The Ghost Market

~Now, let’s get back into the story~

“How long will you keep doing this for? It’s fucking late.”

“As long as we’re married.”

Xavier grumbled as Elaine forced him out of their car and led him into the dark, her hand wrapped possessively around his arms. He had a deep frown settled on his face with each step that they took into the noisy dark place. “The fuck we’re doing here, doll?” Xavier asked, his eyes scanning around the place. “It looks dark and fucking dangerous.”

“Chill, hubby. It’s just a ghost market.”

He froze, his eyes widening at her words. His head snapped in her direction. “What did you say?”

“I said it’s a ghost market? You don’t know what it is? Let's just go, already. It’s going to be so fun.”

He ignored her big wide eyes peering at him from below and how good she looked in her butterfly dress and her hair that was tied into a bun with a bow hit pin on it. She looked too cute for anyone to say no to.

“Elaine. We are returning to the car right now. Who wants to see ghosts?” The thought alone was enough to make him almost puke out his guts. “If this is some kind of haunted market game or something, I’m not interested.”

He watched as she threw her head backward and burst into laughter, her happy voice filling his ears and heart. He pulled her to his chest and clasped her mouth shut with his hand. “Keep shut. You don’t want to invite trouble.” He looked around in panic.

Elaine slapped his hands away. “What the hell? It’s not as you’re thinking. This place is no haunted market or something. Wait….” She raised a brow. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of fake things like that.”

“I’m not. Don’t just want to get myself involved in them.”

“That’s bullshit. You’re fucking scared.” She burst into laughter for the second time. After her laughter died down, she stepped closer to him, smoothed the wrinkles on his suit with her soft palm, and raised her head to gaze at him. “I wonder what everyone will say when they hear that the almighty Xavier Romano, the mafia boss, is scared of fake ghosts and fake scares.”

“I told you that I’m not.”

“Let’s go.” Her smile remained intact as she tried to pull him further into the crowded market and when they started to pass by people, Xavier cringed badly, flinching each time anyone passed by them.”

“Elaine,” he hissed. “This is a bad idea.” He could feel his heart thumping loudly in his chest. So loud he feared it might burst through. Humans disgust him enough, talk more of ghosts even if they might be fake. But when he saw that no one approached them and the place indeed looked like a market, he let out a sigh.

She was known for bringing him places in the city he didn’t know existed each time they went on a date. To compensate for their last failed date, he’d invited her on a date this evening, and after their romantic private dinner, she’d insisted on taking him somewhere.

“Are you shitting me, right now?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“What is this place?”

“I told you it’s a ghost market. It means that it’s a night market that doesn’t use light or anything to see. The moon is the only source of light. This market is held only when the moon is out and as you can see, everyone loves to be a part of it.”

“Not everyone.”

“Everyone except you, of course. Don’t be so boring.” She rolled her eyes.

“Whatever. How the hell you even find this place?”

“I told you that I and Beth love adventure. We’re cut from the same cloth.”

“You should stop seeing her if all she teaches you is how to be in dangerous places.”

“You can’t stop me.” She darted her tongue out, her tone laced with defiance. Perhaps she was in charge for the night?

“What do we do here, now?”

“Shop, hubby. Come on here, I found something.”

She grabbed his wrist again and pulled him into a small shabby store of shawls. She pulled a gray one from the numerous colors of shawls. “This would look good on you, Xavier.”

“You want me to wear this?” He’d never shopped at a local store in his life. He had only known designers all through his life.

“But it would make me happy.” Elaine batted her eyelids at him in a way that almost brought him to his knees. He let out a sigh, adjusted his body to her height, and let her drape the shawl around his neck with a wide smile on her lips.

“Look, it’s so pretty. I told you it’s going to look good.”

“It does look good” Her smile.

“I’ll get one for myself too.” She took out a similar gray shawl and wrapped it around her neck too. She turned to the salesperson who watched them with keen eyes. “Mrs, how much is this?”

The woman stepped closer, gazing at them from their heads down to their toes and wondering what people like them were doing in a ghost market. Maybe it was her lucky day.

“Fifteen dollars each.” She lied. The cost was below.

“Fifteen bucks?” Xavier exclaimed, his eyes on the materials in disgust. He was really wearing fifteen-dollar material around his neck now? The things that his wife makes him do!

“Ahh, I expected it to be a small amount for you. If you think it’s expensive, you can take it for twelve bucks.”

“Twelve?”

Before the woman could reduce the amount further, Elaine swept in between them and handed the woman a few dollar bills that she took from Xavier’s wallet. The woman gazed at the money in her hand with glistening eyes. “Thank you so much.” She bowed. “Thank you.”

Elaine was soon pulled out of the shawl shop by Xavier. He placed his hand on his hip once they stood in the middle of the ghost market.

“You don’t want Dior or Gucci shawls anymore?”

She ran her hands through the material on her neck. “These are even prettier. My mother used to shop for them for us as girls. They feel as soft as they used to back in the day. Don’t tell me you’re not happy.” She cast him a look of betrayal and damn, he quickly changed his expression and forced a smile.

“I’m happy, truly. I’ll wear it regularly since you like it.”

“Thank you. Let’s go further. I’m sure there’s more in this market. Look, that man over there.” She pointed her hand to a store a stone's throw away from them. It was so crowded with people eager to buy the man’s well-cooked steak. “He makes the best steak in this city. I’m a bit surprised that he’s still here after so many years. My sisters and I used to sneak into his shop while we were girls.”

“And now, you’re sneaking with me?”

She smacked his arm playfully. “We’re not sneaking. We’re married. Let’s go there.”

And so, Xavier listened to her request as always and led her to the shop. They stood at the back of the crowd and soon, it got to their turn.

“Mr O,” he stepped forward and greeted the man with a smile. “Do you remember me?”

“Hmmm.” The old man’s brows furrowed as he tried to recall where he’d seen her before. “You look so familiar. You are?”

“Elaine. Elaine Rock. I used to come here many years ago with my sisters, Emily and Ria. We used to sneak here and sometimes hide from our mother when she came here looking for us.”

After she finished her explanation, she smiled as the man’s eyes flashed with recognition and he gently slammed his hand on the table. “Oh goodness,” he exclaimed. “It really is you, Elaine.” He looked her over. “You’ve grown so much. The last time I saw you, you were still a little girl.” His tone was laced with excitement and a bit of sadness at how time flies so fast.

“I’m so happy that you remembered me.”

His gaze shifted to the man who stood protectively beside her, his hands wrapped possessively around her waist. He raised a brow. “And he is?”

“My husband. Sorry, I didn’t introduce you both earlier. He’s Xavier.” She skipped mentioning Xavier’s surname. Just in case the man had heard something about his family. She wouldn’t want him to treat her any differently.

“Oh, I see. He’s one fine man. Here are your steaks. I’m giving it as a wedding gift. Please forgive me for not giving something more.”

Elaine took the two kebabs and handed one over to Xavier. “This is so much enough. Your steak is going to be one of our best wedding gifts.”

After the couple left the steak shop, Elaine still wanted to look around the market but her husband finally had enough. He grabbed the back of her thighs and lifted her over his shoulders, carrying her back to their car. He had enough for the day!