by Wendy Wang
Charlie untied the brown grosgrain ribbon holding the bag closed and reached inside. Her fingers brushed against a velvet box and she pulled it from the bag first. Charlie flipped open the top and the burnished silver pendant winked at her in the overhead light of the office. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Yep. It’s for a little added protection.”
“You know people are gonna start to think we’re witches,” Charlie teased, brushing her thumb over the five-sided star.
Jen shrugged one shoulder. “Half the town already knows and the other half suspects.”
“But I’m not a witch.”
“You could be.” Jen reached for the box and removed the necklace. “If you’d just embrace your heritage.”
Charlie raised her eyebrows. They’d had this discussion too many times.
“Fine, I’ll let it go… for now,” Jen said. “Turn around.”
Charlie bent low and Jen fastened the second necklace around her neck. The pendant dropped into Charlie’s pale pink t-shirt, out of sight.
“There. That’s the best I’ve got to give, along with the stuff in your bag.”
Charlie quirked one eyebrow. “Which is what?”
“A sage bundle for smudging, a bag of salt mixed with dried sage. A small piece of sandalwood, a pocketknife and some matches in a plastic bag. Just in case.”
“I’m just going to talk with them. I’m not camping out with them,” Charlie quipped.
“Yeah, well, it can’t hurt. There are also a few loose stones and crystals.”
“You know I have no affinity for magic like you do Jen. The sandalwood, sage, and salt I can use, but the crystals — I have no idea how to harness them.”
“When the time comes, reach inside the pouch without looking. Let your intuition guide you. It won’t steer you wrong. Once you’ve picked a stone, call on a spirit guide to help you.”
“A spirit guide? Really?” Charlie tried not to let too much skepticism show in her face, but she knew she failed when Jen frowned and rolled her eyes.
“Yes, really. You can’t go into this halfway. It could get you seriously hurt or worse.”
“Jen—”
“I’m not kidding about this Charlie. He’s already proven he can physically hurt you. So watch your back and don’t be afraid to be who you are. It’s your birthright.”
There was no point in arguing with her cousin. Lisa might be the lawyer, but Jen was the most persuasive of them all when it came down to it. She knew exactly how to use her truth to hit a person in the heart.
“I’ll be careful.” Charlie said, tucking the bag into her purse. She hugged her cousin tight and left before she could change her mind.
Chapter 24
Evan was waiting on the front porch hugging a backpack to his chest when Charlie arrived late Friday afternoon. His face lit up, and he jumped to his feet and ran down the steps.
“Mom!” he said.
Charlie slammed her car into park, jumped out and had her arms wrapped around him before Scott could argue about her display of affection on the front lawn where the neighbors could see. She picked him up and swung him around.
Setting him down, she stepped back and took a long look at him. “I swear you’re two inches taller since I saw you two days ago.”
Evan laughed. “I haven’t grown that fast, Mom.”
“Well, you’re gonna be tall like your mama.” Thank goodness, she added silently. She ruffled his fine, blond hair. Evan was a perfect mix of her and Scott. He had her blue eyes and Scott’s lips and square jaw. The only thing questionable was his nose — looking at him straight on it appeared to be hers, long, thin and straight. But in profile it was all Scott, even down to the curve of the tip. “You ready to go have some fun?”
“Yeah,” he said.
“Okay, go get in the car. I need to talk to your daddy for a second.” She cast her gaze over to the front porch where Scott now stood with his hands in his pockets. She walked to the bottom of the steps, not wanting to get too close. She'd covered the bruise on her jaw with makeup and had arranged her bangs over the cut on her forehead to make them less noticeable, but she couldn’t cover her split lip very well.
“I’ll have him back by early Sunday evening,” she said.
“All right.” He tipped his chin to the right and his eyebrows tugged together as if he was questioning something. Her heartbeat quickened, and she sucked her bottom lip into her mouth. Any concern at all and he could stop her from seeing her son, regardless of their agreement. All he had to do was call one of his judge friends. He opened his mouth to say something, and she glanced back at the car. Evan stood in the doorframe of the passenger side with his arms over the top of the roof of the car.
