Flo frowned and cocked her head to one side. “No. I guess it never occurred to me.”
“How about we go down to the kitchen and I’ll get Magnus to make you some breakfast. Would you like that?”
She nodded. “Sure. Although, it’ll just give the ghosts more fodder to be angry with me or distrust me.”
“Why would they be angry with you?”
She shrugged. “Well, maybe not angry. Jealous or mistrusting. They keep their distance from me.”
“Ah, well you can’t help what you are.”
“True.” Flo rose. “Let’s go try.”
Just as they were about to float out of her bedroom, there was a slam and a whirr as the door flung open and a vacuum with a mind of its own came in. Flo startled and clutched his arm.
“Oh, drat. I forgot Mercedes did something to these appliances.”
The vacuum, Vlad the Inhaler Jr., ignored them as it made its rounds through the room. It tried to suck up one of the satin gloves, but then there was horrible grinding sound and then a puff of black smoke and dust. Vlad Junior’s light went out and he remained there, frozen, with half an old rotted glove hanging out of its beater bar like a tongue.
Sven groaned. “Great. This is why enchanted appliances are never a good idea.”
“Do we leave it?” Flo asked, staring at the appliance with apprehension.
“Yes. We’ll tell Mercedes about it. Figures the appliance she magics explodes.”
“Why is that?”
“Have you never seen her explode things around here?”
A slow grin crept onto Flo’s face. “Oh right. I have. Pillows, the washing machine and dryer, which are enchanted too, so it wasn’t completely her fault.”
“Yes, Tumbledore. But Vlad Junior here is all her,” Sven groused.
Flo laughed lightly. “I don’t know why I was so scared of it before. I don’t feel so nervous about it now.”
Sven brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her bare knuckle gently. “Good. You have nothing to fear around me. I hope you know that.”
“I do,” she whispered, pink staining her pale cheeks. “You’ve always made me feel safe, even if I don’t exactly remember why.”
“And that doesn’t matter now.” He gently ran his fingers over her face. “None of it matters. You’re here and so am I. We’re together. That’s the only thing that matters.”
“What if I never remember you? What if your curse or mine is never broken?”
Sven shrugged. “As long as we’re together, I’ll be here to take care of you. Forever.”
And he meant it.
As much as he’d like his curse to end, all that mattered was not losing Flo. He’d do everything in his power to help her recall her past, but if he had to woo her all over again, he was willing to do that too. Just as long as he didn’t lose her again.
They madetheir way down to the kitchen, floating through the walls with ease. Magnus was working away because the Sullivans were going to be checking out and they were waiting on their last breakfast at the dead-and-breakfast. He was singing an old Viking song loudly.
Sven was sorry their grunts were leaving because it was income, but also, he was glad they were going. Flo didn’t seem to particularly like them. Unfortunately, they didn’t have another booking yet and that was worrisome. If they wanted to keep this place, they needed to turn a profit.
Worry about that later.
“What are you making today for the Sullivans?” Sven asked.
Magnus startled. “Odin’s testicles! I keep forgetting you’re able to still do that!”
