Chapter Twenty-Three #2
“Oh.” Gaia took in the amounts, noting that the penalties escalated the closer you got to the date of the event. “But Theo’s interests change almost daily. He’s such a bright, inquisitive child, interested in so many different things. Very advanced for his age.”
Biting her lip so she wouldn’t snort in derision, Gigi just managed to keep a straight face.
She knew, everyone in the Sanctuary knew, that Theo only liked one thing and one thing only.
Anything from the plant family that had a spike, a spine, a thorn or a prickle.
“Of course, but you know what every little boy adores and there’s a myriad of things you can do with the theme, the Wild West. Look at these darling little cactus and tumble weed shaped cookies, And these sheriff stars.
And who doesn’t love an old fashioned barbeque cookout? ”
Gaia nodded slowly. “True. Especially Sergei’s relatives.”
“I even brought along some samples for you to show Theo.” The kid deserved a reward, he’d been no slouch that day at the Library, slowing Hathor’s guards down with his large spiny three corner jacks. Gigi pushing a little purple and white striped box across the kitchen bench towards her cousin.
Gaia looked at the box, her gaze then darting around, checking the bench, searching. “Um, you didn’t bring Canary with you?”
“No.” Gigi’s smile grew broader. “We’re not doing that anymore. Canary’s officially retired.”
“Oh, but…” Gaia eyed the box again, looking wary, yet trying to force a smile of her own. “… what about, you know?”
“No. I don’t know?” Gigi faked a little scowl, acting oblivious.
“Your magic. What if there are side effects?”
Shrugging, Gigi got to her feet. She was so over the lack of trust in her skills, her baking, her magic.
Even when her magic went a little askew, it had never hurt anyone in the family.
She’d never singed off everyone’s eyebrows at the school talent show like her Tong cousins when they were fourteen.
Or made everyone in a ten mile radius lose their sense of smell for a month like Cousin Will, when his homemade car wax potion went wonky twelve years ago.
Cara had thrown an entire wall of knives at Hadleigh and all of Maat’s Warriors, and that hadn’t stopped the Council from approving her move here, and sanctioning a job for her at the Library.
And Gigi had never stalked anyone, and woken them up in the small hours of the morning, looming over them, telling them their security sucked and they were low on milk like Darcy, probably yesterday.
And she could go on and on. No one in the family ever dwelt on those past events, bringing them up constantly at every family gathering. And Gigi had officially had enough.
Canary was her constant companion, her bunny buddy. It he wanted to hang out and nibble on a few things in her test kitchen, then he was welcome. But she was done allowing the family to use him as a crutch. They either believed in her, trusted her, or they didn’t.
And like that, the last piece of Gigi’s grand plans to take her Emporiums worldwide clicked into place. She would never be more ready. Her recipes were awesome. Her marketing and branding top notch. Most importantly of all, her products were sinful little treats of awesomeness.
It was well past time she took on the world. She’d been planning her expansion for years now, perhaps too long. She’d been procrastinating, a smally niggle of worry nagging at her - was she good enough to achieve all those grand dreams of hers? And the answer was, yes, damn it.
And she would start in Paris. Already her head whirling with fresh ideas.
She would need to find suitable premises, ideally down an historic quirky little laneway.
And she would need to staff it. Hmmm, Aunt Daisy had always had a yen for travel.
And claimed she loved getting out of the house and working at the Emporium to get away from her five adult children who’d all boomeranged back home.
Perhaps Daisy might like even more distance from her progeny?
She was garrulous and a natural saleswoman, and would make an excellent store manager.
“Gigi?”
“Sorry.” She gathered her notepad and smiled.
“I just realised I have a ton of work that needs my attention.” Even better, all that organisation, it wouldn’t leave any room to think about anything or anyone.
