Mabel’s Market
I trusted Spencer to arrange the car pickup, so we flowed out of the restaurant but stayed under the awning as we searched for our driver. Lizzie spied that our driver had been held up down the block by someone wanting to park parallel. They were reportedly ancient so it was going to be a while. We ran for it.
Jumping puddles as we attempted to squeeze through sensible people with umbrellas and the random awnings that gave me a momentary reprieve from the downpour, we squealed like little excited children. By the time we squeezed into the car nothing was sacred. We were soaked to the bone. The driver lucked out and leather seats that he had tossed some towels onto. It was either thoughtful or hopeful of a better tip, but either way I appreciated it. I thanked him and he gave me a nod. I hoped that meant he’d forgive us for our muddy footprints too.
“Back to the house?” He asked as he patiently waited for the couple to park.
Spencer answered for us, picking back up on his wretched British accent, “Kind sir, we would be most grateful for a side quest to Mabel’s Market before return to the manor.”
I shook my head and tried to soak up some of the water weighing down my shirt. I wiggled in the seat and realized jeans were not the best choice for the evening. Nothing but dry clothes would have prevented the chaffing that had started on my inner thigh. I tried to adjust, but they made a horrible sound against the leather seat.
I looked over my shoulder to Erin, who seemed to be smiling as she looked out the window. I started to ask her why, but the driver suddenly pumped the brakes and I became grateful for the seat belt. He had quickly and safely stopped us from hitting something I thought. I looked back to the road, but I didn’t see anything and prayed it wasn’t under the car. I didn’t recall feeling a bump.
I asked the him what happened, but he just sat very still staring ahead. Then he looked up, down, and around the car, getting almost frantic before he sat back in the seat. He grasped the necklace around his neck. It looked like one of those catholic medals, but I wasn’t for sure. Quietly, the driver said something. I didn’t understand him, but Lizzie did. She leaned up on the seat and asked, “Who did you see?”
The driver looked at me, but he stopped when he looked in his rearview mirror. Lizzie seemed to have his attention. He shook his head and started to explain, but another car had driven up behind us and started honking. He mumbled, “I’m sorry, I thought I saw someone.” He blinked a few times and moved us onwards.
He seemed to pull himself back together enough to turn into the parking lot of the market, but he was visibly shaken or at least uncomfortable. When he parked, Erin didn’t help. She leaned in towards him and said, “It’s okay. Who did you see?” She had tried for kindness, but I knew she would have said almost anything to get him to talk. Questioning the witness was one of her favorite pastimes and why she did so well as a criminal attorney.
The driver swallowed hard and turned his pale face to politely decline. He explained his way out of it, by saying it was “probably some trash caught in the wind.” He had a point, it was always windy this close to the beach. It could have been something like that or it could have been a multitude of other things. Before Erin could push, I stepped out and pulled her with me. She narrowed her eyes and let it ride for now. I was almost proud of her, so I wrapped my arm in hers and together we jumped puddles on our way.
Mabel’s Market was calling and I could smell fresh brewed coffee. I’ve never understood how they get away with giving away free cups of coffee. Coffee is expensive, but I thought better to ruin a good thing with too much research. One last puddle and we pushed through the legendary doors. The doors were part of a local myth. Some people say that they were built by the pirates who did business with Mabel, the original owner. During one of those business deals they struck an arrangement.
Mabel would supply all the food and drinks while they were in town exchange for security and some fun bits of treasure. The most notable being the front door to her establishment. The wood was said to come from a far away island where they had survived an encounter with mermaids. The wood itself was said to be magical and would bring good luck to whomever touched it. Its a story the changed with each retelling, but the doorframe was worn from people running their hands along it for luck.
Tonight we needed some extra luck. So, I rubbed the frame just above the door as we entered. Inside this now mostly concrete reinforced building would be anything from gourmet dinner ingredients, to one dollar souvenirs, to fishing tackle, and ice cream. If there were stain remover to be had, this was the place to have it. Everyone who calls this home has shopped here at some point. For those who know, it’s also an incredibly clean bathroom quite close to the beach, but that comes with a rule that’s posted on the door. It says, “Remember that the dollars you spend within keep our facilities clean and our coffee flowing. Thanks, Friends of Mabel.”
Immediately distracted by the choices and the gummy, we made a plan for each of us to meet back at the coffee before returning to the car. We were all on stain removal duty, but we agreed to flow about freely grabbing snacks and such for the night. Munchies are something you prepare for and Mabel’s would help us prepare.
I immediately gravitated toward the airbrushed t-shirts and found some an obscenely pink Hawaiian shirts. I grabbed it as a funny option, but hoped we wouldn’t actually have to use it. Then I got some chocolate-covered coffee beans, banana chips, and a local root beer that sounded like a treat. Erin had broken off at the door, finding an arm full of chips and other salty things, as she half-heartedly looked for a solution.
