At the bottom of the box, lying in a nest of wet, smelly newspaper were three tiny kittens. They stared up at her with their smoggy blue-gray eyes. Their tiny bodies shivered in the early morning chill. Deegie unlocked the door, turned off the alarm, and then shoved the box and its precious contents inside. She hurried back out to the van, and, after some brief rummaging in the back, she located the can of powdered kitten formula she had bought when she found Bast. There was plenty left; he’d never really liked it. Taking the can and gathering up Bast himself, she rushed back into the shop to take care of the kittens.
The kittens appeared to be about four weeks old; hopefully they would drink the formula from a dish. She cleaned up the inside of the box, using yesterday’s newspaper, and mixed kitten formula in a saucer while Bast looked on. After only a few minutes of coaxing, the babies began slurping up the formula, much to Deegie’s relief. They were mostly black; their tiny toes were white, and one had a white-tipped tail.
Her shop duties forgotten for now, Deegie reread the note while the kittens took nourishment: “I heard you adopt these little beasts. I will not have black cats in my home.” She sneered at the note, then wadded it up and tossed it in the wastebasket.
“People can be so ignorant,” she said to Bast, who was sniffing warily at the box of kittens. “And they’re not entirely black, not that that makes any difference.”
If it were possible for a cat to frown, Bast certainly looked as if he was doing so. Then his golden eyes cut to the shop’s front door and widened. Deegie turned to look; Zach was standing there, his hand poised to knock. Deegie got up from the floor to let him in.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Zach gave Deegie a tight hug and a quick peck on the lips. “What’s in the box?”
“Kittens. Tiny ones.” Deegie locked the door and knelt beside the box again. “Someone dumped them in front of the shop.” With careful hands, she picked up one of the babies and held it out for Zach’s inspection.
“Damn, people are cruel.” Zach stroked the kitten’s diminutive round head. “They couldn’t have picked a better spot to dump them, though. You’ll have these little guys spoiled rotten in no time.”
He embraced Deegie again and covered her face with quick, eager kisses. “I’ve missed you,” he said. “Sorry I’ve been so busy. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“Zach, don’t. It’s okay. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I’ve been a jealous, selfish bitch.” She nuzzled the kitten’s head, put it back in the box, and returned to Zach’s arms. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I still feel really bad about that.”
“No need for apologies. We’re good.” He pointed at the hot plate and tea kettle. “Now let’s drink up. I gave Gilbert the day off today, so it’s just gonna be me. More money for me, but I’ll need to start early.”
Once Zach had gone, Deegie moved the box of kittens to the back room and checked on their well-being before opening the shop. They were sleeping now, piled atop one another. Deegie smiled. Lisbet was going to be thrilled.
Her first customers of the day were Gilbert and Nix, who had come to stock up on magical herbs and Deegie’s colorful, handmade candles. Deegie had to admit that while the two of them seemed an unlikely pair, they were actually adorable together. Nix was definitely the one in charge, and Deegie secretly found it amusing to hear Gilbert say things like “Whatever you want, honey,” and “You’re right, babe.”
Nix chatted with Deegie as she rang up their purchases, wanting to know if she’d caught any more of the vexatious ghosts and what she was going to do with the ones she’d already captured. Deegie felt someone watching her as they talked, and when she glanced up, she saw Gilbert gazing at her with a forlorn, lovesick look in his eyes. She quickly looked away.
You need to get over it, chum, Deegie thought. We would have been horrible together, and you know it. Besides, I love Zach. And she did. Very much in fact. It was a pity she couldn’t say it.
As the day progressed, Deegie caught herself looking out the window from time to time, watching the comings and goings at Belinda’s Wonders across the street. It was certainly a popular place. Deegie saw Belinda a few times, apparently between customers, lounging against the open doorway and puffing on a cigarette. Her amazing amount of reddish-brown hair flowed over her shoulders and down her back, and it practically glowed in the sunlight. Even from a distance, Deegie could see that Belinda was incredibly beautiful. But Zach would never cheat on me! she reassured herself. He would NEVER!
It was right before closing when Tamara entered the shop. She wasn’t wearing her usual half-frantic expression, but she did look deeply concerned about something. “Are the kittens okay?” she asked immediately after Deegie’s reluctant greeting.
“Wait … how did you know about that?”
“Because it was my mom who brought them over here this morning.” Tamara lowered her head and sighed. “My cat had kittens a couple of weeks ago. I’ve been hiding them in the garage, but she found them.”
Deegie felt a twinge of sympathy for the girl. “Let me guess: she wouldn’t let you keep the kittens because they’re black, and she thinks black cats are evil. Am I right?”
“Yep. That’s exactly right. The mother cat is gray-and-white, with stripes, but I guess she mates with the black cat next door, and … well … she has black kittens.”
“You mean this has happened before?” Deegie was incredulous now. “Why don’t you just get the cat fixed?”
“Mom says she won’t spend money on her. I’m surprised she even buys food for her. Tibbet—that’s my cat’s name—had four black kittens last year. Mom took them … I don’t know what she did with them.”
