7/6/2021 0 Comments Home Sweet HomeFriday November 3, 1972 Winter was coming, if the chilly breeze blowing through the loose threads in Gabby’s worn clothing was any indication. She’d long since lost track of what day it was, but she knew she’d been at the homeless shelter for well over a year. Over a year, and I still haven’t found a job, she thought bitterly. Not for a lack of trying, anyway. Almost since she’d taken residence there when she turned eighteen, Gabby had been looking for a job on a daily basis. Whether it was pounding the pavement or flipping through the newspaper, she was always looking for something. She’d applied to numerous businesses several times, but thus far had no luck. Most didn’t call her back or give her the time of day, but others told her exactly why they would never consider hiring her: Either it was because she was too young, she was a woman, or her appearance didn’t meet up to their standards. The first two often irritated her, but the last one she couldn’t argue with since they were right. Her clothes were too dirty and too worn, and despite showering every other day at the homeless shelter, she knew she looked like an unbathed mess.
A year ago, she had been so determined to start her life. She was on her own, and she knew that once she’d found a job, she could find a place to live and build the life she’d always wanted. She’d learned long ago that she couldn’t rely on anyone else but herself. Unfortunately, reality slapped her in the face, and she’d learned quickly that it was more difficult than it seemed. Another cold gust of wind blew past her, dragging her thoughts back to the present as goosebumps raised on nearly every inch of her skin as a result. She picked up her pace as she walked along the sidewalk. The homeless shelter was still seven blocks away, and if she didn’t want her fingers and toes going numb, she’d have to hurry. The one positive thing about the shelter was that it was heated in the winter, and it offered indoor plumbing and daily meals (not that they gave anyone much food). Still, it was better than living on the street. She was thankful she had a roof over her head, even if the conditions were subpar. When she was three blocks away from the shelter, Gabby passed by two well-dressed people: A blonde woman in a blue and white fur coat and a dark-skinned man in a purple winter coat. She couldn’t help but feel envious of the warmth the two were feeling in the bitter cold. She tried to push these negative thoughts from her mind, but a woman’s voice called out to her, drawing her attention. “Excuse me!” Worry immediately filled her, and she picked up her pace. The last thing she needed was to find herself in trouble with someone she didn’t even know. She knew she didn’t do anything wrong, but others looked down on her (and others like her) simply for being below them. All she wanted was to return to the shelter to warm up and get a bowl of soup for dinner. There was a gentle tap on her shoulder, and she turned to see the blonde woman in the fur coat. The woman slipped the coat off and held it out, a gentle smile on her face. “It’s so cold out, dear. Here. You need this far more than I ever could.” Gabby stared at her warily. No one ever offered her anything nice. This had to be some kind of mean trick, or a way to get her to do something. “What do you want?” she asked cautiously. The woman shook her head. “Nothing. Just for you to be warm.” “Your parents ought to be ashamed of themselves, sending you out in rags in this weather,” the man with her fumed in a deep voice that was almost mesmerizing despite the anger in it. Quietly, Gabby answered, “I don’t have any parents, sir.” His entire demeanor seemed to shift from anger to something more gentle. “Ah. Forgive me, child.” “All the more reason to take my coat,” the woman persisted. “If there’s no one else to make sure you’re warm, I’ll do it.” She wanted to. She really wanted to. She was so cold, and it looked incredibly toasty and warm. Still, she shook her head. “Thanks, but I can’t.” “You absolutely can,” the woman insisted. “Please. It’s really not anything I’ll miss.” The man put a gentle hand on the blonde woman’s shoulder. “Marianna…” “Hush, Amon,” the woman, Marianna, whispered before giving the kindest smile Gabby had ever seen. “You need to be warm, dear. If you won’t take my coat, can I at least buy you a nice, hot meal?” Gabby hesitated. “Why? Why are you being nice to me?” Marianna frowned. “Is there some reason I shouldn’t be?” She hung her head, feeling embarrassed as she mumbled, “No one is nice to me.” Something warm and cozy wrapped itself around Gabby’s shoulders as Marianna draped the coat over her. “Well, I’m not no one. I’m going to be nice to you.” The man, Amon, chuckled. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen this side of you, Marianna. All things considered, it’s a welcome sight.” Gabby tried to maintain her cautious, tough exterior, but her eyes filled with tears anyway. “I can’t accept this. You can’t have nice things in the shelter.” “Why not?” Marianna asked, moving around to face Gabby again. “Because someone will take it. Everyone there wants nice things.” There was a long pause before Marianna said, “Well… will you at least let me get you something to eat? After that, we can take you home.” “How do I know I can trust you?” she asked hesitantly. She’d heard stories about what happened to young women in the city if they weren’t careful whispered amongst the others at the shelter. It wasn’t unreasonable to be untrusting. She didn’t know these people, and they didn’t know her. “Good, good, she’s smart,” Amon nodded. “I’m not sure I’d trust strangers myself if I was a young woman, especially not with things like that whole Zodiac nonsense in San Francisco happening.” “It never seems to be a good time to be a woman in this country,” Marianna sighed. Though she agreed, Gabby calmly stated, “You never answered my question.” “You’re right, you’re right,” Marianna sighed again. “Is there anyone at the shelter we could contact? Or an employer? Someone we could call so that we could tell them where you are?” Subconsciously pulling the coat tighter around her, she shook her head. “No one cares about me.” Amon pulled out a pen and a piece of paper from within his coat and wrote something down. He then held the paper out to Gabby. “There’s a pay phone nearby. Call this number, say you would like an interview tomorrow, and tell them specifically Amon told you to call. If you don’t show up, Tony will most certainly have my head. He hates his time being wasted.” She took the piece of paper feeling bewildered and stared at the number on it. She wanted so badly to hope that this might be what she’d been looking for, but she knew deep down she wasn’t good enough. She didn’t have the right clothes, and she wasn’t clean enough. “Oh! And here,” Marianna added, reaching into her purse. “Here’s twenty cents for the phone.” “You really should ask her her name,” Amon noted dryly. “Oh, I’m so rude, forgive me,” Marianna said, hanging her head in embarrassment. “What is your name, dear?” Gabby stared at the