by Lucy May
I drove to the factory alone. When I pulled behind the building, I saw two other cars. Either they had carpooled or not everyone was there. I took several deep breaths before getting out of my car on shaking legs. I managed to walk to the door and pull it open.
I screamed when Daphne appeared in front of me. My startled scream caused her to scream. “What’s wrong!” she shouted.
“You scared me!”
She started giggling uncontrollably. “You scared me!”
“What are you doing sitting here in the dark?” I hissed.
“Waiting for you. Everyone else is waiting over there,” she motioned with her hand.
I peered through the darkness, but I couldn’t see anything. My heart was racing so fast I thought I would pass out. Daphne was acting normal, but it could be a ruse to soothe me into complacency. She grabbed my hand and started to move towards the back of the factory. This was the same way my mother had taken when I saw her on the videos.
“Good evening, Violet,” I heard Coral say.
My stomach twisted into knots. She sounded so calm, normal even.
“Is everyone here?” Lila asked.
“Yes, let’s go,” my mother directed.
I clenched Daphne’s hand in my own, terrified about what was to come.
“What’s wrong with you?” she whispered.
“Ha, as if you don’t know,” I shot back.
“I don’t know what—“ she stopped talking.
“What? What’s wrong?” I asked, freaking out a little because I couldn’t see anything very clearly.
“We’re going downstairs. Hold on to me.”
I followed Daphne down the stairs. It was much cooler and had a faint musty smell. The room was suddenly flooded with light and I had to blink several times to allow my eyes to adjust.
“Wow,” Daphne and I both said at the same time.
We were in a large basement filled with what looked like a full kitchen, several couches and chairs along with a dining room table and more chairs.
“What is this?” I asked aloud.
“This is our meeting place,” Magnolia said. “Make yourselves comfortable.”
Daphne and I looked at each other, both of us clearly stunned.
“Your meeting place?” I asked.
“Yes. Our coven meets here. Always has,” Coral said with a smile. “That’s why you saw us on those tapes.”
I looked away, embarrassment flooding my face. It wasn’t as if my mother hadn’t told me that. Yet, I’d let my imagination run wild with why they might’ve been in the factory at night.
“Let’s get started everyone. Daphne, Violet, welcome to our lovely clubhouse!” my mom said, walking to the seating area and sitting down in one of the chairs.
Daphne and I sat next to each other on one of the couches.
“Okay, I know you two have a lot of questions. We can’t answer everything tonight, but we can explain what happened. Hopefully, that will put your mind at ease about us, Violet,” my mother said, looking directly at me.
I nodded my head, still on edge, but willing to hear what they had to say.
“Lila, why don’t you tell the girls what happened?” Magnolia asked, taking a seat in one of the purple overstuffed chairs.
Lila looked nervous, but stood in the center of the area and began to talk.
“It was an accident,” she began. “Dale’s death was an accident,” she reiterated.
My mouth dropped open as I expected her to tell us she accidentally killed the man. I couldn’t believe sweet Lila could hurt anyone. I instantly felt guilty for turning over the tapes. Lila didn’t belong in prison!
“What happened?” I asked, anxious to know the story, but scared at the same time.
She took a deep breath. “I was hiding out in one of the upstairs offices, keeping an eye on those men. We didn’t want them to find our secret room and had been taking shifts to watch them. One night, I was sitting in the dark room when I saw the man, Dale, walk by. Once he went past me, I stood inside the doorway, watching him skulk about. That’s when it happened!” She buried her face in her hands and stopped talking.
“What?” Daphne and I asked at the same time.
Coral got up from her seat and put a hand on Lila’s shoulder. “It’s okay, hon. Tell them the rest.”
Lila wiped her eyes and took a deep breath before telling us the rest. “He opened the door to a laundry chute. It had been closed up for a reason. It was a safety hazard. I saw him reach in like he was looking for something and knew I had to warn him. I stepped out of the office in time to see him reach too far and fall down the laundry chute.”
I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand as it all became clear to me.
“I screamed and raced to the chute, calling out for him,” she continued, sorrow in her voice. “I didn’t hear anything and feared the worst. I raced down to the second floor where I knew the chute opened into. I yanked open the door and there he was,” she murmured. “He was already dead. I pulled him out, hoping there would be something I could do, but it was too late.”
“Oh, Lila,” I whispered.
She gave me a watery smile. “It was horrible. I’m assuming he broke his neck and was killed instantly.”
“Why didn’t you tell the sheriff what happened?” I asked her. “Why so much secrecy?”
Lila looked at her friends and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know.”
“Where was his partner?” Daphne asked.
“He wasn’t there that night. It was just Dale. We didn’t trust the man. He was very shady,” Lila said, regaining her composure. “Something felt off about him. We all felt it, which was why we decided to keep an eye on things here.”
“If his neck was broken and his body was found outside the laundry chute, why wouldn’t Harold declare it an accident?” I asked. “Why all the drama?”
“We don’t know,” Magnolia answered.
I looked at each of them and could see how stressed they all were. I understood why they didn’t immediately go to the police, but now it seemed like it was time.
