Everyone in Maple Hollow knew my mother, Miriam Gardner, as the woman who sold an unbelievably pricey yet magical beauty remedy. This remedy, costing $10,000 a bowl, was shockingly expensive. Yet people still came in droves, including women from neighboring cities who had heard about its miraculous effects. They all swore that eating my mother’s remedy left them with fair skin, rosy lips, and an enchanting allure. My sister Del, seeing the attention the remedy garnered, was practically drooling with envy. But no matter how much she begged, Mom refused to let her taste even a spoonful. Unable to resist, Del snuck into the back cellar one night. That was when I heard strange noises drifting from the cellar at midnight. My mom had a little shop in Maple Hollow, open only a few days a week, exclusively selling the beauty remedy. But the remedy wasn’t always available—customers had to book it in advance. “Mrs. Gardner, is my remedy ready today?” A plump, middle-aged woman wearing a gold bracelet and bursting with excitement walked in, her face beaming. I paused in my sweeping, glancing at her in curiosity. People from all walks of life came to Mom’s shop: tall, short, round, thin, even women well into their sixties. This woman looked to be around forty, a bit on the heavier side, but definitely radiating excitement. My mom nudged me, signaling I should continue cleaning, and then she turned back to the woman, smiling warmly. “Yes, yes! Mrs. Hale, I’ve prepared it especially for you!” Mrs. Hale’s smile widened, and she eagerly pulled a thick wad of cash from her purse. “Hurry, bring it over!” she insisted, practically bouncing with anticipation. Mom’s eyes widened at the sight of the thick stack of bills. “Mrs. Hale, there’s way more than $10,000 here!” she exclaimed. “Oh, keep the extra,” Mrs. Hale said, waving a hand dismissively. “That’s $100,000—I want to order more for the next few months. A treat like this once just won’t cut it!” Mom put on a look of hesitation. “Well, Mrs. Hale, you know how hard it is to make this remedy. I can’t make it every day, and I’ve got to think of all the other ladies on the list…” Mrs. Hale looked at her, took Mom’s hand in hers, and gave it a reassuring pat. “Don’t worry. I’d never ask you to make things difficult for yourself. I’ll only come in once every two weeks, let’s say, but could you prepare three or four bowls each time? It’ll save me from having to book every single visit.” “Oh, of course! Come, come, it’s all ready for you in the cellar,” Mom finally said, pocketing the money as she led Mrs. Hale to the back. “This remedy will make you more than satisfied.” As the cellar door closed softly behind them, I returned to cleaning. Mom never let Del or me go into the cellar. She said that only when one of us was married could we inherit the remedy shop and everything that came with it. Thinking of my boyfriend, Ryan Blackwood, made my cheeks flush. He’d been my childhood friend, but I didn’t know when he’d finally propose. If I inherited the shop, I wanted to show him the transformation the remedy could bring. Time slipped by as I worked. Soon, Mom returned, helping Mrs. Hale out. She was trembling, sighing with delight. “That remedy is simply incredible!” Mrs. Hale exclaimed. “If you hadn’t told me I could only have one serving, I’d be begging for another!” When I saw her under the bright lights, her skin glowed with a delicate softness, her face transformed. Her friends waiting outside gasped. “Oh my goodness! Look at her! She’s glowing!” one whispered. “That’s not even the same person! She looks so… full of life!” another added. Mom laughed, bidding Mrs. Hale goodbye as she moved to greet the next customer.
Del grabbed a chair and plopped down beside me, complaining, “Mom’s a real piece of work, isn’t she? Won’t even share a drop of that good stuff with her own daughter, all so she can make a quick buck! All these ugly women are getting prettier by the day, and look at me! I can’t cover my face no matter how much powder I use—ugh, it’s all caked up!” I took a closer look at her. Del was all dressed up, likely about to meet another one of her many boyfriends. After a final check in the mirror, she fluffed her hair and left, threatening, “Keep your mouth shut about this, or I’ll make you regret it!” I kept cleaning, not saying a word. But I knew Del was anxious. Mom’s rule was that whoever married first would inherit the remedy shop, and while I had a steady boyfriend, Del seemed to switch from one to the next. That evening, Del came home in tears, her makeup smeared and looking pitifully disheveled. “Mom!” she shrieked, storming into the living room. “He dumped me! That jerk said I’m ugly! Mom, I want that remedy! I need to look like all those other women who come out of here looking gorgeous! I’ll make him regret leaving me!” As Del’s tantrum grew louder, Mom’s expression hardened. “Go find yourself a husband, then,” she said coldly. “I’ll hand over the shop, and you can do as you like.” With that, Mom turned and walked away. In a fit of rage, Del kicked the chair across the room. “If I could find someone to marry me, I wouldn’t be so desperate!” she shouted. “I’ve been through three or four boyfriends already, and not one of them wants to settle down! Mom’s doing this to torture me! Fine! If she won’t share, I’ll find my own way!”
