The Grimoire Girls (Midlife Magic in Moondip) by Butler Male Janet

Author:Butler Male, Janet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Janet Butler Male
Published: 2022-12-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

After Anson left and Fleur awoke, we explored upstairs. Like the bookshop, the two bedrooms and shared bathroom were spacious and a tad Dickensian with wonky wooden floors and leaded windows. One room had a four-poster bed, which I bagged immediately. ‘Mine.’

Fleur pouted. ‘Aw, Mum, it’s not fair.’

‘Don’t care - older person privileges.’

‘I suppose it will compensate for the wrinkles.’

‘You cheeky so and so.’

‘Give me the four-poster room, and I’ll lend you my posh moisturiser.’

I laughed. ‘Fleur, it’s youth, not the fortune you spent on Wonder Creme, which makes your skin wonderful, so no deal.’

‘The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future will haunt you.’

‘Why’s that?’

‘Didn’t Scrooge sleep in a four-poster?’

‘You won’t deter me that easily. Anyway, your bedroom is lovely, and we’ll buy you a lava lamp and redecorate 1970s style - daft with a four-poster.’

After a victory dance, Fleur said, ‘Promise about the lava lamp and stuff?’

‘Yes.’

Since the spell began to fade, she had developed a 1970s obsession and lived in flares, platform-sole shoes, scoop-hem t-shirts and tiny brightly coloured knitted sweaters. Her music of choice was mainly Bob Dylan and 1970s rock bands. She rocked a quirky combination of bright clothes coupled with Goth hair and makeup, and it worked.

‘Mum, could I go back in time with my magic? I want to go to a Nazareth concert at Liverpool Stadium.’

I doubt it. ‘No idea, but we’ll ask Gran. Did she mention when she’d return?’

‘No, Morag said she’ll pop round with a bottle of wine later.’

‘Gran will pop round?’

‘No - Morag, cloth ears.’

‘Don’t be cheeky.’

Fleur being cheeky was music to my ears. And I was glad Morag would visit, as I wanted to discover what she’d hidden from me.

‘Can I join in?’ said Fleur in the universal wheedling and whiny tone used by toddlers and teenagers.

No, because Morag’s chat belongs in a brothel. ‘I’ll order pizza, and you can watch Netflix in your room. Did Lulu’s Wi-Fi instructions work?’

‘Yes - it’s brilliant - I can flick between wmw. and www.’

‘Come again?’

Duh, Mum. It obviously means world magical web or world wide web.’

So obvious - not. ‘I can’t wait to trawl, but one day at a time.’

I’d spent so long in a Groundhog-Day reality that I wished to savour my new and exciting world step by step, despite the need to solve a murder.

Fleur said, ‘Where will you order pizza from?’

‘I noticed a flyer for Mystical Pizza earlier. When Morag arrives, I’ll order for the three of us and deliver yours to your room.’

‘Can I eat with you, Mum, please?’

Absolutely not. ‘You just want to be nosy, but I’ll fill you in later.’

‘Promise?’

‘Witch’s honour.’

‘Is there such a thing?’

‘We’ll find out.’

‘Cool - can’t wait.’

With Fleur ensconced in her room watching Stranger Things, I waited nervously in the kitchen, hoping Morag would arrive via the French windows as I didn’t fancy venturing into the bookshop where a dead body had lain recently.

I spotted her through the French doors, looking fabulous in a long black dress with a red fur collar and cuffs, and, in comparison, I felt dowdy in my sweats.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.