Family Alchemy by Karla Brandenburg

Author:Karla Brandenburg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: small town, new adult, homeopathy, coming of age, essential oils, family saga fiction, metaphysical & Visionary fiction
Publisher: Karla Brandenburg
Published: 2020-01-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

When I walked into Nora’s house a few minutes before midnight, light filtered through the slats in the blinds of her workshop. Inside, music played softly.

I sat on the bottom step, staring at the door, wondering if I should knock. What was the worst that could happen?

She’d send me away like Aunt Theresa had.

Once the check for my car came, I wouldn’t have any reason to stay.

I wanted to stay. To sing songs at work with the aunt I’d never known. To learn how to make bath salts. To feel connected to someone.

To learn the truth.

I glanced over my shoulder, at the photos on the wall. My mother looked back at me, impossibly young and smiling like she hadn’t a care in the world.

The music stopped, startling me to action, but before I could flee, the door opened and Nora turned off the light.

“Oh,” Nora said. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“I’ve only been here a minute.”

She turned to close the door and I held up a hand.

“Why don’t you want me in your workshop?” I asked before I could stop myself. “What do you do in there?”

“I think I told you. And I did invite you in.” She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “I’m assuming you’re ready now?”

I was immediately embarrassed. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long day.”

“And a longer evening, I suspect.” She crossed her arms. “Let’s remove the mystery, shall we? Come inside and maybe you’ll decide to ask me about something you’ve obviously heard tonight.”

I bowed my head, shame warming my cheeks.

She flipped the light on once more.

I followed her into a room made up of three walls of windows, with shades pulled down over two of the walls. Shelves that held potted plants and glass jars lined the third wall. The scents of lavender and lilacs competed with one another, along with the earthy smell of soil. A worktable covered with crockpots occupied the center of the room. On the inside wall, more shelves displayed Mason jars and Tupperware containers, all neatly labeled. A cupboard stood closed beside the shelves. A corner shelving unit held candle molds and packaging along with mortars and pestles. On a second table, trays of soap waited to be cut and wrapped. In another corner, a stand held an odd kettle with glass tubes coming from it. A still? Was Nora a bootlegger? I giggled.

No witch hats or cauldrons.

“I can’t imagine what you were expecting,” she said.

I closed my eyes. Ashamed to put my fears into words.

She crossed the room to the cupboard. “You may be aware many plants have medicinal qualities. Those same qualities can be fatal if misused. For that reason, I keep them locked up. Do you want to see inside?”

“No,” I said quietly.

“Am I right to assume you’ve heard gossip tonight?”

“Yes.”

“And you have questions. Do you want to look around?”

I rubbed my forehead. “Can we just talk?”

She hesitated a moment, then held an arm out, inviting me to leave her workshop. I complied, and sat at the dining table looking out across the dark yard to the woods beyond.

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