by Rose Pressey
What did he mean by that?
“Should I have done something differently?” I asked.
“No, I’m just curious whether she had any magic ability or was it something that you figured out after she had been there for a while?”
“Well, to be honest, her magic ability wasn’t that great. I suppose I helped her enough to make the spells work that caused all this chaos. She was so bad at first that I felt sorry for her and gave her a chance.”
“That was really nice of you, Elly,” he said. "Though it didn't work out so well in the end, but it was sweet of you, nonetheless.”
“Plus, to be honest, I’m not sure how many people actually want to work at the café,” I said.
“Why do you say that?” he asked.
“Everything that’s gone wrong. Maybe they don’t want to be involved in the chaos.”
“Well, plenty of people enjoy the food. So there is that,” he said.
“That’s one thing, I suppose. As long as they don’t get the wrong spells.” I laughed.
Tom chuckled.
“I still don’t understand why Laura did what she did,” I said around a sigh. “I mean, I know what she said in the journal, but what made her think she would ever get the café?”
“Laura thought by making you look bad to the organization that you would end up losing the café. She would be there working and ultimately it would become hers. Because well, she was convinced that she would be a better spellcaster than you.”
“Well, I guess that didn’t work out so well for her after all,” I said. “I still have the café and my magic isn’t too shabby.”
Tom chuckled. “No, it didn’t work out for her. I could’ve told her that from the beginning. No one gets anything past Elly Blair.”
“Sometimes you get stuff by me.”
“Not really,” he said. “Ultimately you figure it out.
Did I figure it out? Had I figured out everything about Tom? I didn’t think that was the case at all.
“She had a sneaky plan. I’m not sure I would’ve ever thought of anything like that.”
“You’re not out to do sinister things now, are you?”
“No, I’m not,” I said.
After a couple seconds of silence, I asked. “Where are you staying tonight?”
Tom backed out of the drive and we headed out onto the main road. I was just glad to be out of there.
“Well, here’s the thing,” he said. “I have nowhere that I’m staying.”
I’d assumed he was staying at the cottages or at the hotel. I was pretty sure Rory would not be happy if I asked Tom to stay at my place. Although Rory wasn’t answering my calls, so it would be hard for him to tell me anything that he didn’t like.
Silence hung like a heavy fog in the car. I wasn’t sure what to say. The longer I went without speaking the more awkward it became. And Tom wasn’t talking either.
“I would invite you to stay at my place, but my extra bedroom doesn’t have a bed,” I said with nervousness in my voice.
He chuckled. “No, it’s not that. I don’t need a place to stay. I’m leaving tonight. I have to get going.”
“Tonight?” I asked in a higher pitched voice than I’d intended. “I thought you were going to stay at least until the morning. And what about Mildred? I still have to show her stuff.”
“Mildred is staying. You’ll be just fine on your own. I know you can handle teaching her the things. I gave her directions on what to do when you all are finished. And I’ll make sure to call you.”
We’d reached my place now. Tom pulled into the driveway and up to the house. I hadn’t been expecting this at all. I thought for sure Tom would stay at least a couple more days.
“I should get going now. Conrad can drive Mildred to the café in the morning.” Tom touched my hand. “Don’t worry, Elly, you’ll be fine. You’re much stronger than you realize. You should know that by now.”
My hand tingled from his touch. It wasn’t that I didn’t think I would be fine with teaching Mildred. I just didn’t want to tell Tom that I worried about him. When he was gone I always wondered what he was doing and if he was all right.
“You’re right. I’ll be fine, but are you sure it’s safe in Mystic Hollow now?” I asked.
“From Laura and Kris Kringle?” Tom asked.
I nodded. “It’s just that I worry.”
“The police and detectives have cleared everything now. Laura and Kris Kringle won’t be bothering anyone,” Tom said.
“I still can’t believe the lengths they went to in an attempt to take the café,” I said.
“She messed with the wrong café owner.” Tom smiled.
Tom followed me as I got out of the car. We walked up to my front door.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay for Christmas?” I asked.
“Like I said, I really have somewhere to be. There’s another case,” Tom said.
“Where is the case?” I asked.
“Hawaii,” he said.
“Oh,” I said around pursed lips. “Well, I can understand why you would want to go there.”
Tom touched my chin. “I’ll be back.”
Our gazes locked in a moment of sizzling awareness before I looked away.
“I hope so,” I said.
He studied my face for a moment. Would Tom actually kiss me goodbye? After a few more seconds he turned and started down the steps. I stayed by the front door. All of a sudden Tom turned around and raced back up the steps. He pressed his lips to mine. A moment later he pulled away from me and hurried back down the steps. Without saying another word, he got into his car. He never looked back. I watched as he drove away, pulling out onto the road. I stayed there for a moment, thinking about what had just happened.
Actually, I didn’t know what to think. Maybe I act as if the kiss had never even happened. I stepped inside into the warmth of my cozy house. Home at last. I moved over to the big window in the living room where I had planned on putting the Christmas tree. I guessed now that Rory wasn’t talking to me any longer, I didn’t see the point in putting up the tree.
As I headed for the kitchen to make some hot chocolate the sound of an engine caught my attention. I froze on the spot. Had Tom returned? After racing back over to the window, I looked out and saw Rory’s truck. A large Christmas tree was on the back. Immediately a smile spread across my face. I ran over to the door just as Rory was getting out of the truck. After lifting the tree off the back of the truck, he dragged it across the snowy ground toward the porch. I opened the front door.
“I bought you a gift, if you’ll have it… or me,” Rory said. “I’ve been a fool.”
I nodded. “I know just the right spot for it.”
About the Author
Rose Pressey is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. The paranormal has always captured her interest. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained fascinates her.
When she’s not writing about werewolves, vampires and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and listening to oldies from the fifties.
Rose suffers from Psoriatic Arthritis and has knee replacements. She’s soon having her hips replaced, elbows, and at least one shoulder.
Rose lives in the beautiful commonwealth of Kentucky with her husband, son, and two sassy Chihuahuas.
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