coins in her hand for a moment. She hadn’t held money in so long, she’d forgotten what it felt like. “Gabriella Heindrichs.” “Gabriella,” Marianna murmured. “Such a pretty name.” “You’d best hurry, Gabriella,” Amon said, gesturing to a nearby phone booth. “Tony is likely getting ready to go out to one of those disco clubs. Call him, quickly.” She still felt wary, but she nodded regardless and quickly rushed towards the beige phone booth just a few feet away. She wasn’t entirely sure this wasn’t an absurd dream as she stepped inside. Before she dropped her coins in, she glanced at the man and woman. They were still standing in the same place, though they were looking back at her. Even though her head told her not to, she knew her heart wanted to trust them. She’d never encountered anyone like them who genuinely cared about her, a total stranger. She quickly pushed these thoughts out of her mind and hurriedly picked up the receiver, dropping the coins into the slot. Cradling the phone against her shoulder, she slowly dialed the number the man had written on the piece of paper. On the third ring, someone picked up the call. “Tony Sugar of Lost Paradise Candy speaking,” came a flamboyant yet professional voice from the other end. “To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to?” “Um, h-hello,” she stuttered nervously. “My name is Gabriella Heindrichs. I… Um, A… Amon? He told me to call you.” Her hand was trembling, though she fought to keep the phone (and her voice) steady. “Oooooh, Namor asked you to call?” he cooed. “Well then honey, what can Tony Sugar do for you? I’m guessing you’re talent he scouted out for my new store in town?” She paused, unsure how to answer. What did he mean by that? “I… think so.” “Well, you tell him to bring you to my store tomorrow so I can meet you, hmm? I always like to meet potential new recruits face-to-face.” “Of course. Um, thank you, sir!” A small smile appeared on her face. This would be her first interview ever. She wasn’t confident she’d get the job, especially when he saw her in-person, but it was better than being turned away by just asking for an application. “Honey, no need to be so formal. Call me Mr. Sugar, alright? And if I like you, you can call me Tony. And don’t you worry yourself, alright? I promise I don’t bite. Usually.” With a laugh and a kissing sound, Tony Sugar hung up. She hung the phone up and walked out of the phone booth feeling dazed. Things like this didn’t happen to her. People didn’t help her. People didn’t care about her. So why were these strangers caring about her now? “Are you alright, Gabriella?” Marianna asked as she returned. “How did it go? Is Tony willing to see you?” “What a question,” Amon snorted. “Tony will see just about anyone who asks. That man is as sweet as his name implies.” Gabby nodded slowly. “He said to bring me to his store tomorrow.” Marianna’s face seemed to light up. “Well then, I insist you stay with us tonight so you can get all cleaned up to meet him! I’ll cook you breakfast in the morning!” “I suppose I will entertain you-know-who, then,” Amon said. “She’ll be bored otherwise. The Deerings and Giorgio have yet to arrive, after all.” Gabby stared at them in disbelief. She could feel wetness at the edges of her eyes again, and she blinked rapidly to clear it. Stay in a house? Eat a normal breakfast? She had to be dreaming. “Thank you, Amon,” Marianna sighed gratefully. “Now come, come, Gabriella! Let’s get you some dinner! You look so hungry, you poor dear.” She nodded slowly before meekly asking, “What about my things at the shelter?” Granted, it wasn’t much, but it was all she had. If she didn’t return that night, there was a good chance someone would steal them as they would be assumed to be abandoned. “We can stop by, of course,” Amon reassured. “Truly, it is no trouble.” “It’s not too far,” she promised. “I won’t be long.” While they walked the rest of the way there, Marianna asked Gabby about her life. Gabby told them about how she was left on a church’s doorstep as an infant, how she’d spent her life in foster care, and how she’d ended up at the homeless shelter. She was surprised by how oddly comfortable she felt with them despite barely knowing them. When they got to the shelter, Gabby promised not to be long. She hurried inside and saw that most people staying there had returned for the night. She kept her head down and made her way through the building until she was beside the bed she’d called hers for the last year or so. Beneath it was a large black plastic garbage bag full of her few possessions. It was mostly full of torn and ragged clothing, but it was still something. With her bag in her hand, she made her way to the front doors. She spotted Mary, one of the volunteers, sitting at the front desk. “Hi, Mary,” she quietly said as she approached the desk. “I, um, won’t be here tonight, so someone else should take my bed.” The plump woman looked surprised, but nodded. “Have a good night, dear.” With a small smile, Gabby continued out the front doors where the man and the woman, who had patiently waited while she was inside, were standing. “Are you ready?” Marianna asked cheerfully. With a nod, she answered, “I think so.” It felt weird to be leaving the shelter for the first time in over a year, even if for just one night. “We will be staying at a manor Tony has purchased for use by our family,” Amon explained. “Marianna will show you where you’re staying and all that, but I do request you stay out of the west wing.” “Mother’s there,” Marianna mumbled nervously. “Meeting her would be too much too soon. You need rest, food, and warmth, and that’s what I’ll give you.” Gabby’s eyes nearly bugged out of her skull. “A… manor?” It sounded huge, especially if it had wings. “Yes,” Amon nodded. “I apologize if that’s a bit overwhelming. All the more reason not to burden Gabriella with meeting Eve.” “Of course, of course,” Marianna agreed. “Oh, but before we head home, is there anything in particular you’d like to eat? I’ll get you whatever you’d like!” She honestly had no idea what her options were. She also didn’t want to seem greedy, so she simply replied, “Anything would be much appreciated, miss.” “Oh, I know!” Marianna exclaimed. “How about Pizzeria Uno? I’ve wanted to try that Chicago-style deep dish pizza since we arrived! Does that sound good, Gabriella?” She nodded in agreement, and the three walked to the restaurant, which was thankfully only a few blocks away. Gabby had been there a few times before in hopes of finding a job. It was for this reason she wasn’t surprised the employees tensed up when they saw her walk in the door. However, they relaxed once they realized she was there as a customer. The pizza was absolutely heavenly. It had been some time since she’d eaten food this good, and her tastebuds were singing their praises. Marianna and Amon seemed to enjoy it as well. Perhaps the best part of it was how the two treated her like anyone else and didn’t seem to cringe by her appearance. They genuinely seemed to take interest in her. She wasn’t fully convinced this wasn’t a dream, but she decided to enjoy every