“Let me know about Theo’s party. I have to dash and catch Aunt Daisy before she leaves for the day. ”
The Transportal meant she was back home within seconds. Racing upstairs to her apartment to leave her notes on Theo’s birthday on the kitchen counter. She’d just turned and taken three steps towards the stairs leading down to the Emporium when a knock sounded on her front door.
Instinctively, she checked out Canary and her bridesmaid dress, engaged in a small tussle on the kitchen bench.
Neither seemed concerned. Okay, changing direction Gigi swung the door open.
“Oh.” Riordan was standing at the top of the wrought iron stairs.
Her cousin looked pale, dark circles beneath her eyes, her long red hair plaited back, dressed in jeans and a too large grey hooded sweatshirt.
“Hey, Gigi, can we talk?”
Immediately Gigi stepped away so Riordan could enter.
Poor kid, she looked wrung out. There had never not been a time when Riordan hadn’t been a fixture at the DeWitt household growing up.
Her twin sisters, Brynn and Chase, had been close friends with Riordan, Shelby, and Jodie since they could toddle.
Getting into mischief but always having each other’s backs.
“Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea?”
“Just a water, would be great.”
Filling a glass Gigi handed it over. “Do your brothers know you’ve escaped?” She’d meant it as a joke. Having four over protective older brothers, all police officers, was the bane of Riordan’s existence.
“Zeke’s downstairs in the alley, he walked me over.” Rolling her eyes to the ceiling. “I doubt I’ll be going anywhere ever again without an escort.” Taking a big gulp of water, straightening her shoulders. “I came to tell you how very sorry I am, for everything I did.”
“Take a seat.” Gigi collapsed into one herself, staring at her young cousin, not sure what to say, where to start. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Maybe.” Unconsciously Riordan reached up to touch her throat, blushing when she realised what she’d done. “The necklace Hathor gave me is in Darcy’s vault but I can still hear it, you know? The family eggheads are gathering, trying to break it’s hold or destroy it. Whatever works.”
“You should talk to Nico.”
“He’s next on my apology tour.”
“No, I mean, he’s had a lot of experience with Love Goddess cursed objects attaching themselves to him… he might be able to give you some tips on dealing with it.”
“Oh. Yes. Of course.” Riordan took another big gulp of water. “Look, I came here today to tell you what I did, it was way out of line. Using my magic on you. Stalking around watching you guys. Reporting back to Hathor.”
“She was controlling you, give yourself a break.”
“That’s the thing. I’m not sure she was controlling me, not all the time.
I’ve had the biggest crush on Nico since I started working at the Five Alarm Bar.
Although he’s only ever treated me like an employee or a kid sister.
But I kept hoping that one day, he’d see me, you know?
Once I turned twenty-one I was sure. Yeah, well, nothing changed.
And I told myself to move on. To concentrate on my studies.
Maybe find someone to casually date. But then I saw you guys kiss, and I realised I wasn’t over him, and worse, I knew it was hopeless. ”
“I’m sorry you had to find out about us being together that way.” There was no use in telling Riordan about the cursed ring, the secret partnership or the faux relationship agreement.
“Heavens, I should have been happy for him, for the two of you. I mean, if he had to hook up with anyone, he totally deserves someone like you in his life. And okay, I had a pity party, bawled my eyes out. Then the necklace arrived in the post. I put it on and wham, all my feelings, all my emotions just kind of narrowed down to one thought, how unfair it was that you got everything in life, including Nico, and how much I… hated you. Beautiful. Wildly successful. Brilliant. Amazing at everything you do; your degrees, your business, all your charity work, and how kick ass you are at self-defence. How effortless you make everything look.”
Wow, Gigi had no idea Riordan had seen her like that, it made her want to apologise and at the same time hire her cousin to write up her professional biography.
“And of course Nico would twig to how frigging wonderful you are and fall at your feet, just like the billionaire, the astronaut and the think tank genius and I was beyond sure, that you would break his heart, just like you did those other guys. But the longer it went on, I just found myself growing more and more resentful. So I began zapping you with my magic every time I walked past your place. I know, I know, it was a disgusting thing to do, but I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about how you have everything, and could have anyone in the world, why did you have to choose my Nico?
