The shock on our faces must have had the effect Roxie had been going for because she looked pretty satisfied. The look dropped a moment later, though, when she felt compelled to add, “To be clear, I’m not sure if Constance even had a will before recently. But regardless, she had Beatty draw one up for her, and you will not believe what she said to me when she did it.”
The dance instructor eyed us but said nothing. She really did love putting on a show.
“Roxie,” Izzy prodded, rubbing her forehead.
“So, the day she came to see Beatty, I’d asked her what brought her by, and she said she was getting her affairs in order. I then prattled on about it being a good idea for everyone to do that, and she said, Well, it’s about time I made somebody happy.”
Izzy and I let that sink before I asked the obvious, “Who did she mean?”
Roxie shrugged. “Who knows? She drove away after that.”
“So, again, you think one of the siblings stood to gain something from Constance’s will?”
“Could be. Could be,” she said with a slow nod. “Beatty would never tell. But, of course, none of this means you ladies are completely out of the woods.”
“What are you talking about?” Izzy asked. “What woods?”
“There may be a few other rumors circulating about town.” Roxie straightened, hands folded on top of her staff. “Something about Nora threatening to kill poor Constance just moments before she passed?”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “That’s ridiculous. Nora was just being Nora. Where are people getting this?” The only person aside from Izzy and me who heard Nora threaten Constance was Williams, and Williams did not strike me as a gossip. Then again, Evenfall was a small town. If Williams had told even one person, then . . .
This was not good.
“Would you look at you two,” Roxie said, swatting a hand at us. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
If only.
“I was just playing. Nobody is going to believe you ladies had anything to do with Constance’s death. You’re pillars of the community. Really, what would Evenfall do without the Warrens looking over us?”
Just then I noticed a new batch of students filing into the dance hall. “It looks like your next class is coming in.”
“We should probably let you go,” Izzy added, taking a step toward the door.
“All right. But don’t be such strangers. Come back anytime.”
Izzy and I both waved, but Roxie was already distracted by another little girl in a tutu standing in front of her.
“Well, if it isn’t Miss Molly,” she said, tapping the girl’s nose. “My favorite student all ready to go.”
We were almost at the door, when Roxie called out to us again, “Oh! But Izzy?”
We turned around.
“You know my brother’s not getting any younger, right?”
My aunt’s eyes widened.
“Someone should really make an honest man out of him.”
Izzy whirled around so quickly that she crashed into a coatrack.
“Not nice, Roxie!” I called back.
But all I got was more throaty laughter in return.
Should we head over to Theo’s now?” Izzy asked, adjusting her poncho to avoid meeting my gaze.
“I think I should head over to Theo’s, and you should head home.” I may have spent the early morning hours tossing and turning, but at least I got some sleep; poor Izzy, on the other hand, was looking more exhausted by the second. Not to mention the fact that I really did want to tackle this next part alone. I’d have to play dirty, though, if I had any hope of getting her to go back to the B&B. “Besides, I’m not the one you should be concerned about.”
“What do you mean?” Izzy asked, frowning against the sunshine.
“Nora could be up any minute, and if I had to guess, she won’t be waking in the best of moods.”
My aunt’s eyes darted side to side. “You’re right. I never even thought of that. There’s no telling what she might get up to.” She looked back at me. “But darling, this is your first time going back to the bookstore. I’m worried about you.”
“I will be fine.” I patted her hand.
Izzy’s face crumpled with sympathy. I knew she meant well, but I hated that look. “I know you’ll be fine, but I just don’t understand why it is you insist on doing all the most difficult things on your own.”
“It really won’t be that difficult,” I said. “I’m just going to the bookstore. That’s all.” We both knew it wasn’t quite that simple though.
“No. I don’t like it. Nora is the one who will be fine. I really think you’re underestimating how difficult this will be.”
“Izzy. Stop,” I said with a laugh. “You’re making far too big a deal out of this. And you heard Nora last night. Remember that one idea she came up with? The one where the killer would lose a body part for every hour that passed without a confession?”
“She would never do that,” Izzy said quickly, but the corners of her eyes creased with worry. “Besides, I’m fairly certain that spell doesn’t exist.”
“Right. Sure. As long as you’re fairly certain.”
My aunt swatted my hand. “You’re terrible, you know that?”
“I know,” I said quite seriously, but I couldn’t stop myself from smiling.
Izzy reached forward to adjust the scarf around my neck. “Your grandmother was so talented with her needlework magic. This scarf is always the perfect shade.”
My smile deepened. It was true. The color and texture of the scarf changed subtly with my moods, my outfit, my complexion. It was delicate magic, and one that could only be performed with love.
Izzy dropped her hands and sighed. “If you’re sure you’ll be all right.”
“For the last time, I will be fine.”
“Then I’d better head back home. So help me, if your aunt so much as has her cauldron out.” She pressed her lips together and shook her head, making her blond curls shudder.
“You’d better get going.”
Izzy cast one more concerned look in my direction, then left. I watched her bustle away before I turned to go on alone.
It was such a cheerful fall morning to be in town. The lampposts were decorated with wreaths and cornstalks, and the variety store had its cart set up outside, laden with harvest pies and tarts. The air even held a whiff of woodsmoke coming from someone’s chimney.
