by Tonya Kappes
“I don’t blame you for being upset.”
Arabella? I lifted my eyelid just enough to see Arabella Paxton standing at my feet picking her nails. Mr. Prince Charming jumped on my chest, nearly causing me to blow my cover. He kneaded my stomach with his front paws, purring the whole time.
“She does seem to be a little needy. At least it looked that way when she got her panties in a wad when her friend…um…” She tapped her temple like she couldn’t remember Oscar’s name, but I knew better. “Os…,” she hesitated.
“Oscar,” Mary Lynn finished her sentence.
It took every ounce of my spiritual soul not to jump up and rip out Arabella’s spiritual soul.
“Now, now.” Isadora, Izzy for short, put her palm on my forehead. “He did love her or he wouldn’t have denounced his spiritual heritage to save her life.”
I could always count on Izzy to be on my side. After all, she was the reason I moved to Whispering Falls. She knew I was a spiritualist before I knew I was a spiritualist. She came to visit me in Locust Grove and suggested I move A Dose of Darla to Whispering Falls. It was the best decision I had ever made.
“She can’t help that she faints.” Izzy knew my fainting spells were caused by something other than low blood sugar or something medical. She knew there had to be an underlying intuition vision. Only I didn’t know what that vision was. I just knew that the engagement between Petunia and Gerald was plagued. Plagued by what was the question and one I was going to have to figure out.
“Did he?” Arabella drummed her fingers together. “I mean, he isn’t a spiritualist?”
She knew darn well he was no longer a spiritualist.
Cough, cough, cough. I faked with my eyes still closed. Mr. Prince Charming wasn’t buying my act. He knew me too well. He swiped my cheek with the pad of his paw.
“Stop,” I whispered and blew a stream of air out of my mouth to make him move. He didn’t budge. Damn cat.
This was one of those moments I wished Oscar hadn’t made the deal with the Elders and he still had his memory. He’d be right there by my side and let little Miss Fresh Flowers know she was way out of line.
“Stop talking. She’s coming to,” Izzy warned. The swoosh of her A-line skirt filled the air as she bent down and got closer to my ear. “June dear.”
“What happened?” I pretended to not remember the whole entire conversation or engagement. If only. I really didn’t want to remember. I wanted to remember the feeling I had when I truly thought the vision was going to be me. Me and Oscar. How stupid was I?
Oscar and I hadn’t even gotten back together since he lost his memory, though he did know about my spiritual gift and how Eloise was his aunt.
“I can tell you what happened.” An angry Petunia stepped into my vision. To take it like a man, I propped myself up on my elbows ready for the blow. I had ruined the happiest moment of her life. I deserved what I had coming to me. “You, June Heal, have ruined my proposal!”
“I…” I sat up but Izzy put a hand on my shoulder to stop me.
“Petunia, you stop that.” Izzy gave her a stern warning.
“Stop what? The truth?” Arabella asked. She obviously didn’t know the protocol around here and I was all too eager to teach her by escorting her right out of town.
Petunia planted her fists on each side of her swirly hips and nodded her head agreeing with Arabella. Petunia’s floor length black skirt hung like a pair of drapes over her hips and it didn’t help her shape with the scoop neck shirt tucked into the waist band. “She asked what happened and I’m going to tell her.” She shook her fist at me before she pointed to Arabella. “Well, she’s going to tell her.”
“You can’t stand to see someone in love now that you have lost Oscar and you don’t want her to be happy.” There was an evil twinkle in Arabella’s gorgeous eyes. She made evil look beautiful.
“Me?” I jumped up, knocking Izzy almost to the ground. “I changed the by-laws for you and Gerald.” I ignored Arabella and spoke straight to Petunia.
“For me?” She cackled out loud. She poked my chest with her finger. “You liar! That was for you and Oscar. He was the sheriff and you are the owner of A Charming Cure which meant you couldn’t be together.”
