A Southern Charms Cozy Potluck Box Set

by Bella Falls

  I rushed to her side. “Is that why you stayed away from me? Because you blame yourself for what I chose to do on my own?”

  She nodded, still blubbering. “How am I supposed to face you when he almost took you away from us?” She collapsed her head on the table.

  I threw my arms around her. “First of all, you have to give yourself a break. What Damien did broke the law and the moral code of decency of any being. I'm sure Lady Eveline has told you as much.”

  “She did,” answered Blythe, the wood surface muffling her answer.

  “And I know it couldn't have been easy being a pawn in his game. But you know better than most that nobody tells me what I can or cannot do. I would put my life on the line for you again in a heartbeat. For any of you,” I said to the other girls.

  Alison Kate hugged my middle and Lavender embraced Blythe from the other side.

  “Hey, there’s no room for me in this dogpile,” complained Lily.

  We laughed through our tears, and Blythe waited for us to peel off of her. Standing, she faced me, holding my hands. “I’m sorry.”

  I squeezed her back. “Me, too. I've missed you, B.” We embraced again, and it turned into a massive group hug of tears, laughter, and snotty noses.

  After we became too dehydrated to produce any more tears, we broke away. Lavender passed around plates, and we dug into the goodies.

  I licked frosting from my fingers. “Ali Kat, I suppose this means you don't have an actual announcement.”

  She blushed. “I can tell you that Lee signed his deal and after I told him what’s been going on with the kids in town, he is completely on board with making real wands work and brooms fly. But that's about it.”

  I chucked a muffin at her head. “Don't ever do that again unless it's for real,” I declared. “I should eat all the honeysuckle buns to teach you a lesson.”

  The entire platter of sugary treats couldn't come close to how sweet it was to have my girls back. I laughed and joked with them, relieved to have harmony return.

  It took us twenty extra minutes to say goodbye because of all the extra cuddles. I hooked my arm through Alison Kate’s and pulled her to the side. “Have the wardens given you any more trouble?”

  “Not since that first night. Why? Should I be worried?” she asked with wide eyes.

  I sighed. “The stealing of your spell did give you a potential motive. But I don't think Big Willie really believes you killed Duke. The list of people with possible motives is long but the evidence is lean. Did you give them a solid alibi?”

  My sweet friend blushed. “I did, but it involved Lee. We spent the night on the phone. Sayin’ things to each other.” The rosy red in her cheeks told me enough of the story.

  I squeezed her to me. “I think that’ll be good enough. I just hope that we can figure things out.” Silently, I finished my thought to myself.

  We needed to solve the case as fast as possible or Tucker risked having another engagement ruined.

  Matt met me at the door of Nana's house. Peaches jumped out of my bicycle basket and skidded between my brother’s legs to find her friend Loki inside. The worried glance Matt shot at me crushed my hopes for a fun and yummy dinner.

  “What's goin’ on?” I asked.

  He held the screen door open. “Get in here.”

  My grandmother's house always welcomed me. For years, it had served as the soft place to land as well as a home for me and my brother, especially with the deaths of our parents. However, the air felt sicker and weighted down with trouble.

  Noises from the kitchen clued me in to Nana’s cooking. “Is she fixin’ dinner or is it stress?”

  “I think a little of both,” my brother replied. He tugged on my shirt to stop me from going to her. “I don't know what you're doing with this case, but you're creating a lot of problems. Big Willie isn’t happy, and he's taking it out on me.”

  I escaped my brother’s grip by thumping him hard with my fingers. “I’m sorry about that, but I'm not going to turn down the opportunity to help, especially since the sheriff kicked you off the case.”

  “But you're not a warden. You shouldn't be involved. Stay off the investigation.” His robotic delivery confused me.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you giving me orders?” I challenged.

