Page 53 of Herbs & Hex-breaking

Her head snapped up when I called out her name. For a split second her surprise showed. Then her features relaxed. “Can I help you?” she asked.

“Gosh I hope so.” Dropping Dex’s hand, I walked forward, all faux smile and pretend good will. “I was wondering if you could help me choose some new houseplants? With Black Friday coming so soon, I want to be fully stocked. I figured you would know what sort of house plant is the most popular.”

“I’m sorry.” Jolene frowned and pulled a rag from her pocket to wipe off her hands. “Do I know you?”

I pretended to pout. “You don’t remember me?”

“Ah, no.” She frowned. “Should I?”

“I’m Kate Weaver. I own The Apothecary Shoppe in Five Points South? We met at your cousin Hattie’s bridal shower. I’ve been purchasing plants wholesale from the Broussard’s for the past couple of years.”

“Well, how nice.” Her tone let me know that she couldn’t have cared less. Then she shifted her attention and slowly and deliberately looked Dex over. “Who’s your friend?”

“I’m her boyfriend,” Dex announced.

I didn’t react to his statement. Because truthfully, I was too busy trying not to recoil from the energy the young woman was radiating out. It was dark, angry and malignant, and I was surprised that the seedlings she was working on weren’t simply withering and dying from the contact.

Jolene now turned her attention fully to Dex. “I’d be happy to help...you.”

Ignoring that she was blatantly hitting on Dex, I smiled and acted as though she’d been speaking to me. “Great! So, can you recommend a new variety of houseplant? Something different and fun for me to offer my customers?”

Jolene’s dark eyes slid to me. “Spider plants are always popular.”

Of course she’d recommend that, I thought. To her I said, “Oh I have a few of those already. I was thinking of something more exciting. Maybe with variegated or pink foliage?”

“I’ve always preferred the classics myself,” Jolene said. “I suppose you could call me old school.”

Spotting the large sparkly pendant peeping out from behind the neck of her greenhouse polo shirt, I stepped closer. “What an unusual necklace. Is that a spider?”

Jolene reached up and touched the pendant. “It is. Some folks are afraid of spiders. I’m not. They are a very misunderstood creature.”

How very Nancy from ‘The Craft,’ I thought, fighting to keep up the friendly and harmless act.

“Spiders,” Jolene continued, “weave the cosmic threads that connect life, death, and magick.”

“Oh!” I batted my eyes and made my voice breathy as if I was impressed by her statement. “Are you a practitioner?”

Jolene flipped her dark hair over one shoulder. “I’ve been known to dabble.”

“Dabbling can be dangerous,” Dex said, his tone serious. “Magick isn’t a game.”

Jolene laughed at him. “And maybe you should mind your own damn business.”

Dex gently shouldered me aside, inserting himself between us. “Well, you see here’s the problem, Jolene,” he said, stepping closer. “When you decided to hex your cousin Hattie, and she came to us for help, it did in fact become: my business.”

“Dex,” I said, placing my hand in warning on his waist.

There went the ‘don’t antagonize her’ plan, I thought ruefully. Because everything about Jolene changed. Her stance, her eyes, and even her energy. Recognizing the magickal threat before us, I ranged myself at his side instead of staying behind him.

Jolene’s eyes flashed over to mine. “You’re the one who gave Hattie the necklace.”

“I did.” Now it was my turn to drop the mask of civility. “She and Johnny are both under my protection.”

“I wondered who had done that,” she said, tapping a finger to her lips as she thought it over. “All of the sudden I couldn’t get to them anymore. And I wondered what local Witch would have had the kind of juice required to divert that particular curse.” Jolene tipped her head to one side as she considered me. “Still, I bet it cost you. How are you feeling these days?”

“Very well,” I bluffed as the seed trays on the worktable beside me began to quiver. “Thanks for asking.”

“Oh, I bet you’re not ‘very well.’” She laughed lightly. “That hex transferred to whoever was trying to block me.”