Interrupted Magic

by Karla Brandenburg

  Chapter 32

  “The drug charges against Perry Stephens have been dropped,” Kyle said. “Seems their star witness has dirty hands.”

  “Perry Stephens? Madeleine’s brother?” I asked.

  He waved me to a seat on the stool beside the sales counter. “While I was staking Daria out, I noticed suspicious activity in and out of her apartment. I mentioned it to Roxanne, and she suggested I bring in Deputy Becker since it was out of her jurisdiction.”

  I waited, while he apparently felt he deserved affirmation. “Go on,” I said.

  “Daria was the one selling drugs. I figured the only way to take the air out of what you predicted could happen was to get ahead of it and call other people in. See? I took care of the problem. You don’t have anything more to worry about.”

  I nodded slowly. “Good for you, but you do realize Labor Day—September 2—is four days away?”

  “It’s over. I’m the hero of this story. No one can frame me now.” His brow furrowed. “I thought you might be happier for me. Becker recommended me for a job with the sheriff’s department.”

  I wasn’t so sure he was out of danger yet, but he would discount my concerns. “I’m happy for you. I know you’ve been trying to get back into law enforcement.”

  “Why aren’t you more excited?” he asked.

  The transferred spell had specified a date of satisfaction, which hadn’t happened yet. On the other hand, if Kyle had taken such great efforts to coordinate the raid, and Perry Stephens’ drug charges would be reversed, the spell might be broken. I was still powerless to do anything, so I said the one thing I could. “I wish you the best.”

  He gave a disappointed sigh. “Things are going back to normal for me.”

  I crossed my arms, hoping he wasn’t going to follow the same path the village gossips had. He seemed to sense my hesitation.

  “I thought we might get a drink later to celebrate,” he went on.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  He rolled his eyes. “I know. I screwed up again. I did everything wrong, but Brynn, I’m still willing to marry you.”

  I laughed. “That’s generous of you,” I said with more than a little sarcasm. “I’m afraid I’m not willing to marry you.”

  Kyle frowned. “I haven’t seen that guy around. You know how guys can be. They get what they want and they move on.”

  The dart hit its mark and I swallowed a sob. “That guy, as you call him, has nothing to do with you and me getting married.”

  “Can we at least talk about it?” Kyle asked.

  Cassandra cleared her throat. Kyle’s gaze shifted to where she stood in the doorway to the backroom.

  “We’re not done,” he said.

  Cassandra raised her eyebrows. “Brynn? Are you done?”

  “Yes,” I replied.

  Kyle shot her a glare and walked out.

  “He and Lucas are friends,” I said to Cassandra. “What if Kyle tries to screw things up for you?”

  “Kyle’s a jackass. I’ve always thought so, and Lucas knows that. If Kyle makes Lucas take sides, better I know ahead of time if I’m the loser.”

  “No,” I said. “I can’t do that to you.”

  She smiled. “I have faith in my man. If I’m wrong, I wouldn’t want him, anyway.”

  More people stopped into the store, more than we’d seen all week. While we attributed the sudden spurt to gossip mongers, we did manage to clear more stock.

  At lunchtime, I checked my phone. I had a missed call from Ian. My fingers trembled as I struggled to access his voicemail.

  “I saw the news. It seems whatever interrupted your magic has resolved itself. I’m glad for that.” He sighed. “I didn’t throw you away, Brynn. I don’t want you to think that, but I can’t be with someone I can’t trust. It’s that simple, no matter how extraordinary we are together.”

  Tears rolled down my cheeks. I hit redial, desperate to prove he could trust me. He didn’t answer, so I left him a message in return.

  “I hate that you feel you can’t trust me, but I understand your position. I’ve been there myself. I’ve already explained to you what happened. If that isn’t good enough, I don’t suppose there’s anything I can do to convince you. And no, the magic still isn’t working.” I pulled the phone away. “Nothing’s working,” I said as I disconnected the call.