I caught up with Lizzie and Zora but they were toting the ingredients for something Lizzie wanted to bake. I knew Lizzie was stressed if she was already thinking of baking. She cooked for every emotion and luckily everything she made was tasty. Zora rubbed her hand along Lizzie’s back as I assured her that we’d find a solution. She didn’t believe me, but I didn’t sit with her mood. I headed for the coffee and Spencer was already standing there nursing a cup. He had a number of things tucked under his arm. Most of it looked like meats and cheeses, but I saw a candy bar or two.
“Do you think she’s going to let it go?” He looked at Erin who was talking to Zora and Lizzie. Spencer was concerned and it made me wonder if he was more concerned with the events of the night than I knew.
I looked up to see Erin, Lizzie, and Zora walking towards us. Erin was beaming, but Lizzie’s expression was sour. Zora was very practiced with her face, but there was something there. Watching them approach I whispered, “We can hope.”
They met us by the coffee and Erin said nothing. She was playing the long game, I thought. I looked from her smile to Lizzie’s grimace. Lizzie sighed, “We can’t find anything,” and Zora added, “We asked the clerk, but they seem to be out of any cleaning products.”
We all looked at each other nervously knowing what was next. I could feel Erin standing up taller and taking up more space as we accepted our fate. I watched Lizzie, but she simply nodded. I lead the charge and turned to Erin, “Can you do this?”
Her voice shook with excitement, but she was able to keep herself composed enough to respond, “Most definitely.”Erin went on to explain that said she already had the ingredients in her spell bag back at the beach house. Then she included the punchline that we “wouldn’t regret” letting her save the day. As she marched toward the door, I knew if she were successful, we would celebrate it, but if she couldn’t I was going to buy that Hawaiian shirt I saw earlier.
Lizzie stopped Erin after we checked out with a grave look on her face, “Don’t let me down.” She then turned and ran for the car with Zora on her heels. Zora had offered an encouraging smile, but Erin looked at me with her eyebrows near her hairline. Lizzie intimidated her, but she would never admit it out loud. I smiled and patted her on the back as too ran for the car.
The driver was ready to be done with us from the looks of it. He had taken off his jacket like he was hot. A small bead of sweat had dripped down his forehead as he fidgeted with the steering wheel, all the way back to the house. The sound was grating, but I was grateful we could hide in the safety of the silence for a little longer. I was still uncomfortably drenched from head to toe.
As we rounded the fence and pulled into the driveway just by the steps. He grabbed his big umbrella and started escorting us one by one up the stair to the porch. That was unnecessary but very kind. So, I told Spencer I’d chip in for a bigger tip. Surprisingly we both had cash, but as the driver made his last trip with Erin he stopped walking halfway up. He stood staring past us through the door Spencer had opened.
I followed his eyes and saw the same woman from before standing in the doorway. I paused, meeting her eyes. They were a silver color, but upon closer look all of her seemed to have a silvery blue hue. Even her dress, though dark, sparkled on the edges like sand, not quite like glitter.
I took a step forward and in a burst of wind hit my face. My hands caught the doorframe and I lost sight of her, unable to look without blinking enough to keep my eyes from watering. She melted into the darkness of the house.
I ran forward and Erin followed, but the driver abandoned us and his umbrella as he ran for the car. There wasn’t word, only the sound of his shoes slapping on the sidewalk and his car door closing. The driver yanked the car into gear and sped out of the driveway. In dryer conditions there would be tire marks on the pavement, but because of the rain his tires spun a bit before finding the traction he needed to escape.
Spencer hit the lights at the door lighting up the kitchen and foyer, but I showed nothing and no-one. Erin, excited and breathy, “Was that her? She was beautiful!!”
Everyone tossed their bags of goodie’s from the market on the dining table. Spencer turned on more lights and peeped in each room. “What are you two talking about?”
I was standing by the table with Erin who was buzzing with energy now. I could feel it before I even saw the smile on her face. I nodded.
“Did you not see her, in the doorway?” I asked Spencer, but looked for confirmation from everyone.
Everyone shook their heads. Only Erin and I had seen her. However, Lizzie did offer, “I didn’t see anything, but I maybe felt some energy in the air—“ She paused as she seemed think that would raise some questions. Lizzie laughed, sudden and loud. I jumped and she looked uncomfortable.
I didn’t push her, but Zora asked what she meant, “You felt energy? Like electricity?”
Lizzie furrowed her brow and seemed to be trying to think her way through this, “Yeah, maybe. Could be the storm? It looks bad.” She pointed towards the large picture windows.
We looked and quietly regarded the storm as it crept closer and closer. Lizzie had successfully redirected us all. We moved to get the best view, but when I tried to sit down I stopped. My shoes squelched on the floor and it was getting colder by the second. So, I placed most of my goodies from the market onto the table. For the rest, I was careful to not remove the Hawaiian shirt I got for Lizzie.
