I tried to sound matter of fact. “Do you know somewhere that I could go to purchase a few essential items this evening? Discreetly?”
“You bet your ass.” Autumn laughed. “I’ll come and pick you up in five minutes.”
“I’ll have to br—”
“Bring Willow along,” Autumn said, cutting me off. “It’ll be fine. Trust me.”
She ended the call and I stood there, blinking at the phone.
CHAPTER SEVEN
I hadn’t known that the Bishop family owned a store. Enchantments was situated on Main Street, next door to the O’Connell’s flower shop, and two doors down from Candice’s bakery. I’d seen the store, of course, but had assumed it was a quaint, artsy boutique. I’d never even realized it was a magick shop.
We parked out front and I found myself checking out the store as we walked to the entrance. I could see Ivy working behind the counter through the windows and, thinking back to the words we’d exchanged at the bridal shower, wished it would have been anyone else. I told myself to suck it up. Things would only be awkward with my gothic cousin if I chose to make them so.
“Oh, pretty!” Willow breathed as we entered the store.
Enchantments truly was. Shelves filled with books ran along a far wall. The other walls were exposed brick, and the floors were done in gleaming old wood. A small tabletop fountain bubbled on a central display and surrounding it were numerous dishes of tumbled stones. The shop smelled pleasantly of herbs, incense, and candles.
“Hello,” Ivy called cheerfully, moving out from behind the counter. She was wearing a long flowing dress in shades of purple and black, and heavy black boots. She looked exactly like she was, a modern, confident Witch.
“Ivy.” I nodded.
Ivy smiled and purposefully directed her attention to Willow. “Hey munchkin, you want to come with me to Charming Cakepops before they close and see if Candice has any cookies left?”
“Yes!” Willow bounced up and down. “Can I, Mama? Please, can I?”
Ivy and Autumn had set it up so I could get the supplies I needed without Willow being any the wiser. “Sure,” I said. “Behave yourself for your cousin Ivy.”
Ivy took Willow’s hand. “Maggie, I selected a few items I thought you might find useful.” Ivy tipped her head toward a basket resting on the counter.
“Thank you,” I inclined my head in acknowledgement.
“Be back in fifteen,” Ivy said, and with a smile she and Willow headed a few doors down the street to the bakery.
Autumn went directly to the basket. “Let’s see what Ivy pulled for you.”
I joined her at the counter and eyeballed the contents of the basket. Most of which I recognized. “I see several chunks of black tourmaline crystal.” There were small packages of dried herbs. “Hyssop and angelica,” I said, reading the labels.
“Both are very protective herbs.” Autumn held up a third plastic bag. “Sea salt. This comes in handy for cleansing.”
I nodded. “I remember.”
Autumn lifted up a package of incense. “Dragon’s blood resin. Good choice for self-defense.”
I pursed my lips as I thought it over. “Agreed, but if y’all don’t mind, I’d prefer sandalwood, actually.”
Autumn went directly to a display of incenses. “Stick or cone type?”
“I favor the stick variety.”
“Do you have an incense burner?” Autumn asked.
“No,” I admitted. “Autumn, I haven’t practiced since I was a teenager. I have literally no magickal supplies in my house.”
Autumn selected a simple wooden burner decorated with a sun and moon. “How’s this?”
“That’s fine.” I nodded, going back to the shopping basket Ivy had started. I pulled a handful of small black candles out and set them on the counter. “I’d rather not use black candles. They remind me too much of the magick my mother used to do.”
“Don’t tell me, let me guess. Patricia only used black candles?”
I grimaced. “That would be correct.”
Autumn rolled her eyes. “That is so 1980’s.”
“Well, that literally was the time period, darlin’,” I said, straight faced.
Autumn snorted out a laugh, motioning me over to a large display of mini tapers. “You can use purple candles for protection instead. Or you can use gray to neutralize negativity.”
I joined her and considered the display of different colored candles. “I don’t know. I need to be subtle around Willow. She sees an awful lot for a four-year-old.”
Autumn grinned. “She’s an intuitive. Like you are.”
“You think so? I’ haven’t noticed anything overt as of yet.”
“Trust me.” Autumn gave me a friendly elbow jab.
“I do trust you,” I said softly. “Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
Autumn gave me a one-armed hug. “That’s the nicest thing you could’ve said to me.”
Her words immediately made me feel ungracious. “I should apologize to y’all.”
Autumn shrugged. “Whatever for?”
“It’s just that,” I began, “I swore to put the dark arts firmly behind me. And yet here I am buying occult supplies, and gearing up to practice again.” I sighed, feeling defeated.
“First off,” Autumn said. “You need to stop referring to magick as the ‘dark arts.’ Magick is a beautiful, joyous thing.”
“How can I make you understand?” I said. “In the house where I grew up it was the dark arts. There was nothing positive or joyous about it.”
“But it was for you.” Autumn’s words hit me like a ton of bricks.
“Well, I—”
“You’re so hard on yourself, Maggie. It hurts my heart knowing what it was like for you as a child. But yet, you’ve become a successful business woman, a good mother, and a loyal friend.”
“How do you know that I’m loyal?”
Autumn selected a large package of white tea light candles. “Because you’ve kept Julian and Holly’s secret.” Autumn held out the package. “I saw your memories of spotting them in the gardens, when I read you.”
I took the package of candles. “Do you have any candle holders for tea lights?” I asked, attempting to change the subject.
“See?” Autumn raised her brow. “Loyalty. You won’t even confirm that I spoke about it.”
I silently perused a display of scented votive candles. I chose a creamy white, found it to be vanilla scented, and