  I wiped at my eyes, determined not to show my pain to the world, and checked the internet store. The volume seemed to be increasing, the universe’s response to no longer having a brick and mortar store? I also had an email from Hannah, the Wiccan woman Nora had introduced me to.

  So lovely to hear from you, Brynn. As Nora may have told you, we only take new members to the coven by recommendation. I’d love to discuss how you think Madeleine will fit. I’d also like to meet with her to determine if her philosophy fits with ours. Let me know when we can arrange a meeting.

  Please know you are always welcome to celebrate the holidays with us. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.

  Good news for Madeleine, if she turned up again. As for her philosophy, I couldn’t be sure it was in line with Hannah’s.

  I had more immediate problems.

  Was Kyle right? Had he beaten the spell? Or would he be caught in the middle when the spell was due to end?

  Chapter 33

  I picked through a salad for dinner when I got home Thursday night. My appetite had apparently gone missing. I reached for my phone. No more messages from Ian. To keep from calling him, I called Sharon, my cousin Jason’s wife, instead.

  “I hope I’m not interrupting,” I said when she answered. “What should I bring for dinner on Saturday?”

  “Brynn! Your ears must be burning. We were just talking about you. You don’t need to bring anything.”

  “Aunt Brynn!” My niece’s voice squealed in the background.

  “Here. Georgia wants to say hello,” Sharon said.

  “Hello?” the little voice said.

  “Hey, Georgie girl. How are you doing?”

  “Daddy says you’re coming for dinner on Saturday.”

  “Yes, I am. I can’t wait to see you.”

  “I’m going to go to pre-school next month,” she said proudly.

  “Aren’t you the clever girl,” I replied. “I bet you’re excited about that.”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  I heard some fumbling and then Sharon laughed into the phone. “I guess she’s done talking. So about Saturday. Did Jason tell me Kyle won’t be joining you?”

  My muscles tensed. There was no easy was to tell people, and since they didn’t get the local gossip, it would have to come from me. “Right,” I said. “We’ve decided to call it a day.”

  “Oh, Brynn. I’m so sorry.” She sighed. “I did wonder when he postponed the wedding. I’d hoped that was temporary until he got back on his feet. I assume he’s still struggling?”

  “Actually, he was offered a job with the County, but some things aren’t meant to be.”

  Sharon’s voice faded as she scolded my nephew. “Remy, take that out of your mouth.” Her voice returned to normal volume. “I have to go. We can catch up on Saturday.”

  “You sure I can’t bring anything?”

  “We’re having mostaccioli, garlic bread and a couple of snicky-snacky kind of things. Jeannine’s bringing a salad. Nothing fancy.”

  “I’ll bring a dessert then.”

  “That’d be great. See you then.”

  I stared at my phone, trying to decide if I should call Jeannine. I knew she was nervous about introducing Travis to her brother. Focusing on someone else’s problems would help me forget my own. Hopefully.

  She answered on the third ring.

  “I just got a text from Sharon,” she said. “You and Kyle broke up?”

  I chuckled. The family information channel was as fast as the rumor mill in Hillendale. “Yes, we did.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  I closed my eyes to push back
the wayward emotions. “Don’t be. Are you ready for dinner Saturday?”

  “I’d hoped Kyle would be there so at least Travis would have a friendly face in case we dissolved into a family spat.”

  “I wouldn’t expect...” I stopped when I remembered the first time Jason had showed up at my door after years without any communication. He wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. I took a breath and started again. “Jason wants what’s best for you. We’ll have to make sure he knows you aren’t rushing into this and you’ve considered all the angles, which I’m sure he intends to point out to you.”

  “Has already pointed out to me,” she added. “And I’ve reassured him I’m well aware.”

  I managed a smile. “Then you’ve already had the family spat, right?”

  She laughed. “Honestly, Brynn. I don’t know how you manage to always make me feel better. After all the shit my mother put you through...”

  “She put you through the same shit,” I reminded her.

