Page 58 of The Neighborhood Witch

“Sam,” Alice responded as she pulled away.

The sultry expression vanished, and resentment replaced it. She picked up the cauldron. Hugo’s cheerful expression disappeared, realizing he blew the moment.

“I told Sam about the potion; she wanted us to make it together. I refused. Sam grew angry and furious. I still wouldn’t make it. She started talking, and people found out because she blabbed. The wrong people.”

Alice flung the cauldron on to the workstation. It rocked back and forth, nearly tipping over, before coming to a full stop.

“One night, some people came looking for me… for it,” Alice continued. “Luckily, Galahad alerted me. We got out of there and raced to Ez. She helped me hide and lay low. We moved around from place to place. Sometimes, I never knew where I was. Then, one day, Ez said she found a perfect place for me to hide. A small town, far from my home. I could hide out there and build a new life.”

“I’m so, so sorry,” Hugo said.

Alice focused her eyes down on the empty cauldron. “It’s okay,” she said. “I’m fine.”

Hugo rushed over and grabbed under her chin with his index finger. He gently pulled up to look her directly in the eyes. “Hey, what did I tell you? It’s okay to not be okay.”

“Thank you.” Alice closed her eyes as Hugo moved his index finger from under her chin and across her lips before finally pulling it away.

“So, want to speed this thing up and give it a try and see what happens?” Hugo picked up the hourglass from the workbench.

“That’s where people get it wrong,” Alice replied. Hugo placed the hourglass back down. “You can’t rush it. You have to let it age naturally.”

“So, how long are we talking? Weeks?”

“Months.”

“Well, I’m sure it will be worth the wait.”

Chapter 15

Always Tested

Max raced Hugo up Alice’s stairs—a race Hugo did not know he was running. Max squeezed between Hugo and the wall, shoving him to the side.

“Max!” he shouted. “Stop being so impatient.”

She was now in the lead and poised to win the race. With a few more gallops, she arrived at the top of the stairs. Victory was hers. Max turned toward Hugo and basked in her victory. Her tail smacked against the wall as she patiently waited for him to finish their unknown race.

There was a knock at Alice’s bedroom door. Max whirled around. Her ears perked back, and her nose snarled.

Another knock.

She let out an ear-piercing bark that echoed throughout the hallway.

Another knock.

She hunched low and backed toward the stairs. Her hind feet were on the edge of the step. She barked twice more. Two more knocks replied back.

Hugo climbed to the top of the stairs and scratched her backside. She sprang into action and leapt toward the door. She let out a flurry of barks. The knocks replied in kind from the other side.

“Max, will you stop!” Hugo shouted as he covered his ears. “You’re going to blow out my ears one day.”

He grabbed her collar and pulled her away from the door. Hugo knocked three times. Three knocks replied. He opened the door.

Galahad greeted them on the other side. Max, surprised by this unfamiliar object floating in the sky, let out another series of ear-piercing barks. She hunched low in a ready state of fight-or-flight. Her tail was between her legs. She bared her teeth and drew back her ears.

Galahad bounced with excitement at a new friend. It moved closer to introduce itself. Max did not reciprocate the friendship. With each bark, she moved further and further away from the floating hickory stick. She slipped behind Hugo and peered from behind his legs.

“Are you afraid of Galahad, Max?” Hugo asked. “First, the vacuum and now a broomstick. I think you’re afraid of cleaning objects.”

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