Chapter 4
Gracelyn waited until the movers brought in the last box and then closed the door. She turned and looked at the pile of boxes and furniture in her new tiny home. Phinehas came out of the kitchen and weaved between her legs. “I know we have a lot to do.” She bent over and scratched him behind the ears. “Are you happy to be back in town?” The cat sat and gave her a blank look. “I know, I know. It’s not our house, but it’s our town.”
She straightened up and moved carefully through the boxes to the kitchen. “I will try to find some food in here, but we don’t have time to unpack everything tonight. I need to sleep so I can unpack everything at the shop tomorrow.” She looked over her shoulder and grinned at the animal. “I can’t believe I’m finally going to open my dream shop.” She pushed the glasses back up on her nose. “Dreams, is the most perfect name my new store.”
~
She lay in her bed that night trying to fall asleep, but it wasn’t going to happen. She and Phinehas had left this town with two days’ notice. She’d sold everything in the house, except for a few mementos of her family, and then they had hidden from the rest of the world for months as she tried to reverse the spell Faith had cast on her. Once she realized she couldn’t, they moved and began a new life.
She had spent most of the last five years saving up money and collecting items along the way to come back here and open a small store. She no longer feared that someone would recognize her as Gracelyn Trainer. That person was invisible now. She closed her eyes and clenched her jaw. She had tried for the last five years to bring her back for good, but it hadn’t worked.
“To break it, you’ll need to find the one that can truly see you and kiss him on sacred Hallows Eve, just before midnight,” her sister had growled at her that night, and she had tried everything to find him to break the spell, but nothing had worked, and she was finished trying. She had accepted her bad eyes and the fact that no one really saw or remembered her after they walked away. So Gracelyn Trainer was gone, and Arianna Thorp was born.
Smiling, she rolled over onto her side and closed her eyes. Tomorrow, her new life would begin its final phase.
~
Evan stood at the bottom of the stairs with the envelope in his hand. He had spent the better part of the last five years untangling the red tape and legal jargon, but he had done it. The Trainer house was his to live in. His assistant thought he was crazy for moving to this small, nothing town and not staying in the city, but he didn’t care. He liked the peace of the town, and over the last few years had spent a lot of time here.
He rubbed his jaw and contemplated once again where Gracelyn might be. He’d never really found a trail to follow. Her cloaking abilities were top-notch, and all those who had helped him in the first year never found a trace. So here he was, standing in her home just knowing somehow that she would eventually find her way back to it and he would be waiting for her. At least he liked to think he knew this much about the lighthearted girl in the picture.
Many months of reading had followed her disappearance. Once he’d found out her sister had lost control of her car on Samhain eve, it wasn’t too hard to tie the loose ends together. Chat with enough townsfolk in a small place and you could find all sorts of interesting facts. Where the girls had gone to school, which children had been their friends, who they were caught necking with, and more. Most interesting was the fact that Gracelyn was loved by all and the kindest heart born and that her sister hated her for that. All of these pieces led him to researching curses.
He’d had no clue if he’d been on the right track there, because he wasn’t a jealous teenage girl, but he’d found some exceptionally dark spell books in the attic of the Trainers’ home and was fairly certain that they had belonged to the oldest daughter. He suspected, after reading through all of them, that she had not only had altered her beautiful sister but was responsible for the deaths of her parents as well. In a large way, he was glad she had died, he may have gone further than carrying out justice where Faith Trainer had been concerned.
Sighing he picked up his suitcase and headed up the stairs. Hopefully the movers had put his bed in the room he’d instructed, Gracelyn’s room. First thing tomorrow, he was cleansing the entire house of all energies and starting fresh, except for her room. He wanted to keep the aura as it was meant to be, warm and welcoming.
~
Either he needed a break or he was getting old. He grinned and looked around at the furniture he’d been pushing from room to room. Biologically, he was only twenty-nine, but he had the weight of a fifty-year-old on his shoulders most days. Opening the front door, he looked out over the street he was going to call home. It was a friendly street with trees lining it, quiet yards, no steel, and garbage in sight. No noise either. And everyone wondered why he wanted to call this home.
He climbed in his car and then drove around the circular driveway. Food was the first stop today. Having had nothing but water and a chocolate bar since last night, he was definitely hitting the grocery store first.
He drove slowly through the town, noting any changes since the last time he’d been through. He slowed down when he spotted a woman standing outside observing two men hang a sign over the small building. Dreams. He grinned. He’d have to check it out when it opened. He had no idea what a place named that would sell, but the name alone was worthy of his patronage. Hopefully it was opening sometime this weekend, because once Monday hit again, he was commuting back and forth and knew his energy was going to be running a little low for the next while until he adjusted.
His cell phone rang and brought him out of his quiet place. He answered it. “Hello.”
“So, I’m standing outside this enormous house with it’s enormous yard and a very locked door.”
Evan smiled. “I’m going to go out on a limb, Teddy, and guess that you’re standing on my doorstep and I’m not there.”
“You would be correct.”
He laughed. “Back door is unlocked. I didn’t know when you were coming, but there is nothing to eat there so I’m just running to the store.”
“Food is always welcomed.” He paused. “Jesus, boss, I’m not in charge of mowing this bloody field behind the house, am I?”
Evan laughed again. “No. You’re in charge of calling the person that will come and do the yard.”
“Thank the gods for that!”
