Cousins and Cauldrons: Trestle Cove's Resident Witch: The Resident Witch Series, #2

By Anne Marie Lucci-Stahl

Spring winds swirl and twirl, announcing the season of change in Trestle Cove, and the next Resident Witch.

The Hawthorne family prepares for a new mission in Castor's neighboring town. But the gusts and gales of April blow in a resident witch, who also has plans of her own. Reveena has regained her strength from last autumn's trouble, and she is ready to join in the family's mission.

Hadley is on her way home for her last spring break before graduation, prepared to spend some quiet time with the family. However, her cousin, Zelda, has other plans for her.

Join Zelda and the crew as they learn a new meaning of family in Book Two of the Resident Witch series!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anne Marie Lucci-Stahl
• Release date: Sep 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223457190

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.

~ Romeo and Juliet

---

Hadley tossed the last piece of her luggage into the trunk of her beat-up sedan and slammed it shut with a huff. She walked around to the passenger side door and stopped.

Babe, it’s not gonna be all that bad, came a deep voice from beside her.

I know, it’s just… you don’t know these people. They will test even the Dalai Lama’s patience.

I’m excited to meet them. Now, let’s roll.

Patrick, are you sure you’re ready for Nanny? Hadley asked, half in jest, half in concern.

If you’re not worried about me driving this clunker, then I can handle a little old lady, Patrick chided.

He walked around to the driver’s side of the car, and they both opened their doors to settle in for the trip to Trestle Cove. Hadley buckled her seat belt and sat back in her seat. She stared out the window, quickly getting lost in her thoughts as they pulled out of the campus’ parking lot.

After a few hours into their trip, Patrick broke Hadley’s trance by pulling into the highway’s rest stop.

Let’s get some lunch, he said as he parked, slid off his seatbelt, and opened the door--- all in one fluid movement. Hadley shook her head from side to side, pulling herself from her inner reverie and back into rest-stop reality.

Fine. But I get to buy a new book at the newsstand, Hadley bargained with her beau.

Can’t you wait ‘til we get to Trestle Cove? Isn’t your aunt’s bookstore opening while we’re there? Patrick questioned, a few steps ahead of her.

Then you don’t know me after all, do you? She asked, laughing as Patrick held the door open for her.

Patrick shook his head and chuckled as he headed to the fast-food lunch counter. Hadley bounded past him towards the book rack in the corner of the snack shop kiosk. He thought to himself, If she’s a fiery one, just what am I in for with generations of them?

Hadley had quickly gotten lost in her novel as soon as they settled back in the car. She continued to read as they travelled across the state along the busy highway. So it surprised Hadley to look up from the pages of her book and see the familiar flag plaza peeking over the hillside. She was almost home.

CHAPTER 2

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something

wicked this way comes."

~Macbeth

---

So, tell me again. Why is Hadley coming home?" Zelda asked her mother, who was standing precariously atop a rickety wooden ladder.

As Zelda held it steady for her, Cecelia tried her best to hang the dried lavender bunches from the wooden rafters.

Well, she is coming home for spring break, Cecelia answered, stretching to grab the elusive hook.

After successfully hanging the herb clusters, Cecelia carefully made her way down the ladder.

"We only get two days for spring break, but she’ll be home for a whole week?"

Yes, dear. Hadley earned a week off after taking all those difficult classes and keeping that busy schedule.

I suppose. Still jealous of it, though, Zelda pouted as she stood back to admire her mother’s handiwork. Not bad, Momma.

Thank you, Z, Cecelia replied and walked to the counter, cluttered with books awaiting the empty shelves.

They were only a week away from the opening of Sunny’s, and each member of the Hawthorne brood had been called in to help with the store’s finishing touches. Ernie and his father, Kevin, were on their way to the shop with Reveena. The older woman had become quite close to the entire Hawthorne family since moving in next door. She had helped tremendously with the groundwork and development of how Sunny’s would ultimately look and feel.

