Chapter 2

ChapterTwo

Mal watched Jesse move across the restaurant from inside his car. She really was in denial about her supernatural gifts, or she hid them well. Everyone knew that the Crawfords and Goodes were both family lines of powerful witches, two of the oldest known in history, and Jesse was a product of both. That alliance terrified people. Since the moment Marigold Crawford and Joseph Goode fell in love, fear ran rampant in Lucky Valley. The birth of their children only made it worse.

Then Marigold Crawford Goode started showing signs of insanity, and the rumors exploded from there. So did the town’s run of terrible luck. If even a third of the rumors about the woman were true, he couldn’t say he blamed Jesse for not wanting anything to do with her eccentric mother.

Still, her siblings were in Lucky Valley. Everyone at the firm thought she’d eventually show up in town, at least for a visit. It never happened.

Even though he preferred logic to folklore and superstition, he had to admit that a part of him was frightened by Jesse. Since Lily and Dante moved to town two years ago, everyone had been tense, as if waiting for some giant magical flareup to take them all out.

Mal had drawn the short straw and had been sent to Washington state to fetch her. Well, in truth, he’d rigged the short straw so that they’d send him. Those few phone calls had played themselves over in his mind, and he’s stared at her legal file more often than he should have. More to the point, he stared at the picture in her legal file.

Practicing law in Lucky Valley wasn’t like in other places. The town was home to supernatural creatures, and they preferred to keep that fact a secret. When a vampire had a problem with a neighbor cutting down a row of shade trees on the property line, it wasn’t just an annoyance. It could be life or death for the vampire. That meant attempted murder charges.

Or when the sweet-tempered neighborhood grandma wolfed out with the full moon and ended up arrested on vandalism charges, someone needed to argue that it was temporary moon insanity.

Or when the Hellmouth broke open because teenagers were messing with books they shouldn’t have, it could be argued that the devil made them do it.

These were not things that would hold up in most courts.

All of those cases were nothing compared to dealing with the Goodes.

Hardly anyone in town trusted the family, which really was the nicest way Mal could think to say it. The truth was that the residents of Lucky Valley blamed the Crawfords and the Goodes for the run of bad luck that had plagued the town since the original Lucky Valley had sprung up as an old mining camp.

Souffle fell? Goodes were to blame.

Goblins hoarding in the park? Yep, the Goodes had something to do with that.

Vampires getting too bitey with the tourists? Surely the Goodes’ magic caused the abnormal behavior.

House fire? Frozen pipes? Car crash? Stuck in traffic? Goodes. Goodes. Goodes. Goodes.

Even when their house had stood empty, and none of them could be found for miles, the family was still blamed.

It wasn’t just that they were powerful. They were rich too. The Goode Family Trust also owned an enormous amount of property, which included the defunct mines and the nearby ghost town of Old Lucky Valley, which the locals had nicknamed Unlucky Valley.

Mal felt like a creeper, but he couldn’t stop staring. Jesse’s pictures didn’t do her justice. There was an energy about her when she moved and talked. It radiated like a swarm of angry bees stuck in a sack.

And oh, how he wanted to be stung.

His family had warned him to remain disciplined when it came to attraction. The little bit of elf heritage could cause him to become too easily attached.

Jesse’s work uniform consisted of jeans, sneakers, and a logoed shirt. Her wavy brown hair was pulled into a chaotic mess on the top of her head. She didn’t wear much makeup, not that she needed to. Her hazel eyes looked to be a stunning mixture of green and brown.

A loud knock sounded on his window, causing him to jump in his seat.

Thick, pink plastic glasses with tiny fake gemstones framed the woman’s eyes. Bright red hair that could not have grown naturally from anything radiated around her face in a frizz of curls. She grinned and motioned for him to crank down the window.

Mal hit the power button and slid it down. “Hey, Polly, what are you doing here?”

“I’m always where I’m supposed to be. But I could ask you the same thing.” Polly Crawford circled her finger as she pointed it at him. The gesture made him nervous. He couldn’t tell if she was being playful or trying to cast a spell on him. The witch had to be at least in her fifties, maybe older, but she had the playful energy of a teenager.

“Law firm business. We’re trying to close out the Goode will,” he said. “Are you visiting your niece?”

“Sunspots,” she said, stepping back as if expecting him to get out of the car. A large pink purse hung from her arm. Traffic zoomed around her, honking. She smiled and waved at the taillights.

“Polly, wait, damn it.” Mal hurried out of the car and grabbed her arm to pull her to safety. She was known as an eccentric about town and didn’t appear to notice that people were scared of her. He released her arm when they stood on the sidewalk by The Bulb Tavern. “What do you mean, sunspots?”

“I looked into the sun, and my eyes got all spotty in the shape of Jesse’s face. You know how it is, sugar bee,” she quipped, swaying back and forth. “Bippity, bap, and thump-bump-bump.”

“Polly?” He tried to get her attention to focus, but she was too busy dancing in a circle.

