Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry, did you need something other than to tell me what an awful person I am?”
“Maybe we can start over. My name is Matt Merlin. You probably don’t remember me, but I used to live by Lucas when we were kids.”
I would have given anything to see Sarah’s face.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Merlin, I don’t remember you. Is there anything you need help with?”
“She lied!” I whispered. “Why would she lie?”
There was a bit of silence, and I fought the urge to get down and crawl forward on my hands and knees so I could see what was happening.
Matt chuckled. “You don’t remember me?”
“Am I supposed to remember you?” Sarah asked.
“Considering you said I was your first kiss, then yes.”
Lucas and I both gasped. He pulled me back, and we looked at each other.
“What?” he whisper-shouted.
My mouth opened and closed about five times before I shrugged. “I had no idea!”
Sarah let out a harsh laugh. “You clearly have me mistaken for someone else. Now, if you don’t mind, Mr. Merlin, I have a lot to do, and honestly, I’m not in the mood to be put down by you today.”
I heard Sarah moving off to the other side of the store.
“What did you sell my mother?” Matt asked.
“You’ll have to ask her.”
“You know you’re not a doctor.”
I screwed up my face. “He messed up.”
Lucas nodded. “Big time.”
We both stepped out from the stockroom and slowly walked over to the cash register. Sarah had moved into the other room in the store and Matt had followed her. Sarah must have spun around and stopped, because Matt was standing between both rooms and I could see them both.
“Of course I know I’m not a doctor,” she said. “I’ve never claimed to be one. I don’t claim to be a healer, either.”
Matt let out a small laugh. “You don’t honestly think you’re a witch, Sarah?”
My sister folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. “Do you remember when you said I kissed like a fish?”
Matt pointed at her. “Ha! You do remember!”
“Do you remember how you got chicken pox the next day?”
Taking a step away from her, Matt laughed. When Sarah didn’t return his laughter, he took two more steps away from her.
“That’s impossible.”
Sarah moved closer to Matt. “Is it? How about we test that theory?”
Lucas clutched at my arm.
“You’re crazy,” he said. “And my mother isn’t thinking clearly, or she’d never have come in here.”
I could see Sarah’s face harden into pure rage.
“Your mother bought a spell kit for self-love. In the kit was some lotion made by my aunt and a spell.”
“What kind of spell?” Matt practically spat out.
“You sit in a comfortable position and surround yourself with the products you use for skin care. The lotion, any powder or face cream, whatever you use that makes you feel pretty or good about yourself. You imagine the products covered in light and pink—maybe gold? Whatever your favorite color is. You slowly run your hands over your body from your feet to your head. As you start to connect with your body, you say the spell.”
When she mentioned running your hands over your body, Matt looked her up and down.
Oh my God! He still liked her! I spun around and looked at Lucas.
Lucas nodded. “I know, he likes her.”
Pulling my head back, I looked at him. I hadn’t said that out loud.
“Then you say: Love within, love without, I love myself without doubt. After chanting the spell, you feel the light become part of your body. When that happens, you apply the lotion. After you cover your entire body, you simply say three words.”
Matt cleared his throat. “What are those?”
Sarah spoke slowly. “I. Am. Loved. You see, your mother told me she was having a hard time connecting with her husband after a recent bout of illness. I never asked what was wrong, but it was clear she was lacking in her own self-love. She simply needed a reminder to love herself—because if you don’t love yourself first, how can you let others love you?”
Taking a few more steps away, Matt shook his head. “That’s all it was?”
Folding her arms across her chest again, Sarah glared at him. “I believe that in all of us is the power to connect with the earth and the stars. I have a gift, and I use it to help others find that power. Whether you believe in it or not, I’m not here to play God. I’m here to help those who seek my help. If you don’t like the way I do it, then you don’t have to partake in it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a customer.”
Matt glanced around the store, but no one besides me and Lucas were standing there. I wasn’t even sure Matt saw us. He looked so confused, almost conflicted. There was something in his eyes, but I couldn’t read it, which was odd. I was usually good at reading people.