Page 89 of The Neighborhood Witch

“Like every bit of potion I brewed was messed up. It nearly burnt down her bar.”

“It’s not your fault,” Hugo assured her.

“I never mess up. Never,” Alice said.

She stormed past Hugo and made her way to the basement door. He followed.

“Where are you going?”

Alice opened the basement door. “She said I need to fix it. If I don’t, I lose everything I’ve built. My next order isn’t coming for a few weeks. I don’t know what to do. I can’t fix it!” Alice stepped into the darkness and slammed the door shut behind her.

Chapter 22

Fix It Together

Hugo paced back and forth in the living room. The soles of his shoes echoed against the hardwood with every step. Max lay on the Victorian couch, unfazed by Hugo’s impatient pacing. He pulled out his phone to check the time. It had been a few hours since he called Carol Raskin—a few hours since he called in the biggest favor of his life. He knew full well the Raskins would deliver. He wasn’t sure of how long it would take them.

He pinched his ring finger, expecting to find the familiar black onyx ring, but only found it barren. His habit was so ingrained into his soul it was second nature. He turned toward the bookshelf. He focused on the black box sitting amongst the other items. He thought about touching the ring once more.No. Focus.

He entered the hallway and pulled back the curtain on the door to peer outside. Nothing. His waiting continued.

Galahad floated in front of the basement door. It waited for the door to open. Hugo wanted it to open too. Any time now, that door would open, and Hugo would give her the great news.

Galahad tapped the door. Nothing. It tapped a few more times. Still nothing.

“It’ll be okay, buddy,” Hugo said.

Galahad glanced toward Hugo for a moment before turning back to the door. Hugo headed over to Galahad and petted it on the head.

“She needs some alone time. It’ll be okay.” Hugo hoped those words were true.

The sound of a delivery truck rumbling down the street could be heard through the door.

“They’re here,” Hugo said as he rushed to pull back the curtain.

A white box truck came to a stop in front of Alice’s house. He reached for the doorknob, but stopped. He glanced back to Galahad.

“Gally, come here, boy,” Hugo said. Max jumped off the couch and pranced toward Hugo. “Not you, Max. Stay back. Gally, I need you to go upstairs.”

Galahad kept its focus on the basement door.

“Gally, I need you to go upstairs for a moment,” Hugo said as he scurried over to Galahad. He touched the end of the broomstick handle and guided it to focus on himself, instead of the door. “I need you to go upstairs. Please. Just for a moment.”

There was a knock at the front door. Max barked at the intruder. Galahad rushed past Hugo and knocked against the front door.

“No, no, no, no! Upstairs. Go upstairs!” Hugo shouted.

He tried to force the broomstick away from the door. Max’s bark echoed throughout the entryway. Her nose pressed up against the door, and she waited for her moment to pounce.

“Max, back away. Get back.”

There was another knock at the door.

“Get back!” Hugo commanded.

They didn’t listen. He tried to brush them aside.

Another knock at the door. Hugo opened it slightly and squeezed his head through the gap, careful to not let anyone see into Alice’s house.

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