Ghostly Curse

by Cadie Snow

  Jaime tried to cling to that happiness. For a few minutes, she didn’t have to think of dreams or powers or problems. And Lily was a nice lady. She’d been in business for over twenty years and was a pillar of the community. She wasn’t the least bit witchy or supernatural, yet her rapport with her customers did seem like magic.

  When Jaime entered the shop, a bell jingled. She loved the smell of the place, musty, but in a good way. Antiques were lined up along the walls, stacked on shelves, and displayed in groupings around the place. It was a marvel that Lily collected all of this. But she made a good profit doing so.

  A man walked by Jaime with a bag in his hand, then left the shop. Lily emerged from behind the counter. She was in her forties, and had her short brown hair cut in a current style. She had vivid green eyes. The glasses she wore for reading hung around her neck on a chain.

  “Jaime, good morning.”

  “I’m a little early.”

  “No problem; come on back. I’m free,” Lily said. “This is usually a quiet day around here.”

  The back of the store had a small office where Lily handled ordering and administrative details. Jaime sat in the chair beside her desk and took some folders out of her bag. “I have good things to report, Lily.”

  While Jaime went over the numbers, Lily listened attentively. She was a smart businesswoman, and that was reflected in her profit and loss. Bookkeeping could be tedious, but Jaime enjoyed assisting small businesses—especially ones that belonged to friends.

  “Can I ask you something?” Lily said.

  “About the books? Did you have a question?”

  “No, not about that,” Lily said. “I was hoping that you would assist me.”

  “How can I do that?”

  “I need you to use your magic and see into my future,” Lily said. “I have some medical appointments coming up, and, well…I just want to make sure that everything is okay.”

  Jaime’s heart sank. She’d given up telling fortunes, but it was sometimes difficult to refuse. “Lily…here’s the thing. I haven’t been doing that lately. Remember, I told you that. I hate to turn you away, but I haven’t been practicing my skills.”

  “That’s too bad. I was hoping you could reassure me.”

  “I tell you what,” Jaime said. “Maybe another time, okay? And if you need a friend, I’ll be around. You know how to reach me.”

  “Sure, you and your sisters are good like that, caring about others.” Lily stood and leaned over to hug Jaime. “I’m sure it will be fine. I’d feel better knowing ahead of time, but I understand.”

  When Jaime left, her mood sagged. She was holding back from using her abilities, yet she wasn’t normal either. There was no clear path, no easy answers. Whatever she thought was the right thing to do seemed to have a downside.

  Her phone vibrated, and she saw that it was Ian Carpenter. She could use a call from a friend.

  “Jaime, how are you?”

  “That’s a question that has no quick answer.”

  “Tough day, huh?”

  “You could say that.” Jaime leaned against a tree while she talked. “More like a tough week.”

  “Have you had lunch yet?”

  Jaime’s stomach rumbled, reminding her that she’d been with Lily longer than expected.

  “Are you offering?”

  “Sure am,” Ian said. “If you’re in town, meet me at the Hole in the Wall.”

  Jaime headed in that direction. It was a place that attracted locals. They served breakfast all day, plus they had great hamburgers and hot dogs. Ian had picked one of her favorite restaurants. It was one of the oldest diners in downtown.

  It would be good to see Ian. He’d been a friend since Jaime’s school days. He worked in the sheriff’s office and was a good person to have on her side. If he had inside information, he would share it with her, if he was allowed to.

  Ian reminded her of the boy next door. Jaime had been his friend for as long as she could recall, but the nature of the relationship hadn’t gone beyond that. A few years before, Ian had been married to a woman he met when she’d visited the town. It seemed she was enthralled with the quaint atmosphere.

  Yet the relationship hadn’t lasted, much to Ian’s disappointment. He’d explained to Jaime that he just couldn’t offer what his wife wanted. She hadn’t been cut out for small-town life after all. And Ian couldn’t envision living anywhere else.

