Page 115 of The Neighborhood Witch

“Esmerelda,” Alice said, pulling her attention away from Hugo. Esmerelda’s suspicious expression now dissolved into shock as Alice rarely spoke her full name. “You saw potential in me when no oneelse would, and I am forever grateful for that. They, especially Hugo, take me for the way I am. They accept me. They love me.”

Hugo leaned in and rested his head on her shoulder. Alice rested her head on his. Esmerelda peered over to the Raskins. Oliver placed his hand on Carol’s shoulder. They all smiled at her. Max laid her head on Ez’s leg. Her tail wagged back and forth.

Esmerelda shook her head. “Non-magick wine?”

“Non-magick wine,” Alice confirmed.

“It does solve the joy riding problem.”

“It wasn’t a joy…” Hugo’s voice trailed off.

Alice kissed him on the cheek. “It was kind of a joy ride,” she said with a wink.

Hugo gave Alice a shocked glance. “My side still hurts from where Gally slammed into it, not to mention when I crashed to the ground. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“Being front and center selling wine wouldn’t exactly be laying low,” Ez exclaimed, souring the mood.

Alice thought of a reply to counter Ez’s doubts. The idea of having her own wine was too good to pass up. “No one needs to know it was me.”

“You’d be the first person everyone would point to,” Ez countered. “You’re not exactly laying low as it is.”

“Right, and I’d deny it,” Alice answered. “I don’t need my face on the bottle or a poster or anything. As long as it’s my wine in the store, that’s good enough for me.”

“That’s part of the mystique,” Oliver added. “We don’t know where it came from. If anyone questions it, we can say some vineyard wanted to use us as a test market.”

Esmerelda was silent for a moment. “I hate to admit it,” Ez started before picking up her cup. “I think Oliver has a good idea.”

“See! She agrees with me,” Oliver said with a giddy hint in his voice. “I know what I’m talking about.”

“Just because she agrees with you doesn’t mean you know what you’re talking about,” Carol added.

“So, I can sell my wine?” Alice asked.

“I was never going to stop you, kiddo. If it’s what you want to do, I won’t stop you. Just be careful.”

Alice smiled and squeezed Hugo’s hand.

“Now let’s sit down and have some tea before it gets cold,” Carol said as she moved toward the table.

They all sat down. With a snap of Alice’s finger, the teapot rose and filled everyone’s cup. The husband and wife grocers, the bar owner, the widower, and the neighborhood witch.

The New Neighbors

Hugo pulled back the sheer, black curtain and leered out the window. The distinct yellow running lights of a large semitruck pulled down Ravenhill Drive. The truck’s wheels screeched and moaned under the weight of the truck coming to a full stop in front of Hugo’s old home.

“Hey, babe,” Hugo shouted.

“Yeah?” Alice peeked around the corner of the living room.

“So, the neighbors are moving in next door.” Hugo stared out the window.

“So?”

“So? It’s nearly midnight,” Hugo answered. “And there is this huge semitruck that rolled down the street.”

“I moved in at night,” she reminded him.

“Well, you didn’t have a semitruck.”

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