Chapter 6

After getting dressed, he left the bedroom and made his way to the garage. Passing through his now larger home, he noticed many lovely women taking care of various duties. They ranged from little chubs to fairly large ladies. Darien surmised that next to Jenna, the cooks were the largest in the house.

Darien got into his car and started out into the street. As he did, he realized that even his neighborhood had changed. They now lived in one of the richer parts of town. He looked at a card lying on the dashboard, it stated that he was now the senior regional sales rep and troubleshooter for his area. He now realized that everything he had ever wanted for he and Jenna had come true and it seemed to be connected to his stop at Cassandra's Confections!

Darien started to drive in the direction of Cassandra's. As he did, he began to put pieces together in his mind. He had been thinking about Jenna, just before he saw the road sign. Somehow Cassandra had read his thoughts and compelled him to come to her shop. Once there, she had given him the candy that had a magic spell on it. Then after he left she cast another spell to make sure that everything else that had happened would happen! Cassandra was a witch!!!!!! But one with truly exceptional powers.

Darien came to the spot where he had seen the sign and saw a bunch of rotted old boards entangled in weeds. Turning down the road, he wondered what had happened to the sign. As he approached the clearing of the shop, he found another surprise. Where the shop had stood was a large pile of rubble! He noticed a small cottage on the opposite side of the road with an elderly gentleman sitting on the porch. Darien pulled his car into the drive and got out.

"Excuse me, sir, what happened to Cassandra's?"

The old man rose from his chair and spoke as he descended the steps, "Young man, that place burned to the ground over 50 years ago! Cassandra was working in the back kitchen when the oven exploded, killing her instantly and setting the place ablaze!"

"That can't be! I was just here about two months ago! I was in that shop talking to Cassandra herself!"

The old man looked at Darien with a sesarching expression, then asked him to describe all that he remembered of that day. Darien did as he was asked, telling of how he had been compelled to turn into the lane, the appearance of the building, the things he saw and smelled inside. When he described Cassandra, the old man at first looked puzzled, then he got a little teary eyed.

"What's wrong, sir? Did I say something to upset you?"

"No, young man, you didn't upset me," the man said between tears, "You just described my late grandmother to perfection!"

"Your grandmother?"

"Yes, Cassandra was my grandmother and she told me about a time when a young man of your description came into her shop. She said that he seemed dressed a little oddly, but she looked past that and saw an urgent need in his eyes. She told me how she did just what you told me. After you left, she cast a spell of prosperity on you, using a piece of lint she had picked from your clothes. This all happened when I was 7 years old! It was another 15 years before the fatal fire. So somehow, you went back in time over 65 years ago and met my grandmother!"

"That's impossible! How could any of this have happened like that? I don't believe it!"

"Didn't you ever wonder why the shop sat back so far from the main road? Besides making some of the best candies of her time, my grandmother was also a witch! She used her abilities to help those in need and to keep the unwanted away from her and her family. Her essence still protects this area; that's why you were able to find her. You are still in her protection!"

"What do you mean, still in her protection?"

"You have three young ladies working for you, Cassie, Casey and Sandra, am I right?"

Yes, I do - I met them this morning. What do they have to do with this?"

"They are my granddaughters!"

Upon saying that, the old man started to laugh, and Darien could swear that he heard a female's laughter, too. But he and the old man were the only ones there!