Chapter 7

Agatha was pacing the airport, waiting for her fake date to arrive. She was always early and it appeared Rio was going to be late for their departure. Agatha’s phone rang, her eyes rolled when she saw it was Lilia. She contemplated not picking up, but she knew that would get her ass handed to her the next time she spoke to the woman.

“Yes, Lilia.” Agatha’s voice was clipped, a testament to the fact that she was now stressed about making her flight, and if Rio was even going to show up.

“I need to talk to her, Agatha. Make sure she’s not crazy. You just told me last night that you two met on the Buy Nothing group for heaven sakes! Do you know how insane that is? Do you know what kind of people there are out there? Crazy people.”

Agatha pinched her nose. “I should never tell you anything. She’s fine, Lilia, and I went home with you the first day I met you.”

Lilia huffed. “What was the other option, Agatha, you were about to be homeless.”

Agatha sighed. “If only you had been a sweet sugar momma that swept me off my feet.”

Lilia deadpanned. “Agatha, you were a child.”

Agatha smiled. “Sorry, I wasn’t your type.”

Lilia grunted. “Agatha, stop deflecting. Put her on the phone.”

Agatha scoffed and was about to rip into Lilia about how she couldn’t, because mystery – a little bit scary– neighbor, wasn’t even here when her phone was expertly slipped out of her hands. 

“Thanks, Babe.” Rio winked at her as Agatha turned in surprise, her mouth still hanging open from preparing to speak. 

“Hey, it’s Rio.” Rio’s face grew serious. “Yes, Ma’am. I will take good care of her. I’m a lawyer. Yes, a good one. Don’t you worry, I am aware of the laws.” She turned and smiled at Agatha. “I’m very fond of her, too. Yes, Ma’am.” She lifted the phone back to Agatha. “It’s for you.”

Agatha put the phone to her ear not taking her eyes off of Rio. She spoke quickly. “Lilia, are you satisfied? We need to leave, someone was late.” Her eyes narrowed into a glare as Rio only shrugged.

“Text me when you get there, honey. And I like her already.”

Agatha blew out a breath. “I thought you said she was a serial killer?”

Rio’s eyes widened at that. Agatha’s eyes drifted as Lilia finished up. “Oh, Agatha, don’t be so dramatic. I never said anything of the sort. She seems like a good girl, don’t mess it up. Have a good time and text me when you land. Love you.” and before Agatha could reply, Lilia hung up.

Agatha’s eyes looked down at her phone. “Bye to you too, I guess.” Her blue eyes drifted to Rio’s, ready to apologize. “She worries.”

Rio took Agatha’s suitcase, as well as her own carry-on, and started moving towards security. “I’m glad you have someone…” She steered them towards TSA pre-check, and it was clear she attempted to remove the jealousy from her voice. Only somewhat succeeding. “Who is she?”

Agatha handed over her passport with an eyebrow raised to Rio at taking the shortcut. The woman shrugged. “I fly for work. I assume you do too. Do you not have pre pre-check? They’ll take you on mine.”

Agatha snorted. “Why? So I can roll into the airport late and almost miss my flights?”

Rio moved them along. “You’re being dramatic, we have plenty of time. It’s not like it’s open seating.”

Agatha moved along and took her things out then after the scanner put everything away again turning to find Rio holding her hand outstretched, she had linked their two carry ons together as Agatha had put her shoes back on. “Come on, baby. Adventure awaits!” The younger woman’s smile was infectious, and she had to work hard not to smile like an idiot.

Agatha hesitated but she did place her hand in Rio’s, and as she was dragged to their gate, she watched as faces flashed by her. 

***

Seated in business class with Rio was another adventure. The woman loved to lean on the shared arm rest and hover into her space.

“So, who was the woman I had the pleasure of meeting on the phone? Is she your real girlfriend?”

Agatha just about gagged. Her and Lilia, ew no way. “No.” her voice was indignant.

Rio placed her hand on Agatha's leg, as she turned her eyes towards the window. “Good.” She let her eyes take in everything outside the small glass panel as the plane got rolling.

