by Rose Pressey
“Most Improved Magic,” she said. “And in such a short time, I might add. I came to present you with the award.”
An actual award! Something I could display so that people wouldn’t think I was lying when I told them my magic was better.
Chapter 3
I glanced down at Reagan’s bag. She waved her hand. “Oh, I don’t have it with me right now. I thought maybe you’d like to call your grandmother first. I know she would be proud.”
“Do you know my grandmother?” I asked.
“Yes, everyone knows your grandmother. She makes the best potions around.”
It was hard to live up to my grandmother’s skills. “Calling her would be great. I’m sure she will be just as excited as me. Maybe even more.” I knew there was a time that Grandma Imelda had thought I’d never catch on to the spells. Even though she would never admit it.
“Great. I’ll give you some time to place the call and then come back.” She grabbed her bag. “I just arrived in town. Can you point me in the direction of a quaint little inn?”
“Well, there is the motel out on highway twenty-two. But you’d probably like Roxanne Beams’ place. She has a cute little inn here in town. The setting is so tranquil. It’s like something straight out of a magazine.”
“That’s great. If you have the address I can map it on my phone.” She pulled out her cell phone.
I jotted down the address and handed her the paper. “If you drive by the old gas station you’ve gone too far.”
I had to say this was a surprise. Why hadn’t anyone called me and told me about this award? Of course the person who came to mind was Tom Owenton, but it had been some time since I’d spoken with him. Why would I expect him to call just because I’d gotten an award?
Reagan pushed to her feet. “I’ll see you soon. And congratulations again.”
I waved. “Thank you.”
As soon as Reagan reached the door, Mary Jane raced over. She grabbed me and gave me a big hug. “Wow. I guess you really showed the Organization. I knew you would be great at the magic.”
I grabbed my cell phone and dialed my Grandma Imelda. After a couple rings, she picked up.
“Is everything okay, dear? What happened?”
It was a little sad that the first thing she thought was that something had to be wrong. And it wasn’t because I didn’t call her. I called at least once a week to check in, but she was just a little jaded after all that had happened since I’d taken over the café.
“Nothing’s wrong, it’s just that someone just stopped by from the…” I stopped myself. I wouldn’t start the sentence with that because that would freak her out. “The Organization wants to give me an award,” I yelled into the phone.
I’d barely spoken the words when she let out a scream. “See, I knew you had a natural knack for the magic. Didn’t I tell you that?”
“Well, yes, you did.”
“When do they give you this award?”
“I’m not sure. She said she’d give me a chance to call you since she thought you’d like to know.”
“Who is this woman?” Grandma Imelda asked.
“Her name is Reagan Baer-Turner. She said she knows you.” I waved at a group of people who entered the café.
“Hm. I’m not familiar with the name, but maybe it just slipped my mind. You tell her not to give you that award until I get there.” Grandma Imelda used her strict voice, which wasn’t all that stern.
“What? You’re coming here?” I asked.
“If my grandbaby is getting an award then I am there.” Her excitement practically bounced through the phone.
Her enthusiasm made this that much more exciting. “I’ll see what I can do, Grandma.”
“Good. I’ll call you with my flight info and when to pick me up from the airport.” Grandma Imelda ended the call abruptly. She was probably already packing.
Mary Jane looked at me when I hung up the phone. “She’s on her way, right?”
I laughed. “Nothing could keep her away.”
“I don’t blame her. She’s proud of you.”
“It’s not a big deal. She shouldn’t go to all the trouble.” I tried to play off my excitement.
“There’s no way she will believe that.” Mary Jane pointed toward the front of the café. “Check it out. There’s a sign in the window now across the street.”
Mary Jane and I had been watching for weeks now to find out who was opening a boutique across the street.
“Oh! What does it say?” I rushed over to the door with Mary Jane.
Mary Jane and I crowded up to the door. The customers looked at us oddly, but went back to their food. We watched the woman across the street as she placed the open sign in the window. We hadn’t seen this much excitement in town since I had messed up the magic and someone from the Organization had been murdered.
The woman was about my age and had blonde hair cut into a chin-length style with bangs. She wore a tight red dress with gold jewelry around her neck, on her wrists and from her earlobes.
“She’s fashionable.” Mary Jane pressed her face closer to the door.
We looked down at our food-stained jeans and t-shirts. There wasn’t a lot of time to get dressed up when I was always covered with flour and spices. I picked a piece of lettuce out of Mary Jane’s hair.
Just then the woman looked at us. I didn’t think she could see us from all the way over there, but she was staring in our direction.
“Do you think she sees us?” Mary Jane asked.
“It certainly seems that way, doesn’t it?” I grabbed Mary Jane’s arm and pulled her away from the window. “Just in case she really can see us, I don’t want her to think we were staring.”
Mary Jane frowned. “But we were staring.”
“Yes, but she doesn’t have to know that.” I hurried over behind the counter. “I need to get back to work anyway.”
Just then the bell above the door jingled, announcing a customer. It was the woman from across the street. Now I knew that she had seen us. She walked across the floor toward us and for a moment I just stared at her. Not talking to her probably wasn’t an option.
