Page 103 of Hexed Up

“I …” he begins, staring right at me. For a moment he seems to struggle to find his words, which is so unlike the man who usually has a smart retort to everything. “I don’t think I’ve found my passion yet.”

I frown, wondering what on earth he had meant to say before he hesitated and seemed to change his mind. I consider probing him, but my thoughts are interrupted by the return of his mum.

“Alan has it all under control. I thought you might like some nibbles in the meantime.”

She places a bowl of olives and a plate of fancy-looking breadsticks on the table in front of us, then takes a seat opposite, reaching for her wine.

I notice her fingers are bent from arthritis, and she struggles to grip the stem of her wine glass.

“So,” she says, beaming at us both, “tell me everything.”

“Everything?” Horatio asks. “What do you mean, Mom?”

“About the two of you.” She waves her hand in our direction. “You make such a beautiful couple.”

I look at Horatio, who’s turned his head to look at me. Then I turn back to his mum.

“You think so?” I say.

“Most definitely.”

“We’re a bit of an odd-looking couple, though, don’t you think?”

“Complementary,” she corrects.

“A case of opposites attract, I guess,” I say, glancing her son’s way.

“Exactly,” she says, taking a big gulp of wine. “In my experience, that’s how the most successful relationships work – and trust me, I’ve seen a lot of unsuccessful ones in my lineof work.” She sets her glass down on the table. “So, you’re the opposite of Horatio, are you, Molly? What does that mean exactly?”

I laugh. “Well, I’m not as organised as he is. I don’t have my life as sorted as he does. I’m a little bit chaotic. Very messy. And I tend to fall from one disaster to the next.”

“That’s not true,” Horatio pipes up. “Molly runs a very successful cupcake business. It’s doing really well.”

“Good for you,” Asha says, raising her glass in my direction.

“And she also dabbles in homeopathy,” he adds. “She makes her own potions.”

My eyes must go wide. Has he lost his mind? I kick him hard under the table.

“And lotions,” he adds quickly.

“Really?” Asha says. “How interesting.”

“I actually have something that might work for your hands,” I say. “Sorry if that’s rude, I just noticed, and my grandma suffers from it, and the pills they gave her never really worked. She got fed up with all the painkillers. But I found something that really helped.”

“Well,” Asha says, “I have to admit I’m not usually convinced by alternative medicine and all that hocus-pocus.”

Beside me, Horatio stifles a snigger.

“But at this stage I’m willing to give anything a chance.”

“I’ll send you some. And if it works, I’ll send you some more.”

“It’ll work,” Horatio tells his mum. “She’s very talented at this stuff.”

I shake my head and stare at his mother. “That’s a massive exaggeration.”

“I doubt it. My son’s not prone to exaggeration, Molly. He usually says it how he sees it.” Something passes across her eyes and I can imagine the arguments in this household. Too manystubborn people for one home. “So,” she says, “how did you two meet?”