Magic & Mishaps

by Annabel Chase

  Emma’s cheeks turned crimson.

  “My wife has an inability to ignore anyone’s needs, including mine,” Daniel said. “Sometimes that works in my favor.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek.

  “So Bonnie didn’t hit on you?” the sheriff asked.

  Daniel seemed perplexed. “Hit on me? No, why would you think that?”

  Emma cottoned on more quickly. “Did Bonnie hit on Alec?”

  I nodded vigorously from my spot behind the mirror, but, of course, they couldn’t see me. “He rebuffed her,” I yelled. “Rebuffed!”

  A hint of a smile appeared on Sheriff Nash’s face and I knew that he’d heard me, or at least heard me yelling.

  “He claims to have rejected her advances,” the sheriff said, “so I was wondering whether she moved on to another prospect.”

  “No, not me,” Daniel said. “And it would’ve been a hard pass anyway. My serial dating days are over.”

  “Oh, you were one of those, huh?” the sheriff asked.

  Daniel seemed embarrassed by the admission. “Not in many years, but I wasn’t the best behaved angel in the world once upon a time.”

  “Took a great sacrifice to get his halo restored, too,” Emma added. She stroked his arm with pride.

  “I hear you two are hometown heroes,” the sheriff said.

  “Our town was cursed, but Emma broke it,” Daniel said.

  “With a lot of help,” Emma said quickly. “It takes a village.”

  “Like raising a child, I guess,” the sheriff said.

  “Yes, in fact…” Emma halted and her hands flew to her stomach.

  Daniel’s face flashed with concern. “Emma? What’s wrong?”

  She doubled over and groaned.

  “We need a healer,” Daniel said sharply.

  My phone was already in my hand. Good thing I had Cephas on speed dial. “We need you at the sheriff’s office immediately,” I said. “We’ve got a pregnant sorceress with sudden pain.”

  I banged on the glass to let Sheriff Nash know that I’d called. Daniel’s arm was around his wife and she was struggling to control her breathing. I didn’t see the point of staying in the adjacent room. I opened the door and pulled a bottle of water from my handbag.

  “Here,” I said and thrust the bottle at Daniel.

  Emma sat up and rested her head on the back of the chair. Beads of sweat bubbled over her forehead. “I’m okay. The pain’s passed.”

  “Do you think you’re in labor?” Daniel asked.

  “I don’t know,” Emma said.

  “A healer is on the way,” I said. “Cephas is excellent.”

  “Druid?” Emma asked.

  I nodded.

  “Under the circumstances, we’ll cut this short,” the sheriff said, “but I’d advise you to stay in Starry Hollow until this matter is resolved.”

  “As long as you resolve it before this baby comes,” Emma said through gritted teeth. She seemed to be fighting another wave of pain. “I want my baby born in Spellbound where our support system is.”

  “I’ll do my best, Ms. Hart,” Sheriff Nash said.

  Emma hugged her belly. “Please see that you do.”

  Chapter Five

  Part of me wanted to forgo Sunday dinner at Thornhold in order to catch up on all the tasks I’d ignored this weekend, but I didn’t dare risk my aunt’s wrath. Instead, I joined my family in the beautiful dining room awaiting my aunt’s arrival.

  “Maybe I should run back to the cottage and check on Raoul,” I said to Marley. Despite Calla’s reassurances, the raccoon was no better today. Marley had spent the day catering to his whims and had even slept on the sofa so that he didn’t need to move from her bed.

  “What happened to Raoul?” Hudson asked.

  “I made him ill,” Marley said. “I was practicing a spell and did it wrong and now he’s sick.” Tears glistened in her blue eyes.

  “Calla said he should be better soon,” I said. “We’re being patient.”

  “She said he’d be better today and he isn’t,” Marley said.

  “He’s a raccoon,” Florian chimed in. “His healing properties are bound to be different.”

  Marley sniffed and nodded.

  “Where is Mother?” Aster asked from her end of the table. “It isn’t like her to be late.”

  “Simon said she was still in her dressing room when we got here,” I said.

