by Tonya Kappes
The clinking sound of chains echoed up the hill and I watched as Eloise eased down the main street, tossing the incense side-to-side and up and down. Mr. Prince Charming trotted alongside her. He must’ve gone out with Oscar.
I quickly took a shower and dressed in a pair of black skinny pants and a black turtleneck sweater. The sky was grey. I could see Eloise’s breath as she chanted, which told me it was colder than yesterday.
The half-carved pumpkin was sitting on the table. I dragged my hand over it and giggled. Being married was more than I had ever dreamed. Being married to Oscar was the magical dream come true. I grabbed a handful of pumpkin seeds and put them in a baggie.
A faint light streamed down the hall from the bedroom. I walked back to find Madame Torres awake.
“Who is it you seek or shall I ask who is it that seeks you?” Her head bobbled up and down in the water. The yellow turban wobbled back and forth on her head. The black lining and yellow makeup was bold along her eyes along with the bright red lipstick painted across her lips.
“I hope no one is seeking me.” I picked up and looked into my crystal ball familiar. “I’m not having nightmares, so I don’t think that I’m in immediate danger.”
“Alise Lance seeeeeeeeks,” her words moved with the waves, “youuuuuuu.” She went black.
“What does that mean?” I shook the ball and nothing but pumpkins and orange glitter floated around. “Madame Torres? I’m going to see her tomorrow.”
Nothing. I growled and decided to take her along with me.
I stuck her in the bottom of my bag and strapped it across me before I grabbed the baggie full of pumpkin seeds and threw my cloak around my shoulders.
A breeze that knifed lungs and tingled bare skin flew up under my cloak as I scurried down the hill knowing I’d find solace inside A Charming Cure.
I reached in my bag and pulled out the pumpkin seeds and my key to the door. I wasn’t sure what I was going to use the pumpkin seeds for but my intuition told me to grab them this morning.
“June!” Violet called from the sidewalk. She was standing down the street in front of Magical Moments. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure.” I waved her to come in my shop and pushed the old skeleton key into the lock, twisting it to open. I felt something run across the toe of my boot. I flipped on the light and Mr. Prince Charming sat in the middle of the store dragging his long white tail across the floor.
Mewl. He purred, greeting me.
“Just where have you been?” My brows lifted and I picked him up, taking him to the back of the shop, and placed him on the stool. “You and Oscar left me this morning,” I dug into my bag, “alone with her.” I put Madame Torres on the counter.
“Oh thanks,” Madame Torres’s sarcastic tone billowed out.
The bell over the door dinged and Violet walked in.
“Do you mind flipping on the cauldron crock-pot?” I pointed to the table next to the door. “I forgot.”
While she did that, I disappeared behind the partition and flipped on the cauldron. There was plenty of time to work the pumpkin seeds into a potion before the shop opened and I was curious to see what the plan was in my magical world.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said last night.” She walked up to the counter and ran her hand down Mr. Prince Charming. He purred in delight. He wrapped his tail around her wrist.
Oh no, I grimaced. There were a lot of things I’d said last night.
“You know, when you offered to take me and Gene to Hidden Halls.” She forced a smile across her face. “I. . .” she gulped. “I’ve met someone.”
My head jerked her way. Now we were getting to the juicy stuff.
“And as much as I do want Gene here and involved, I also want to pursue the relationship and see if it goes anywhere. I know Gene will have so much more fun at Hidden Halls instead of here and I know I’ll have more time to explore my love life, but I . . .I . . .”
The pumpkin seeds in my grip were heating up. The seeds had to be for her, but legally I couldn’t read another spiritualist or give them a potion. It was against the by-laws.
“We are friends.” Her eyes dipped.
“We are friends.” I curled a fist around the seeds. “And I am more than happy to help a friend in need because we were friends before I even knew you were one of us.” I winked, knowing I was using semantics to get away with my plan to help Violet. “How about if we go visit Hidden Halls not tomorrow but the next day?”
