Page 73 of Upside Down Magic

“Hope?”Normanasked loudly, his voice muted through the glass.

Alltwenty-two eyeballs rolled back to stare at him.

Ijumped away from the wall and hurried across the shop. “I’ll, uh, see what he wants.”

“Pleasedo,Faith,”Tammysnapped. “Wecan’t have any interruptions.”

“Yes,Oh-call—Tammy.”Ijerked the front door open and slipped outside.That’dbeen close.

“Hope,”Normansaid with clear relief in his voice. “I’mso glad to see you.Ithought something might’ve happened to you.Theshop is never closed.”

“I’msorry for worrying you,”Isaid, the pressure of all eleven pairs of eyes aimed at my back making me sweat. “Therewas an emergency andIhad to close the door for a couple of days.”

“Isit somethingIcan help with?” he asked, worry filling his expression. “Wantto come to theCornerRoseand talk about it?Ihave a coffee maker in the back.It’snot as good as yours, but it works in a pinch.”

Myheart warmed.Normanhad an infectious golden retriever energy that could melt the coldest of souls. “No, thank you,Norman.Ishould be able to open again as usual tomorrow, so why don’t you come for your breakfast in the morning?”

Hesent the front door a dubious glance. “Ifyou’re sure…?”

“I’msure.Infact, wait a moment.”

Idarted inside, averting my face, and got a muffin from the display case. “Oneminute,”Imumbled asIreturned outside. “Here,”ItoldNorman, handing the muffin over. “Totide you over until tomorrow.”

Hechuckled softly and accepted the present. “Thankyou,Hope.Andplease let me know if there’s anythingIcan do for you.”

“Iwill.”

Hehesitated a moment, then turned and returned to theCornerRose.Iwaved at his back, then slipped back inside and faced the crowd.

“Sorryabout that,”Isaid, feeling my cheeks heat up. “Myneighbor was worried about the shop being closed.”

“Willhe be back?”Tammyasked in a cool voice.

“Nope.”Ratherthan scurrying across the shop to retake my position byIan’sside and delayTammyany longer,Istood byDruandMark’sside at the bend of the counter.

AsTammyresumed her explanation of the potion,Ileaned towardDruand whispered, “Youdon’t mindPrestonbeing the big demon around here?”

“Nah,”Druanswered gleefully. “Hecan go get bled like a stuck pig instead of me.”

Ah, butImissed having her around all day.

“Now,Iwill begin making the potion,”Tammysaid. “Faith, bring the items.”

Idutifully went into the back, whereTammyhad left a tote with all she needed—from her personal collection, of course.WhileLilianshould be the one helping, we had agreed it was better if she didn’t touch the ingredients, in case her being spelled affected the potion.

Onceshe had the tote,Tammydrew a pentacle on the floor and began placing crystals and herbs.Shethen used my mortar and pestle to grind another selection of herbs.Magicrose in the air, andIknew she was using her power.

Unfortunately, she was the kind of witch to manifest her intention in silence rather than aloud.I’dhave given a lot of money to hear how she worded her spells—the choice of words and the enunciation could teach me so much about high-level spells like this one.

However, sticking to her shtick as the worst teacher ever, she kept her spell to herself and kept working on the potion.

Iglanced up to see everyone watchingTammyexcept forLilian, who was studying me.Herlips twitched, and she sent me a knowing look—she was totally aware ofTammy’sway of dealing with her interns.

“Weare ready now,”Tammyannounced.Shehad placed a glass bowl filled halfway with moon water in the center of thecircle, dropped the ground herbs in, and opened a thin leather case.Aknife rested inside on a bed of dark-red velvet.

Oh-call-me-Tammyhad a special bleeding knife.

Meanwhile,Iused a fruit knifeI’dgotten on sale.

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