“Alice, you’re hyperventilating,” I said, alarmed. “Naomi, do you have a paper bag or something she can breathe into?”
“Why would I have a paper bag? Just . . . make her stop.”
Alice’s wheezing was louder and more frantic. Her eyes were wide with panic. Just as I thought she might pass out, Naomi stepped in front of her and slapped her across the face.
“There,” Naomi said, wiping her hands together. “Maybe that’ll chill her out.”
“Jeez, Naomi, have a little compassion,” I said.
But Alice’s breathing immediately began to slow down. She took a few controlled gulps, then nodded to indicate she was okay. She sank down on the nearest chair and flopped over to put her head between her legs.
Naomi and I exchanged a look. Alice was absurdly fragile. Everything set her off. Would she make it in this job? I had my doubts. Especially if she had to work with Naomi every day.
After a few minutes of stiff silence, Alice finally lifted her head, slowly drawing in air and exhaling. “Okay. Okay, I’m better. Sorry. I kind of flipped out there.”
“Kind of?” Naomi said, her tone indicating just how appalled she was. Maybe she was a little more like Layla than we’d all thought. But honestly, right now I couldn’t blame her. Poor Alice was a basket case.
“Look,” Naomi said. “I’ve just put myself in charge of the Saturday-night gala and auction. You can’t handle it. I don’t want the paramedics running in here in the middle of everything because you’re having a freaking heart attack over a broken fingernail, for God’s sake.”
Alice waved her hand weakly. “Fine. You handle it. I’ll watch this time, then maybe take on the next event.”
“Yeah, sure,” Naomi said with a sneer. “I’ll handle everything like I always do.”
I checked my watch. “Listen, I’ve got a class to teach,” I said. I didn’t want to get in the middle of another fight if these two took off on each other again.
“Yeah, whatever,” Naomi said, and walked out of the office muttering, “Freaks. I’m surrounded by freaks.”
Concerned, I looked back at Alice. She raised her head slowly and gazed up at me, a satisfied smile on her face.
Realization dawned slowly. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Well, I wasn’t expecting her to smack me like that.” But then she shrugged contentedly. “It makes her happy if she thinks she’s in charge. I’ll watch to make sure she doesn’t get too drunk with power and start thinking she owns the place. But things should run a little smoother from here on out, don’t you think?”
During the dinner break, I decided I needed a little touch of down-home comfort, so I called my mother to see how Gabriel was doing. He’d been at her place since he’d left the hospital.
“He’s still having nightmares,” she said. “I’m worried.”
“Does he know what they’re about?”
“He won’t talk about it. He sleeps a lot. I’ve made a healing charm bracelet and he wears it all the time. And I’m trying out a few spells on him. I just can’t remember if I do the banishment spell during the full moon or the waxing moon.”
“Mom, you’re kind of new at this Wicca business. Don’t go changing him into a black cat or something.”
“Silly, Gabriel wouldn’t change into a black cat.”
“Good.”
“No, he would much more likely turn into a raven.”
Oh, boy.
“Anyway,” she continued, “your father has been keeping him company, discussing wine and world events and such. And Annie and I are playing nursemaids, so he seems pretty happy about that.”
“I would think so,” I said wryly, then told her I’d try to get up there the next weekend to visit him.
“He’ll be so happy to hear that, sweetie. He’s a darling man, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is,” I said, laughing. “But, Mom, be sure to count the silverware before he leaves.”
What with Layla’s death and funeral, my students had lost out on several hours of class time, so during Thursday night’s class, I gave them the option of a makeup class on Friday night. It was a sad statement on my personal life that I was available on a Friday night, but at least I wouldn’t be alone. All my students were available, too.
After I once again demonstrated the process of centering the boards and spine stiffener on the cloth covers, and gluing the endbands in place, the students progressed to within several steps of completing the traditional journals they’d started earlier in the week.
As promised, Derek picked me up after class and we drove to my place. I had a bottle of champagne waiting in my refrigerator and I could picture us cozied up on my couch, sipping the bubbly and nibbling on warm brie and toast.
He parked his car in the visitors’ space in my garage. We took the elevator up to my floor and slid open the heavy metal gate. Hand in hand, we walked to my door. I was nearly vibrating with anticipation.
“Yoo-hoo, Brooklyn?” Vinnie called from her doorway around the corner from mine.
I moaned out loud.