minute of it just in case. After they finished eating, Marianna and Amon hailed a cab, and soon the group were traveling to the manor. Upon arrival, Gabby was stunned by the size of the place. Her awe only increased as they went inside, and she witnessed the sort of luxurious interior she’d never dared dream of ever seeing. “Is this real?” she whispered, feeling incredibly out of place in such a beautiful home. Surely, she soiled it by her sheer presence alone. “Absolutely,” Marianna whispered back. “Let me show you where you’ll be sleeping. There should be a bathtub, too, so you can take a nice, hot bath and relax yourself before bed.” “I’ll leave you to it, then,” Amon stated. “If you two need me, I will be with Eve… So please, don’t need me.” He chuckled before waving politely and saying, “Good evening to you, Gabriella. I do hope you enjoy your stay.” Amon whirled his coat and made his way to the other side of the house, leaving the two women behind. “Your husband is really nice, miss,” Gabby politely complimented once he’d left. Marianna turned and looked at her with confusion before giving her an amused smile. “My husband?” she laughed, “Oh, dear, no. We aren’t married. He’s just a very good friend of mine.” She felt her face burning as embarrassment settled in. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to assume or offend you.” “There’s no need to apologize, Gabriella! You didn’t know!” She let out another more reassuring laugh. “Though I certainly hope he marries someday. He’s such a sweet, kind, patient man. Any woman would be lucky to have him.” She nodded politely, though part of her was curious why Marianna wasn’t interested. She ultimately decided it was none of her business and that speculating on someone else’s personal life was rude. Marianna gestured at her to follow up the stairs. “Come, come! Let me show you your room!” She guided Gabby down the halls, pausing to point out a few rooms of note, such as a lounge and a kitchen, before finally showing her to the bedroom. The bed was very large and decorated with sheets that seemed to be patterned after bees with their yellow and black stripes. Nearby, there was a simple dresser with a mirror. “It’s rather simple, but I hope you like it. There’s a bathroom across the hall so you can clean up, and don’t worry, I have some spare clothes you can wear,” Marianna said. “It’s…” She trailed off as her eyes welled up with tears again. “Why are you being so nice to me?” “Because,” Marianna began, her voice soft, “a long time ago, someone I love showed compassion to a sad, lonely girl… That girl was me. If I didn’t do the same, I’d be disrespecting her memory.” She nodded her head slowly and murmured, “Thank you, miss. For everything.” “You’re welcome, Gabriella.” Marianna reached out her hand for a moment before hesitating and turning around. “Please, get comfortable! I’m going to find you something to wear! I’m sure I have a few things you’ll look lovely in! I’ll be back in a bit!” With startling speed, the woman darted out of the room. Once she was gone, Gabby decided it would be a good time for a shower. She set her bag of things on the floor in the bedroom, then made her way to the bathroom. It was bigger and nicer than the shelter’s bathroom, with a clean floor and an even cleaner shower and toilet. If that wasn’t impressive enough, the water pouring out of the showerhead was warm. Warm! She could practically feel the filth running off of her skin. She stood in the water for several long minutes—or perhaps longer than that. It felt so nice to be warm and clean again and to wash her hair and body with products that weren't rationed out in small amounts. When she turned the shower off and opened the curtain, she was surprised to see clothing neatly folded and sitting on the sink counter. She hadn’t even heard Marianna enter the room. Quickly wrapping a fresh white towel around her body, she stepped out of the shower. A silk pink nightgown and a green floral dress had been left for her. She dressed herself in the nightgown once she’d dried off and discarded the towel in the hamper. With both her old and new clothes in her hand, she started for her bedroom. Or, she was going to. When she opened the door, she could hear two voices that sounded like they belonged to Marianna and Amon coming from down the hall. She followed the sound by walking as quietly as she could on the dark hardwood floor. She discovered they were in the lounge Marianna had showed her earlier. Feeling guilty, she quietly leaned close to the closed door to listen. She hated eavesdropping, especially when these two had been so nice to her, but her curiosity got the better of her. She could hear Marianna rambling. “—glad Mother likes her, that’s reassuring… I just hope Giorgio gets here soon. Maybe Gabriella can spend time with Juno? Ugh, but the Deerings, why them?” “She hasn’t seen them in a while,” came Amon’s reply. “She misses them. I miss them a fair bit as well which is why I suggested their presence to her.” “I suppose they aren’t so bad, but must they be so… uncomfortably close?” Amon chuckled. “Oh, you have no idea, Marianna.” “Oh, please don’t tell me that they’re—” “I hate to cut you off, but you are avoiding my question, you know.” There was a long pause. “I just… I want to help her, Amon. Is that so wrong?” “Absolutely not. But you are going quite above and beyond what you usually do. Giving her your coat, buying her dinner… I expected all that… But to invite her here? To give her your clothes, offer to cook for her… What are your plans for her, Marianna?” “It’s not the same for you, is it? When you see her smile, when her eyes light up when she talks… You probably didn’t feel the same joy I did, did you?” “What are you saying, Marianna?” “Gravity. It’s like she always said to me. The pull between two people… I feel it, stronger than I ever have before.” “I would like to believe this, truly. Gabriella seems such a wonderful, strong young woman. But the others seemed wonderful as well, and yet they rejected you all the same. It hurts me to see you suffer.” “So am I not supposed to try, Amon? Am I just supposed to give up and never be happy? You’d ask me to do that? I have… I have so, so much love in my heart, and I need to share it. I… I suppose if she ends up rejecting me, I’ll take it as a sign that I’m just not meant to be a mother. I’ll find her a home if she’ll let me, and I’ll just move on.” “Marianna…” “I can’t keep doing it, again and again and again, where they all just hate me and fear me and run away,” Marianna sobbed. “It’s either who I love, or what I am, and they just…” “Come here.” There was a brief pause before Amon continued. “It will be alright. Perhaps you are correct about the gravity. You did learn from the best about it, didn’t you?” There was a soft, strained chuckle from Marianna, which Amon joined in with. “You know,” he continued, “I must wonder… Would she handle you preferring woman, or you being a vampire better?” Gabby’s skin prickled with cold fear. She must have heard him wrong. A vampire? There was no way… He must have said something else, she thought with weary determination. She wasn’t foolish enough to believe in such things. “I don’t want to think about that yet,” Marianna whimpered. