Cornbread & Crossroads

by Bella Falls

  Aunt Nora sniffed. “Well, if I get a chance, I will make sure we clean up our town, if you know what I mean. Make it the perfect haven it was always meant to be.” She gathered her little group and walked further away.

  Hearing those words from an actual family member caused my blood to boil over. I called up power, letting it sizzle over my fingertips, and prepared to hex their hineys seven ways to Sunday. A gentle touch on my arm interrupted my petty vengeance.

  “They are not worth the effort, although I must commend you on your surveillance skills, my dear Sherlock.” Horatio held onto me with pleading eyes. “Confrontation will only breed more discord.”

  I slumped against him and put as much of my arm around his waist as I could. “I’m sorry you heard that, too. It’s definitely not how most of us feel.”

  The large troll patted the top of my head with a little too much strength. “Do you propose that I have not heard disparaging remarks such as this throughout my lifetime? I have enough faith in the kinder hearts of Honeysuckle Hollow to prevail against such ugliness.”

  “I don’t know how you can endure it without getting upset.” I squeezed him a little harder.

  The troll drew in a deep breath, making it harder for me to hold onto him. He let it out and explained, “Because I believe that the beauty of life outweighs the bad. And I know that were I to take up the banner against such hatred, they would use my Otherness to hurt more than just me. Tis better that I take Will’s own words to heart, which he so eloquently penned. ‘The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.’”

  Trust Horatio to use a quote from Shakespeare to make his point, even though I needed it interpreted. “What does that mean?”

  His rumbling chuckle vibrated against me like thunder. “Simply put, life is messy. You cannot have all good, for without the bad as well, how would you recognize that which is fair? Without knowing the darker feelings of your kin, I would not appreciate the goodness of your friendship as much.”

  I released my friend and stood back, soaking in his wisdom. The sentiment could apply to so many more things than just my Aunt Nora’s attitude. Thanking Horatio for the life lesson, I left to search for Mason with my heart a little lighter than it had been before.

  After wandering around other gatherings of people deep in conversation, I found the detective standing with his boss and a dwarf whose name I didn’t know yet. Mason and the new resident listened to Big Willie’s booming tale from years gone by when I slipped my hand into the detective’s. His instant squeeze and pull to draw me closer alleviated my worries, and I leaned into him to gain more contact.

  “And that’s how I ended up with swamp water coming out of my ears but no prize.” The large Sasquatch broke into peals of laughter. “Those will-o’-the-wisps can be a might wily, I can tell you. Led me on quite the chase, and I didn’t hear the end of it from the rest of the department for years.”

  Before Big Willie started another rousing story, I jumped into action. “Excuse us, Sheriff, but I think my grandmother wanted to talk to both of us before she makes her big speech tonight.”

  “You tell Vivi not to make it too long. I wanna get in another dance with my wife before the band quits,” he declared before barreling into another boisterous tale to the smaller dwarf.

  Mason and I found a quiet spot away from the action. “When Willie gets nostalgic, it’s hard to get him to stop,” he said. “Thanks for saving me back there.”

  His words reminded me of Dash’s, and I wondered if I really was Princess Charming. Taking advantage of the moment alone, Mason stopped walking and lifted my right hand in the air with his while placing his left hand at my waist. He twirled me out once before pulling me back into him and swaying to the music.

  “When did you become such a twinkle toes?” I asked, holding onto him and hoping my clumsy tendencies would take a break.

  He led our steps in a tight circle. “When you’ve got the right partner, dancing’s easy.”

  One of my left feet stomped on his, and he winced. “Wanna say that again?” I asked with a giggle.

  He lay my right hand on top of his shoulder and grasped my hips, swaying us back and forth. “I don’t mind if you stomp on both my feet as long as it’s me you’re dancing with.”

  We both almost regretted his words when I managed to crush his toes again. “Why don’t we just take a walk together around the perimeter?” I suggested for the sake of his feet and my pride.

