Page 36 of Magical Melee
The other women at the table joined in, chuckling and sharing their own knitting mishaps, and I felt a warmth settle over me. This was exactly what I needed—a simple, lighthearted morning with people who didn’t expect anything from me. For a moment, Stonewick’s mysteries faded into the background.
“Would you like any tea?” Luna asked us. “It completely slipped my mind to offer you any.”
“I’m fine,” Skye said, shaking her head. “I brought some water.”
“I’d love some.” I set my project down and followed Luna to a room behind the cash register.
I almost screamed when I saw an orange scarf float across the room. Heat radiated down my body as if I were experiencing my first hot flash.
I stopped in my tracks as the scarf folded itself over several times and slid onto the shelf without a person in sight.
Luna turned toward me. “Oops.” Her hands flung to her mouth. “I didn’t expect you to see that.”
“See what?” My eyes widened as my brain refused to believe what I just witnessed.
“Exactly.” Luna nodded, letting out a deep breath. “No harm. No foul.”
“Didn’t see a thing,” I assured her.
“What kind of tea would you like?” she asked, reaching for an electric tea kettle.
“Is it from Stella’s tea store?”
“Oh, you’ve met her,” Luna said, smiling. “No. Afraid not. That’s a little too steep for my blood. No pun intended.”
I chuckled as relief spread through me. I didn’t need any tea changing colors on me today.
Nope.
Not after I just saw a scarf float across the room, fold, and place itself on the shelf.
“So, I’ve got chamomile or peppermint.”
“I’ll take peppermint. Maybe it will liven me up after my strange dream last night.”
Luna laughed and shook her head. “I doubt it. I’ve never known teas to do much for me. Ironic, right? I’m supposed to sell the idea of magic to people, and I don’t believe in it.”
I stood still and thought back to the orange scarf.
“Well, I’m sure one has to believe in it first.” I eyed her, wondering if she actually wasn’t part of the whole Stonewick facade. “So, how do you like working here?”
She handed me a cup of tea. “Oh, I couldn’t imagine anything other than creating fiber arts.”
“Could you imagine doing it anywhere else other than Stonewick?”
Luna shook her head and laughed. “No, because the shop is bought and paid for. I inherited itfrom my grandma.”
“That’s nice.”
“It’s been a blessing, especially since I haven’t fit the mold in any other ways that my family imagined for me.”
I cocked my head slightly. “How so?”
Her cheeks reddened, and she laughed, waving for me to follow her back to the class area. “Long story.”
When we got back, I sat down and finished a few more stitches as Skye worked out the tangles in her yarn and glanced around at the ladies. They obviously didn’t need the lessons. They looked to be experts, but they seemed to love the camaraderie.
Skye’s husband, Patrick, would be arriving soon to pick her up, and while I was thrilled for her, a part of me felt that familiar gnawing again. She’d be heading back to her lifeand family while I… Well, I wasn’t sure where I’d be heading.