“Welcome to Mystic Café. Would you like to sit at a table, booth, or counter?” Mary Jane eyed the woman up and down.
At least Mary Jane had saved me from looking like a complete dope. I just hoped the woman hadn’t come over to ask what we were staring at. The way Mary Jane sized the woman up, she probably was aware that we’d noticed her.
The woman flashed her bright white smile. “I came over to introduce myself.”
I stepped out from around the counter and stuck out my hand. At least she seemed nice. I would have to apologize for staring. “Nice to meet you. I’m Elly Blair.”
She reached her hand toward me. “I’m Meredith Meese. I just opened the shop across the street.”
“I own the café here. This is my best friend Mary Jane.” I gestured toward Mary Jane.
Meredith shook Mary Jane’s hand. “It’s so nice to meet you both.” She looked over at the cake in this display case. “Oh, I will be in trouble with your café here. Look at that cake. I gained weight just looking at it. You should just close your doors now.” She laughed.
Mary Jane and I looked at each other. Talking about closing Mystic Café wasn’t something that we liked to joke about.
“I hope you’ll come visit my shop,” Meredith said with a smile.
Her enthusiasm almost seemed forced. I wasn’t sure what made me think this, but it was something about her voice.
“I’d love to,” I said.
“Can’t wait.” Mary Jane waved.
“Well, it was nice meeting you.” She tossed her hand up and marched toward the door.
Before I had a chance to ask any more questions she was out the door and back across the street.
“She seems nice.” Mary Jane picked up a couple dishes from the table next to her.
I stared at the door. “Yes, she does, but there is somethi
ng that seems familiar about her. I just can’t put my finger on it.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of it,” Mary Jane said.
I tapped my fingers against the counter. “Now I know! She is from around here. Well, she hasn’t been in town for a while. Do you remember her?” I asked.
Mary Jane shook her head. “No, who is she?”
“She was here when we were sixteen. We went to school together. Remember she was here for one year and then she left with her family?”
Mary Jane stared at me wide-eyed. “How do you remember that?”
I shrugged. “Guess I just have a good memory.”
“Yet you didn’t remember to put the milk back in the fridge yesterday,” Mary Jane said.
I waved my hand. “Doesn’t matter. I wonder about magic. Do you think her shop will be a magic one?” Not all the shops in town were magical.
“I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” Mary Jane leaned against the counter. “It will be good for the town to have more magic.”
I wiped down the counter. “I suppose it will be.”
There was something at the back of my mind and I just couldn’t put my finger on it. What was it about the new woman in town?
Chapter 4
Grandma Imelda and I were in my car on the way back from the airport. Imelda was in the front seat with her giant brown leather pocketbook resting on her lap. Her white hair was piled high on top of her head, almost reaching the car’s ceiling. I’d always told her that her hairstyle looked like a giant ice cream cone. Grandma wore tan-colored pants with big white polka dots on them. Her white blouse had ruffles around the scooped neckline.
Grandma Imelda had had a smile on her face from the moment I spotted her rushing toward me at the airport. She wouldn’t lose the smile until it was time for her to leave Mystic Hollow. Her departure made me sad just thinking about it, but I would enjoy the time we had together.
“I can’t wait to see the place again,” Imelda said as she looked out the car’s window.
I hoped she liked what I’d done with the place. Not that I’d made many changes, but the food alone was cause for concern. I’d added quite a few new items to the menu.
“Things haven’t changed much,” Grandma Imelda said as we drove through town.
“You haven’t been gone for too long,” I said as I turned onto Main Street.
“It feels like forever. But I’m having a great time in Florida.”
I pulled up to the café and shoved the car into park. “Well, here we are.”
Grandma Imelda peered out the window. “Yes, here we are.”
The outside of the building still looked the same. Window boxes were filled with red geraniums that I’d actually remembered to water and the little wooden bench was still positioned in front of the café where it had always been. Mystic Café was written in big script letters across the window.
“I didn’t burn the place down,” I said as I got out of the car.
Imelda climbed out of the car and stood on the sidewalk. She peered up at the café. “It looks great. You’ve done a wonderful job, just as I knew you would.”
I would never understand where she got such confidence in me. Especially as disastrous as I’d been when I’d first taken over the café. Grandma Imelda peered around. She placed her hands on her hips. “When did that place open?” She pointed at the new shop.
“Yesterday,” I said.
“Hmm. Do you know who opened it?”
“Meredith came over and introduced herself. I’m sure she’s the same girl I went to school with. She’s my age.”
“Interesting. I will have to introduce myself,” Grandma Imelda said.
“Maybe you can get information out of her. You know, like where she’s been. Why she came back. You’re good at that stuff, Grandma.”
She turned her attention back to the café. “But for now let’s go inside.”
As we started toward the door, movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. Rory Covington was walking down the sidewalk. He was on the opposite side of the street and he hadn’t looked over to notice us. Rory and I had been dating for a little while now. We were the perfect match for each other. At least that was what everyone in town said, and I believed them. Rory was good-looking and had a gentle, caring nature. He had a farm on the outskirts of town and he even rescued retired racehorses. He was my dream boyfriend, so what was the problem?
