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A group of young women in their late teens come in giggling and whispering as they browse the old books and let their eyes linger on the love potions. One steps forward confidently and purchases a perfume meant to enhance your natural pheromones and attract your true love.
Another hangs back for a while fingering a bottle of liquid attraction until she finally works up the courage to come and purchase a bottle for herself. Giggling and practically skipping, the group heads out together talking about their crushes and who they hope might fall in love with them.
A man and woman come in hesitantly, the man looking back toward the street frequently as if afraid he will be caught. The woman approaches me at the counter, her voice so quiet I can hardly hear the words leave her lips, “Excuse me, do you have any fertility potions? We’ve been trying and trying to become pregnant for over a year now, but we’ve had no luck.”
“I’ve got the thing for you, wait right here.” I come around the counter and out to one of the floating shelves on the wall. In a massive hollowed-out Tahitian black pearl with a mother-of-pearl stopper, is the most potent of all my fertility potions, despite its small size.
“That small thing?” The woman hesitates as I hold it out to her.
“The potion itself is powerful. The Tahitian black pearl is a powerful symbol of fertility, and the mother of pearl will help to soothe your past emotional pains and cradle both you andyour unborn child in the safety of a spiritual mother’s arms.” I explain.
Her husband’s face twists in disgust.
“I’ll tell you what, I will give you this potion for free. If you find yourself pregnant, let your pregnancy go to full term. Once your child is born, you can return and pay me the $500 price tag. If you don’t get pregnant you don’t have to pay anything.” I offer.
The woman reaches out with a tentative hand, “Are you sure?” The bell to the shop rings but I am so absorbed in this woman and her husband that I don’t look up to greet the new customers. It rings again but I make deliberate eye contact with the woman I’m serving and hold the bottle out to her again.
“I am sure. Promise me when you have your child you won’t forget to come back and pay the bill.” I say with a wink placing a hand gently on her shoulder.
“Yes ma’am, I promise.” She cradles the pearl bottle in her hand with so much tender love and care I can’t help but thank the universe for sending her to me. This woman will make a wonderful mother.
As she leaves with her husband at her side, he looks back and offers me a curt nod, but the softness in his eyes lets me know that despite his brash demeanor he is appreciative. If for no other reason than for the way I treated his wife.
My eyes follow their movements as he wraps his arm around her waist and squeezes her gently before opening the car door for her and shutting it gently.
Scanning the shop once again I smile as I make eye contact with a group of elderly women enthralled with the display of crystals. Over to the right, I see a figure moving and turn to greet them, my heart sinks.
A tall, thin man stands before me with a book of enchantments in his hands. He does not make eye contact withme as he sets the book down on the counter, “Just this,” he says coolly.
“Alright, that’s going to be $47.50, are you paying with cash or a card?” I ask.
“Cash,” he says tapping a $50 bill that he’d previously sat on the counter.
“Would you like a bag for this item?” I ask as I count out the man’s change doing my best to regulate my heartbeat and not overreact.This man is a paying customer. Nothing else, calm down Lorelei,I coach myself through my discomfort.
“No, I will be putting it to use right away.” He says with a vicious smirk curling on his lips.
“Alright, then, here is your change sir. Have a great day.”
“You too Lorelei,” he says as he slips the book into the pocket of his jacket and disappears out of the shop with a few long strides.
The way he said my name sends shivers down my back. I hadn’t introduced myself to him, or anyone else in the shop while he was here.This is a small-town Lorelei, and in case you forgot you are a relatively controversial figure here.
The voice in my head reminds me, but my stomach won’t stop coiling and uncoiling as if filled with a den of venomous snakes.
Chapter 7
Isaiah
As soon as I walk into Lorelei’s shop, the pungent scent of the man who’d been lurking around before fills my nostrils. “He’s been in here,” I say without thinking about softening the blow for Lorelei.
Lorelei cringes and fear flashes in her bright blue eyes. After a moment of silence she says, “I thought so, this guy came in here earlier that seriously gave me the creeps, but I hoped I was wrong.”
“Why didn’t you call me and let me know?” I want to know.
“And say what? There was a strange man in here who knew my name, but he’s gone now. He’s tall and thin. That’s not exactly helpful or something I couldn’t have told you once you arrived. You know, like I am right now?”
“That’s exactly what you should have said,” I say a little too harshly. She narrows her eyes and I regret the words as soon as she does.