“Come on Mom, let’s go,” he said.
“I’m coming.”
“We have supper at six o’clock on Sundays,” Scott said. It was not an invitation. More of a warning.
“I remember.” Charlie took a step backwards.
“Evan listen to your mom now. You hear me?” Scott called.
“Yes sir.”
Charlie rushed to the car not looking back. She climbed into the driver seat and Evan climbed into the passenger seat.
“Phew, that was a close call,” she said to Evan.
“Mom,” Evan said. “What happened your face?”
“I got into an accident sweetie. Can you believe it? I fell up the steps in the townhouse.” She didn’t look at him as she lied. That would have made it harder.
“Wow, that must’ve hurt.” His gaze bounced from the gash on her forehead to the bruise on her cheek, to the split in her lip. He scrutinized her for another moment before finally saying, “I’m glad you’re all right.”
“Me too sweetie,” she said.
“So did you have the locks changed?”
Busted. She didn’t know why she thought she could lie to him just because he was young. Of all the things he’d inherited from her, his sensitivity and intuition were just as much a part of him as his blond hair.
“I put a request in with maintenance at the apartment building, so you and I are actually not going to be staying at my apartment this weekend.”
“Where are we staying?”
“Uncle Jack’s. Won’t that be fun? He’s taking you and Ruby fishing in the morning.”
“Cool. I love Uncle Jack. He’s the most fun.”
“Yes he is.” Charlie grinned. “We should get going. I’ve got an errand I need to run, so, back seat buddy.” She jerked her thumb towards the rear seat.
“Aw Mom, I’m almost eleven.”
“You know the rules.”
Evan frowned. “Fine.” He opened the car door and crawled into the back seat. They buckled up, and she gave Scott a short wave before putting the car in reverse and backing out into the street.
“By the way, I’m not gonna be there for supper, but the rest of the family will be.”
“What kind of errand?”
“Oh just something I need to do for work. I’ll be home in time to tuck you in though. Okay?” She glanced at him in the rearview mirror.
Evan stared at his mother for a long moment. A worry line appeared between his eyebrows. “Okay. Just promise you’ll be careful.”
Charlie smiled at her wise child. “I will baby. I promise.”
Chapter 25
Charlie put her car in park and peered through her windshield at the darkened house. It appeared Susan wasn’t home, but Charlie didn't think it would matter to her if she spoke to the spirits in the woods. It was, after all, what she’d been asked to do.
In the distance thunder rumbled and dark clouds gathered over the marsh. She would have to hurry if she didn't want to be rained on. Charlie slung the small canvas messenger bag across her body and tucked her keys inside one of the zippered compartments. She popped the trunk and dug around the emergency box that Scott made her keep. Her fingers brushed against cold metal and she wrapped her hand around the flashlight. Pres
sing the silver button, she tested it. The light shined bright and strong. It was nearly seven and it wouldn't be dark for at least another hour, but it was better to be safe than sorry. She closed her trunk and slipped the light inside her bag.
Out of politeness, she climbed the stairs and knocked on the front door.
“Susan?”
There was no answer. Charlie peeked inside the window and all the lights were off. No sign of life. Maybe that was a good thing.
She headed around back and one by one the apparitions appeared in the tree line. Her heart quickened at the sight of them. It wasn't exactly fear she felt. There was no danger emanating from them, only sadness. A despair that connected with something deep inside of her. She had felt it before. The night she OD'd on sleeping pills and nearly died. She had clawed her way back from the darkness, somehow finding the will to live again. If she feared anything it was the transfer of their misery onto her. When she was finished learning what she could from them, would she be able to just walk away and shake off the inevitable anguish she was sure to feel? Her hand found the silver pentacle, and she pressed her thumb hard against the star, letting it leave a deep imprint in her skin. She took a deep breath and headed for the woods.
