Page 33 of Obsession

Also the same vague answer the other members have given us. “Why did your thirteenth member leave?” I try.

“Jade’s daughter is having a baby soon and she wanted to be closer.”

“That’s exciting. Where did she move?”

“New Orleans.” Next on my to-do list is tracking down the thirteenth member.

“And how is Lucy as coven priestess?”

“You’ve met Lucy. She’s wonderful. I really do hope you’ll join us.”

“Thank you. Hey, before we go, could I get a dozen white roses?”

“Of course,” she says, leading us to the coolers and bundling the roses for me. “My gift to you,” she says, handing them to me.

“You don’t have to do that—”

“I insist.”

I thank Sunny, and we exit the shop. “So what do you think?” I ask Charlotte as we drive back to Memphis.

“I think you smell like a hippie, and you’d better not abandon our circle for Lucy’s amazing coven.”

I laugh as I crack open my window. “I’m sorry, I know I stink.”

“Why the white roses?”

“They can help suck negativity out of a house, so I’m going to place them around the Phenex bowl to see if they’ll suck a demon out of a bowl. Worth a shot.”

“I don’t know how you sleep with that thing in your closet,” she says with a shudder.

“I sleep with a demon in my bed, so…” She laughs at that. “What’s going on in your world?”

“Well, let’s see. I just made a life-altering decision that I’m not going to med school in the fall.”

“What? But I thought your dream is to be a doctor?”

“My dad’s a surgeon and it was just a given I’d follow in his footsteps. But I’ve realized it was never my dream.” She pauses to think for a moment. “The world is full of magic. If I had never been kidnapped, then I would have never been open to the possibility that I, too, might have magic. I’ve decided that I’m going to train to become a midwife here in Memphis. This way I’ll be able to help deliver babies in a more holistic setting, using my healing gift instead of hiding it.”

“That’s awesome news!” I tell her. “What do your parents think about it?”

“My mom is happy if I’m happy. My dad doesn’t understand why I’m throwing away such a promising future,” she says with a sigh.

“If you’re following your heart, then you’re not throwing away anything. I know you’ll make a great midwife.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m not gonna lie; I’m glad that you’re not going to med school for completely selfish reasons. If you moved to Boston, I would miss you too much.”

“Aww, thanks. And what would the Mystery Gang do without Velma?”

“Right? And what would Gabe do without Charlotte?” I tease.

She smiles. “Luckily for me, he has wings, so a long-distance relationship wouldn’t have been a factor. But it’s a non-issue now.”

“Does he really have wings?” I ask, glancing over to see her cheeks are pink again. “Sorry, that was a Vivian question.”

She smiles sheepishly. “He does, and they’re beautiful.”

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