Read Online The Flower Bowl Spell by Olivia Boler - Free Book Online Page A

always
lived outside of the city, and there’s no reason to come to a diner
dive like the Penny unless you don’t have a lot of money or you’re
depressed. But Cleo is right, I realize. Viveka came here with the
coven once for breakfast after a dawn sun salutation in the
Presidio. I remember this because she ordered a banana split at
seven in the morning.
    ****
    I get the girls to brush their teeth and
settle them in our spare room—sometimes Hillary’s room—after
watching The Wizard of Oz , which I had to dig out of a box
in our hall closet. I watch them for reactions to Glinda and the
Wicked Witch of the West, but they seem entirely unperturbed,
except when the Wicked Witch of the East’s toes curl and shrivel up
under the house. Who doesn’t find that disturbing? They go
to bed when I tell them to. I hear their voices through the door,
but I don’t try to listen in. Some things, like the whispers
between sisters, are especially sacred, especially to those of us
who’ve never had one.
    It’s nearly ten when Cooper comes home. I’ve
been going over what to say to him since the Lucky Penny waitress
brought the check. He takes the news of our unexpected houseguests
with his usual composure, although there’s a frown between his
eyes. He has me repeat the story, starting with my friendship with
Viv, if you want to call it that. I’m not sure I’ve ever mentioned
her to Cooper. He listens, sitting upright in his chair, one finger
pressed against his cheekbone while the rest of his fingers ever so
slightly tap his lips. When I finish the tale, he takes his hand
away, and there’s a red mark on his face that glows brightly before
beginning to fade.
    “This is very odd,” he says.
    “I know.”
    “What do you suppose she’s doing?”
    I take a moment to reach out to her with my
thoughts. I haven’t tried this yet, and I’m nonplussed by the
results—I can’t find her trace. I know I’m out of practice, but how
can this be?
    “Your guess is as good as mine,” I say. Maybe
she has magickal help. My first guess is Gru. But then why didn’t
Viveka take the girls to Gru’s?
    “We’ve got to find her,” Cooper says. “This
is unacceptable.”
    “But—” I stand up from where I’ve been
sitting on the couch. “It’s too late now. They’re here and she’s
gone, and that’s that.”
    He glances down the hallway, as if it’s just
occurred to him that we really are not alone in the flat. “Well,
when is she coming back for them?”
    “She said soon.” I pause, and even though it
isn’t exactly true, I say, “And I believe her.”
    He looks at his lap. “This is all just so
strange.”
    “Yeah. I know.”
    “I’m just not used to such…interruptions.” He
stands up and takes my hands. “We have a routine, you and I.”
    “Well.” I wrap my arms around his waist.
“Maybe this is good practice.”
    “Practice?”
    “You know.” I look down at our abdomens, mine
tucked beneath his. “When we decide to make a little
Memphis-Cooper. A little Mooper.”
    “Oh. Right.”
    “It’ll give us some inspiration.”
    “Inspiration can be distracting.”
    “Inspiration can also be inspiring.”
    “How come you never say that when Hillary
comes over?”
    I grimace. It’s true: much of the time I do
find Hillary a buzz-killer of my maternal instincts. But I didn’t
know it was so obvious.
    “Parenthood isn’t easy, Memphis.” He says
this in his I’m-older-than-you voice.
    “Really? Because you make it look like a walk
in the park.”
    He taps my nose. “Inspiration is inspiring.
You and your tautologies.” He chucks me under the chin for good
measure before heading down the hall to our room. He turns around
right away and whispers, “They’re in the study, right?”
    “It’s also the guest room. Right?”
    He takes a deep breath and nods. I wait,
watching him. He nods again and walks away.
    I turn to the window and search the night
sky. The ritual I did the other night with