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. I need to focus on ensuring her day tomorrow goes well.” “As if it were possible for it to not.” “I wonder if she’s in bed yet… I hope she sleeps well. She seems so tired.” Amon was quiet for a moment. “I’m certain she is. Perhaps, in a few minutes, you could go check and make sure she’s comfortable?” “Right, of course, of course, just… let me compose myself. I’m a mess.” Gabby stepped back from the doorway. She didn’t want them to know she’d been eavesdropping, so in a short moment of panic, she rushed down the hallway as quietly as she could until she reached the bedroom Marianna had picked out for her. Once she was inside, she breathed a sigh of relief and quietly closed the door. She set her clean clothes over a green velvet armchair and neatly tucked her dirty clothing into the plastic garbage bag she’d brought with her. Marianna had been right, unfortunately; Gabby was exhausted. Even though she knew the woman would be in to check on her shortly, she found it difficult to stay awake once she was under the soft covers of the bed. She’d taken such comforts for granted when she was still part of the foster care system. Regardless of how poorly the families had taken care of her, she’d had a roof over her head and food to eat. And now, finally, even if for only one night, she had it again. Some time later, she awoke easily to the sound of her bedroom door creaking open. She kept her eyes shut, but she listened intently as she heard someone enter the room. She felt her sheets pull up slightly over her shoulders and a gentle hand stroke her hair. “Sleep well, Gabriella,” Marianna spoke softly, answering her unspoken question about who had entered the room. In a moment, her hand was gone, and soon after, her door creaked shut yet again. A small, content smile grew on her face. Gabby fell asleep again once more and was undisturbed for the rest of the night. When she awoke the next morning to the sound of birds chirping just outside the window, she was surprised by how energetic she felt. She sat up in bed feeling ready for the day, something she couldn’t recall feeling since she’d been a young child. At first, she was confused as she didn’t recognize her surroundings, but the previous day’s events came back quickly. She crawled out of bed and approached the chair where she’d left her new clothing. Folded in with the green dress, she found a fresh pair of underwear and a new bra, two items she desperately needed as her others were all quite old. The shelter had washing machines, but she rarely got a chance to do her laundry as there were so few machines and so many people wanting to use them. Surprisingly, the dress fit quite well, though it was a little loose. Still, she felt like a hundred bucks as she opened her door and skipped through the hallway. She was hungry, and she remembered Marianna had offered to make her breakfast. As she moved down the hall, the smell of bacon hit her as did the sound of laughter. She recognized Marianna’s voice, but there was someone else with her whose voice she didn’t recognize. Still, the smell of fresh food prompted her to continue on her way. She found the kitchen easily and when she entered, she saw Marianna in a light blue apron standing over the stove, smiling and talking to a tall, tan, handsome man with slick black hair in a dapper red suit who was sipping a cup of coffee. The unfamiliar man looked at her as she entered and politely raised his mug in greeting. “Buongiorno, ragazzina.” Marianna turned and beamed at her. “Good morning, Gabriella! You’re just in time for breakfast! This man here,” she gestured to the unfamiliar man with the spatula in her hand, “is my friend Giorgio.” “Hello,” she said politely with a smile. “It’s very nice to meet you!” Giorgio took a sip of his coffee yet again. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Gabriella. Very pretty name, I might say. Marianna has been talking my ear off about you all morning, so it’s very nice to finally see you.” Gabby glanced at Marianna in surprise, but she didn’t say anything as she took a seat in one of the wooden chairs next to where Giorgio stood. She had a feeling what she’d heard last night meant something, but she wasn’t sure what yet. “You know,” Marianna began, “Giorgio has an, um, an…” “Child, Marianna,” Giorgio chuckled. “Just child, no need to make it more difficult. Their name is Juno, and they are the light of my life. Perhaps you’ll get along with them. They could use more friends their own age. So to speak.” He smirked as he sipped his coffee yet again. “My age?” She couldn’t deny that it would be nice to have someone to talk to that might understand her better. “They’re nineteen, you around that age?” Giorgio asked. She nodded. “Yes, sir.” Giorgio glanced past her and gestured with his head. “Come on in, kiddo. She won’t bite.” A sound of shuffling came from behind Gabby, and soon a lanky person who did in fact seem around her age sank into the chair across from her. They wore a long, dark green coat and their face was almost entirely obscured by white bandages, but their shiny, nervous eyes were visible, as were their lips, which mouthed, “Hello,” as they raised a hand in greeting. “Hello,” she replied with a smile. Though she was quite inquisitive about their odd appearance, she knew it was rude to ask. “I know you’re curious,” Giorgio nodded, seeming to pick up on her thoughts. “Juno is very shy. They are also mute, so if you don’t know sign language…” He produced a pen and a pad of paper from his pocket. “...Juno will gladly write down a response for you. They may be shy, but they love to talk. You’re my favorite little irony, aren’t you?” He leaned over and kissed Juno on top of their head. A long-forgotten pang of jealousy hit Gabby’s chest, but she mentally shoved it away. She’d learned long ago that she wasn’t meant to be part of a family. People had made it very clear to her she was unwanted. She instead decided to talk to Juno. “What kind of stuff do you like to do?” Juno quickly scribbled down, “Bowling, roller skating, movies. Papa takes me to the drive-in sometimes. What do you like to do?” Gabby paused. She wasn’t sure how to answer the question. She hadn’t done much besides trying to find a job and survive for the past year. Her mind drifted back to when she was still a foster child. “I like to read. And I like to watch movies and tv.” “Maybe if we stay a while, I can ask my dad to bring us to a movie,” Juno wrote. “I’d rather someone like you come than Dee.” “Oh, I don’t know if I will be here that long,” she answered with melancholy honesty. Not that it didn’t sound fun (which it did). She’d never been to a movie theater before. “Oh, did you want to leave?” Marianna asked sadly. “After we get you a job, I mean? It’s… I mean, it’s not, it’s really not a problem, staying here, you know…” Marianna placed a plate in front of Gabby with pancakes and bacon arranged into a little smiley face with