... The continuing saga of Beverly and the packages... read on...

She turned and looked at the pulsing box on the kitchen table, “or maybe I need something stronger.”

Remembering the shadow, she went to the window and peered out. The tail end of a silver Cadillac slid down the street. She remembered the day she ordered the package.

Her neighbour had an “herbal healing” home-party. Bev wasn’t going to go, but Carla, her neighbour, begged her. Carla said she needed Bev for moral support. Bev ended up being one of four people that attended. The salesman, Monty, dressed in a dark suit, seemed a bit stiff for a home-party. Bev remembers him being half way between mysterious and creepy. He talked a lot about personal affirmations and how his herbal remedies could amplify any thoughts you might have and some could even create reality from their affirmations, if they were felt strong enough. He even made a strange announcement about the more defiant you are, the stronger it makes your magic; herbal magic that is. Bev remembers his smile at that point. He smiled at her; she felt the same warmth from his smile as she did when she opened the box with the small jars.

She felt the same warmth right now growing from the pit of her stomach as she remembered how her purchase came about.

Carla was chatting with the other guests while Bev inspected the ‘herbal remedies’ that were laid out on the table. The sweet odour of mixed fragrances was a bit heady. Monty had come up behind her to assist her. She felt his warm breath on her neck and shoulder as he spoke.

“What do you want in life, Bev?” his voice was thick, like a bear skin rug.

At first she wanted to blurt out ‘You!’, but contained herself and managed to squeak out, “True love, I suppose, with passion and romance, like all women my age.” Her face flushed and she turned quickly to hide her embarrassment.

“Sometimes true love has a price,” she remembered him teasing – although she wasn’t totally sure he was teasing.

“I have potions for true love, but they are very fragile. One must know that they have found true love before attempting to use them. It can be dangerous to look for something that is not there. Be very careful what you wish for.” He had pushed out his last sentence with what seemed like his last breath. She could still feel his presence today as she recalled that evening.

She had ordered three herbal potions that evening. Two were love potions, one she was to drink and one she was to have her lover drink. The third potion was a joining or bonding potion, both lovers would need to drink after they had each had their love potions.

She had been planning how to administer the potions. She didn’t totally believe in magic but thought that if she could get a man close enough to give him a potion to drink, then she could possibly seduce him from that point forward.

Bev returned to the kitchen after her search out the window for anything strange. Nothing appeared. She was drawn back to the package on the table. In her mind she had formulated a plan. She would drink her potion in her glass of wine – put her man’s potion in the rest of the bottle, and put the stabilizer in the third bottle that she would open to share. Et, Voila! Happily ever after.

She had invited her ‘long-term’ – ‘just a fiend’, Billy, over that evening to employ her plan. She began to set up. She partially filled her glass with wine out of the opened bottle and left the cork out so she could add the second potion. Then she uncorked the second bottle of wine and topped up her glass, making room in the bottle for the third and final potion. She felt very defiant and hoped that this would build the power of the magic.

Staring in at the glowing jars, she reached in and again picked up the orange liquid – she remembered now; red and yellow make orange – the orange was the joining potion. She hurried to pour the orange liquid into the full bottle of wine. Her tongue wanted to taste the nectar so badly. Her palms were sweating. There was a small puff of smoke when she poured the mix, but no change in the deep red wine. She put the bottle aside.

She reached into the box and pulled out the deep red potion. It appealed to her immensely. She could hardly think. She pulled the cool glass against her warm chest. Her bare skin burned at the touch.

She shook her head for a moment, she knew the red potion must be used in the guest wine so there was no chance of change in the wine color – she poured it into the partial bottle.

She ached like a caged animal in heat. The third jar beckoned her and she knew it was for her. She pulled out the golden liquid and opened the top. Her passion burned hot and moist through her body. She wanted to drink it straight from the jar but stopped herself, remembering her instructions. ‘Each must be mixed with the same beverage’.

Bev quickly poured the yellow gold into her glass before she lost the strength to do so. She shoved the empty jars back into the box and threw the box under the cupboard.

With trembling hand she picked up her glass and found her way to her favourite lounge chair. The glass touched her lips and the warm liquid touched her awaiting tongue. It was sweet and thick. She felt it caress her as she swallowed deep. Her ‘date’, was in about an hour.

She savoured the nectar – thoughts of the silver Cadi crept into her mind. Some flash backs of the herbal party; an occasional thought of Billy. She was feeling pretty hot, when the door bell chimed. She sprang up – barely missing her wine glass. 

.....  stay tuned for the conclusion of "Be Careful What You Wish For"

" Thank you for following"  Lana