  Matt shook his head. “No, fulfilling my duty that I was charged with from my boss. Now if he asks you if I told you that, you can speak the truth. Personally, I want you to stay on top of things. If Mason's willin’ to bring you in, then you go. There's something bigger than a simple murder case going on.”

  Nana called out from the kitchen, “Y’all come in here and sit your behinds down.”

  Normally, when she had the two of us over for a meal, she went all out and set her formal dining room table, using the fancy dishes and real silverware. Tonight, she scooped the food on our plates without ceremony and insisted we eat at the small table in the kitchen. Sweat broke out on my brow from the heat of the oven, but I knew better than to say anything.

  “Dig in,” our grandmother instructed.

  “Aren't you going to eat, Nana?” I asked.

  She pointed at the cast iron skillet on the front burner. “I’m gonna fry up some catfish, so I can't leave the stove.” She got out a pie tin and poured yellow cornmeal in it, and then cracked some eggs in a bowl and beat them to dredge the fish.

  Matt got up from his chair and made her stop. He kept his hands on her shoulders and directed her to her usual spot, not giving her a choice and forcing her to sit. Pushing his plate of food in front of her, he handed her his fork. Without saying a word, he fixed a new plate for himself and joined us. The silence in the room stretched while we stared at the cooling meal.

  I broke the tension with my frustration. “Is somebody gonna tell me what's going on?”

  Nana blew out a breath. “I don't think the two of you need to be burdened. Why don't we—”

  “If you don't tell us, then who are you going to tell?” Matt cut her off.

  “You know how you always say that our problems never go away if we volunteer to carry them around on our backs? It's time to unload, and we can take it, Nana.” I reached out and squeezed her hand three times.

  Our grandmother looked between Matt and me. “We've got a definite dilemma,” she offered.

  “We as in the three of us?” clarified my brother.

  “Yes,” stalled my grandmother, “there are some issues that involve our family. But I mean we as an the collective we. All of Honeysuckle.”

  I pushed my plate away and settled into the back of my chair, crossing my arms and waiting. “What went on at the meeting you attended?”

  Nana shook her head. “Everything was going fine, boring as usual. We all reported basic town business, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The magical communities of Southeast America are pretty well-organized. So when it happened, I was caught off guard.”

  Matt scooted his chair closer. “Explain.”

  Our grandmother spoke more like the high seat on the town council than our kin. “The council from Charleston proposed that Honeysuckle is close enough to their district that we should be absorbed into their overall governance. Meaning, they were making a play to take over.”

  Anger and surprise swirled inside my chest. “Can they do that?”

  Nana took a swallow of tea and continued. “It's not a question of whether or not they can. The proposal was made. The issue is that the burden falls on me and our town council to prove that we deserve to stay separate from any magical district. That we can govern ourselves without being overseen by outsiders.

  “When the world seemed smaller and we were more isolated, nobody cared that we existed on our own. It's not the first time that the idea has been brought up, but I normally have a sense that it's coming and can talk to people behind the scenes prior to it becoming a formal item on the agenda.”

  “If somebody has tried this before and failed, what makes it a problem this time?” as
ked Matt.

  Nana frowned. “We keep to ourselves here, and don't force people to stay although most choose to remain in Honeysuckle on their own. But I've never worried about important information making its way outside of our small community.”

  “What kind of info?” I asked.

  She slumped into the back of her chair. “The Charleston council members who made the proposal had access to some of our town’s charter. Old legal mumbo jumbo, but words that, if interpreted in the right way, could leave a wide opening to being taken over. They left the area authority with enough questions as to why we couldn't stay a sanctuary town but have the seat of authority be moved to Charleston?”

  Matt almost growled. “In other words, they want to remove you from power.”

  Nana nodded. “It seems that way.”

  I stuck my chin in the air. “You're a stubborn and strong Goodwin woman. I know you can fight this.”

  Our grandmother slammed her fist on the table, and Matt and I jumped. “It's not the battle that worries me. It's the fact that we have a leak. A mole. Someone powerful is working with those in Charleston. And I can't fight what I don't know.”