“Don’t you think it’s riskier to allow Harold to keep investigating rather than simply telling him you saw the accident?”
“We’ve thought about that, but how do we explain Lila’s presence that night?” my mom asked.
I didn’t know, but the truth would set them free. Continuing to lie and harbor their secret would only embroil them further in the investigation. I had to make them see reason.
Chapter 17
By the time I made it home, it was close to four in the morning, my usual time for getting up. Despite being up nearly twenty-four hours, I wasn’t really tired. I was too energized by what I had learned. My mother was innocent. Her friends were innocent. I didn’t have to feel guilty or worry the sheriff would haul them off to jail.
I considered staying up for a bit, but knew I would regret it later. I could go to bed now and get a few hours of sleep. I wasn’t going home today, but there was no reason I couldn’t leave tomorrow. Nothing was keeping me in Lemon Bliss. Not anymore. My mom would be okay and I didn’t have to worry about whether Gabriel was willing to work out a long-distance relationship. That minor detail had taken care of itself. There was no relationship. Not surprising at all.
I crashed once I crawled under the covers. With the adrenaline fading, I fell right to sleep.
When I woke, it was after nine. It had been a long time since I had been in bed that late. Even though I hadn’t had a lot of sleep, I felt refreshed. The truth had certainly set me free. I hoped it had made all of them feel better.
I made my way downstairs and started some coffee before checking my phone for messages. Nothing. I couldn’t deny it hurt a little. I had hoped to find something from Gabriel, but nothing. While holding my phone, it started to ring. My mother’s face appeared on the screen.
“Hello, mom.”
“Violet, I’m sorry, did I wake you?”
“No, I was u
p. What’s up?”
“I’d like to stop by. Are you available in say thirty minutes?”
“Yes, that’s fine. I’ll see you then.”
I hung up and raced back upstairs to take a quick shower. By the time I was toweled off and dressed, I could hear my mother downstairs.
“Violet! Are you here?”
“Be right down,” I hollered, slipping on a pair of sandals.
She was walking around the room, running her hand over the trinkets left behind by my grandmother.
“Oh, there you are. You look beautiful, dear.”
I ran a hand over my wet hair. “Thanks. What brings you by?”
“Well now that we’ve cleared the air, I wanted to talk with you more about who you are,” she said with a genuine smile.
I shrugged a shoulder. “Okay, I’m ready to listen.”
“Sit,” she said, taking a seat on the couch.
I took my seat and stared at her. I had a million questions but I couldn’t seem to form even one.
“Ask me anything.”
“I don’t really know what to ask. I mean, I guess, what exactly are my powers?”
As I heard my question, I couldn’t help my internal eye roll. This was nuts, but then here I was, thinking I was a witch. All because my quirky mother told me so.
“Well, I think we’ve already determined you have the gift of premonition. You have the magic within you, which means you can cast spells,” she explained.
“How do I know what a spell is? I mean if I say ‘abracadabra’ what happens?”
She chuckled and shook her head. “Not quite. Spells are usually passed down or written with a specific purpose in mind. Lila is really good at writing spells. When we need something, we usually rely on her.”
“Why would you need to write a spell?”
“Oh, for a number of different reasons. It’s hard to go into all that. It’s more of something you learn by seeing and doing, not by telling.”
I nodded my head, still not really understanding. “What are your powers?”
“I’m a lot like your grandmother. I have a knack for charming things.”
“What do you mean like grandma?” I asked, suddenly very curious. I remembered my grandmother was a master baker. Was that the result of witchcraft?
She smiled and looked wistful. “The flowers outside. That was her. She charmed them. She loved flowers and hated when they wilted. It always made her so sad, so she used her magic to make them bountiful. That was why her lemon trees were so fruitful. She never had to worry about how much rain we got or the weather.”
“Wow. I wondered why they were so bright and beautiful.”
“You’ll have that ability as well, I suspect. The family has all been proficient in charming things, including people, which is why you must be careful. I should have told you before this, but I didn’t want to freak you out.”
A sudden thought occurred. “What about Gabriel? Did I charm him?”
“No, you would know if you charmed a man to fall in love with you. Trust me,” she said with obvious experience.
“Tell me!” I giggled, wanting to hear how she charmed a man.
She rolled her eyes as she shook her head. “It was horrible. Thankfully, I had my own mother to tell me what happened and how to fix it. When you have charmed a man to fall in love with you, it is all in. The man will not be able to live without you. It isn’t pretty.”
“I feel like I’m way behind the ball on this. Do I need to learn it all? I mean, I don’t plan on practicing witchcraft or casting spells or anything like that. I’ve been okay this long, I don’t think I need to learn now,” I said.
She wrung her hands and I could tell something had her concerned. “Violet, it isn’t that simple. Witches tend to come into their full powers around your age. It’s dangerous for you to remain ignorant to your gift. I would like to teach you and help guide you through this process.”
The thought I could actually be a danger to society had never occurred to me. “Really? Are you saying I could wave a hand and cause something to blow up?”