Reveena and Cecelia had collaborated all winter long and into the early spring frost to create their unique bookstore. As word traveled throughout the town of Castor about Reveena’s fantastic tea blends, Cecelia knew they were going to be a draw to the shop. So, the little old lady had been creating and concocting up a storm. She had enlisted Zelda and Maddie to help scoop, measure, and wrap up the tiny packages of leaves. The girls were also busy creating their merchandise for their corner of the shop; lotions and potions—handmade soaps and soaks.

Zelda and Ernie, along with the rest of the crew, were excitedly awaiting the start of summer vacation. They felt like runners setting up at the starting point, waiting for that last school bell to ring. Anticipation ran high this time of year, so Zelda offered her time to help set up shop, impatient for her lazy summer days to start.

Cecelia was behind the counter unpacking delicate handkerchiefs to display with the soaps and sprays when the bell above the door tinkled to life. Looking up, she saw a figure walk in, carrying two large to-go cups of coffee.

Oh, bless you! You are my hero! Cecelia gushed and hurriedly walked around the counter to alleviate her cousin of one of the cups.

Ceccy, the place is coming along so nicely! Lilia said as she sipped the hot java. I love the lavender bundles. It makes it look so cozy. It really looks like it’s a home and not just a retail store.

I know. Reveena gets the credit for that. She definitely has a flair for this sort of creativity, Cecelia nodded in agreement. She took a sip of coffee, and the two women stood in mutual silence.

Hey, wait a minute! Why are you here? Hadley’s on her way home, Cecelia suddenly remembered that Lilia’s daughter was currently on the turnpike.

I’m better waiting for her here, believe me. I’m always nervous when she’s on the road. Besides, Momma was driving me crazy this morning, Lilia confessed.

Is Aunt Cordelia getting worse or staying status quo for the moment? her cousin gently asked.

She’s status quo, but with a new person in the house, I’m not sure what to expect.

Lilia updated Cecelia that Hadley’s boyfriend was accompanying her home for spring break.

… and I have no idea how Mom is going to take to a stranger, Lilia was explaining when the bells sprang to life once again, and the front door burst open.

Aunt Lilia! Hi! Ernie exclaimed, running up and enveloping her in a hug.

Being the close family that they were, Ernie and Zelda had grown up calling their mother’s cousin Aunt, and Hadley had done the same with Cecelia.

Hi, E. Mmmmm… love ya, kid, Lilia said, squeezing him back. She looked beyond Ernie’s head and saw Reveena toddling her way into the shop, with Kevin trailing behind holding a large box.

What’s in the box, Kev?

Hello, Lilia, Kevin said, kissing her on the cheek and laying the box on the countertop. Miss Reveena’s tea blends. By the weight of this box, enough tea for the whole town.

Well, that’s the plan, Cecelia happily pointed out, coming around the counter to hug Miss Reveena. The little old lady was looking up at the rafters admiring the herbs.

They look good, don’t they? Cecelia whispered to her friend.

Yes, they do, my dear, Reveena replied as Zelda skipped over to the counter with her friend Maddie, who had once again magically appeared. They began unpacking the muslin tea bags from the box, but not without smelling them first; the scents were amazing. Lavender, of course, with a hint of rose, orange peels, and was that lemongrass? And ginger and peppermint, too. As the girls placed the tea sachets on the counter, the store began to smell heavenly.

Reveena closed her eyes and deeply inhaled. She smiled and sighed.

Opening her eyes, she asked Lilia, My dear, how is your mother doing today? Did she try the tea I blended for her?

Yes, Miss Reveena. She loved it and sends her thanks. She has good days right now.

Zelda had been listening to the conversation and asked, Is Auntie Cordelia sick?

No, Z. She’s good. Well, physically…, Lilia trailed off, not sure how to explain it to the young girl.

Reveena noticed this and looked at Zelda. My sweet poppet. Sometimes as people get older, their minds decide that they want to live in another place or time, even though their bodies have not been there for a very long time, if at all. Your aunt and mother are concerned that your auntie sometimes thinks things that aren’t real. But she has an excellent doctor and this very loving family who will help her feel grounded again, whatever that may look like, she said with the utmost confidence.

