Hearth & Cauldron (Hearth & Cauldron Mysteries Book 1) by Shawn McGuire

Author:Shawn McGuire [McGuire, Shawn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brown Bag Books
Published: 2022-07-28T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Fourteen

After making sure the girls had food and water, Ruby and I stepped outside and found broken plant pots on my patio. Not just one, but three of them. And not merely cracked but smashed to pieces with dirt and flower bits everywhere.

“This could have been what Sanny alerted us about,” I said, pushing the large shards into a pile. I’d clean it up when I got home tonight. “I’m amazed I didn’t hear the breaking.”

A few minutes later, Ruby pulled into the Unity parking lot near the entrance to the Fairy Path. “I should go with you to talk to Martin.”

“Why?”

“You might forget a detail.”

I shook my head. “I’m not going to bother him with this until we have proof. Remember? This could simply be kids causing problems. Maybe Clover and Peony are retaliating against my punishment.”

“But the note—”

“Goodbye, Ruby.” I shut the car door before she could plead her case any further.

As I strode across the lot, I looked toward Whispering Pines’ healing center. Their offerings of not only medical services but yoga, meditation, massage, acupuncture, and other holistic treatments made them the perfect mind, body, and spirit center. Gabe’s older daughter Jola was one of two licensed RNs specializing in holistic and preventative healing. Currently, she and Lily Grace were walking through the Zen yard together. When the pair looked my way, I raised my hand in greeting, but they turned away without acknowledgment.

Gabe and others had told me to give them time, and they’d been right. Jola stopped me one day last week as I rode past on my bike.

“We don’t hate you,” she’d assured. “Well, I don’t, and Lily Grace won’t forever. I promise.”

I wanted to take her in my arms and hug her. Jola was a very mature twenty-three-year-old and while she’d likely never admit it, she still needed a mother in her life. I sure did at that age. With Rae gone now, I’d gladly step up, but I wasn’t welcome that way. Besides, Gabe had never given any indication that he wanted my or anyone else’s help with them.

“Thank you for saying that,” I had replied to her. “I know what it’s like to lose someone who you love so much. I’m available if you ever need someone to talk to.” I blushed then. “Sorry. That’s awfully bold of me, isn’t it?”

“It is,” she’d agreed, “but I know it was sincere.”

Aside from the cold treatment I’d just received from the Grace-Crain girls, it was a beautiful late-spring day, almost summer, and the sky was crystal clear. The woods along the wooden Fairy Path were teeming with life. Along with flowers in full bloom, I spotted dozens of squirrels, chipmunks, bunnies, and birds.

I made it to the sheriff’s station in less than five minutes, although I was enjoying my morning walk so much I almost strolled right past it.

Through the windows on the front of the plain rectangular building, I saw both my nephew and his deputy. They were standing side by side, looking down at something I couldn’t see.

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