Chapter Two #2
“It was two years ago,” she said, “and you were twenty-three years old.”
Finley nodded. “Young and stupid. What would be the harm in using a lotion or body wash that could soothe Nellie’s anxiety?”
“None that I can think of,” Hope replied. “Lavender is the first one that comes to mind, but—”
Finley shook his head to cut her off. “Reminds me of the little soaps Grandma wouldn’t let us use unless it was to wash our mouths out after we repeated the words Pops used.” He tilted his head. “Why didn’t she wash his mouth out with soap?”
“It would’ve been a lost cause, and she knew it,” Hope replied. “I could go light with the lavender and stronger on vetiver.” She picked up a second bottle, unscrewed the lid, and tilted it toward him. It smelled like earth, grass, and lemon.
“I like it,” Finley said. “It’s worth a shot.”
They discussed the different application options for him to consider, and Finley chose hand lotion.
He could apply it before a training session and easily wash it off afterward.
While he perused the books on her shelves, his mother went into the back to whip up a bottle.
Hope was big on mindfulness and meditation, so there were the usual books on those subjects.
She’d added a few new yoga instructional books and one that looked like an old leather spell book.
Intrigued, Finley picked it up and thumbed through it, realizing it was a guide on how to use essential oils in everyday life.
The front door flew open and the bells above it sounded more like a warning than a gentle announcement that someone had entered the store.
Finley turned around and watched as three men entered his mother’s store.
Their pinched expressions said they were looking for trouble, and Finley was ready to supply it after the morning he’d had.
The men’s simply constructed brown pants and white button-up shirts identified them as members of Salvation Anew, a cult masquerading as a nondenominational church.
The organization had sprung up out of nowhere last year when the casino opened, and they had made life a living hell for the residents of Last Chance Creek.
They preyed on the vulnerable and misguided.
They picketed, protested, and raised hell about anything and everything.
Most of their energy seemed aimed at the sins of gambling, but they’d recently targeted the small businesses lining Main Street.
His mother hadn’t mentioned the group had bothered her, but three representatives stood in her store, wearing matching expressions of consternation.
Then again, it could be constipation, and they could be seeking a holistic remedy.
“I hear castor oil works wonders,” Finley said. “Greases up the gears and loosens things up.”
Three heads swiveled in his direction, and their calculating gazes swept over him.
Besides matching outfits and dour expressions, the men had similar thick beards and closely shorn hair.
The man in the middle was the tallest and oldest. He had white hair and piercing blue eyes that gave the impression he could look into your soul or possibly snatch it.
The fella to his right was blond with hazel eyes and was significantly younger and shorter.
The guy on the left was in the middle, both in age and height, with dark hair and muddy brown eyes.
The youngest man sucked in a sharp breath and pointed to the book Finley held. “It’s true, Samuel. There is a witchcraft book in this store.”
Witchcraft? What? The tome might’ve looked like an old leather spell book, but it was nothing more than recipes to ease headaches, soften callused feet, and remove pesky odors from stubborn fabrics.
Finley opened his mouth to dispute the claim, but the white-haired man he presumed was Samuel stepped forward and extended his hand.
“Give the evil book to me, son. It’s not too late to save your soul.”
Save his soul? From using rosemary oil to stimulate hair growth? Finley pulled the book to his chest and tightened his arms around it. They’d have to come through him if they wanted to take anything away from his mama.
The younger man with hazel eyes also stepped forward. His hardened gaze softened to one of pity, and that infuriated Finley even more. Who was this asshole to look at him and judge him lacking? “There’s a better way,” he said. “Salvation Anew can show you.”
Was that the message they’d fed to Keegan, the last guy who’d broken Finley’s heart?
Keegan’s mother had attended the church after losing her husband to another woman, her job to downsizing, and her only son to Finley’s evil clutches.
He’d known Keegan wasn’t completely comfortable with his sexuality, and Finley had backed off when the guy had asked for room to breathe.
What he hadn’t counted on was Salvation Anew sweeping in and claiming another member for their flock.
Finley had fluctuated between guilt, shame, and anger when Keegan had broken things off in a coldly written text message.