“That’s the first day of the All Hallows’ Eve festivities,” she reminded me.
“That’s right.” I shook my head. “What am I thinking? But,” I shrugged, “I could go early that morning and Faith can open for me if you can swing it.”
“I can swing it.” She looked over her shoulder when Faith walked in the door. “Hi.” The two greeted each other. Violet looked back at me, “Don’t tell anyone about my possible love interest.”
Faith was stocking the goodie table with more delicious treats from Wicked Good.
“I’ve got to go make some deliveries,” Faith called from the door. I could see the Wicked Good cupcake car parked in front of the shop through the display window. “But I’ll be back because the breeze told me you need me today.”
“I do. But take your time.” I waved ’bye to her and turned back to Violet. “Spill.” I encouraged her to tell me about the gossip I’d already heard.
“I don’t have time now, but I’ll see you in a couple of days.” She bounced on her toes, twirled around and headed to the door.
“Do you mind turning the sign?” I pointed to the closed sign on the door. “I know it’s early, but there might be some early birds.”
My head slightly tilted, my eyes lowered as I watched her traipse down the front steps of the shop. There was nothing more exciting than seeing someone falling in love. I opened my palm and looked at the bag full of pumpkin seeds.
“Someone is in need of a little romance.” I dragged my hand over Mr. Prince Charming when I walked past him. “And I have just the plan.”
I knew I could make a delicious pumpkin spice coffee creamer that would send Violet and Patch into love overload. It would probably be good for Patch. There was nothing better than love to help heartache. Even though I knew he’d never feel the same since losing his twin, I also knew loving and being loved by someone did help fill some of the void.
The cauldron had already started to bubble a frothy orange. I dropped in the seeds and watched as the mixture turned to a translucent tonic. My intuition told me to add some tonka beans. My hand slid down the shelf of ingredients and stopped once I reached the empty bottle.
I plucked it off the shelf and grinned. Before Happy Herb opened, I’d have had to wait for KJ.
“Let’s go,” I said to Mr. Prince Charming and grabbed my bag and cloak.
I quickly locked the shop door behind me and rushed down the street hoping KJ was already in his shop preparing for the morning.
I knocked on the door before I turned the handle to push it open.
“Hello?” I stuck my head in and called out.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” KJ stood at the counter in his new mortal street clothes. “I’m told you are needing tonka beans.”
He shook a new bottle of the magical seeds up in the air.
“Love or money?” he asked.
“Love.” I grinned and walked across the amazing floor. “And I love that you are here.”
“I bet you do.” His dark eyes appraised me. “June,” his voice lowered, “is this for a mortal?”
“Don’t make me tell you.” Worry swept across my face as my brows furrowed. “Or make me lie.”
“Oh, June Heal.” He tsked. “Will you ever learn?”
“Probably not.” I quipped, “And that is what you love about me.”
He lowered his arm and extended the bottle for me to take.
“You know that love always rules and that true love will find its home
in its own time no matter how much we try to help it along with our special touch,” he warned.
“A little nudge won’t hurt.” I held the bottle close. “You stay warm!” I called and walked out the door just in time to see Petunia opening her shop and Mr. Prince Charming darting inside.
When she flipped on the light, I saw the little kittens pop up. I couldn’t wait to take the runt to Jo Ellen today, which meant I had to hurry and get the potion made and the shop in order for Faith to take charge.
“Did Violet spill the beans on her and Patch?” That was the first question out of Faith’s mouth when she came back to relieve me so I could run through my daily sleuthing chores.
“She did not.” I shook my head. “You are a busy-body.”
“I’m a young girl who is a sucker for love.” She twirled barely missing knocking over a customer. “Oops.” She giggled.
“Everything is ready for you. I’ve stocked all the shelves. We’ve been crazy busy. Everyone is excited about the celebration.” I grabbed my cloak. “I’ve got to stop in Locust Grove and get some candy for the kids for All Hallows’ Eve—do you want me to grab some for you?”
