by Tonya Kappes
In other news, be sure to lock your doors. Sheriff Lance and Sheriff Park are still on the lookout for the person who ransacked and stole potions from A Charming Cure. If your gift is telling you any details or if you saw something out of place the night of the break-in, please contact the Whispering Falls’ Sheriff Department.
Be sure to stop by Glorybee Pet Shop to take advantage of the 25% off food for your beloved pets and hair care needs. Remember to have a spiritual day!
The last line of the Whispering Falls Gazette was barely over when the door flung open; Aunt Helena and Eloise shoving each other out of the way to see who could get in first.
“She’s my niece!” Aunt Helena raised a finger to Eloise, her eyes staring down it.
I rushed over and pulled it out of the air. Her finger was powerful.
“I just got this place put back together.” I huffed and tugged on the tablecloth on one of the display tables next to us.
I didn’t have time to wash all the ones that were soaked from the all the broken lotions and cures so I had to dig deep in the storage room for the old ones Darla had used. They were a little musty, but it wasn’t anything a few sprits of air freshener wouldn’t take care of. I had hoped the wrinkles would fall out, but they didn’t.
“You need new coverings.” Aunt Helena walked around the shop, touching each table and taking out all the wrinkles.
“Enough of this chit-chat,” Eloise said softly, her eyes narrowing. “I’m. . .”
Ahem, Aunt Helena cleared her throat and drummed her fingers together.
“We,” Eloise emphasized we, “are thrilled you and Oscar have agreed to get married on All Hallows Eve since everyone will be here for the festivities, but we are concerned about KJ.”
“Not that he isn’t capable, but he’s a Native American spiritualist and you are not.” Aunt Helena couldn’t keep her mouth shut long enough for Eloise to get it out. “We,” she gestured between the two, “were hoping you would have the Marys do it since it’s sort of a royal affair for our families.”
“I appreciate all your concern and we,” I emphasized we like Eloise did. “Oscar and I are very happy with our choice. Now,” I rushed back to the bubbling cauldron and turned it down.
I ran my finger down the line of potion bottles that were empty and lightly touched each one until the clear cracked liter bottle lit up; which meant it was the perfect bottle for the stress free lotion I was making—minus Darla’s wisteria vine oil.
“If you two will excuse me, Faith is going to run the shop while I run some errands.” I dipped the ladle into the cauldron and scooped up the yellow mixture, pouring it into the bottle. The yellow liquid turned creamy white as it dripped down into the bottle turning into the lotion.
I grabbed my bag off the chair and stuck the bottle and Madame Torres inside.
“Oscar and I will let you know if we need anything.” My brows lifted when I passed them.
“June!” Aunt Helena’s voice boomed out, catching my attention. We faced each other. She stuck her hand in her cloak and pulled out a white lace dress. “Since the date is set, I thought you might want this.”
“Is that?” I didn’t need to ask whom it belonged to. My eyes teared up, my throat dried. I tried to swallow back the lump in my throat. I ran my finger over my engagement ring. My heart warmed. “I had no idea you had Darla’s dress.”
“I’ve been waiting until you had a date.” She held it out from the hanger.
The ivory cream lace dress was going to be perfect. The ivory lace material lay perfect over the cream silk sheath underneath. The long lace ivory sleeves would be perfect for the cool night weather on All Hallows Eve.
I reached out and ran my hand along the silk collar that ended in the back in a petite silk stiff bow. The zipper up the back ended in keyhole hook and eye closure.
“It’s perfect.” I even loved the knee length. “Mom was stylish even then.” I was afraid to get too close in fear my tears would stain the beautiful dress.
“You are going to look so beautiful.” Eloise clasped her hands in front of her face. Her lids were lined with tears. Even Aunt Helena looked choked up.
“Do you mind keeping it until the day because I don’t want Oscar to see it.” I couldn’t stop smiling.
Even though I knew our wedding was far from a traditional wedding, I still wanted to hold some of the tradition I had grown up thinking I was going to have as part of my wedding. The dress was a good place to start.
