Bewitching Bitters

by Annabel Chase

  Using the index, Kate located the ingredients in her original cocktail and flagged the relevant pages. There were multiple associations with goldenrod, so she wasn’t entirely certain how to interpret its inclusion. She skimmed the summary and stopped when her gaze landed on a particular word.

  Success.

  Goldenrod was used in spells to manifest success. Yes, that made sense, except, somehow, Kate seemed to be experiencing the opposite effect.

  The doorbell rang, forcing Kate to abandon her mission for the moment. She opened the door and was surprised to see Rebecca.

  “Hi,” she said blankly.

  Rebecca peered at her. “You forgot, didn’t you?” She held up the bag of cat food. “You asked me to bring you a sample of the one I use.”

  Kate slapped her forehead. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry.” She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten. It wasn’t like her to screw up the schedule. Well, all bets were off these days.

  “What has you so distracted?” Rebecca asked. “The book deal?”

  “No, actually I’m working on magic.” She laughed. “That sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud.”

  Rebecca’s eyes widened. “More recipes appeared in the book?”

  “No, I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands.” She waved her friend inside. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

  Rebecca followed her into the kitchen where the books were still open on the island, along with multiple bottles of liquor.

  “This looks like a science lab,” Rebecca said.

  “I guess that’s accurate. I’m experimenting.” Kate inclined her head toward the books. “I want to mix a drink that counteracts whatever’s happening to me.”

  Rebecca licked her lips. “You’re creating your own recipes?”

  She gestured to the bottles. “Trying to.”

  “I don’t think that’s how it works,” Rebecca said.

  “Why not? Libbie’s making her own recipes.”

  “First, it’s not a competition. Second, Libbie didn’t create her own recipes right from the start. She let the magic reveal itself to her.”

  “I’m not like Libbie,” Kate said. “I don’t wait for things to happen. I make them happen.”

  Rebecca’s expression softened. “Maybe that’s the problem.”

  Kate balked. “Who said it’s a problem?”

  “You look like you’re trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. What if you mix a drink that hurts someone, like Chris did?” Libbie’s ex-boyfriend had tried to use one of Libbie’s cocktail recipes for his own selfish gain and ended up hospitalizing an old woman in the process.

  “I’ve got it covered.” Kate held up a book where she’d put a black X across an entry. “Anything poisonous gets crossed out.”

  “Just because something isn’t poison doesn’t mean it can’t hurt someone,” Rebecca pointed out.

  Kate felt her blood pressure rising. “This is for me, okay? I don’t intend to let anyone else drink it. I just want to figure out how to reverse my bad luck.”

  “Bad luck,” Rebecca repeated. “Is that what you think it is?”

  “I don’t know, but that’s how it feels.” She returned her focus to the nearest book. “I’m going to keep experimenting until something works.”

  Rebecca scanned the entries. “Kate, some of these plants have multiple associations. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it can easily result in consequences you didn’t intend.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Like my own cocktail?”

  “Look, I don’t know whether you messed up or not, but my gut says you didn’t.”

  “My past week says I did.”

  Rebecca closed her eyes for a brief second. “I didn’t come here to argue with you. I only want to help.”

  “You did help. You brought the cat food.”

  “Sure.” Rebecca lingered in the kitchen for another minute. “Consider letting go, Kate.”

  “If I let go, everything will fall apart. Don’t you get it, Rebecca? I’m the glue.”

  Rebecca nodded, her expression solemn. “You don’t have to do this alone. You don’t have to do anything alone, not when you have people in your life who love you.”

  Rebecca couldn’t possibly understand. Her personality was different from Kate’s. She didn’t have a husband and kids either. Rebecca only had to worry about herself. What a luxury.

  “The only person I can count on in life is me. Anyone else can let you down.”

  “That’s because we’re human. We make mistakes. But we also forgive those mistakes.”

  “And what if I’m the one who made the mistake?” Kate asked, thinking of her botched cocktail.

  “That’s simple. Then you forgive yourself.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  “I’m sure that’s what your clients say, too.” Rebecca slipped her handbag into the crook of her elbow and sauntered to the door. “I’ll see you later, Kate. Let me know if I can help.”

  Kate watched Rebecca leave the house, feeling slightly nauseated. It wasn’t like Kate to quibble with friends, especially friends who clearly had her best interests at heart.

  She returned her attention to the mess in the kitchen. She wasn’t ready to give up yet. No. She was just getting started.

  She texted Libbie to see if her friend was home.

  I’m with a client. What’s up?

  I want to raid your garden.

  Mi garden es su garden.

  Kate sent a line of kiss emojis and grabbed her keys. She had just enough time to pinch plants from the garden before her client call.

  Kate walked around the house to Libbie’s backyard. She heard Hercules, Libbie’s Irish Setter, barking inside.

  She stopped at the foot of the garden to admire the burst of colors. Even in the middle of the November, the garden was thriving. Was it magic or Libbie’s green thumb?

  Kate took a small sample of everything and placed each plant in its own sealed, transparent bag. She used her phone to take photos of the labels so she’d know which was which. She remembered that a vine was associated with friendship. My Little Pony sprang to mind and Kate suppressed a laugh. Ava liked to run around the house pretending to be one of the ponies and telling everyone within earshot that ‘friendship is magic.’

