I placed the book on the table and rolled up the sleeves of my sweater. It was time to get down to business.
A rich scent of leather stirred in the air around me as I flipped open the book and waited. In the past it had turned the pages on its own, as if telling me which spell I needed to cast. That hadn’t necessarily worked out for the best though. Yet here I was trying to do the same thing again. I’d thought I would have learned my lesson by now. Apparently, I wanted to live dangerously. But seriously, I felt I had better control over the spells that I cast now. This time I would get it right. I had to keep a positive attitude.
I tapped my foot against the floor, waiting for the book. Just when I was about to give up, a page moved slightly. It didn’t completely turn though, so I wondered if I would be on my own for a spell this time. The book was supposed to know what I needed, right?
The page moved again and this time it did turn. The wind whipped through the kitchen with a force so strong that I thought it would rip the cabinets’ doors off the hinges. Yet nothing moved other than the pages. After a few seconds, the wind settled and so did the pages. I looked down at the book. Sure, it didn’t tell me what the spell was for, but I would cast it anyway.
I knew this was probably a bad idea, but I just couldn’t help myself. I had to know what would happen. I peered down at the ingredients for the spell and then moved around the room gathering the items. Mint, cinnamon, bay leaves, and salt were all that I needed. It said I had to place the items in the cauldron. I lit the fire underneath and spoke the words. I called to the elements of the earth, air, fire, and water.
I recited the words, “New times are upon us, let them bring peace and tranquility.”
Energy pulsated around me. Lights in shades of red, green, and yellow swirled up from the water, making a crackling and bubbling sound.
The water had just stopped bubbling when a knock sounded at the door. This was not happening again. Every time I’d used this book I’d brought an unwanted visitor. Yet I had cast another spell. I seriously needed to have my head examined by a trained professional.
I ran over and grabbed the book, tucking it under my arm. There was no way I was leaving it out on the table so that a stranger could sneak in and snatch it up. I rushed through the house to the front door. I hoped that this time would be different. Maybe Charlie had locked herself out.
That was what I would keep telling myself. Maybe if I thought it enough that would make it true.
The doorbell rang again. I still couldn’t believe this was happening. My heart thumped faster as I raced toward the door. Maybe I shouldn’t even open it. If I didn’t open it, the person would simply go away. Yeah, that wasn’t likely to happen. The bell rang again. Whoever it was, they were very impatient. Didn’t they realize that it took a long time to get across this big house?
I peeked out the hole in the door and spotted a man standing in front of it. With his gray hair and wrinkles around his eyes, I figured he was in his late sixties. His bushy eyebrows were out of control and his thin mouth set in a tiny smile. He wore a brown sport coat with a wrinkled white shirt underneath and equally crumpled brown slacks. The man reminded me of what Santa would look like without the beard.
There was no way for me to know if this man was living or not. Every other spell had brought back someone from the grave. This time probably wouldn’t be any different. I should just get it over with and answer the door.
After unlocking the door, I eased it open just enough to peek outside. If I decided he didn’t seem on the up and up, it would be easier to slam the door in his face. He looked at me and a wide smile spread across his face. His eyes twinkled in the sunlight. He really had that jolly look down.
“Hello, dear. Is this LaVeau Manor?” He wiggled his bushy eyebrows.
Despite his cheerful demeanor I seriously considered telling him that he had the wrong house. But he would probably just figure out that I’d lied and come back.
Finally, I said, “Yes, this is LaVeau Manor. What can I do for you?”
I’d forgotten that I was running a bed-and-breakfast. Maybe this man was just looking for a room. He would probably think that I was terribly rude.
“My name is Fitzgerald Flannigan. I’m looking for Halloween LaVeau.”
And here we went. This couldn’t end well. Reluctantly I said, “I’m Halloween.”
His smile widened, if that was even possible. “How do you do, young lady?”
