Black Curiosities
Nothing But Awkward

He said nothing.

Never finding the words to describe how he felt regarding the sudden appearance of the horrific tattoo that magically appeared on his arm, coupled with the dread that came with his appearance, didn 't help more than not knowing the reason and purpose behind the tattoo.

Sebastian knew nothing, not anything, regarding the tattoo.

"That's not quite true, though."

There were the glimpses of things, of a past life Sebastian preferred not to think of. The man who held his want to Sebastian 's arm placing the mark sent chills down his spine. Still, the most vivid, the one he woke up during the middle of the night in a cold sweat to, was the unsavory sight of corpse hands reaching from a putrid body of water to pull him down to his death, yet dying at that moment felt so real.

"I can taste and feel it, not just see it, yet here I am alive," Sebastian thought. "Is Hermione able to use magic because I was able to in a past life? Does magic even work that way?"

Sebastian knew nothing, didn 't know what to do, let alone who he should speak with given—

"Are you alright?"

His eyes blinked, his nose taking in the smell of the disinfectant in the examining room as Stephanie Borden stepped through the door. His head tilted as he looked at her, always confused by her frequent visits. However, Olivia didn 't seem to have a problem and told him not to worry about why they couldn't figure out what kept bringing the restaurant owner in so frequently when he always found nothing. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

"Ah. Yes," Stephanie said. "The reason that I'm here, this time." She nodded, looking right at him even though he struggled with making eye contact. "I heard you took a few days off from doing dental work and helping out at the bookstore, so I was glad to hear you were in today, but are you feeling better, Sebastian?"

"Ah, yes," he said. His mouth twisted into a frown, thinking of the nightmare of the corpses dragging him into the water to his death, which only made him even more thankful that the mayor thought to bring over a tea that washed away the built-up nerves. "The mayor brought over a tea, so I am feeling better, although not a hundred percent yet. I want to get back to doing things, though."

"Oh! That must be one of Cassie's teas," Stephanie said. "She'd worked her magic around town, isn't she?"

"Magic?" Sebastian asked, heading over to pull on a pair of gloves.

"Oh, not real magic, of course," Stephanie said. "She just happens to know some natural remedies helping people around town. And has sound advice. But I figured you weren't a hundred percent, given how pale you are. Well, paler than you usually are."

"And what do we owe today's visit to?" Sebastian asked, letting the gloves he put on snap around his wrists.

"So," Stephanie started saying. "Quick question, first? A bit of gossip."

"Gossip?" Sebastian said. "I'm not one to gossip, and if you want me to talk about the owner of Bell, Book & Candle, I've not met her yet. Except I know she's not competing with Grandpa Rich and that they've talked, and he likes her."

"Oh! No!" Stephanie laughed. "Shouldn't your and Olivia's Hermione be getting home soon? Aren't you looking forward to that?"

And he stared, his mind mulling over the thought. He turned his head, thinking over what Stephanie asked carefully, feeling taken aback by the fact Hermione would be returning home soon, although he 'd remembered that. His right hand traveled to his left hand as he stared at the wall, wondering how he'd explain the tattoo on his arm that he knew absolutely nothing about.

"Something the matter?" Stephanie asked. "Should I go and get Olivia? I mean, if you're feeling ill…."

"Uh, no," Sebastian said, smiling at her. "Hermione is coming home soon, but I doubt she'd want to hang out with her dorky, embarrassing father."

"Oh, come on," Stephanie laughed. "You're not a dork. You're actually," and then she paused and took a deep breath. "Well, Olivia already knows. The real reason I come by, but since talking to Cassie made me decide to be honest with you, I thought I should let you know that I've not been coming because I have a toothache."

"What?" Sebastian said, tilting his head in confusion.

"I'm saying I've been crying wolf when I come in here, and Olivia's known the entire time."

"Why would you do that?" Sebastian asked. "And why wouldn't Olivia tell me?"

"Because she knows I come to swoon over her, definitely not a dork or embarrassing husband," Stephanie said, twisting the corner of her mouth. "And Hermione is lucky to have you as a dad."

"I am not following." Because he wasn't.

Stephanie shook her head in amusement. "I've been coming to ogle at the handsome dentist, Sebastian Granger."

Sebastian stared, thinking he 'd imagined she'd just said what she did. "Wait. Uh," He glanced at the door, feeling the heat in his cheeks start. "I…."

