Spelling Bee

by Adrienne Blake

  Spelling Bee

  Tamara Candlewick blows a gasket when she hears the new headmaster at her daughter’s school requires the students mix a love potion as part of their annual Spelling Bee.

  She determines to give the young man, Carter Wells, a piece of her mind. But who knew the new principal was going to be so devilishly hot? Or that his arrival in town would have the young witches of Misty Cedars cooking up love potions of their own?

  Spelling Bee

  Adrienne Blake

  Copyright © 2019 by Adrienne Blake

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  About the Author

  Also by Adrienne Blake

  Chapter 1

  “Noooooo!”

  I got to the stove just in time and pushed my daughter out of harm’s way. “Watch what you’re doing!” I cried. The handle of the pot hung dangerously over the edge of the stove, and she’d almost knocked it over.

  Without batting an eyelash, my thirteen-year-old daughter, Pike, spun around, the page she’d been reading from hidden against her chest as she continued to memorize the ingredients under her breath.

  “Three pieces of apple, half a cup of rainwater, a sprig of rosemary, and… and, wait, I know this.” She looked up to the ceiling as she tried to recall the rest of the spell ingredients. My lips parted, ready to scold her again, but she held up her hand to stop me.

  “No, wait, Mom, I got this. A sprig of rosemary and––thyme.”

  I dipped a spoon into the pot, blew it to cool it down, and dapped a taste on the tip of my tongue. “You forgot the cinnamon and sea salt,” I corrected.

  “Oh, duh!” my daughter said, slapping her forehead. I watched as she carefully measured the cinnamon and sea salt, then slowly stirred it into the boiling pot. “There. Now it’s perfect.”

  “Uh-huh.” I moved her concoction to the backburner to cool, then pulled on a pair of oven mitts. In a flash, I also pulled some blueberry and apple muffins I’d been baking out of the oven. They smelled divine, and I slipped the hot tin on a tea towel while they cooled off. “I can’t believe they asked you to prepare a love potion.” I motioned to the pot on the back of the stove. “Should you be mixing those at your age?”

  Pike scowled at me and stole a muffin still hot from the tin. She bounced it from one hand to the other until it was cool enough to bite. “Don’t be such an old fart. The headmaster said it was okay.”

  Did he now? “Watch your mouth, missy, or the only spelling you’ll be doing today will be at my sink with the scrubbing brush. And don’t you eat any more of those muffins. They’re supposed to be for the Bee.” I looked her up and down. She looked just about ready, with her unruly black hair pulled back in a loose braid, green dress, and stripey socks. She couldn’t look more witch spawn if she tried, but then I supposed that was the fashion now.

  “You’d best put on your shoes or we’ll be late,” I said.

  Pike nodded, half-listening, her nose back in her book. I watched as she traipsed out of the room, then turned to wash my hands. Love potion indeed. I shook my head as I emptied the muffins into a plastic container and sighed, then snapped on the lid. Maybe I ought to have a word with this new Head Wizard.

  “How much of this mixture do they need for the practical?” I shouted.

  “Just a cup will do,” Pike shouted back from the hall.

  “Are you going to bottle it, or shall I?”

  “Can you, Mom? Or we’ll be late.”

  “Okay.”

  It had been a long time since I’d cooked up a love potion of my own, but one thing I remembered: you couldn’t just dump this stuff into any old container. The handling was as important as the mixing of the ingredients. I reached up over the stove and pulled down a medium crystal vial about the size of a jam jar. It had a large cork stopper which I popped out, then carefully poured some of the hot liquid into the opening. I snapped the stopper back on and watched as the steam near the top turned a pleasant pale pink, then seemed to fold back down into the potion. A stronger potion would have turned bright red. Thankfully there were not enough apples or cinnamon in the test recipe to do any real harm.

