Big Love (4 page)

Annabelle nodded. “It caused her an
accident once, it could happen again.”

Zing’s eyes lit up. “That’s brilliant.”

“You really should read the book. It would help you,” Annabelle said.

“How do I tell HQ? Bertha will not be happy.”

“It doesn’t matter. The book supersedes all other opinions. I’ll put in the paperwork for you. Bertha will have to sign off, but she’ll do it.”

“She’ll probably do it just to get me out of her hair for a month,” Zing said.

Annabelle laughed. “Whatever works, right?”

“I’m starting to like this book,” Zing said, giving it a pat.

“You better. I need to get back,” Annabelle said. “I miss you, kiddo.”

“I miss you, too. Come anytime. You know where I am. Miracle said I could stay here as long as I want. She’s awesome. She’s teaching me all sorts of things.”

“That’s what worries me.” Annabelle blew her a kiss and disappeared.

Chapter Three

Delicious smells wafted from The World’s Best Donut Shop. Zing’s mouth watered as she waited outside the locked door. According to the sign taped on the door, she was one minute early.

She saw movement inside the shop, then the lights came on and Nell unlocked the door. She greeted Zing with a big smile. “Come in, Zing. I was hoping you’d come by this morning.”

Zing stepped through the doorway and inhaled deeply. “It smells great in here!”

“Have a seat anywhere,” Nell said.

Zing chose a table in the corner and Nell joined her. Nell was dressed in her bakery whites. Fortunately, her chef’s hat covered up most of her bandaged head. Zing thought the pastries and donuts lined up inside the glass case looked fantastic, but that Nell looked even fantastickier. There was something so yummy about Nell when she had powdered sugar smudges on her face. Zing had a sudden urge to lick the sugar off.

Nell asked, “I guess you’re here to collect on that free donut I offered you. What kind would you like?”

“I would like the world’s best donut, please,” Zing answered. “Which one is the best?”

“Well, that depends. What kind is your favorite?”

Zing shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never had a donut before.”

“What, guardian angels don’t eat donuts?” Nell teased.

“No, we’re supposed to eat a lot of kale. I don’t like kale.”

“Can’t say I do either,” Nell said. “You know, I almost didn’t recognize you without your candy stripes.”

“I borrowed this outfit.” Zing stood up and turned in a circle so Nell could get the full effect of her new clothes. She was wearing orange Capri pants. They weren’t supposed to be Capris, but Zing was a lot taller than Miracle’s ex-girlfriend. Her black T-shirt pictured Xena holding a spear on the front. Zing didn’t know who Xena was, but Miracle said she was a warrior and that seemed like a good thing. Zing would need a warrior’s strength if she were to become a better guardian angel.

“Very nice,” Nell said. “Xena is always a good choice.”

“Oh, guess what? I’ll be staying here for a whole month. I got an extension.”

“What about Bertha? From what I saw, she looked like a very strict boss.”

“Bertha doesn’t like it, but she can’t argue because it’s in the book. Miracle, she’s my new friend, called it a ‘loophole,’ when I told her about it.”

A group of college students came through the door. Nell looked back at the counter. Tammy, the college student she’d recently hired, took their orders. Tammy chatted with them while she got them a dozen donuts and four coffees.

“So. . .” Nell began, “You’re going to be here one month, then you go back to. . .” she pointed her index finger up.

“To the second floor?” Zing asked.

Nell laughed. “I meant back to HQ.”

“That’s right. I’m staying until I can keep you safe for a while, then I’ll go back.”

“But I’m safe now,” Nell said.

“No, I don’t think you are. Your heart is still at risk—that’s what happened to Queen Katherine of Aragon when Henry VIII broke her heart and took away her jewels. Her heart turned black, shriveled up like a dried plum, and she died.”

“Were you her guardian angel, too?”

“No, Miracle and I binge-watched
The Tudors
last night. Can I have my donut now? I’d like one of those boxes of donuts like those people have and some coffee.”

“Sure,” Nell said. “Do you want to pick the donuts out?”

“I wouldn’t know what to choose. Surprise me,” Zing said.

“All right, I’ll be back in a jiffy,” Nell said. She turned and went through the swinging door that led to the back of the shop.