  “No. Not the same. When I think on those days growing up, I want to cringe. I should have said more. Done more. As long as you were there, she had somewhere else to direct her venom. How do you stay so positive?”

  “You can thank my parents for that. I had eight years with them before they died.” Tears welled in my eyes. Every little thing seemed to be setting me off these days. “I’ll see you Saturday,” I choked out.

  Ash raced across the room and leapt into my lap, as if she knew I needed comfort.

  “Everything’s going to be okay,” I whispered as I petted her.

  I carried her to the workroom. No open grimoires. More from habit than anything else, I checked my supply of essential oils and bottled herbs. I still had the B&B contracts to fulfill, an area to check for expansion, and I could market my products to gift shops in other towns.

  “It’s going to be okay,” I said again.

  I glanced out the window. Lights were on at Kyle’s house. I saw shapes behind the curtains. He wasn’t alone.

  None of my business. I turned away.

  Ash strained to jump down and I walked outside to find my peace.

  I walked the footpath into the woods and diverted to the weeping beech tree. The setting sun cast shadows all around. A white squirrel scampered through the leaves and needles carpeting the ground. A breeze stirred the beech tree, creating the illusion of waves. I crossed my legs and sat, staring at the tree, hoping for a disembodied voice to repeat my mantra that everything was going to be okay.

  I closed my eyes and the breeze lifted my hair. As I cleared my mind, strains of Blackbird echoed from somewhere far away. My music box?

  “Mama?” I whispered. “Nora?”

  You aren’t alone, sweet Brynn.

  I squeezed my eyes tight, knowing I wouldn’t be able to see who’d spoken to me. The voice was enough.

  Chapter 34

  I must have fallen asleep in the woods. Ash nudged me awake to a sunny morning. A chill shivered through me and I cuddled my cat for warmth.

  As we neared home, Madeleine Stephens came into view, seated on the picnic bench in the park that backed up to my yard. She faced the footpath as if she knew I’d be coming. Ash tensed and snuggled closer.

  “I see her,” I said into Ash’s fur.

  A low growl emanated from deep in Ash’s throat.

  “I’ve got this if you want to go on ahead,” I whispered.

  Ash leapt from my arms and dashed for her cat door in the workroom.

  I raised my chin and continued on. “You’re here early this morning.”

  “In a manner of speaking,” she said.

  I wasn’t in the mood for riddles. “Should I assume you’re looking for me?”

  Madeleine rose from the park bench, a flash of sunlight sparking her nose ring. “The drug charges against my brother have been dropped. Thank you for asking your boyfriend to intervene.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend anymore,” I said.

  She smiled, a mysterious sparkle in her eyes. “So I understand. Are you sure you’re done with him?”

  “Yes. I’m glad your brother’s been cleared.” I walked past her, into my backyard.

  “I canceled the spell,” she called after me.

  Which meant my debt to Kyle had been paid. I stopped and bowed my head. Our relationship was officially ended. “Thank you.” I tried to let go of the flood of emotions before I turned to face her once more. “I contacted the woman I told you about, about the Wiccan coven. She’s agreed to meet with you if you still want people to share knowledge with.”

  Madeleine took a step back, her eyes widening. “Thank you.” She glanced down the footpath. “I came to tell you about the spell last night, but I couldn’t find you.”

  I laughed. “Are you saying you’ve been sitting here all night?”

  She blushed. “No, not after I lost you in the woods. When you weren’t home yet this morning, I thought I’d wait. I figured you had to come back the way you left.”

  She couldn’t find me? The beech tree must have wrapped me in its enchantment, even if I hadn’t hidden beneath its branches. “Let me get you Hannah’s contact information.”

  I retrieved the slip of paper from inside the house and handed it to her.

  “Do you mind me asking you about him?” she asked.

  “Him, who?”

  She nodded across the street. “He seems useful enough.”

  I glanced at Kyle’s house, wondering once more how difficult the future would be living across the street from each other. “He’s a good man, but we had different worldviews.”