“Isn’t that Rory?” Grandma Imelda pointed.
“Yes, it is,” I said as I stared at Rory.
He walked inside the new shop and never even looked our way. That was odd.
“I suppose he will be over to see us soon,” I said, trying to sound casual.
I guided Grandma Imelda toward the door. I glanced over my shoulder one more time to see if I spotted Rory. He was still inside the shop. Grandma Imelda and I stepped inside the café.
She took a big whiff. “It smells just like I remember.”
The aroma of fresh baked goods and the lingering scent of bacon hung in the air. Grandma Imelda wasted little time marching across the floor and back into the kitchen. I was worried that she would hate the way I had organized the herbs and spices. We all had our own unique way of doing things though. Before I even had time to cross the floor she popped back from the kitchen.
She draped the apron over her head and then secured it around her waist. “I’m all ready for work.”
“Grandma, I didn’t want you to work while you’re here. You should relax. I have everything under control.” I took the dishes she’d just picked up out of her hand.
“Nonsense. I want to help and I won’t let you stop me.”
I knew that was the case. She’d never been one to take no for an answer.
She stepped over to the door again. “You know, there is something peculiar about that new shop.”
I couldn’t believe she felt it too. I thought it had all been my imagination.
I stepped over to the window beside Grandma Imelda. We watched the shop. An uneasiness fell over me knowing that Rory was in there. Why did I feel as though he was in danger? For a moment I wondered if I should go over there. But before I could act on that thought, a woman emerged from the shop. She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Her appearance seemed completely normal until we noticed her stumbling.
“She acts like she’s been at the bourbon bottle already this morning,” Grandma Imelda said.
“She does act that way, doesn’t she?” I said.
We watched the woman stumble all the way down the sidewalk until she was out of sight.
“I hope she makes it home okay,” Grandma Imelda said.
“Me too,” I said.
Just then Rory stepped out from the shop. He stumbled too. My grandmother looked at me. I knew that she wouldn’t be happy if I was dating someone who liked to tie one on at this time of morning. She loved Rory, but she wouldn’t be happy with that behavior.
“It looks as if he’s partaking too,” she said with disapproval in her voice.
“Rory really doesn’t drink much. Maybe the occasional beer,” I offered.
Although it sure didn’t look as if that was the case right now. Rory was headed toward the café. A car honked as it crossed the street. I hoped he was a little more careful when he crossed the street the next time. Maybe I should let him go home alone. There was no way he could drive in that condition.
Grandma Imelda and I stepped back from the door and waited for Rory to enter. He stepped up to the door and pushed it open. He immediately looked to his left and spotted us. He flashed a dopey-looking smile at me. Just then the goofy look on his face disappeared. He looked like the Rory that I knew. The morning sun streamed through the window and splashed across his handsome face. Streaks of gold highlighted his already blond hair. His blue eyes sparkled even brighter than normal. Muscles peeked out from under his short-sleeved T-shirt. His jeans hit in all the right places.
“Good morning.” Rory’s dimples appea
red again.
Rory looked and acted completely normal now. Maybe he had just stumbled. Uneven pavement on the sidewalk? I was trying to think of any logical explanation.
“Grandma Imelda, it’s so good to see you again.” Rory stepped forward to hug her, but Grandma Imelda quirked an eyebrow and kept her hands folded across her waist. When she didn’t budge, Rory stuck out his hand toward her instead.
My grandmother eyed him up and down. I knew she was suspicious. I hoped this didn’t leave a lasting impression on her. She was usually forgiving. Plus, he hadn’t really done anything wrong.
“It’s nice to see you again too, Rory,” she said in a guarded voice. She reluctantly took his hand.
“We saw you across the street,” I said with a smile. I didn’t want him to think we were spying… but I wanted to know the story.
He gestured over his shoulder. “Yes, my cousin just opened the shop and I stopped in to congratulate her. I haven’t seen her in years.”
I quirked an eyebrow. “Meredith Meese is your cousin?”
Grandma Imelda cast a glance my way.
“Yes, she used to live here and recently moved back. Isn’t that great?” Rory’s voice was full of excitement.
“That’s fantastic.” I tried to match his enthusiasm, but I didn’t think it was working.
He looked at his watch. “Well, I’d better get to work.” He leaned over and gently kissed me. “I’ll talk to you tonight. Have a great day.” He waved at Grandma. “It was nice seeing you, Mrs. Blair.”
She gave him a lukewarm smile. “Likewise.”
Rory walked out the door and for a few minutes awkward silence hung in the air. I knew Grandma Imelda wanted to say something. She might as well get it over with.
“Something doesn’t seem right about that shop.” Grandma Imelda pointed across the street. “I definitely think something is wrong.”
“It’s probably just because you’ve been gone and anything new seems strange to you.” I brushed off her comment with a wave of my hand.
She quirked an eyebrow and I chuckled nervously. I knew she was right. I sensed it. It might sound crazy, but I felt a tingle of misplaced magic around the edges. And I knew that Grandma Imelda was picking up on that too. Would the feeling go away? I wasn’t sure, but first I had to find out what kind of magic was being performed over there.