I did not want to ruin Erin’s confidence, but I also wanted to be prepared. Unfortunately, I had not noticed Erin standing in the kitchen with her hands on her hips. She looked miffed, but quickly alerted us to what she felt was most important. “How are we not talking about seeing the ghost for the third time today?”
Spencer added, “I’ve still not seen her,” but it only served to light a small fire.
Erin stomped her foot, “Is it good enough that both Dani and I have seen her?” Her hand was firmly on her hip as she glared at Spencer. He shifted, but didn’t blink until Zora added, “The driver, he saw something too.”
We were all surprised about Zora helping Erin. The support seemed immediately reluctant as Zora to me for help. I did not think that she meant to say that part out loud, but the deed was done.
Erin ran with it, “That’s right. The driver saw someone on the porch and in the road. It would be a serious breach in safety if we continue on ignoring this.”
I sighed and turned to Spencer. She had a point, but I imagined a different order of operations. There were other more pressing things to worry about now. The ghost wasn’t an immediate threat, Lizzie needed a clean shirt to wear to the wedding.
Spencer was ready though, he tried to distracted Erin with what he knew about the house. He explained that his parents got the house last year from a city auction. They had gotten a great deal on the house and everything in it. Most of which was donated, minus a few pieces furniture and decor. Then they renovated every inch to suit their needs.
He added that no one had ever seen a ghost, but the lady who had owned the house left behind creepy books and an inordinate amount of candles. Spencer pointed out all the candles in the room and I spotted the books. I was surprised that I hadn’t seen them sooner, Bex had taught me to always be vigilantly aware of the books in a room. They tell you a lot about their owners.
These books, didn’t say a lot beyond old and well loved, but there were a few that had interesting spines and some that looked to be wrapped in string like a journal. I wanted to get my hands on those and send pictures to Bex. I started to walk over to them, but Erin had been talking and I hadn’t heard what she said. I met her angry gaze.
Despite the chill that was creeping up my body from being wet in an air conditioned environment, I was more relaxed that I would normally be and I was relying on this as I tried to back Erin down, “Erin, I’m going to change out of my wet clothes and I think everyone else would like to as well. Please take a beat and let’s face whatever is going on with our best foot forward.” I relaxed my face and smiled gently hoping to lessen the blow.
Then Spencer poked the bear. He Erin, “Yeah, I want pjs before you get out your ouija board, Sabrina.”
I thought that the noise Erin made next was a growl, but it lead to a very nasty exchange. Both Erin and Spencer were under the notion that you could “win” a conversation. This was either because, like Erin, they believe their way or knowledge is best or, like Spencer, they enjoy provoking people to get spicy reactions because they live for the drama of it all. It was a bad combination that could not be diluted by any substance.
I shook my head and threw my hands up at them both. It wasn’t a necessary argument. Erin made being her friend difficult sometimes with her aggressive approach and enjoyment of a verbal sparring. Her and Spencer were more alike than they ever knew, but he rarely shared that side of himself with anyone. I sidestepped Erin and started for the bedroom.
Erin huffed and was hot on my heels as we both went into our bags to find clothes. She wasn’t quiet for long, “Do you think it was the same woman? Or different ghosts?” She secured some pajamas and looked at me expectantly.
“I think so, but I definitely don’t want there to be more than one.” I glared my eyes at her and she took the hint and started to dress. Lizzie and Zora joined us and we all got comfortable. I saw a flash of color in my bag and noticed that Bex had packed some socks. It was rainbow toe socks, with a note pinned to one of them.
I prepared myself to read it aloud, but then laughed when I saw the content. Erin, curious as ever, asked what I was laughing at and I cleared my throat “Bex left a note.” Then I paused for dramatic effect, waited an appropriate amount of time to draw everyone’s interest, and continued, “Dani-bear, please give these socks to Zora and apologize for the long term borrow. I’m embarrassed by how long I’ve had them, but have ordered my own.”
We all laughed, then I added, “There’s more.” I walked around the bed to stand by Zora. Zora who was smiling was now concerned as she met me at the end of the bed. “These are her instructions. Dani, please HAND deliver these. Do NOT throw them at her.”
Zora held out her hand and I placed them directly into it. Then I looked at the scar above Zora’s eyebrow. I had done that with one of my throws. She smiled, “I think socks are safe, but let’s check.” She turned and tossed them straight at Erin. They hit her in the head and we all froze waiting for her reaction.
I stifled a giggle behind my hand as Erin picked up the socks that had bounced off her into the floor. She looked at Zora with her eyes narrowed, then a laugh took over her body. It was like she tried to fight it, but could not. We joined all laughed. When Erin let us know that she was an “ally”, and she would wear the socks tonight out of respect, the laughter grew.
My friends were often self-healing. We repair ourselves with laughter and love. The tension was tighter than usual with neither of them willing to budge, I could worry about Erin and Spencer later. I had a feeling tonight had enough surprises in store.
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