Page 87 of The Neighborhood Witch

“It’s okay. I hope she feels better,” the woman said as she continued down the sidewalk.

Hugo grabbed her far shoulder, pulling her in for a hug. He held her until she felt safe again. His hand moved across her black tailcoat in a swirling pattern. The back rub helped soothe her frayed nerves.

“Hey,” Hugo whispered into her ear. “It’s okay. That wasn’t Sam. It’s okay.” He continued rubbing her back.

“I was going to attack her,” Alice sobbed as tears rolled down her cheek into the arms of her coat. “I could have hurt her. I could have hurt her really badly.”

“You didn’t do anything,” Hugo answered. “It’s okay. I got you.”

“Thank you,” Alice sobbed. She stopped tapping her shoulders. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He paused. “What do you say we head back home and we try one of those cupcakes?”

Alice lifted her head. Her mascara left trails of inky, black streaks down her face that followed her tears. Hugo pulled some napkins out of the bag and offered them to Alice. He moved closer to shield her face.

He leaned in and whispered, “I think I can shield you if you want to take care of that.”

Alice realized he hadn’t offered the napkins to wipe away the mascara. He was offering protection from any onlookers so she could take care of the mascara her way. She buried her head back into herarms. Her hat once again hid her face. Hugo removed his leather jacket and used it to shield her.

Alice snapped her fingers. The inky, black trail disappeared. Hugo pulled his jacket away.

“How do I look?” she asked.

“Perfect,” Hugo replied. “As usual.”

She chuckled. They stood up. Hugo put on his jacket and grabbed the bag of baked goods from the sidewalk. He took Alice’s hand with the other, and they continued their journey home together.

Later in the day,Alice stood at her workstation in the wine cellar. She pressed various ingredients with one of the mortar and pestle sets Hugo gave her for Christmas. A few taps of the pestle, and then she dumped the contents into the bubbling water of her cauldron. She removed another item from the apothecary cabinet and crushed it as well. Her movements were robotic and low energy, missing her usual zeal and zest.

Alice stopped and gazed at the wall in front of her. Her eyes lingered on a single spot. Her mind went blank and her face expressionless. The blankness was broken by flashes of her encounter. A scenario she feared the most, only to realize in her moment of panic she could have harmed someone innocent. Her hands shook. She closed her eyes and inhaled to calm herself.

The door to the wine cellar opened. Alice snapped out of her meditative state to see who had entered her sanctuary, ready to strike at any would be intruder. Hugo entered carrying two cups of tea. She relaxed and felt a bit of shame that she was ready to attack him as he entered.

“I thought you might need this.” Hugo set the cup on her workbench.

The warm liquid soothed her as she took a sip. “Thank you,” Alice replied.

“I’d ask you how you’re doing, but I already know,” Hugo said. “Besides, I don’t want to break our promise.”

Alice chuckled. “You just ask in a roundabout way, huh?”

“Oh, no! She’s learned my secret,” Hugo said before taking another sip. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Alice shook her head.

Alice’s station was unkept. The items were strewn about the table and not in their usual places. Drawers were left open. Ingredients were left in piles. This wasn’t Alice’s usual way of working.

“Do you want any help?” Hugo asked.

“No, I’m fine. I just…” Alice started. “I need some alone time to clear my head.”

The stompers sat idle in the vats. Boxes of grapes piled up on top of the wooden platforms.

“Are you sure?” he asked one more time.

“I’m certain.”

“Well, if you need any help, I’ll be upstairs. Yell if you need anything.” He took his cup of tea and left the wine cellar.

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