Jade rolled her eyes, which made me want to both laugh and strangle her. I need something to do while you’re working in the shop. I used to snoop around your grandma’s room all the time.

“Oh, that makes me feel so much better.”

She lifted her chin as I glared. Like I said, I think it’s about time you went to that address.

“Who lives there?”

With another roll of her eyes, she began licking her paw. Your Great Aunt Faith. I would have thought that was obvious.

My eyes grew wide.

“You mean…she’s still alive?”

Of course. She was the youngest, after all.

“But how do you know that?”

I used to live there when your grandma and her sisters did, that’s how. Faith’s been there for several years. It’s the old ancestral Black home.

My face crinkled with confusion. “I thought I lived in the ancestral Black home.”

No, you live in the house that your Grandma and her husband lived in after they were married.

I sat there, stunned. Somehow, I’d gotten it into my head that the home where I lived had been the home where Grandma grew up, but I was wrong. I felt a sudden, strong urge to visit Faith and see the place where they’d lived as young girls.

“Well…maybe visiting her is a good idea, then.”

A surge of hope swept through me as the idea caught hold. Faith would have information on Grandma, and maybe even this whole stupid fight between the Farrows and the Blacks. And hadn’t Jade mentioned that she was good at spells? If I really had the same gift, then Faith would be the perfect person to teach me.

I felt glad that I’d decided to have my grand opening on a Saturday because the shop would be closed the next morning. Grinning, I grabbed my phone and looked up the address. Unlike most places I’d been to in town, Faith’s house was out in the country, far on the outskirts of Woods Crossing.

“Why didn’t she come to see me when I moved in? I’m sure Grandma Celeste told her she left the shop and the house to me.”

Jade gave a huge yawn and rolled over onto her side. Don’t ask me. I haven’t seen Faith in a while now. She’s a bit of a kook, holed up in that house out there. And she certainly doesn’t come into town.

My hopes immediately dropped as I wondered if Faith retained any of her sharpness from her youth. I had no idea how old she was, but the executor for Grandma’s estate said she had been eighty-seven years old at the time of her death. That meant that Faith, as the youngest, was at least in her seventies.

“Do you really think she’ll be able to help me, then?”

With a shrug of her kitty shoulders, Jade stood up and jumped down to the floor. Only she can tell you that. She’s not crazy, if that’s what you’re thinking. Just eccentric. And it’s not like you have many options for people to teach you magic.

That eased my anxiety just a little. I thought about the small paper on my nightstand again. How had Theresa known where Faith lived? Besides that, she shopped at Grandma’s store, even though she was a Farrow. Why had she been friendly with my family when we supposedly all hated each other?

It was yet another reason to go see Faith. I knew that Jade knew more than she was letting on, but for whatever reason, she was keeping the information close. Talking to Faith might finally get me somewhere. Pursing my lips, I turned to Jade.

“The shop is closed tomorrow, so I’ll go then. Want to come?”

Jade yowled loudly as she turned back to stare at me. Have you lost your ever-loving mind? Why would I want to see the woman who turned me into a cat? Faith and I do NOT get along.

I shrugged. “It’s something to do besides hanging around the house, snooping in my stuff. And she can’t be all that bad.”

Her eyes narrowed, and I found myself fighting back a laugh. How could a cat be so cute and so petulant at the same time? You only say that because she didn’t turn you into a cat.

“Oh, come on, Jade. Please?”

She gave a toss of her head. I’ll think about it. I’m going to bed now, I’m very tired.

With that, she scampered up the stairs, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Chapter Ten

The next morning, I typed Faith’s address into my phone. She lived on a tiny country lane in the middle of nowhere. I felt pretty excited to meet Faith, the only living connection to my grandma.

Jade lounged on the passenger seat, her expression grumpy. I can’t believe I’m going with you.

“Oh, give it a rest. I’m sure Faith will be happy to see you.”

Doubts began to creep into my mind as I approached to Faith’s house. The large, old Victorian stood almost a mile away from the road, situated at the end of a long, winding driveway. Trees lined the driveway, their boughs reaching over the lane and creating a tunnel of sorts.

As I pulled up next to the garage and parked, I noticed an unusual amount of wind chimes hanging everywhere. Faith had put some in the trees, all along the eaves of the sprawling porch roof, and even along the eaves of the garage. Some were small, tinkly metal varieties, while others were large and made of wood or bamboo.

Several signs hung along the porch railing, warning off visitors with phrases like Trespassers will be shot on sight and even one with a picture of a frog that read Hippity Hoppity, get off of my property.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or run back to my car. “Jade, are you sure about this?”

She kept walking towards the porch steps. Faith is a recluse, but I’m sure she won’t hurt you.

“Right. The lady who’s good with spells and turned a human being into a cat is no threat at all.”

Following Jade’s lead, I marched up the porch steps and knocked on the door. The wind chimes created a chaos of noise while we waited, clacking and clinking in the soft breeze. I knocked again, praying that even with the signs, she would open the door.

I turned away, ready to give up, when a voice croaked from the other side. “Who’s there?”

“Uh, my name is Sage, I’m your…great niece.”

There was a pause. I waited for the door to open, but nothing happened. “Who?”

I jumped at the voice. “I’m Sage Lightwood-Black!” I called, raising my voice. “Leo Black’s daughter and Celeste’s granddaughter!”

A grating sound like a deadbolt being pulled back sounded through the door. I heard another, then yet another. I couldn’t believe one person could have so many locks on their door, especially in such a remote place.

The door finally flew open, revealing a stooped woman with frizzy white hair and glasses that made her bright green eyes look huge. She wore a purple nightgown with a purple shawl over her shoulders. Even her feet were encased in fuzzy purple slippers.

She gasped, pressing a hand to her heart. “Good Lord, you’re the spitting image of Celeste. You’re Leo’s girl?”

I gave a shaky nod. She shook her head, tsk-tsking. “I thought Leo got away from here.”

“He did. I moved back because Celeste left her house and the shop to me.”