Shelley
I rose early and hit the shower. All night I’d been thinking of Valentines and the Dating Agency. I was taking Charlie out. We were off to Jax’s and I was calling a business meeting to discuss the days ahead. A quick call to Jax and she agreed to assemble the Female Entrepreneurs do it with their colleagues gang.
I caught up with Ebony in the kitchen who looked her usual well maintained gorgeous self. I’d tied my hair up in a ponytail, put a muslin cloth over my shoulder and was dressed in my fave jeans and slouchy t-shirt.
“Ebony, we’re off out to Jax’s to talk biz. I can’t stay in this house a moment longer.”
She looked me up and down. “Okay. Pass Charlene to me while you go to get ready.”
“I am ready.”
“Yes, I knew you were going to say that. Absolutely not. No way.” She held up a hand. “Stay there.”
I fixed myself some toast and drank an O-neg while her footsteps padded up and down the stairs. I heard Henry moan that she was in his way and her tell him she was going out so he could have the place to himself to hopefully finish so he could get out of the house forever. If this carried on, I was going to have to call a house meeting as I didn’t want either of them leaving their current roles.
She stomped back downstairs and returned to the kitchen with clothes draped over her arm.
“I know your figure is exactly as it was before due to the turning, so you can get these snug fitting designer jeans on, along with this blouse. She held up a pink cotton blouse covered in a blue and white butterfly design. Then I’m going to straighten your hair, put some make-up on you, and you are going to revel in all your yummy mummyness in the coffee shop. You are the leader of Withernsea, not one of the winos who hangs around the sea front when the sun goes down.”
“Why do I have to get dressed up?”
She pointed to Charlie who I’d dressed in a pretty dress with, damn, flowers and butterflies on it, plus frilly socks. “Same reason you’ve dressed Charlene up beautifully.”
“I hate you.” I said taking the clothes from her arm and passing her Charlie.
Of course, as usual Ebony had a total amazing eye, and I emerged back downstairs looking and feeling fabulous in the clothes. The denim and the cotton were so soft against my skin and the blouse draped enough that you couldn’t see my nursing bra underneath. I put on a decent pair of flat shoes and then let Ebony do my hair and make-up. She was in her element and when she’d finished, I almost didn’t recognise myself.
“There’s no need to let yourself go, just because you’ve got a husband.”
“And it’s that snobby attitude which means you don’t have one.” Henry came through the door and flicked on the kettle after checking there was enough water in it. “You’re all presentable and yet no one goes near you. Maybe you should give that some thought before you dish your advice to other people?”
Ebony swallowed and her eyes went glassy. Henry had hit a nerve. She quickly left the room. I turned to him.
“We’re having a house meeting later to get to the bottom of this. You were way out of line there and you upset my friend.” He began to speak, and I held up a hand. “I know she says insulting things to you too, and if you want to both carry on like that outside my house, do your worst, but inside my house while you’re being paid to work, you will be respectful to the people here. I will be speaking to Ebony this morning too.”
He looked at the floor and scuffed one trainer against another. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Shelley. There’s just something about her rubs me up the wrong way.”
“Well we need to get you two rubbing up together the right way.”
His eyes went wide, and I realised what I’d said.
“Oh is that the time? I need to be at Jax’s. Excuse me, Henry.” I dashed from the room before I said anything else embarrassing.
After spending ten minutes working out getting Charlie in her car seat into the taxi, we were on our way. Ebony had gone quiet.
“Ignore what Henry said. He’s just being a dick because of you getting at him. I told him he went too far.”
“He was right though. I’m telling you what to look like and you’re happily married with a baby. I never let my manicure chip and I have no-one. It only hurt because it was the truth.”
“Well I told him that we’re having a house meeting to clear the air. He can apologise.”
“He has nothing to apologise for. This time.”
“Well, you’ve seen your wedding anyway in visions, so what does Henry know, eh?” I tried to jolly things up a bit because I’d been so excited to get out of the house and now it was like I was in a funeral cortege.
“Well, Kim said that I only actually saw myself at the wedding and indeed in my second vision I was asking where my groom was, so like she said, I could get jilted at the altar.”
I was going to kill Kim when I saw her.
“I joined the dating agency yesterday. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to go on some dates. It’s been a while. Kim said I should focus on the right now and if it happened, it happened.”
Okay, you managed to rescue yourself Mrs Wild.
As I got out of the taxi, I noticed in the wing mirror that a black car had pulled up a little way down the road. Since having Charlie I’d become more paranoid.
“Ebony, have you had any visions of danger regarding me and Charlie?”
She shook her head. “I’d have told you.”
“Do me a favour. Get back in the taxi.”
She gave me a weird look but did as asked and I made the taxi set off around the local roads. Sure enough the car started again and followed a way behind.
“We’re being tailed.” I asked the taxi driver to pull into the Aldi car park. “You take care of Charlie while I go deal.” I told Ebs. The taxi driver didn’t bat an eyelid. He was a friend of Lucy’s and from Angel cabs.
“Okay.”
I parked at the top of the car park and watched as the black car pulled into a space at the opposite end. I muttered an invisibility spell and teleported to the side of the suspect vehicle. Becoming visible again, I made all the doors open, and I sent blue webs out to wrap around anyone in the vehicle.
“Shelley, it’s me. Fuck, get these things off me, they tickle.”
“Rav, what are you doing following me?” I dropped my webs and looked at Theo’s friend who was wearing a guilty expression.
“You’re going to be mad, so it’s better I don’t tell you.”
“With one spell I can make you tell me, Rav, so c’mon… spill.”
