The Christmas Witch

by Carla Caruso

  ‘Mina, it’s me!’

  Cold fear spiralled through her. She darted another look at the ‘ironically’ kitsch painting, which hipsters would have turned up their noses at only a season ago.

  The parrot’s beak suddenly moved, its little grey tongue poking out. ‘Thought I’d check out the party myself, seeing as Lotta wouldn’t get me an invite. Googled the address.’ The parrot’s painted eyes moved about. ‘Hmm, very chic. Though, I once went to a yacht party on Sydney Harbour and danced with Snoop Dogg, so, you know, it’s kind of hard to top that.’

  ‘Mum!’ Mina fully twisted around, half-covering her mouth with her cocktail glass. ‘I can’t believe you astral-travelled here just to check out the party! Or, for another matter, that you even know who Snoop Dogg is. Gawd, what if someone sees you?’

  Her mother-turned-parrot fluttered her wings. ‘Hey, it wouldn’t be the first time a drunk partygoer was caught talking to a painting. I like your frock, by the way. You should wear dresses more often. Never know who you might trip over.’

  ‘And what would be the point of that, Mum?’ Mina exploded before remembering to lower her voice. ‘More heartbreak? A postponement of my inevitable lonely end? You know I’m destined to wind up a crazy plant lady, all alone, just like you and Nonna. And anyway, if I was to get some action midweek, I’d be too worried about you magically turning up and ruining things—’

  ‘Mina?’

  Her heart crashed against her ribcage. Having nowhere to hide, she dumped her emptied glass on a bar table and rotated around. Jadon stood there, hanging onto a craft beer this time rather than Gardenia.

  A corner of his mouth edged up. ‘Giving yourself a pep talk to come join the party?’

  Heat surged to her face. She crossed her arms over her chest, cursing the fact that this only accentuated her cleavage. ‘Haha, no. Just … humming along to the music.’

  His eyes danced. ‘You rap?’

  Of course a Hilltop Hoods track was playing. If only Jadon used as much humour at the shop.

  ‘I’m a woman of many talents.’

  ‘Anyway, we’ve got to stop bumping into each other like this.’ Either he had something in his eye then or he’d just given her outfit an appreciative onceover. If the latter was the case, it was probably just from the surprise of seeing her wearing something other than jeans. The shop dress code might have remained casual—for the moment anyway—but she could pull a Gardenia every so often.

  Suddenly remembering her mother’s presence, Mina gestured across the room, near a succulent-filled birdcage … far, far away from the parrot painting. There was a reason Italian superstition decreed that paintings of birds should be avoided, along with birds in the house. ‘If you don’t mind, I was thinking of moving over there. The, uh, lights here are hurting my eyes.’

  Jadon just nodded, so she took off. If she’d thought he might use the shift as an excuse to run back to Gardenia, she was wrong. He stayed a few steps behind her. Through the crowd, she spied Lotta chatting with a Z-lister magician who’d recently appeared on a TV talent show. In a small town like Hilforest, her reporter sis had to take what she could get celebrity-wise.

  Mina stopped at the rustic birdcage, filled with little terracotta pots. Jadon pulled up alongside her. ‘So …’ She glanced around, unable to help herself. ‘Where’s your date disappeared to?’

  It was like pressing on a bruise; she had to raise the topic.

  Jadon’s forehead crinkled. ‘Oh … you mean Gardenia?’ She could almost see the penny dropping. ‘We’re not here together. She just helped get my name on the guest list. And we arrived at the same time.’ He shrugged. ‘I thought it’d be good to go to a few local events to network.’

  Mina rubbed her lips together. A small, pathetic part of her, deep down, was pleased that their attendance together was just a happy coincidence. Good thing she knew Gardenia liked the thrill of the chase too and wouldn’t resort to magic to woo him.

  Jadon gave her a sideways look. ‘You here with anyone?’

  ‘Just my sister. The one whose bridal shower I’m styling.’ She prattled on. ‘I’m often her singleton plus-one at events. Lotta’s a lifestyle reporter for the local rag. She’s busy getting party goss right now.’

  Mother Earth. Her brain had somehow computed what he’d said as: ‘Are you single?’ Where were the stunning waitresses, bearing cocktails, when she needed them?

