Page 37 of The Vanishing Bookstore
Hades was nowhere to be seen this morning and she realised that she missed the bird. Who would have thought it? In London she was terrified of the pigeons that swooped low looking for scraps of food and yet he was much bigger than any pigeon and talked too. He was also very good company. A talking bird… maybe she was going as crazy as her aunts.
She heard Lenny talking to Lucine and slipped out the room. She was so conflicted about how she felt that she needed a little more time to get her head around this whole long-lost family scenario. A walk around Salem on her own might help her to clear her thoughts and get out of her own mind. As she reached the garden gate, she heard a cawing sound and turned to see Hades preening himself on Lucine’s windowsill. She blew him a kiss then walked along the quiet street, turning left at the corner onto Summer Street. She could see the striking black-painted house everyone referred to as ‘the Witch House’. A couple of women were taking photos of each other, both wearing black pointed witch hats and smiling. She felt a coldness spread down the entire length of her body, but her feet kept walking towards it; the house was drawing her in. She stared up the three gables mesmerised, something was happening inside her mind, and she couldn’t do anything.
‘Excuse me, sweetie, could you take a photo of us both, then we can take one of you.’
Dora turned to see the woman holding her phone towards her with a big smile on her face.
‘Oh, sorry, of course.’ She took the phone from the woman and pointed it at the grinning couple who had a whole routine of poses they were working their way through. When they finished Dora handed the phone back.
‘Your turn, let me take one of you. Isn’t this the most glorious of houses. It’s so iconic, we’ve been wanting to visit for a long time.’
Dora nodded; the house was something. Maybe it was iconic, but it scared her on some deeper level than she had known existed.
‘Oh, my phone’s at home, I haven’t got it.’
‘No problem, I’ll take some on mine and mail them to you. What’s your address?’
Dora gave her the shop email address and thanked her. Then she stood in front of the woman with her phone, her back to the house, trying her best to smile. A few shots later the woman smiled.
‘Are you okay? You look kind of scared.’
‘I’m fine. Sorry, a bit jet-lagged and finding my bearings. Thank you.’
‘No, thank you, honey, you’re a pretty good photographer. We almost look presentable.’
The other woman laughed, then linked her arm through her partner’s.
‘Have an amazing day, witch, blessed be.’
They turned and walked away without a second glance, leaving Dora standing there staring at the hay bales and mounds of pumpkins surrounding them. The old wooden sign next to her said ‘Closed’ and she was glad that it was. She didn’t know if shewanted to go inside there and had an awful feeling that her feet would force her around to the entrance at the back door if it was unlocked. It struck her then that the women in the pointed felt hats had addressed her as ‘witch’. She looked down, expecting to see a long grey linen dress with black pointed boots on her feet and a crocheted shawl around her shoulders, but she was still wearing her Docs and ripped black jeans. Stepping carefully off the broken paved path onto the grass – she didn’t like standing on those grey, jagged stones – she heard a child’s voice whisper in her ear.
‘Step on a crack you’ll break your mother’s back, step on a stone you’ll end up all alone.’
Dora spun around to see who had spoken and saw no one. She was alone. Hurrying across the road to get to the opposite side of Essex Street, she never looked back. She was going straight to the apothecary and getting whatever it was that Sephy had written on the list.
When she reached the door it was to find the shop empty. She realised why – it was closed. Dora cupped her hands across her eyebrows and peered through the glass, hoping to see some sign of life.
A woman’s voice behind her asked, ‘Can I help you?’
She jumped, then turned to see an older woman with a head full of tight curls and huge hooped earrings swaying in time to the chomping of her jaw as she chewed gum.
‘Hi, yes I hope so. Do you know what time the shop opens?’
‘Ten minutes ago, I’m late.’
The woman fished around in her handbag and pulled out a set of keys, inserting the biggest into the lock and turning it. ‘Give me a minute, hon, while I turn on the lights then you can come inside. You’re keen, trying to beat the damn crowds. Can’t say I blame you, another hour and downtown turns into bedlam.’
Dora smiled at her and waited for the lights to turn on, which moments later flickered into life.
‘So, how can I help you, lady, is there anything in particular that you’re after?’
‘Actually, my aunt sent me.’
The woman tilted her head, nodding at the same time. ‘Who would your aunt be?’
‘Sephy English.’
At the mention of Sephy’s name the woman’s eyes widened.
