* * *
A black station wagon pulled up and the driver honked the horn. They all walked outside to see a thirty-something blonde exit the vehicle. She clucked her tongue at Wendy, Mona and Holly. “You had me so worried girls,” she said with a shake of her finger.
“We wanted to have some Halloween fun,” Wendy said.
“We stayed with Bonnie Hopkins.” Mona smiled. “She thinks we’re her cousins.”
“So you’re not?” Petunia asked in shock.
“No. We actually were looking for Maxine Patterson.”
“My Aunt Maxine?”
“We heard she’s a real blast to be around,” Holly said. “We didn’t quite know what to do when Bonnie thought we were her long-lost cousins. We don’t look a bit like them from the photo she showed us.”
“So if none of you have a wand, how were you able to make the costumes magical?” Petunia asked.
“It’s a spell our grandmother showed us,” Wendy explained.
The blonde shook her head at them. “I should have known. I’m overprotective of my girls, but I know how hard it truly is to live in the world when you’re a witch.”
“You can’t stifle your daughters,” Aunt Maxine said. “They need to learn how to be proper witches, and that means learning how to use their wands.”
Petunia didn’t see a wart on their mother’s nose. “I thought your daughters put a wart on your nose?”
“They did,” the blonde said, “but fortunately my girls used my wand, so I was able to undo the damage.”
“You’re not alone in making mistakes,” Petunia admitted. “I make potions that misfire at times. My hair tonic makes men lose their hair instead of growing it. And I don’t own a wand. I borrowed this one from Hazel.”
“It appears all of these young witches have a lot to learn,” their mother said. “When we get home I promise to allow your grandmother to show you how to use your wands properly girls.”
“And hopefully only in a good way,” Petunia added with a smile.
Pansy dug his claws into Petunia’s shoulder as they waved goodbye to Wendy, Mona Holly, and their mother. “No need to worry about them now. They’re long gone,” Petunia said to Pansy.
“Hey since when are you calling Hazel’s wand mine?” Petunia asked.
“Since I gave you the wand,” Hazel said. “I think it’s about time you learned to use it.”
“I think it’s a better idea if Aunt Maxine locks it up for me,” Petunia said. “That thing is dangerous!”
Chapter 14
The maid led Noah and Petunia into the entranceway of the mayor’s house, where Bonnie greeted them the next morning. “I’m so glad you two dropped by.” She stared down at Pansy in Petunia’s arms. “And you, too, Pansy. It seems that I overslept this morning. My cousins called earlier to apologize for leaving town without saying goodbye. Unfortunately, they took the costumes with them. Now I’ll never know if they were truly enchanted.”
“I see you don’t sport green polka dots now,” Petunia said.
“Thankfully not! I can’t imagine what people would think. I almost feel as if I dreamed the whole thing. I mean, how could my cousins be witches?”
“What makes you think they were witches?” Noah asked.
“I can’t quite put my finger on it, but strange things happened while they were here.”
“Yes like chasing me and putting me into a sack!” Pansy said.
“What kind of things?” Petunia asked, ignoring Pansy for the moment.
“Well, my Dobermans have been very quiet. Why, I don’t think I’ve heard a peep out of them.”
“Really?” Petunia walked outside and the dogs barked viciously as they ran toward her.
Noah quickly pulled Petunia back inside ... and into his arms. “Are you okay?”
“No, you’re squishing me, lughead,” Pansy whimpered as he was mashed between the couple.
Noah shook his head as he glanced down at Pansy. “I have a feeling Pansy will always be between us.” He laughed as he relaxed his hug.
“I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you,” Bonnie said. “I have a feeling Petunia has plenty of room in her heart just for you.”
Petunia smiled as she gave Noah a quick kiss, leaning into him for another well-deserved hug. She was happy that Noah was such a great sport when it came to all the magical happenings in town.
“Apparently the owners of Forgotten Relics stole most of their inventory,” Bonnie said. “Clinton County is picking them up today. And a wrecker picked up the store on wheels.”
“I must have been a fool to allow them to park here in Lake Forest,” Mayor Hopkins said as he joined the group. “I thought they’d add something to the festival.”
“What do you make of the first Festival of Witches?” Petunia asked.
“From what I witnessed, everyone had a great time, but next year we’ll make a few modifications. I’m sorry that I insisted the witches in Lake Forest take part in the festivities at the corn maze. I wonder if it’s possible for Cora to visit her sister next year.” The mayor laughed. “She was here this morning claiming she was locked in a closet at city hall. I think I talked her out of a lawsuit.”
Petunia and Noah laughed as Bonnie walked them to the door. “Mum’s the word.” She winked.
“At least the mayor didn’t blame the witches in town for locking Cora away,” Noah said.
“And it seems that Aunt Maxine’s potion wasn’t long-acting.”
“Agreed! It’s safe to say Cora is the same ole ornery neighbor we’ve come to love.” He winked.
Petunia beamed. “I can’t wait to see what happens next year.”
“Meow,” Pansy agreed.
About the Author
http://madisonjohns.com
USA Today Bestseller Madison Johns is known for her Agnes Barton Senior sleuths mystery series, featuring lively and zany senior citizen detectives Agnes Barton and Eleanor Mason. Her time working at a nursing home was all the inspiration she needed to portray realistic characters that readers have gone on to love. Her first book, “Armed and Outrageous,” solidified her in the publishing world, and her series has been well received.
Madison’s aim was simple: She wanted to change how the world views senior citizens. You could take a stroll through her neighborhood in mid-Michigan, where some of the liveliest seniors live, to know she wasn’t far off the mark. She knew if she used what she had learned while caring for seniors it would result in something unique.
She now works full time from home as a writer, where she continues to write cozy mysteries and romances. She also writes historical romances under the name Clara Kincaid.
Visit her on the web at http:/www.madisonJohns.com. Sign up for Madison's mystery newsletter list to receive new release alerts at http://eepurl.com/4kFsH.
madisonjohns.com
madisonjohnswriter@gmail.com
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