The spots looked like freckles to Abby, but she dared not say a word. Every other week her aunt was dying from some dreadful disease or unspeakable condition. Why spoil her pleasure?
“Just in case I don’t return, I’ll say goodbye here. You know, you’re my favorite niece.”
“Yes, but I’m certain we’ll see each other again.”
“I’m sure of it…in the afterlife.”
Abby could feel her exasperation level climbing as her patience level tanked. Luckily, she saw her cousin coming.
“Here’s Alycia now.”
“I want this book,” Alycia said.
“I think your friend will like this one,” Abby said as she rang the book up.
Alycia opened her pouch and rooted around in it a few seconds and pulled out a charge card. As Abby was processing the purchase, it occurred to her that if her aunt was going to the doctor, she could save Abby the trip.
“Would you do me a favor, Aunt Raelene?”
“Of course. Anything for my favorite niece.”
Her only niece. “Would you pick up Mom’s pills from Dr. Newcome while you’re there?”
“Hmm. I don’t know. She’s still awfully mad at me and might think I’ve poisoned them.”
“Please, Aunt Raelene. If you don’t, I’ll have to make a special trip.”
“I guess I can use it as a peace offering.”
“You’re the best. Thanks.”
“Farewell, Abby,” she declared dramatically and waved her hand.
“Goodbye,” Abby and Francie said in unison, watching Alycia and Raelene leave.
“You know something, Abby, my two nephews aren’t so bad after all.”
Abby laughed. Then she popped two Excedrin down with water.
* * * *
Later that day, Charles walked into the bookstore. Francie was on the phone with a customer, so he waited at the counter until she hung up. He noticed a bouquet of roses and read the attached card, assuming “Arnold” was the guy Abby was dating.
“Hi, Francie. Is Abby here?”
“Yes, she’s somewhere around.” The phone rang again and she excused herself to answer it.
Charles went in search of Abby since he didn’t have that much time.
Abby saw him first. “Hi, Charles. Ready for the signing on Thursday?”
“I noticed all the posters and wanted to thank you for publicizing the event.”
“If we don’t advertise, nobody will come because they won’t know about it,” she said, straightening a book that was leaning on a shelf.
“I just thought it was super of you to do all this for me,”
“Don’t forget, I’m going to benefit from it too. Besides, you’re a nice guy who deserves a break. I know how hard the business is to break into.” Abby smiled.
“I really stopped by to find out if my books arrived.”
“Yes. They were delivered yesterday. I believe the publisher sent twenty-five copies. They’re still in the box. I figured we’d set up the table the day of the signing. Okay?”
Charles nodded. With a large smile, he took her hand. “Thank you, again.”
Still holding his hand, Abby said, “You’re very welcome. Stay for coffee?”
“No, gotta run. I’m driving the cab; just dropped off a fare.”
“I’ll let you go then. See you Thursday.”
Charles gave her another smile and left. As he got back into the taxi, he thought about Abby. He had actually gone to the store to ask her to dinner. However, when he saw the roses, he changed his mind. There was no way that he would get involved if she was seeing someone. He had a knack for always picking the girls who were taken. What was wrong with him?
* * * *
Abby walked back up to the front and watched Charles drive away. “He’s such a nice guy. I hope the signing goes well.”
“You like him, don’t you?”
“Of course I do.”
Francie raised and lowered her brows quickly. “No, you really like him.”
Abby was about to answer when she noticed the roses. She read the card, gritted her teeth and swept the bouquet into the garbage. “When did this come?”
“I meant to throw it away. Sorry. Guess I forgot about them,” Francie said, whisking a stray strand of hair from her eyes.
“I just can’t get the guy to understand that all I don’t want to have anything to do with him,” Abby said, kicking the garbage pail.
“He’s a real jerk, all right, that’s for sure.”
Abby clenched her jaw. “I knew I should never have gotten involved. Blind dates suck.”
“Not all of them. You know, my parents met on a blind date,” Francie said.
“Really? You never told me.”
“It never came up in conversation. They met at a high school dance.”
“Well, I’m glad it worked out for them.”
“It certainly produced golden results, wouldn’t you say?” Francie said, pointing to herself.
Abby had to laugh and Francie joined her.
The front door opened and a young, African-American woman dressed completely in black walked inside.
Francie whispered to Abby, “Is there a full moon tonight?”
“Maybe. Why?”
“What other explanation can you think of for all the weirdoes coming in today?”
Abby found she was unable to take her eyes from the young woman. Her lips were thickly coated with black lipstick and her dark, black eyes were accentuated by black eye shadow and outlined with black eyeliner. Around her neck, she wore a thick spiked chain, reminding Abby of the type of collar a bulldog named Spike might wear. Last, but not least, a large carpenter’s nail was wedged through one of her earlobes.
“Her mother lets her out of the house like that?” Francie asked.
“What if she is somebody’s mother?”
“That’s a scary thought.”
The woman approached the register.
“May I help you find something?” Abby asked.
“Umm, where’s your section on monsters?”
“Have you a particular monster in mind?”
“Werewolves.”
Two in one day. Something had to be going on. “Follow me and I’ll show you where the werewolf section is.”
When Abby returned to the register, Francie began to hum the theme from the old TV program Twilight Zone. “All these weirdoes are beginning to creep me out.”
“I don’t know what to think, Francie.”
“We ought to call and see if any spring cleaning is going on at the mental hospital.”
The strange young woman approached the register with a large book. There was a color picture of Lon Chaney as the Wolf Man on the