  I swallowed hard. “How can we help?”

  Nana grabbed a hand from both Matt and me. “Promise me you won't do anything. Right now, the only advantage I have is that whoever it is doesn't know that I'm on the hunt. You have to act like you know nothing.”

  “But Nana,” I protested, “If there’s something to find—”

  “You don't do anything.” Nana stopped me short. “At least not until I ask you to. I'm serious, Charlotte Vivian and Matthew Duane Goodwin. I appreciate you wanting to help, and I may need you. But for now, just be my source of comfort.”

  My brother shot a look at me to stop me from saying anything else. “We can do that. But please don't shut us out. If you get into a bind, you have to let us help. We’re not little kids anymore, and Charli’s right. If…no, when you're ready to find what you need, you will use her talents. I'm not askin’.”

  His spell phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out in frustration. “Can I pack up some food to take to TJ?”

  After the news our grandmother had shared with us, I couldn't find it in me to tease him about being a whipped man to a pregnant woman. Glad to have a task to do, Nana busied herself, putting food in containers and wrapping up cornbread in tinfoil. My brother took the food from her and managed to kiss me on the top of my head before hustling out.

  “Eat your food, Birdy, it's gettin’ cold,” instructed my grandmother.

  I picked up my fork and pushed the collards swimming in vinegar around on the plate. “I can see how upsetting all this must have been, but it doesn't explain why you were gone so long.”

  Nana poured us more sweet tea. “After the ambush, I went down to talk to my friend who lives near the Angel Oak on Johns Island. I wanted to know how her community managed to stay out of the reach of the political powers in Charleston.”

  “You mean the sea island Gullah culture, right? They're not part of Charleston's district?” I asked.

  “Not for lack of tryin’. My friend didn't have a whole lot of words of comfort, but she did promise that she might contact the local root doctor to give me all the help she could.”

  I remembered Nana taking Matt and me down to the sea islands near Charleston. I could understand those who practiced hoodoo in their own lives had issues with the power grabs of those who thought themselves better than others.

  Doing a little calculation in my head, I asked, “How much time did you spend on the island?”

  Nana avoided my gaze. “I stopped off at another place on my way back. Can I get you more tea?”

  I stared at my full glass. “Why are you stallin’? Who did you stop off to talk to?”

  She tilted her head. “You sure you wanna know?”

  “Try me,” I challenged.

  With a sigh, Nana gave in. “Since I was traveling so close to their house, I thought it couldn't hurt if I checked in on Dina, Enya, and Frida Gray.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Aw, Nana, the Gray sisters? They are so gross. They share an eye and a tooth between the three of them. And they’re older than dirt. Their entire place smells like a garbage dump. Why did you need to talk to them? Could they help you with the problem in Charleston?”

  “They had no advice about the power grab. But that's not why I was there. I hope you can forgive me when I tell you what I asked them.” Nana took her seat again.

  “I can never be that mad at you. Now, spill it,” I demanded.

  “I asked them about your family. And your future.” Nana refused to answer my inquisitive glare. “I know you haven't said anything since that night with the vampire when he burned the papers that could have told you where and who you came from. I thought that maybe I could find answers for you.”

  I closed my eyes. “Please tell me you didn't pay those weird sisters a dime. You've told me again and again never to seek out fortunetellers.”

  “I know, I know,” Nana admitted. “And under normal circumstances, I would follow my own advice.” She leaned forward and cupped my chin. “But, Sweet Bird, I would do anything to help you grow, no matter what. And if you need to know where you come from, then I will move mountains. I will cast a net far and wide. And yes, I will talk to the Gray sisters.

  My heart ached from the swell of love rising in my chest. Despite everything she was going through, my grandmother was willing to do what she could to take care of me like she always had.