some sausage and eggs on the side. Gabby’s stomach growled happily in response. “I really don’t want to be an inconvenience,” she quietly stated before picking up the fork laying on the table next to her plate. “Trust me, Gabriella,” Giorgio said as he downed the rest of his coffee. “The last thing you could be is an inconvenience.” She quietly started eating as she considered this. Wasn’t that what she was? What she’d always been? An unwanted inconvenience? That’s what her mom must have thought. That’s what nearly every family she was placed with seemed to think. That’s what the state thought. That’s what everyone who turned her away from the opportunity to apply for a job thought. “I hope the food came out good,” Marianna muttered nervously as she placed a plate of food in front of Juno. “Does it taste alright, Gabriella?” “Yes, miss!” she answered earnestly. “It tastes amazing!” Juno nodded in agreement as they chewed on their own food. “Are you underselling your culinary skills again, Marianna?” came Amon’s voice. Gabby glanced towards the doorway, but immediately recoiled a bit in shock at the person who entered with him. It was a short, angry-looking woman with a shaved head, her face painted to look like a skull. She was shooting Gabby a truly venomous look as she entered. “Ah, Dee, finally joining us I see!” Giorgio laughed. “Come, come, have some coffee.” Juno doodled something on the paper and surreptitiously slid it over to Gabby. She looked down at it and saw it was a crude drawing of Dee’s head with a large arrow pointing at it that said, “BITCH.” Gabby tried her best to suppress her laughter, but she did smile to tell Juno she was amused. “Are the twins going to be joining our little kitchen party?” Marianna asked. “Perhaps,” Amon replied. He glanced at Gabby and smiled. “Perhaps you can meet them when you’re done eating. They’re interesting, to say the least.” “They’re certainly something,” Marianna muttered. “You’re not talking about me, are you?” came a feminine British voice. A second later, a grinning brunette had poked her head into the kitchen. “Absolutely,” came another British voice, this one masculine. A brunette man who looked rather similar to the woman peered in. “In fact…” His eyes seemed to flash for a moment before he continued. “The next thing she’s going to say is ‘Yes, I was Tantomile. I suppose if you speak of the devil, he will come, right?’” “Yes, I was Tantomile. I suppose if you speak of the devil, he will come, right?” Marianna sighed before pausing and shaking her head. “Oh, come on in you two. We have a… I mean, this is Gabriella! Gabriella, these two are Tantomile and Aleister Deering.” Gabby waved politely with her fork-free hand. She swallowed a bite of sausage before saying, “Hello.” The twins entered the kitchen. Tantomile grinned with eerie delight at Gabby. “You didn’t tell us you recruited someone new, Marianna!” “She’s not a ‘recruit,’ you two,” Amon stated, folding his arms over his chest. “She is currently a guest, one not privy to what we do. So, please, mind your tongues.” “Oh, you’re no fun,” Tantomile sighed before grinning again. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t see, right?” “Which of us will go first, sister?” Aleister asked. “You or I?” Juno glanced at Gabby and twirled their finger around the side of their head. Gabby fought back the urge to laugh again, but was immediately distracted by the feeling of someone’s hand on the top of her head. She flinched backwards and saw that Tantomile had crossed the distance between them in mere seconds and was standing beside her. “How interesting,” the twin grinned, removing her hand and stepping backwards. “What is?” Aleister asked excitedly. “She’s a homeless orphan.” “Just like us, then? A kindred spirit of sorts?” Tantomile shook her head. “She’s too… innocent.” “What?” Aleister gasped, his voice filled with faux shock. “Are you saying we’re not the picture of innocence, dear sister?” Gabby stared at them bewildered. How did she know that? And what did she mean by “too innocent”? Aleister extended a hand towards her, a playful smile on his face. “Well, regardless, it’s nice to meet you.” “You too,” she replied, still completely confused. These two were indeed odd, just like she’d been warned. Aleister glanced at his hand, then back to Gabby. “Well? Are you going to shake my hand?” Embarrassment colored her face, and she nodded. She lifted her hand and shook it politely. His eyes seemed to spark again, and a curious look came over his face, his eyes widening. He glanced over to Marianna, then to Amon, and finally back to Gabby. “Well. That’s interesting…” She pulled her hand away and watched him wearily. “What is…?” Aleister smiled mischievously. “Well, I’m not going to spoil it. Where’s the fun in that? But I do hope you stick around, Gabriella. I think you might have quite the future ahead of you if you do.” Gentle hands were on Gabby’s shoulders in an instant. “Alright, Aleister, let’s not overwhelm her,” Marianna said gently yet firmly. “Go ahead and eat, alright?” With a wink, Aleister took his sister’s hand in his and led her over to the chairs at the opposite end of the table. An uncomfortable feeling settled over Gabby as she quietly continued to eat her breakfast. How did Tantomile know about her past? And what did Aleister mean? What was in store for her future? As if sensing her unease, Marianna gently squeezed her shoulders. “It’s alright, Gabriella. Just relax. You have your big interview coming up this afternoon!” She tensed up at this reminder. She’d completely forgotten about the interview until now. Marianna seemed to immediately sense this and gave another reassuring squeeze to her shoulders. “You’ve got this!” Beside her, Juno gave her two thumbs up. Gabby smiled in response. “I hope so…” “Just be yourself,” Amon replied as he walked by, biting into an apple. “I have known Tony a long, long time. He hates phoniness. Just be genuine.” She inhaled again and nodded before finishing her breakfast. When she was done, Marianna sat at the kitchen table with her and, throughout the morning, helped her prepare for the interview. She told her what questions she could expect, and the best way to answer them. This helped ease the butterflies in Gabby’s stomach and made her feel more prepared. Marianna was patient, calm, and supportive, and her belief in Gabby made her believe in herself too. About a half hour before the interview, Marianna, Amon, and Gabby left the house. A maroon sedan sat waiting for them in the driveway. Gabby was surprised that she hadn’t noticed it the day before, but she chalked it up to her exhaustion. She trailed behind the two with her black garbage bag in her hand. Marianna looked at her as they slid into the car. “Whatever is the bag for?” “It’s my stuff,” she replied, just as confused. Didn’t she see her with it the night before? “I don’t know if Tony is going to need to see all your worldly possessions, Gabriella,” Amon pointed out as he started up the car. “I can just leave them in the car when we go inside,” she said as she set it in the middle seat, closing the door