“Oh, that’d be great.” Faith leaned over the counter. “Raven had asked me to get some while I was at the Piggly Wiggly when I dropped off the Wicked Good pastries, but I completely spaced out. I was going to do it in the morning, but you would save me a trip.”
“You can’t do it in the morning, you already promised me you’d open the shop,” I reminded her.
“That’s right.” She sucked in a deep breath.
“Are you sure you can handle today and tomorrow?” I asked, a little concerned about her behavior. She was young, but not forgetful. I’d never seen her so scatter-brained.
“I don’t know,” she whispered and motioned for me to come behind the partition away from customers’ ears. “The breeze has been sketchy.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, my intuition flipped on. It curled from my toes into my stomach up into my throat.
“Things are happening too fast for Whispering Falls and the breeze is getting confused. The voodoo doll. The breeze said that the voodoo doll was amateurish.” She was on autopilot, tuned into her spiritual gift. “There is love, deception, and people aren’t who you think they are. The breeze circles around and around as if it’s not sure which way it will go.” Her empty eyes stared right through me. “It whips one direction only to circle around. It’s a never-ending cycle and there is no clear ending.”
Her head fell forward. Her shoulders slumped.
I put my hand on her. “Faith? Are you okay?”
Her shoulders heaved up and down as she sucked to get in air. I grabbed the stool and dragged it behind the partition, forcing her to sit down.
“Go.” Slowly her chin lifted. “You must go and find the killer.”
I didn’t wait any longer. Things were worse than I thought. I grabbed a handful of June’s Gems off the snack table and threw them in the bottom of my bag before I walked out the door.
A fierce, steady wind shrilled down the main street. I brought my hand up to my mouth and took a deep bite into my chocolaty treat hoping the stress I was feeling would just go away.
Chapter Sixteen
“It’s as cold as a room full of ex-wives.” Leah cackled when I walked in. “My daddy used to say that.”
“Your daddy must be quite a character.” I quickly shut the door behind me.
“Your cat ain’t ready quite yet.” She walked over to the table of pottery we’d painted last night and checked the cat with the hat that I’d made.
“I’m heading over to Tish Chapman’s house to take her daughter a kitten from Glorybee and I thought I’d stop by and grab her and Hazel Jones’s pottery so they didn’t have to make a trip out on this cold day,” I said, even though my intentions weren’t as true as they sounded.
I did want to make sure the runt kitten went to a good home and I knew in my gut that it belonged to Jo Ellen and I also knew that runts generally didn’t find homes, though Petunia would keep it if not. Plus, I really wanted to see if Hazel had seen or heard anything since she lived so close to Patch. Then I suddenly wondered if Oscar had questioned Patch’s whereabouts the night his brother was murdered. After all, I did hear them fighting.
“You are so nice. I swear. I love living here.” Leah walked to the back of her shop and pulled out some white tissue paper and a couple green bags with a white chevron design. She curled their items in the paper and I walked around looking at all the items she had for sale in her shop.
“Did you make all of this?” I noticed the pretty glass bead necklaces and matching bracelets.
“Mmhmm. It helps with stress, you know?” She walked over and handed me the bags.
“I know all about stress.” I took a bag in each hand. “Thanks so much. Now I’ve got to get that kitten.”
“I’m giving a beading class in the winter if you want to sign up. It’s not like last night, a one time deal. It’s actually a class where we will make some jewelry pieces and learn techniques. So it’s a few weeks long.” She handed me a flyer with the dates and times. “I figured it was probably slow around here in the winter and it will bring in some business.”
“I’ll definitely do it.” I was happy to see the times were at night. “I’ll be sure to have some of the other gals sign up too. A weekly girls’ night.”
“Yay!” She clapped and bounced on the balls of her feet. “You stay warm out there.” She shut the door behind me when I walked out.