“I’m earning a little extra money from Theo. He hired me to be your bodyguard. With me being a demon he thought I could help if you needed someone while he was asleep.”
“He did what? I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“I know. I know. And I told him that, but he wants to feel he’s protecting you. You’re so powerful now, Shelley, and the baby will be too. I think it’s threatening his manhood. You need to let him feel you need him. He feels powerless, especially while he has to be asleep all day whereas you are getting to swan around as usual even though you are part vampire.”
“Swan around?” My eyes narrowed.
“I just meant you can go out and he cannot. Just let me do my job and then he can feel better and I can afford to move out of my mother’s house. She keeps going on about how I should be married by now and raising little hellions all over the place. I need some space.”
I sighed. “You follow at a distance and don’t get in my way. Okay?”
“Yes, yes, absolutely fine. Thank you, Shelley.”
I walked back to the taxi shaking my head and then returned to the coffee shop. I was going to consume a bucket full of the stuff.
“A bodyguard. Pahahahahaha.” Kim giggled.
“Rav will be a great bodyguard. He does a grand job in Hell.” Lucy added.
“The sooner the bed-and-breakfast opens the better, then Theo will have something to occupy his time and he can leave me alone.”
“Yeah, you have just given birth to his daughter. His first born. Dream on and get used to him breathing down your neck just before he bites it.”
“Kim, sod off.”
She grinned.
“So, you had a baby four days ago. There should be laws against you looking so good. But why are you already out of the house and here calling a business meeting? We only took over yesterday. A little faith in us would be good, bestie.”
“I just remembered it was Valentine’s Day tomorrow and wanted to check in with you. I’d forgotten to warn you how mad it gets.”
“You do remember I’ve been here since day one right?” Kim’s jaw had set. “I’m well aware of what happens on Valentines.” She turned to Ebony. “A shit ton more people apply. When I was single, I absolutely loved it, because the men are all desperate. I used to have them eating out of my hand and then eating-”
“Stop right there.” I yelled at my best friend. “So everything is in order then?”
She and Lucy nodded. “Yes, all running smoothly.”
I sank in my seat. “Oh, so I didn’t really need to come running?”
“It’s good to see you and Charlie again though.” Samara said, her blonde curls bouncing as she spoke.
“So are you actually working tomorrow?” I asked her.
“I suppose I’ll probably do an hour. They’ve sent me the latest state-of-the-art bow and arrows. Might as well try them out. But I don’t want to take away from your business so I won’t shoot too many.”
“Oh that reminds me. Kim/Lucy, I want you to find Mary a date. Is there another ghost hanging around that she could spend some time with?”
“We have a few on the books. I’ll have a look. Can she complete an online application as she can’t leave the house can she? Actually how will she get to her date?” Lucy frowned.
“They’ll have to come to her. So she needs one that can move. Make sure he’s young and fit okay?”
“And how does Theo feel about his mother dating again?”
“Yeah, like I’ve told him. Look she’s feeling the backsides of any men who enter the house and then half the time she disappears after. If I don’t get her a date, she’s going to have me sued for harrassment.”
“Okay, young, fit, and can travel. I’ll look once I leave here.”
“Thanks, Lucy.”
Jax came over which rendered the supernatural talk over.
“What have I missed?”
“Just cuddles with Charlene, nothing else of importance.” I handed my daughter over to her.
“At least your nanny isn’t around today to get all possessive about the baby.”
“Right.” Kim stood up. “We’re going to have to make a move because we’re really busy, like you say, with it being the run up to Valentines. I could rush you a date through Ebs, if you like?”
“No, I can wait until afterward.”
“Are you sure?”
“Ebony,” I pushed her arm. “Go for it.”
“Oh, okay. Find me a date for tomorrow evening, but please not someone desperate.”
“Even though they’d be all over an ‘all you can eat Ebony buffet’?”
“Especially for that reason. Just a nice, calm individual.”
“Can they be human?” Kim blurted out.
“What else are they going to be?” Jax laughed. “You started a new section matching people with pets?”
“There’s always a desire for pussy.” She kissed my cheek. “Later, tater. Bye bye, Charlie K.”
Jax went back off to serve her customers as she still didn’t have a replacement for Seth yet. Samara said her goodbyes and returned to her pet grooming salon and that left me and Ebony.
“I don’t feel needed.” I told her. “We might as well just go back home.”
“Or we could have a chocolate doughnut.” She said glancing at the counter.
I didn’t need much persuading.
Before we returned home, Ebony opened the shop, and I helped her with a few stocktaking tasks while she opened post and made sure everything was okay.
“Ebony?” I looked around.
“Yeah?”
“Have you thought of having an online boutique? That way you could still work while you’re at the house. It must be kind of boring just waiting for my visitors to arrive.”
“Well, I didn’t want to complain as it has only been a few days, but with me missing time here when I was ill also, I’m worried my customers will move elsewhere, and I do love matching people to outfits. I wouldn’t know how to start though.”
“But Theo is an internet whizz. He’d set you up, I’m sure, if you asked him.”
Ebony’s face became animated, it was like she’d had an extra shot of coffee. “Oh, do you think he’d be able to help me with an online ‘what would suit you’ style guide type thing?”
“Ebony, please ask him and get him occupied with something other than having me followed. Until the B&B is finished he’s lacking for things to do.”
Ebony stared at Charlie for a beat. “Yes, yes. I think that’s a fabulous idea.” She said.
“Why did you stare at the baby before deciding?”
“Oh, her outfit was just giving me ideas.” She replied.