Well said, Miss Reveena, Lilia said, grabbing hold of the lady’s wrinkled hand.

Satisfied with Reveena’s explanation, Zelda picked up the box of tea leaves and went in search of their display baskets. Maddie followed behind her. Ernie appeared from the backroom as the girls passed by, and he quickly made a diversion in his route to avoid his sister and her friend. He nabbed a chocolate chip cookie from the container on one of the café tables and made his way over to his mother.

Momma, is it okay if I head over to Mike’s?

Cecelia paused, mentally checking the busy family’s calendar.

I’ll drop him off on the way home, Ceccy, Kevin volunteered and then looked at Ernie. And in return, he’ll do the dinner dishes tonight.

Fine, Cecelia agreed. She could use all the help, volunteered, or mandated, this next week.

Love ya, Momma! Ernie yelled over his shoulder, already headed towards the front door. He stopped and turned around, bowed deeply, saying, Ladies, before dashing out the door. Chuckling, Kevin kissed his wife, whispered in her ear not to stay too late, and followed in pursuit of his son.

The ladies busied themselves with setting up the tea displays and starting to fill the empty shelves with books.

Hadley’s knees were beginning to ache, and she felt like she needed an oil can, like the Tin Man of Oz, to loosen them up again. It really wasn’t that long of a trip, but Hadley realized she had been tensing up since they left campus. She loved coming home every chance she got, but she hated seeing her grandmother’s decline with each visit. This trip was particularly important to her. She was completing her final semester of school and wanted to introduce her Nanny to the love of her life. Hadley was afraid that Cordelia was slowly disappearing into her mind’s world and wanted her to meet Patrick before she did. Wherever her grandmother went to, it was a place Hadley couldn’t quite put her finger on. Still, wherever or whenever it was, her visits seemed to make her Nanny happy.

Graduation was just around the corner, and both Hadley and Patrick would be receiving their degrees. And then? She had not one clue, another reason for the tense muscles and locked joints.

Patrick seemed to sense her stress and reached over to hold her hand as they passed by a wooden sign welcoming them to Trestle Cove.

Lilia arrived home shortly before Hadley’s car pulled in the driveway. Cecelia had pushed her out of the shop’s door, reassuring her that the prep work could wait until the next day. When she walked through her front door, she was welcomed by the scent of peppermint. Making a beeline to the kitchen, she noticed the teapot sitting on the wooden table, peppermint tea already steeping.

Jack! Where are you? I’m home! Lilia called out to an empty room.

Back here. Hold on, came a reply from the laundry room off the kitchen.

What’cha doing in there? Lilia asked, walking over to the hot tea, and noticing her usual mug was already waiting for her.

Just finished up the towels before Hadley arrives with two months of dirty clothes, Lilia’s husband answered, walking back into the kitchen with a basket of bath towels.

You are the greatest man alive, Lilia declared and wrapped him into a bear hug.

Don’t tell him that. His head will swell, a familiar voice snickered from the kitchen doorway.

Hello, Momma. Lilia smiled at Jack and turned around to see Cordelia enter the room.

Hello, sweetness. How’s the store coming along?

Almost ready for opening day. Just a few more details to put together, and then we’ll bring you over to get a glimpse of everything.

Sounds good, flower, Cordelia replied, shuffling her feet in the direction of the kitchen table.

Momma, did you get a good nap?

"No. The birds were too loud. They kept Nigel awake, which kept me awake. Oh, that reminds me, we need more romaine lettuce," Cordelia said as she sat down in her chair by the window.

Didn’t we just get some the other day? Jack asked from the living room, where he was busy folding the last of the towels.

Yes, we did. And now we need more. Nigel’s a big eater, Cordelia said and focused on that day’s newspaper.

Jack made his way back to the kitchen, motioning for Lilia to follow him upstairs.

Lilia, Nigel is a ten-inch, fifty-year-old turtle. How does he plow through as many heads of lettuce as your mother thinks he does?

"Because he