“I’m sorry you don’t believe KJ will be the best fit for our wedding,” I put my hands out and with each one took ahold of their hands. “Oscar and I know what we want. And we love KJ like family. He is going to do an amazing job.” I squeezed before I let them go and rushed out of the shop.
Chapter Nineteen
On my way out of the shop, I grabbed a section from the wisteria vine and rushed up the hill and jumped into the Green Machine. I had stuck everything in my bag, including some extra smudge sticks, the Magical Cures Book and the clear crackle bottle with the lotion I had made.
KJ had told me to visit the cemetery and that was exactly what I was going to do. Maybe my dream wasn’t just a dream of stress, wishing they were here to be with me during the wedding. KJ had put hope in my soul that my parents were trying to get in touch with me from the great beyond.
The cemetery was on spiritual land between Locust Grove and Whispering Falls. No one would know about it unless you were a spiritualist. When Darla had died, it was in her will for her to be buried there. Since we kept to ourselves in Locust Grove, no one but Mac McGurtle and Oscar and his uncle attended the funeral. I never questioned any of Darla’s arrangements because I was so distraught at the time—I was in automatic mode.
I pulled off the road into the clearing and got out of the car. The wind blew and the trees parted, making a clear path to the hidden gravesite. There was a black wrought-iron fence around the perimeter of the cemetery with pointy spikes on each stake. A gargoyle sat atop each spike as though it would take off if something were amiss.
I pushed the old gate open but not without a squeak from the hinges. A hoot owl made his presence known from atop the centuries old tree in the middle of the graveyard. The old stones were dotted around the land. Some had moss growing or dangling from them. Most were covered in fresh flowers. Darla and Dad were located in the far right corner of the graveyard. When the wind blew just right, there was a clear view of Whispering Falls to the right and a clear view of Locust Grove on the left.
I’m sure Darla and Dad had picked this spot because they knew I would be living my life between the two towns. They were way wiser about my life than I had been. There was something comforting knowing they could see me wherever I was.
I tiptoed around and over some of the graves to get to Darla and Dad. I didn’t want to walk on anyone because it was bad luck and I didn’t need any more of that in my life.
Their stone was two round rings intertwined. Their names were chiseled on each of their sides without any dates. When I first saw what Darla had picked out, I thought it was strange she didn’t want the dates of birth and of death on there. Now I saw why. The epitaph on their stone read Eternal life together is never ending.
I ran my hand around the circles and brushed off the debris.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been here in a while.” I felt like I needed to talk to them. I sat down cross-legged like I had in my dream and glanced over to the side where my dad had sat in my dream. The space was empty. “There is so much going on. I found out you two played a major hand in my relationship with Oscar.” I bit my lip to hold back tears. “Thank you. He is perfect for me and my life. I’m excited to let you know we are going to get married on All Hallows Eve.” A warm sensation flowed through my veins, making me believe they were with me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
When I opened them, I looked in the open space next to me and Mr. Prince Charming was sitting there staring at the stones like my dad had done in
my dream.
“How did you know where I was?” I scratched the top of his head. “I thought I got rid of you today,” I teased. “Did Petunia not give you enough treats?”
He jumped up and ran to Darla and Dad’s tombstone, before jumping up in the circle on Dad’s side. He brought his paw up to his face and ran it over his eyes before he started to lick and clean himself.
“Anyway, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what is going on in my life and the craziness of the deal I made with Head To Toe Works.”
I took my bag off from around my body and sat it in front of me. I took out Madame Torres and sat her in front of me. She appeared in the globe with a white turban on her head and a big cross in the middle. I took out the vine and sat it next to me along with the Magical Cures Book.
“I can’t believe someone broke into the shop and stole the bottle of wisteria vine oil.” I picked up the vine and twirled it in my fingers hoping to get some sense of what I needed to do through my intuition. “KJ said I should come here and seek the answers to my problem. Without the bottle, I’m not sure how to get more oil.”