It was a perfect day. Or at least as close to perfect as it could be.
As I turned onto Main Street, I found myself overwhelmed with the familiar sites. So much of my life had changed in the past year and a half, but everything here looked exactly the same. Like no time had passed at all.
Furry Tales Pet Shop was looking as cute as ever with all its colorfully packaged treats in the window. They specialized in re-homing rescue animals. The store’s name was a play on words to highlight the fact that every pet had a story. Adam and I had been planning on getting a dog.
The thought hit before I had a chance to stop it. Familiar pain gripped my heart.
I knew there would be memories coming into town today. How could there not? The cupcake store just ahead was the perfect example. I inhaled the scent of sugary baked goods as I walked by. Annie’s Place. Adam and I used to stop in all the time before closing to pick up a red velvet cupcake to share on our late-night walks. But even though the pain that came with the memory was very real, it was nothing I couldn’t handle. I lived with that pain every day. I just needed to keep on putting one foot in front of the other. I was fine.
I passed an older couple window-shopping at the jewelry store and smiled at the man holding what I assumed was his wife’s purse. She was busy pointing at one of the display cases. He gave me a warm smile and rolled his eyes.
That was one thing I noticed a lot of since becoming a widow. Couples. I couldn’t help but wonder about them. Were they happy? Were they in love? Did they appreciate what they had? I knew it wasn’t a healthy pastime for me, but stopping was easier said than done.
I let the thought go and hurried my step.
Hmm, Charmed Treasures had gone through a bit of a makeover. The gift shop was certainly ready for Halloween with its purple-and-black garland of jack-o’-lanterns draped across the front window. The store had never been that festive before. There was also a young woman standing behind the door who appeared new. At least I thought she was new. I was fairly certain I would have remembered her neon pink hair. I smiled at her, but she just stared back at me. Not in an unfriendly way. More surprised. Like she had just spotted a unicorn strolling down the street.
That was odd.
And it was exactly the type of thing I would have told Adam about when I got home. I could almost hear myself saying, The strangest little thing happened today.
I grunted softly with frustration. I was never going to make it to the bookstore if I didn’t get ahold of myself.
Suddenly a sharp bark startled me.
I brought my hand to my chest before looking down at a small dog tied to a bicycle rack.
Wait a minute, I knew that Yorkshire terrier. It belonged to Dr. Fournier, the town dentist. He was normally so friendly. The dog, not Dr. Fournier, that is. Although Dr. Fournier was friendly too.
“Hello, Buster,” I said, reaching out my fingers.
The little dog scooted behind a post.
“It’s all right,” I said, reaching toward him a little more.
He whined and inched away.
I pulled my hand back in and straightened up.
Dogs often had funny reactions to witches. If I had to guess, our magic smelled a little different to their canine noses. We had to work extra hard to gain their trust. But Buster had never reacted this way before. Was it something else? Dogs did pick up on all sorts of things the rest of us couldn’t. Scents. Pheromones. Emotions.
I felt my heart rate quicken. “Is it me?” I asked in a quiet voice.
The dog stared at me with worried eyes.
I backed away, bunching my scarf at my throat. Suddenly I felt the urge to get away, to just turn around and go back home. But I couldn’t. I needed to do something. What was it again?
I stood on the sidewalk, looking around without really seeing anything.
Why was I here? Where was I going?
Theo’s!
Of course, I was going to the bookshop to ask Theo about Constance.
I resumed my walk, my heart thudding.
I only made it a few steps, when a loud snap! sent me stumbling. A chain had broken from a flower basket suspended from one of the lampposts lining the streets.
Stars above, what was going on?
I watched the plant sway in the air, still hanging by its other chains.
I was not having the best of luck today. But suddenly I wasn’t so sure if luck had anything to do with it.
I closed my eyes and willed steel into my frazzled nerves. No, one thing I knew for certain was that magic required intention and focus. It didn’t just pop up out of nowhere. That had not been me. The thought was ridiculous. Buster may have been picking up on my feelings, but the chain breaking had been a coincidence. Nothing more. It was all the attention on my feelings and how I would handle going into town. It was putting me on edge. I couldn’t let it get to me. Besides, I was almost at the bookstore, just a few more steps.
The gold letters above the storefront windows glinted in the sunlight.
Lovely Leaves.
I hurried to close the distance, reaching out for the old-fashioned handle on the dark blue door. I pressed down hard on the brass latch. It didn’t budge.
My breath caught. No, this couldn’t be happening. Not now. The shop should be open at this time of day, shouldn’t it? Except, all of the sudden, I didn’t know what time it was, or what day.
I almost turned around but stopped myself.
The entrance to the park stood behind me.
On some level I had felt it the entire time I had been walking. Almost like it was watching me. Waiting to see if I would look over. But I hadn’t. I couldn’t look over. That was where I was supposed to meet Adam that day. That was where he had . . .
I pressed down on the thumb latch again. Maybe it was jammed. I rattled the handle.
My throat tightened. I needed to get inside.
I shook the handle again.
Please open.
Please.
Suddenly a face appeared on the other side of the glass. I looked into the warm eyes behind the large round lens staring back at me. Theo.
She clicked open the door, and a rush of warmth washed over me.
“Brynn! It’s so lovely to see you. Come in. Come in.”