Late that night, I rolled over in bed, only to find Del wasn’t beside me. Remembering her earlier outburst, my heart sank. Could she have snuck into the cellar? Despite Mom’s strict warning not to, I got up, both anxious and curious, and headed to the cellar door. “Del?” I whispered as I opened the door, trying not to make any noise. “What are you doing here?” Del’s voice was strangely soft, almost too alluring, a tone I’d never heard from her before. She was in the cellar, up to something that didn’t sound right. “Del… what are you even doing in here? Mom will kill you if she finds out!” I hissed. “Just go back to bed… I’ll be out in a minute.” After a long moment, she finally emerged, her eyes glassy, yet she threw a lingering glance back toward the cellar as if she couldn’t tear herself away. Back in our room, she warned, “You better keep your mouth shut, or I’ll tell Mom you came in, too. If I go down, you’re coming with me.” Angry and betrayed, I clenched my jaw and nodded. What had she been doing in there alone? And why was she acting like this? Soon enough, Del’s nightly trips to the cellar became routine, her self-control waning with each visit. She started asking me to stand guard, and her beauty blossomed unnaturally. Her once dark complexion became fair, her features more delicate and shapely. Despite my curiosity, I never peeked inside, trusting Mom’s words.
One day, Del brought Ryan home and announced they were getting married. The moment I saw his hands all over her, I felt a chill wash over me. This wasn’t the same sweet Ryan I’d known for years. Rage boiled up inside me, and I threw myself at them. “You cheating jerk! Delilah, you knew he was my boyfriend, and you went behind my back?” But two fists were no match for four hands, and I quickly found myself shoved aside. Leaning against Ryan, Del looked at me with mocking pity. “Sorry, little sis, but I’m looking better than ever. Anyone can see who’s the better choice here.” Ryan scratched his nose, looking guilty but shrugging. “Lily, don’t be mad. Just look at you two! You’re as plain as a twig. I can’t help it if Del’s curves are more… enticing.” They had the nerve to defend their betrayal! Just as I opened my mouth to fight back, Mom’s voice cut in sharply, “Enough!” Mom stared at Ryan and Del with a look that could pierce steel, then turned to help me to my feet. “So, Ryan, you were Lily’s boyfriend, but now you’re marrying Del? You wouldn’t mind if I tested you a little first, would you?” His eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. “Not at all! Whatever you think is fair!” Mom’s face softened as she gestured toward the door. “It’s late. Stay the night, and I’ll consider your proposal tomorrow.” With a smug smile, Del took him into the room next to mine, and soon I heard creaking noises echoing through the wall. But the noise quickly died down after ten minutes, and I laughed quietly to myself. So much for Mr. “Enticing.” When I couldn’t sleep, I peered through the hallway and saw Del sneaking out—back to the cellar. Well, if she could play dirty, so could I. I went straight to Mom’s room and told her what Del had been up to. Mom nodded, unbothered. “I knew she was sneaking in. I gave her chance after chance, but she can’t resist temptation. If something goes wrong, she’ll have no one else to blame.” Then she looked at me, her gaze thoughtful. “Lily, your sister is reckless, but you’ve followed my rules. Would you like to take over the remedy shop?” I blinked, stunned. Weren’t we supposed to be married first? Was this all just a test? Quickly, I nodded. If I inherited the shop, I’d not only secure my future—I’d finally make Del pay for everything she’d done. Smiling with satisfaction, Mom took my hand. “Follow me.” When she opened the cellar door, I was shocked. It was larger than I’d ever imagined, divided into smaller rooms and chambers. She shot Del a cold look as we passed her chamber. Through the half-open door, I glimpsed Del lying on her back, her body flushed and moving rhythmically, lost in a haze of her own making. Finally, we reached the end of the cellar, where a large, heavy trapdoor lay. I followed Mom down the narrow staircase to a stone door. When she twisted the lock, the sight on the other side was one I’d never forget. Mom gave me a satisfied smile, nodding approvingly. “Come with me,” she said. As she opened the door, I felt my eyes widen with shock. The back room was far bigger than I’d imagined, divided into several small chambers, each secluded from the others. Mom cast a cold, almost disgusted look at Del’s chamber as we passed. Inside, I caught a glimpse of her, completely exposed, her skin flushed red, her body moving in a rhythmic, trance-like state, and soft, breathy sounds escaping her lips. We walked on, further into the back room until we reached a small doorway. In the center was a heavy trapdoor. Following her lead, I descended the narrow stairs to a stone door at the end of the corridor. Mom reached up, twisted the knob with careful precision, and opened it. What lay inside was a scene I would never forget for the rest of my life.
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