8
Afew days later after recovering for my monumentally poor decision to tap into the heart of the town, I stopped into the shop of the Comey sisters, the most powerful witches in the town, and possibly the world. I promptly ran into a table, thankfully holding an extremely heavy planter, and banged my hip. With a wince and a hiss, I rubbed it and attempted to walk in a straight line over to the register, only to see a familiar broad back.
I was just about to turn on my heel and leave when my presence must have registered to him. He turned, stared for a moment, and his expression turned...odd. Wary almost. He stopped talking abruptly, put his wallet back into his pocket, and left the store.
I stared at his retreating back for awhile not sure if I should be pissed off or amused.
"Well, I should keep you around for the next time someone annoying comes in here," the woman at the register said.
"Ha. I'm pretty sure it's just the effect I have on him," I admitted.
The silver-haired woman gave me an appraising glance. "Perhaps," she said with a shrug. "How can I help you today?"
I looked around the store, but it was mostly empty. "I was wondering if you had something for clumsiness," I said, rapidly speaking as if I couldn't wait to get my secret shame out.
The woman tilted her head. "Mmm. Mind if I ask you some questions?"
"Guess not," I said. "If you think it would help, go for it."
"When is your clumsiness the worst?"
I thought about it. "When I'm nervous."
"Were you nervous walking in here?"
She'd seen me bang the table. "I guess so."
"And how long has this been happening?"
The flush started on my neck and crept up to burn my cheeks. I remembered the moment it started, but I didn't want to relive it.
"Ma'am?"
I looked around again. "I had a very embarrassing moment at my junior prom. It started then and has never abated."
"Would you like to elaborate?" she asked me. "Every little bit helps, especially if we need to make a potion."
My lips thinned. "Same story a lot of girls have. Someone asked me out on a dare and ditched me at the prom for someone prettier and more popular." Actually, it was a lot worse than that, and based upon the way the woman was staring at me, I think she knew it too.
She tossed her silvery hair and chewed on her lips. "I have a proposition for you." She reached under her register and pulled out a small notebook. "Take this. Spend five minutes per day writing down how you hope your day is going to go. Then spend five minutes per evening writing about your day, how it went, and what could have gone better. Do this for thirty days. If your clumsiness hasn't improved by then, I'll make you a potion for free and give you a two hundred dollar gift certificate to the shop."
It was an incredibly generous offer, but I had to admit it annoyed me. And then I got even more annoyed because I got annoyed at being asked to work for it. I reached over and plucked the book from her long fingers. "Fine," I said, doing my best not to sound pissed off. "I agree to your terms."
The witch smirked. "This isn't a gunfight. You don't have to agree to anything, darling."
With a sigh, I turned. "I'll be back in thirty days!"
"Will you?" she murmured to my back.
I tossed the journal in the passenger seat of my car and wanted to burn it. The odds were pretty good I'd forget about writing in this thing at all, but it was the least I could do when I had a chance to not only get the potion for free, but that much store credit. I'd have to set a reminder in my phone at a minimum, and maybe even write it on the dry erase board in the kitchen. But I would get it done.
I made it home in minimum time, despite the multiple times I'd stopped to glare at the journal sitting innocently on the seat. Right before I got out of my truck, I snagged it, shoved it in my purse, and told myself I'd remember it. And I also told myself I'd remember to set the reminder in my phone.
I probably wouldn't remember that either.
Once I was inside, I kicked off my shoes, tossed my purse on the foyer table and went immediately to the kitchen to scrounge up something to eat.
I was just about to slap some mayo on the delicious bacon, avocado, ham and Havarti sandwich I'd made when my doorbell rang.