He pulled into the parking lot at the store. “I’m at the store now. I’ll see you in a bit. Ah, start wandering around and help me figure out what room should be what.” He got out of the car. “I’m used to three rooms and suddenly I have enough to open a small hotel.” His friend laughed.
“Will do. Hey, I understand why you had to be here now, after seeing it.”
“I knew you would. See you shortly.” He hung up the phone and went into the store.
~
She danced, okay, levitated herself through the half-filled shelves and displays. She was so happy. Another day and she would be able to hang the Open sign on the door and pull the curtains back.
“What do you think, Phinehas?” She turned and looked around for him. “Phinehas?” She sighed; he probably had gotten bored and walked back to the house. Had she left the window open enough for him to get in? Well, if she hadn’t, it was his fault for insisting he come with her today and then giving up before the work was finished.
She looked around again with her hands on her hips. At first, she had thought to mix all the items in the displays together, but had changed her mind and set them up in little individual groups throughout the small area, if a patron were interested in figurines, all of them would be in one place. She glanced quickly to make sure the curtains were closed and the blind was pulled down on the door, then turned back and lifted her hands in the air.
Figurines floated from boxes and settled onto bright-colored satins draped over small displays. It was like a mythical dance, she thought as she watched the fairies float by the dragons before settling onto their space.
When all those boxes were empty, she turned and did the same with the candles. The shop started to fill with pleasant smell of scented waxes. Each candle she made with love so they’d be sure to reflect that emotion upon the person who purchased it.
Her little dream world was coming alive right before her eyes, and it was honestly the best day she’d had in many years.
She looked at the sign sitting on the counter. It listed the hours and days. All but one day of the year her shop would be open at some point. The one day being Halloween.
~
Maybe it was the clean air of the little town, or lack of food. He wasn’t sure what had been responsible for him grabbing a bouquet of flowers at the grocery store checkout, but here he was, pulling up outside the Dreams store that wasn’t even opened yet.
He knocked on the covered door with the flowers in his hand. A chill passed over him briefly, and then his stomach growled loudly. He grinned. Clearly, his body was telling him something. For a moment, he thought he’d sensed magic.
The blind moved on the window before the door opened a few inches. “May I help you?”
He smiled at the woman he couldn’t yet see. “I was just passing by and thought I’d come and welcome you and wish you well on your store.”
“Oh!” The door opened completely. “Thank you so much. That’s very nice.”
He paused for a moment at the woman in front of him, she was breathtaking. It took him a moment to realize he still held the flowers; he held them out and was rewarded with possibly the warmest, genuine smile he’d ever seen. “You’re welcome.” He laughed. “Oh, I’m Evan Dermott.”
She played with the flowers for a moment. “Pleased to meet you, I’m Arianna Thorp, and thank you again. They’re lovely.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I’d show you around in here, but I’m afraid it’s a bit of a mess just yet.”
He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I don’t mind. I understand.” He glanced behind her to the shelves of candles.
Another warming smile. “Oh, then please come in.”
She stepped back and let him go through the door. He paused and looked around at the shelves she had set up. An intriguing little shop, well suited to his tastes. Dragon sculptures sat on pedestals, right next to some rather fantastic castles. He turned and grinned at her. “I think I will be spending quite a bit of money here.” She laughed, and he was caught off guard by the exquisite sound. It was rare to find a woman who appealed to the eye and was easy on the ears at the same time.
She quickly walked by him to the counter. “I won’t feel the slightest bit guilty to take your money either, Mr. Dermott.”
He went over and leaned on the counter, not caring about the papers all over it. “Evan.”
A slight color filled her cheeks as she paused and smiled at him. “Evan.”
The way she said his name sent heat through him. He cleared his throat. “It’s lucky for you that I have too much money then.”
She laughed quietly. “Indeed it is.”
Wanting to find a reason to stay a bit longer, he straightened up and weaved through the boxes to look at the dragons. “When do you plan on opening?”
“Tomorrow, I hope.”
He turned and watched her arrange the flowers in a tall vase. “It looks like you’ve got things moving right along.”
She nodded and looked up from the flowers. “Yes, I might actually get out of here before midnight and fit in a nap before I have to open the doors.”
He laughed. “I understand. I just moved in yesterday, and so far today, all I’ve managed to do is move things around a lot but not figure out where I want them.” He moved back over to the counter. The urge to take her fine-rimmed glasses off so he could see the soft brown eyes beneath them was a little too strong, so he put his hands in his pockets again.
She pushed the vase to the front edge of the counter and smiled at him. “You’ve just moved here as well?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
She leaned on the counter and looked up at him. “Then welcome to the neighborhood, Evan.”
“Thank you.” He realized he was staring, and she knew it as well when her cheeks flushed lightly again. He sighed. “Well, I guess I’ll get out of your way.”
“Oh.” She walked quickly around the counter. “Thank you again for the flowers.”
He paused at the door and looked down at her. “You’re very welcome. I’ll be seeing you again, Arianna Thorp.”
He quickly went back to his car and got in. He sat there for a moment and looked at the store. He would definitely be seeing her again, and quite possibly as often as possible.
~
Arianna turned away from the door and looked at the flowers on the counter. “No sense in getting your hopes up, he’s not going to remember who you are five minutes from now.” She scolded and then went over and touched one of the flower’s soft petals. “Although…I am allowed a dream. After all, I do own a store of dreams.”