Page 10 of Recipe for a Curse

But would that keep Rio safe from the wolves? “He’s been out here for years,” I said more to myself than them. “He knows how to stay safe, right?”

“Sure,” Zach agreed. “Let’s getyouhome and safe.”

“Should I isolate now, you think? Rio didn’t seem sick, and no one has seen him in weeks…”

“He won’t be sick,” Sean said.

“Sounds like food is what he needs,” Zach said. “I’ll work on it.”

“I could use some spiced cider,” I said thinking of the blend of spices I had back home. Zach loaded me into his truck, Sean crawling in beside me. The slip of paper Sean had given me had almost completely dissolved. "Is this some kind of psychological thing? To convince my brain I’m not cold?” I held out the last of the fading rice paper for Sean, recognizing it now in the overhead light.

“It’s a talisman of warmth,” Sean answered.

I squinted at him.

“Psychological,” Zach said.

“Weird,” I starred at the slip of paper, which vanished moments later. Having used rice paper to cook with a lot in the past, I thought it a bit odd that it dissolved that fast. But it was cold and wet out, so perhaps that didn’t help. And I was too tired to push for more answers.

Zach took my keys and moved stuff from my car to the bed of his truck before getting in and steering us home. The roads were awful, covered in a thick layer of snow there would be no way my car could get through. I could hear the chains on Zach’s tires grinding through it and we moved slowly in the dark.

The scent of smoke and Rio still clung to me. Probably the hoodie I wore. I’d have to get it back to him. He probably didn’t have a lot of warm clothes. I started to make a list on my phone of things I would need to bring to Rio. Clothes, blankets, food, maybe one of those portable propane stoves.

“That man…” Sean began, but didn’t continue.

“He’s nice,” I said after he was quiet for a few minutes. “Was at the manor for Christmas dinner. Comes to the food bank a lot.”

“I hate that we still have a need for that,” Zach grumbled. “And worry it’s not getting to everyone who needs it.”

It didn’t. That I knew for sure, which was why I’d brought food to Rio. There were others closer to town that got deliveries from some of the volunteers. I knew there were a handful of the elderly that they checked on too, but the group could only help those they knew about. “I wish we could help everyone,” I said.

“How many more are like Rio?” Zach asked.

“What do you mean? Needing the food bank? Or having a house so broken down? I don’t know. The people at the food bank might know better. I help refill it every week and it’s emptied every week.”

We arrived at the manor and the entire cabin of the truck felt like brooding silence. I wasn’t sure how to read it. Zach wasn’t an overly chatty guy, though he’d always been friendly. And Sean was that very traditional reserved that a lot of Asian people were. I really hoped they weren’t judging Rio for his lack of money. Having spent some time in a homeless youth shelter myself, I knew how easy it was to go from something to poverty.

Zach parked the truck in the garage and closed the door on the cold behind us. The garage was a giant thing, big enough to fit at least five cars. Usually, my car was nestled off to the side. I hoped I’d get it back soon.

“I’ll get your car towed back tomorrow. Do you have snow tires on it?”

“Snow tires?” I asked. There was a special tire for snow?

Zach shook his head and got out of the truck. He came around the side and held his arms out.

“I can walk,” I protested.

“The ground is cold, even here in the garage. Let me drop you off upstairs so you can get your own stuff.” Zach waggled his fingers. “Don’t be a drama queen,” he teased. “Warm is better than frozen toes any day.”

I sighed and let him pick me up again. He carried me to the stairs that lead to my apartment over the garage. The stairway was cool, but not cold. He didn’t set me down until we were at my door. Sean handed over my clothes, keys, and phone. When I glanced at the time, I realized it was almost ten at night. Crap, I’d really missed the whole day.

“Thanks for rescuing me,” I said. “I mean I was safe with Rio, but the cold was sort of intense…” I limped the last few feet to my door and unlocked it.

“Call and get in to have that foot looked at in the morning. I’ll drive you down if the roads still aren’t clear. Everyone can fend for themselves for breakfast,” Zach instructed.

“I can make something simple…”

“Without putting pressure on that ankle? I don’t think so. Go rest. I’ll see you in the morning.” Zach turned away, heading down the stairs with Sean. I sighed and went inside, thankful for the warmth and comfort of my place. It was actually one of three units above the heated garage, since the garage was so large. Mine was a studio apartment, just over 500 square feet, tiny, but felt huge compared to Rio’s space. I didn’t have a fireplace. Didn’t need one as the heat worked great. The garage beneath adding to the warmth. The layout a simple box with the kitchen on one side and the space I’d set up as a living room/bedroom on the other. The thick and cushy furniture, heavy curtains, and plush carpet hadn’t really seemed like a luxury when I’d moved in. Compared to the manor with its polished wood floors and detailed crown moldings, the apartment was simple, homey. I had never looked at it and realized how much there really was that I took for granted.

I limped to the bedside dresser area to put my clothes in the hamper and dig out a pair of warm jammies. A hot shower later and I was ready to go to bed. I really hoped Rio was okay. The idea of him alone, in that cold, with very little to eat all winter made me want to drag him to the manor. Zach still hadn’t found a gardener. Maybe Rio could do that, make some extra money and not have to be around people.

I laid down in bed and ran through possibilities until sleep took over, washing away anything but memories of being in Rio’s arms.