The Hidden Grimoire by Karla Brandenburg (pride and prejudice read TXT) 📕

I sat cross-legged on the floor and sang the chorus of Soak Up The Sun, then transitioned into Here Comes the Sun. Apparently, I’d struck on a theme this evening. Walking on Sunshine followed naturally, and then I ended my impromptu concert.

“What are you making?” she asked.

“A candle. The smells make me happy.”

“Me, too. Can I make a candle?”

“Not tonight, sweetie.” I had to keep reminding myself Georgia was only three. Even I knew the gifts she exhibited were extraordinary. “How did you find me?”

“I closed my eyes and made a wish,” she said. “Mommy says dreams are wishes from your heart.”

Not at all what my mother had taught me about wishes, but I couldn’t argue with Georgia. While I sang a song from Cinderella about wishes, Georgia closed her eyes and faded away.

Should I go after her? Make sure she drifted comfortably to sleep? Guide her dreams. I looked for the grimoire on the worktable, wondering if it would help with my decision, but the only things there were what I’d laid out to make the candle.

I rose from the floor and finished pouring the candle. Eyes closed, I inhaled the scent, but my thoughts returned to Georgia and the way she’d sought me out. Tomorrow I’d call Nora to ask her what she knew about astral projection.

Ash jumped onto my lap. I stroked her silky fur while I waited for the candle to set. When my head became too heavy to support, I folded my arms on the worktable and cradled my forehead.

Dreams are wishes from your heart. Georgia had wished to see me. With Jason’s antagonistic attitude, the dreams might be the only way for me to reach Georgia.

My shoulder shook, or rather, someone shook my shoulder. I opened my eyes and straightened. Sun filtered through the blinds. I shivered against the chill in the room and looked for the man I knew was attached to the hand shaking me awake.

“I guess I fell asleep,” I said unnecessarily.

“I’m worried about you,” Kyle said.

“I knew the scents would soothe me, I just didn’t realize they’d work so well.” I gave him a smile and slipped off the stool to stand beside him. He was already dressed. “What time is it?”

“Eight o’clock.”

I yawned and stretched my arms over my head. “Then I’d better get moving.”

“Brynn...”

I slipped my arms around his waist. “I’m fine. I promise.”

He nodded, but the look on his face indicated he didn’t believe me. “I’ll see you when you open the store?”

“Ten o’clock, sharp.”

“Cassandra’s back today?”

No more unexpected visitors at the shop, or at least I wouldn’t have to deal with them alone if they did show up. “Yes, sir.”

He snorted. “You sure you’re okay?”

A finger of irritation tickled me. “I wish you’d quit asking me that.”

“I worry about you.”

I nodded. “I’ll see you at ten.”

He kissed me goodbye and left.

I checked the candle, melted the remainder of the wax to top off the depression around the wick and went upstairs to get showered and dressed.

When I returned to the workshop an hour later, one of the grimoires lay open to a recipe for a special order—an ordinary day in my house. Before I packed to leave for Windfall, I’d mixed three more special orders.

Cassandra had already opened the boutique when I arrived and was hanging new designs on the clothing racks.

“You’re going to make people think you’re eager to be back to work.” I took off my coat and opened Ash’s basket.

“Ya think?” Cassandra replied. “I love my family, and lord knows I’m going to miss my gran, but I’m so ready to get back to work.” She set her hands on her hips. “How have things been here?”

“About the same.” I headed to the backroom to put out Ash’s morning food. When I returned to the front, Cassandra was staring out the windows. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Getting used to the new order of things, you know?” She sighed. “Family changes, work changes.” She waved her hand around the boutique. “I still can’t get used to the new layout.”

“I was thinking the same thing earlier this week. It works, though.”

She smiled. “I don’t suppose we’ll know for sure until next summer, but I do love being able to show off my designs.” Cassandra met me behind the counter. “So fill me in. What have I missed the past few days?”

I put a finger to my chin and gave a dramatic tilt of my head as if pondering the question. “Let’s see. Kyle and I are still dating, the earth is still revolving, the trace of snow we got is melting...”

She laughed. “Okay, okay. I take it nothing major has happened, not that you’re one to indulge in idle gossip.”

“Got it in one.” I tapped my finger on one side of my nose and went for my tote to retrieve the candle I’d made last night.

“I can smell the candle from here. Nice,” Cassandra said.

“Soothing,” I added. “In fact, I’m still wrestling with myself about keeping it.”

“Didn’t Nora used to burn incense in the shop sometimes? Hey, if it relaxes customers enough to buy new clothes, I’m all for it.”

I’d missed this. Conversation. Company. A buffer from the townspeople. “Maybe I will light the candle,” I said. “Later.” I hitched myself onto a stool. “You want to talk about anything? The funeral? The family?”

Cassandra bowed her head. “Probably. But not yet. I mean, we knew she was near the end, but that doesn’t make it any easier. The stroke was such a shock, and then to have her go so quickly...”

I reached for her hand. “If there’s anything I can do.”

“That goes both ways. Kyle told me to try to talk you into finding a counselor for PTSD. Because of the fire?”

I blew out a breath, not happy he was trying to go around me. “I told him I’d consider it. I’m fine. If I’m not, I’ll look for help.” I told Cassandra about the nightlights in Kyle’s house. “In the dark, it looked