A Charming Potion by Tonya Kappes Read Free Book Online

boy that
was dressed as a zombie.
    “Move over.” Constance Karima came out of nowhere
and gave Oscar the booty bump. She whipped out her stethoscope. Patience was
right on her heels with a note pad and pen, at the ready to write something
down.
    “Mommy! Mommy!” The kid ran away screaming.
    “Nope, not near dead at all.” Constance looked at
Patience and shook her head.
    They both stopped and gave Oscar and me the stink
eye.
    “Happy Halloween, sisters,” Oscar waved their way,
but I didn’t say a word. I already knew their feelings, and getting to Mr.
Prince Charming was way more important at this time.
    Besides, no matter how much I try to convince them
that I wasn’t saving every soul on the planet, they still wouldn’t listen.
    “Happy Halloween.” Gerald Reguila trotted down the
street with his top hat firmly planted on his head.
    He looked like he was headed in the direction of
Golly Bee Pet Shop, the exact place I knew I was going to find Mr. Prince
Charming.
    “It’s a beautiful Halloween night.” The crisp night
air whiffed of apple crisp and pumpkin pie as it floated down the street from
The Gathering Grove, where Gerald serves the delicious goodies from Raven’s
Wicked Good Shop.
    “Nice night, indeed.” He twirled the edges of his
grey mustache, and then pushed his round glass back on his nose. “Are you
headed inside?” He held the door open for us.
    “We are.”
    “June! Wait!” Raven came running up behind us. Her
black hair was still pulled up in the high ponytail and her apron was covered
in flour.
    I motioned for Gerald and Oscar to go ahead.
    “What’s going on?” My nose wrinkled with curiosity
on her sudden need to talk to me.
    “I…um…need to tell you something.” She gazed over my
shoulder and nodded. “I know it’s against the rules to read another
spiritualist, but there is a woman who won’t leave me alone.”
    I bounced from foot to foot trying to keep the
excitement contained, and then fear struck me.
    “She wanted to validate that she was there when you
were having your little break-down at the shop earlier, but Belle and Oscar was
there and I wasn’t sure what to do” She bit the edges of her lips. “She claims
to be your mom. She even told me a story about how Oscar used to step on her
homeopathic plants that she left underneath every single window in your house.”
    I turned away and covered my mouth. I didn’t want
Raven or the rest of Whispering Falls see me fall apart…yet again.
    “Are you okay?” Raven put her hand on my forearm,
bringing my hand away from my mouth.
    “I’ve always dreamed she’d come to me.” I looked
left to right, trying to see if I could feel her.
    “She’s not here now, but she wants to tell you
something.”
    “What?” Instantly my stomach knotted like a big ole
dump of worry was left there.
    “I’m not sure.” She looked around, and then leaned
in closer, as if she didn’t want anyone to hear us. “Are you giving me
permission to call her back?”
    More than ever, I wanted to talk to Darla again.
    “Yes,” I assured her.
    “Fine. Meet me Eloise’s house tomorrow after work.”
She rushed off, leaving a trail of flour dust behind her.
    It only made sense that Darla would want Eloise
there; they were best friends.
    I clasped my hands under my chin and let out a little
prayer. I wasn’t sure, but I felt like my face was shining like all the lights
in the pumpkins that were surrounding Whispering Falls.
    I was going to keep my little secret, even from
Oscar. It was special feeling that Darla had sought me out.
    “Are you coming?” Oscar peeked out of Golly Bee.
    “On my way.” I smiled and held onto the amazing
feeling that I might be connected with my mom in just twenty-four hours.
    I walked in and instantly heard Mr. Prince Charming
before I saw him.
    Mewwwwl, mewwwwl.
    “Mr. Prince Charming?” I held my hand over my mouth.
He was lying on the floor, his long tail waving back and forth, but his