Page 27 of Upside Down Magic

“I’msorry to tell you that things are going great withIanand me.Infact, he took me out for a lunch date and—oh, that’s right.Jimwants in on theChristmasevent.Whatdo you think?”

Shescrunched her nose. “It’syour event, not mine.”

“Isit safe to have a human business in the middle of all the paranormal ones?”

“I’msure it’s happened before, otherwise it’d be too obvious, right?”

“That’swhatIwas thinking.Stayhere.”Iwent into the back and returned with theChristmastree designs.Fluffydecided to tag along. “Whichdo you like best?”

Drureached over to patFluffy, then picked the designs up one by one and, to her credit, studied each carefully.Drumight like to joke about my events, but when it came down to it, she was a businesswoman through and through.

Shetapped the middle one. “Thisone.”

“It’smy favorite too,”Isaid happily.Ithad the right shade of green and fell on the perfect edge between too realistic and too cartoony. “I’lltellMarisato go ahead and start working on the sticker designs.”

“Don’tyou need to know how many shops will be part of it before that?”

“There’sat least nine confirmed, so she can start work on those.”

“Fairenough.”Sheglanced toward the windows and stood abruptly. “Damn, that’s one of my regulars.Igotta go.”

Sherushed out of the shop to salute an older woman in the street.Theychatted for a moment, then they disappeared out of view towardSharpClaws.

“Busypeople,”ItoldFluffyover the counter.Shegave a sharp yip of assent and went to lie on her blanket hidden out of view behind the counter.

IwashedDru’smug as a new customer entered the shop, then a family of four.Havingno extra help at the shop meantIwas kept busy until closing time.

Atnine on the dot,Iflipped the closed sign and drew down the blinds.

Fluffycame over to remind meIhadn’t fed her in forever and ever, andItook her upstairs to have her dinner.

IcalledVevawhileIwatchedFluffysniff her food then take delicateFluffy-sized bites out of it.

“Hello,Hope,”Vevasaid warmly. “Howare you doing?”

“Good.Ihave a question for you.Areyou free?”

“Ihave a reading in five, butI’mgood until then.”UnliketheTeaCauldron,Veva’sCards&Destinydid a lot of its business after the sun had gone down.

“Haveyou ever heard about paranormals’ magic going haywire?”Iasked.

“Haywirehow?”

“Likecoming out wrong.Doingthe opposite of what it’s supposed to do.”

Shefell silent for a few seconds. “Can’tsayIhave, no.”

“Whatabout inMontel?Ian’smom mentioned a similar thing happened a while back over there.”

“Wait, you’re right.Ido remember something like that, but it happened inOlmeda, notMontel.”

“You’resure?”

Shechuckled. “Assure asIcan be, going from memory.IfIremember correctly, it had something to do with the old dark witch coven that used to operate from here.”

Ofcourse it did.Thatcoven had indirectly caused me more grief than my old mentor,Oh-call-me-Tammy. “Canyou remember any more details?”

“Notreally, sorry.Look,Igotta get ready for the reading.Talklater?”

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