Page 45 of Xavier

So had Lissette. She’d seen it on her own arm and had assumed it was an indication her spell had worked. Now, she wondered if it meant more. If she wanted to know more, she’d have to confess to her grandmother that she’d performed a spell without her permission and knowledge.

“I think I saw it in the Voodoo book I gave my niece last year,” Odette said, her lips twisting. “What do you suppose it means?”

Lissette taped the wrapping paper in place and grabbed a small gift card. She tied it to the gift with the black ribboned choker and wrote neatly inside the card from Aunt Odette. While she completed wrapping the gift, she thought through the lesson Madame Gautier had been teaching her and her cousins for the past couple of months.

Before Gisele and Holly had left for their respective trips, their grandmother had gone through different symbols used to define specific spirits and their protective boundaries.

Lissette held out the beautifully wrapped present. “The triangle means divine power; the sword represents the Iwa, or spirit, of warfare or justice.”

“Interesting. Such a symbol sounds important.” Odette opened her wallet and extracted enough money to pay for the gifts. “Thank you so much for staying open for a teenager’s birthday gift and for the lesson on Voodoo. I’ll be sure to pass it on to my niece.”

Lissette followed Odette to the door. “In case you haven’t heard, there’s a hurricane headed in our direction. Right now, it’s a Category 3, but meteorologists expect it to increase to a Category 4 in the next three days.”

Xavier stepped up beside Lissette. “There are already rumors floating that the governor is going to call for mandatory evacuations soon.”

Odette blinked. “A hurricane?” Her smile slipped. “I suppose I’d better get back to my house and lower my storm shutters.” She laughed. “If they still work.” She paused in the doorway and held up the wrapped gift. “Thanks again for helping me find the perfect gift.” Odette left the shop, climbed into a shiny black pickup with a magnetic sign on the door reading PS, written in bold metallic silver letters.

Odette waved as she drove away.

Lissette glanced at the sky and then spun toward Xavier. “I need to finish the house calls if possible.”

“I’m ready when you are,” he said.

“It will only take me a moment to lock up.” She reentered the shop with Xavier right behind her.

“What can I do to help?” he asked.

“I need to do a quick glance around to make sure that stray cat didn’t sneak past us. Johnny might not be so lucky the next time she gets in.”

Lissette searched the back of the shop while Xavier checked he front, careful not to get too close to Johnny’s cage.

Just say I do, Johnny called out, his words carrying to the back of the shop.

Xavier chuckled, the sound warming Lissette’s heart. He didn’t smile or laugh enough. She wondered why.

Gisele had taught the bird that phrase for her wedding to Rafael, insisting Johnny be there for the nuptials. Miraculously, the bird had said the right thing at the right time, earning applause from the guests, most of whom were members of the Brotherhood Protectors and Gisele’s relatives.

Lissette had seen the pictures and the video of Gisele’s wedding. Rafael and Gisele had been so happy, their love reflecting in their smiles and laughter. Rafael was perfect for Gisele, and she deserved to be happy.

Something tugged inside Lissette’s chest. Was it envy? She shook her head and continued her search for the sneaky cat, completing a thorough sweep of the shelves and cubbies in the back of the Mamba Wamba.

When she came out of the back, she found Xavier standing in front of Johnny’s cage, staring, not at the macaw, but as if looking far away or into the past.

His brow creased, and he said softly, “They should’ve had a chance at love and happiness.”

You break it, you buy it, asshole! Johnny cried and danced sideways on his perch, nodding his head.

Trust the bird to be rude when the man was having a moment.

Lissette approached Xavier, feeling a strong urge to comfort him. She didn’t even know what was bothering him, what would cloud his eyes with deep sadness she could feel all the way to her bones.

“Who should’ve had a chance at love and happiness?” Lissette said lightly, coming to stand behind him, choosing to approach him with humor, not pity. She suspected he wouldn’t appreciate pity any more than she did. “Are you talking about Johnny?”

Xavier’s lips twisted as he turned toward the door, avoiding her gaze. “Yeah, Johnny deserves a chance at love and happiness. Has Gisele considered getting him a mate?”

“I asked her if she was coming back with one when she and Rafael returned from Mexico.”

“What did she say?” Xavier asked without facing her.