At the Corner of King Street (31 page)

Mistress Smyth, Mistress McDonald, and I gathered in secret. Each of us brought a bottle, nails, and scrolls of paper, but the purpose for these items must remain a secret. Faith left town with her sons. Her whereabouts are unknown but we all still fear her dark magic.

W
hen Grace jostled me awake in the morning, the sun was bright and glaring. I sat up quickly, half expecting to hear Carrie's cries and ready to make a bottle. I was on my feet when I realized Carrie wasn't here. She was with Janet. Loss swept over me, hot and searing, and I wondered if it would cool in time.

Blinking, I pushed the hair from my eyes and looked at Grace. “What? Is something wrong?”

She was dressed and looked as if she rose hours ago. “No. Figured you'd better wake up. Janet is outside.”

“What?” I rubbed my eyes, struggling to gain my bearings.

“She's sitting in a car, and the baby is in the backseat.”

I reached for my shorts and pulled them on. “Why is she outside?”

Grace rolled her eyes. “I don't know. Figured you better go find out.”

I tugged on a T-shirt and, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I glanced at the clock on the wall. I'd slept for thirteen hours.

Slipping on my shoes, I made my way to the parking lot. Janet sat
in the driver's seat, both her hands gripping the wheel. Carrie was in her car seat, crying.

I knocked on the window and Janet started. She opened the car door. The baby's cries rushed out with her. Her hair had lost its gloss and her skin looked pale. “Have you taken your medicine?” I asked.

“Yes.”

Automatically, I opened the back door and pulled the baby free of the car seat. Resting Carrie on my shoulder, I patted her on the back. Slowly, she quieted. “Rough night?”

With a trembling hand, Janet reached for a cigarette and a lighter. She lit the tip and inhaled deeply. “She's not an easy baby. Eric was easy.”

Carrie's cries softened to intermittent moans. “She's a handful.”

She jabbed shaking fingers through her hair as she stared at the tip of the glowing cigarette. “She acts like she's crazy, like me.”

“That's what I thought at first. But I think she knows what she wants and won't compromise.” Her diaper felt heavy. “She hates a wet diaper.”

Janet cursed. “I just changed her.”

“I know. She's a pee machine.”

That jostled a smile that faded quickly. “I want to raise her more than anything, Addie. She's my child. I want to stick around and get to know Eric. But I don't think I can cut it.”

The baby rooted her lips against my neck, a sure sign she was hungry. There'd be no peace until Carrie ate. “Why don't you come upstairs? Grace will make coffee. And I can feed the baby. We can talk.”

She shook her head and looked up at me with bloodshot eyes. “You'd do that after yesterday?”

My sister is my curse.
The words on the scroll didn't ring as true. “Yes.”

“Why?”

I tipped back my head, sensing I'd so regret all this one day. Janet would always be a roller coaster. “I couldn't give you a logical reason if you paid me.”

A smile flickered and faded. “I can't do this alone, Addie. I love Carrie and Eric, but I can't do it alone. I need your help.”

And here I stood at the crossroads. If I agreed, I'd be taking care of the baby and Janet for a very long time. I would be embracing the curse, wrapping my arms around it, and daring it to take its best shot. Experience taught me that the curse would make my life tough in the coming years. I'd question my own sanity. Feel exhausted. So frustrated. That was the nature of the curse, the disease. It affected everyone in the family.

But I was willing to do it. “We'll figure this out together, Janet.”

“How?”

I opened her car door and reached my hand out to her. “I don't have a clue. But we'll figure it out.”

I dreamed of Faith last night. “You denied me,” she said. “You denied me in Scotland and here in Alexandria.” I watched as she raised her hand and pointed to me. “I curse you, dear sister. Until you claim me as your flesh and blood, your fears will shackle you and yours.” I awoke, tears streaming. Dr. Goodwin asked about the dream, but I told him nothing.

T
wo weeks passed before I heard Zeb's heavy footsteps crossing the warehouse. Carrie was in the baby seat, fussing and grabbing her toes. Janet still lived with her friends, but she came by every day or two to see the baby. Carrie enjoyed the visits and so did Janet, but in the end, each seemed to be relieved to take a break from the other.