The bottles in A Charming Cure were magical and something I couldn’t explain. When they were getting low in the ingredients it held, it automatically filled up. If the bottle broke, I was able to get the ingredients, but not this.
“Open the book,” Madame Torres floated in a grey pool of water. The waves sloshed up against her face.
As always, I opened the book to the page it was supposed to open to—this time, the recipe for Darla’s stress free homeopathic cure. All the ingredients I had put in the lotions were listed; 250 ml (1 cup) of rosewater (or filtered water, or herbal tea), 1 tsp vegetable glycerine, 175 ml (2/3 cup) sunflower oil, 75g (4.5 Tb) coconut oil, 25g. (1/4 cup) beeswax, 20 drops geranium essential oil, 20 drops lavender essential oil, 10 drops patchouli essential oil. Nothing different.
“Lay the vine on the page.” Madame Torres’s voice was steady, demanding.
I did what she said. The flowers on the vine blew in the wind. The tendrils on the vine glowed a bright green.
“The tendrils.” The confirmation that the oils Darla used were in the tendrils flooded my intuition. “Ouch!” I grabbed my wrist and looked down. The liquid was bubbling in the bottle. “Why is it bubbling?” I asked Madame Torres.
Her glass globe glowed with red fire. Her face was gone, but her eyes were lit up with blue streaks flashing through them like bits of lightning. Her globe began to bubble, coming to a rolling boil. Before my eyes, the potion bottle on my charm bracelet burst and sprayed all over the Magical Cures Book.
The words on the page burst out like fireworks. Explosions of letters and words shot in the air, slowly falling down back into the book. Like magic, the Magical Cures Book had transformed. The words were no longer written in Darla’s handwriting, but more like calligraphy, fancy writing with potion words only a spiritualist would know.
Mewl, mewl. Mr. Prince Charming howled with his head to the gypsy moon that had covered the cemetery in the broad daylight. The pages of the book flipped fast until the cover shut itself. The moon retreated, Madame Torres’s ball went blank, and Mr. Prince Charming was gone. Everything had gone back to normal.
I gathered my stuff and carefully put it all back in my bag. I stood in front of my parents’ grave. The sun glittered down on the cemetery illuminating each tomb with a radiant glow.
“I thought you might be here.” My heart sang with delight when I heard Oscar’s voice behind me. “I called the shop and Faith said you took off but not without grabbing all sorts of stuff.”
“I’m glad you found me,” I gushed and wrapped my arms around him. “Even from the grave, Darla gave me the secret.” I patted my bag that was resting on the side of my body. “The oil comes from the tendrils of the stem and Madame Torres gave me the instructions exactly like she was supposed to.”
“And that surprises you?” he asked.
“Yes.” I cackled. “She never really does what I need her to do without a hassle.”
“Did you talk to them?” He nodded toward the stone.
“I did.” Oscar’s presence gave me a joy that burrowed deep within me.
Oscar withdrew his arms from around me and bent down on one knee, facing my dad’s grave.
“Mr. Heal,” Oscar nervously cleared his throat.
“Oscar?” I put my hand on his shoulder. “What are you doing?”
He looked up at me. His gaze was as soft as his touch.
“Mr. Heal, I would like to ask you for your daughter’s hand in marriage.” His words made my heart ache. My stomach flipped and flopped. “I, we, understand you and my parents really wanted us to get married, but there was no need for you to worry. June is and always has been my first love. She has been my best friend for as long as I have had a memory. There is nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life next to my best friend. I will keep her warm and safe and forever take care of her.”
He stood up and held both my hands up to his lips, kissing both. His eyes scanned me critically and beamed approval when I smiled, blinking a tear from my eye.
“I know I should’ve done this a long time ago when I asked you, but I didn’t know how to get you here.” His words were soft spoken and calculated. “June, you have unlocked my heart and soul. I give you my all and am so proud to have you by my side the rest of our lives and call you my wife.”