  I took her hand away from my face and held it between mine. “I know where I come from. You’re my family. It's why I haven't said anything. I think I was afraid that you would think less of me when I was disappointed that Damien burned those papers.”

  She squeezed my hand. “I completely understand why you would be.”

  The words came gushing out of me. “I haven't pursued anything else because I'm not sure knowing would make a big difference. I'm growing confident in who I am more and more. Because of the solid foundation you helped me build, I can consider opening my own business and using my talents to help others in a more official capacity. You don't have to listen to fools to help me.”

  “You don't want me to tell you what they said?” Nana smiled at me with adoration.

  I considered the possibility of hearing words that might point me in the right direction to my biological connections in this world. When I thought all my chances were gone with the burning of the papers, I’d made my peace with it. Without knowing it, my grandmother had pulled off a newly formed scab.

  I patted her hand and let her go. “I don't think so. I'm going to listen to a wise woman who told me that prophecies and omens are dangerous things. They’re usually vague and we risk trying to manipulate things to make them come true and mess everything up in the process. Don't you always tell me to remember the famous Scottish play?”

  Nana smiled for the first time tonight. “And the fifth movie of that witches and wizards series with the kids. The villain of it all chooses to fight that one boy with the scar because he interprets the prophecy in one way. Nobody thought that there might be another boy who could have fit the bill. The villain made a choice based on his interpretation, and my guess is it will spell his doom in the end.”

  Shocked and impressed at the same time, I chuckled. “Nana, I can't believe you're watching those movies.”

  She shrugged. “Why not? They’re fun because they get some things right but what they get wrong about magic is kind of hilarious. Plus, I'm enjoying seein’ our local kids take pride in their own magic again.

  I rubbed the top of my head where Timmy had hit it. “Sure,” I agreed.

  Wanting a change in subject, we talked about the changes in Mason’s and my relationship. Nana knew about the dinner and the discussion about walls and barriers.

  “So Dash is out of the picture?” My grandmother had been a fan of the wolf shifter from the beginning.

  “I haven'
t heard anything from him,” I said.

  She sipped on her iced tea. “The man and his animal have some battles to fight. Those are his struggles to deal with and you have your own. It may not be your destiny to wind up together. But I continue to be more impressed with the detective. Let me know if he ever makes you that chess pie.”

  I played with the food left on my plate. “But I don’t know how to handle the personal and the professional. And what happens if Dash returns?”

  Nana nodded at me. “You hold on. You're strong because you're a Goodwin woman. I suspect that's why the men gravitate to you. It's a hard burden for us to bear.” She fanned herself and giggled.

  I helped her clean up the kitchen and agreed to take a huge chunk of red velvet cake home with me. We stood in the evening air on the front porch, delaying our goodbyes.

  “Nana, can't you tell me what to do about everything?” I whined.

  My grandmother patted me on my behind. “My job is to give you wings and let you fly. But I'll tell you what my own Gran passed on to me. Whether you have the privilege to live for a century, a few decades, days, or minutes, life on this earth is finite. Live boldly and love hard. That goes for jobs, men, and everything in between.”

  Later, as I fell asleep, I came up with a plan to make some bold moves and take the next steps in my life.

  Chapter Sixteen

  I hid in the kitchen from the massive hoard of friends waiting for me in the living room. Nana chuckled while she cooked at my stove, and I pushed the swinging door open and peeked at the noisy bunch.

  “I can’t go out there. They’re gonna think I’m crazy.” I let the door go and sat down at the small table.

  She stopped stirring the pot and circled her finger at the side of her head. “Birdy, this was your idea. And I’ll bet they already know you’re crazy.”

  TJ barged into the kitchen. “Charli, you need a bathroom downstairs. I can’t keep waddling my behind up and down. Ooh, that smells good.” My sister-in-law looked over Nana’s shoulder.

  Matt followed close behind, entering with a scowl. “Bird, you better get out here. Everyone wants to know what you want them to do.”