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“How long did you know your fiancé?”
“This may come as a shock to you.” She pushed a strand of hair from her eyes and blushed. “I fell in love with Paul soon after I laid eyes on him behind the counter in his mother’s general store. He was helping out in a family crisis.”
“It doesn’t surprise me at all.” He had a better understanding of the old adagelove at first sightnow more than ever. “I’ll find an answer to my problem. You go off and celebrate. Don’t give it a second thought.”
****
Jon would find a way to end the madness. Failure and defeat weren’t part of his language. There was hope.
After a few hours of going over a difficult discrimination case for a client, he made his way into the kitchen. Since he’d let most of the help go after his mother’s illness, he’d learned to cook quite well. A crock pot was his ideal solution. He had placed a whole chicken, carrots, potatoes, celery, onions, and parsley in it earlier that morning. The aroma filled the room. Nutrition came first in battling the demons he’d carried for so long. He’d love to prepare a meal for Krista and dine by candlelight. In a moment, his eyes had opened to life’s possibilities.
After he finished in the kitchen, he went into his office, closed the door, and picked up the phone. If he waited too long, he might miss an opportunity.
His call was answered on the first ring, and he hoped he wasn’t disturbing the ailing woman. “I’d like to speak to Monique, please.”
“This is Monique. How can I help you?” Her voice sounded weak, and he hoped it wasn’t an inconvenient time.
“Freya Meyer is a friend of mine, and she gave me your number. I’m sorry if I’ve called at a bad time.”
“It’s fine, young man. How can I be of service?” The hoarseness in her voice and the shaky tone led him to believe she might not be able to help.
“I have a delicate matter to discuss with you. I hesitate to go into detail over the phone. Can I come over to speak with you in person?”
“Well, if Freya is a friend of yours, I’ll make an exception. I’m under the weather, but I’ll see you.”
If anyone had the answers, a seasoned member of the coven might be his only hope. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your offer.” He felt the blood rush to his head. An answer to his mother’s endless battle with being stuck between life and death may be over soon.
“Can you come over now? Today is one of my better days.”
Was his luck changing? “Yes, I can rearrange my schedule.” Jon scribbled down her address on his calendar before they hung up.
Once he gathered his thoughts, he went to his mother’s room to check on her. Relieved to find her still resting, he quietly strode over to draw the drapes and tiptoed out.
The short drive to Bartlett gave him a few minutes to enjoy his custom Jaguar. He drove past a restored covered bridge that housed a gift shop and admired its design. He’d missed out on the beauty of the area over the past few years. It was like seeing it for the first time.
With his windows open, he inhaled the soothing aroma of honeysuckle and reflected on the immense changes in his life. An unraveled frame of mind was not something a professional like himself wanted to display. When it came down to it, he was ready to move on with his life. Meeting Krista had reignited the fire in him to fight harder. A renewed sense of hope allowed him to continue the hunt.
Monique’s house sat back from the street. He parked in front of the red-shingled farmhouse with rows of daisies out front and hurried up the pebbled, winding walkway. The curtains moved and he saw a woman peek out of the window when he was about to ring the bell. The elderly woman opened the door and welcomed him inside. She reached into a pocket in her long, deep purple robe and took out a handkerchief, holding it in her hand.
“Follow me please.” Her soothing tone, combined with the scent of a jasmine candle, offered a tinge of hope.
He held on to a wish to reverse the maddening curse.
“I brewed a fresh pot of chamomile tea. Please join me in my parlor.”
“I’m grateful you agreed to speak with me. If you get tired, I’ll understand.” Defeat began to creep back in, but he’d fight it. He exhaled and stood his ground.
“No need to worry. I’m feeling good, but thank you for your concern.” The woman led him to a room filled with colorful pillows, floral arrangements, and a cage with a large black bird perched inside. “He’s a lovable creature named Herman.” She smiled.
It seemed odd to find a cage as large as a refrigerator in a parlor.
She sat and poured two cups of tea and patted the spot next to her. “Sit here.”
Jon joined her, and she handed him a cup of the warm beverage. As he sipped, the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach eased.
“Now, what is it I can do for you?” Monique asked.
“Freya Meyer is a friend of mine and she was about to help me, but she had to leave town.”
