Spooky Spice Cake Curse

by Addison Moore

  “So this is your way of giving Everett another shot?”

  My lips part as I consider this. “Yes. I was sort of thinking this shot could just go on, you know, forever.”

  “And Noah?”

  My eyes squeeze shut. “I don’t want to think about that.”

  “Because you still love Noah.”

  I give a slight nod.

  “Okay, I think I know what’s happening here and I think you do, too, Lottie. You love both of these men.”

  “I will never deny it,” I say, taking in the crowd around us, mostly families with small children. I do a quick scan for Evie but come up empty, and I don’t see Noah or Everett either, but a stalky gentleman with a full head of thick brown hair gets my attention. Fletcher Hamilton stands over by the pumpkin patch, arms folded as if he were overseeing the situation.

  “And that’s what I’m proposing we do.” Veranda waves her hand over my face. “Lottie? You didn’t hear a thing I just said, did you?”

  “I’m so sorry.” My hand quickly covers my stomach. “Pregnant brain.” Also a very curious one when it comes to prospective killers.

  Noah and Everett stride up, each holding a delectable treat. Noah holds a caramel apple rolled in crushed peanuts, and Everett holds out a bouquet of churros my way.

  A hard groan comes from me. “Wow, thank you,” I say, careful to grab both at the very same time, thus denying Veranda the right to read into my actions. I bury my nose in the churros before taking a hearty bite. “Mmm.” So fresh. I glance up and Noah looks unimpressed, so I quickly eat half of the caramel apple—no small feat but not a big sacrifice on my part either. “And that was equally delicious.”

  Veranda titters away with that perennial nervous laugh of hers.

  “I was just telling Lottie that she’s very lucky to have such strong, gorgeous, stunning-to-look-at gentlemen that are so very vested in her. I guess the real crux of it all is this: Noah, you’re the outsider here. If this baby turns out to be Everett’s, the healthiest situation for everyone involved would be for you to give the new family some space—start up a new romantic relationship of your own. In fact, you could do that now.” Her fingers drift to the pendant floating on her neck as she zips it back and forth. “I’m free for coffee anytime you like.”

  I clear my throat at the piranha among us.

  She lifts her nose a notch. “I’m simply saying I would make for good practice.”

  “He’s not rusty,” I say.

  Noah shakes his head. “Don’t worry, Lot. I’m not dating anyone else.”

  Veranda’s mouth falls open. “But that’s not normal. That’s not healthy. Can’t you see she’s married?” Her blonde curls shake my way. “Are you serious about your marriage, Lottie? Because a part of me is beginning to wonder if you’re unintentionally stringing Noah along.”

  “All right. That’s enough.” Everett’s chest broadens. “Lemon isn’t stringing anyone along. She and Noah had a very serious relationship that was broadsided by his inability to tell her the truth about his wife.”

  Veranda’s jaw unhinges. “Is this true?” Her eyes bug out as she looks to Noah.

  “Unfortunately.” Anger sharpens on Noah’s features, and I know for a fact he’s the one he’s angry at. “We were separated, the divorce was imminent. But Everett here didn’t mind swooping in just when Lottie and I were imploding.” He narrows his eyes over at his old stepbrother. “And don’t for a minute deny this didn’t have to do with me stealing Cormack from you all those years ago.” His voice hikes a notch too loud, and I shoot a nervous smile to Veranda.

  “A little dating mishap in high school,” I whisper.

  Everett postures toward Noah. “I’m over that.” His voice is stern and a touch too loud, garnering looks from a couple of passersby. “And for your information, Lemon and I met outside of any circumstances that surrounded you. And when she decided to give us a chance, it was because you created a fissure of doubt in your relationship. Face it, Noah, trust is something very difficult to earn back. You broke your trust with me, and you broke it with Lemon, and not only are you suffering because of it, but you’re pinning the blame on me.”

  I chow down on half of that churro bouquet without meaning to.

  I can’t help it. Even though Noah, Everett, and I have been around the block with this conversation, it feels freshly heated each time we start it up again.