beside her. The car was much nicer than the taxi they’d taken the night before with cream-colored seats and a light linen scent lingering inside. “But why bring it at all?” Marianna asked. “It would be okay to leave it in your room.” Gabby paused a beat before asking meekly, “But aren’t I going back to the shelter after the interview?” “Oh… Did you want to go back…?” Marianna whispered miserably. “Is it because of what you overheard last night, Gabriella?” Amon sighed. “Wh-What? Oh no, what did you hear?” Marianna gasped. Her face quickly grew warm. “Um, nothing!” “I should have been paying more attention to our surroundings. I’m sorry, Marianna,” Amon said. “But Gabriella, I want to make something clear to you: Marianna and I, we are not bad people. Or she is not, at any rate. She has made some terrible mistakes, but she is as kind and loving a soul as could exist on this Earth.” “I was going to surprise you, after your interview,” Marianna muttered. “If you want, you’re… you’re welcome to stay with us. But if you’d rather leave, it’s fine. I promise I’ll help you find a good home, Gabriella. You deserve it.” Gabby lowered her head and stared at her hands. Her fingernails were the cleanest she’d seen them in awhile. “I don’t want to be an inconvenience.” “You absolutely wouldn’t be. At all,” Marianna insisted. “Everyone else has said I am,” she whispered. She felt ashamed even though it wasn’t her fault. “Well, I’m not everyone else. I’m Marianna Cross, and I’d love if you would stay with us, Gabriella.” Slowly, she lifted her head in surprise. She wasn’t sure what to think. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. “Do you mean it?” she finally asked, not daring to breathe in case it changed her mind. Marianna was smiling, tears welling up in her eyes. “Mhmm. I really do mean it.” Gabby exhaled with stressed relief and she, too, felt her eyes filling with happy tears. “I’d like that, miss.” “We can… We can discuss it more tonight, alright? We have to get you a job first.” Gabby nodded. She’d momentarily forgotten about the interview. She buckled her seat belt and folded her hands neatly in her lap. “Let’s not keep Tony waiting any more than we have to. He called this morning saying he had guests he wanted to entertain later this afternoon, so no time for dilly-dallying,” Amon said as he pulled out of the driveway. Gabby was quiet the whole way there. Mentally, she ran through the questions Marianna had helped her with earlier. You can do this, Gabriella, she told herself. Soon enough, the colorful, shiny front of the Lost Paradise Specialty Store came into view, the logo depicting a winged stag standing proudly above the store’s name. As Amon pulled into the parking lot around the back, he let out a small laugh. “Marianna, look!” He gestured his head towards an orange RV with a white stripe on it. “I’d know that thing anywhere. It seems Tony really does have some guests to entertain!” “Dallas is here?” she gasped. “Well that’s certainly a nice surprise!” Gabby unbuckled her seat belt and slowly exited the car, leaving her bag of worn clothing in the back seat. Being at the location released a brand new cage full of butterflies into her stomach. “It’s okay, Gabriella,” Marianna reassured her with a gentle smile, “I believe in you.” Grateful for the way she was able to sense her anxiety, Gabby smiled back at Marianna. Together, the group of three walked into the store through the back door. As they made their way through the back hallway, she could hear sounds of merriment coming from what she guessed was the main store. When they entered the front, her eyes widened. There were various kinds of candy as far as the eye could see in jars, boxes, and containers all along the walls and in displays on the sales floor. It was more candy than she’d ever seen in her life. The noise she’d heard when they’d first walked in seemed to come from a few people milling about. There was a massive man in a fur coat with a black beard standing with his arms folded by the counter, a heavily scarred woman with an eyepatch in a black shawl looking over the lollipops, a bald man with an hourglass tattoo on the back of his head wearing sunglasses perusing the chocolates, and a man with sandy blonde hair dressed like a cowboy chatted animatedly with a black man dressed in black pants that seemed to go up to his stomach, partially covering the yellow shirt he was wearing. The cowboy was the first to notice them. He waved before stepping on over, greeting them with a, “Well howdy, you two! Fancy meetin’ you here!” He turned to Gabby and tipped his hat politely. “And who might this little lady be?” “My name is Gabriella Heindrichs,” she greeted. His friendliness made her feel more relaxed. “Dallas Ryder, at your service,” he said, pulling off his hat and giving a bow. He glanced up at Marianna. “She a new member?” Marianna nodded, then paused. “Well… Yes, and no. She’s new to the house, yes. She’s not…” She glanced at Gabby. “She’s not like us.” “Oh, I disagree,” said the black man who had been talking to Dallas. “This cutie pie is definitely like us: gorgeous. How old are you, honey? Nineteen? Twenty?” “Nineteen,” she answered meekly. “I have decades on you, and you look this good naturally,” he sighed. He gingerly held out his hand. “Tony Sugar, honey. Nice to finally meet you in person, even though it’s been barely a day since we talked on the phone. But I’m a busy man, so it’s nice when things fall into place quickly, you get me?” She wasn’t entirely sure she followed, but she nodded regardless. Tony had an outgoing, friendly vibe that eased her previous worries. “Now, Gabriella… Gab-ri-ell-a. That’s four syllables, you like that? Or you got a nickname that’s a bit shorter, honey?” With a nod, she answered, “Gabby would be fine.” “Gabby, Gabby,” Tony said, waving a finger. “I like it! It suits you. So, anyway, you ain’t here for anything but a job, so why don’t we figure this out. You wanna do the boring part here, or in my office?” “Whichever is best for you,” she answered with honesty. She didn’t know which setting would be more “professional”. “Let’s not bore all the guests with the minutiae of the hiring process, hm?” Tony waved her along. “You lot wait out here while we get this done.” He sauntered off towards his office, and Gabby followed. Two men in nice suits and sunglasses stood guard outside the office, barely reacting as they walked past, though Gabby did get an overwhelming whiff of honey as she moved past them. The office was rather simple, much to her surprise. It was sparsely decorated and unpainted, but the boxes scattered about told her it wasn’t quite finished just yet. During the whole process, Tony seemed rather bored, but he wasn’t impolite, listening intently as Gabby answered the questions he read off of a clipboard on the desk. