Drake Sisters 03 - Oceans of Fire

in her family. When they were together, no matter how bad she felt, her sisters managed to make her laugh. “Speaking of the red panties, Aunt Carol, there is no way that spell came from a spell book. It’s too silly. Where in the world did it come from?”
    Carol joined in the laughter as her gaze rested on Hannah. “I’ll bet you try new things all the time, don’t you, dear?”
    Hannah held up her hands. “This time, I’m totally innocent. It wasn’t me.”
    “No, it wasn’t you. It was your aunt Blythe. She has your talent and one of our dearest friends was over one night, in tears. Her life was so difficult, you know. She took care of her father, who was quite ill, and she hadn’t had a romantic encounter for quite some time. Years, actually. So we wanted to make her laugh and boost her confidence and Blythe came up with the red panty ceremony. Of course we laughed hysterically and made our friend laugh and all in all it was a great evening.”
    “But it works.”
    “Well, of course it does. Hannah will tell you she can take something very silly and still make it work.
    Women need confidence at times; just as many people carry a talisman and think it brings luck, the extra boost made our friend, and anyone using the ritual, as silly as it is, feel beautiful and confident. Every time you put on the red lace underwear you can’t help but remember the ceremony and it makes you laugh, so you glow and that’s attractive as well. It all works on a woman’s confidence.”

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    “Go, Aunt Blythe!” Joley said.
    “Hannah, can you really do that?” Abbey asked. “Create spells?”
    Hannah shrugged and looked at Joley, and the two burst out laughing. “We do it all the time, but sometimes it backfires.” Hannah nudged Abigail. “What time are you supposed to be ready for your big date? It’s getting late.”
    “It’s not a date,” Abigail insisted. “I’m helping him.”
    “Is he picking you up or are you taking your own car?” Sarah asked.
    “Oh, for Pete’s sake, he’s picking me up, but we’re supposed to look like we’re on a date. That’s the point.”
    “Are you sure you want to do this?” Kate asked. “I know it hurts you to be in his company.”
    “It hurts me when I think about him, which is all the time,” Abigail admitted. “I’d rather help him, make certain he doesn’t get killed, and get him out of Sea Haven fast. I always enjoy going to the Caspar Inn. I know everyone there and I’ll have fun.” She glanced at her watch. “I’d better get ready. And all of you stop with the ceremonies.”
    Hannah held out her hand. “I’ll lock those up until he’s long gone.”
    “No, you won’t. And none of my other stuff had better start floating through the house,” Abigail warned.
    “Jonas is coming up the drive,” Sarah announced.
    “I don’t want to talk to him,” Abigail said hastily. “He’s left a couple of messages and I don’t have anything to tell him.”
    “I’m not answering the door,” Hannah said. “Someone else get it.”
    “Abbey,” Sarah protested, “it’s Jonas. You can’t just ignore him.”
    “I’m not exactly ignoring him, I’m busy. There’s a big difference.” She raced back up the stairs as Carol opened the front door. Her sisters stared after her in dismay.

    ABIGAIL sat on the edge of her bed for a long time wrapped in a bath sheet after her shower. She slowly broke the seal on the scroll. The spell didn’t have to work and she told herself she just wanted to feel beautiful. She needed to feel beautiful. She couldn’t face being in a roomful of women with Aleksandr, feeling like plain old Abigail Drake.
    The Caspar Inn wasn’t fancy, she didn’t have to dress in elegant clothes, but she wanted something feminine and attractive. The inn was all about great music and dancing, a place where many of the residents from several of the coastal towns met to visit. She touched the red lace with a small sigh. It wasn’t as if she and Aleksandr had taken a room at the inn, or anywhere else for that matter.
    “Hey!” Hannah poked her head in the room. “Do you want company?”

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    Abigail nodded and waited until Hannah had firmly closed the door. “Jonas is still down there, isn’t he?”
    “Oh, yeah,” Hannah admitted. “Sarah and Kate diverted him by giving up Aunt