  I told him about my day in detail as well as what I’d overheard Aunt Nora saying. Like usual, he allowed me to vent as I needed to and offered support. But even he didn’t have any suggestions on what to do about my aunt’s attitude other than to warn Nana.

  “It sounds like you could use a break from everything,” Mason said, pulling me tighter against him.

  Visions of somewhere warm and sunny with lounge chairs sunk into a sandy beach and fruity drinks in coconuts from a nearby tiki bar tempted me. I sighed. “I don’t know when I’d find the time. There’s so much that needs to be done here.”

  He stopped walking and turned to face me. “I don’t think anyone would think twice if you went away even for a little bit. You might run yourself down too much if you keep going at the pace you are.”

  “A part of me knows you’re right.” A wave of exhaustion hit me as if in agreement with the detective, making it harder to resist the idea.

  Mason seized the quiet moment of indecision. “There’s something I’ve been trying to tell you for some time, and I’ll just say it fast before something else comes up. Charli, I—”

  A large object whooshed down from above, right over our heads. We ducked as dark feathers flapped in the air and a screeching caw echoed into the night.

  “Biddy, what are you doing?” I chastised.

  The crow ignored me and flew over to a nearby bench. She lit on top of it and squawked with purpose. As my eyes took in all of what the bird wanted me to see, I gasped in horror. A dark figure slumped against the far corner of the seat.

  “No,” I whispered, my whole body going cold with fear. “Not again.”

  Mason’s demeanor changed from romantic boyfriend to professional detective. “Stay here,” he commanded.

  My feet couldn’t move even if I wanted them to. I was frozen in place, my mind drowning in the memories of finding Uncle Tipper on my first night back to Honeysuckle. For once, I was grateful not to be the one barreling headfirst into trouble.

  Mason spellcast a light orb and thrust it out in front of him. Its rays hovered over the figure until it lit up the face. “Charli, don’t—”

  “Nana!” I shouted, rushing over and pushing the detective out of the way.

  I kneeled in front of my grandmother in absolute despair. Her hands lay in her lap, and I gathered them up in my own, trying to will her to be alive.

  Leaning over me, Mason reached out to touch her. “I feel a heartbeat. Do you hear me, Charli? She’s not dead.”

  Involuntary tears gushed down my face, and I brought Nana’s wrinkled hands to my mouth to kiss them. “Nana! Nana, wake up!” I cried. When she didn’t answer, I placed my head in her lap, hugging her about her legs.

  Mason shook her shoulder a couple of times. “Ms. Goodwin. Can you hear me?”

  My grandmother’s body stirred underneath me, and I glanced up with hope. “Nana?”

  She blinked her eyes, staring at me as if she struggled to see through a thick fog. “I was having the strangest dream.” Her fingers brushed through my hair. “Although I could have sworn it was real. It felt like I could have stayed there forever if you hadn’t called me back.”

  Mason pulled his spell phone out of his pocket and spoke into it. “Yeah, Zeke, we’re gonna need someone to find Doc Andrews quick and then we’ll need a patrol car to take Ms. Goodwin to the clinic to get checked out. No, not Charli, her grandmother.”

  Nana tugged on the detective’s arm to try and stand up but faltered in her attempt. She slumped back on
the bench, and Biddy hopped closer to her, fluttering her wings and croaking at her.

  “Please don’t move, Ms. Goodwin,” Mason instructed. “Help is on its way.”

  “I’m all right,” she reassured all of us, although the shakiness in her tone suggested more frailty. “Just a little befuddled.”

  “Do you know how you got here? Or why?” I asked, wanting to find the root cause and banish it as quickly as possible.

  She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed the bridge of her nose. “I was feeling a little tired this afternoon, but I figured some good food, good music, and excellent friends would perk me right up. But once things got going, I couldn’t keep my eyes open, so I found a quieter place to sit down to rest for just a moment. I don’t remember much other than waking up to your pretty face, Birdy.” She cradled my cheek in her fingers.

  I turned to plant a kiss on her palm. If something had happened to my grandmother, I’d be sure to find out what and if anybody was responsible. And if someone was, they’d better watch out because they’d have me and a whole heap of trouble coming down on top of them.