Damn. She was half right. When I first moved to Whispering Falls, Rule Number Three stated that you couldn’t have more than one shop in the family. I had no idea why that rule was in place, but it was stupid. Especially since I wanted Oscar and the rules prevented me from it. I had also known that Gerald and Petunia were secretly dating, which I told no one, and when I became Village President, I knew it was going to be the first rule I was going to amend. Now that it was on the table, we would take a final vote at the next meeting.
“That is not true.” Okay, half true. “I want you and Gerald to be together. You two love each other. Besides, it’s a silly rule.”
“Yes we do love each other and you of all people should be happy for us.” She stomped her foot. Her messy up-do tilted to the right. A small chipmunk held on for dear life before it scurried back into the mop-top of hair piled high on her head. “And God knows we have waited a long time to get married.”
She was right on that too. Each of them had to be in their late fifties and neither of them had been married.
“You took the Presidency away from me and now my engagement.” For a minute I thought she was going to hit me. “What else do you want? My pet shop? My bees? My life?”
Arabella nodded right alongside of Petunia, giving Petunia the courage she needed to slam me.
Oh no. I was in big trouble. She was never going to let me live down the whole Village President situation. It wasn’t like I had campaigned to be in charge. It wasn’t like I moved to Whispering Falls and craved to be the leader. I wanted to open my homeopathic cure shop and live happily ever after with Oscar by my side. So far, it’s been far from happily ever after.
Petunia had always wanted to be in charge when Izzy stepped down and that was how it might work in a normal election. Whispering Falls was far from normal and so was the way a new president took office. I was appointed and didn’t have a real choice in the matter.
“I’m beyond happy for you. Thrilled in fact. I want to give you a bridal shower.” Bridal shower? Where that had come from I had no idea, but by the look on her face, it was brilliant. I continued to feed on her expressions. “With cake, tea, presents for the happy couple, and lots of decorations.”
“What?” Arabella’s mouth dropped. By the look on her face, she knew I had just played a trump card.
I had never even thrown a birthday party or any type of party. I didn’t even know where to begin to throw a bridal shower. I would make a stop to Ever After. I was sure there were manuals on bridal showers.
“Do you mean it?” Petunia’s face softened and so did her shoulders. Her brown eyes held a tear in the corner. She blinked. The tear rolled down her cheek and dripped onto the floor. I nodded. “You are happy for me.”
“I am.” My insides ached as I confirmed how happy I was that she had gotten engaged and I wasn’t. The thought of going through bridal shower manuals made me sick to my stomach. But I put on a happy smile. It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy for them. I would be really, really happy for them if I was engaged too, but I wasn’t. Not yet. It could happen. But my intuition didn’t alert me that something great was going to happen. It alerted me that something bad, something very bad was going to happen.
“I’ll supply all the flowers for your shower.” Arabella curled up on her toes and jabbed her finger in the air. Her voice escalated, “And I’ll do the wedding too.”
“That settles it.” Petunia clasped her hands to her mouth. I noticed she didn’t have a ring on her left hand yet, reminding me of the dove and ring charm Mr. Prince Charming had given me.
What did that charm mean? Faith’s words rang in my head from this morning’s headlines, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. Faith’s second part of her prediction popped into my head. What d
id that mean? More importantly, what did that mean in terms of a celebration?
Yes. I would keep the bride and the flower girl close to my side and make sure nothing went wrong. Especially with the flower girl.
“Then we must get planning.” She curled her hand around my elbow and the other hand around Arabella’s. She drew us close to her. I looked over at Izzy.
Izzy pushed her long blond wavy hair from around her face. She winked one of her big hazel eyes at me. She understood the position I was in and how carefully I had to play my cards.
As the Village President before me, I had seen Izzy get into some very compromising positions. With complete care and caution, I had seen her get out of those positions unscathed, happy and keeping Whispering Falls running without a hitch.
“Yes.” I patted Petunia’s hand, ignoring Mr. Prince Charming’s figure eights and Arabella’s stares. “Let’s get started. But first,” I pulled the charm bracelet out of my pocket and the new charm from Mr. Prince Charming, “can we stop by Bella’s Baubles? I need to drop off my bracelet.”
