Rose, a girl from Austria, recounts her life of luxury turned upside down by her mother's obsession with the paranormal. After a fire caused by her mother's negligence, they move to a smaller home, leaving behind their wealthy lifestyle. Rose struggles with her mother's continued fascination with spirits, which strains their relationship and jeopardizes Rose's future education. Eventually, Rose uncovers a family secret involving her aunt that vindicates her mother and brings them closer together. Rose's life stabilizes as she starts dating Ed and receives a job offer from him, symbolized by an amethyst pendant free of any love potions.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The narrator, Rose, grew up in a huge mansion with her parents, grandparents, aunt, and many maids.
2. Rose's mother was fascinated by the paranormal and believed she could communicate with ghosts.
3. Rose's father left when she was 10 years old after a fight with her mother.
4. After the father left, Rose's mother became obsessed with her paranormal hobbies and spent hours locked in her room talking to herself.
5. One night, Rose's mother lit too many candles and caused a fire that burned down half of the mansion.
6. Rose's grandparents were furious and asked her mother to leave the mansion.
7. Rose and her mother moved to a smaller place, where they had to live a more modest life.
8. Rose was embarrassed by her mother's behavior and felt like she was losing her friends.
9. Rose started a paranormal investigation club at school to prove that ghosts don't exist.
10. Rose met a boy named Ed who sold love potions and was interested in the paranormal.
11. Rose's mother revealed that she had spent all of Rose's college fund on her paranormal research.
12. Rose's aunt, Angelica, offered to help Rose with her college expenses and invited her to live with her in the mansion.
13. Rose's mother refused to move back to the mansion and instead continued to pursue her paranormal research.
14. Rose discovered a secret passage in the mansion that led to her mother's old room.
15. Rose confronted her aunt, who revealed that she had been pretending to be a ghost to haunt Rose's mother and drive her out of the mansion.
16. Rose's aunt had been motivated by jealousy and resentment towards Rose's mother, who had always been the favorite child.
17. Rose's aunt had also been responsible for Rose's parents' divorce by providing evidence of Rose's mother's infidelity.
18. Rose's grandparents banned her aunt from the mansion and sent her to live in a far-off village.
19. Rose's mother forgave her family and moved back to the mansion with Rose.
20. Rose started dating Ed and working at his store, where she had to wear a pendant that he had given her.