  The split had been amiable, but Jaime could tell that it had broken Ian’s heart. He was a good guy, loving and attentive. Any woman who hooked up with him would be very lucky. Once in a while, it crossed Jaime’s mind that if circumstances had been different, they might have ended up together.

  But that wasn’t meant to be. By the time Ian’s marriage had split up, Jaime was already married to Elijah. Even though she was a free woman now, she had no desire for marriage number three. She needed a chance to get herself together, to focus on raising her kids.

  Honestly, Jaime didn’t trust herself. How she’d ended up with Elijah, she couldn’t imagine. She must have lost her mind. Yet she’d married him for all the right reasons. There was no way she was going to take a chance on a relationship again anytime soon.

  Jaime had her kids to think about. And she couldn’t ignore all the trouble that existed between Elijah and them. She didn’t need any more to deal with, no matter how tempting that might be. It would be good to have a partner, to have someone else to turn to when she needed it.

  But she had her family, and that was more than enough. Any personal relationship on the horizon was way in the future, if at all. She’d been unlucky in the intimacy department, based on how things had gone so far. She’d be better off focusing on getting her life together, instead of risking another disappointment.

  When Jaime arrived at the restaurant, Ian was standing out front. The establishment was in an old two-story house that had been converted for commercial use. It was a white clapboard building with red awnings and red umbrellas over the patio tables.

  Ian looked particularly handsome. He was a couple of years older than Jaime, and maturity suited him. He had brown hair, light brown eyes, and a close-trimmed beard. He had that friendly look, an attribute that Jaime liked about him.

  He wore his uniform, and Jaime couldn’t help but notice his firm build. He had to stay in shape, as the department required it. He looked good—not too much muscle, but solid. “I thought I’d see if I could cheer you up.”

  “You always cheer me up,” Jaime said.

  It was sunny, so Ian picked a table on the front patio. Jaime sat across from him and grabbed a menu from the holder. “What will it be?”

  “I can’t pass up their chili dog,” Ian said. “And you?”

  “The hamburger and fries.” Jaime wouldn’t be able to finish it, because the burgers were huge. But she could sure try.

  The waitress came by and took the order. Then Ian looked at Jaime. “So what has you frazzled? Is it supernatural stuff or life problems?”

  That was the thing about Ian. He didn’t criticize Jaime. Growing up, she’d been teased a lot about being a witch, but Ian had defended her. He didn’t like to see a person pushed around, which was one reason he’d chosen a career in law enforcement.

  “I told you that I was out of the witch business.”

  Ian rolled his shoulder. “I’m not sure I believe you.”

  “I did give it up,” Jaime said. “But a lot is going on. It’s difficult.”

  The waitress brought their Cokes, and Ian took a swig. “I imagine so, considering the family you’re in.”

  “You’re picking on my family?”

  “Not at all,” Ian said. “Olivia and Harper are like family to me, too—and your kids. Your cousins…I don’t know. Some of them are rather strange.”

  Jaime laughed. “You call ’em like you see ’em, don’t you?”

  “Always have.” Ian tipped his chair back and studied her. “But something tells me that this isn’t all fun and ga
mes. What’s up? You can tell me.”

  Jaime stirred the ice in her glass with a straw. “I hardly know where to start.”

  “Just start,” Ian said, “and we’ll figure it out as we go.”

  It was still hard to know where to begin, so Jaime hesitated. The food arrived, giving her a chance to get her thoughts together. And she was a lot better on a full stomach.

  Ian dove into the chili dog, making a mess, while Jaimie piled more lettuce on her burger before cutting it in half. “You’re going to be way ahead of me.”

  “I didn’t know it was a race,” Ian said through a mouthful of food.

  The fries were just right, crispy and not too salty. And the burger was juicy and flavorful, worth every bite. Halfway through, Jaime took a break. She might ask to have the rest wrapped up for later.

  “I guess I’ll start with the bad news,” Jaime said. “Aunt Iris is missing.”

  “Since when? Did you make a report?”

  “Yesterday, Olivia did.”

