Living Violet (12 page)
“I already told you.”
“No, I mean like super powers. Are you strong?”
“I work out.” He winked.
“Can you lift a bus?” I asked, ignoring his cheesiness.
“No. What extra strength I do have comes from my spirit, similar to an adrenaline rush. It doesn't last long.”
“Do you have super speed?”
“Not really. I'm pretty quick, but I won't be dodging any bullets in my future.”
“You might wanna rethink that when you meet my dad,” I said. “So can you fly, or read minds, or teleport, or disappear through walls?”
“No. I'm human, Sam. I can bleed; I catch colds, and can die just like everyone else. All I've got is my looks,” he said, offering more cheese and grinning the entire time.
I tossed the index cards on the table. “Well, damn, you're like the worst superhero ever! How are you gonna fight crime?”
“The same way everyone else does. Call the cops.”
“You can use it to your advantage, you know.”
His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You want me to become a gigolo like the one in your book, don't you?”
Avoiding his gaze, I continued the construction of my sugar-packet fort. “Okay, the thought did cross my mind, but you know how much money you would make if customers didn't die?”
He returned his focus to his plate. “Next question.”
“All right. You said you had sisters. Do they have a âCapone' also?”
“No. Like I said, my sentient is male, so it only affects the men in our family. Female Cambions exist, they come from the line of the succubiâthe female counterpart of the incubi. If my mom carried the trait, then only my sisters would have the affliction.”
I fought to hold back my alarm. “How many siblings do you have again?”
“Three brothers and two sisters. And they have healthy relationships. My oldest brother has two children.”
“Oh.” I directed my attention to the window.
I couldn't fathom dating this guy, let alone marriage and kids. Though he was human, there were just some things I couldn't overlook. If Caleb had the soul of a demon in his body, I would hate to see the real deal. And if such creatures existed, then logic suggested other beings loomed in the shadows, a territory I never wanted to explore.
I could feel his eyes on my every move; its silent demand forced me to look his way. He sat up straight; his laid-back demeanor fell away, presenting an image of unabashed humility. “I can have a normal life. I
want
a normal life. All I need is time with you. Can you do that?”
want
a normal life. All I need is time with you. Can you do that?”
Â
I never answered the question. It dangled in the air between us all the way home. I had only gotten through half the flash cards when we left the diner, and Caleb saw it as incentive to go on another date. He would've walked me to the door but decided against it when he saw Mom's car parked in the driveway.
When I went inside, Mom met me in the foyer with the phone. “Honey, it's your dad for you.”
I took the phone and made my way upstairs. “Hey, Daddy, what's up?”
“Hey, baby girl. I tried calling your cell, but I got your voice mail again. I'm sorry about your friend. How are you holding up?”
“As good as expected.”
“If you need to talk about anything, you know where to reach me.”
“I know.” I entered my room, then plopped on the bed.
“Well, the reason I'm calling is because I need the information to the dealership that's holding your car. I wanna see if they're willing to go down on the price.”
That brought a smile to my face. If anyone knew how to haggle, it was my dad. I scrambled for the dealer's information hiding on my desk. I rattled off the contact number and thanked him. A true knight in shining armor. His talent for slaying monsters might come in handy. I just hope I never had to make that call.
13
L
inda stood behind the folding chair, not even bothering to sit down.
inda stood behind the folding chair, not even bothering to sit down.
“All right, I want to make this cut and dry. I've got plans, and none of you are going to make me late. So who finished their book? Raise your hand.”
Half the employees lifted their hands with me. I looked across the break room and saw that Caleb's hand remained on his lap. He snuck a fleeting look at me, then shrugged before Linda asked, “Okay, how many of you actually liked the book?”
When three hands remained in the air, Linda prompted, “Great. Who wants to start off?”
Nadine presented her paperback. “
The Pale Hue
, by Collette Devoirs. It's about frustrated artist who hasn't finished a painting since his wife's death. One day, he finds a woman in alleyway who looks exactly like his dead wife. He nurses her back to health as she tries to regain her memory. Meanwhile, he gets his inspiration back and paints again. When the woman remembers she has husband and two children, she wants to go home. But the guy freaks out and holds her hostage. Eventually, she escapes, and the guy gets depressed, drinks paint thinner, and dies.”
The Pale Hue
, by Collette Devoirs. It's about frustrated artist who hasn't finished a painting since his wife's death. One day, he finds a woman in alleyway who looks exactly like his dead wife. He nurses her back to health as she tries to regain her memory. Meanwhile, he gets his inspiration back and paints again. When the woman remembers she has husband and two children, she wants to go home. But the guy freaks out and holds her hostage. Eventually, she escapes, and the guy gets depressed, drinks paint thinner, and dies.”
“Wow, Nadine, you're one, big bundle of sunshine.” Linda turned to Alicia. “What about you? What did you read?”
