All That She Can See(34)

‘What do you mean?’ Cherry said, wiping her hands down her flannel trousers.

‘You said “you can’t have too much of a good thing”. I think that all depends on what each person decides is good for them,’ Chase said, gesturing towards the window. ‘See Bruce in the corner. Stood outside, waiting for him, is Understanding. It’s that Understanding that keeps him going back to his cheating wife. That can’t be good for him.’ Cherry saw nothing and eyed Chase to try to gauge whether he was telling the truth. Even if he was lying to her what he was saying still made a lot of sense.

‘So that’s why he feels so Worthless all the time,’ Cherry muttered, her heart starting to beat faster.

‘Worthless?’

‘Yes,’ Cherry pointed out of the window but Worthlessness was nowhere to be seen. She dropped her hand and said, ‘It’s gone now. I got rid of it but his Meddlum was Worthlessness.’

‘Meddlum?’ Chase frowned. ‘What’s that?’

‘It’s what they’re called. The things we see – they’re Meddlums,’ Cherry said, watching the monsters scream each time their owner wolfed down one of her treats.

‘Meddlums,’ Chase said, letting the word roll around his mouth. ‘Fine, Meddlums they are then.’ He pointed to Orla. ‘Her Meddlums are Ambition and Determination, and they’re pretty huge. That’s why she’s always yawning. No matter what remedy you give her, she’s the sort of person who will always find a way to overwork herself.’

A man with half-closed eyelids came over and wrapped his hands around Chase’s shoulders. Chase looked at him in disgust.

‘I see,’ Cherry said. ‘I guess the pudding I’ve been giving her hasn’t been helping.’

‘What did you lace them with?’ Chase asked, prying the man’s fingers off him.

‘A Good Night’s Sleep. It’s in the toffee.’

‘Nice!’ Chase said, genuinely impressed. ‘And Sally over there – well, Sally’s an interesting one.’

‘How so?’

‘Ever since her husband died, Acceptance and Nostalgia have been her old faithfuls. But she’s constantly in my mum’s shop. Seeking out clairvoyants, fortune tellers and those who claim they can speak to the dead doesn’t scream acceptance to me.’

‘People do crazy things when they’re desperate,’ Cherry said.

‘I guess. Anyone who turns to my mum and aunt for life advice must be absolutely mad.’

‘You’re not close?’ Cherry asked. When Chase shook his head but didn’t offer any further information, Cherry tried to change the subject and said, ‘Well, if it makes you worry less, Sally told me she only used to see your mum and aunt to check that her own readings were accurate.’

‘Oh, Sally never comes in for readings. They always just talk,’ Chase said.

‘She still goes?’ That surprised Cherry.

‘Once a week.’

Cherry wondered if Sally had been lying to her or if Chase was simply mistaken. He had just said that he and his family weren’t close. Easy mistake to make, she thought, glancing over at Sally who was biting into a big walnut whip. Her two Meddlums outside popped out of existence.

‘Sally’s seventy-two, and her husband died when she was in her forties,’ Chase went on. ‘That’s why she always keeps an eye out for Margie. Margie’s fella died just after they got married. It was a real shock. He was only thirty-five and no one saw it coming, least of all Margie.’

‘No wonder I was drawn here. There’s just so much sadness.’ Cherry wrapped her arms around herself.

‘Margie’s got a lot of Hope. Always has done and probably always will.’

‘That’s nice to know.’ Cherry looked over at Margie, who had come to a social event where she knew there would be a lot of other people. Progress, Cherry thought.

‘So. You can see the bad in people?’ Chase asked and she nodded. ‘Hmm. Can’t imagine that’s any worse than seeing the best in people.’ Chase finally ducked out from under the man’s looped arms and pushed him towards the dancing mums, who gratefully accepted him into their group.

‘Right. It must be awful seeing beauty and happiness and love and compassion everywhere you go.’ Cherry rolled her eyes.

Chase narrowed his eyes at her. ‘Yeah, it’s wonderful seeing all of that, making you wonder why your life isn’t the same. It’s so good to feel worse about all the things you don’t have and haven’t done. People don’t even know they’re doing it!’ Chase’s fists were clenched.

‘Doing what?’ Cherry asked, confused.

‘Rubbing it in my face!’ He bashed his knuckles on the counter and Cherry’s old fashioned till opened.

‘Chase… no one’s out to get you,’ Cherry said, pushing the till shut and glancing outside to see Frustration move in between Cynicism and Mischief. ‘You have as much of a chance at a good life as anyone else.’

‘It never feels that way.’

‘Have you even given it a chance? Or do you see one good Meddlum and feel defeated once again? When was the last time you actually took a decent shot at something?’

Chase was quiet but she knew he had heard her. ‘What would you know about it?’ he said under his breath.