I couldn’t hide the suspicion on my face. “I’m well, thank you.” I waited for him to tell me what he wanted. He didn’t take his eyes off me.
“I suppose you’re wondering who I am.”
I nodded. “Yes, the thought had crossed my mind.”
He chuckled. “I’m your uncle. I spoke with your mother and she said I should come right over and get a room for the evening. You see, I’m passing through Enchantment Pointe.”
I stared at him for a moment longer, and then finally inched the door open just a smidgen more.
“I’m your father’s brother,” he added.
My father had been dead for years and I didn’t have contact with his side of the family. My mother had given me her last name, so I had no connections with them other than blood.
He was family though, so I supposed I should invite him in. Thank goodness the spell hadn’t produced another awakened spirit. Unless… he was really a spirit and just telling me this story. I eyed him suspiciously. I’d have to get to the bottom of this.
“Would you like to come in?” I asked, still not sure if that was the right thing to do.
He nodded. “I would love to.”
He stepped just inside the door and peered around the foyer. It was a massive space with tall ceilings and a grand mahogany staircase, so there was a lot to take in.
I decided to just come out and ask this man the truth. After all, he knew we were witches. I assumed he was a witch too. It wasn’t a big secret. “Are you sure you’re not dead?” I asked.
Okay, maybe I could have worded the question better.
His eyebrows came together in a frown, like two caterpillars racing toward each other. “I’m very much alive.”
“What I mean is I have recently animated a few dearly departed souls and I just wondered if maybe you were one of them.” I hoped I hadn’t offended him. “It’s not because you look dead or anything,” I said, putting my foot further into my mouth.
“Well, of course I’m not dead.” He patted his stomach. “I’m very much alive.”
“Sorry, I just had to make sure.”
He smiled. “It’s understandable, dear. Think nothing of it.”
“Would you like to come into the parlor?” I gestured toward the room.
“I would like that very much, thank you.” He followed along behind me as I led the way from the foyer.
I pointed toward the sofa. “If you’d like to have a seat.”
He sat on the left side. “My feet were beginning to kill me.”
“Did you walk here?” I asked.
“I got a ride for part of the way.” He took in the contents of the room.
This just added to my questions. Who had given him a ride? How far had he traveled? All questions I would have to ask. I wouldn’t bombard him with the interrogation all at once though. I would ask little by little. I’d discovered I got more questions answered that way.
“Would you like something to drink or eat?” I asked.
His eyes lit up. “Yes to both, if you don’t mind.”
“Well what kind of hostess would I be if I didn’t offer?” I smiled.
This was my chance to sneak in a call to my mom. Had she really sent him here?
After slipping off to the kitchen to retrieve my phone, I dialed her number. I still had the book with me. There was no way it was getting out of my sight. I set it on the table long enough to grab the refreshments. While the phone rang, I grabbed sweet tea from the refrigerator and a glass from the cabinet. It was all I had to offer
him at the moment.
“Where are you?” my mother asked when she picked up.
“Who is Fitzgerald Flannigan and why did you send him to my home?” I whispered.
“Oh, he made it. Good. I was worried about him.”
She said this so casually, as if sending strangers to my home was perfectly normal.
“Is he really my uncle?” I placed the glass of tea on a tray.
“Of course. Do you think I would send a stranger there?”
Well, technically I had opened a bed-and-breakfast, so the answer to that question was yes, but that was neither here nor there.
“Have you even heard of this uncle? Why have I never heard of him?” I pulled chocolate-chip cookies from the jar and placed them on a plate.
“To be fair, honey, you haven’t heard of a lot of your relatives on your father’s side. Now I’m no fan of that side of your family, but Fitzgerald was the nicest one of the whole bunch. So yes, I have heard of him.”
“Why is he in town?” I placed the plate of cookies onto the tray next to the glass of tea.
“Actually, I don’t think he told me. He just said he was passing through.”
A lot of good she was. Didn’t she know she was supposed to ask more questions than that?