  Noah growls, “And I’ve apologized to the both of you.”

  “And I forgave you.” I hold up what’s left of the caramel apple before taking another big, juicy bite. There’s just nothing better than a fresh, juicy apple covered with thick, sticky caramel, except maybe fresh roasted peanuts that go along with it—and thankfully, Noah saw to it that I had that, too. “In fact, Noah, we never have to bring it up again.” I nod to Veranda. “I’m good friends with his ex-wife Brittany now. She owns the Swift Cycle gym right down on Main Street.”

  Veranda clucks her tongue. “Is that her? I’ve been going there for weeks. She really is nice. Noah, have you got any sort of spark left for your ex? I think maybe she might be the solution to this whole mess.”

  Before I can unleash the flood of words currently backing up in my throat, Carlotta pops up from seemingly nowhere. And to be honest, I’ve never been so glad to see this unruly, kooky version of myself.

  “What’s this?” Carlotta slaps Everett on the back. “You and Foxy having another tussle over who gets to do the bedtime hustle with my Lot Lot?” She yucks it up. “It never gets old, does it, Lot?” She nods to Veranda. “If you’re here fishing for a good time, you’d best scat now. My Lottie Dottie’s got a lock on this pond. Both of these men belong to her and her alone.” She leans toward the dumbfounded woman. “Don’t believe all that. I’ve made up my mind nonsense. She’s no fool. Her long-term strategy involves one serious game of bed-hopping ping pong. But don’t feel too sorry for the young studs. They take it on the chin—among other body parts—like champs. Personally, I’m waiting for the three of them to shack up together. I’m pretty sure they’ll need to look into one of those specialty mattresses that will set them back a couple of G’s or two, but Mr. Sexy’s good to foot the bill for it. He’s rolling in the big bucks no thanks to my Lot Lot’s selfless act, and she’s got the Rock of Gibraltar on her finger to prove it. Foxy isn’t flat broke either, but he comes from a common stock. Blue collar, white collar, my Lot Lot doesn’t discriminate when it comes to a man’s financial position, or I’m guessing any other position either.”

  A croaking sound comes from Veranda.

  “Nobody is buying a specialty mattress,” I say without bothering to hide my dismay toward the woman who bore me. “Veranda, this is my biological mother, Carlotta. She has a fun habit of speaking exactly what’s on her mind. Carlotta, this is Veranda Wilson, the counselor that Dr. Barnette suggested. She’s helping us sort out our feelings so that when the baby comes we’ll all be in a better psychological position to handle it.”

  Carlotta chuckles. “And how’s that working out for everyone?” She looks to the three of us. “Never mind. I can chew through the tension with my toenails.” She nods to Veranda. “Nice try, Toots. But if I were you, I’d take the money and run. Have they mentioned Foxy has a single brother? Alex has got an office by the Savings and Loan on Main Street. They’re open until seven. He’s got the same Foxy green eyes and dimples, you can’t miss him.”

  An odd chirping sound escapes from the poor woman.

  Veranda edges my way. “Lottie, might I recommend you continue to follow your heart? Everett and Noah, you’re both fantastic, highly intelligent men. I’m sure whatever the outcome of this situation is, the three of you will remain on amicable terms with one another.” She glances to her phone a moment. “Well, would you look at that? My next appointment is creeping up on me. How about this? Why don’t the three of you take a moment to think about the fact, next October you might just find yourself right back here with a little one in tow. I know th
is won’t be easy for one of you gentlemen, but keep in mind, the baby’s best interest should come first.” She gives a little wave as she starts to take off. “Don’t worry about the billing. This one is on me!”

  “Well, Carlotta,” I say. “You made quick work of that.”

  She grunts, “Someone owes me twenty bucks.” She holds out a hand, and both Noah and Everett drop down a bill. “Now where are we headed first? Haunted hayride? The maze of terror? The pumpkin toss? I hear they make those of the male persuasion have at it shirtless. No offense, Mr. Sexy, but my money is on Foxy. He’s got all that pent-up aggression. I bet he could sling one of those haunted gourds all the way to China. I guess there’s no reason to venture out that way. He’d be the clear winner.”