She wore what looked to be a square-dancing costume with a giant petticoat skirt. The pink gingham was a softer shade than her glasses and purse. Pink cowboy boots sparkled with tiny gems. Suddenly she stopped as a small smile crossed her features, and she elbowed him in the ribs. “You like angry bees, don’t you? Buzz, buzz!”

Mal instantly glanced inside at Jesse, who was speaking to her boss near the bar. There was no way Polly could have known his thoughts about a sack of bees. Could she?

Mal wondered if Polly had ever talked to someone about her strange tendencies and verbal flights of fancy. Or maybe it was a case of breathing in too many of the family potion fumes over the years. Perhaps insanity was a side effect of generations of magic. Marigold had suffered under its strain.

He again looked at Jesse. Did she suffer as well?

“That looks dangerous. Here, hold Herman for me.” Polly thrust the purse at him. “I’m going in.”

“Dangerous?” Mal caught the purse.

Jesse looked fine to him. Her boss was laughing as he said something to her.

“Wait, Herman?” Mal asked. As Polly strode toward the door, he couldn’t resist looking inside the bag. A live lobster twitched as if to look up at him from a cotton bed of fabric. The crustacean wore a blue Hawaiian shirt with a tiny lei around his neck. “Hi.”

Herman snapped his pinchers in response. Mal quickly closed the bag.

A couple walked by. The man took notice of the purse and frowned in disapproval before giving a snort.

“Nothing to see here,” Mal said loudly after him. “Just a man with a fabulous handbag.”

The couple walked faster. Mal gave a small laugh.

When he turned his attention back to the window, he saw a flurry of movement. Polly threw a glass toward Jesse’s boss while Jesse tried to pull her back.

“Oh, crap!” Mal rushed through the door. He wasn’t sure where he could be of help, so he stopped to watch what was happening to gauge the situation. Two powerful witches probably didn’t need a man to protect them.

“You will not speak to my niece like that. Apologize at once,” Polly demanded. The customers watched the display in shock. “Don’t make me glue your mouth shut until you learn some manners, young man! There will be no dibble-dabbling of the staff.”

“Jesse, get her out of here, or I’m calling the cops…” her boss demanded.

“Oh, yeah, do that. They have the pretty lights,” Polly spoke over him with a laugh.

“…and clean up this mess,” he finished.

“No cookies for Mr. Robert,” Polly stated. “Not until you apologize.”

“Get that crazy bitc—” Robert began.

“Hey!” Mal stated in warning at the same time that Jesse demanded, “Don’t.”

Jesse held up her hand toward Robert. “Do not finish…”

“You can have cookies, though,” Polly told a woman. “You’re a good sort.”

“That’s it. I’m done. Get out,” Robert ordered. “You’re fired. Take her with you. I have applications a mile high from girls wanting this job. I don’t need the headache.”

“You have warts on your feet,” Polly announced.

Robert launched a towel at them. “Get out!”

“Good one, Polly,” Jesse drawled wryly before ushering the older woman toward the door. “Let’s get out of here.”

Jesse glanced at Mal in confusion as he held open the door for them. “You’re still here.”

“Our conversation—” he started to explain.

“I apologize for my harsh language,” Polly said once she was outside. “That one riled me more than a sock full of nickels in a dime candy store.”

“I don’t know what half the things you say mean,” Jesse muttered.

“Candy should be a nickel,” Polly stated as if that were a known fact everyone could agree on.

Mal tried to hand Polly her lobster purse.

Polly waved her hand at the door. “Good riddance, pumpkin doodle. Enough with this life waystation.”

“Polly, what are you doing here?” Jesse asked.

“I came for you,” Polly said. “Get in the car. I’m driving.”

“Where?” Jesse asked.

“Road trip to your destiny,” Polly answered. “It’s time.”

“I can’t go on a road trip. I have to work,” Jesse denied.

“No. You don’t have a job,” Poly countered.

“I mean, I need to work. I have to find a new job.” Jesse started walking toward her apartment.

“Is that all? I’ll hire you,” Polly said.

“To do what?” Jesse sighed in noticeable exasperation.

“I have a maid service called Polly’s Perfectly Magical Mystical Maids, Mops, and Lollipops. You can pass out the lollipops. I’ll even let you eat a few and they won’t cost you a nickel.”

“Um, no.” Jesse didn’t even pretend to consider it.

Polly waved at Mal to follow as she chased after Jesse. “What about a tour guide for Polly’s Mostly Magical Fantastical Foray into Mysterious Worlds of Wonder? You can help me get Lily to agree to let me open it. We can drop tourists down the mine shafts in Old Lucky Valley.”

“That’s not a good idea—” Mal tried to interrupt.

“No.” Jesse walked faster.

“I’d offer a place in my magic shop, Polly’s Perfectly Magical Mystical Wondrous World of Wonders, but it’s in Maine in the back of a coffee shop. I think you’d be better off in Colorado with your siblings while the magic settles.”

“How many businesses do you have?” Mal asked.

Polly didn’t answer him.

Jesse suddenly stopped and looked toward the ground for several deep breaths.