Chapter Seven
“I wondered when you were going to get down here,” Bella Van Lou was hunched over the glass jewelry case with an eye loupe tucked into a squinted eye. Her long blond hair cascaded over her shoulder landing in a pool of strands on top of the glass. Her cheeks balled up when she smiled, exposing the gap between her two front teeth. She stood straight, all five-foot-two of her. “We must get that charm on your bracelet.”
“You’re telling me.” I rolled my eyes and shut the door behind me. Normally Bella’s Baubles was packed, and today I was thankful it wasn’t. Everyone loved to come in and look at the unique gemstones she sold there plus the advice she gave every customer who walked in. She was the town astrologer. She knew exactly what piece of jewelry was perfect for anyone who stepped foot in her shop. I needed her advice today.
She stood up and took the loupe out of her eye. It was attached to a long gold chain; the glass magnifier was incased in a frame of a swan—the glass being the body. “I can only imagine how you felt about the big proposal news.”
“It’s fine.” I didn’t know why I even tried to cover up the fact that I was hurt. Bella knew everything about me. She knew everything about Oscar. Not that she read our stars, but I had told her. She was the first person I had confided in when I moved to Whispering Falls.
“June.” The mothering, reasoning voice of Bella was about to give me a pity lecture. “I saw you faint. At that moment I knew you were upset. Even when I heard the headlines I knew you were going to think it was you who was celebrating. Your time will come.”
I held in the outward cry and sobs I would later do in my pillow. I bit my lip to forget the heart pain and focused on the pain in my mouth of my teeth gnawing down.
“Your time is not now.” She picked up a beautiful ruby and rubbed it with the cleaning cloth. “So, do you want me to explain the charm?”
“The charm.” I had forgotten to take it out of my pocket. I pulled it out and laid the charm and my bracelet on the glass case. “Yes. This made me think the headline was about me.”
As much as I wanted to drop it, I just couldn’t let it go.
“It’s only natural since Oscar has embraced your spiritual heritage.” Bella put the ruby gently on the cloth and moved around the counter.
“He has a lot more questions, but the last time we talked,” I took a deep breath, “he asked more questions. He laughed when he realized I had sabotaged his date with Annie and he didn’t care.” I smiled like a teenager. “He even said that he knew there was something special between us. He said it was in his bones.”
“See. Give it time.” She rubbed her jeweled fingers up and down the side of my arm in a comforting way. Only it wasn’t all that comforting. It really kind of hurt when the rings would catch my skin, pinching it. “Let your relationship grow into something special. You two will be like your parents.”
“Oh. Lovely just lovely.” Arabella stood at the open shop door. She ran her hands down the ornamental door that made Bella’s Baubles fun to step into. Bella had the door specially made with sparkly gemstones inset in the wood grain. It was amazing, but even more fascinating when the sun directly hit it. “The first time I visited Whispering Falls, your shop door caught my eye.”
Arabella stepped into the shop. She slid her long finger along the glass counters, eyeing the jewelry. She stopped where I was standing, near the engagement rings.
“You must be Arabella Paxton.” Bella put her hand out. “I’m Bella Van Lou. It’s my pleasure to finally meet you since I’ve heard so many great things about your fancy floral designs. I must stop in and take a look for myself.”
“Oh June, have you been telling stories about me?” Arabella’s ice-blue eyes twinkled like the aquamarine stone glistening right underneath her hand in the glass counter.
“I’d never do such a thing.” I laughed trying to give my best “I don’t give a shit about you” impression.
“Oh no.” Bella pulled back and crossed her arms. “June is the finest citizen around here. Did you know she’s the Village President?”
“I did.” Arabella smiled. “And that keeps her from idle gossip? Isn’t everyone in town always curious when a new resident moves in? Especially with a new shop?”
“You two talk as if I’m not here.” Curious or not, I didn’t like her and I wish my gut or intuition would give me some insight on her but it was silent. “Arabella, we are delighted to have you here.” Another lie.
“What are you two ladies looking at?” Her eyes drew down. “Engagement rings?”