  “Impossible,” Everett rumbles. “But I suppose there’s only one way to find out.”

  I’m about to put the kibosh on this shirtless squash smashing fest when I spot Fester standing near the pumpkin launch pad and have an abrupt change of heart.

  “It sounds like good clean fun,” I say. “Noah, are you in?”

  A dark laugh brews from him. “I never inch back from a challenge.”

  Carlotta ticks her head to the side. “That explains everything.”

  We head on over, and both Noah and Everett take off their suit jackets as they get in line. Each of them picks up an orange globe and tosses it in their arms as they try to adjust to the weight and heft of it.

  I lean close to Carlotta’s ear. “I’ll be right back. Whatever you do, don’t let those two leave this line.”

  No sooner do I step away than Duke appears by my side in all of his sparkling ghostly glory.

  “Have you found the killer?” he growls the words out, and I can’t help but jump a little. Duke’s stature and girth alone are enough to make me take a step back, but that baritone in his voice ensures a fear in me.

  “I don’t know,” I say, looking over at Fester as he watches men, women, and children alike as they sling happy orange gourds across the field. “But I have a feeling we’re getting very, very close.”

  “Hey, Lot!” Carlotta calls out after me. “That’s my sexy beast, and don’t you forget it,” she shouts. “Keep your paws to yourself, would ya?”

  “Don’t worry, Duke,” I whisper it low, for his pointed ears only. “I’m well aware of where your heart lies. I’m not sure why, but I’m not going to fight it either.”

  I sneak up on Fester as his eyes follow a pumpkin floating through the dark sky until it splats right over the field where dozens of other pumpkins have met their smashed demise.

  “There’s sure something satisfying about it,” I say as I stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

  Duke gives Fester a quick sniff around his front and backside.

  “He’s tense, Lottie.” Duke barks right at him. “He’s hiding something.”

  “It looks satisfying indeed.” Fester looks my way and quickly does a double take.

  “I’m Lottie,” I offer. “We met at the library.”

  “That’s right. You mentioned you stumbled upon that horrible scene.” He takes a step back to examine me. The stubble on his cheeks gives him an outdoorsy appeal and he’s bundled in a plaid jacket and chinos. “How have you been? Are you sleeping okay?”

  “Oh yes, I’m fine. I’m still a bit shaken, though. It’s by far the grisliest thing I’ve ever seen. And believe me, I’ve seen a lot. How are you? And how are things at the Hearst house?”

  “We’re all adjusting. My sister is having the toughest time with it, of course. She was his wife. And their children are having a rough ride as well.”

  “Any word on who could have done something like this?”

  He lets out a deep sigh, his breath pluming from him in an icy cloud.

  Duke growls at the man. “He’s too quiet. He knows something, Lottie. Don’t let this one go. He’s got answers.”

  “Fester?” I take a careful step in. “You suspect someone, don’t you?” Unless he’s the killer.

  “I don’t know that I suspect someone, per se, but I suspect something.” He glares out at the field just as another pumpkin gets lobbed into the sky. “I told her—warned her not to get involved with a family like that.”

  Duke lets out a riotous bark. “What’s wrong with my family?”

  A thought hits me. “Fester, are you talking about the curse?”

  The sky flashes with a violent jag of lightning. The lavender aura singes the horizon, but I don’t dare take my eyes off of the suspect before me.

  His cheek cinches. “It’s obvious, isn’t it? I’m sorry, but there’s not a person out there who could make me want to get into a family like that. But Cordelia had to have him. She said it was true love. He was a bit too generous with his affection, if you know what I mean. And my sister suffered because of it.” His jaw tenses, and Duke and I exchange a look.

  “He’s guilty, Lottie.” Duke growls it out. “Fish that gun out from the detective’s back and shoot him.”

  I take a quick breath as I redirect my attention to the suspect at hand.

  “It sounds as if Ichabod caused your sister unimaginable pain.”

