They nodded. “Sorry lady. It won’t happen again.”
They gathered their equipment, got back in the truck, and pulled away. Shaking with fury, Arilyn tried to breathe, couldn’t, then gave up altogether. She marched next door and stopped at the bottom step. “You lied to me,” she said.
“I’m afraid for my life,” she hissed. “When that tree falls on my roof and crushes me in my sleep, it will be too late.”
Arilyn tried not to roll her eyes. “It’s not even close to your roof,” she pointed out. “You would’ve gotten me in big trouble with Genevieve.”
“I need to protect myself. Besides, what are you doing in there?” She squinted over her glasses with suspicion. “I see that strange altar. Do you sacrifice things? Are you into witchcraft?”
Her body trembled with pent-up frustration. She had no time for this. “No, Mrs. Blackfire, I meditate. And you shouldn’t be spying.”
“I’m looking out for the neighborhood. I’m the one who caught the vandalizer over the summer. You should be grateful.”
“I’m sure Gen is. I have to go.” She turned and almost bumped into Poppy. “Ready, Poppy?”
Her grandfather didn’t move. Just stared at her neighbor. “Who are you?” he finally asked.
“Joan Blackfire.” She peered over her glasses. “Who are you?”
Poppy smiled and held out his hand as if he were asking the queen to dance. “Patrick Flynn. Arilyn’s grandfather. Why are you cutting down her tree?”
Her neighbor muttered something under her breath, staring at his outstretched hand as though it were a bomb. She slowly took it and gave it a short shake. “Because it’s diseased. Are you living here now?”
“Tree looks fine to me. Does bend to the right a bit, though. I’m visiting. I live at the Best Friends Senior Citizen Center. Do you know it?”
She gave a grunt. “Place makes poisonous Jell-O and serves Ensure with every meal. Plus, their road trips are stupid.”
Arilyn’s grandfather beamed. “I totally agree. Hey, want to come over for dinner? I’m a great cook and promise no Jell-O. Or fake shakes. We’re having burgers and sweet potatoes. Arilyn doesn’t eat meat, so there’s veggie burgers there if you want.”
Arilyn blinked. Huh?
Mrs. Blackfire snapped her gaze around. “What’s wrong with meat? God put animals on the earth so we’d eat them.”
Arilyn bristled. “We’ve evolved since then. No reason to ingest bad animal karma into the body.”
“Ridiculous. The body needs protein to function. What do you eat?”
“I eat from the earth,” Arilyn said stiffly. “I also use soy protein as a substitute.”
Poppy shook his head sorrowfully. “It tastes really bad, but she’s free to make her own choices.”
“What about sugar?” Mrs. Blackfire frowned. “Everyone needs sugar.”
It was confirmed. She’d stepped into the Syfy Zone and would soon be involved in the zombie apocalypse. Her neighbor from hell was questioning her food choices after trying to cut down her tree illegally. “I avoid refined sugar and keep to natural ingredients. Dried and fresh fruit. Dark chocolate. Whole grains in cereals.”
“So who drinks all the wine you take out to the curb?” Mrs. Blackfire asked. “You don’t drink alcohol?”
Her grandfather spoke up. “Oh, no, she drinks plenty of alcohol.”
Arilyn fought off a blush. “Red wine helps the heart,” she said.
Poppy tilted her head. “You like those cosmos and martinis,” he pointed out. “And lots of white wine, too.”
Mrs. Blackfire gave a knowing humph. “Knew it. The recyclables never lie.”
Okay, she’d had enough. She tugged at her grandfather’s arm. “Umm, we’d better go in.”
“Are you joining us for dinner, then?” he directed toward her neighbor. “Maybe we can sort out this tree problem. Neighbors should get along.” Arilyn held her breath, heart beating madly, praying for just one tiny, itty-bitty break in her crappy week. Of course, Mrs. Blackfire would never agree. Her neighbor hated her, and Kate, and her whole crew. Lenny and Mike would probably howl as if they’d seen a ghost, sensing her dark, innate evilness.
“Yes, I’ll be over in a minute. Just need to lock up.”
“We have dogs!” Arilyn burst out. “Lenny and Mike are very misbehaved. Puppies. They’re still learning, and I know how you dislike dogs.”
“Why wouldn’t Joan like dogs?” Poppy asked with confusion.
“I never said I hate dogs,” her neighbor snapped. “I don’t like them doing their business on my property and ruining my roses. I’m fine with dogs.”