  I grinned, my thoughts bursting with parental pride. Pike had done well. I wrapped the vial in a tea towel and left it on the counter to cool. I was just checking the burners on the stove when Pike came back into the kitchen with her shoes and school blazer on. The blazer had a cute little pixie badge on the pocket.

  “All set?” I asked, unhooking my pocket book hanging loosely over an island chair and balancing the muffins in my other hand.

  “As I’ll ever be.”

  “Grab that and off we go,” I said, pointing to the wrapped-up potion.

  Pike did as she was told, and with her nose still in her book, I ushered her through the door and out to my tiny Subaru. For the last two weeks, she’d been legally old enough to sit in the front passenger seat, and the novelty had already worn off. Pike opened the door and slid in, her head already buried in the spell manual before I could slam the door shut behind her.

  I smiled. After all, there were worse things she could be into. Pike’s desire to be a spell-casting genius was all right by me. Her dad had been something of a wizard in that department––literally––and she took after him in so many ways. He’d be proud as punch if he could see her right now. As I was.

  As soon as I was in the car beside her, I strapped in, and after turning on the ignition, rolled off our drive. We had plenty of time. Pike’s school was less than ten minutes from the house and the Bee wasn’t due to begin for another hour. Still, there would be teas and cookies there, and these events were always a great opportunity to catch up on the local gossip, like who was bewitching whom these days, or who was growing naughty contraband in their garden. It also had more practical uses, like potion exchanges and general charm swaps. My personal thing was trading facial hair removal charms for the forty and over crowd. I could make a killing if the crowd was large enough.

  “All right,” I said. “So, what ingredients do you need for a wart curse?”

  "Ha-ha, too easy. Make the person who laid the curse drink apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and garlic extract. They always ask that one. Try something harder, Mom."

  “Oookay.” I smiled, loving that Pike had done her research. “What about a memory charm?”

  “I forget.” Pike giggled.

  I looked at her sideways, and realizing she’d just cracked a joke, laughed right along with her. “Nutter.”

  “Anyway, that’s a trick question. There isn’t a spell, just an incantation. And they’re all different, depending on what you’re trying to focus on.”

  “Very good,” I said, impressed. “You’re going to do just fine I think.”

  Chapter 2

  Traffic was light, and we quickly reached the Margaret Beauchamps School of Magic for Girls and Boys. Pike slid out of the car and walked toward the entrance. I watched as her excited friends gathered around her, but my darling girl was totally oblivious. All that mattered to my baby was the competition. I grinned and shook my head affectionately. She was just like her father.

  The school was in an old brownstone building, just one level, surrounded by a huge gate with a bronze sign with the year 1741 over the entryway. The façade was Victorian grim, but it had a good rep for magical education, and we were lucky to live within a stone’s throw of the place. Pike’s spelling had b
lossomed since we’d enrolled, and most importantly, she was happy here.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw another mother walking determinedly toward me. Lea Davis never had a hair out of place, didn’t wear it if it didn’t carry a designer label, and her accessories were always exquisitely coordinated. Today was no exception; her powder-blue Burberry purse perfectly accentuated her cream Neiman Marcus outfit, and Jimmy Choo’s. I felt a bit drab by comparison in my bargain-bin jeans and lumpy sweater. Still, she was always a pleasure to talk to so I slowed my pace so she could catch up.

  “I’m so glad the new Head Wizard decided to host the Bee here!” Lea cried as she linked her arm through mine. “It’s always such a bore to drive halfway across town for these things, don’t you think?” Lea sniffed the air. “Oooh, are those muffins?”

  “Yes. Blueberry and apple. Pike’s favorite.”

  “Oh, you naughty devil. Anyway, have you met him yet? The new Head? He’s quite a dish, you know, oooh eee!” Lea wafted her hand in front of her face as if cooling herself down. “That boy’s in trouble and he doesn’t even know it yet.”

  I chuckled. “The ink on your divorce was still wet, what, a week ago?”