The weather didn’t deter any tourists. The street was filled with shoppers and smiling faces which made life so much easier. And seeing those kittens in the window made me joyful. They were so cute as they jumped and rolled on top of each other. The white kitten was off by itself.
I hurried inside. Mr. Prince Charming was sitting on the live tree planted in the back corner of the shop next to a hedgehog and squirrel. It looked as if they were eating something. His tail dangled down and swept to and fro.
Petunia was helping out a customer in the lizard section of the shop. I helped myself to the window where the kittens were. They all ran over to me and meowed, batting at me wanting any attention they could get. The little white kitten stayed in the corner. Its big green eyes looking at me. I put my hands out in front of me and motioned for it to come.
The other kittens parted and the little white kitten trotted over. I picked it up and its light purr was music to my ears.
“You are going to love where you are going.” I snugged the kitten up to my face and loved on it. The other kittens didn’t seem to mind as they continued to tumble and pounce on each other.
“For Jo Ellen?” Petunia walked up. There was a lizard perched on her shoulder.
“It is. I hope they take it.” I held the cute kitten up to my face and looked into its precious eyes.
Petunia took the lizard off of her shoulder and held it in her hand. She dragged her finger down its bony spine.
“It’s going to take a little coaxing, but put it down as Tish protests and the magic will happen all on its own.” Petunia pushed the lizard into her messy up-do. She curled her free hand around my elbow. “Now, let’s talk about you.”
“What about me?” I asked, an uneasy feeling sweeping over me.
“Oscar. Orin. Jo. Gene.” Her words were static. “I don’t think I need to say any more.”
“Let us be honeymooners first.” I cuddled the kitten up to my heart to shield any vibes that might be electrifying out of my body.
“Looking back, if I’d known the joy that Orin gives me and Gerald, I’d have started earlier.” Petunia and Gerald were both older spiritualists. Gerald had already been married, had Arabella, owner of Magical Moments, and divorced before he’d met and married Petunia.
Most of us figured she was going to be the old spiritualist single cat lady. Now she was not.
“You are a great mom. But tell me about the fight between Patch and Mr. Br
oussert.” I slipped it in hoping she’d just go with it.
“That was a mess.” She glanced around the shop. Everyone seemed to be happy. Who couldn’t be happy surrounded by a shop full of amazing animals. “He is paying Patch a lot of money to be the farmer and Patch refused to live on the farm in the farm house.”
“Do you know why?” I asked.
“He said that he wanted to be in the Whispering Falls section since his business was there. Something about paying two different taxes.” She rolled her eyes. “We don’t pay taxes. Yet.”
Which we didn’t. The Order of Elders had made sure it looked as if we did.
“What do you mean?” I questioned. “Gosh,” I bit my lip. “It seems like we missed a lot while we were gone on our honeymoon.”
“Speaking of Broussert, he really isn’t such a great guy and I do wish he didn’t have an alibi for the night of Patty’s murder because I could see him doing something so awful.” She let go of my arm and drew her hands to her chest. “He insisted that he get something out of the development deal between us and Locust Grove. It was proposed that the money made from the sale of the agri-hood farm and us purchasing items from there would be enough.” Her lashes drew down her cheeks, leaving a shadow. “I got word late last night that he wants to own a building or shop here.”
“A new shop?” I wondered how that was going to work with our magic.
“No. The Crazy Crafty Chick shop. His wife loves to do crafts and she came to see the shop yesterday and loved it. He wants to own the building which would make Leah have to rent it from him.” She sucked in a deep inhale and held it.
“How on Earth would that work with our,” I twiddled my fingers in the air.
She did a simple shrug before she was called over to help a customer.
I glanced up at Mr. Prince Charming. He looked at me and jumped down off the limb. He put his front paws on the trunk of the tree and did a long stretch before he started to sharpen his claws on the tree. He darted over to me.
“You ready?” I asked.
Mewl, he darted to the door and waited for me.