Polly reached to open her purse while Mal still held it. She patted the lobster on the head before digging next to him to produce a small potion vial. She shook it in her hand.

“I’m not going to move to Colorado,” Jesse said at last. She turned to stare at them. “I need you both to hear me. I don’t want the inheritance. Mail me the paperwork, and I promise I’ll sign it.”

“It’s more than paperwork. There’s a safe deposit box you must be present to open,” Mal said.

“I’ll sign a waiver,” Jesse countered. “You do it. I don’t want—”

“Oh, pumpkin doodle, did I forget to mention that Lily hasn’t been well?” Polly opened the potion bottle. “It’s time for you to come home. Fate doesn’t tap dance. It salsas.”

Jesse’s expression fell into one of concern. “What do you mean? Is she sick?”

“She’s sad,” Polly said. “She misses you.”

Jesse grimaced. “Stop trying to manipulate me.”

“Here, put this on,” Polly jerked her hand to toss the potion bottle’s contents on Jesse.

Jesse swatted to stop the onslaught. Suddenly her hands fell to her side, and she blinked slowly.

“Hey, what is that?” Mal demanded. “What did you do?”

“Small cosmic realignment,” Polly answered. “Help her into the car.”

“We’re not kidnapping your niece.” Mal refused to help her.

“You’re here because that box is causing trouble, right?” Polly insisted with a tilt of her head. “Things waking up that shouldn’t be?”

Mal frowned. No one else was supposed to know about that.

Jesse blinked as if confused and numb.

Polly pointed a thumb at her niece. “You need to get this one to that one, right?”

“There are some concerns, but I’m not forcing—” Mal thrust the purse at Polly. “I’ll take her home and stay with her until this potion wears off. I’ll try talking to her again.”

“Be a man of action,” Polly said. “Like my Petey.”

“I don’t know Petey,” Mal countered.

“He’s a man of action,” Polly insisted. Her purse began to thump as Herman thrashed around inside. She ignored it. “Do you know what we’re dealing with, young man? You’ve heard of Pandora’s box, right?”

“Yes,” Mal stated.

Polly instantly opened the bag and soothed, “Oh, hey, easy little love. We’ll have your Hawaiian party.”

“Polly?” Mal wanted to shake the older woman and make her concentrate.

Polly reached into her bag, and suddenly, colorful lights began emanating from within. “Have fun.”

“I know you.” A blonde stopped beside Jesse.

Polly closed her bag. The muffled sounds of a ukulele came from within.

Jesse ignored her aunt. She merely blinked and looked at the blonde woman talking to her.

“Your hair is fantastic,” the woman continued, patting her short shag. “I’ve always wanted thicker hair. Mine is so fine, and my scalp is sensitive. My mother would brush it like she was pulling weeds. Hurt like hell. She was a nasty piece of work. Used to—”

“That’s fine, deary.” Polly lifted her hand to guide the woman along. “Keep it moving. Tell it to that nice man who delivers mail to your office. He’d love to hear all about it.”

“Harry?” the blonde asked in confusion as she stumbled away.

Mal brushed off the woman’s interruption. “Polly, please tell me your family doesn’t have Pandora’s actual box.”

“Of course not.” Polly laughed.

Mal started to relax. The witch inched closer to him.

“This thing makes Pandora’s look like a plastic jewelry box with a broken latch,” Polly whispered, tapping her finger against her lips to indicate a secret.

Mal stared at Jesse. All thoughts of attraction and protection had to be set aside. “It’s been…leaking.”

“I told you. Fate doesn’t tap dance. Right now, it’s tired of being a wallflower.” Polly turned to Jesse. “Jesse, do you want to see Lily and Dante?”

“Yes, please.” Jesse nodded. “Can you take me to them?”

“Sure thing.” Polly looked at her expectantly. “Do you have a cat, or dog, or python, or fish that needs to be taken care of?”

Jesse shook her head. “Not even a plant.”

“No familiar yet, either.” Polly shook her head. “Maybe you’re more Crawford than Goode. Not all Crawfords have pets.”

“I don’t have a pet. I can barely take care of myself,” Jesse mumbled.

“See there, Mr. Frownie Face, no kidnapping. Hand me the keys.” Polly held out her hand expectantly.

“No.” Mal glanced around. Robert stood in the restaurant’s window, arms crossed, glaring at them. The hard man’s gaze made Mal uncomfortable. “I’m driving.”

Mal guided Jesse gently by the arm toward the passenger seat.

“You’re a lot cuter voice in person,” she told him.

“Uh, thanks.” Mal wasn’t sure if he was doing the right thing.

Well, yes, for the town of Lucky Valley with a leaking Pandora-like box, he was doing the right thing. For Jesse? He wasn’t sure.

“Bipity bap.” Polly gave a little dance along the curb before hopping onto the busy street.

“I’ll call the office and see if we can get flights. It’s a sixteen-hour drive before you add on stops.” Mal didn’t think he could spend a day driving with Polly.

“Trust me, driving is faster. I can get us there in three hours, maybe two,” Polly said. “You just steer. Herman and I will navigate.”