  Jadon sipped his beer. ‘Fun job she’s got.’

  With a smile, Mina snuck a look behind at the parrot painting. Thankfully, the image appeared lifeless again. She’d half-expected the bird’s eyes to be out on stalks while she chatted to Jadon, but it looked like her mum had grown bored already. Found something more interesting on Stan to watch. Relief. Turning back, Mina focused on the plant-filled birdcage.

  Jadon seemed to have the same idea. ‘Some, uh, funny-looking cacti in there.’

  She knew which one in particular he was referring to, as well. The cannoli-shaped one, in the centre, commonly referred to as a ‘penis plant’. She couldn’t help laughing and he joined in.

  Jadon cleared his throat. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t joke around like that … as your current boss.’

  The apology went some way to explaining his guarded nature at work. What he thought he needed to do to play manager.

  Still, she said, ‘I’ll let you off the hook this time. Even though you took away my plant stand.’

  He had the grace to look sheepish. ‘It’s not a permanent move or anything. I was just … rearranging things. Seeing what could work.’

  Mina stood tall like a hollyhock flower, blaming the cocktail fizzing through her system. ‘The shop’s never going to be some sleek, minimalist Milan store, you know. It’s an antique shop, in the hills. Besides, people always feel better when they’re surrounded by greenery. Look around you! What did Oscar Wilde say? With freedom, books, flowers and the moon, who could not be happy? We couldn’t live without plants. They create and regulate the air we breathe. They provide us with food, medicine, textiles, and building materials. There’d be no us left to our own devices.’

  She knew she needed to zip it, that she’d overstepped the mark, but … he’d messed with her plant pets.

  Jadon levelled her gaze and she tried not to be distracted by the green flecks in his eyes. ‘As a self-confessed “brown thumb”, I’m happy to be educated.’

  Mina was only able to revel in his backdown for a moment. A scream suddenly pierced the air. She turned in its direction, along with the rest of the partygoers.

  Metres away, a stricken redhead was brushing dirt from her butter-yellow frock. A hanging pot plant was upturned at her feet, soil (and humiliation) spilling from it. Beyond the woman’s shoulder, Mina caught sight of the parrot painting, and her fists clenched. The woven basket had been hung with sturdy wire. Her mum must have caused it to drop, through magic, to get a better view of Mina and Jadon chatting!

  To think Mina had given her the benefit of the doubt, had thought she’d tire of her little game.

  A shop assistant rushed to help the redhead and the crowd descended into hubbub again. Jadon shot Mina a look. ‘I wouldn’t like to see that happen at the antique store.’

  She swallowed a sigh. Not only had her mother marred that redhead’s frock, she’d negated Mina’s earlier spiel too.

  Mina’s life would never be normal, not by a long shot. So why was she even wasting time noting Jadon’s good looks or spending time, outside the shop, with him? It was beyond futile.

  ‘Yeah … Um, sorry, I see my sister waving me over. I’d better go but good catching up.’

  She barely heard him say ‘yes’ before she dashed off. In truth, Lotta hadn’t so much as looked in her direction. But Mina needed to protect her heart—and her sanity.

  The next morning, Mina did a double take as she wandered into the antique shop before it was due to open. Someone had been in early. Her plants were back out the front, but instead of being in mismatched pots on
her rustic shelving, they were now in fancy planters from last night’s launch. Huh. Maybe her little speech yesterday had had some impact on Jadon, after all.

  The sound of his deep voice drifted from the office. She glanced through the window, seeing him on the landline, one arm bent up as he rubbed his neck. The red-chequered fabric of his shirt strained against his bicep. She bit down on a sigh, turning away again. Admiring the scenery was all right … on occasion only.

  She headed over to her philodendron ‘pink princess’ plant, hanging from a wooden swing shelf. It perked up some more as she caressed its pink-streaked leaves, whispering, ‘I knew we could bring him around to the green side.’

  ‘Is that your secret to plant care?’ Sutton’s droll voice made her jump. ‘Breathing carbon dioxide onto them to help them grow?’

  Jeepers. From being caught conversing with a painting by Jadon, to this. Mina spun around, aiming for nonchalance. ‘Well, it sure beats singing to them.’