“Okay. I guess I’ll have to find out exactly what he wants.”
“You think he wants something?” she asked.
“Mother, dear sweet gullible Mother, of course he wants something. You don’t just show up out of the blue after all these years and not want something. Especially after I just inherited this manor. I’d bet my best pair of black boots that he is up to something.”
She sighed. “Well, when are you coming into the shop?”
“As soon as I find out what this sneak wants.” I hung up the phone, put the book back under my arm, and grabbed the tray.
When I reached the parlor, Fitzgerald was standing by the window. He didn’t turn around to face me, so I figured he hadn’t heard me approach.
“Here you are,” I said.
He turned around and beamed at me. “Lovely, dear. Thank you.”
With the book still tucked under my arm, I placed the tray on the table and handed him the glass. “Sorry I didn’t have anything else. It’s time for a trip to the grocery.”
He took a drink from the glass. “This is just fine. You’ll never catch me turning down a glass of sweet tea.”
His words brought back memories of my grandmother complaining that my father’s side of the family drank bats’ blood. At the time that had scared me to death. Now I knew she’d just been saying it because she didn’t like them.
I studied him as he picked up a cookie and ate it in two bites. He smiled and then took another drink of tea. When he didn’t offer to discuss the reason for his visit, I figured I would just have to come right out and ask him.
“Why are you here?” I sat in the chair and placed the book on my lap.
He didn’t seem surprised that I asked. He set the glass back on the tray. “I have business in New Haven. I’m helping an old friend with work on his home. On my way I decided I would visit. Far too many years have passed since I saw you. I didn’t want to let another year go by without getting to know you.”
Chapter Four
I supposed Fitzgerald’s excuse sounded legitimate, but all the supernatural shenanigans had left me suspicious. Why after all this time did he want to make contact with me now? Was it because of the book? I still held the tome under my arm and needed to put it back. I’d caught Fitzgerald looking at the book a couple of times, but I wasn’t about to tell him what it was. That was for me to know and for him not to find out.
“Will you be staying long?” I asked.
“Well, I have a bit of time before my friend needs me there. I was hoping I could stay for a week, if that’s okay with you.” He flashed that smile again.
A whole week? I didn’t even know this man. What would I talk to him about for a whole week? But how could I say no?
I forced a smile on my face. “Sure that would be fine.”
He reached down, grabbed his glass, and took the last drink.
“You must be tired. I can show you to your room.” I pushed to my feet.
Fitzgerald stood from the sofa. “I don’t want you to go to any trouble for me and I fully intend to pay you for the room.”
He was family, so I supposed I couldn’t accept the money. Although I could really use it. “You don’t have to pay. I couldn’t charge family.”
He waved his hands. “No, I insist. I will be insulted if you don’t take the money.”
I nodded. “Okay, if you insist. Follow me.” I motioned over my shoulder.
We’d just made it through the foyer to the staircase when the front door burst open as if a tornado had flown through. The loud bang made me jump and I clutched my chest. Charlie furrowed her perfectly sculpted eyebrows, looking at me as if I was insane. I’d forgotten all about her—too bad she’d returned.
She looked at Fitzgerald and then back at me.
“Hello, Charlie. You startled me,” I said.
She looked from me to my uncle again. “Sorry about that.”
I forced a smile. “That’s okay. This is my uncle Fitzgerald Flannigan. Fitzgerald, this is Charlie. She’s a guest here at LaVeau Manor.”
Charlie looked him up and down and then smiled. “Good afternoon.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He leaned forward with a little bow.
“I didn’t know you would have any more guests,” she said.
I frowned. “Well, it is a bed-and-breakfast.” What did she expect?
She waved her hand. “Of course, how silly of me.”
Okay, now I knew she was just putting on an act. “If you’ll excuse us, I’m showing him to his room.”
She smiled. “Of course. I’m going to my room too.”