  “Pah.” Lea laughed in return, waving a dismissive hand in front of her face. “It doesn’t count if they cheat on you. What am I supposed to do? Sit at home and pine?” She made a mock pouty face. “Screw that. This girl’s gonna paaaarteh! Anyway, what about you? It’s been what, five years? You gotta come out of the widow’s weeds sometime, girlfriend. You got the goods, girl, just look at you. You’re an absolute goddess with your gypsy black hair and cute baby blues. You need to plow your garden before it grows weeds.”

  I grimaced and looked ahead, thankful that Pike was already inside the building and well out of range. “I’m getting there.” I laughed and patted her hand. “I just haven’t seen anything I’m into yet, but I’ll get there, don’t you worry.”

  Together we stepped inside the school. The hum of excited parents and children was amplified by the stark corridor walls and, for a while our conversation was drowned out by the general clamor. Still, we both knew where we were going and were happily swept along the hall with the crowd down to the school gymnasium, where the Bee was going to be held.

  “Okay, we’re ready now!” announced a shrill voice from somewhere ahead of us. “If you could all find your seats. We’ll be starting in fifteen minutes!”

  The great black French doors were pinned open so people could easily pass through. Directly in front of us was a long table with assorted spell pots, where each of the children were going to exhibit, and in front of them were around a hundred folding chairs for the audience. Lea and I sauntered down to some vacant seats near the front, skipping by the ones marked “Reserved” for the judges.

  “I see the Van Horns did a great job of decorating this year,” I said, taking a good look around.

  “I’m glad you like it,” said an unexpected masculine voice, just behind me. I turned to see a rather tall and attractive young man smiling down at me. He had sandy brown hair, was dressed impeccably, if all in black, and his shoes looked comfortable but expensive. He carried his wand in his right hand, no doubt making a few last-minute changes to the décor as the guests arrived. It looked like it was made of willow and reminded me of Joe’s wand. His had been cut from willow and ash. Lea smirked at me, and I knew who it was even before he introduced himself.

  “Hello, I’m Carter, Carter Wells, new Head of the School. Nice to meet you.” He transferred his wand to his left hand and offered me his right to shake.

  “Nice to meet you, too,” I answered. His grasp was firm but not overbearing, and his grin was broad. I liked him right off the bat. “I’m Tamara Candlewick. Pike’s mom.”

  "Piiiiike's mom, finally we meet. I admit, I was curious."

  “Oh?”

  Carter reddened but didn’t get a chance to answer, because Lea interrupted.

  “Ahem.” She extended her hand, and Carter shook it politely, though his brow was crinkled.

  “I’m sorry.” He smiled, a little confused. “But haven’t we met already?”

  “I didn’t think you’d remember.” She smiled warmly, turning on the full Lea Davis charm. When he let her go, her tiny wrist brushed the top of his hand, smearing a dab of her perfume on him. I smirked. It was a provocative move, very intimate, like she was putting her mating spoor on him. I had to admit, when Lea wanted something, the girl went all out to get it. The poor guy didn’t stand a chance.

  “How could I forget?” Carter’s words were charming, but I noticed his left hand covered the right where she had touched it. I didn’t know what to make of that, be it good or bad.

  “Um, I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you seem awfully, err––young, for a person in your position,” I said. “Have you been teaching long?”

  “Long enough,” Carter replied. “At least it feels like it, sometimes. I taught enchantment history for several years at Yule College, then moved into spell chemistry for another four. Spelling was always my passion, and I would have stayed there, but then this headship opportunity came up, so I took it. I confess, it’s a little ahead of schedule for me, but then, who would look a gift horse in the mouth?”

  “Indeed,” Lea said, tucking a lock of her immaculate hair behind her ear.

  “Yule College?” I repeated. “That’s impressive.”

  “I wanted to work with the best,” Carter said simply.

  We smiled at each other for a little too long, and Lea was forced to interject again. “Err. Ahem!”