  “I apologize for my tardiness, but these things can’t always be helped.” Aunt Hyacinth swept into the dining room at Thornhold in an emerald green kaftan covered in cat eyes. Although her white-blond hair was worn up, the style was less elegant than usual. She’d even left a few loose tendrils to frame her face.

  “I like your hair, Aunt Hyacinth,” Marley said, beating me to the punch.

  My aunt tucked a tendril behind her ear, showing off her diamond-encrusted hoop earring. “Thank you, darling. I thought it would be nice to try something different. Simon says the style makes me look ten years younger.”

  “So Simon is the equivalent of a magic mirror,” Florian said.

  I heard a thump and knew that someone had kicked him under the table, presumably Aster.

  “Where is Simon?” Florian asked, in an effort to change the subject. “I’m starving.”

  “I asked him to hold off on serving,” my aunt said. “We’re waiting for one more guest.”

  Florian scanned the dining room. “No one’s missing,” he said.

  His mother leveled him with a look. “Indeed, someone is. My date, Zale Murphy.”

  Ooh, plot twist. An invitation to dinner was a big deal at Thornhold. That meant you were being taken seriously by the one person whose opinion mattered—Hyacinth Rose-Muldoon.

  I noticed Linnea and Aster exchange curious glances. Clearly, their mother hadn’t discussed this decision with them, not that my aunt was required to get anyone’s approval.

  “Is he the fish man?” Aspen asked.

  “A merman,” Aster corrected her son.

  For someone who made an endless fuss about her son marrying within the coven, it seemed surprising that Aunt Hyacinth was now willing to entertain suitors outside of her comfort zone, not that I minded. I’d seen the dating prospects in the coven and figured if my aunt ever wanted to get horizontal again, she’d have to expand her horizons.

  “Is he the one who rescued you from the water that day at the beach?” Ackley asked.

  My aunt smiled. “Yes, he is.” My aunt had nearly drowned at Balefire Beach until Zale emerged from the water with Hyacinth in his arms. It had been a sight to behold.

  “Mr. Murphy is here,” Simon announced from the doorway.

  The merman entered the room, wearing black jeans cinched with a large silver buckle. His shirt was nearly tucked in and I noticed the hint of a necklace at his throat. Fins aside, he was not at all the kind of man I’d expect Aunt Hyacinth to get involved with.

  “There’s a seat for you here, Zale,” my aunt said, tapping the end of the table next to Marley.

  “Good evening, everyone,” Zale said.

  My cousins still seemed to be in shock.

  “Good evening, Zale,” I said.

  “Hi,” Marley said.

  The merman smiled at her. “Last time I saw you, you were celebrating your magic. How’s that going?”

  Marley’s lip quivered and I worried that she’d burst into tears at the table.

  Zale shot my aunt an alarmed look.

  “What happened?” Aunt Hyacinth asked.

  “I’m the worst witch in the world,” Marley said. “That’s what happened.”

  “I sincerely doubt that,” my aunt said. “You’re a Rose, darling.”

  “Well, how do I quit magic?” Marley asked. “Because I don’t think I’m cut out for it after all.”

  There was a collective gasp at the table. I was fairly certain even the twins joined in.

  “Marley, you can’t be serious,” I said. “It was one spell.”

 
; “Except it wasn’t,” Marley said, her gaze lowered to her place setting.

  “What do you mean?” Linnea asked. “Your mother said it was a positivity spell. Those can be tricky.”

  “I’ve tried several more this weekend,” Marley said. “I used the ancient grimoire and the wand Aunt Hyacinth gave me. If I can’t manage simple spells with the best magical tools a witch can have, then I have no business being one.”

  I felt awful. I’d been so preoccupied this weekend, I had no idea what Marley had been doing or feeling. Some mother I was.

  “You are a descendant of the One True Witch,” Aunt Hyacinth said firmly. “We don’t produce quitters.”

  “That’s not strictly true, Mother,” Aster said. “Florian has quit every job he’s ever had.”

  “And Linnea quit her marriage,” Florian said.