Alicia twitched, then sat straight. She wore loose-fitting clothes, along with that well-scrubbed modesty one would see in a trauma victim after a shower. All traces of femininity had been scraped off with a scouring pad, leaving nothing but a chaste and sanitized child. She didn't even wear lip gloss.
“The second book to
Specter
.” Alicia waited for the groans to die down before continuing. “Angie still tries to find out how Nicky died. Her parents are worried about her because she's closing herself off from friends, and she's apparently talking to herself. Angie soon discovers that Nicky isn't really dead, but in a coma. She sets out to find the hospital where he's held. When she tells Nicky's parents what's going on, she's escorted from the property and her parents decide to commit her. But there's something wrong with Nicky's mother. She seems way too eager to pull the plug on Nicky's respirator.”
Specter
.” Alicia waited for the groans to die down before continuing. “Angie still tries to find out how Nicky died. Her parents are worried about her because she's closing herself off from friends, and she's apparently talking to herself. Angie soon discovers that Nicky isn't really dead, but in a coma. She sets out to find the hospital where he's held. When she tells Nicky's parents what's going on, she's escorted from the property and her parents decide to commit her. But there's something wrong with Nicky's mother. She seems way too eager to pull the plug on Nicky's respirator.”
“So what happens to Nicky?” I asked.
“His ghost still visits Angie in the mental ward, urging her to fight, and they plot to escape in time to save him. I'll have to read the last book to find out what happens.”
Linda nodded, then looked to me. “Sam, what did you read?”
“
Image
, by Jodie Holcomb. It's an urban fairy tale about a young girl named Holly who doesn't think she's beautiful. Her reflection disagrees and offers to trade places. The reflection goes out to see the world, and lives life to the fullest, not caring what people think, and her confidence makes her the object of everyone's desire. Holly sees what she could have had through the mirror and wants to switch back. The reflection refuses to trade back and removes all the mirrors in her house. When she goes to a department store, Holly tries to break free through the mirrors in the dressing room. There's a big fight and the mirrors break. Holly returns to the real world, but her face is all cracked and disfigured from the battle.”
Image
, by Jodie Holcomb. It's an urban fairy tale about a young girl named Holly who doesn't think she's beautiful. Her reflection disagrees and offers to trade places. The reflection goes out to see the world, and lives life to the fullest, not caring what people think, and her confidence makes her the object of everyone's desire. Holly sees what she could have had through the mirror and wants to switch back. The reflection refuses to trade back and removes all the mirrors in her house. When she goes to a department store, Holly tries to break free through the mirrors in the dressing room. There's a big fight and the mirrors break. Holly returns to the real world, but her face is all cracked and disfigured from the battle.”
“She's no better off than when she started,” Alicia disputed.
I held her gaze, conveying my message directly to her. “But she now sees herself as beautiful, and she has more to live for.”
When Alicia looked away, I addressed the group. “It's a lesson on body image, but told in a creepy, Brothers Grimm sort of way.”
“Interesting,” Linda muttered, glancing at her watch for the tenth time. “Well, let's wrap this up. Pick a book and let's get out of here.”
The group agreed on Nadine's book for some ungodly reason. After the meeting, I caught up with Alicia by the main entrance. She jumped when I touched her arm.
“Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. Are you okay?” I asked.
She nodded, though it looked more like a tremor.
“Alicia, I know it's been kinda weird between us, but you have my number and you know where to find me, okay?”
She nodded again, this time with a smile that seemed painful, and was even more so for me to watch. Her brows bunched together as if she was searching for reason, yet terrified of what she would find.
Nadine met us by the doors. “Hey, Alicia, you okay?”
She stared up at Nadine, her head tilted in thought as if recalling something from memory. Before she could respond, Alicia's dad pulled up in front of the store, and she raced outside as soon as Linda unlocked the door.
Nadine turned to me. “Is she all right?”
“Yeah, she's got a lot to think about: lost innocence, inner growth, life and death, back-to-school shopping. You know, the usual depressing issues.”
“Childhood's over the moment you know you're going to die.” Nadine's voice carried a low, uncommitted tone, the words of a jaded old woman.
My head lifted to her face. “Another one of your poems?”
“No. It's from
The Crow
. Great movie.” She led the way to the parking lot. “You want to grab something to eat?”
The Crow
. Great movie.” She led the way to the parking lot. “You want to grab something to eat?”
The question made me laugh out loud. “The
one
time you decide to hang out, I need to get home. Mom should be coming back from her speed date. I wanna know what happened.”
one
time you decide to hang out, I need to get home. Mom should be coming back from her speed date. I wanna know what happened.”
She shook the sudden fog from her brain. “Your mother dates now? This is same woman who warned me about mail-order bride scams here in the U.S.?”
“One in the same. I'll let you know what happens.” I turned in the direction of my car.
“Please do. Oh, hey!” she called after me. Closing the distance between us, she asked, “How are you and Caleb getting along?” She leaned in, waiting for me to dish out the dirt.
