A Charmed Life (Halloween LaVeau Book 5) by Rose Pressey

will all work out.”
    It was kind of sad that everyone was always having to tell me not to worry, that things would work out. Why did I always find trouble?
     

Chapter 14
    “I’ll go get the weeds,” Nicolas said and walked out the door.
    We stared in silence as Nicolas walked over and picked weeds out of the planter.
    “This is a win-win for me,” my mother said. “We can find out what happens with the spell and I don’t have to look at their ugly weeds anymore.” My mother had a thing about weeds.
    Nicolas waited for a car to pass him so that he could cross the street. He stepped back into the shop with a handful of weeds. He placed them on the counter in front of my mother.
    My mother placed the weeds on the counter and then took the potion bottle from me. She poured the contents down into the bowl and over the top of the weeds. We stared, waiting for something to happen. I was nervous waiting to find out. I didn’t know what I would do or say to Cora if in fact she had poisoned Jolene. I’d never dealt with anything this serious before. And I hoped that I didn’t have to ever do it again.
    So far nothing had happened. “How long do you think this will take?” I asked.
    My mother shrugged. “I would think it would happen instantly. Maybe I need to add a little bit more.”
    I touched her arm. “Just be careful.”
    She poured a little bit more potion on top of the weeds, but still nothing happened.
    My mother moved the dish to see if that would make something happen. “I’m beginning to think that this stuff really isn’t poison.”
    Mixed emotions raced through my mind. Now I had no idea what had happened to Jolene. I was even more worried than ever that I had been responsible for Jolene’s predicament.
    “Apparently Cora is telling the truth,” Nicolas said.
    “So what happened to Jolene?” my mother asked.
    I still wasn’t prepared to tell her my thoughts. “Maybe we didn’t get the right potion. What if Cora had more than one?” I asked, trying to think of any excuse that would get me out of this quandary.
    “A very real possibility.” Nicolas cast a reassuring smile my way.
    Did he really mean that or was he just trying to make me feel better? Either way, it was sweet. I was glad to have the support of both Nicolas and Liam.
    “So then what happened?” my mother pressed.
    “After Jolene got the potion?” I asked.
    “Yes. What’s she doing now?”
    I sighed. “Well, understandably she’s upset. She went out for a walk. I’m not sure where she went, but I suppose she’ll be okay.”
    “Think positive. She’ll be fine,” Liam said.
    “I just don’t know how these things work.” It was about time I found out though. I picked up the potion bottle and put the top back on. “Thanks for helping. Are you guys up for a trip to an antique shop?”
    “I’m ready,” Nicolas said.
    “I’m game,” Liam added.
    “Well, I guess we’ll go to the shop and then back to the manor. I’ll let you know what I find out,” I said.
    My mother stared at me. “Is there something else on your mind? Why don’t you just tell me everything?”
    I shook my head. “There’s nothing to tell.”
    “I told you I can handle it,” my mother said.
    “I don’t think you can handle anything. You were swaying back and forth when you saw me and holding onto the counter. If I give you any bad news you’ll just fall over. It’ll be like you drank the bad potion.”
    She stiffened up and pinched her brow together in a frown. I recognized that look. She’d given it to me many times over the years. “I’m not happy,” she warned.
    Obviously she wouldn’t let this go until I told her everything.
    I sighed. “I guess I have been worried about something.”
    “About what?” she asked, pushing me for more answers.
    “What if I did it?” I rushed out the words.
    It wasn’t as if they weren’t thinking I was responsible for this disaster. Surely the thought had crossed their minds.
    She waved