  Kate snipped a sample of Typha latifolia, or cat’s tail. According to one of the books, it was sometimes used as a charm of lust for women who wanted to enjoy sex but didn’t. That wasn’t Kate’s problem. Kate would’ve been perfectly happy to enjoy sex with her husband last night if she’d hadn’t deflated his penis.

  The longer she spent in the garden, the more interested she became in identifying the plants and their magical traits. She began to understand why Libbie had taken to the practice so quickly. The information was fascinating, and the gears of Kate’s mind didn’t stop clicking the entire time she was there.

  By the time she’d finished, her tote bag was overflowing with samples. She rushed home in time for the call with her client, only to have Simone cancel at the last minute. Simone never cancelled.

  In a huff, Kate resumed her place in the kitchen, now surrounded by even more magical paraphernalia. She unearthed her new reading glasses and put them on to read the fine print. She was so absorbed by the material that she failed to hear the front door open and close.

  “Mommy, this kitchen is a complete disaster.” Ava stood at the other end of the island and inhaled deeply. “But it smells wonderful.”

  “Have a snack,” she said absently.

  Ava rummaged in the pantry and emerged with a packet of peanut butter crackers. “Do I have to have fruit?”

  “A banana.”

  “You always say a banana,” Ava complained.

  “Then why did you ask if you knew the answer?”

  A disgruntled Ava swiped a banana from the fruit bowl and stomped into the family room.

  Kate scribbled furious notes, trying to design a cocktail that would counteract the first
one. Her notebook looked like a CSI evidence board. Rebecca was right. There were so many variables; it would be very easy to get it wrong.

  “You look like a mad scientist.”

  She peered at Gavin over the rows of bottles on the island. “When did you get home?”

  “Ten minutes ago.” He angled his head toward the island. “Are you going to drink all those bottles?”

  “Not all in one go.”

  “Is this for your cocktail club?”

  “Yes.” It was only a partial lie. She’d be more than happy to share a recipe with her friends once she’d mastered one. There was no reason Libbie should have to shoulder the burden of being the local witch when Kate’s magic had been activated.

  “Can I have a snack?”

  “Banana,” she said absently.

  “Shocker.” Gavin grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl and disappeared from view.

  Kate hunched over the island, studying the collection of herbs she’d separated from the haul from Libbie’s garden. According to her research, any one of the plants in front of her had the ability to create a magical cocktail that triggered success. She’d make drinks all night in fifty variations if that’s what it took to find a recipe that worked.

  She’d mixed over a dozen cocktails and placed them in labeled containers in the refrigerator. Her first attempt was a vodka-based cocktail infused with white clover, which purportedly possessed the power of good luck. Exactly what she needed. She placed the mixture in the refrigerator to chill for a few hours and give the alcohol time to absorb the magic.

  “Mom, someone’s at the door,” Gavin said.

  “It’s probably your father home early.” Kate was too distracted to check.

  A minute later, Brett appeared in the kitchen. “Hi Mom. I’m home.”

  Home? Wasn’t he already home? And why was he wearing his coat and backpack? Before she could process, Hannah Greer appeared in the kitchen behind him.

  “Hannah?”

  The woman smiled. “I figured you got hung up with work so, when you didn’t show up, I offered to drive him home.” Her gaze swept over the array of liquor bottles in front of Kate. “Planning a party?”

  Kate straightened, her heart thundering her chest. Play practice. Brett had play practice today and she’d forgotten to pick him up.

  “It’s for Thanksgiving,” Kate lied. “Lucas’s mother has certain expectations. Thank you so much for driving him home. I really appreciate it.” It killed Kate knowing that Hannah would leave here and promptly tell anyone she saw that Kate was too busy with booze to remember to collect her child from school.

  “If you need help, you know, I’m only a text away,” Hannah said.

  “I don’t need help, but I appreciate the offer.”

  “I suppose Lucas is still at the office. It must be hard with both of you working so much,” Hannah continued. “That’s one reason my husband and I agreed that I’d stay home after the kids were born. I don’t let my degree go to waste, though.”

  “No?” Kate prompted.

  “Certainly not. I spend Saturday mornings teaching them the basics of accounting. They love it.”

  Kate doubted that very much, although she approved of the endeavor. “Thanks again, Hannah.” She started toward the door, hoping the woman would follow. It wouldn’t surprise Kate if her visitor tried to snap a photo of the liquor collection before she left so she could upload it to social media, captioned with a quip about Thanksgiving abundance.

  Thankfully she managed to get Hannah out the door without much effort. She spun on her heel and rushed back to the kitchen, desperate to apologize to her son. He stood at the refrigerator, adding ice to his cup of water. Normally Kate hated when he added the ice after the water because it inevitably resulted in drops of water on the floor. She bit her tongue today, though. Today her mess was much worse.

  “I’m so sorry,” Kate said.

  He held the cup in both hands and Kate had a sudden image of him as an infant clutching his bottle. He’d been the sweetest, easiest baby.