  Linnea banged on the table. “That’s not fair.”

  “But it’s true,” Florian replied.

  Marley remained downcast. “Maybe I take after my dad.”

  “Oh no,” my aunt said. “You are clearly your mother’s daughter.”

  My head jerked toward her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I think it’s obvious,” my aunt said. “Stubborn streak. End of the world anxiety.”

  Platters of food floated into the room.

  “Thank the gods,” Florian said. “I was ready to carve a piece of Aster’s thigh.”

  “Hey!” Aster objected.

  Florian reached for the nearest platter. “What? You can spare it.”

  “Mind your tongue, Florian, or you might fight a hex on it later,” Aster warned.

  I decided to redirect the conversation. “Is it true that my mother kept an herb garden at Rose Cottage?”

  My aunt shrank back as though she’d received an electric shock. “Who told you that?”

  “Calla,” I said. “She came by to check on Raoul yesterday.”

  “I asked Mom if we can have one,” Marley added.

  “I don’t suppose you need one if you’re intent on quitting magic,” Aunt Hyacinth said.

  “I think a garden sounds cool,” Bryn said. “I’d help you with it.”

  “I’d help her with it, but I don’t want everything to die,” I said.

  Zale laughed. “You sound like my daughter, Sonya.”

  “You have a daughter?” I asked.

  The merman nodded. “I have five children. None still at home, though.”

  I glanced quickly at my aunt to see whether this was new information. She appeared unfazed, not that it meant anything. She was a pro at maintaining her composure.

  Marley had eaten everything on her plate and I noticed her reach for seconds. When I gave her a quizzical look, she mouthed “for Raoul.” I wasn’t going to argue with that.

  “And what about their mother?” Linnea asked.

  “Mothers,” Zale corrected her. “There are two.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Funny story, really.”

  “I don’t think we need to share that particular story now.” My aunt silenced him with a look.

  “I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m keenly interested.” Florian rested his chin on his knuckles and observed the merman.

  My aunt rang the bell for Simon. As always, the butler immediately appeared in the doorway. “My signature drink, please.”

  And the smelling salts, too, I thought, watching my aunt’s face grow paler by the second.

  “Go on,” Sterling said from the other end of the table. “You’ve captured our attention now. We love a good story in this house.” Especially when the story seemed likely to unhinge the formidable Hyacinth Rose-Muldoon.

  My aunt’s drink floated into the room on a small silver tray. She plucked the glass and brought it swiftly to her lips.

  “My first partner was Mona,” Zale said. “My first three sons are with her. Then I met Gaia and we have two children together.”

  “You never married either one?” Florian asked.

  Zale shook his head. “Marriage isn’t such a thing in our culture.”

  My aunt still seemed on edge. There was more to the story, I could tell.

  “And how is your relationship with them now?” I prodded.

  “Pretty good,” Zale said, between bites of food. “We get together with the kids pretty often for celebrations and that sort of thing. Their relationship with each other is even better, though.”

  “They bonded over breaking up with you, huh?” Florian asked with a laugh.

  “At first. Then they bonded over being attracted to each other,” Zale said. “They’re together now.”

  Sterling choked on his buttered roll. “Let me get this straight.”

  “No, not straight,” Zale joked.

  Sterling continued to gape at the merman. “Your former girlfriends are now girlfriends with each other?”

  “That’s right,” Zale said. “And their kids are already related, so it all worked out.”

  My aunt was uncharacteristically quiet during the discussion.

  “I think that’s wonderful,” Linnea said.

  “They’re really happy together,” Zale said. “And they’re both great mothers.” He patted my aunt’s hand. “And they can’t wait to meet you.”

  My aunt’s smile was pinched. “Yes, of course.”

  “What are you worried about, Mother?” Linnea asked.

  My aunt straightened in her chair. “I’m not worried about anything, naturally.”

  Florian couldn’t stop smiling. “Zale, I’m so pleased you joined us for dinner.”

  “It’s a shame Alec couldn’t come,” Aster said. “I wasn’t able to make it to Linnea’s on Friday night. Sterling and I had date night.”