"Well, I'm certainly not talking about Olivia!"

He pointed at the door, finding himself quite flustered at what Stephanie said to him, wanting to say he was married and know what Olivia would think of what Stephanie had just said.

"I told you! Olivia already knows!" Stephanie shook her head in amusement. "And she knows you're oblivious to the fact that many of us single women have the hots for you. But…"

His hands went up, words not coming out of his mouth, his mind unsure of what to do regarding his current situation.

"Cassie's right. It's inappropriate for me to set up appointments here when I don't need dentist work to be gone." Stephanie said—one of her eyebrows. "Something tells me maybe I should schedule with Olivia in the future, as I managed to fluster you with this revelation. I figured I'd be honest with you."

Sebastian stared.

"And Olivia does know," Stephanie said. "She knows about all of us swooning over you, honestly, and knows you wouldn't do anything. Nor would we try anything."

Sebastian frowned.

"You know, you should talk to Richard about starting a book club at the store. I think many of Middleton's ladies would show up if you were heading it up."

Sebastian spluttered, his cheeks heating up even more. The heat spread to the tips of his ears as he felt Stephanie squeeze his shoulder.

"Hey. When Hermione gets back in town, be sure to bring her by. I promise not to make things awkward; although your Hermione also knows what a wonderful dad everyone thinks she has, I'll be ready to prepare your guy's favorites. Alright?"

And then she was gone. Sebastian sighed, heading into the other room where Olivia was finishing up with another patient. She looked up. "What?"

He pointed at the door, flustered.

"Sebastian, you know that if you don't communicate with words…."

"Borden. Did you know?"

"Oh," Olivia said. "Did you actually figure it out? That she's not actually had a toothache but wanted to flirt with you?"

He stared, his mouth opening before muttering in a low voice, his face still red. "No. She told me."

"She told you?" Olivia tilted her head. "Why?"

"Thinks we should start a book club," he said. Then, he tilted his head, closing his eyes. "That's not quite right. She says she'll be seeing you now. Flustered. Um…."

"Why don't you head on over to grandpa's store? And cool your head. I made sure you wouldn't have many appointments today, given you weren't feeling well, but I'm sure he'd love to have your help."

"Ah," Sebastian said. "Sure."

He headed over, not grabbing any fish and chips as lunch was still hours away. He did stop in front of the Bell, Book & Candle to look up at the sign on the front door. Instead, he showed up rubbing his neck. Richard Granger noticed and turned. "What happened?"

"Stephanie Borden wants us to start a book club," Sebastian muttered, his face flustered. "Rather than paying us dentist visits."

"What?" Richard said, then he took a deep breath. "Oh. You know now."

"You knew?" Sebastian asked.

"Sebastian, everyone knows. It's not as if anybody was hiding the fact the women in town think Olivia is super lucky to have you as a husband or that they like imagining what it would be like if they could be in their place."

"I'm not that special," Sebastian muttered, reaching for an apron. "And I've been banished from the office for the day."

"That's because you're flustered," Richard said as the bookstore's bell rang. "Ah. We have a customer."

Sebastian put on a smile. "Hello, Ms. Teagan. What can we do for you today?"

"You know, Mr. Sebastian, it's really bizarre for you to call me that when your daughters are around the same age as me."

"Sorry, Rebekah. You are a customer right now," he said. "Anything my grandfather or I can help you with?"

"Uh," the girl said. "Books on gardening?"

"Gardening?" Richard said, finally looking up from his book. "I didn't think you'd be interested in gardening?"

"Well, I didn't either. But I was talking to the owner of Bell, Book & Candle. And it was pretty amazing," the girl said."

"What was?" Sebastian asked.

"She didn't know it was an essay about a family I have to write for school this summer. And she's new to town, so there's no way she knew I used to watch my grandmother's garden, but it's definitely what I want to write about. My grandmother."

"That's nice," Sebastian said.

"Nice? More like magical," the girl said. "It was like magic."

To which he stared. "Like magic." His right hand went to his left arm before saying. "Hey. Why don't I help you find these books?"

"That would be amazing, Mr. Sebastian," the girl said, far more cheerful than he'd seen her.

"Not since her grandmother passed away. Is there something magical about Cassie Nightingale?"