Charmed and Dangerous: An Appalachian Magic Novel (Appalachian Magic Series Book 1) Read Free Page B

you’re sure now,” Grandma Jo said without blinking. She didn’t look a bit apologetic.
    Once she had the house to herself, Callie walked through each room, curious if there were any changes. But it was as if time stopped seven years ago and the same old furniture arrangements and knick-knacks had been left untouched.
    Magic was everywhere. Crystals hung from every window, casting rainbow rays of light. The kitchen and pantry smelled of dried herbs. Colored candles adorned almost every surface. Much of the outdoors was indoors; potted plants, fossils, river rocks, and water fountains.
    She smiled, thinking of calling Aunt Mallory later. She would get a real kick out of the open secret of their birthright on display. Grandma Jo said that’s how most secrets are best kept, in plain view for all to see. Even their personal and revered Book of Shadows, with its special spells and recipes, lay out on a table sandwiched between Southern gardening books and romance novels. The plain black leather cover had no title emblazoned on its spine.
    Back in Jersey, Callie stuck the label ‘geography notes’ on her own Book of Shadows. It sat on the desk in her room, and none of her nosy cousins ever looked at it. If ‘diary’ had been on the cover, Callie had no doubt they would have shown it to everyone in the neighborhood.
    The house was quiet, refreshing. She would take her time in the shower and then explore more.
    Thirty minutes later, Callie emerged feeling recharged. She put on a robe, went to the den and curled up on a sofa, grabbing her cell phone to update Aunt Mallory. Before she could finish dialing, a loud knock erupted at the front door.
    It sure as hell can’t be for me. No one knows I’m here . She ran to her room and threw on jeans and a t-shirt.
    Ding-dong. Whoever it was repeatedly jabbed at the doorbell.
    “I’m coming,” she yelled. Barefoot, she hurried to the door and opened it.
    “Surprise!”
    A punked-out girl her own age stood on the front porch beaming. She should have looked scary with orange and purple streaks of hair, black clothes with silver studs, and heavily made-up, smoky eyes. But those eyes were full of good humor. Callie smiled back at the vaguely familiar girl.
    “Do you still have a Ouija board?” the girl asked.
    It clicked.
    “Skye. I can’t believe it’s you.” Callie’s jaw dropped as Skye sauntered into the hallway. Hard to believe a mere seven years ago, this rocker chick was in pigtails and blue jean shorts.
    Callie waved Skye into the den, and they sat across from each other and stared. Callie tried not to look too long at the dark lipstick and multiple ear piercings, but she couldn’t help herself.
    “How did you know I was here?” she asked to ease the awkwardness.
    “Grandma Jo told me you were coming this weekend. I drove by and saw the car with Jersey plates, so I knew it was you. Either that or your grandma has her a Yankee boyfriend.” Her grin widened.
    “Oh.” Callie shifted uncomfortably. She felt like a fresh-faced misfit next to her old friend. “It would be more likely for Mom to have a boyfriend than my grandma.”
    “Yeah, I suppose. But your mom kind of keeps to herself though, know what I mean?”
    “I guess.” Actually, she had no clue. Did her mother date? Total strangers probably knew more about Mom than she did.
    An awkward silence descended. When she’d first moved away, she and Skye had faithfully written every week . . . which eventually drifted to every month . . . then dwindled to birthdays and Christmas. . . and then nada, except for an initial flurry of emails when Skye opened a Facebook page. For Callie, the communication was too painful. She’d ask Skye for information on Mom and Grandma Jo. Skye would write back saying she’d bumped into them in town shopping or at the library, they looked fine, etc. Callie’s heart would clinch, wishing she was home, wondering when, if ever, they would let her return.
    Abruptly, Skye leaned