Chapter 16
Vic had thought the bouts of heavy rain with only one mere day of spotty sunshine the previous week had been bad.
Now, she took it back. The water streaming from the leaden clouds was more like rivers than drops.
Stepping out from her porch on Wednesday was like walking into a wall of water.
She had an umbrella, but within about three minutes, the vicious wind had turned it inside out.
By the time she got to The Second Chance Shop, she was soaked to her skin.
So much for her expensive “water resistant” coat. What a crock.
Madeline was at the payment counter, reading glasses on, brow furrowed, studying some kind of papers. She nodded a distracted hello, about to put her full concentration back on the papers—then she must’ve registered Vic’s state because she pulled her readers off and did a double take.
“Omigoodness! Look at you. You’re like a poor drowned rat!”
Only Madeline could make an expression like that sound like an endearment.
But suddenly her “boss” and this place, this beautiful, good-smelling, interesting place—that wasn’t really for Vic, not in any real way—just made her feel angry.
Fury, humiliation, and futility tornado’d through her in a storm equal to the one raging outside.
“Don’t be nice to me!” Vic screamed. “Just fucking don’t.”
Madeline’s eyebrows shot toward her hairline and her jaw tightened—or Vic thought it did. A young woman with stunning white-blonde hair strode out from somewhere in the back of the store, a little girl with corkscrew curls and an indignant scowl marching behind her.
“Everything okay here?” the blonde asked.
“We do not yell meanly,” the child said, giving Vic a look that made her want to go hide. “Only with joy.”
Vic shook her head. Of all the weird, self-helpy, hippy things for a pre-schooler to come up with, and yet—
Vic’s insane, out-of-control, nonsensical anger skulked away under the concerned gazes of the witnesses. Only horrible shame, warring with anxiety, remained in an oily gut-churning mass.
“We’re fine,” Madeline said to her would-be defenders, but for once her voice held no light.
She addressed Vic. “Ironically, I was hoping you’d show up before your shift started because I wanted you to meet Aisha—the creator behind all those upcycled clothes you’ve admired all week. Aisha, Vic. Vic, Aisha.”
“And I’m Mo.” The curly-headed child glared.
If only I hadn’t woken up this morning, Vic thought. If only. I’m just so tired of . . . everything.
She stared at Aisha, mute. So, what? After completely humiliating herself, she was what? Supposed to dither on about the amazing clothes this barely-more-than-a-kid designed?
“I’m sorry,” she said lamely. “I’m so sorry.
” And it was true, she really, deeply was.
But there are only so many times a person can apologize without changing their behavior before it’s meaningless.
And swearing at Madeline, who’d been so good to her?
It was . . . words failed her. She shook her head.
Madeline looked concerned. As did Aisha.
Mo looked miffed. Of the three people staring at her, Vic figured only Mo had the correct read on the situation. She didn’t deserve sympathy.
“I have Storytime,” Mo said, looking at her mom, then stabbing Vic with another pointed glare.
Aisha glanced at Madeline, and something unspoken passed between them.
“Go. Enjoy Storytime and don’t be late.” Madeline smiled down at Mo. “We’ll be fine.”
“I—” Vic started, then broke off again. What could she even say? It was nice to meet you? Don’t worry. I’m not actually psychotic . . . I don’t think.
Aisha nodded tersely and then followed Mo out, flipping the shop’s closed sign to Open as she did. The door shut behind them. The bells jingled, then quieted.
Madeline’s brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed in thought—or maybe pity. Or something worse.
Great, Vic thought miserably. I’ve broken my chatty boss.
“So . . . I think you should take the day off, hey?”
Vic nodded. Something worse. Much worse. And that was fair. Very fair.
“In fact,” Madeline’s lower lip disappeared under her top one for a moment, deep in thought. Her face and her voice were sad and resigned. “Make it a couple.”