“I was just saying how much I loved that one.” I pointed to the simple vintage engagement ring. The platinum ring was one of my favorites and Bella knew it was the one I wanted when Oscar and I were dating. Once Bella had told me it was from the 1910’s, I was sold. “I love how simple the stone is. Just one stone.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little plain?” Arabella quipped.
“Plain?” I shook my head. “Perfect. Listen,” I turned toward her, “I would take a bread tie if Osc—” I stopped myself when I realized who I was talking to.
She was definitely charming, manipulating the situation, making me forget about her little rendezvous with my man.
“What can I do for you?” Bella interrupted when she could see I was struggling.
“Nothing.” Arabella looked back at my ring as she drummed her fingertips together. “Just wanted to introduce myself. I must go before my grandmother gives the shop away.”
Before we knew it, Arabella was gone.
“She brought her grandmother too?” Bella grabbed the Windex from behind the counter and removed the evidence of Arabella’s fingerprints.
“Her grandmother is Mary Lynn.” My eyes rose.
“No way!” Bella eyes and mouth shot open. This was probably the first time any of the Elders had shared anything personal with anyone. “I wonder if your mom and dad knew her family? You know, your mother would have loved that ring too.” She winked and took the ring from the case. She used her gem cleaning cloth to give it a once-over before she handed it to me.
I couldn’t help myself. I stuck it right on my left ring finger. Just to see how it felt. I wasn’t going to lie. It felt and looked good.
It was true; Darla would have loved this ring. My parents were in love. Darla was not a spiritualist and Dad was. I had no idea how they met. Eloise Sandlewood, Oscar’s aunt, was Darla’s best friend. I really did need to find out. They were proof that a spiritualist and a non-spiritualist could get married and live happily.
“One day.” I slid the ring off my finger and gently placed it back on the counter. “Thanks. I’ve got to run.” I pointed toward the door. “I’m meeting Petunia at Ever After so we can look at bridal shower things. First I have to go over to talk to Faith about her headlines.”
“Karimas?” Bella was not blind to the sisters’ rants and raves. Which were about pretty much everyth
ing.
“And…” I let out a deep sigh. “I have an apology to make to Gerald after that.”
“Aww. Yes I suppose you do. I’ll let you know when your charm bracelet is ready.” She reached over and picked up my bracelet, dangling it from her fingertips. “And June,” she stopped right before I opened the door to leave, “don’t worry about Arabella Paxton.”
Hhmph. Without answering I stepped out of the shop and stood on the steps of Bella’s Baubles. Whispering Falls was beautiful and not even Arabella Paxton was going to ruin that.
It was as though someone came in and carved the town into the side of a mountain. The moss-covered cottage shops were nestled deep in the woods, and had the most beautiful entrances I’d ever seen.
Each shop had a colorful awning, displaying its name over the top of the ornamental gated doors. It had a magical feel. Seeing A Charming Cure’s awning flapping in the wind filled me with a warm fuzzy. If only Oscar were here, my life would be complete.
I turned around and admired Bella’s Baubles. A quaint cream cottage with a pink wood door that was adorned with different colored jewels. A perfect match to Bella.
Izzy caught my attention as she slipped into Mystic Lights, the shop she owned. She must have left the group of gaggling women who had stood over me when I was out cold. I couldn’t help but wonder what they had said about me when I had left. None of them seemed to be too happy with me.
The outside of Mystic Lights was amazing and mystic. The hunter-green wood door was encased in the most beautiful stone archway. The heavy black metal door handles added to the old world charm. It definitely fit Izzy’s personality.
Across the street from Bella’s Baubles was Wicked Good Bakery. The striped blue and pink awning hanging just above the hot pink ornamental wooden door was a perfect choice and fit the Mortimer sisters to a tee.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the timeless smells of the baked goods inside that wrapped around me like a warm blanket letting me momentarily forget why I had to make a stop to see Faith.
Petunia would be fine for a few more minutes in Ever After waiting on me. She was probably drowning in disgusting blissful happiness, surrounded by piles of books about weddings and all things frilly, white, and related to her big day. I’d even bet Arabella was all over Petunia and had even run to her store to get samples. That girl was on a mission to one-up me on anything I was going to do…ever.