Page 29 of Magic & Mochas
“Fine, fine,” I grumbled.“Then you’ll have to wait and see what design I go for, too.”
“We’ll have a grand reveal when we’re done.”Clove summoned a second marker and floated it over to me.
“Thanks.”I sat down as well, but ended up just staring at my pumpkin.
The precious few times I had carved a pumpkin when I was little, I had gone for the classic Jack o’Lantern faces.And usually the mean and scary-looking ones, at that.But somehow, I couldn’t picture one of those fitting well in The Broom & Bean.
Stroking my goatee, I tried to come up with something different.Something that wouldn’t be out of place in a witch’s magical coffee shop.An idea sparked, and I pulled the cap off my pen and got to work.
After a few minutes, I had the basic design sketched out.I had a feeling it wouldn’t hold a candle to Clove’s, but for once, this wasn’t a competition.I picked up one of the larger knives and began cutting a circle around the stem.
“Don’t forget to cut at an angle, so the top doesn’t fall straight through the hole,” Clove advised, watching me with a mildly concerned look on her face.
“I completely forgot.”I ran a hand through my hair self-consciously.“It’s been a while since the last time I carved one of these.”
Clove’s expression softened.“Tell me about the last time you carved a pumpkin.”
I smiled ruefully.“I think it was when I was seven, before my powers fully manifested.My parents and I used to carve pumpkins every year to decorate for the trick-or-treaters.”
“What kinds of designs did you do?”Clove kept her eyes on her own pumpkin, but her tone was warm and open.
“Mostly the typical scary Jack o’Lantern faces.They weren’t very good, but it was fun making them.How about you?”
“Pretty much the same.Though in recent years, I’ve started tackling some of the more complicated patterns, like howling wolves and haunted houses.”She smiled to herself.“Isn't it funny how the legends of magic and the people who wielded it have continued on amongst humans?”
“Very.”But then a thought occurred to me.“Don’t you find it insulting how humans always depict witches as old hags with green skin or beaky noses?”
“Not really—I don’t take it personally.”She shook her head.“I bet there were plenty of elder witches terrorizing the humans whodidlook like that.Besides, they have plenty of cute witches in movies, too.”
“They do?”I asked as I set my pumpkin top aside and began scooping out the pulp.
“You haven’t seen any of those?”Clove began hollowing out her pumpkin as well.
“Until recently, I didn’t have the time or the interest.And before you bought the building, I mostly used candles for light, since there was no electricity or wifi,” I explained.Fortunately for me, the water had still worked since it was drawn straight from a well in the basement.
“Right.”Clove’s cheeks colored a bit in embarrassment.
“Do you have some you recommend?”
Clove’s beautiful turquoise eyes lit up.“Oh boy, do I!How much time do you have?”
“All the time in the world.”My voice came out lower than I meant it to.Clearing my throat, I added, “What are the top ten movies I should start with?”
“Well now, that’s a loaded question.But if I had to pick, I would recommend you start with…” Clove rattled a list of movies, from action to comedy and everything in between.
I enjoyed listening to her voice as I finished hollowing out my pumpkin and began carving the design I had drawn on it.I glanced up occasionally to see Clove doing the same, completely engrossed in her work and the descriptions she was giving me of her favorite movies.I made a mental note of the ones that sounded especially interesting.
Maybe we could watch some of them together as a way to relax after a long day working in the shop.
I was startled from my thoughts when Silas jumped onto the table from his cat tree, where he’d been watching us through half-lidded eyes.He wove between our pumpkins until he came to a stop in front of the pile of pulp from our pumpkins, which was resting on some newspaper in the middle of the table.
To my surprise, the feline began licking up some of the pulp.
“Um…” I trailed off, raising one eyebrow.“Is it ok for your familiar to be eating that?”
Clove looked up, saw what Silas was doing, and laughed.“Pumpkin is one of his favorite treats.I’m actually surprised it took him this long to take a bite.”
“I see.”I eyed the cat warily.Silas stared at me with slitted pupils, as if he were accusing me of being a snitch.I was suddenly, uncomfortably aware that my face was well within biting and clawing distance.