Zing picked up an old newspaper someone left at the table. “Hmm…” she said as she studied the headlines and saw all the killings, stabbings, and shootings. The world evidently needed more guardian angels.

Nell returned with her donuts. Zing closed her eyes and inhaled deeply over the box. They smelled delicious. Her mouth began to water in anticipation.

“I didn’t know what you take in your coffee so I didn’t put anything in it.” Nell handed Zing a cup of black liquid.

Zing tasted it. “Yikes,” she said. She grabbed a napkin from the dispenser and wiped at her tongue.

“I’ll get you some cream and sugar,” Nell said.

Zing picked the tiny pieces of wet napkin off her tongue as she opened the box and stared at the wonderful array of sprinkles, chocolate frosting, and donuts with white stuff and fruit squishing out. They all looked delectable. She decided to start with the ones on the left and work her way to the right. The glazed donut was still warm and she swallowed it in two bites. Next she tried a chocolate one, and then a maple one. By the time Nell returned with her doctored coffee, Zing had eaten six donuts.

“Whoa, you better slow down on those,” Nell said.

“Why?” Zing asked, taking the coffee. She tasted it. Much better. She took two gulps to wash down the donuts.

“Because you’ll get sick.” Nell sat down and shut the lid on the box. “You can take the rest with you for later.”

“Really? You’d let me do that?”

“I’m sure guardian angels need to keep their strength up.”

“True,” Zing said. “Most humans keep their angels on their toes. But you’re more of a. . . low-maintenance type of human. I guess that’s why I took up Hacky Sack while I waited for you to do something worth watching.”

“I think you just called me boring,” Nell said.

Before Zing could respond, a voice boomed, “What the hell’s she doing here?” It was Carol. She marched across the room, jabbing a finger in Zing’s direction.

“I’m having donuts,” Zing said. “And keeping an eye on Nell.”

“Because you’re her guardian angel,” Carol said, snidely. She had flour on her nose. “That’s still your story?”

“Yes.”

Carol rolled her eyes. “You know, here on earth we call that stalking. And it’s illegal.”

“I have to stick around,” Zing said, sneaking another donut out of the box. “As long as that Dove person is around, so am I.” She looked at the donut and her eyes grew wide. “Ooh, looky. Sprinkles!”

Carol spread her feet shoulder-width apart and glared at Nell. “I thought you were done with Dove?”

Before Nell could answer, a buzzer went off in the kitchen. Carol yelled over her shoulder to Tammy, “Hey, make yourself useful and pull those pastries out of the oven!”

Carol turned back to Nell and put her hands on her hips. “I’m waiting,” she said. “Explain.”

Nell looked down at her hands. “Dove left me a private message. She wants to meet me. In person.”

“Again? How many times are you going to fall for that old line?”

“She promised me this time,” Nell said. “She won’t stand me up again.”

“That’s what she said the last three times,” Carol said.

“She must be very busy,” Zing said. She drained her coffee cup. “Can I have some more coffee? I like how it makes me feel peppy.”

Carol turned and yelled at Tammy, “More coffee over here! Now!” She turned back to Nell and said loudly enough for Tammy to hear, “I swear that girl has lead in her butt.”

“Carol, please,” Nell said. “Try to be nicer to our employees.”

Tammy approached with the coffee pot. She glared at Carol as she poured Zing more coffee. “May I have cream and sugar, please?” Zing asked.

Tammy smiled at Zing. “Sure thing.” She retrieved the condiments, glared at Carol again, who didn’t appear to notice, and went back to the counter to help an elderly couple.

“I like his shirt,” Zing said, indicating the man’s gaudy Hawaiian shirt. “I like flowers. I should get one of those shirts.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” Carol said.

“Maybe you could take me shopping?” Zing said to Nell. “Miracle gave me a plastic card and told me to get some things.”

“That’s insane,” Carol said. She opened Zing’s box of donuts and pulled out a gooey one. It had crème inside. She took a big bite.

“Miracle says money isn’t worth anything until you spend it. She thinks I’m a good investment in her karma.” Zing watched as Carol took another bite. Now she only had four donuts left.