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally said, “Alright, honey, I think you and I both know I’m gonna hire you. I don’t think I ever had any doubt. But I gotta ask, why did no one hire you before? You’re a cute little white girl with a pretty smile. You’re what America loves!” Timidly, she admitted, “My appearance didn’t meet their expectations.” It was glossing over the truth, but it wasn’t a lie. “Mo-ther-fuck-ers. Well, their loss is my gain!” He waved his hand dramatically. “There’s another reason I’m hiring you though, one way more personal to me, beyond loyalty to Namor and the others. You wanna know what it is?” She nodded with honest interest. She was trying to stay focused, which was challenging considering how excited she was that she’d actually gotten the job. He pulled a book out from under the desk—a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory--and pointed at the cover. “You see this book? When this came out, I was just in love with it. I even auditioned for that movie that came out last year, but I didn’t get the part. The world isn’t ready for a black Willy Wonka.” He sighed forlornly. “But the story just hits with me, you dig? An eccentric candy maker offering a dream come true to a down-on-his-luck kid… I wanted to do that. I’m all about helping people, you know, cuz I’m the sort of guy who knows what struggling is.” He gestured at himself. “I ain’t straight, I ain’t white, and I don’t fuck around. So if you’re okay with all that, then I’m okay with that smile of yours greeting the customers at the counter. How’s that sound, honey?” Gabby considered this. She knew it was generally frowned upon to be gay, and this made her concerned for Tony as he seemed like an honest, good man. He also seemed to be doing well, so she didn’t think she needed to be worried. With a small smile, she nodded. He clapped his hands together excitedly. “Well then, welcome aboard, Gabby! Why don’t you go trick-or-treating with my pals, find yourself some sweets so you can get a taste and sucker people into buying them at the grand opening. How’s that sound?” With a bright smile, Gabby nodded again. “Thank you, Mr. Sugar!” She was practically bubbling with excitement as she hurried out of his office and back into the shop. She saw that Dallas and his friends had all gathered around Amon and Marianna by the counter. All of them turned to look at her when she rejoined them. “Well now, this little lady the new addition to our little coven, that right?” said the bald man in a thick Cajun accent. “No Pierre, not yet. I don’t even know if…” Marianna shook her head and beamed at Gabby. “Judging by your smile, I trust everything went well?” Gabby was momentarily confused by the word “coven,” but continued to smile at Marianna anyway. “Yes! I, um, I have a job now!” “As I knew you would,” Amon nodded. “Let me guess: He pulled out Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?” With a small giggle, she nodded. “That boy’s gettin’ predictable as all Hell,” Dallas laughed. “Oh, anyhow! Little lady, figgered I’d introduce you to my crew here proper now that you’re all employed and whatnot! This here’s Pierre.” He gestured towards the bald man, who gave a big smile. “That lovely lady is Michelle.” He gestured to the woman with the eyepatch, who gave a small, friendly wave. “And the big guy here? That’s my boy Kane, my brother for life. He don’t talk much, though. Think I’ve heard him say ‘bout five words in all the time I’ve known him.” Kane just smirked and gave a small nod. “It’s very nice to meet all of you,” Gabby said. She was quickly adjusting to being someone people liked rather than annoying people sheerly by existing. “She’s cute, Marianna,” Michelle said in a British accent. “A little tense, but I mean, if I was a stranger around these blokes,” she gestured to Kane and Pierre, “I’d be a bit tense as well.” “Aw, come on, mon amie,” Pierre snorted. “I’m harmless as an itsy-bitsy spider, you know that! Less you a rich man, and you ain’t doin’ right by the common folk. Which case I’m nasty as a full-grown cococdril.” “So, who else is in town, anyhow?” Dallas asked. “I mean… I know Rex ain’t.” Amon sighed. “Yes, he’s… He’s still dealing with the heartbreak right now. I’m giving him space. Giorgio is here to deal with any trouble at the grand opening. And the Deering twins are here as well.” “Fabulous! Guess I only need to spare four guest rooms then,” Tony chimed in as he sauntered over. “Not sure I like having Dee around, that woman would be fine in my book if she took off that scowl and maybe didn’t glare at every new man and woman in existence who so much as looks at Giorgio.” He smirked at Gabby. “Honey, didn’t I tell you to go get some candy? Why don’t you go help her out, cowboy? You know the good stuff.” “I reckon it’d be my pleasure,” Dallas said as he gestured with his head for Gabby to follow him. “Come on, little miss, let’s find you somethin’ good!” For the next ten minutes, Dallas and Gabby wandered around the shop with a plastic bag. They filled it up with as much candy as it could possibly hold. It was more than she’d ever eaten in her life, which naturally made her worried about getting a cavity. She didn’t have the best dental hygiene (more because of a lack of supplies than a lack of trying), but she had a feeling she’d soon have access to plenty of toothpaste and a toothbrush with bristles that weren’t worn and frayed. “Well looks like you’re makin’ off like a bandit here, Gabby!” Dallas laughed when they were finished. “I don’t know how I’m going to eat all of this,” she admitted. The bag was heavy and had well over fifty different pieces of candy. “One at a time would be the best way,” winked the cowboy. With a giggle, she nodded. “So you stayin’ with Marianna, then?” Dallas asked. “Mmhm!” she replied with a big grin. “Well then, I reckon I oughta give you a little somethin’ to welcome you to the family.” He flipped his hat off his head and onto hers with one quick motion. “That looks good on you I reckon. You take good care of it, y’hear?” Gabby’s eyes widened, and she smiled even bigger. “I will. I promise!” “Also, one thing I wanna tell you, and it’s real important, alright?” He gently put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “There might be things you’re gonna learn if you stick around that are mighty scary, but I wanna tell you that no matter what, you can trust Amon and Marianna. Amon saved my life, and Marianna’s as good a girl as they come. They’re good people, even if neither of ‘em think they are.” This worried her, especially considering what little of their conversation she’d heard the previous night. However, Dallas’s encouragement helped ease her concerns. “Gabri… Er, Gabby?” Marianna called out. “Is, um, do you prefer Gabby?” Both she and Dallas turned their attention towards her. With a smile, she answered, “Gabby is fine.” Marianna smiled back. “Alright, good. I’m sorry I didn’t ask sooner, I, well, I’m sorry. I’m just a bit… overwhelmed. Now that we have you a job, is there anything you’d like to do for the rest of the day?” Truthfully, she hadn’t considered this as she’d been so worried about the interview itself. “I don’t mind what we do,” she replied. Anything would be better than walking on the sidewalk in worn shoes with miniscule hopes of ever building a better life for herself. “Would you like to go shopping? I think you could do with a new