In an instant, the sun beamed down like a flashlight on my parents’ stone, the grass around them illuminated greener than the rest of the cemetery, Darla’s drowsy daisies popped up in a circle around me and Oscar.
“I guess they approve.” He pulled me close to him, softly his breath fanned my face, “I love you, June Heal.”
Chapter Twenty
My upcoming wedding to Oscar should’ve been the first thing on my mind and I was so filled with happiness about how he had shown up at the cemetery and properly asked for my hand in marriage. The response of Mother Earth was a sure sign my parents knew what was going on and were happy for the union.
It should be enough for me to move on, but I knew and my gut told me I couldn’t be completely happy without trying to figure out who stole my wisteria vine oil, who killed Burt Rossen, and why.
Oscar was so happy after he proposed again, that I didn’t bother telling him about my plan to go to Mac’s and pick the bartender’s brain about Burt and Tiffany. If Burt had a real hot temper, maybe someone saw it. I understood my product was costing them a little more money and it was a source of stress between them, but not enough to kill.
Oscar decided to go back to Locust Grove police station to interview more employees and I decided to go back to Whispering Falls so I could not only put the finishing touches on the stress free lotion with the new extraction technique, but it was also a top priority to get the Magical Cures Book back in a safe place. With everything going on, I was still excited to open the book and see what new magical potions had been revealed.
The wooden sign on the way into town read, “Welcome to Whispering Falls, A Charming Village.” It put a smile on my face and the memory of the first time I had seen it on my first trip to Whispering Falls. All the firsts were flooding my mind. No doubt due to the sentimentality of my upcoming nuptials.
The sidewalks were filled with tourists milling in and out of the shops. Bella stood outside her cream cottage shop. The pink door was a standout from the other shop doors. Not because of the color, all the shops had very colorful gates and entrances only adding to the magical feel of our village. The pink door of Bella’s Baubles had the most spectacular jewels imbedded throughout and glistened when the sun or the moon touched it.
I waved when I drove past. There was an empty parking space in front of Magical Moments so I parked there.
“Hello!” I waved to Bella on my way over to talk to her. I held my hand up in the air. She would be so interested in knowing what the liquid from the charm really meant.
“I hear you have se
t a date,” she said, breaking into a wide-open smile exposing the gap between her teeth.
“Oh, Bella,” I gushed. “You wouldn’t believe what happened today.”
“I also heard about the deal falling through.” Her face melted into a frown.
“Oh gosh, I’m not worried about that.” I hope my pretense of non-concern fooled her. “But Oscar.” I crossed my hands over my heart. “He found me at the cemetery and he asked my dad for my hand in marriage.”
“Your dad?” She drew back and instantly became wide awake.
“My parents’ grave. And he was so sweet. It was magical.” I happily sighed and ran my hand over my hair. My bracelet jingled, reminding me of the charm. “And the charm with your Red Devil Smoking Hot incense,” I held my arm out in front of me and wagged it side-to-side. “The liquid exploded into the air and all over my Magical Cures Book Darla left me. It was amazing. All the old words completely disappeared and new, real potions not written in Darla’s handwriting flew on the pages. The harm to none was right. It’s given me so many new ideas to help people out.”
The heavy lashes that had created a shadow flew open.
“I couldn’t believe it.” I shook my head. “I have all new potions to try and customers are going to be so happy. Plus I know how Darla extracted the oil from the wisteria vine.”
“All in all, it sounds like you have had a fantastic day.” She and I both stepped to the side when a tourist walked up the steps of her shop and entered. “I must go. I’m thinking a diamond is going to sell.” Her brows cocked.
The planters hanging on the carriage lights had been changed since this morning. Arabella must have used her magic touch to add in the purple aster with the yellow center, yellow moonshine, and the purple fountain grass. The colorful creations put a skip in my step. All of Whispering Falls was buzzing with tourists and A Charming Cure was not different.