Honey just would not leave her alone. Sugar thought that once her dead sister realized she had done all she could to help that maybe Honey could pass on to wherever it was she was supposed to go. Sugar wasn’t sure if she believed in heaven anymore, and if hell existed then more than likely, it was on this plane not another.
The rocking chair in her bedroom had not stopped moving since Honey decided to move in and make her presence known. Back and forth. Back and forth. The old wood creaked, grating Sugar’s last nerve. She sighed and tried to focus on the letters needed for the latest puzzle on Wheel of Fortune. The young woman spinning the wheel had just won nearly $7000. She hoped she wouldn't get tripped up on the bonus round. That was always the hardest. Sugar almost never guessed the bonus round correctly.
The creaking stopped, making Sugar look over to the bedroom door. Maybe Honey had left. She could hope anyway.
An icy finger brushed across the back of her neck. There was a whoosh of cold air and a slight popping sound. Sugar sighed.
“Honey it is time for you to go,” Sugar faced her sister and found the ghost so close their noses almost touched.
“Help her,” Honey said.
“Honey I have done all I can to help.” Sugar scooted to her left putting some space between them.
“Help her,” Honey repeated.
“I have done everything you've asked. Why don't you just leave me in peace?”
Honey's face darkened. “Help her.”
The cell phone sitting on the end table began to ring and Sugar picked it up.
Charlie Payne's number appeared. It took Sugar a moment to realize Charlie wasn't calling her. Honey had dialed Charlie's phone again.
“Hello you've reached my cell phone. Leave me a message and I will call you back as soon as I can. You have a great day now,” Charlie's voice mail message said in her calm steady voice.
“Charlie, this is Sugar Blackburn. I was just calling to make sure you're all right. Can you please give me a call when you get this? Thank you.” Sugar tapped End and glared at her sister's apparition. “Is there anything else you'd like me to do tonight? Because honestly? Jeopardy starts in about five minutes and I'm not gonna pay you any attention once it starts.”
The speed of her sister’s movement didn't quite register until fear clogged her throat. Honey’s cold fingers wrapped around Sugar's neck squeezing just enough to feel the pressure of her icy fingertips
“Honey,” Sugar whispered. “Please don’t.”
“Help her.” Honey’s ragged voice snaked through Sugar’s senses making her bones ache.
“Let me go.”
Something sharp bit into her skin and Honey’s grip tightened for a brief second, cutting off Sugar’s air before releasing. Sugar’s hand went to her neck, and she sucked in a deep breath. Her fingertips met with something warm and sticky. Sugar drew her fingers back and found them smeared with blood.
“All right, you’ve made your point,” Sugar said. “What do you want me to do? And don’t say help her. That’s not helpful.”
The phone began to ring again. Sugar frowned and glanced screen. Her grandson’s number displayed with a picture of the two of them. Sugar put her ear to the phone listening to it ring.
“Hey Gran,” Jason said. “Can I call you back? I’m kinda in the middle of something.”
“Jason — we have to help Charlie.” Sugar moved into the bathroom to find the source of blood. She leaned in close to see four thin crescent shaped wounds on the side of her neck.
Jason cleared his throat. “Why do you say that Gran?”
Sugar put the phone on speaker and took a clean washcloth from the top drawer. She ran it under cold water, wrung it out, and touched it to her neck. When she glanced into the large mirror over the sink, Honey appeared, her black eyes watching Sugar’s every move. “I have it on good authority that she needs help. I tried calling her but all I got was her voice mail.”
“That just means she’s not answering her phone Gran. I’m sure she’s fine.”
Sugar blinked and when she opened her eyes again, Honey had moved behind her. The air chilled, and a tremor skittered down Sugar’s spine. Air escaped her lips, puffing in a slow visible stream. “Well, I’m not sure she is.”
