The Apple Tree (8 page)

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, pushing the flashbacks from his mind. Time for him to check up on Bianca and find out once and for all if the curse had taken hold. Her apartment was close enough he could probably walk, but it made him uncomfortable to leave his truck so far away. He strolled back to the parking lot, climbed inside the cab and drove to Lilly Avenue.

Levi sat on the same bench he’d used the morning after he’d met her. The breeze blew past his face, chilling his ears and he pinched his arm hair while he waited for her to leave the apartment.

If she’d eaten a red apple, the changes would be apparent by now. The person she loved most would grow rapidly older until they died in just a couple of weeks. Grief would overwhelm her and she wouldn’t notice at first she’d stopped aging completely. She’d be young forever, like him.

The front door swung open and Bianca came out wearing a knitted sweater that hugged her curves and carrying a large plastic bowl. She seemed…fine. Not distressed at all as she gathered tomatoes from the pots on the porch. The boy should have gray hair and wrinkles. He may have arthritis. They would be taking him to the hospital. Yet, she moved as if everything was normal.

The little boy ran through the front door and started digging in the dirt from the pots. She smiled and ruffled his hair.

Relief washed through him. Surely, she loved the little boy most and yet, he was okay. Could there be someone she loved more that the curse affected?

No, she must not have eaten a red apple. Maybe she ate another color, but not a red one. She hadn’t activated the curse. His lungs pulled in a deep breath. He’d been getting all worked up this last week for nothing.

Now, he’d walk away and let her live her life. He couldn’t move. Although he rejoiced because she was okay, not seeing her again seemed incomprehensible. He’d been so sure she’d been cursed that the idea of not seeing her again caught him off guard. How could he leave and never see her tender brown eyes or her sweet smile? But he couldn’t stay either. She would never accept him and this stagnant body. He’d learned that lesson the hard way with Edith.

A dark cloud moved over the street, dimming the sun’s bright rays. Bianca looked up, scanning the road. She seemed to focus on the park bench.

His heart pounded. Did she recognize him? He bent his head, hoping to hide his face.

She set the bowl on the concrete, then took the boy by the shoulders and led him back in the apartment, reaching in and pulling the door shut so he stayed inside. Turning, she walked toward the park, a small smile on her face.

How could he explain this? Surely, she wouldn’t believe he’d just happened to be sitting in her neighborhood. He shoved the book in front of his face, hoping there was still time to hide himself.

When he peeked over the pages, she’d stopped walking and stood on the sidewalk, her brows knitted. Then, she marched toward him with her mouth set in a hard line. Her eyes locked on his. Should he run? He sat frozen, unable to think properly.

“
Are you spying on me?” she yelled.

L
evi stood from the park bench, his body full of adrenaline. “I was j- just…just reading my book.” He held up the paperback. This was bad. He looked like such a scoundrel. If only he could disappear. What good was healing power? He needed some sort of magical transportation power. What was it Harry Potter did? Oh, yes, Apparate. If only he could do that.

Bianca studied him, her eyes narrowed. “Do you always read covered with a hat and sunglasses? The sun’s not even out.” She pointed toward the gray clouds. “I thought maybe you were just enjoying the park and I was coming over to say hi. But then you started acting all shady and I realized it was too big of a coincidence for you to be here. How do you know where I live?”

“
I’m sorry…I…” He looked down, suddenly very interested in the grass beneath his feet. What could he say? There was no way to explain. He pressed his lips together. Shape-shifting would be a handy power to have. Then he could turn into an ant and crawl away.

“
Why are you at this park? It’s not anywhere near your house. You were staring straight at my apartment.”

“
Well…” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“
Every time I see you, you’re acting suspicious or lying.” Her jaw clenched and she threw up her hands. “Today, it’s both!”

A strand of hair fell over her face and he fought the urge to tuck it behind her ear. She was so beautiful, even angry. As her chestnut eyes bore into him, the truth hovered at the tip of his tongue, ready to spill.

“
I…” No. She’d never believe him and it’d just make him sound crazy. He didn’t need to be crazy on top of a scoundrel. The wind fluttered against the sleeves of his jacket and he shivered.

“
Leave, now. If I see you again, I’m calling the police.” She stood with her arms crossed, waiting for him to move.

“
I’ll leave, but can I ask you one thing first? Is anyone sick? Your family or… anyone? I-I heard there’s something going around.”