  Nana sighed and slapped her thighs. “Well, I’m awake now. Better go back to the festivities.” She pushed herself off the bench and stood.

  I scrambled back and got off the ground to hold her right arm to steady her. “No, you’re not. You’re going to sit back down and wait here for Doc Andrews and then you’re going to let him take you to his office so he can check you out.”

  “Birdy, pigs better be flying overhead if you think I’m gonna stay here and be treated like some invalid.” She stuck a hand up to stop Mason from protesting. “No, Detective. As you can see with your own eyes, I’m fit as a fiddle.”

  Matt called out our grandmother’s name as he rushed in our direction. I gave him space to reassure himself that, for the most part, she seemed okay.

  “Everybody, stop your fussin’,” Nana complained to no avail.

  In a small town, gossip is the best currency, and it didn’t take long for word about my grandmother’s condition to spread. Onlookers crowded around the bench, and Big Willie and Mason had to force them back a few feet to give Doc Andrews room.

  The doc flashed a light in and out of Nana’s eyes after palpating her head thoroughly. “Well, best I can tell, it doesn’t seem like she received an injury that would cause a concussion. Come on, Vivi, we’ll go to my office and give you a good once-over.”

  With so many eyes on her, Nana judged it best to comply. Only Matt and I recognized the fire in her glare that told us there’d be a steep price to pay later. But neither of us cared about our well-being as much as making sure the woman who helped raise us and kept us grounded in life was absolutely okay.

  The Sheriff escorted Nana by the arm to a nearby warden’s car, and Matt and I followed close behind. As we got to the edge of the park, I overheard Aunt Nora declare loud enough for us to hear, “She’s in good hands, everybody. I suppose I’ll give the speech for tonight.”

  Nana scooted into the back seat of the car and smirked. “I swear, I think that woman would gladly dance on top of my grave.”

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” I said, sending up a silent plea to the universe to keep my grandmother alive and kickin’ for a little longer.

  Chapter Five

  Convincing the strongest witch in town that she needed to stay quiet for a few days took a literal army of friends and family. Matt and I ignored every single one of Nana’s demands for her to be left alone. Both of us decided we could endure any hexes she threw our way, but we wouldn’t be able to handle if anything bad happened to her. Her two best friends, Mimsy Blackwood and Ada Atherton, added to the rotation of those who made sure my grandmother took it easy.

  The blender whirred to life in the kitchen, drowning out the conversation between the two older women, and Nana fidgeted on the couch. “I don’t like people stompin’ on my territory,” she fussed.

  I straightened the crocheted blanket over her lap until she slapped my hand away. “It’s not strangers in there. They’re your two best friends.”

  “Hmph,” Nana grunted. “The last time I checked, I could outcook them both under the table.”

  I raised my left eyebrow at her. “That’s not what you said last time Ms. Mimsy brought over some of her deviled eggs. You said, and I quote, ‘Don’t tell Mims that I prefer hers over mine. Someday, I’ll figure out her special ingredient that makes them irresistible.’”

  My exaggerated imitation of my grandmother’s voice earned me a cold glare of annoyance. “First off, whipping up some deviled eggs isn’t cookin’, it’s mixin’ ingredients together, plain and simple. Second off,” she jutted her thumb in the direction of the kitchen and lowered her voice, “I will figure out what she adds one of these days. And third, I don’t sound anything like that.”

  I dodged an embroidered decorative pillow flung at my head with a giggle. Picking it up from the floor where it landed, I fluffed it and slid it behind Nana’s back to help her sit up, ignoring her grousing.

  A light knock on the door interrupted us, and Ada rushed out of the kitchen to answer. The screen door creaked open, and I heard an exchange of pleasantries before Doc Andrews followed Blythe’s grandmother into the living room.

  “Doc, tell them they’re making too much of a brouhaha over me. That I’m perfectly fine,” Nana commanded.

  “See, I told you.” Ada held up her hands in defeat and headed back to the kitchen.

