Page 13 of Witchful Thinking

Callie peeked at the paper. “We need paper and pens.”

She and Callie went into the kitchen, talking about their future wishes.

Ursula turned to Lucy, eyes hopeful. “Do we have any candles?” Ursula asked.

“You already know it.” Lucy laughed. She gestured over to the long row of pillar candles of every size, color, and shape on the mantel. “The candle shop sends me gift cards for my birthday. We’ll need at least four of them.”

While Ursula and Lucy went over to the mantel, Lucy glanced over at her cousin. Ursula rolled her pearls between her fingers as she scanned the row of options. Lucy’s senses gave off a low vibration.

She lowered her voice. “Are you sure about this?”

Ursula’s voice rose an octave. “I want this wedding more than anything.”

“I know. I was talking about the wish spell,” Lucy corrected.

“Don’t worry.” Ursula gave her a fragile smile. “I’m good. I just want my happy ending.”

“Well, I have something that might help.” Lucy reached behind the candles and took out a velvet jewelry pouch. She was saving this for the wedding, but Ursula clearly required a little luck on her side. Ursula held out her hands as Lucy slid the coin into her waiting palm. The bust of Mercury looking toward the future gave off a sense of hope and prosperity that made Lucy’s heart joyful. It glinted under the overhead light.

“It’s Nana’s?” Ursula asked, her voice light.

Lucy nodded. “You should have it for your big day.”

Nana Ruth swore that her lucky dime, minted on a leap year, was given to her by a kind woman with an angel’s smile on her tenth birthday.

“Nana told me she wore this in her shoe on her wedding day.”

“I know. She always had it when luck and fortune were needed.” Ursula swallowed hard and bit back tears. “Sometimes I wish—” Her words failed her.

Lucy nodded, unable to speak,too, but she knew what Ursula was thinking without her saying a word. I wish she were here, too. She reached out and held Ursula, the two standing together, anchored by history. Callie and Sirena returned with their items. They gathered the candles and brought them over to the table. Callie held small jars filled with rattling hazelnuts and pomegranate seeds. Ursula placed the dime in the middle of their spell work.

“Light the candles. Write your wishes while the wax melts down our candle,” Lucy read, her voice steady. Sirena lit the wicks with the matches. They each took a paper and pen.

“Write down your wish in complete detail,” she instructed. Callie unscrewed the jars and sprinkled the seeds and hazelnuts over the table. They took a minute to consider their wishes. Then they lowered their heads to write. Lucy tapped the paper with the pen top. She scribbled, I wish for excitement in my life.

She glanced up to see Ursula quickly looking away from her.

“Keep your eyes on your own wish,” Lucy teased.

Ursula lowered her head guiltily. Lucy cleared her throat and read the next line. “Drip the candle wax over the most important words of the wish.”

They each picked up a candle and dripped melting wax over their words. Lucy let it cover the first words of her wish. The words were swallowed up and encased.

“While the wax is warm, press your thumb into it.”

They did as she instructed, pressing their thumbs into the warmth of the wax, leaving their imprint.

“Now fold the paper thrice while chanting these words: ‘I wish, I wish, I wish.’ On the final ‘I wish,’ extinguish the candle and let the smoke carry your wish out to the sky.”

They chanted, their words echoing out into the air like a mystic chorus round. Magic hummed in their blood as the candle wax dripped on the table. It levitated, hovering as they chanted, their wishes crossing over one another and strengthening. Growing. Thriving.

Each Caraway paused on their last “I wish.”

“I wish.” Ursula stood and blew out her candle.

“I wish.” Sirena blinked, and her flame disappeared.

“I wish.” Callie waved her hand, and the candle died.

---