She turns to me.
I brace myself. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m—”
“You’ve ignored Moonville for the past fourteen years so that you could sleep in your van in overpriced cities,” she interrupts. “Which I’m sure is more glamorous than it sounds, but you can make it up to us now by giving our town’s children the festival they deserve.”
“All right, all right. You’re getting your way.” There truly is no arguing with Gilda.
She beams. “Splendid. There’s a lid for every pot, as they say.Somebodyout there, I’m sure, won’t mind that you dress as if it’s Halloween every day.”
I would give Gilda my kidney if she needed it, but there aretimes I’d like for her to retire in Florida. She can’t know how it stings to think about my love life, how ardently Idohope there is somebody out there who will be the perfect lid to my pot. I chance a sidelong look at Morgan.
Right as I’m poised to add my name with the rest of Ursula’s stolen souls, Romina gasps. “This is how it happens!” she loud-whispers, seizing my wrist. “For Zelda!”
I frown. “How what happens?”
Her eyes are enormous and dreamy. “Themoth.”
Curses.
“Oh, not the moth thing again.”
My lovely, caring, sweet liar of a grandmother used to pretend she had psychic dreams, and when my sisters and I were younger, she informed us that one day we would all fall in love with the men we’re meant to spend the rest of our lives with, all within the same year. She said we would know it wastheyear when we saw a silver luna moth, and at the time that we saw it, one of us would be running from love, one would be waiting for it, and the third would already be in over her head. (Silver luna moths do not exist, by the way.) A couple days ago, just after Romina finally admitted to herself that she’s madly in love with her high school sweetheart, she saw a metal butterfly decoration or something like that and has declared it to be The Moth. Which means that this is Our Year.
Gilda’s face is pitying. “My poor naïve girl, that was a fabrication. I am sorry to tell you that your grandmother did not possess True Sight.” I nod, but then she adds, “Ipossess True Sight, and have not Seen any prophecies relating to moths, whether they be silver or luna or any other. Unlike Dottie, resther fraudulent soul,Iam an actual psychic, and my crystal ball has foretold that at least one of you girls shall find love at this auction.”
I scribble my name, phone number, and email address. Will Morgan bid on me? I’d say yes to a date even without an auction, which he likely guesses, so maybe he won’t bid. Why fork over cash when you can have what you like for free?
“It’s about time you found yourself somebody special, Miss Zelda,” Gilda says. I bite my lip, trying to restrain a smile.
“Zelda’s found alotof special somebodies.” Luna laughs.
My smile dies.
Romina points a pink kernel of popcorn at me. “Our Zelda’s a heartbreaker. Don’t get your hopes up, Gilda.”
I smirk as though this is funny, because that is the expected reaction, but acid coats my throat. “Yes, she’s quite persnickety,” Luna adds.
Persnickety, persnickety.
E R T Y I P
S K
C N
Frequently, a word will get jammed in my systems and I have no choice but to repeat it three or four times, liking the way the sound rolls around in my mouth; then I visualize where each letter of the word would be located on my laptop’s keyboard. In my mind’s eye, I find the necessary buttons and tap down each one. I once told Grandma that I did this, towhich she said,How unusual!I find the buttons for those words, too, humming in satisfaction after they’ve been typed out.
W U O
A S H L
N
Gilda collects Morgan’s signature, helps herself to six bookmarks and a handful of whatever’s in the candy dish at the checkout counter, and smiles roundly. “Your grandmother’s ghost would like to express her gratitude to you, for supporting our town’s economy.”
The incomprehensible brass of this woman.
“She didn’t say any of that,” my eleven-year-old niece replies, socked feet appearing before the rest of her does as she slicks down the banister rail from the upstairs apartment. Our knotty pine staircase is well-polished to assist in quick sliding. Aisling’s gaze is baleful. “Grandma’s in the attic reading Aunt Zelda’s notes for her next book. Says Zel should try writing bodice rippers.”
