The Kitchen Witch

Viggo ordered flowers to be delivered to the café and then showered and changed clothes. He figured the flowers might help keep his head attached to his shoulders…might. He grabbed his jacket on the way out the door. It had turned out to be quite chilly even though the sun was shining.

He went to the little electronics store and bought Sarah a new tape for her answering machine and then headed for the café. When he stepped in the door Maria looked at him.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

Viggo was startled by the question. “What makes you think anything is wrong?” He asked.

“The look in your eye…care to talk about it before you go talk to Sarah?” Maria asked as if she knew all about the tape that was burning a proverbial hole in his pocket.

“What are you a mind reader?” Viggo asked a little off balance.

“You might say that.ria ria answered smiling her gray eyes dancing.

“Alright…Sarah is probably going to kill me.” Viggo said then running his hands through his hair.

“That’s what the flowers were for?” Maria asked.

“Partly…well mostly…sort of.” Viggo decided to quit while he was ahead.

“I see.” Maria murmured.

“Look how much do you know about Sarah’s past?” Viggo asked.

“Quite a bit, why?” Maria asked.

“Her ex called this morning while I was at her place.” Viggo admitted.

Maria didn’t look surprised about him being at Sarah’s house. “I see, and you talked to him?” Maria asked.

“Sort of…if what I did could be considered talking.” Viggo said shifting slightly feeling as if he was ten years old and standing in front of the principal explaining how the baseball found it’s way through his window.

“Come up to my office.” Maria said then and grabbed his arm. They passed through the café quickly it was very busy and Sarah had her back to them.

“Here give me the tape.” Maria asked pulling a tape player out of her desk. Viggo was startled…he didn’t remember mentioning having the tape with him. He didn’t feel like backtracking though so he handed her the tape and she began playing it. After she listened to it she looked at Viggo.

“Well if I was Sarah I would be flattered.” Maria said then.

Viggo was embarrassed by the way he had spoken to the man even though he would say the same things if he had it to do over again. Well maybe if he had it to do over again he might have came up with better things to say than the tired cliché’s he had used.

“You are not Sarah.” He said shaking his head.

“No, but I am a woman. You are right, he threatened her on this tape. He threatened to come after her. They are divorced but that jerk can’t seem to get it through his head that it’s over. He has been calling and harassing her for quite some time actually that’s why she asked for the restraining order. I don’t know how he got her new phone number, she just had it changed last month and it’s unlisted.” Maria said then tapping her fingers against the desk.

“I don’t know if I made things better or worse…probably worse. Now in his mind she is cheating on him.” Viggo said shifting and hating that he could even imagine what that man’s mind was like. Demented bastard. Viggo thought.

“You are right and yes he is a demented bastard.” Maria added.

Viggo was stunned. I did NOT say that out loud I know I didn’t.

“No you didn’t…yes I am a mind reader…surprise, surprise. I normally can only connect with someone this easily when emotions are running very close to the surface…as yours are now.” She said smiling.

Then Viggo’s mind flashed to the night before…shit what did she pick up from Sarah this morning. Maria’s eyes widened a bit and she smiled at him. Viggo just shifted uncomfortably in the chair and shook his head. “Don’t tell me whou kou know….I don’t want to know.”

Maria simply laughed. “We are giving this tape to the Police Chief. That way it’s on record just in case.” Maria said as she stood up.

Viggo agreed and stood with her. “You wait here…I am going to get Sarah.” She said gliding out of the room. Viggo felt like maybe he should slide under the chair or maybe melt and just flow like water through the cracks between the floorboards. When the two women returned Viggo felt like a caged animal but he sat back down and Sarah looked at him oddly.

”Thank you for the flowers, they are beautiful.” She said smiling brightly at him. This might be the last time she ever smiles at me. He thought weakly.

“Sarah, Viggo and I need to speak to you. Something happened this morning while Viggo was at your house.” Maria began.

Sarah turned red but she already knew that Maria knew what happened…the poor woman probably knew every little detail whether she wanted to know or not.

“Did Orisis get out or something? It’s ok Viggo…he does that sometimes…he always finds his way back.” Sarah started but from the look on Viggo’s face and Maria’s she knew that wasn’t it.

“Why don’t you have a seat?” Viggo offered.

That can’t be a good sign she thought briefly before sitting down. “Ok…so what’s happened?” Sarah asked worriedly.

“I will just play this for you.” Maria said snapping the tape player on.

