A character with the gift of giving

There is a character in the book Garden Spells that intrigues me no end. Her name is Aunt Evanelle, and like all the unusual Waverley women in the story, she has a remarkable power. For reasons she cannot explain, every now and then she is inspired to give someone a gift, usually an odd and often useless item, and sooner or later, the recipient absolutely has to have that very thing! As I say, Aunt Evanelle can't explain it, but the characters in the book know well that, whenever she gives you something, hang on to it, because eventually it is going to come in very handy.

Then again, I've got a few relatives that give me presents for my birthday or Christmas, and I have to admit, many of them are odd and useless. Too bad none of them are an Aunt Evanelle.

—Jim