THE INHERITANCE - part thirty three

I WROTE THIS AS THE SPARK IN MY IMAGINATION ILLUMINATED.

PLEASE GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING AND READ THROUGH.

I APPRECIATE IT. THANKS.

THE INHERITANCE (part one) | Fiction (vocal.media)

THE INHERITANCE ... part two | Fiction (vocal.media)

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THE INHERITANCE – part thirty-three ………

Welcome home

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“A cauldron? Kate, she can’t be serious!”

“Well, mom, reading her letter, she surely doesn’t sound like she’s joking. Since I have no idea what I’m to do with it, I’ll store it in the pantry for now, and before you ask, no, I will NOT be using it to cook food. Which reminds me. I need to make a trip to the market. Feel like taking a ride?”

“Will you be purchasing any of the ingredients to try out Kathleen’s potions?”

“Not yet. I have no idea what I’m doing and don’t want to muck things up. I’ll talk to Mo first.”

“Who’s Mo? Is he another craftsman?”

“Oops. Sorry, mom. Mo is Maureen O’Reilly. You’ll meet her soon enough. She’s been such a huge help. I really don’t know what I’d do without her friendship.”

As Kate and her mother walked through the market, without a thought, without thinking, Kate was adding things to her basket that seemed to make no sense. Patti glanced at the contents. She saw the meat, egg noodles, tomatoes, onions, carrots, and a loaf of French bread. She knew immediately what Kate would cook for supper the following day, but she also made a mental note of the other items: ginger, garlic cloves, star anise, cardamom, stone mustard, rock salt, and white bread. She wondered if Kate was aware of those unusual herbs. Knowing her daughter, Patti knew Kate would say something eventually.

Their next stop was the Witchery Kitchen.

“Kate, really? Aren’t you taking this witch stuff a bit too far?” Patti seemed worried.

“Mom, don’t worry. Really. Almost every shop in this town has a witchy name. It’s fine. As Mo said, ‘Ireland is the land of magic’”.

They entered the little shop and, of course, heard the little jingle of the overhead bell.

“Ah welcome to my little shop. Feel free to browse or just ask me anything.”

Kate walked over to the small woman whose stature was slightly bent. Her wavy gray hair was held away from her face by a large kerchief that she tied at the nape of her neck. Before Kate could utter a word, the woman said, “Sure enough, then, I’m Mira and yes, I’m a witch and just looking at you, you’d be Kathleen’s great granddaughter. You’re the spittin’ image. So, then, one witch to another, what do you need?”

Kate noticed her mother’s face pale a bit but decided to say nothing until they left the store.

“I’m looking for a large pot. I’m planning to make stew but realized, I don’t have any pots or pans.”

“I’ve just what you need, dearie. What else?”

Kate explained about the note Kathleen left and Mira volunteered potion recipes for various physical problems.

“I can see you suffer from headaches. This recipe is for meditation tea, but it also aids in lessening head pain.”

Kate looked at the recipe:

1 tablespoon of breakfast tea (leaves not bags)

2 teaspoons of chamomile

1 teaspoon rose hips

2 teaspoons elder flower

8 ounces of water.

Put all ingredients in a teapot (NOT the cauldron) and allow the tea to brew for five minutes.

“Be sure to drink it while it’s hot. Now, let’s get your pots, pans, and other kitchen supplies. I didn’t know Kathleen well. I was about twelve when she passed but I knew her daughter Sara. Cleaned out whatever she could from the cottage. That one! Oh, I could tell you stories about her! The selfish Cailleach! But then, knowing Kathleen, she’d already removed what she knew couldn’t be replaced, like her cauldron.”

She looked at the cross that hung around Kate’s neck. “Ah, then, I see you have her Talisman. That’s good! Good!”

Between boxes of kitchen supplies and bags of groceries, the backseat of Kate’s jeep was now loaded.

“Mom, I do believe we’re done for the day!”

“Well, that’s a relief. I was wondering if you’d be buying out all of Ireland.” They both laughed as Kate said, “Well, if I’m going to live here, I might as well make myself as comfortable as possible. Oh, come to think of it, one more stop.”

Thirty minutes later, Kate and her mother were on their way back to Kate’s cottage.

“Mom, my hunch was right. All the electrical wires were buried about twenty years ago so all they need to do now is inspect them, repair any damage, and then, voila! Turn on the power. And the power rep, Mr. Johnson said they’d begin all that tomorrow.”

As they were leaving the town limits, Kate saw a familiar figure crossing the street. He turned and looked at the approaching car, stopped and waved. Kate pulled the car to the curb.

“Well, now, sure and if it’s not my two favorite ladies.”

Patti’s smile spread to her eyes.

“Well, now,” Kate replied, “If it isn’t the handsomest man in all of Dingle!”

“Ah, now, lass, didn’t know you were capable of fibbin’” He leaned over and kissed her cheek.

Kate reached and hugged his neck. “Kieran, I’m so glad I saw you, so now I don’t have to hunt you down. I would like it very much if you would join us for supper tomorrow. Ryan Kelly is coming also.”

“You want ME to join you for supper?”

“Oh, Kieran. After having that beautiful hutch in my home, I can’t think of anyone else I’d like to share supper with. Please say yes.”

He smiled, gave her a wink, and said as he looked into her mother’s eyes, “Sure, and I’ll be there. So, then Ryan’s coming as well? Good. I’ll bring the wine!”