Taming of the Brew by Lily Harper Hart

Author:Lily Harper Hart [Hart, Lily Harper]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperHart Publications
Published: 2024-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

11

ELEVEN

Since she was already out and about, Ofelia decided it was best to get her visit with Dora over with. Her only problem was that Dora was not sitting in front of the fireplace—one of the only working ones in the area Ofelia was familiar with—in the middle of the store. The witch’s rocking chair was empty.

Ofelia’s eyes immediately went to the woman behind the counter.

“She’s in a bad mood today,” the clerk cautioned.

“I get that, but I need to talk to her.” Ofelia was firm. “It’s important.”

The clerk sighed. “Don’t tell her I told you where to look. Pretend you stumbled on her yourself.”

“No problem.” Ofelia smiled and waited.

“She’s in the back. The door is that way.” The clerk pointed.

Ofelia had seen the door in question before but never used it. In fact, she’d never actually been in the area behind Dora’s store. She was curious of course—she’d heard all the rumors about Dora’s extensive garden—but she was respectful even though she knew Dora had sold a few dangerous hexes in the past. “Thanks.”

Ofelia was careful when opening the door. It wasn’t cold outside. It wasn’t warm either. December was one of those months where it could get in the seventies one day but not out of the fifties the next. Today it was pushing sixty, but that was cold to a Louisiana lifer.

The first thing Ofelia noted when walking along the uneven pathway that led to the back of the building was the smell of smoke. She increased her pace, and when she turned the corner, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

The flowers might’ve been dormant for the season, but Ofelia could tell the garden was beautiful when it was in full bloom. Since one of the first plants she saw was belladonna, she knew it was also dangerous.

“Who let you back here?” a suspicious voice demanded.

Ofelia turned her eyes to the right and found Dora tossing dead plants into a bonfire. “I let myself back here,” she replied after a beat.

Dora rolled her eyes. “Who do you think you’re fooling? You didn’t let yourself back here. That idiot at the counter told you where I was because she didn’t want to risk coming back here herself.”

“I can neither confirm nor deny that supposition.”

“Oh, such fancy talk.” Dora rolled her eyes and went back to the fire. “Don’t just stand there,” she said after a few seconds. “If you’re going to interrupt my meditation, the least you can do is help.”

Ofelia didn’t argue. Instead, she went to the nearest flower bed and scooped up some of the dead vines. “I didn’t realize you had such a beautiful garden,” she said on a sigh as she tossed the pile into the fire. “This is magical.”

“It’s also private.” Dora pinned Ofelia with a dark look. “What are you doing here?”

“We have a problem.”

“We have a problem, or you have a problem and need my help?”

“I’m not certain yet.” Ofelia didn’t drag it out. “I need to know what your relationship is with Jared Spencer.

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