Page 37 of All Dressed Up

“You’re welcome.”

“Are you hiring?” Abby asked, pointing to the Help Wanted sign.

“Um... no... um...” Rachel stammered. This probably wasn’t the time to confess that Mary had given it to her. “I mean yes.” She grabbed the sign and walked to the window, placing it outward. “I’ve been wanting some part-time help so that I can open the shop on Sundays.”

“Brandon and I finished our summer hiring for the inn. I could pass along some resumés to you, if you’d like,” Abby offered.

“I’d love it. Thank you.” Rachel moved away from the window. “So, Will’s running late, but we can go upstairs.” She paused, adding, “I’m not sure how much he’s told you.”

Abby came up beside Emma, taking a whiff of the flowers. “I filled them in, and my husband thanks you immensely for taking the trunk out of the inn. He might like to show off his six-pack and flex his muscles every chance he gets, but he’s a bit of a scaredy cat.”

They all laughed. Brandon did have a tendency to do his regular jogs through the town’s square shirtless. The guy was built.

“So, you think if I open it, it might produce my wedding dress?” Emma sighed. “Or a replica?”

Rachel nodded. “I don’t think. I know,” she stated with all the assurance in the world, but with each nod, that confidence shrunk. She had no magical game, not compared to these three real witches. It was time to confess what she’d been up to and who from the afterlife promised to partner with her. “So, Mary Reed’s been leaving me notes...”

That got Sheila’s attention first. “Mary Reed?”

“She has? How?” asked Emma.

“What do they say? Why is she corresponding with you?” Abby also jumped in with questions.

Rachel gulped, her thoughts spinning. For years, she’d been an outsider to the magic that circled this town. It was certainly different to be the bearer of this kind of news. “Long story, less long. I found a card in the antique trunk earlier this week instructing me to get Mary’s lavender purse.” She picked it up from the counter. “Behold.”

“How do you know it’s Mary’s?” Sheila asked the question to the group, getting shrugs from both Emma and Abby.

“Zoe Mathews found it latched around her front door at the Ice Heaven a few months ago. Donovan had it for a while, and then Mary told him to give it to Will.” She set the purse down. “I recently procured it. Mary leaves notes in the bag. At least for me. That’s all I’ve gotten. For Donovan, she’d given him a bunch of things to win Zoe’s heart.”

“Interesting...” was Sheila’s only response as she picked up the purse and investigated its inside, but the way she said it gave Rachel large, noticeable goose bumps.

Rachel rubbed her shoulders and continued, “The cards really didn’t make sense at first, but Donovan took a stab at interpreting what exactly Mary wanted from me.” She let out a breath.Here goes nothing. “I kind of struck a deal with her.”

“You did what?” Abby’s eyes widened, and Emma motioned with her finger for her cousin to hush.

“What kind of deal?” Emma asked.

“I... um...” Rachel stammered. Why were they all giving her looks like she’d just done the worst possible thing in the world? Wasn’t Mary distantly related to Adam? How bad could she be? “I asked her if I converted the upstairs into a makeshift boutique for Will and moved the trunk up there, if she would make sure that every bride who opens it finds a wedding dress to replace the one destroyed in the fire.”

“You did what?” Abby whipped her head around to make eye contact with Emma.

“And what did Mary say, dear?” Sheila asked.

Rachel went over to her cash register, popped it open, and pulled out the top card. “She said, ‘yes.’” She handed it over to Emma.

Emma studied the card, her expression not giving anything away. “It looks like Mary’s found another way besides the trunk to communicate from beyond.” She gave it to her mom to see for herself.

“Well, good for her. Let’s stop standing around and go open the truck before I go into labor.” Abby charged for the back.

Emma didn’t move, exchanging a worried look with Sheila.

Rachel’s goose bumps multiplied. “Did I do something wrong? Is Mary not a good witch?” she asked in barely a whisper.

“Everything will be okay. It looks like Mary’s found an ally.” Sheila handed back the card. “Nothing to be alarmed about. We’re a little curious what she might be up to. That’s all.”

Up to.Was Mary up to something other than helping her with Will’s situation? Was there some other motivation? Rachel bit down on her quivering lip. This had all been a huge mistake. She should have gone to Sheila and Emma the minute Mary asked her to go get her purse. “I just wanted to help Will,” was all she could say.

“And I’m sure you will.” Sheila gave Rachel’s back a reassuring pat. “Why don’t we go upstairs and see if Mary lives up to her end of the bargain,” Sheila said, motioning for Rachel to go before her. “Shall we?”

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