A Charming Secret (Magical Cures Mystery Series Book 6) (2 page)

I guess what they say is true about a girl marrying a man like her father since Oscar was a lot like my dad.

“I’m having nightmares again.” I confided in her more than I had Oscar. She would understand and I just needed a little girl talk. “Bad ones too.”

“Do you have time for a coffee?” she asked, changing our course of path and heading us toward The Gathering Grove Tea Shoppe.

I glanced at my watch. I didn’t have to open the shop for another half hour and I generally liked to go early to: make sure all the potions were filled, flip on my cauldron, and get ready for the day.

“I guess.” I sucked in a deep breath. The nightmare still had me unnerved and maybe talking to Eloise would help out.

We hustled across the street and dipped into The Gathering Grove where Gerald Regiula was already helping a line full of customers. We tucked ourselves away at the corner café table by the window.

“Ladies,” Gerald took his top hat off and tipped it toward us. “What do I owe the pleasure so early in the morning? Are you here because of the scuttlebutt of Full Moon?”

“Full moon?” Eloise asked. “It’s definitely not a full moon.”

“No, silly.” Gerald scoffed. His mustache bounced up and down. “It’s the new bed and breakfast in town. It went up like a firecracker. Overnight.”

That was how things worked around here. Sometimes you wake up and there was a new business in town.

“The Elders must be busy.” I sucked in a deep breath and wondered why there was a bed and breakfast opening up.

“Well, we are in need of a little pick-me-up jolt of caffeine.” Eloise winked, untying the cloak from around her neck, changing the subject.

“A little pick-me-up you shall have.” Gerald rubbed the edges of his mustache, his wedding ring bright and shiny.

“I must say, that ring looks mighty fine on you.” I smiled, remembering the long journey to marriage he and Petunia had traveled down.

“Yes,” his thick heavy English accent blurted out. “Love of my life.”

“Oh, Daddy.” Arabella Paxton walked up behind us with a large bouquet of fresh flowers in her arms. “I thought I was the love of your life.” She winked, letting him off the hook and went about her way filling the empty flower vases on the tables with the fresh ones from her shop, Magical Moments.

I watched as Arabella’s slim figure moved gracefully from table to table, creating the perfect designs on the spot. She was as lovely as her flowers. A rose herself with her long black flowing hair and crystal blue eyes to compliment her delicate features.

“I’ll be back with a special just for you two.” Gerald tented his fingertips and drummed them together in delight.

“We have to watch that one.” Eloise lifted a brow.

There were rules to be a spiritualist and Gerald was notorious for trying to get around them. Rule Number One especially. It stated that a spiritualist cannot read another spiritualist unless given permission. Gerald had the gift of tealeaf reading, making it easy for him to read anyone in his shop.

“So, tell me what is going on?” she asked reaching over the table taking my hands in hers.

“I have been having new nightmares and they aren’t good ones either.” I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. The images of the nightmare tormented my memory. “It’s about a fire. Me and Mr. Prince Charming are trapped in a building.”

“What building?” she asked.

“I have no idea.” I shook my head hoping to shake out some of the images of the dreams. “All I know is something in here,” I pulled my hand out from underneath hers and pointed to my gut, “is telling me it isn’t good. You know and I know, I’m right ninety-nine percent of the time.”

“Do you think it’s. . .” she paused, “Ezmeralda?”

“Stop,” I said through gritted teeth. “Don’t say her name. Don’t.” I ran my hand over my charm bracelet. I was going to need more than protective charms to deal with her. “Don’t speak her name.”

Ezmeralda was a beast from my past. Gerald’s ex-wife and Arabella’s mom who had turned to the Dark-Sider world of spirituality. She had vowed to come back to Whispering Falls to help me meet my demise. Something told me the nightmares had nothing to do with her. Or at least I hoped they didn’t.

“I don’t think it’s her. My intuition isn’t giving me that feeling.” My intuition wasn’t giving me any feeling but bad. That was why I had brought Madame Torres along with me.

She might be a snarky crystal ball, but she was my snarky crystal ball and had my best interest at heart. Maybe her best interest. Because if something happened to me, she didn’t go anywhere but a garage sale or thrift store.

“Petunia is looking forward to the smudging ceremony tonight.” Gerald set two cups of liquid in front of us, breaking the tension in the air between me and Eloise. “She is excited to have her family come in to see her become the Village President.”