As much as I wanted to lay it all on her, I had to honor Caleb's request to keep quiet. My eyes wandered to him as he strolled two lanes down to his Jeep. He graced me with a smile that in closer proximity would have been lethal, but was now merely infectious.
Choosing my words wisely, I said, “No one can ever call him boring, that's for sure.”
Â
“I can't believe it! I've never been so disgusted in all my life!” Mom raved, pacing back and forth in her bedroom.
I sat on her bed, eating the carton of chocolate ice cream she had picked up on her way back from her debacle. The odds of her finding Mr. Right within a five-minute meeting were slim to none, but the night exceeded all disappointment when Mom bought junk food and popped
Thelma and Louise
in the DVD player. Mia sat next to me with a carton of butter pecan and a bag of popcorn. When I told her about Mom's date, Mia had to get a front-row seat to the commentary.
Thelma and Louise
in the DVD player. Mia sat next to me with a carton of butter pecan and a bag of popcorn. When I told her about Mom's date, Mia had to get a front-row seat to the commentary.
“Okay, the first guy was fine, until he told me that I look like his third ex-wife,” Mom began.
I sucked in a sharp breath. “Ouch.”
Mom kicked off her shoes and unzipped the back of her dress. “Then during our talk, he kept calling me Sheila.”
The spoon dropped from Mia's mouth. “Whoa.” Mom continued. “Then the second guy kept looking down my dress.”
“Well, Mom, you had the girls on display tonight. What do you expect?”
She stopped pacing. “I expect respect. Plus, he gave me that nasty handshakeâyou know, the one where the guy strokes your palm with his finger.”
Mia shuddered. “Eww! People still do that?”
“And the others were either fat or had a comb-over.”
“Well, Mom, beggars can't be choosers,” I tried to reason.
Planting her hands on her hips, Mom rounded on me. “I'm not begging. I don't have to lower my standards for the sake of companionship.”
Mia saluted Mom with the spoon. “You tell her, Ms. M. You're still a tasty dish.”
Mom bowed her head. “Thank you, Mia. Then the last guy had horrible breath and gold teeth. I could have overlooked that, but he decided to whip out the wallet photos of his eight kids.”
I stopped mid-chew. “Wow, can you say âchild support'?”
With slumped shoulders, Mom moved to the closet to change. “So the entire night was a bust. Maybe I was meant to stay single.”
“Everyone is meant to be single for a spell,” Mia called out. “A time of self-discovery and achievement. If you think now is the time to branch out, then go for it, Ms. M. Don't let one lousy speed date bring you down.”
I grabbed a handful of popcorn. “Wow, you're just a fountain of wisdom today.”
Mia lifted her chin with pride. “Well, being in a long-term relationship, I've learned a few things.”
“You mean a long span of short-term relationships with Dougie,” I corrected.
“Whatever.” Mia shoved my arm. “Ms. M., you could always go to social clubs or banquets.”
“Mom,” I called. “Don't be that lady at the supermarket who wears cutoff shorts and no bra just to attract men.”
Mom's head popped from the closet. “Does that work?”
“Mom!”
“I know. You're right. I just don't wanna be that old woman with the cats,” Mom whimpered.
“You won't,” I assured. “I'm the last person to give tips on dating, but from what I've experienced, things just happen on their own. If you want love, don't try to look for it. It's like when you were looking for the remote, and you found those earrings you lost three weeks ago. When you don't think about it, it kinda pops up.”
Mia leaned in, giving me the detective stare-down. “So are you and Caleb an item?”
I fell back against the pillows and balanced the ice cream carton on my stomach. “No. We're just talking.”
Mia's eyes narrowed. “Uh-huh.”
“I'm not a relationship person. And neither is he. We just hang out,” I explained.
Mom returned in silk pajamas. Before I could take another bite, Mom snatched the carton and spoon from me. “As long as Caleb doesn't try anything, it's fine with me, baby. He seems like a nice, young manâand very charming.” Her gaze drifted at the thought of Caleb.
I stared at the ceiling. “And with a bad case of tapeworm.”
A smile blossomed on Mom's face. “Oh, I love a man with a healthy appetite.”
Giving her room to sit, I asked, “Mom, how do you know if a guy likes youâI mean, in a good way?”
Mom stroked my head. “Well, baby, he looks you in the eyes and not down your blouse.”
“He'll make any excuse to touch you, hold your hand, pick lint off your shirt, brush an eyelash off your face,” Mia added.
Mom agreed. “The main thing is that he wants to spend time with you. That should be a no-brainer.”
“What if he's busy?” I asked.
“When a guy wants you, you are the center of his attention. If he says he has a lot on his mind, that just means that
you're
not on his mind,” Mom answered with a mouthful of ice cream.
you're
not on his mind,” Mom answered with a mouthful of ice cream.
Mia bumped me in the shoulder. “I don't think you have that problem with Caleb, if that's what you're referring to.”
“I wasn't talking about him,” I snapped.
“Uh-huh,” Mom and Mia said in unison and proceeded to polish off their ice cream without me.
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