“I hear you have a big job coming up,” Zeb said.

“We do. An old church in Leesburg. Should be quite interesting.”

He grabbed Carrie's foot and jostled it. His touch was rougher than mine, and it caught the baby's attention. She looked at him, wide-eyed. “Janet's been by to see Eric a couple of times. He likes seeing her.”

“That's good. She does the same with Carrie.”

“And you're okay with that?”

“We're working out a legal agreement. I love them both, but I won't let this disease run the show. The agreement says I have primary custody, and she'll have visitation.”

Creased feathering around the corners of his eyes deepened. “You think it'll work?”

“It has to.”

“You heard from Scott?”

“No.” I grinned. “He's waiting for me to see the light.”

“And?”

“I saw it. And that's why I'm here.”

A slow grin warmed his face, softening it in a new way. “Good. I'm glad you're here. Real glad.”

1 large bottle with lid

1 smaller bottle with lid that fits in larger bottle

ITEMS YOU COULD INCLUDE IN YOUR WISH BOTTLE

Crystals, shiny buttons, or pieces of mirror (to hold the light and good energy)

Safety pins or nails (to repel bad energy)

Flower petals

Heart-shaped buttons

Locks of hair

Herbs

Sea salt

Spices such as cinnamon, allspice, and cayenne

Honey

Stones

Essential oils such as peppermint, lemon, or lavender

Paper with your good intentions written down in pencil

Anything you feel symbolizes your wish

Witch bottles are some of the oldest forms of magic that reached a heyday in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They were used to protect the home against troublesome spirits by warding off evil. Most witch bottles were buried near the hearth or the front door of the
home because it was believed evil swept down the chimney or through the front door. Once the bottles were buried, they protected the property from the dark forces that seemed constant hundreds of years ago. Today, the witch bottle has morphed into a wish bottle and is used to create good luck or reaffirm positive intentions.

A witch or wish bottle is a jar or some kind of breakable container used to contain bits and baubles assembled to create good intentions or protect against negative energy. If you can, make your bottle at the full moon when energy is considered most potent. Fill the smaller bottle with all the ingredients you think are perfect for your bottle. Seal the bottle and place it in the larger bottle. Fill this bottle with water or wine and then seal. Also feel free to decorate the outside of your bottle with paints, mirrors, or anything that appeals to you. Remember these are very personal, and no two should be alike.

Once your bottle is sealed, hold it in your hands and say, “Healings, blessings, and good fortune.” Feel free to bury your bottle near the front door or hearth or simply leave it on display in a special part of your house. Be sure to put it in a safe place because if the bottle is broken so is the spell.

READERS GUIDE

AT THE CORNER OF KING
STREET

1. The novel alternates between the eighteenth century and the present time. Does this enhance the storytelling? How do the historical passages shed new light on the contemporary story?
   
2. Toward the beginning of the novel, Addie says of Shire Architectural Salvage, “For every item, we were a second chance for some kind of life.” How does the salvage shop represent the Shire Family, past and present? Why do Grace and Addie gravitate toward this business?
   
3. Why didn't Addie tell Scott about her past? Was she right to keep it from him? How might their relationship have changed if she'd been open about her family early on?
   
4. Grace tells Addie, “I'll smash this life to bits. No Shire woman gets a free ride.” Do you think she's justified in demanding that Addie step in? Are we bonded to our family even if they've caused us pain?
   
5. How is Grace different from Addie? Why does she believe she failed her family—and why does she think Addie can prevail?
   
6. The characters create their own modern-day witch bottles, filling them with their hopes and dreams. What would you put in your witch bottle?
   
7. Was Scott's interfering in Carrie's custody warranted? What would you have done in his situation? What about in Addie's or Janet's case?
   
8. Do you think the curse was real? And has it been broken now that Addie and Janet have mended their relationship?
   
9. Do you think one's centuries-old family history can affect future generations? How so?
   
10. What do you make of the ending? How do you see the story continuing?
    

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