  Sutton grinned, showing off lipstick as black as her leather corset choker. ‘Says you.’ She was also wearing a green tinsel-adorned headband, which matched the streaks in her hair. Resting down the takeaway coffee cup in her hand, Sutton picked up a glass plant mister. ‘You know, I’m surprised he’s let your plants loose on the shelves again. He’s even given them the star treatment. Did you cast a spell on him or something?’

  ‘No!’ Mina couldn’t help spluttering. ‘He turned up to the same launch party I was at last night, for that botanical wares studio. I guess he thinks supporting other local businesses could have a flow-on effect.’

  Which, as she said it, made better sense than thinking he gave one iota about her views.

  ‘Actually, I just noticed my candles are back out too. So, you’re right. Maybe you’re not so special, ha.’

  Mina’s traitorous stomach dipped some more.

  Sutton squirted a few leaves, then traded the plant mister for her coffee again. ‘Guess I’d better throw back this dirty chai before the workday officially begins. Hmm …’ She cocked her head. ‘Dirty Chai. Maybe that could be my secret porn star name one day. I drink them enough.’

  Mina attempted a smile, though her mind had jumped to that seedy massage parlour she’d visited only days ago. And Nerida and Wizzy.

  Footsteps echoed behind them. Jadon was off the phone and out of the office. Sutton didn’t wait long to throw a comment his way. ‘Love what you did with the plants and candles, boss.’

  He had that frowny look again. Seriously, he was more hot and cold than an instant mixer tap. ‘Thanks. I’m planning to host a dinner party here soon. I’ve been given the names of some magazine journalists who could get the store brand out more widely. So, I figured re-adding a few feminine touches could work in this instance.’

  Still up in the air was whether to take what he’d just said as encouraging … or patronising.

  ‘Maybe, as part of the festivities,’ Sutton piped up, ‘we could even include a demo on how my candles can be turned into moisturising massage oil. You see, once they’re partly liquid, the wax can be slowly poured on your lover’s body.’

  Mina’s face, appropriately, flamed, despite the fact that she wasn’t the one to offer the suggestion. She noticed Jadon’s mouth twitch for a nanosecond, then stupidly felt jealous that Sutton had been the first one to crack him that morning.

  ‘Could be an option,’ he allowed. ‘Right, well, I’ve got a few errands to run, but I’ll see you guys later on.’

  Even the lacy-looking maidenhair fern, on Mina’s other side, oozed disappointment as he left. If only the plant realised it’d be bone-dry and brown left to Jadon’s care.

  The morning’s trade was unusually busy, almost as though the customers had sensed that the place had had a bit of a refresh. Mina put through several sales, including a few plants, happily.

  After being run off her feet, she was grateful to retreat to the lunchroom for her break. She grabbed her salad sandwich from the fridge and glanced at the TV. Sutton had left it on, but it was on an ad break. So, for other entertainment, Mina reached across the whitewashed table for The Hilforest Weekly, where Lotta worked.

  Sitting down, she took her sandwich out of its Tupperware container and whispered it a little thank you. Because, hey, vegetables were still plants. Then she sank her teeth into the bread, trying not to sprinkle crumbs and mung beans everywhere as she flipped through the paper. On page five, a headline leapt out at her. ‘Architect Couple Opt to Build House Around Significant Tree.’

  Below the title was a photo of a posh-looking couple, hugging the gum tree that Mina had performed a rain dance around! Feverishly, she scanned the story’s contents. Apparently, after the wife had had ‘a dream’, the pair decided to scrap their plans to bulldoze the entire site. Now they were going to build some glassy, award-worthy home around the tree. Woo hoo. Another point in favour of plants that day.

  Mina turned to the social pages, Lotta’s familiar face beaming back from the strapline. It was too soon for last night’s launch party to be featured, fortunately—a shot of Gardenia and Jadon, arm-in-arm, might have put Mina off her food—but there was info on a recent pottery exhibition and a cosmetics night at the local chemist. (Hilforest’s social scene wasn’t always off-the-chain.) Mina flicked to the statewide news page, which pulled together interesting snippets from all over the city.