  “Sorry,” I said.

  “You have nothing to apologize for,” Carter said. “Pike is an excellent student. You should be very proud.”

  “I am,” I confessed.

  Carter turned politely to Lea. “And Crystal is an excellent pupil, too. I believe she won the Bee last year. Am I right?”

  Lea beamed. “Why, yes, yes she did. She’s very competitive. We––that is, I, am hoping she can pull it off again this year. She’s been practicing night and day.”

  “I’m sure she has,” Carter said. “And I hope she does well.”

  “Will you be one of the judges?” Lea’s voice seemed to have dropped an octave or two.

  “Me, no. I didn’t think that would be a good idea,” Carter replied. “Angry Moms and Dads, baying for my blood? No, I’ll leave that to the professionals. All I did was select the spells they’ll be tested on. And I’ll step in for the casting vote in the event of a tie.”

  “You did a wonderful job,” Lea cooed. “I had so much fun helping Crystal this year. Much more than ever before, as far as I can remember.”

  I hid a smirk, since I very much doubted Lea even knew which spells had been chosen, let alone helped her daughter to learn them. She’d always been very hands-off. That was just her parenting style.

  “Yes, about that,” I said. “Do you really think love potions are appropriate spells to teach thirteen-year-old girls?”

  “I’m sorry?” Carter raised an inquisitive brow.

  “Well, I mean, they’re very impressionable at that age.”

  “I see. Well, we’re not encouraging them to use the spells. Just to know how to mix them. That’s a different thing altogether. In any case, as I’m sure you know, they won’t work unless the party who takes it is already predisposed to fall in love with someone near them.”

  “Is it now? To be honest, I don’t think there’s much difference at all. Their young minds are very curious, and, well, let’s be honest, with those galloping hormones, half of them are already in love. I don’t think it’s right to have them dabble in a kind of magic they’re not ready for and won’t truly understand for a few more years. I’m not sure Pike fully grasps the concept of the three-fold law yet, and I would hate for her to invoke a spell that might hurt her.”

  “Oh, come on,” Lea said. “It’s just a playful bit of fun. What harm could there be? We all know the three-fold law is just a bit of
hocus pocus, made up by the old folk to stop us from hexing others. Why, I’m sure these mild little potions wouldn’t stir the heart of a toad.”

  “I agree,” Carter said. “About it being harmless, anyway. And you’re right––the ingredients I chose aren’t especially potent. It just produces a warm, um, buzz, no more powerful than a shot of caffeine. They would need to make a complete hash of the ingredients to conjure up a full dose potion, and I gave them the very basics in my lesson notes. So, don’t worry, I assure you, the students will be quite safe.”

  I sighed, unconvinced. “Well, as you say, I suppose it’s just a bit of fun.”

  “I think so.” Carter’s smile remained fixed, but I could tell I’d unsettled him a bit.

  Part of me was sorry for being something of a killjoy, but my prime concern was Pike’s welfare, and nothing was more important to me than that. No matter how gorgeous the new Head Wizard was.

  “Um, if you ladies will excuse me, I must get on. There’s still some last-minute details to see to before the Bee starts, but I’d be happy to continue this conversation later when the judging is over.”

  I suspected that wasn’t the whole truth, but it was kind of him to say so. “I’d like that,” I said warmly. A sudden thought occurred to me. “Oh. Would you like one of my muffins? I baked them fresh tonight for the Bee. Blueberry and apple. Pike’s favorite.”

  Carter’s eyes widened, and his gaze fixed on the plastic container I’d deposited on the seat behind me. “I confess I am hungry. I’ve been hexing up banners all day, and your muffins smell a little bit wicked.”

  He didn’t have to say another word. I reached behind me and popped off the lid, selecting the nicest-looking muffin from the batch and offered it to him. I watched eagerly for his reaction. His eyes closed for the briefest second, and then he came up grinning.