A Charming Voodoo (Magical Cures Mystery Series Book 10) (12 page)

Chandra had picked out a piece of pottery in the shape of a star. She had already painted the entire thing blue like the blue stars painted on her fingernails.

Eloise had picked a ceramic sign that she could use in her garden where she grew the incense and herbs she needed for her morning smudge.

Petunia had changed her mind from a cat to a birdhouse with pumpkins and vines along the bottom, while I picked the cat with a witch’s hat perched on his head.

Of course I painted the cat white with a black hat. It was going to make the perfect addition to A Charming Cure.

Everyone seemed to have a great time as the hours flew by. Leah had promised our pottery would be dried and sealed before the All Hallows’ Eve celebration and Tish and Hazel could pick theirs up tomorrow.

I made a mental note to pick them up for them. It gave me a good reason to stop by Hazel’s and pick her brain.

Oscar and the kids were still down at Glorybee Pet Shop. Tish had promised Petunia she’d think about it. I’d already thought about it. I’d grab the white kitten on my way to see them along with the pottery, that way she couldn’t say no.

“I’m beat.” Oscar fell down on the couch as soon as we got home.

I hung my cloak up next to the door and put my purse on the counter. Mr. Prince Charming jumped up on the back of the couch and made himself comfortable for the night.

“Who knew kids could be so exhausting?” Oscar looked over at me. “Do you think we were that rambunctious?”

“We probably didn’t know if we were or not because we relied on each other.” I grabbed the chilled wine out of the refrigerator and two wineglasses and walked over to him. I set the bottle and glasses on the coffee table and sat on the edge of the couch.

Oscar sat up and worked his magic on my shoulders as he kneaded away my stress of the day. I should’ve given him a back rub instead, but it felt too good.

I tucked my chin to my chest and let him rub, push, and rub some more before I uncorked the bottle and poured two large glasses.

“Long day?” I asked when I noticed the exhaustion set in his blue eyes.

“Yeah.” He took the glass and eased back on the couch. I joined him. “I went by Broussert’s office today. He was out but his secretary let me take a look at his schedule.”

“Anything?” I asked and twisted my body to the side with my leg tucked in a V, facing him. I took a sip of my wine and listened. 

“He has been out of town for the past couple of weeks on vacation with his wife. I even checked with the resort and they have him there on the night and morning of Patty’s death, so that rules him out.” Oscar rubbed his temples. “As much as I want to believe Colton, I just can’t shake the hatred he has for the guy. He just keeps saying that he’s an enemy and they didn’t see eye-to-eye.”

I looked off into the distance and thought about what Oscar was telling me.

“I have a surprise.” Oscar sat up and put his glass on the table. He got up and walked out the front door only to reappear with a big pumpkin. He set it on the kitchen table.

My heart warmed. He remembered.

“I love you.” I hurried over to him and threw my arms around him. “Every year since we were ten.”

“It’s a tradition. Our tradition.” His lips met mine. “I hope as we get older, we have many more traditions that include kids.”

“Kids?” I pulled away. As much as I loved seeing him with Gene, Jo, and Orin, the thought of me being responsible for a small person sort of scared me.

I walked over to the kitchen and pulled out the pumpkin carving kit from underneath the sink. Oscar had already grabbed a knife and started to cut the lid on the top of the pumpkin.

“Yeah,” his smile weakened my knees. “You do want a little June, right?” He tugged the seed-dripping lid off the pumpkin.

“Maybe I want a little Oscar.” I carefully used my fingers to rake the seeds out. Seeds were good for potions and for roasting. “But I’m not sure about my ability to be a mother. I mean, Darla was wonderful and I truly thank her for policing everything I did and ate, but I’m not so sure I’d do that with my child. Our child.”

The words left my mouth leaving me with a fear that I’d never known. A fear that I was sure was only maternal.

“June,” Oscar set the knife down and placed his hands on each of my shoulders. He turned me toward him. His big blue eyes staring down into my soul as though he could read and see every fear that was bubbling deep within me. “We will be wonderful parents. The kind of parents that we really wished we had. You had a wonderful mom. I didn’t have any parents. We will make it a family that suits us. Good food. Bad food. Fights. Good times and all.” He looked at the pumpkin and then back at me.

He bent down and kissed both sides of my neck and finally finding my lips.

“Maybe we should start practicing the art of having children before we actually do.” Oscar’s words warmed my body. “This pumpkin can wait.”

“Sounds good,” I mumbled, letting my body melt into his arms.

The next morning I’d gotten up early to find that Oscar had already left. He left a scribbled note on his pillow that he’d had an idea and wanted to check it out and he’d call me later.

He was so intent on saving Colton, he was grabbing at straws. I wasn’t sure if my promise to Ophelia was getting in the way of his investigation.

I rolled over and looked at Madame Torres. She’d been awfully quiet this whole time. I rubbed my hand over the top of her glass ball. Her insides swirled and twirled popping little images like the pottery, kitten, and roses, reminding me of my itinerary. The last thing she showed me was the leaf charm.

I grabbed the charm bracelet I’d taken off and laid next to her before Oscar and I had gone to bed and clasped it on.

“Where are you, Mr. Prince Charming?” I threw the covers off and sat up in the bed looking around the room.

I padded down the hall and into the kitchen where there was a cup next to the coffee pot that Oscar had put there for me. A smile curled in my heart as I filled the cup and looked out over Whispering Falls.

“Patch,” I reminded myself that I wanted to stop by and see him as well, but found it odd that Madame Torres hadn’t reminded me of that.

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.