When Brad’s voice came on the recording Sarah paled and even turned slightly green like she was about to be physically ill. When she heard Viggo’s voice she jumped and looked over at him. Shetenetened to him, to his tone, to the way he spoke to Brad, the voice dripping with disdain. Then when he barked into the phone “Are we fucking clear!?” she jumped then she heard Brad’s defeated “Crystal.” And the phone slamming down as the connection died, then she heard the soft click from Viggo.

She looked at Viggo with tears running down her face.

“I am so sorry Sarah, I shouldn’t have gotten involved, I was on my way out the door and the phone rang. I hesitated, unsure if you would want me to answer it and then when he started yelling into the machine it was like my feet were glued in place. I couldn’t stand the things he said, the way he talked about you…I am so sorry I should never have gotten involved but I was so angry I couldn’t let him talk to you that way.” Viggo’s words just seem to pour out. He felt drained after he stopped and he was staring into her tear filled green eyes trying to figure out what her reaction would be.

She took a deep breath and then looked at Maria. “So what are you doing with the tape?” Sarah asked steadily, she would break down later.

“I am giving it to the Police Chief. This MUST go on record…I will not have one of my dearest friends along with my employee being threatened by this lunatic.” Maria said then.

Sarah nodded. “Fine.” Then she got up and walked out.

Viggo looked at Maria he wasn’t sure what to do. “Go after her, she isn’t angry with you…she is hurt but not by you.” Maria told him.

He got up and went after Sarah. He spied her going out the side door of the café onto the small wooden stairs the led down to the boardwalk below.

“Sarah!” He called jogging after her. “Sarah wait.”

“Leave me be, Viggo.” She said wrapping her arms around herself. She had walked out without a jacket. Viggo pealed off his own jacket and put it around her shoulders.

“Please I am sorry.” Viggo said then.

“I am not mad at you, Viggo. I am…I am embarrassed. Look how weak I am for crying out loud? It took me six years to leave that bastard, six years, Viggo!” She shouted shaking.

“You aren’t weak, you left didn’t you, six years or six months it doesn’t matter you left. That is all that’s important, Sarah.” Viggo said softly.

“What you said to him…the way you said it…scared me a little bit.” Sarah said then.

“Oh God please Sarah, that was meant to scare him not you! I am not like that…not really…I drew on characters I played to say those things in that way. Two to be exact…I uh I played Lucifer in a movie once…I drew on that voice and the cadence of the way I spoke in that movie because I knew it would be unsettling for him, and when I yelled at him I drew on another character where I played a sort of drill sergeant type. That’s not me by a long shot, I mean sure I get angry like everyone else but my anger is normally expressed differently. I just knew that those things I said, as cliché as they were was what would get through to a man like him.” Viggo said holding her by her shoulders lightly so she could pull away if she wanted.

She attempted a smile. “You played Lucifer and a drill sergeant…but you are so soft spoken?” She said a little amazed.

“Well that’s why they call it acting.” Viggo smiled hoping to elicit a laugh or smile out of her. It worked and she began to laugh.

“Come on…let’s get you home.” Viggo said turning her toward his truck.

“No I need to go back to work.” Sarah said pulling away.

“I am sure Maria is giving you the rest of the day off.” Viggo reasoned.

“No…I would rather finish my work. Will you be at home later?” She asked.

“Of course.” Viggo replied.

“I will see you tonight…I’ll bring dinner.” She said smiling.

“Ok…so are you sure you are alright?” Viggo asked.

“Yes…I need to work, I need to live my life and quit letting Brad control me. He will continue to do that…trying to control me. It’s been like this a long time. Maria talked me into the restraining order but all it’s done is make him even angrier. I am afraid now that you confronted him on the phone he really will come after me now. That’s the way he is, Viggo. You and Maria are right to tell the police and give them the tape. So this way if I end up dead at least the police will know where to look for the culprit.” She added the last part as some kind of twisted joke but Viggo didn’t think it was very funny.

“Don’t say that.” Viggo said pulling her to him and kissing her lightly. “Don’t ever say that again.” He begged.

They walked back to the café together and Sarah went back to work. Viggo left and went to the little grocery store. He decided if she were bringing dinner again he would at least provide dessert. He searched through the store and settled on ice cream but not just any old ice cream Godiva White Chocolate Raspberry, Sarah had said it was her favoriteing ing dinner the other night.