“Listen, Gran I don’t want you to worry about it. I’ve got to go. Love you.”
“Jason,” she started, but the phone clicked. She glanced at the screen and the end time blinked at her before disappearing. “Well, that little devil hung up on me.”
Honey touched a cold finger to Sugar’s cheek.
“What am I supposed to do, Honey? Just tell me what to do.” She said the words as if she were a thirteen-year-old girl again looking to her big sister for advice. A pang of sadness squeezed her heart. How she missed those times.
“Go home Sugar. Go home.” The ragged whisper flitted across her skin, echoing through her head and her sister faded to mist.
Chapter 26
Jason curled his fingers into a fist and raised his hand to knock against the screen door. There were several cars parked behind Charlie’s uncle’s house, but he didn’t see her silver Honda. She’d ridden to meet his grandmother with her cousin though, so maybe she still didn’t have her car. He’d forgotten to ask if her landlord had changed her locks. He wasn’t even sure why he thought she could help, other than something in his gut told him she could and he wasn’t going to start doubting his instincts.
He heard a woman talking in a hushed tone. “I don't have a good feeling about this Jen. We should not have let her go out there by herself. You said yourself this spirit is dangerous.” Jason stepped to the right, which gave him a view of the kitchen but kept him out of sight.
Two women entered the kitchen carrying dishes. One was much older, with long white hair that reached the middle of her back. The other was younger, closer to Charlie's age, with short dark hair and a face like a pixie.
“Charlie is a grown woman. I can't make her do something she doesn’t want to do.”
“Still, I don’t like it.” The older woman picked up the plates and scraped the bits of leftover food into the trash before placing each dish into the sink. The sound of the metal fork against the porcelain set his teeth on edge.
“She’ll be fine. She’s just going to talk to the other spirits on the property. I doubt Talmadge will even be there. And anyway, Charlie has her phone. She can call if she needs us,” the younger woman said. “Have a little faith.”
“Will you get the pie out of the fridge please?” The older woman opened a cabinet and pulled out a stack of small plates.
“Sure,” the younger woman said.
Jason stepped up to the door and rapped his knuckles against the painted wood. The younger woman appeared at the screen door.
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br /> “Jason Tate,” she said, smiling as if she knew him.
“Um. Hi,” he said. Maybe Charlie wasn’t the only special one in her family. “Is Charlie here?”
“Come on in. Would you like a piece of pie?” The young woman pulled the screen door open and ushered him inside.
“Hello.” The older woman turned to him. In her hand, she held a pie server with chocolate clinging to its blade.
“Thank you but, no. I was just looking for Charlie. I tried calling her, but she’s not answering her cell phone and I remember her saying something about Friday night dinner with her family.” Jason’s gaze bounced between the two women. Charlie’s Uncle Jack may have been the guard dog of the family, but clearly these two were the gatekeepers. He got the feeling no one passed into their inner sanctum without their permission.
“She’s not answering her phone?” The older woman gave the younger woman a pointed look.
“No ma’am, it goes straight to voice mail,” he said. “I thought maybe she’d turned it off.”
“I’m Jen by the way.” The younger woman stepped forward and offered her hand. “Charlie’s cousin.”
“Nice to meet you.” He shook her hand and smiled. “Charlie sure has a lot of cousins.”
“Indeed she does young man,” the older woman said. She gave him the once over. “I’m Evangeline Ferebee, her Aunt.”
“It’s nice to meet you ma’am.” He recognized the last name. Jason tried to keep from cringing. “Daphne’s mother?”
“That’s correct.” Her mouth twisted with disapproval. He wondered what Daphne had said.
“So — Charlie’s not here?”
The women exchanged glances again, and he got the feeling there was something more than the mutual looks passing between them.
The older woman’s mouth twisted into a scowl. “You may as well tell him.”
“Charlie went to your mother’s house,” Jen said.
“My mother’s in Savannah till Sunday. Why did she go out there?”