“Wonderful.” I clapped my hands, trying to put the veiled threats from Ezmeralda behind me. “I’m excited for her.”

Petunia had spent the last few months training with Isadora Solstice to become the next leader of our village. It was an honor given to me, but I was proven to be a little too young and not necessarily wanting to have the responsibility of the village on my shoulders. After all, my five-foot-four frame could barely hold all the issues I did have on my own. I was just fine being responsible for me, Mr. Prince Charming and Madame Torres with Oscar by my side. Tonight I would resign and give her the reins. Fine by me.

“This smells delicious. What is it?” Eloise asked, bringing the cup away from her nose.

“A special blend for cool fall mornings to put a spring in your step.” He held his hand out and held his fingers up one-by-one. “1 Tbsp. fresh grated ginger, 2 cups filtered water, 1 Tbsp. raw honey or pure maple syrup, ½ lemon, juiced, 1 cinnamon stick, Chamomile flowers, from my daughter of course.” A prideful smile appeared under his mustache. He continued, “Echinacea tincture, fresh mint leaves, pinch of cayenne pepper.” He tapped his temple. “I think that is it.”

“Did you leave the leaves out?” I swirled my cup in front of me looking into the liquid. He was known to put a few tea leaves in without the recipient knowing. And I didn’t want anyone—other than who I told—to know about my dreams. It would send the town into a downward spiral.

“Of course I did.” He shuffled off to help another table.

“Hm.” I picked up my spoon and twirled it in the cup. There was a little skepticism in his tone. I lowered my eyes. “I wouldn’t believe him even if I gave him a truth serum.”

Eloise and I laughed.

“Does Oscar know about the nightmares?” She started back up the conversation I was ready to end.

“Unfortunately he saw how frantic I was when I woke up in the middle of the night.” I recalled the look on his face. “But he doesn’t know I’ve been having them nightly.”

“He’s spending the night?” Eloise drew back. She remained uncomfortably still.

Even though Oscar and I were spiritualists, Eloise still had old-fashioned ways. And spending the night before marriage was not appropriate. She made sure she was a parent to both of us.

“I’m glad he was there. I was so upset there was no way Madame Torres would have been able to comfort me. Or even sweet Mr. Prince Charming.” I took a sip of the tea and set it back down on the saucer. “This is delicious.”

“There you are.” Oscar appeared behind me. He bent down and kissed my forehead. “I went to the shop but your sign was still turned to closed.”

He walked around and gave his aunt a kiss before he put a small paper sack on the table and I knew what was in it before he even told me.

“I thought you could use a little treat.” He smiled and pushed the Wicked Good Bakery bag toward me. “And Raven said it just came out of the oven.”

“You are so sweet.” Eloise grinned. “I can’t wait to see what your babies are going to look like.”

“Hello?” My eyes widened. I was just getting used to the idea I was engaged; not even close on having children. “Cart before the horse.”

“No joking.” Oscar looked so handsome in his Whispering Falls police uniform. “I’ve got to get going. Colton said we are expecting a crowd for Petunia’s ceremony tonight. I also kind of told him we would grab a bite to eat with him and Ophelia beforehand.”

“That’s good.” The more distractions the better.

“Take care of each other.” He kissed Eloise and me again. “You are the most important girls in my life.” He bent down again. He whispered in my ear, “You are the most important.” His mouth moved over mine with exquisite tenderness replacing the knot in my stomach with a tingling.

Eloise and I sat in silence watching Oscar leave and walk down the sidewalk toward the station.

“You two are so adorable. I just can’t stand it.” Eloise picked up her cup and took a sip. “But we need to figure out these dreams.”

“I’ve even used my mom’s fairy dust potion and it’s not working.” My mom was a homeopathic curist; she just wasn’t able to make potions and get to the root of someone’s aliment since she wasn’t a spiritualist.

She left me a secret book of spells (Magical Cures Book) she had gotten from Eloise, and I had scoured it to find some sort of new potion to help me get rid of these terrible nightmares.

“Fire nightmares aren’t anything to mess around with.” Eloise wasn’t making me feel any better.

“Tell me about it.” I drank the last sip of tea from the cup and got up. I didn’t leave without the bag from Wicked Good Bakery. It would be a treat for later. “I’ve got to get going. I have to find out where Mr. Prince Charming went before I open the shop. I have to keep him close.”

