Page 22 of The Neighborhood Witch

“But, in Johanna’s defense, you do look like Halloween walking,” Hugo teased.

“I resent that, but thanks for the compliment.” Alice smiled back. She turned her attention to Carol. “Have my grapes arrived yet?”

“I expect the first part of the shipment in a few days,” Mrs. Raskin replied. “The distributor thought it was a typo when I asked for fifteen hundred pounds of grapes.” She chuckled.

“That’s a lot of grapes. Can you even eat that many before they spoil?” Hugo asked.

“The business of what I do withmygrapes is of no concern to you,” she replied to Hugo with a sly smirk as she turned her attention back to Mrs. Raskin. “I would like to place another order. The same amount. And if you can get them here before the next New Moon, that would be fantastic.”

“I’ll do my best, deary,” Mrs. Raskin replied.

Oliver returned and handed the stack of meat, neatly wrapped in brown paper packaging, to Johanna. She thanked Oliver as she took the package and placed it in her cart.

Johanna turned her attention back toward Alice. “Any chance of you reconsidering the color of your house?”

“Well, a witch needs her place to reflect her personality,” Alice replied, her words biting back against Johanna’s. Alice turned her attention to Hugo.

“You already know my thoughts,” Hugo replied, tilting his head to the side.

Johanna grabbed the plastic grip of the cart handle. “I thought not.” She sighed as she wandered off.

Chapter 7

Perfectly Broken Stick

“Where are we going?” Elizabeth asked as she followed Hugo along the dirt path.

The trees of Wildgrove Park darkened the light of the full moon. Small rays of moonlight broke through openings. The spring air was thick with humidity.

A bead of sweat rolled down Elizabeth’s face as she struggled to see the rutted path. Each step was slower and more deliberate than the last. She carefully planted her heel before fully committing to the step.

“Hugo, I can barely see anything. And I’m wearing heels. Where are we going?”

“Not much further. Just around the bend.” He paused and stretched out his hand, waiting for Elizabeth to catch up.

She took his hand, and he guided her along the path. Hugo stopped in front of a small alcove. A billowy, white renaissance chemise dress and an emerald green overdress hung from a tree branch.

“Hugo. Is that… Is that my Ren Fest dress?” Elizabeth asked. “What’s it doing here?”

Hugo backed away from Elizabeth, continuing down the path. “Put it on. I’ll be right back.”

“Hugo! I’m not putting this thing on in the middle of the woods at night.”

“It’ll be fine. There’s no one around. Trust me.” His voice trailed off as he disappeared down the path.

“Hugo Dodds!”

He was gone. Elizabeth surveyed around, checking the path multiple times. She examined the trees. There was no one around. She grabbed the white chemise dress. “Unbelievable.”

She gave a quick sigh and unzipped her black dress. She gave one more look around. An owl hooted faintly in the distance. She carefully shimmied out of the black dress, so it didn’t touch the ground.

A bead of sweat rolled down to the small of her back. She flung the black dress over a shoulder, trying to cover up her half naked body. She removed the chemise from its hanger and replaced it with the black one.

Her head disappeared into the billowy dress as she struggled to put it on before finally emerging through the opening. She straightened out the long hem, then pulled out any hair still trapped beneath. Elizabeth slipped her arms through and tied the corset-like overdress. She gave one final adjustment and stood there. The soft glow of whitish-blue moonlight that made it through the trees splashed across her face. Elizabeth checked down the path.

“Hugo?”

No response.

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