Looking for Mr. Good Witch by Joyce and Jim Lavene Read Free Book Online Page A

it burst brightly into flame.
    â€œHow in the world did I do that?” She was as puzzled by it as the rest of us. She hadn’t been able to quick-start a candle in years.
    â€œYou are one hot mama.” Brian grinned as he came near her. “Good job, Elsie.”
    We were about to start the blessing when Aleese came downstairs. “What’s going on, Mother? I smelled the candles. Are you trying to burn the house down?”
    Aleese was a very nice, practical sort of accountant, whose husband had died, leaving her nothing. She’d moved in with Elsie to survive, and was nearly the spitting image of her mother years before, with her bright copper red curls and petite build. Only the eyes were different. Aleese had inherited her father’s brown eyes instead of her mother’s magical green eyes.
    â€œIt’s just a few candles,” Elsie told her. “Why are you home? I thought you’d be working.”
    â€œI wasn’t feeling well. I guess that’s why you felt free to bring your friends here instead of meeting them at that awful shop.”
    Elsie stopped smiling. “I felt free to bring my friends here because this is my home. Go back upstairs, Aleese. We won’t be long.”
    Instead of listening to her mother, Aleese kept coming until she’d reached the foyer. She looked at us as though we were specimens in a jar. “Mother, this isn’t a good idea.”
    Brian smiled and touched her, muttering a spell under his breath.
    Aleese stopped moving as she took on all the attributes ofa statue. It was an old spell, not difficult to do. Elsie had managed it on her own recently—mostly by accident, of course.
    But it was different since Brian had done it to her daughter. “What are you doing?” Elsie demanded. “Take that spell off her. She doesn’t know about magic. I’d like to keep it that way.”
    Brian shrugged. “Let’s get the protection spell done, and I’ll take it from her. I can’t handle any other family interference today. I guess it doesn’t matter if it’s from parents or kids. It’s just annoying.”
    â€œIs he talking about
me
?” Olivia demanded. “I’m not annoying. I’m just worried about Dorothy’s future. That’s all.”
    Elsie’s hands glowed red as she approached Brian. “Get that spell off my daughter now, punk.”
    â€œLook at that!” Dorothy was amazed at seeing Elsie use her magic so effectively. “I didn’t know that was possible.”
    â€œFire witches can be deadly,” Elsie hissed. “Brian, this is your last warning.”
    â€œOkay.” He touched Aleese and muttered the counter spell.
    Aleese moved as though she were sleepwalking. It would take a few minutes to get over the effects of the spell. “What happened? Why am I down here? Mother? W-what’s going on?”
    Elsie helped her daughter back upstairs, reassuring her that everything was fine despite her confusion.
    â€œI’m out of here,” Brian said. “This is stupid. I’m sorry, Dorothy. Can you catch a ride back with them?”
    Before Dorothy could answer, Brian walked out the door. He didn’t disappear as his parents had. The Corvette’s engine revved, and he was gone with a squeal of tires.
    â€œWhat happened?” Dorothy blinked away the tears that had gathered in her big brown eyes.
    â€œOh, he’ll be back,” Olivia said. “It’s just a tantrum.”
    I put my arm around Dorothy’s shoulders. “If you could wait another ten years to fall in love, it’s more likely that you’ll find a man mature enough to handle it. Brian is just having issues. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
    Elsie returned without Aleese. We whispered the protection spell and blessing on the house with the three of us holding hands. When it was over, Elsie decided to stay with Aleese until she made