wardrobe. I’d hate to just give you hand-me-downs,” Marianna asked. Even though she desperately needed new clothes, she quietly declined. “I don’t have any money.” “Lucky for you, we have enough money to last us several lifetimes,” Amon chuckled as he came over. “Trust me, it will be no trouble at all to revamp your wardrobe.” “Listen to the nice man, honey!” Tony called from across the store. “As your new boss, I demand you look fabulous!” Gabby nervously shifted from one foot to the other. “I couldn’t ask you to do anything like that.” “Well, you don’t have to ask,” Marianna stated firmly. “I insist.” Her eyes welled up with tears for the second time that afternoon, and she stared at Marianna in surprise. “Are you sure?” “Absolutely,” Marianna smiled. “Thank you,” she whispered. Finally, she’d have clothing she could wear that she wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen in. She could probably throw away almost everything she owned as it was likely she wouldn’t need it anymore. For the rest of the day, Gabby and Marianna searched for a brand new wardrobe at the shopping mall. Marianna didn’t seem to be concerned with how much she was spending, which was something Gabby wasn’t used to. She had been to the mall a few times before, though usually it was for a specific purpose (like an outfit to wear for a school concert). She’d never been spoiled like this before. Though she felt bad about how much money was being spent, she had to admit that it felt amazing to have clothes that fit her, were stylish, and weren’t full of holes and stains. When they finally got home in the early evening, after Gabby had put away all of her new clothes in the room that had officially become hers, Marianna entered her room and asked if she could speak to her privately for a moment. “It’s… It’s important, especially if you’re going to be staying with us.” Gabby nodded. “Of course.” Marianna wrung her hands nervously as she sat down on Gabby’s bed. “This is rather hard for me to say.” Standing by her dresser, Gabby felt anxious and full of concern. “Did I do something wrong?” “Absolutely not!” Marianna insisted, “But… there’s something I need to tell you, if you’re going to stay. I guess this is going to determine if you’ll want to stay at all. Tell me, what did you overhear Amon and I discussing last night? I promise I’m not angry.” She nervously stared at the floor. “You said something about gravity and wanting to be a mom.” She nodded. “Well, then I suppose I may as well cutcut right to it, yes?” She gestured around the room. “I understand you’re technically an adult and all, but I’d like to give you a real family and… be a mother to you. If you want that, I mean. Again, I know you’re an adult, legally.” For what felt like the hundredth time in less than twenty-four hours, Gabby’s eyes widened with surprise. For years, she’d believed no one would ever adopt her. She’d survive in the homes she was placed in, but she knew they were all temporary. The families wanted the monthly paycheck, not her. Now, though, she had a chance at having a family. A real family who seemed to actually care about her and want her around. “When I was a little girl,” she started quietly, “all I wanted was to be wanted and loved.” “Well, I can give you that, Gabby,” Marianna replied softly. “A long time ago, I was nothing but a trophy daughter for high-class parents. I felt trapped and miserable… And then…” A wistful smile appeared on her face. “...Nadia found me. She showed me so, so much I never would have understood otherwise. She changed my life. And when I saw you the other day, I saw in that frustrated, hurting young woman… myself. I saw me. And I knew, I knew I had to change your life.” “You already have,” she reassured her. Marianna sighed. “Though, with Nadia, it was different. I loved her. We were together nearly ten years… so long ago, it was.” She slumped back against the wall, her hand over her heart, her eyes tearing up a bit. “It’s so easy to tell you that, even in this time, when they kill people like me just for existing. But there is something far more difficult I have to tell you.” Just like she had been with Tony, Gabby was concerned for Marianna. She didn’t personally mind it, but other people didn’t think the way she did. She didn’t want the woman to get in any kind of trouble. But she also couldn’t imagine what possibly could be even more difficult than that. Still, she patiently waited. “Please, don’t hate me for this,” Marianna whispered tearfully before giving her a big smile, showing a pair of fangs. Gabby stared in confusion for the longest moment. What was Marianna trying to show her? That her teeth were longer than normal? Why was that bad? Then it hit her: Marianna was a vampire. Her eyes widened, and she wrapped her arms around herself protectively. She hadn’t misheard them last night after all. But how was that possible? Marianna flinched, her eyes filled with hurt. “Do you want to leave? I won’t stop you.” Gabby didn’t answer right away. She wasn’t sure how to. How was she supposed to react? She was being told something that was only supposed to be in movies and books was actually real. But what confused her the most was how Marianna didn’t seem anything like the vampires in the few movies she’d seen. In those movies, vampires were horrible, bloodthirsty monsters who didn’t care about who they were killing so long as they could drink their blood. She hadn’t seen Marianna do anything like this. In fact, she seemed entirely normal. Her face softened as she realized this. Marianna was normal. She wasn’t a monster; she was kind and compassionate. Was Gabby afraid? A little bit, but knowing that not once did the woman before her try to inflict any kind of pain on her eased her fear. Not once had she done anything cruel. Maybe the movies were wrong. Maybe vampires weren’t monsters. At least Marianna wasn’t. “Are you frightened?” Marianna asked quietly. “A little bit,” she whispered. “That’s… fair,” she sighed. “But… are you frightened enough that you’d rather not stay? I want you to be happy, and I’ll do all I can to make sure you are. Even if it means letting you go and helping you find a home elsewhere.” She considered this question for a short moment, but she realized the answer quickly and shook her head. “I like it here.” “You’re really okay with this then?” Marianna asked, her voice filled with disbelief yet tinged with excitement. Gabby nodded, a small smile growing on her face. She trusted Marianna wholeheartedly. There was no doubt about that. Marianna visibly seemed to ease up, a smile spreading across her face. “Then… I was right. After all these years of searching, I’ve finally found you.” She slowly crossed the room and pulled Gabby into a gentle hug. “My daughter,” she murmured. Joy bubbled up within her, and she wrapped her arms around Marianna. Finally, she had a place she belonged. Finally, she had a home and a family. With a bright smile, she replied, “My mom.”
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AuthorsMichael & Tierney Ford Archives
July 2023
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