“So evidently your friend is just as nutty as you are,” Carol replied with a full mouth.

Tammy walked toward them, taking off her apron. Carol glanced at the big clock behind the counter. “Your shift’s not up for another fifteen minutes.”

“I’m quitting,” Tammy said.

“As of today?” Nell asked. She looked concerned.

“As of right now,” Tammy said, wadding up her apron. She dropped it at Carol’s feet.

“You have to give two weeks’ notice,” Carol said.

“Or what? You’ll give me a bad recommendation? I think my resume can handle it,” Tammy said. She marched away. The bell over the door chimed when she pulled the door open.

“I don’t think she likes you,” Zing said. She reached over and collected her box of donuts before Carol snagged another one.

“Ya think?” Carol said, scowling.

“Yes, I do think,” Zing replied.

Carol shook her head. “Hard to find good help these days. Those millennials think everything should be handed to them.” She picked up Tammy’s apron. “What are we going to do about getting another counter girl?”

“You could try being nicer to people,” Nell said.

“I mean besides that,” Carol said.

“You could give me a job,” Zing said. “I don’t mind if you’re mean to me. I’m good at ignoring stuff.” She drank the rest of the coffee. “I’d like to be paid in donuts and coffee.”

“I bet you don’t even have a social security card,” Carol said.

“Sure I do,” Zing said.

“Ugh,” Carol said and stalked off.

“She makes that noise a lot,” Zing said.

“She’s frustrated,” Nell replied.

“And she has anger management issues. Cathy is always throwing hints her way, but Carol ignores her.”

“Cathy?”

“Her guardian angel.”

“Carol has one too?”

“Yes, but she doesn’t believe in her existence. Most people don’t.”

“Maybe that’s why she’s hostile toward you, because she doesn’t believe in guardian angels,” Nell said.

“Ya think?” Zing said, trying it out.

Nell smiled. “I think.”

Zing smiled back. “What’s a social security number?”

***

“We’re having pizza tonight,” Miracle said as she flipped the disc-shaped piece of dough in the air. The kitchen smelled yeasty like the bakery. “I know we had spaghetti last night, so I apologize for having Italian two nights in a row.”

“Why?” Zing asked. “Italians eat it every night.”

Miracle laughed. “That’s true. I like the way you think.” She tossed the pizza dough again. It spun in the air several times before Miracle caught it. Zing thought making pizza looked like fun.

“Sometimes you just have to say ‘What the hell.’ That’s my motto,” Miracle said.

“I don’t think that’s a good thing to say. It’ll make Annabelle nervous and put her on high alert.”

“What can happen? I’m only making pizza.”

Zing wished she wouldn’t say that. Humans’ faith in their own abilities often exceeded their skills—and that’s when accidents happened.

“Do you want to try throwing the dough?” Miracle asked. She stopped twirling and handed the floppy disk-shaped dough to Zing.

Zing took the dough in her hands. It felt tacky and pliable. “What do I do?”

“You throw it,” Miracle said. “Spin and throw.”

Zing pirouetted and threw. The dough hit Miracle in the face.

Miracle pulled the dough off her face. “I guess I should’ve been more specific. Let me roll it out again. I’ll show you exactly what to do.”

“Okay,” Zing said. She leaned over Miracle’s shoulder and watched as she turned the blob of dough back into a flattened circle.

“So, you do it like this,” Miracle said, pulling her fingers apart and twirling the dough and throwing it up in the air. She caught the dough and handed it over to Zing, saying, “Now, you try.”

Zing imitated her and soon the dough was spinning in her hands.

“Good, now throw it up in the air, as high as you can, and twirl it again when it comes down,” Miracle instructed.

Zing twirled and threw the dough high as she could, but . . . It didn’t come down. It was stuck to the ceiling.

Both women stood still, heads tilted back, staring at the disc of dough plastered to the ceiling.

“When I said throw it as high as you can, I didn’t mean literally as high as you can,” Miracle said.

“Oh,” Zing said. “I’ve noticed that humans don’t say what they mean. And sometimes they mean what they don’t say. Don’t they ever say what they mean or mean what they say?”

“A very brilliant writer and philosopher once wrote about that very subject. His name was Dr. Seuss.”