  “You got that right.” Fester shakes his head. “And to think I was fearing for her life the entire time they were together. And it came after him instead.”

  “It?” I give a little shrug. “You mean the curse, right?”

  “It, the curse.” He shrugs. “Ichabod told my sister it was nothing but superstition, but anyone with half a brain could see something wasn’t right. You don’t get that many deaths, that many accidents, maims, misfortunes without some force of darkness at the helm.”

  The air grows colder. Another violent jag of lightning illuminates the sky, blood red and dangerous, followed by a growl of thunder so deep and visceral it sounds as if a celestial lion had just been set loose on the prowl.

  “Fester”—I pant with fear—“did you have any idea of what that force of darkness might be?”

  He shakes his head. “There were rumblings about an offshoot of gypsies of some kind?”

  “The Magiskas?” I distinctly remember little Lea telling me all about them during my mother’s haunted house revival. She mentioned she heard Bartholomew had an affair with a woman he deemed not worthy enough to marry, and that the woman’s mother was a powerful enchantress that belonged to the Magiskas.

  “Magis—what?” He shakes his head. “No, that’s not what he said, although I’ve heard that, too. Ichabod mentioned something about a group of special people—people who were able to do extraordinary things like see the dead, read minds, people who had the gift of foreknowledge. I did a little digging myself and found out these people are called the transmundane.”

  An electric chill rides up my spine.

  My God… could Iona and Annabeth Canterbury have been transmundane?

  He nods as if verifying my terror. “It’s true, I met up with a woman a few years back who claimed she could read minds. She made a good living off of it, too. All sorts of people hired her, from corporate lawyers right down to high school girls trying to determine if their boyfriends were cheating on them. She said she was further classified as telesensual, something that fell under the umbrella of transmundane.”

  My entire body tenses just listening to him.

  He’s right. Telesensual is exactly what my friend Bizzy Baker happens to be, and she can read both the human and animal mind.

  But this wickedness—it can’t have anything to do with my people, can it?

  “That all sounds so farfetched,” I say, my throat dry as harvest wheat. “It sounds to me as if this woman wanted to lay claim to this curse.”

  Another jag of lightning goes off in the sky and touches down at the far end of the field in a spectacular show of illumination. And then I see her again, the woman wrapped in a dark cloak, that lavender aura saturating her completely. She turns my way a moment before dissipating to nothing.

  The crowd gasps and screams as light r
ain begins to fall.

  “I guess that’s our cue.” He shrugs as he takes a step away, but Duke jumps up and lands his front paws against the man’s chest, causing Fester to stagger back a moment. “Whoa, I almost lost my footing.”

  Duke riots in his face. “You’ll lose much more if you don’t tell us what you know! Make him tell us, Lottie.”

  “Fester?” His name escapes me in a panic. “There’s something else, isn’t there? Something other than the curse? Ichabod had a secret, didn’t he?” And if he didn’t, here’s hoping it pans out to be a good springboard anyway.

  Duke growls and it reaches to the heavens like thunder.

  Fester nods. “The entire family has secrets. Secret lovers, secret children, secret billions they’ve hidden in offshore accounts. But no matter how hard they try to outrun the truth, they can’t outrun that curse.” He nods to the sky. “As for us, we’d better outrun this rain. It was nice seeing you again, Lottie.”

  He takes off, and both Duke and I make our way back to the pumpkin tossing line where I head over to Carlotta just in time to see Noah Corbin Fox stripping off his shirt and slinging his pumpkin so far out it hits far beyond the orange splash zone set out in the distance.

  “Good job, Foxy!” Carlotta shouts. “You’ve entered into virgin territory—nothing Lot Lot could give you. But then, you are willing to overlook her less than chaste behavior more often than not.”

  “Would you hush?” I butt my shoulder to hers as I join in on the applause.

  The rain begins to pepper us a little bit harder and a handful of families drain away—and yet an entire battalion of women stand firm, hair plastered, coats quickly soaked as they keep their eyes feasted on Noah.

  Everett steps up and unbuttons his shirt to the sound of an entire choir of gasping women—me being one of them.