wrapped them for her.

“So no broken heart?”

Lilia shook her head. “No, I’m just a pig.”

“But such a pretty one.” Hans leant across the counter. “So vat if you vent on a date vith me?”

Lilia moved towards him with a sly smile. “That’s so tempting, Hans, but you’re eighty-years-old and happily married.”

Hans threw his arms up in mock-defeat. “Oh vell, it vas vorth a try.”

Lilia passed him a box of Mozartkugeln. “I’ll also have these. I can’t resist.”

“You vill get fat and never find a boyfriend.”

“I wouldn’t know what to do with a boyfriend, it’s been so long,” Lilia chuckled.

“It’s like riding a bike. You never forget.”

“Ah, see, I never learnt how to ride a bike.” Lilia paid for her chocolates and blew Hans a kiss as she left. She unwrapped a truffle and popped it in her mouth, moaning as the taste registered. She adored fine European chocolate. Was chocolate a substitute for sex? Maybe. But then she’d only ever had one sexual experience that even came close to a good dark chocolate truffle.

Her face flushed as she thought of that night, so long ago. The bonfire and flame-throwers lit the field with an enchanted glow. The drums beat a rhythm that didn’t waver. Everyone danced, free and wild. Some were naked. Some not. And then Lilia saw him, through the flames. She knew he was watching her, even though his mask concealed his face. She stood frozen as he moved towards her; slow, graceful steps, honoring the Horned God he was dressed as.

He stood before her, naked from the waste up, his body glistening with sweat from dancing near the flames.