  “Is that so important?”

  I laughed. “It is if you hope to build a future together.”

  Madeleine shrugged. “Seems you could have managed the situation, if you know what I mean. Take what you want and ignore the rest.”

  When Narcy had bewitched him, hadn’t she done the same thing? I took a step back. The only response I could come up with would be laced with sarcasm, or comments that would juxtapose Madeleine’s desires with mine and invite trouble.

  I wanted Ian, but more than that, I wanted the other things we’d found in each other. Shared experiences. Camaraderie. Respect.

  He thought I’d cheated on him.

  “What I want,” I finally said, “is a deeper connection to someone. A superficial ‘need of the moment’ only serves to highlight, for me anyway, how alone I am. I learned that lesson in high school. Without a real connection, I find I’m happier by myself.”

  She blinked, as if surprised by my point of view, and tucked the sheet of paper into her pocket. “I guess I’ll see you at the coven, then?”

  I didn’t bother to tell her that was unlikely. “Thank you for reversing the spell.”

  Again she shrugged. “Gave me an excuse to...” She glanced at me through veiled eyelashes. “Never mind.” She smiled, waved and left on the footpath into town.

  My stomach growled, reminding me I needed something to eat. I walked into the house and started a pot of coffee, but the smell roiled my stomach. Likely, falling asleep in the damp and cold last night had triggered an immune response. I didn’t need to get sick on top of everything else. I popped a piece of bread into the toaster, and then spread the toast with homemade strawberry jam.

  Still no open grimoires when I wandered into the workroom. I tested my telekinesis by summoning a pen from the table. It didn’t move. Even with satisfaction of the spell, my magic wasn’t working.

  I returned to the dining table and logged onto my computer to fill the time searching job opportunities before I left for the shop. I couldn’t count on my magic returning, and I had to make a living.

  The listings were sparse, but I sent off a resume before I printed more brochures for my products. I’d solicit more B&B’s and gift shops after Windfall closed.

  As I left for work a couple of hours later, I glanced at Kyle’s house once more. The canceled spell provided a sense of finality to everything. My eyes teared. More than the br
oken engagement, I’d miss Kyle’s friendship.

  I set my resolve and marched the footpaths into town.

  Tourists lined the sidewalks. Labor Day weekend was starting early. As I unlocked the door to Windfall, a group of three women looked in the window.

  “Clothes?” one asked me.

  “Yes, and botanical products. Soaps, candles, essential oils,” I replied.

  “That might be interesting,” a second woman said. “The sign says you’re going out of business. Does that mean your inventory is discounted?”

  I reached into my basket and pulled out a flyer. “Yes, but the botanicals will still be available through our internet store, and you’ll be able to buy Cassandra’s clothing at a shop in Milwaukee.” As we spoke, Cassandra strode down the block toward the shop. “If you’re interested, here comes the designer now.”

  The ladies exchanged glances and followed me into the shop.

  One of the ladies bought a dress, and two of them bought bath salts. When they left the store, Cassandra shot me a serious look.

  “Are you okay? You don’t look well.”

  “I’m fine. Just a little off today.”

  She nodded. “I was thinking we should open on Sunday. It’s our last Sunday, and it’s a holiday weekend.”

  “Good idea. Bank as much profit as we can. We’re already paying the rent for September.”

  “Should we stay open longer?”

  “Sales always crash after Labor Day,” I said. “No point sticking around after the tourists are gone.”

  “I can’t believe this is the end. Three more days?”

  I gave her the thumbs-up. “Here’s hoping for three profitable days.”

  A steady stream of customers came and went. I handed out brochures for the internet store, and we did another round of Windfall karaoke to keep things upbeat. Neighboring shop owners stopped in to tell us how much they were going to miss us, which made both Cassandra and me laugh even more.

  I’d had enough of small-town life and being the outcast. Barry had suggested I might want to live closer to Nora, an idea that grew increasingly appealing.