spies and spells 01 - spies and spells
Hubbard eyed me, setting her jaw. We stood there for a second before she waved it off. She bent down and picked up a bouquet of plastic flowers. “No horse in that race.”
    “It was good to see you.” I turned to go back to the house and grab my clutch and keys. “I’ve got to work.”
    “Still working for Meme?” Mrs. Hubbard asked, shaking the bouquet at me.
    “Yes, ma’am. It’s a family business.” I strolled closer to my house, making more distance between me and Mrs. Hubbard. If I didn’t, she’d start asking questions I didn’t want to answer.
    “You tell that mom of yours that I’m going to give her a run for her money on the Hidden Treasure Tour,” she warned.
    “I’ll do that.” I ran up the front stairs and slammed the front door when I got safely inside. “Mom!” I yelled down the hall. “You better step up your garden game.” I laughed and grabbed my keys and clutch off the counter. Mom had put the bundle of herbs next to them so I wouldn’t forget to take them to The Brew. “Mrs. Hubbard is going to give you a run for your money.”
    Mom stopped plucking the herbs and looked at me. There wasn’t a bit of amusement in her eyes. She took her life’s journey very seriously.
    I put my arms up in the air with my hands stuffed. “Her words not mine.” I winked and headed out the back door. “Hey, do you think I could take more of an active role in cooking at the diner?”
    Mom’s head snapped back, she took me in.
    “I’m so tired of not having a purpose.” I objected to her stare. “I know the Witchy Hour and stuff, but I’m twenty-eight years old and I’d like to get on with my life.”
    “When you have your Witchy Hour, your life will get on,” she said and went back to plucking.
    “Mom.” I cried, getting her attention. “All I’m asking is for you to talk to Auntie Meme and tell her you agree to let me have a more active role in the kitchen.”
    “Maybe.” She shrugged, pointing to the door for me to get going.
    Mom had really done an amazing job in our back yard. We had a play pool; it was only four feet deep and not very long, but it was big enough for the four of us to get in and enjoy on a hot Kentucky summer day. Plus the vibrant colors of the flower garden Mom had grown along with special herbs made the yard pop with colors. The fountain that drained into a curvy pond where koi fish lived was a new feature. Mrs. Hubbard hadn’t seen it and was going to probably die right there while the tour was going on. That wasn’t my concern. I had to get to work before Auntie Meme had her own heart attack.
    I used the keypad to open the electric garage door.
    “Good morning, Vinnie,” I said to my 1965 red AC Cobra familiar.
    His lights blinked off and on, the driver door swung open, and the engine started.
    “Good morning, Maggie. I hope you find the temperature to your liking this cool morning,” Vinnie said, as he always aimed to please me.
    I got in and put the herbs down on the passenger seat along with my purse.
    “I see your mom has been busy this morning.”
    “She has.” I shut the door and put my hands on the wheel. “What’s the weather today?”
    “A cold front is coming through and will be here for the next couple of days.” Vinnie pulled out, taking a right down the alley.
    At the end, he took another right on Sixth Street and then a left on Hill Street.
    “I imagine you will be busy today.” Vinnie was good at making small talk.
    He hadn’t had to get me out of too many bad situations. And I wasn’t sure what he could do as my familiar to keep me safe. But I never questioned. He was a cool car and he had become more of a friend than a car. Sounded strange, but it was true.
    “I hope so,” I groaned. “You know,” I sighed. “I’m twenty-eight and I don’t want to be stuck in a diner all my life.” I bit my lip wondering if I was going to have to create my own destiny and not worry about what my heritage said my life’s journey was.

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