  “It’s okay,” he said. “I knew something must’ve happened. You’re never late.” His brow creased. “What happened?”

  Kate faltered. How could she explain it to him? There was no excuse. “I flaked,” she admitted.

  His solemn expression tore at her heart. “You forgot me.”

  She dropped to her knees and hugged him tightly. “It was an accident, sweetheart. I’m really sorry. It’ll never happen again, I swear.” She leaned back and held up her pinkie. “Pinkie promise.”

  “I’m too old for that now,” he said.

  She released her hold on him. “How about a smoothie? It isn’t Friday, but I’d be willing to make an exception.”

  “I’m not hungry.” He turned and walked away.

  Kate continued to kneel on the floor, the hardness of the tiles hurting her knees. She was becoming the kind of mother she’d tried desperately to avoid. The kind that abandoned her children, too preoccupied with herself.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, and pulled herself to her feet.

  They ate dinner in relative silence. Kate wished Lucas was there to smooth things over with a corny joke. He’d texted he’d be home by seven and she kept glancing at the clock on her phone, watching the minutes tick by. It wasn’t typical that she found herself in a situation she didn’t know how to handle, especially when it came to her children. She knew how they operated. What annoyed Gavin didn’t bother Brett. What delighted Ava was of no interest to Gavin. This evening, however, she looked at her children and felt like a stranger to them, as though she’d taken their presence in her life for granted. She went through the motions of being their mother—feeding them, clothing them, chaperoning them—but it occurred to her that maybe she could work on being more present. She resented Lucas for not carrying his weight, but was she any better? Sure, she was there to supervise homework and make sure they all had what they needed, but only on a basic level. When was the last time she’d checked in with them—had a real conversation about their day? Most of the time, she’d ask the perfunctory questions and leave it at that.

  “How was your day, Brett?” she asked.

  His gaze remained fixed on his plate. “Fine.”

  “Couldn’t have been that fine,” Gavin said. “You got left at school.”

  “Gavin,” she said sharply. She didn’t need him to make matters worse.

  “Anything interesting happen during rehearsal?” she asked.

  Brett stirred his pile of corn with a fork. “The Beast’s voice cracked during his song.”

  Ava’s brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”

  Brett demonstrated by singing a few lines, prompting laughter from Ava. Kate relaxed when she saw her son smile in response. He was still her sweet and easy baby, which was probably the reason she forgot him. She never would’ve forgotten Gavin or Ava. They demanded too much of her attention.

  “I can’t wait to see you in the play,” Kate said.

  Brett’s smile broadened. “It’s really good.”

  The garage door swung open and Lucas entered the house with a garment bag draped over his arm. Had she forgotten to pick up his dry cleaning, too?

  “There’s my family,” he declared happily. At least someone was in a good mood.

  “Mommy forgot Brett at school,” Ava said.

  “Mrs. Greer brought him home and saw all the bottles on the island,” Gavin added.

  Lucas’s gaze flicked to the booze-infested island before landing on Kate. “I’m sure that was pleasant for you.”

  “It wasn’t pleasant for me,” Brett grumbled. “I waited twenty minutes.”

  Lucas placed the garment bag on the half wall that separated the kitchen from the family room and joined them at the table. “Did I ever tell you kids about the time my parents forgot me at the baseball field?”

  “They did?” Ava asked, sounding shocked.

  “They sure did. I was so upset that I cried righ
t there on the diamond.”

  Brett’s head jerked to attention. “You cried?”

  “In front of the coach, too,” Lucas said. “I was convinced he was going to bench me the next game for being a baby. When my mom got there, she apologized and explained that she’d gotten caught up in conversation with our neighbor.”

  “That’s not a good excuse,” Gavin said.

  “That’s what I said to her,” Lucas said. “I said ‘couldn’t you have lied and come up with a better reason?’” He made sure he had their rapt attention before continuing. “She looked at me point blank and said, ‘Lucas, I’m your mother, but I’m also a human being. That means I make mistakes. The sooner you realize that about people, the happier you’ll be.’” He shook his head, chuckling. “So what do I do? I go ahead and marry the most perfect woman in the world.”

  Ava scrunched her nose, smiling. “Mommy’s not perfect.”

  “No, she’s not,” Brett agreed.

  “Cut your mom some slack,” Lucas said. “That’s my point. She does a lot for you kids.”

  “That’s her job,” Gavin said.

  He focused on Gavin. “Do you think every mother spends the kind of time your mother does, baking cupcakes for school parties and volunteering to search the earth for costumes for the school play, plus running a successful business on top of everything else?”

  Kate sat in silence, allowing her husband to go to bat for her. It was rare that he needed to, but she had to admit she enjoyed listening to him. It made her realize that maybe Lucas noticed more than he seemed to.

  After dinner, he sent the kids upstairs to finish their homework while Kate cleaned up the kitchen. She pressed the button to start the dishwasher and turned to find him standing behind her.

  “Brought you a present.” He held up a hanger with a familiar dress—it was the one she’d worn for their anniversary dinner the night before.

  Kate balked. “Where did you get that? I’m sure I threw it away.”

  “You did. I took it out and cleaned it.” He turned the dress around so she could see the back. “Good as new.”