I still had the book under my arm and that was making me nervous. Before anyone had a chance to take it from me, I had to get it locked away soon. We trailed up the staircase with me leading the way.
Each step of the elaborate staircase was steep, narrow and creaked ominously under my feet. We reached the top of the stairs at the second floor. I decided to put Fitzgerald in the room at the end of the hall across from Charlie.
Charlie smiled as she walked by and toward her room. “It was nice to meet you, Fitzgerald.”
“Likewise, young lady.” He blew her a little kiss.
I needed to tell him that she was not a normal guest. And he certainly needed to tone down the flirting. But that would have to come later.
I opened the door to the room and gestured for my uncle to step inside. The room had a white iron bed situated in the middle. It was covered by a blue and white quilt. There were white end tables on each side with matching lamps. The sun flooded the room from the two windows on the far wall, letting in ample light.
“This will be just fine,” he said as he pushed down on the mattress.
“Do you have luggage?” I hadn’t even thought about that until now.
He sat on the bed and bounced a couple times. “Oh yes, I left it on the porch. I’ll go down there and get it.”
I waved my hand. “I can get it for you. In the meantime, there are towels in the bathroom. Just let me know if you need anything else. I hate to run, but my mother is expecting me at her shop. I’ll be leaving in the next thirty minutes.”
Fitzgerald stretched out on the bed, folding his hands behind his head. “Yes, please do whatever you need to. I’ll be just fine. I’ll probably take a little nap.”
“Do you need anything else?” I asked.
“Nothing at all. Everything is as perfect as a witch’s hat on Halloween night.”
I shook my head and stepped out into the hallway. He followed me like an excited two-year-old. Just then Charlie emerged from her room and moved down the hallway toward us. She was looking right at us. More so at Fitzgerald than me. For a split second I thought her eyes
glowed green, almost as if she was casting a spell. Why would she do that? Surely I had imagined it. However, I wondered what she truly wanted now. She was bound to be up to something. The sooner I got her out of my life the better off I’d be.
I focused my attention on my uncle again. “As I was saying, do you need anything else?”
Fitzgerald looked toward Charlie and then back at me again. “You know, now that I think of it I could use a ride into town.”
Charlie was right behind me now. “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to interfere in your private conversation, but I’m going into town. I can give your uncle a ride.”
I forced a smile. “That won’t be necessary. I am going into town right now.”
Uncle Fitzgerald waved his hand. “Nonsense, I don’t want to trouble you. I know you are late to the shop. I can ride with Charlie.”
I looked from Fitzgerald to Charlie. “It’s no trouble.”
“I insist that I ride with this nice young lady.”
Why didn’t he want to ride with me? Had he heard that my driving was bad? This was odd.
“Are you ready to go?” Charlie asked with a huge smile.
Uncle Fitzgerald walked past me and Charlie looped her arm through his.
“I’ll just set my bag downstairs until I come back, if that’s okay,” he said. “I don’t want to make an extra trip up the stairs right now.”
Charlie waved her hand. “That will be fine with Hallie, right?”
I smiled. “Yes, of course.”
Since when did she tell me what would be fine? Of course it was fine, but she didn’t know that. I followed the pair down the steps and to the front door. Charlie swung open the massive mahogany door as if she owned the place.
“I’ll see you later, dear,” Fitzgerald said as he walked out the door.
They drove away in Charlie’s white Toyota Camry. All I could do was watch. She drove through the gates of LaVeau Manor and turned onto the street. Next they were out of sight. The pair seemed like old friends rather than a couple who had just met. I wondered what they would do once they reached town. Regardless, I needed to go there myself.
I still had the book under my arm, so I hurried up the steps to my room so that I could lock it away. Once I’d placed the book in the trunk, I hopped in the shower and then slipped into a pair of jeans and a green sweater. I put on the brown high-heeled boots my mother had given me last year and grabbed my purse.
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