the empty candy box on the counter. “All right let’s see what you can do. Clean it up.”
Sue began to reach for the candy on the floor to pick it up.
“No, not like that. With your magic,” Vivien instructed.
Sue’s ring had stopped pulsing. “I don’t know how.”
“Focus,” Lorna said. “Think about what you want.”
Heather crossed her arms over her chest, and she stayed quiet as she watched.
“I want…” Sue lifted her hand helplessly to the side. “I want the candy back in the box?”
The candy remained on the floor.
“With conviction,” Vivien urged. “Try again.”
Sue took a deep breath and stared at the floor, wanting it to be clean. A giant jolt of electricity shot up her arm from the ring and seemed to explode out of her. The candy began to tremble and shake just as the glass shards had. The colorful pieces flew into the air, spinning like a tornado before arching to rain into the box in loud thuds. Before the last thud had even sounded, dust floated from the floor. Though the floor hadn’t looked dirty, the tiny particles created their own cyclone and spun around the lobby. It accumulated dust from the concessions, from the restroom signs, and molding on the high ceilings. It even pulled a piece of stale popcorn from underneath.
The dust storm slashed between Heather and Lorna, sending their hair flying. Lorna cried out and blocked her face with her arms.
“Sue!” Heather yelled. “That’s enough.”
“I don’t know how to stop it!” Sue didn’t understand how she’d started it. How could she end it?
The dust flew at the door, crashing into the glass. It rippled like desert sand, folding over itself before pushing into the seam along the door’s edge to blow away into the breeze outside. When the last speck of dirt disappeared, a single kernel of popcorn remained. It didn’t fit through the crack, and after hovering for a few seconds, it fell and bounced to a stop on the floor.
Heather slowly walked over to the popcorn and picked it up. She examined it before carrying it to a trash can near the concessions and dropped it inside. “Okay, then. You’re a cleaner.”
Sue bit the inside of her lip.
“What?” Lorna asked. “That doesn’t make you happy?”
“I’ve spent my adult life making sure Hank’s house was just as he wanted it.” Sue gave a dejected shrug. “I find it sad that my magical power is cleaning.”
“Our gifts aren’t always what we want, but what we know how to do,” Vivien said. “Lorna’s a healer and finder because that’s who she’s been her whole life. She takes care of others. I’d rather not be in people’s heads all the time, and I know Heather would love not to have ghosts yelling in her ear for attention when she’s talking to people.”
“True that.” Heather looked around the lobby. She ran her finger over several surfaces. “You did a damn good job.”
“I wouldn’t look at it as a disappointing thing.” Lorna crouched down to look at the floor. “I’d think of it as you spent so much time cleaning, you don’t have to do it anymore. It’s a reward for time served.” She gave a low whistle. “Wow, these floors look brand new out of the factory. Even the grimy rubbery smudge is gone. I’ve been scrubbing at that thing for months.”
“I need some air.” Sue looked at the door, nervous about going through it to the other side.
“Air or coffee?” Vivien nudged her arm. “I could go for coffee.”
“You’re in pajamas,” Heather pointed out.
“Sue’s not.” Vivien grinned. “Sue can pick up coffees for us. Can’t you, Sue?”
Sue felt her cheeks turning red.
“Oh, please, Sue, please,” Lorna begged.
Vivien gave a meaningful look at Heather, who quickly added, “Oh, yeah, I could sure use a coffee. And by coffee, I mean a vanilla latte with an extra shot of espresso.”
“Same,” Heather said.
“Same for me too. I’ll get you cash,” Lorna offered, moving toward the back office.
“No, this is on me. It’s the least I can do.” Sue didn’t feel like she had much of a choice and finally forced herself to go outside. She glanced back as the door closed, but instead of Hank’s reflection, she saw Vivien smiling at her. The woman gave her a thumbs up and waved at her to go.
Chapter Ten
Sue intentionally did not look into reflective surfaces as she walked down the sidewalk toward the coffee shop. Instead, she focused on her steps and her breathing.
In. Out. In. Out.
Jameson already told her