  Another headline jumped out at her, accompanied by a slightly fuzzy picture of a middle-aged couple. ‘Adelaide Realtor Suffers Heart Attack Amid Throes of Passion.’ Mina found herself skimming the article for novelty’s sake. As reported, the well-known realtor, in his fifties, had suffered a near-fatal heart attack, sheepishly blaming a marathon bedroom session with his wife … Katy Monteith.

  The last bite of Mina’s sandwich wedged in her throat. She squinted at the pictured wife, in her sunglasses, and her heart thumped. Oh god. It was the SilverTrade customer she’d given the libido-boosting spell to. Mina furiously chewed on a thumbnail. Could the spell have been too much for Katy, and consequently, her unsuspecting spouse? His heart attack had been near fatal. And she’d thought no news from Katy was good news—

  ‘What’s this tripe?’

  Mina looked up, only just noticing that Jadon had walked in. The tripe he was referring to was a rerun of Practical Magic now on the telly and not the horrible dish her nonna was partial to cooking. Despite his words, Jadon’s tone had been light, but Mina didn’t care.

  She slammed shut the paper and sprang to her feet. ‘I’m not sure,’ she lied, grabbing at her container. ‘Just some afternoon movie.’ Usually the film was a comfort, allowing her to escape into the fantasy of a happy ending, but not that day.

  Jadon grunted, reaching for the remote to change the station. Nicole Kidman’s image vanished from the screen, replaced by panellists on some boring finance show. Jadon seemed happy with that, wandering over to the coffee machine.

  Taking it as her cue to leave, Mina shoved her lunchbox in her bag and headed for the door. A walk down the main street to round out her break felt vital. She should have known her good luck would only last so long.

  That evening, Mina sat in her bed, her laptop’s glow and the moonlight through the window making her doona even whiter. She’d devoured everything online she could about Katy and her husband, Clive. Who knew he was such a local identity?

  Articles about his heart attack had run statewide and were often, perversely, tinged with humour. That locker-room mentality of ‘if you’re going to have a heart attack, this’d be the way to have one’. But Mina bet Katy couldn’t see the lighter side while she nursed him back to health.

  As Mina had since discovered, the couple were empty nesters, whose adult son and daughter had ‘flown the coop’. She’d unearthed smaller things online too, like that Clive was a golf fan, and Katy, a craft junkie. But all her research was too late anyway.

  She’d meant to bring the couple closer together, not cause them more grief.

  There’d only be
en one other time when a spell sale hadn’t gone entirely to plan. That was when a shy guy asked for a love-attracting herbal potion, and he purposely multiplied the ingredients, only to get more attention than he could handle. She’d had to help him out with a quick reverse spell. But perhaps things going so wrong had only been a matter of time.

  Mina stared into space, gnawing on her bottom lip. She’d gone over and over the spell she’d given Katy. It hadn’t seemed too potent, nor had she felt any sense of foreboding handing it over. So, maybe Clive had a weak heart, or it was just a freak occurrence. Or … or perhaps the surge in Katy’s confidence, just from receiving the spell, had made her overeager. Mina would never know. But none of it made it any better.

  She’d often shaken her head at Gardenia and co. for their evildoing, or her nonna for stuffing up spells on occasion. But while Gardenia’s gang were self-serving and mischievous—and not averse to humiliating others—she was certain they’d never cause someone serious injury. And her nonna had age to blame.

  Mina desperately wanted to reach out to Katy. To see how she was faring, to go over the situation with a fine-tooth comb with her—intimacies, of course, aside. Most importantly, she wanted to fervently apologise for any suffering she might have caused.

  But doing so could risk outing Mina’s real identity. Her location. And in this, she wasn’t just thinking about herself. It could jeopardise the lives of other witches in the area, including her mum and nonna. Other witches the world over too!

  No, she’d caused enough trouble, endangered enough people … beginning with Gardenia, seeing her that evening she’d met up with Katy in the city. Mina never should have thought selling spells was a convenient way to spread goodwill. Really, it was a surprise nothing had gone pear-shaped sooner.

  She rested her fingertips on the laptop’s keyboard again. Using the touchpad mouse, she clicked the SilverTrade icon on her desktop, the familiar grey-and-gold homepage popping up. She signed in and followed the link to edit her profile. There, she hovered the cursor over ‘cancel account’ at the bottom of the page. Then, holding her breath, she clicked the link.