“Maybe not blow up, but you will likely be able to move things without physically touching them. It’s part of being a witch. We must be very cautious with our powers. Sometimes, thinking about something you want can make it appear. There’s a trick to turning off that gift. Please say you’ll stay in Lemon Bliss and let me show you how to use your gifts,” she said, reaching out and taking my hand.
“Oh Mom, I don’t know about that. Do all witches have the same gifts or powers?” I asked.
“Sometimes, but usually every witch is a little different,” she explained.
I nodded, still not really understanding everything. “Like what? What other magical powers might I have?”
She threw her hands wide. “Oh my, the possibilities are endless. Most witches can heal people with their powers, but some rely on spells. Summoning the dead or speaking to the dead is also a fairly common. My mother spoke with animals. Being a witch means you are more in-tuned to your senses. You are a part of the earth. We get our strength from the earth and the rest of the elements. Oh, Violet, there is so much information. I can’t possibly tell you everything in one sitting,” she said with exasperation.
“It’s okay. Is there a book or something I can read?” I asked, feeling more than a little overwhelmed.
“No!” she burst out. “Don’t read any books. They will fill your head with nonsense.”
“Mom, there has to be a way for me to do my own research.”
She patted my hand and stood up. “I know it’s a lot, but because it’s such a dangerous secret, we can’t exactly put it into books. The risk of our secrets being uncovered because someone accidentally left a book in the wrong place is too great.”
I ran my hands through my wet hair. “Mom, don’t you have a book of spells or something like that?”
She shrugged a shoulder, telling me all I needed to know.
“Can I read it?”
She started laughing. “I don’t think you would know what you were reading. The book is old, very old. It dates back more than a few centuries. It is more of a guide than a how-to. It’s tucked away, nice and safe. When you’re ready, I’ll show you.”
“It’s in the factory, isn’t it?”
She grinned and winked, but didn’t answer.
“That’s why you guys went to such great lengths to keep Dale and George away from your secret.”
Another shrug of her shoulder.
“Wow, I feel like I just got dropped into calculus. I have no clue where to even start,” I muttered.
“I understand that. I really do. I feel terrible for not teaching you all of this over the years, but I was scared. We all were. I would so love to have you back home. Let me make up for lost time. Daphne will be living here again. Magnolia will be showing her the ropes. We want you to join the coven, be a part of our family.”
“Can I think about it?” I asked softly.
“Of course. Take some time, I’ll be here.”
“Thank you, Mom. I promise I’ll think about it. There’s just a lot to consider, and I can’t seem to get my head wrapped around everything.”
She paused at the door and looked at me. “What happened between you and Gabriel? Coral wouldn’t give me the whole story, but I gathered you guys had some kind of disagreement.”
I sighed, debating how much to tell her, and then just dumped it out. When I finished telling her why Gabriel and I argued, she was smiling.
“What?” I asked, wondering why she looked so delighted.
“You two are perfect for each other. You need a partner who can serve as your other half. A checks and balances kind of thing. Don’t be too hard on him. He was looking out for us.”
I took a little offense to that. “I wasn’t trying to get any of you in trouble. I tried to look out for you all as well.”
“He knows about witches and isn’t afraid of them. That’s not easy to find, trust
me. Shoot, trust all of us,” she mumbled. “A man like Gabriel doesn’t come along very often. Can I tell you a secret?”
“What?” I muttered.
“You’re not the only one with premonitions and the ability to predict the future.”
I laughed. “What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying the man is worth a little forgiveness and compromise,” she said, that warm smile spreading across her face.
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll try calling him later,” I told her.
“Good, you should. Goodbye, dear.”
“Bye, Mom.”
I followed her out on the porch. Everything looked different, like I was seeing the world with an entirely new perspective. The sun felt warmer, the air fresher and I could hear the leaves of one of the oak trees in the yard rustling with the breeze. I felt different somehow.
Wanting to really see the flowers my grandmother had a hand in creating, I stood there, taking in the huge blossoms and vivid colors. They were amazing. It felt like I was seeing her. I wondered if her spirit truly was at the house, with me, surrounding me. That was one power I wanted to tap into. I missed my grandma so much. I wanted to talk with her. I didn’t know how any of this worked, but I was hoping it was a lot like having a phone conversation.
I grinned, realizing the blooms weren’t the work of any gardener. This was magic, and I liked this kind of magic. I started to think about how I could use magic in my own life, but quickly dismissed the thought. I couldn’t use it to better my life. My life was pretty good already, and I didn’t want to risk some horrible consequences as the result of using magic for personal gain.
Checking my watch, I saw that it would be rush hour at the bakery. I didn’t want to call and stress Tara out. I’d wait. I was going to go home Monday. My mind was made up. Whether I stayed in Lemon Bliss was yet to be determined.
Chapter 18
The following day, I pondered my options. The more I thought about opening a bakery here, the more included I was to go for it. I loved a challenge, and this would be a fun one. Plus, my curiosity about my witchy talents was growing by leaps and bounds. Every so often, I gave myself a mental shake, wondering if I’d lost my d*mn mind.