Yes, yes, I know he’s not mine, but I didn’t want to see him get hurt.
” Dark blue eyes stared hard Gigi’s way, clearly looking for understanding, or sympathy.
“I pray to the Goddess Above that you’re having daily sessions with Quinn, because you’re seriously crazy.”
Riordan’s mouth dropped open in shock, she hadn’t been expecting that response.
“I’ve just been living my life, Riordan.
I studied because I loved learning more about my magic and the world.
I built up my business because baking brings me joy and I want to share that feeling with everyone who tastes one of my treats.
But I worked hard for all my achievements, the degrees, the Emporium.
Late nights. Even earlier mornings. And I certainly haven’t blithely skipped through life leaving a trail of broken hearts behind me, like you’re suggesting.
I dated. We weren’t right for one another.
Once I realised that I moved on, sue me. And as for me and Nico…”
Crap, what could she share here, without volunteering to join Riordan’s broken hearted pity party?
He ghosted me? Haven’t heard a peep out of him since that day at the Library.
Nope. Pressing her nails hard into the palms of her hands, not going to cry, not going to think about him.
Damn, but she was a grown up too. It wasn’t like she’d called him.
Okay, new plan. World domination of her Chocolate and Cookie Emporiums, at the very least establish stores in five countries, and then she’d talk to Nico.
That would only take, what, three to five years?
By then her heart would be mended. And she’d be able to suggest they be friends, and genuinely mean it.
“… well, that’s private, and no one’s business but ours.” Yeah, nothing to see here. Absolutely nothing.
“Sorry, again. But you’re right. I have to stop waiting around and hoping for things to happen instead of making them happen.
Stop putting off taking charge of my life just because I know it’ll upset my brothers.
” Riordan still looked pale and hollowed eyed, but there was resolution in those depths now too.
“No more putting off my dreams, just to keep the peace.”
Gigi wasn’t sure she liked where this was going. “Aren’t you studying forensic science?”
“Yes. I only have three more subjects to complete my degree. And once I graduate my brothers want me tucked away in a lab somewhere nice and safe.”
“But you don’t want that?”
“No. I’m tired of hearing about Jodie having all these exciting adventures with the Time Bureau.
And Brynn and Chase going on about their part time work with SRG in Europe.
I’ve buried my head in the sand long enough.
Putting if off because I knew the fall-out would be epic.
You know, I think maybe even my crush on Nico was a form of self-sabotage.
A distraction. What I’ve always wanted to be was an Enforcer.
But I never had the courage to actively pursue it.
But I think, given my degree and Brodie’s self-defence training, I should be able to convince Elijah to take me on as an apprentice. ”
“Your brothers are going to freak, big time.”
Riordan was smiling, almost laughing now. “I know. Let them. This is my life. And I’m tired of them thinking they get any say in it.” She stood up abruptly, and then paused. “Oh, are we good?”
Never one to tell a lie. “We’ll get there.” Gigi rose to her feet to escort Riordan back to the front door. “Good luck with Elijah, and with Nico.”
“Thanks. I don’t know which one I’m more nervous about seeing.” And with a wave Riordan was dashing down the wrought iron stairs to the alley way below.
Riordan, a Southern Sanctuary Enforcer?
Her young cousin had a very difficult road ahead of her. An enforcement apprenticeship. And perhaps even more difficult, trying to find a way to unhook Hathor’s claws from her psyche. Thankfully she was surrounded by a tremendous number of people who would support and guide her.
Speaking of being surrounded by fabulous family, it was past time Gigi tracked down Aunt Daisy and floated the idea of her managing the about to be opened Parisian Gigi’s Chocolate and Cookie Emporium.
World, get ready, here comes Gigi DeWitt to conquer you.