Page 36 of Bewitched & Bewildered
“Mhm…” I open the envelope. A pressed rose falls from the stationary. My cheeks are scarlet like the pretty bow I discarded and as hot as the crackling fire.
Congratulations on your big opening day.
I knew you could do it.
—Oz.
“It’s from Oz.” I try to stop my voice from shaking as I fold the letter and slip it into the envelope. The words come out high-pitched. Why do I sound so nervous? Ozan isnotallowed to fluster me. I clear my throat. “Ozan. I mean, it’s from Ozan.”
“I know.” Laurel snickers. “He brought it himself. I asked if he wanted to see you, but…”
“Did he say no?” I ask.
“He said you wouldn’t want to seehim,” Laurel says.
“Well, he was right about that,” I say. “I’m not sure why he would give me this. Do you think they’re poisoned?”
All jokes, of course. I can’t see Ozan doing anything so sinister. It’s part of the reason he’s so frustrating. No one is this kind without a motive. It’s positively diabolical.
“I’ll check for poison.” Maple reaches for the chocolates.
“No!” I pull the box against my chest.
My sisters look at me, Maple with confusion and Laurel with a smug smile.
“I mean”—I swallow—"I’m going to give them back to him.”
Laurel groans. “You are not! No way.”
“I cannot accept this,” I say.
“Take the gift!” Maple exclaims. “You worked hard; you deserve some recognition.”
“Weallworked hard. Why did he put my name on this?” I shouldn’t say the question out loud, but I do.
Laurel immediately chimes in. “Because he’s the man in the six of cups.”
Maple’s eyes widen. “What? Is this about the reading again?”
“No. It’s nothing!” I glare at Laurel. My next lesson with her will be about client confidentiality. “He won’t stop…giving me things.”
“That was a red rose,” Laurel says. “Don’t think for a second that I didn’t see it. You know what red means.”
“It means he knows nothing about flowers,” I say. “Red roses are the most generic flower.”
But he knows something—he has to. He’s a spell caster. Unless a witch casts spells with the cosmos or another energy source, they use items from the earth. Flowers, herbs, pinecones… that sort of thing.
Any witch with an ounce of training knows red roses symbolize love. He and I once debated the fact.
“You adore red roses,” Maple says. “Especially this shade of red. Not the orange-red ones.”
“And they’re the flower of love,” Laurel says. “Everyone knows that.”
I shake my head at them both.
I’m not stupid. I know what red flowers mean. Passion,romance—and sure, the thorns can be used for protective spells, but that’s not the energy I get from the rose.
I lift the dried flower. After everything, why would Ozan want to give me a symbol of attraction?