  “I didn’t work Sunday, and nobody mentioned it this morning.”

  “I’m sure it’s not at the top of their list,” Jaime said. “I got the impression that they think she’s just visiting a friend, and will pop up soon. I thought that too, but it’s been too long. I’m starting to fear the worst.”

  “I’ll see what I can find out,” Ian said. “Maybe something has turned up. I can work on it for you.”

  “I appreciate that.” Jaime was more worried than she’d realized. When she told Ian all the details, including her dream, it sounded bad. Ian would consider that the dream was merely a nightmare, not insight into the future. But he wouldn’t think less of her for it.

  Jaime made a couple more client visits before going to the elementary school to watch soccer practice. She texted Abigail. Her daughter was going to a friend’s house to do homework and would be home later for dinner.

  Other parents sat on the benches to observe their sons. Jaime knew most of them on a first-name basis. She envied their normality. Although she did her best to fit in, she’d always be different. Being a witch wasn’t something a woman did one day and not the next.

  The Sanders family had a reputation, and opinions about them varied. But in the school environment, most of the parents were cordial, even friendly. Whatever Jaime’s status in the world of supernatural, she was just another mom at the soccer practice.

  Andrew and Landon were on the field in their uniforms, giving the game their best. Jaime was proud of Landon for trying. He wasn’t as athletic but was a good sport. She predicted that as he grew up he’d develop other interests and leave sports to his brother.

  But in the fourth grade, it didn’t matter all that much. The game was for fun, and no one took it too seriously—except for a couple of fathers who thought their son was destined for professional sport at the age of nine.

  Jaime got into the game, shouting along with other parents. Andrew was aggressive, scoring for the team. And Landon hadn’t been injured yet, always a good thing. The skirmish continued, and emotions on the bleachers heated up.

  Then it was over. The coach congratulated both teams and told them they’d played a good game. If they did that well in competition, they should be proud. The grinning young boys headed for the locker room to change, and Jaime turned to head over to meet them.

  But Jaime bumped into Harper. “What are you doing here?”

  “I had to come right away. It’s too important to put in a text.” Harper’s eyes darted over the crowd of parents. “Can I talk to you alone?”

  Once they were out on the lawn, Harper said, “I had a communication…telepathically, I mean.”

  Jaime’s heart pounded. “What was it?”

  “It was of fear, a woman asking for help.”

  “Aunt Iris?”

  “I think so, but I don’t know for sure,” Harper said. “I heard it loud and clear, a call for help. It was disturbing. We have to do something.”

  “Okay…okay, we will.” Jaime dragged Harper to the locker room entrance. “I have to get the boys. It’s best not to talk about this in front of them.”

  Once the boys were changed, Jaime drove them home and shuffled them upstairs to do their homework. That wasn’t a simple task, since they were more interested in visiting with their aunt.

  “Aunt Harper, will you still be here when we’re done?” Landon said.

  “I might be.”

  “Okay, I hope so.” Landon followed his brother up the stairs, and Jaime pulled her sister into the living room.

  “We can talk privately now,” Jaime said, “but keep your voice down. Tell me again, every word you remember. Maybe we’ll get a clue.”

  Harper paced the floor. “That’s all…what I told you. A cry for help. It was a woman, but the voice was muffled, so I couldn’t recognize it. I’d swear it was Iris, though.”

  “That’s not much to go on,” Jaime said. “Could you tell where she was? That’s what we need to know.”

  Harper shook her head. “I got a message but no visual.”

  Jaime expelled a long breath. “There has to be more. Iris is reaching out. She would communicate where she is, so we can go to her.”

  “It got cut off,” Harper said. “The message was interrupted. That’s why I don’t know more. Iris knew she could contact me, but I don’t think she was completely under her own control. I sensed a communication about…”

  “What, Harper? Anything…what was it?”

  “Physical harm. She’s in trouble.”

  Jaime wasn’t surprised to hear that. At this point, not much else made sense. But if she didn’t know where her aunt was, what could she do? She felt so helpless, a horrible feeling when her aunt most needed her.