  The town doctor and skilled healer set his black leather bag on top of the coffee table and sat down in a nearby chair. “I would if I could, Vivi.”

  A little lump formed in the back of my throat, and it took me a second to find my voice. “Did your tests show what’s wrong with her?”

  Nana shoved the blanket off her lap. “Y’all actin’ like I’m about to fall over dead, and all I did was take a little nap.”

  I sat on the edge of the coffee table and faced her. “Was that nap in the middle of the afternoon in your own bed?”

  “No,” my grandmother replied.

  “And was it not after but during a town event? You know, the kind where you’re at the center of all the activity?” I pushed.

  Nana dropped her gaze from mine. “Yes.”

  A lump formed in my throat, and I swallowed hard, willing the tears forming in my eyes not to fall. “And did Mason and I find you all by yourself slumped against the bench the same way I found Uncle Tipper?” Despite my wishes, a fat tear rolled down my cheek.

  My grandmother’s defenses crumbled, and she reached out to wipe the wetness away. “Oh, Charli Bird, I had no idea what I must have looked like to you.” She cradled my face in her wrinkled hands and spoke low. “I must have scared you half to death, didn’t I?”

  I nodded once, giving into the despair I’d felt since the moment we’d found her. Nana pulled me next to her on the couch and wrapped her arms around me. She rocked me back and forth, rubbing my back and whispering comforting words until my sobs subsided.

  “Okay, Doc, I’m willing to listen,” she acquiesced.

  The kind healer waited until I composed myself enough to hear his prognosis as well. “I wish I had something definitive to share, but the truth is that all the tests I performed last night showed absolutely nothing. No physical or metaphysical reason for you to have fallen asleep like that, Vivi.”

  “There.” Nana patted my back. “Now everyone can leave me alone and go about their business with no worries.”

  Doc held up a hand. “I didn’t say that. We still don’t know why you had the reaction that you did, and it’s far from normal for you. I think we should do a full blood panel, and it might not be a bad idea for me to refer you to someone in Charleston either. My small practice does have its limitations.”

  Nana refused with stubborn support. “There’s no one I trust as much as you, plus I’m not keen on returning to that city anytime soon. I know there’s a lot of change going on, and I heard that the magical cou
ncil there has made a lot of progress with including a lot of non-witches into their community. But if I’m going to put my life in anybody’s hands, it’s yours, Doc.”

  Mimsy entered the room carrying a tray with a pitcher of tea, some glasses filled with ice, and a plate full of fresh chocolate chip cookies. Ada followed right behind, holding a clear glass with a yellowish-gray sludge inside and a napkin.

  She handed both to Nana. “Now, you know the rules. For your own good, drink it all down.”

  “I’d rather have some sweet tea,” my grandmother mumbled. “And you wipe that smirk off your face, Miss Birdy.”

  I pointed at my chest with feigned innocence. “I didn’t say anything.” My heart filled with vengeful glee at Nana having to drink the medicinal sludge instead of me for once.

  She took a tiny sip and grimaced with a shiver. “Ugh, that is absolutely vile.”

  Without an ounce of sympathy, I quipped, “But if it tasted good, how would you know it’s medicine?”

  Everyone in the room except me attempted to cover up their humor at the situation.

  “Don’t you dare sass me or use my own words against me, Charli Bird.” To show how tough she was, Nana took two big gulps. Frowning at the glass while she licked her lips, she examined the contents inside. “This ain’t normal. What did y’all put in this?”

  Ada elbowed Mimsy to answer. “It’s all of the usual stuff from the original brew, but we’ve added some powdered rhodiola rosea.”

  “That’s golden root, which gives it that different color,” Ms. Ada explained, seeing my confusion. “It’s supposed to help with fatigue as well as alleviate stress and anxiety.”

  Doc Andrews added, “It can add an overall boost to your health, so I would recommend at least three of those a day for the next couple of days. Maybe try adding in some ginseng as well.”

  Mimsy snapped her fingers. “I should have thought of that. I’ve got some in my greenhouse for the store.”