“I’ll be by later to check on you.” Eloise nodded. “I’m going to have another cup of this delicious brew.” She lifted her hand in the air. Gerald acknowledged another round with a big grin. I waved ‘bye and headed out the door.

“June! June!” Petunia waved her hands in the air. With each bobble of her head, a butterfly flew out from her messy updo, knocking out a few twigs as well.

A few people trailed behind her. She held a bag from Wicked Good in her hand. “We just came from the bakery and I told my family the June’s Gems were to die for. Especially since they were named after one of my friends.”

That was one of Petunia’s personality traits I loved. She thought everyone was her best friend. And everyone did love her. She had a sunny disposition and her love of all creatures exuded from her.

“They are delicious.” I held the bag in the air. “I’m saving mine for an afternoon treat.”

June’s Gems was Raven Mortimer’s take on a Ding Dong. The chocolaty treat was my favorite. We had seen a lot of stressful times together. The Ding Dong knew how to calm me down. Since we didn’t have a supply of Ding Dongs in Whispering Falls, Raven was gracious enough to make an even better version, naming it after me.

True or not (I like to lean toward the true side), Raven said June’s Gem was her best seller.

“This is my sister, Peony.” She pointed to the girl next to her, who looked very young. The light blue wrap dress made her blue eyes pop against her pale skin tone. Her small hands gave a slight wave hello before she ran her hand down her high blond ponytail. I couldn’t help but feel a little envious of her taupe stilettos. Definitely got the fashion sense of the two sisters.

“Nice to meet you.” I nodded, offering a smile.

“My cousin, Gwendolyn.” Petunia showcased her cousin like she was on display, just like one of those game shows on television. “Gwenie for short. But she’s just like a sister to us.” Petunia looked at Peony giving a quick nod. Peony backed her up.

Gwendolyn was a little plumper than the other two. Her hair was not as messy as Petunia’s and not as neat as Peony. She was a mix between the two of them. Her hair was brown like Petunia’s and pulled into a bun. She folded her arms in front of her. Her dark eyes lowered. There was not a smile on her face as there was Petunia’s and Peony’s.

We politely nodded, neither of us smiling.

Petunia’s arms curled around the third woman. “This is my bestest friend in the entire world. Amethyst Plum. They are here for my induction. But Amethyst is here forever.”

“So nice to meet you.” I shook each of their hands, not getting a good feeling from cousin Gwendolyn. “Forever?”

“Yes.” Amethyst said with a flat voice. She wore a black pair of pants and a black buttoned blouse. Her black hair lay in loose curls down her back. Her thick black brows arched perfectly over her dark eyes. Her long lashes swooped down with each blink. She was beautiful. The only pop of color was the tips of her red heels. “I own Full Moon.”

Petunia clasped her hands in front of her, twirling her body from side-to-side, grinning from ear-to-ear.

“June owns A Charming Cure, with all sorts of homeopathic cures.” Petunia nodded enthusiastically. “You will get to know each other really well. And,” Petunia squealed. “You can join our book club! We meet once a month at Ever After Books. You are going to love it.”

“We will see.” Amethyst’s brows rose.

“Really? You own A Charming Cure?” Peony bounced on her toes. She grabbed Amethyst. “Isn’t that cool?”

“No.” Gwenie quipped. “I go to a doctor. A real doctor.” Her eyes lowered, glaring at me. “Aren’t you the one who took the Village President’s job right out from underneath my cousin?”

“I…” I stuttered. “I didn’t. . .”

“Gwenie!” Petunia’s hand clasped over her mouth. “That’s in the past.”

“She’s just asking a question,” Amethyst chirped in. “I’d like to hear the answer.”

Gwenie never took her eyes off me, making me a bit uncomfortable. “Aren’t you?” She wasn’t going to let it die.

“June, I’m sorry for their behavior.” Petunia stepped up and nervously fiddled with a strand of stray hair that had fallen out of her updo. “Gwenie’s just looking out for me. I’m sure Amethyst is nervous about Full Moon opening. It’s her first shop. After all. . .”

Amethyst’s voice was bold. “You did call me every day for a month complaining about her and how she stole it right out from underneath you after you had been working toward it all your life.”

“But that was before I knew the chosen one was among our village,” Petunia said.