Her brows furrowed. “No, everyone’s fine. Who are you? The CDC?” She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Just get out of here, please.”

He nodded and walked back to his pickup, shoulders slumped and his book tucked under his arm. Her loved ones were, apparently, safe. She was safe. She hadn’t eaten a red apple after all. So, why did he feel so disappointed?

Bianca slammed her apartment door closed. She leaned against the thick wood and slid to the floor, her hands shaking. Levi had been a little strange before, but this…this was scary.

“
Bee, what’s wrong?” her mother called from the living room.

Her mother would freak if she knew a man had been watching them outside their apartment. “Nothing, mom.” She stood. “I’m going to go for a bike ride.” She opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. After sweeping the area with her eyes to ensure Levi was gone, she unlocked her bike.

Normally, she liked to ride south, but Levi lived in that direction, and she wasn’t going to take any chance of running into him. She pedaled north.

The cold wind blew through her hair as she rode. It felt good to move her muscles, relaxing. It cleared her mind and allowed her to think.

Before this morning, she’d been starting to like Levi. He reacted possessively in the orchard, but was friendly at Papa’s. Groaning at her own stupidity, her fists squeezed the handlebars. Something was definitely unusual about him.

She turned off the highway onto the bike path and followed the river until she reached Waterfront Park. Marble sculptures stood amongst several picnic tables and benches. The perfect place to stop and rest.

Hopping off her bike, she leaned it against a bench, and sat down, facing the river. The water rushed past below. It was peaceful here, even with the sound of the nearby traffic and the pedestrians strolling to and from the farmer’s market down the path.

A deep breath carried the scent of soil and nearby lavender plants. Despite the relaxing atmosphere, her mind continued to churn over the strange and handsome man. Was Levi some sort of stalker? He’d come into her work the very next day after she’d met him. That had to be more than a coincidence. Yet… there was kindness in his eyes.

A blue bird landed a few feet away, eating crumbs the last picnicker had left. She thought about taking a photo of it, but it flew away.

Rap lyrics broke through the crisp air. What was with Vanilla’s obsession with ice anyway? She dug her phone out of her pocket and looked at the caller ID. Unknown. She answered it, glad for the distraction.

“
Hello?”

“
Hey, Bianca. It’s Peter,” said a deep rich voice.

Her heartbeat quickened as she remembered his flirty sapphire eyes from the night before. “Peter, hi. How are you?”

“
I’m great. Listen, come out with me tonight.” He sounded so confident.

“
Tonight? I’ve got to stay with my little brother while my mom goes to work. Would tomorrow be okay?” The neighbor would watch Owen, for forty bucks, but she didn’t want to spend the money if she didn’t have to.

“
Tomorrow then. I want to take some photographs in the morning. Why don’t you come with me to the park? I’ll pick you up at ten.”

“
Okay, sounds good.” She gave him her address and then hung up. Holding the phone in her lap, she watched a small motorboat float down the river. She was glad Peter had called. It gave her something else to think about besides Levi.

Levi stood just outside his cabin, a long sharp axe in his hand. He pulled it back, muscles tensed, then swung down.
Crack
. The log in front of him split down the middle.

It was peaceful in the woods, but he barely noticed. Instead, he thought of Bianca. She probably hated him now. He turned the log over.

She hadn’t activated the curse. He should go back to his life and leave her alone.

He raised the axe, swung.
Crack
. Except he couldn’t get her out of his head. He leaned over and chucked the wooden pieces into his wheelbarrow, then placed another log on the stump. Swing.
Crack
. Bianca. His body grew warm from the exercise, despite the chill outside. He turned the log over. Swing.
Crack
. Bianca.

He paused when something moved between the trees. About fifty feet away, a pair of yellow eyes watched him. It was that damn mountain lion that kept coming around, lured by the chicken coop on the other side of the house. He glanced toward his rifle, leaning against a tree just a few feet away. Maybe he wouldn’t need it.

Looking straight at the beast, he stood as tall as his average height would let him and squared his shoulders. The lion turned and scampered deeper into the woods. He took a deep breath and placed another log on the stump, glad he’d left Aldo inside the cabin.

Swing.
Crack
. He wasn’t sure it was worth trying to apologize to Bianca. Even if she forgave him there was still the issue of his immortality. How could she accept that?

Edith hadn’t accepted it.

He threw the wood pieces into his wheelbarrow, slumped to the ground beside the chopping stump and placed his hands over his face.