  Harper sagged into a chair and sighed.

  Jaime plopped onto the sofa and leaned back with her hands over her eyes. Then it happened. The future loomed like a monster, answering the question Jaime had asked. She dropped her hands into her lap, her eyes wide.

  “I know,” Jaime said. “I just got a glimpse into the future. It’s about to be broadcast. Turn on the television.”

  Harper leapt up from the chair and grabbed the remote. She fumbled with the controls. Within a second, she had the news on. “What station?”

  “That’s it, right there,” Jaime said, staring at the screen. A photograph of Iris was shown with her name below it. It was Jaime’s worst fear.

  The newscaster solemnly announced that a woman had been found dead earlier in the day. The victim had been tentatively identified as Iris Sanders, a prominent figure in the small town of Blairsville, Georgia. Her identity had not yet been confirmed, and the cause of death undetermined. More details would be reported as they were known. Her body had been found in a ditch outside of town.

  CHAPTER 5

  The news shifted to another topic, so Harper clicked the remote. Jaime stared at the blank screen. The shock was too much. She didn’t want to face reality, as she’d clung to hope until the end. But the newscaster’s voice replayed in her head. Iris’s body had been found in a ditch outside of town.

  Harper gripped the remote. “I can’t believe it. Aunt Iris…dead.”

  The news hit Jaime hard. She couldn’t begin to fathom the repercussions. All she could think of was Iris. Inside her chest was a gaping hole. She’d lost her aunt. The emptiness was unbearable.

  Harper sat down, so Jaime put her arms around her. For a few minutes, neither of them moved or spoke. Then Jaime’s phone vibrated, startling them back to the present.

  It was Olivia. “I’m coming right over. Did you see the news?”

  “We just saw,” Jaime said. “Harper is with me.”

  “That was the national news,” Olivia said. “The story must have leaked quickly. I only just heard from the sheriff a couple of minutes ago. The body was identified from the picture of Iris I’d left with the missing person report.”

  “We’ll have to ID the body,” Jaime said.

  “We c
an go together, in the morning…not tonight,” Olivia said. “First, we need to get together, support each other.”

  “This is awful,” Harper said, wiping tears from her eyes.

  “Olivia is on her way over. The three of us will talk.” Jaime stood and looked up the stairway. “The boys are in their rooms. Abigail will be home soon. I hope she didn’t see the news.”

  “That would be the worst,” Harper said. “The kids have to hear about this from you. They will be devastated.”

  As if on cue, Abigail arrived and entered the living room. “Hey, what’s for dinner?”

  “I have a treat for you, honey,” Jaime said. “Ian is going to drop by and take you and your brothers out for pizza.”

  Abigail grinned. “Seriously?”

  “Yes, I’ll call him now, so he knows you’re back,” Jaime said. “I have coven business to attend to with my sisters, so I won’t be going out with you.”

  “I thought you weren’t involved in the coven anymore?”

  “I’ll explain later,” Jaime said. “Do you want to change out of your school clothes?”

  “Yeah, sure.” Abigail bounded up the stairs to get ready, the coven affairs already forgotten.

  “Does Ian know about this?” Harper said.

  “Not yet. I just hope he is home.” Jaime called Ian and got him on the second ring.

  “Jaime, I was going to call you,” Ian said. “I’m so sorry. You must have seen the news.”

  “A few minutes ago,” Jaime said. “Can we talk about it tomorrow? I’m going to need your help.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  “I have a favor to ask,” Jaime said. “Can you come over and take the kids out for pizza?” She explained the situation, and Ian agreed.

  “He will be right over,” Jaime said to Harper. “He adores the kids, and this will be good. It will give me a chance to recover a bit. I can’t tell them about this, when I’m such a mess.”

  A few minutes later, Olivia walked in. She didn’t bother to ring the bell. She opened her arms and hugged Harper, then Jaime. “I don’t get it. Iris was so healthy.”