Agatha took a deep breath, she always hated take off and landing because she knew far too much about planes. Her eyes scrunching tight. “Lilia…” her voice had grown a bit shaky and she felt Rio shift back to give her her full attention. The pressure on her leg increased as Rio squeezed her leg rhythmically.

“Breathe, Agatha.”

For once she did as she was told and as she focused on Rio’s touch, she started to forget where they were. Her mind drifted back to the question for something more to distract herself with. “Lilia is kinda… family I guess.” One eye opened to look past Rio, as the ground zoomed away, then her other eye opened. Rio was still holding tight to her leg.

Dark eyes focused on her. “I’m glad you have her. She seems…” Rio contemplated a palpable way to put it. “protective.”

Agatha chuckled. “Yeah, something like that.” Her eyes dropped to her own lap. “No idea why.”

Rio leaned her head back on her seat, relaxing. “Maybe, because you’re actually a good person.”

Agatha’s eyes shifted, lingering on Rio’s hand. “Please…” she blew out a breath. Her voice dropped off. “I’m not a good person. I work in marketing. All I do is lie and sell shit to people all day long.”

Rio moved her hand to grab Agatha’s hand, massaging firmly over the tight muscles she found there as Agatha flexed and stretched her fingers. “Your job isn't everything about you. I see you… sometimes. In flickers, when you let me.”

Agatha tilted her head. “What does that mean? Like you watch me?” She laughed off the sincerity in Rio’s comment with humor. “Are you my stalker?”

Rio removed her hand, Agatha’s smile dropping as well. “We live in the same neighborhood, we've crossed paths once or twice. It’s not…”

Agatha’s eyes flicked upwards as if trying to remember if they had ever had an encounter before. Her head shook slowly before looking back at Rio seriously. “Oh… I think I would have definitely remembered you.”

Rio shrugged, looking away briefly. “I used to use a different profile picture.” She moved her hair behind her ear. “I used to have a black cat named Smithers,”

Agatha smirked. “Smithers?”

Rio turned back to the older woman with a glare. “Don’t say his name like that.” She moved her hand to rub at her neck. “He was my whole world, for a time.”

Agatha raised her hands in surrender, relaxing back into her seat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t remember him, may he rest in peace.”

Rio’s eyes were a bit watery and the sight froze Agatha’s heart right up until Rio cleared her throat. Sighing. “It was a while ago. I’m fine.” She shrugged looking about at nothing. “He’s not in pain anymore and that’s what matters.” She turned back to Agatha her smile firmly in place. “Anyways. So, Salem, huh? You’ve gotta have a million stories from growing up there.”

Agatha noticed that Rio uncharacteristically rubbed at her ring finger. She wanted to ask about her tick but decided against encouraging any more emotional displays. She nodded. “Salem was an interesting place to grow up, to say the least.” She let her mind wander a bit. “The cultures were constantly clashing with each other.” She raised one hand and then the other as if creating a scale. “Conservative Christian Orthodox that didn’t know their traditions were all stolen and on the other hand there was all the hype around wiccan culture. 

Rio nodded, thoughtfully. “I’ve always loved witchy things. Would you…” She pondered if she should ask then did so anyway, “Could we maybe, spend a day in Salem while we're here?” Before Agatha could respond she continued. “I know we have a job to do… but It would be awesome to see it all. I’ve never been.” Her eyes were so full of hope that Agatha wanted to get away from the feelings bubbling up inside of her as soon as possible.

“Yeah, sure.”

Rio’s voice rose an octave, “Really?”

Agatha snorted. “Yes, if you let me rest before we get there.”

Rio practically bounced in her seat. “I’m going to meet a real witch, just you watch. Maybe, I’ll even get cursed!” She said the final part as if she was going to meet her favorite cartoon character come to life.

Agatha snorted in amusement. “Oh, if you wanted to be cursed, my mother can help you with that one. Don’t you worry. It’s more likely we’ll need to hunt down a witch to unbind you from her spell.”

Rio lifted a shoulder and shrugged. “I’m not picky.”

Agatha leaned her head back laughing quietly. “You’re a psycho.”

Rio smiled and nodded happily, Agatha couldn’t keep her own smile from appearing.