New Guests - Part VII

September, 2020

"I need to go shopping, we're running out of food." putting her purse on her left arm, grabbing the car keys she promised "i won't take long, be good!" and locked the apartment's door.
Waving into the car (an old Land Rover, that her uncle offered her, from his adventures around the world) and igniting the motor, she drove towards the Starbucks mall.

*

Checking the shopping list, she walked throught the supermarket, acquiring everything she needed.
In her way to the car, she walked by a showcase of antiques that caught her attention.
She walked in the small shop, it was dark in there, even though she was still able to avoid bumping into the products.
Aparently, she was the only living creature inside the shop. The owner wasn't behind the register, just silence.  The only noise that was breaking the deep silence, was her breathing.
Near to some embalmed animals, she found a cute necklace.
It was made of leather and it had three interesting trinkets. A tiny red fox tail, a bear paw carved on wood and three feathers attached together with diferent colours and sizes.
"A prophecy is tangled with that necklace..." the owner (who was an old lady) murmured near to her ear "... it says that the person who wear it, can change her own destiny!" the old lady began "Three wishes for the three feathers, a transformation spell and its reverse for the red fox tail and the bear paw!" the old lady noted with a wild grin in her face "Pretty curious, that necklace instantly caught your attention, my lady, you didn't even noticed in the ferret that was watching your moves..."
She looked up and realized that one of the embalmed animals was actually a real one.
The ferret jumped into her chest and wrapped itself around her neck.
She squeaked and fell backwards.
"Bless you, my lady, that I could see the day that demon cared about something else other than sleep or hunt to eat."
Rubbing the back of his right ear "He seems lovely!" she admited.
"Mmhmm, love at first sign, indeed..." the old lady nodded "... let me repay you!"
"For what?" she asked confused.
"Leaving that BRAT out of my shop!" the old lady thanked her, not giving a chance to turn down the purpose "Also, take this with you..." putting the necklace on her, "Sshhsss, i don't want your money, just promise me to keep it safe with you."
She nodded and walked out the door, right when the old lady whispered her name, "Good Luck, Laura"

*

In her way to the car, two suspicious men seemed to be following her.
Packing her stuff in the car and locking the luggage, one of them attacked her.
Hopefully with her age, she already knew how to defend herself! blocking his attack and with her fist, she punched the man in his tummy, he fell to the ground in his knees.
On the other side of the street there was the same man with the same overcoat, same scarf and same sun glasses. However he was holding a gun, aparently pointed at her.
He pulled the trigger without hesitation.
The bullet caught the man, behind her, holding a crowbar.

Unable to move, she only dared to watch him cross the street and embrace her.
"Just because you saved my life, doesn't mean you can touch me!" she noted.
He stepped back, rubbing the back of his neck a bit embarrassed and replied "You're Welcome."
"Ted Aldrin?" she deduced.
"Laura Cole?" he bet.
"Actually it's Gordon now, Teddy Bear!" she jerked.
"You still remember that awful nickname..." he sighed "... You look great after all these years!" glaring at her.
"You changed your outfit, it's nice." she replied in a polite way, "But now i must go..."
He nodded and waved his hand in a Good-Bye sign, while she finally got in the car and drove her way home.

*

"I'm home!" she screamed, waking the bunny up. The ferret jumped near to the bunny "Lil one, this is my husband and NOT FOOD, understood?", he just nodded.
While packing the shops on the storeroom, she noticed that Ted was again sitting on the same bench as everyday, since she saw him for the first time, a couple of months ago.
"I'm going out for a bit!" she said while she was changing clothes, "Lil one, take care of the house..." already half way to the door "... I'm trusting you, be good you both" she focused her gaze on both of them and then she left.

*

"Hey, Teddy Bear!" when he heard her voice, he glanced up with his eyes barely open, "Were you sleeping here?" she asked.
"Well, it's better out here, then in the mess of my car..." he confessed.
"And where is your house, with your wife?"
"That doesn't exist."
"Why's that?"
"My business!!!"
Against her will she said "Fine!"
"Fine!"
Averting her gaze to the clearing in the middle of the park and biting her lip she purposed "If you like, you can sleep in my house..."
He started grinning.
"Want me to slap you?" she threated.
Both of them started walking towards her apartment and she added "By the way, you're going to sleep in the couch!" she started chuckling about the expression in his face.