“I found Bast in a dumpster last year,” Deegie said. “Makes me wonder …”
Tamara looked at the floor. “He was probably one of them, then. That sounds like something she would do.”
Almost as if he knew they were talking about him, Bast came out from the back room, went to Tamara, and twined his long body around her legs. She reached down to pet him, smiling faintly.
“I told my mom you rescued cats,” Tamara said. “I didn’t know what else to do. She was going to take them to the pound … or worse.”
“I glad you told her. I’ll take care of them until I can find homes for them. I have plenty of room.” Deegie was seething inside. Tamara’s mother sounded like a real nut case. No wonder this poor kid was so screwed up.
“Is it okay if I see them?”
“Do you think you can go back there without stealing anything?” Deegie asked with a chuckle and a wink.
Tamara reddened. “I won’t steal anything. Promise.”
“They’re back there, sleeping in their box.” Deegie pointed out the back room, and Bast led the way.
Deegie leaned against the doorway of the back room, watching as Tamara sat on the floor next to the box and observed the sleeping kittens. Bast paced back and forth in front of the blonde girl, pausing every few seconds to rub his face against her knees. He was purring. Deegie took this as a good sign; maybe Tamara wasn’t so bad after all.
As she got up to leave, the gentle smile left Tamara’s face and her eyes grew huge in her face. “Deegie … I see … I think it’s …” She flopped a hand toward the front of the store.
Deegie whirled around, seeing only the cluttered counter and the colorful wall décor. “What? I don’t see anything. Where? Is it another ghost?”
Tamara blinked hard and shook her head, as if to clear her vision. “I thought I saw … it was just over there…” She squinted, then turned to Deegie and shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought I saw something that looked like, you know, another one of those things, but I guess it was nothing. A shadow or something, maybe. Sorry.”
Deegie looked again, just to make sure. Nothing. “I spoke to a colleague of mine about these ghosts,” she said. “If her theory is correct, then it’s a pretty good bet that you’ll be seeing more of them.”
Tamara shivered and hugged herself, rubbing her arms. “I could have sworn I saw something,” she said. “I’m glad I didn’t; I hate those nasty things.” She knelt and ran her fingers over the three sleeping kittens.
“Thank you for taking care of them, Deegie. I should go. My mom would kill me if she knew I was over here.”
After Tamara left, Deegie closed The Silent Cat for the day. As she closed the blinds, she caught sight of Belinda again, standing outside with her head wreathed in cigarette smoke. Why am I obsessing over her? she wondered. Zach loves me, I love him; everything’s fine. So why am I—
Bast meowed and twined around her ankles.
“Stay here with the kittens for a few minutes,” Deegie told him, as if he understood. “I’ll be right back.” She left the shop, locked the door, and went across the street.
Once inside Belinda’s Wonders, Deegie barely had time to survey her surroundings before Belinda herself bustled up to her in a cloud of perfume. “Hiii!” she gushed. “You have got to be Deegie! I’ve been meaning to visit your little shop! Zach’s told me soooo much about you! I’m Belinda Baylock. Welcome to Belinda’s Wonders!” She captured one of Deegie’s hands in both of hers and pumped it enthusiastically.
“Umm … hi.” Deegie smiled, wondering if looked as fake as it felt. “Nice to meet you. And Zach’s told you about me?”
Belinda fluttered her thick eyelashes, and tossed her hair. “Oh, he’s told me all about you, hon,” she said. “Zach and I go waaay back.”
The woman did a quick visual scan of Deegie’s body, eyeing her from head to toe. Standing there in her rumpled skirt and T-shirt, Deegie felt a sudden, uncharacteristic wave of self-consciousness.
“Yes, so I understand. He said that you two were friends in high school.” Deegie took in the shop’s interior: cut glass bowls full of antique keys and wheat-back pennies; vintage hats with dusty, faded ostrich plumes; racks of old clothing; dreadful oil paintings in gilt frames. Belinda’s Wonders was just as Zach had described: a glorified junk shop.
“So what is it I can help you with today?” Belinda asked, resting her hands on her shapely hips.
“Zach told me he bought a gift for his mother here,” said Deegie, “and I just thought I’d come in for a look around.”
“He did? His mother?” Belinda cocked her head, looking confused. And then: “Ooooh yes! His mother! Of course!” She laughed then, a little too loudly. “Yes, he purchased his mother the most wonderful gift! She’s going to love it, just love it!”
Deegie watched as Belinda changed the subject with the greatest of ease. She made grand gestures at the racks of threadbare clothing, the bowls full of junk, and the ugly paintings. “Have a look around, Deegie! And I’ll give you ten percent off, since we’re neighbors! It’s a secret deal I offer to everyone in the new shopping center, but I’ll extend it to include your shop as well.”
“Well, I don’t really think I’ll—”
“Envy? Envyyyy? ”A hoarse voice whispered the words into Deegie’s left ear; the abrupt susurration stirred the curls that lay against her cheek. She knew what it was immediately: another one of Tamara’s ghosts was making an appearance.