PART XIII: CATHERINE

As I’m in the backroom, pulling out boxes full of books to put on the shelves tomorrow, I hear the front door open and close. I walk into the main area of my store and see what at first looks like a gray-haired man in a hat. He casually surveys the store, his back to me, his hands in his pockets.

“Good evening. Can I help you?” I ask.

The man turns and in a British accent says, “Yes, I was wondering about the name of this store.” It takes me only a moment to realize I’m looking at my adopted brother.

“Max,” I say just above a whisper.

“Pardon?” He says.

“You don’t recognize me.”

He steps closer and looks at me carefully.

“Catherine?”

“Yes,” I say, swallowing hard.

“My God. It is you,” he says. “I can’t believe it.” Max slowly raises his hand to touch my face.

“Don’t,” I say, stepping backward.

“But…how are you still alive?”

“I’m a witch, Max,” I say.

“A witch?” He says, looking around confusedly. Max removes his hat and laughs. “I thought I’d never see anyone I knew again. What are you doing here in America? What happened to you?” But before I can answer, he says, “Catherine, I’ve done unspeakable things, I’ve…” The smile on his face disappears. A single blood red tear runs down his cheek.

“I know,” I say. “I know what you are, and I know what you’ve done.”

“I can’t stay here anymore,” Max says as he wipes the tear away on the sleeve of his coat. He steps toward me. Again, I step backward. “If you’re a witch, you can help me. There must be a cure for what I am. I can’t live like this anymore. I’m in danger. There are sketches of me posted all over town. I must leave America. Please, Catherine, go back to England with me.”

“I can’t return to England, Max. My home is here,” I say, crying. “I wish I could help you, but I don’t know how.”

“There must be a spell that will take away this hunger that compels me to do unspeakable things. There must be something that can undo this horrible curse. You’ve lived for over two hundred years. You must know a way to end my torment. You’re the only one I can trust, Catherine. Please don’t hate me for what I’ve become. It wasn’t my fault.”

I shake my head and wipe away my tears. “I don’t know how to help you, Max. I’ve searched for years for a cure. I’m in this store all day, surrounded by all this knowledge. You must know I’ve done everything I can to try to find a way to end this. I…”

“I still love you, Catherine,” Max says.

“Max,” I say. “I’m sure you have questions as to why you’re suddenly alive and awake in an entirely different time from the one you remember. I should explain to you what happened. I…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Max says, shaking his head. “All I’ve ever wanted was you. I can’t keep hiding forever. If you can’t find a cure for this curse, perhaps there’s another way. Leave here with me, Catherine. Leave America. Maybe in Europe there’s someone who knows how to end my sinful existence and give me back the life I once had. Please, Catherine.”

Max is standing with his back to the door. Just then, it swings open and Officer Jim Greene walks in. “I’ll be right with you,” I say, trying my hardest to sound like I haven’t been crying. I pull a tissue from a box on my desk and gently blot my face. I turn back to Max and step in close. “Don’t turn around. A policeman just entered. You must go,” I whisper.

Max replaces the hat over the gray wig, pulls the brim down low, and slowly backs away from me. In a round mirror positioned near the ceiling, I see the policeman walking down one of the aisles. He pulls a book off the shelf and thumbs through it. Max exits the store.

“Good evening, Officer Greene,” I say, doing my best to sound natural.

“Please, call me Jim,” the policeman says as he closes the book and slides it back onto the shelf. He turns and smiles, removing his hat.

“Is everything okay? Was there another attempted break-in?” I ask.

Officer Greene’s face changes from a smile to a thoughtful look. “Um,” he says. “Yes, uh, no, no there wasn’t another attempted break-in. Uh, I wanted to come by and see if you were interested in having a drink with me this Friday night.”

This is not what I expected. I don’t know how to answer. We both stand in uncomfortable silence for a moment. I clear my throat.

“Oh,” I say. “I see, yes, well, I am working at the store this Friday until seven…”

“Well, perhaps we can get together after that,” he suggests.

“I’ll consider it,” I say.

“Fair enough,” Officer Greene says, smiling.

I walk back around the desk and open the drawer. I take out the folded sheet of paper with the sketch of my adopted brother. “I have your number,” I say, holding up the sheet and managing a smile.

“Perfect,” he says, nodding. “Well, I’m sure you want to close up.”

“Yes,” I say. “I’ve got a cat at home that is waiting for his dinner.”

“Oh, that’s lovely. I have a German shepherd who would probably eat your cat,” he says, laughing.

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” I say, smiling and looking down.

“Well, please let me know if you’d be interested in getting together.”

“I will, Officer Greene,” I say.

“Jim,” he reminds me again as he puts his hat back on and exits the store.

I wait inside with the lights off for an hour, hoping that Max will return, wondering if Officer Greene is watching from across the street, making sure there’s no danger of the “suspicious character” returning. After an hour, I let myself out the front door and lock it behind me. I look around, but I don’t see anyone on the street. No Max. No Officer Jim.