Maybe he’d backed off too far or should’ve fought harder. Perhaps—
“And I can show you to the door just like I did last week,” Hope said as she stepped from the back room.
She had one hand on her hip, and the other held a small brown bottle sporting a simple label.
He recognized her writing but couldn’t distinguish the words from where he stood.
“I asked you not to come back, yet here you are.”
“We’ll defeat you, witch,” the dark-haired man snarled.
“Not today, you won’t.” Hope set the lotion bottle on the counter and lifted her hands to her head.
She pressed two fingers to each temple and squinted in their direction.
The three spun around and scurried out the door like rats.
Hope laughed so hard that she had to lean against the counter for support.
Her unhinged cackle nearly sounded like a witch’s.
“Did you see how fast they ran? Such simpletons.”
Finley returned the leather book to the shelf before heading to the counter. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at his mother. “You pulled a Sheldon Cooper,” he said.
She grinned at him like a lunatic. God, he adored this woman. “Unlike Leonard, those idiots actually think I can make their brains explode.”
Finley resisted the urge to laugh with her because he feared the situation was more dire than she realized. “I’m not sure antagonizing them is the right thing to do. Playing into their beliefs that you’re a witch could be very dangerous, Mama.”
She batted away the notion like a pesky fly.
“Those morons don’t know what to do with a woman who refuses to cower to their demands.
The white-haired guy is supposed to be their fearless leader, Samuel Jeremiah, but he was the first one out the door.
Sure, they’ll regroup and return, but I’ll be ready when they do.
” She reached down and lifted a massive Super Soaker water gun from behind the counter.
“I’ve added lots of lemongrass oil in here.
It keeps the mosquitos away, so why not try it on the human soul suckers too? ”
Finley groaned and shook his head. “Does Gary know they’re harassing you?” Surely his stepfather would’ve implored her to use caution when dealing with any type of fanatic.
Hope smiled at hearing her husband’s name.
“Who do you think went to the superstore down the highway to buy this water gun?” Finley groaned, and she reached over the counter to cover his hand.
“And he installed a security system with interior and exterior cameras.” She pointed to a device mounted near the ceiling in the room’s corner.
“Picks up the entire shop. I have one in the back and at each entrance. I’m not taking their threats lightly, but I’m not backing down either. ”
Finley leaned across the counter and kissed her cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you more.” She handed him the bottle of lotion, and he read the label. Beast Tamer.
“I’d hate to know what you’d call the lube you wanted to whip up for me.” She started to reply, but Finley held up his hand. “No, I would really hate to know.”
Hope waggled her eyebrows. “Since you brought it up…”
“No,” Finley replied, shaking his head furiously. “It was an accident. My bad.” He picked up the lotion and turned to leave, but she placed a hand on his forearm to stop him.
“Fin, I’ve met someone special.”
“Does Gary know?”
“Ha, ha, ha,” she said dryly. “Gary picked him out.”
Finley shoved the forefinger of his free hand into his ear. “Lalalalalala. I don’t want to know what you guys get up to,” he said. “You’re consenting adults.”
Hope pinched Finley’s arm through his flannel shirt until he unplugged his ear. “Don’t be an idiot. The guy isn’t for us, silly. He’s for you.”
“Huh-uh,” Fin said, pulling free of her embrace. “I’m on hiatus, remember?”
“Your pissy, uptight attitude makes it hard to forget. I’d like to remind you that you’re on a break from bad boys who break your heart.” Not bad. Just broken. “You said nothing about good guys. They need nurturing too.”
“I don’t know, Mama.”
She smiled sympathetically. “I hate to see you so unhappy, sweetheart. Just think about it, okay?”
Fuck, he was lonely. Would it be so bad to go on a date with a man? Even if he didn’t feel a romantic spark, he always had room for another friend. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”
Hope’s smile was immediate and huge. Finley playfully lifted his hand to shield his eyes from its blinding light, but seeing her happy lifted his spirit. He gave her another kiss before heading toward the door.
“Monkey Grease,” she called out before he could reach for the handle. “You know, to spank the—”
“Got it,” Finley said. “I knew exactly what you meant. No explanation needed.”
She laughed at his discomfort. “It’s already on track to become my best seller.”
Finley groaned and fled through the door almost as fast as the cult members had.