  “You’re better off from what I hear,” Florian said.

  Now it was my turn to kick him under the table. I didn’t want to discuss Bonnie’s case in front of the kids, especially Marley. She was upset enough at the moment.

  “Someone died,” Hudson said.

  Inwardly, I groaned. So much for playing that one close to the vest.

  Marley looked at me. “Someone died at Linnea’s?”

  “No one you know, sweetheart,” I said. “It was a tragic accident.”

  “Like what happened to Raoul,” Marley said, her composure beginning to waver again.

  “No, nothing like that,” I said.

  “No, this lady was drained of all her blood,” Hudson added.

  “Thank you, Hudson,” Linnea said sharply.

  Aspen and Ackley wore matching rapturous expressions. “No blood?” Aspen asked.

  “A vampire?” Ackley said.

  “We don’t know yet,” I said. “I don’t think this is appropriate dinner conversation.”

  “Yes, let’s get back to Zale’s story,” Sterling said. “I find that fascinating.”

  “I’d rather talk more about the herb garden,” I said.

  “Will you get together with one of Daddy’s old girlfriends?” Aspen asked Aster.

  “There was no one before me,” Aster said stiffly. “No one at all.”

  “My mom has a whole harem to choose from,” Hudson said.

  “I’d go with Britney,” Bryn said. “She has the prettiest face.”

  “That’s enough,” Linnea said.

  Everyone started talking at once and I glimpsed Zale as he grinned at Aunt Hyacinth and said, “I’m so glad you invited me. Your family dinners are so much more interesting than mine.”

  Bentley hunched over his keyboard, barely glancing up when I entered the office with an extra large latte from the Caffeinated Cauldron. I needed the caffeine boost today after a long night catering to Raoul. Cool washcloths. Broth. A change of sheets. Taking care of a sick familiar was on par with nursing a small child back to health.

  Tanya fluttered over to greet me. I could tell by the rapid movement of her green wings that she’d heard all about Alec’s interrogation.

  “Was it as bad as it sounds?” the
fairy asked. I knew her concern for the vampire was genuine. She was more than the office manager; she was like a surrogate cousin twice removed. If Alec allowed anyone to get close to him, I’d upgrade Tanya to a surrogate aunt.

  I continued to my desk and set down my coffee cup. “It wasn’t pleasant, I’ll say that much.”

  Tanya sucked in a breath. “Poor Alec.” Her gaze settled on me. “Poor you as well. It must’ve been so awkward for everyone.”

  “The timing isn’t ideal,” I agreed. Not that there was ever a good time to be accused of murder.

  “I heard a suspect’s wife nearly gave birth right in the sheriff’s office,” Tanya said.

  “Not quite,” I said. “Turns out Emma experienced Braxton-Hicks contractions brought on by stress.”

  “I can imagine,” Tanya said. “In town on vacation and your husband gets questioned about a murder. They won’t forget their trip here, that’s for sure.”

  “They’re staying at Palmetto House,” I said. “It’s not a surprise that Sheriff Nash would want to question him. The fact that Daniel’s an angel helped him.”

  Tanya lowered her voice. “So it was definitely a vampire?”

  “It certainly has the hallmarks of a vampire who lost control,” I said. I didn’t want to get into the details when I still had an entire latte to digest.

  “That’s not good for Linnea’s business or tourism in general,” Tanya said.

  “I’m well aware. My family is having a collective coronary.” Florian and Aster had fixated on to that topic during dessert last night and begged me not to write an article about the murder investigation. I understood, given their involvement in Starry Hollow tourism, but I still felt that Bonnie deserved better than to be swept under the rug. My aunt had said nothing; she seemed too distracted by Zale.

  “No opinion, Bentley?” Tanya asked. “That’s not like you.”

  I leaned over to see what had captured Bentley’s undivided attention. “Butterflies? Why are you buying hundreds of butterflies?”

  Bentley fell back against his chair. “The wedding, of course. We can’t throw rice and Meadow doesn’t want glitter or doves.”