Page 59 of The Curse of Indy Moore
My eyes darted toward Miss Beamy, who took to cleaning herself. A couple entered the shop. The owner greeted them enthusiastically. I understood Carline was in my head, but it felt different facing her in public, where others should see and hear her.
“That necklace is so plain. Surely you can pick one better than that,” she said.
“I find it pretty,” I whispered, telling myself to talk to her even if I desperately didn’t want to. Mr. Hawthorne needed more information, and I would give it. There were aspects of this curse only I could work with, and this was one of them.
“Aren’t you the most horrendous liar?” she laughed.
“How do you know if I am lying or not?”
“Haven’t I proven that I know you?” She never strayed from the shadows. I wondered if that had to be something to do with the hallucination. Perhaps it was easier to trick my mind in the dark.
“I suppose you have. The other night, you said you sensed my desires, something within me, something that made us… similar?”
Miss Beamy rubbed against my leg. If she spoke, I didn’t hear her.
“Yes. We are very similar, which is why I encourage you to return before it’s too late. I swear, you will be happier,” Carline replied.
“Happier with you than my family? That’s ridiculous.”
“You don’t belong with them.” Her words struck a chord I wished not to hear. She knew it, too, grinning viciously. “They took you in because they had to. There was no other choice. You’ve become their burden, but I can lighten that load for you.”
I held the necklace so tightly that the chain made indentations in my palm. “My family loves me.”
“I do not doubt that, just as I do not doubt how much you love them, but that doesn’t change how you feel, that you are a burden that doesn’t belong anywhere.”
I shut my eyes, refusing to face her a moment longer. I’d buy the damned chain and get out of there. Mr. Hawthorne would have to deal with it.
My eyes opened to meet the man in question. I thought him to be an illusion at first, no different from Carline. However, Mr. Hawthorne took the chain from my hand to replace it with a silver necklace inlaid with sapphires. He laid the necklace over my chest and leaned in so every word brushed against my ear. “How difficult is it to buy yourself a necklace, especially when each looks so good on you?”
17
Where Indy Battles a Great Deal
“Whatareyoudoinghere?” I asked.
My gaze drifted to the shadows. Carline had disappeared. At my feet, Miss Beamy had a concerned look. She had to have heard me speaking with Carline. I didn’t hear Miss Beamy, though, or Slate pecking at the glass of the shop. The bird fluttered his wings while shuffling along the windowsill, seemingly taken by the gems inside. That may explain why Mr. Hawthorne didn’t bring him in. Slate was a little thief.
Mr. Hawthorne sauntered around the room to examine the jewelry. He fit right in donning his usual pair of earrings, this time linked by dangling chains. A ring glittered on every finger, and a choker hugged his neck. Of course it all complimented his fitted suit in a similar blue shade to my dress that Itried not to think about.
“I read through most of my materials, so I thought I would check in on you. As expected, you can’t even buy a string of pearls. Why are you struggling with such a straightforward task?” he replied.
“I believe that dreadful wolf was causing problems,” said Miss Beamy.
Mr. Hawthorne offered me a thoughtful look.
“She was here a moment ago. She disappeared when you arrived,” I explained. “Still, the task may be easy for you, but I don’t need any of this. It is so wasteful.”
I wish my eyes would believe that. They refused to move from the sapphires glittering upon my nape. The jewels were pretty. They made me feel pretty, along with something deeper, darker, more foreboding.
“Wasteful,” he repeated and opened the display case to grab another necklace. “Didn’t we discuss this? It isn’t about need. Pick something you want.”
“I don’t want any of them.”
“Really?” He returned to me and unclasped the necklace. His fingers brushed my nape then he laid the new one in its place. “You sure are staring a lot for someone so disinterested in them.”
“I’m humoring you, as you asked.”
“I appreciate your consideration, so humor me more, and pick one you like.”
