Page 4 of Seven Secret Spellcasters
“Well, since we haven’t had one in Idaho since the nineteen fifties, the subject wasn’t relevant to your training,” Grans mused, tapping a finger on her chin. “This does remind me that I need to add you to the archives access so you can do research. I’m sure the library still has an open access point. They never close those off like they should.”
Mia’s left eyelid started twitching. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Every time she thought she had a handle on this being-a-kitchen-witch role, something else was added to the mix. Like Trent reading her mind. And the archives. And, well, dragons. She stood and refilled her coffee cup. It was a good thing she didn’t have to work today. It was going to be challenging enough on Friday to pretend that the world was normal and without magic.
“Mia, don’t worry about Trent and the investigator. We’ll handle it. I know you’ve got a catering event tomorrow, and we need to formalize your graduation as well as the Halloween party. And your transfer night.” Abigail pulled her planner from her purse. “When are you taking the exam again?”
“She’s scheduled for Monday. Howard’s showing up on Tuesday. The transfer ceremony is next Thursday, and of course, the coven’s Halloween party is the next day. Maybe Mia should consider taking off time from the Lodge for the next few weeks.” Grans leaned over and watched Abigail make notes in her planner. “And we need to set up the archive access no later than Saturday. She might need it before her exams. And it might take a few tries to get right. One more thing, too, Robert and I are having an engagement party in a week or so. It will be held at the Lodge. I’ve told that woman I insist that Mia’s Morsel’s cater the party desserts. I guess Robert has enough pull to get that done.”
“Blake hasn’t said a word to me about it.” Mia’s heart started racing. She stood and grabbed her planner. “Grans, I’m not sure we can get everything done in time.”
“Well, then it’s a good thing you have a few extra hands for the next two weeks,” a voice answered from the living room. Christina and Levi stood with their bags in the hallway. Christina rushed over to Mia and kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll get it all done.”
“I thought you were training?” Mia squeezed her friend into a hug. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed seeing her.
“After Trent’s call last night, I negotiated a later start date. I’ll need to be there by December first. And, since we’re home now, I’m having my engagement party in November too.”
Levi hugged his mother. “To be perfectly clear, the princess is having two parties. One here, and one in Boise at that fancy hotel where Isaac works. It was a compromise. And if you want it, her brother said you could cater the one in Magic Springs. He said he owed you one.”
Mia didn’t think her eyelid was ever going to stop twitching.
“Oh, good, there’s still food left.” Levi grabbed two plates from the cupboard. “I’m starving.”
“You’re always starving,” Trent said as he stood to grab two more chairs out of the storage closet.
“We need to get back to planning what we’re doing about Howard’s visit,” Thomas grumbled as he looked out at the oak tree where Buddy was putting out a small fire on the branch where he was perched. He rubbed his forehead.
Christina sat in Trent’s spot and took the plate of food Abigail had handed her, moving Trent’s plate toward Mia. She followed Thomas’s gaze as she asked, “Who is Howard, and . . . is that a purple dragon?”
* * *
They got Christina caught up on Cerby’s new friend. Levi had forgotten to mention Buddy to her after Trent called last night. He’d told her he needed to come back to Magic Springs for a week or so. The Majors family was going to need to put on a show for the magic inspector when he arrived, so it would be better if the brother who was supposed to have the powers was here in case something happened.
Mia didn’t think anyone was going to be fooled. Coven canon said that in a generation, only one child would wield the family’s magic. It was perfectly fine for Abigail and Levi to both have power. They could even add Thomas to the fun. But Trent was one step too many. He’d given up his power to Levi in a formal ceremony overseen by the coven, but his power hadn’t left him like it should have. And now, Trent had a Goddess-delivered familiar, Cerby. Levi hadn’t even found his familiar yet.
Life was going to be interesting around here for the next few weeks. Her phone rang, but after glancing at the display, she let it go to voice mail. If the Lodge had been calling, she would have jumped on the excuse to leave and go to work. Instead, the call was from Sabrina, the coven membership chair. Probably asking, again, if Mia was going to join the coven on Halloween.
At least Abigail was dealing with all of the coven’s requests and questions on the Halloween party.
“You need to be focusing, not letting your mind wander,” Grans chided her. “Abigail’s been trying to instruct you on the different powers from the herbs, powders, and potions as we’re setting up your lab, and you’re worried about the coven.”
“The girl’s got a lot on her plate.” Abigail tried to come to Mia’s rescue. “Besides, I’m going to leave my potions cookbook with her just in case. I think I’ve got all her supplies in containers and labeled.”
“As will I, but that’s not the point.” Grans turned to Abigail. “Mia needs to bond with the room. And she can’t do that without understanding how it’s being set up.”
“Thanks for trying, Abigail, but Grans is right. I wasn’t fully here. I need to practice being more in the moment. If I’m at work, I’m worrying about Mia’s Morsels. If I’m home, I’m worried about work.” Mia turned her phone completely off. “Maybe that will help.” She picked up her pen and checked to see where she’d stopped paying attention. “Tell me again about the third shelf?”
“It’s where your aromatics will be stored. There’s a precise order to the bottles, which allows you to focus on the spell and not reading bottles and containers. I know it might seem old-fashioned, but we have our rituals to ensure that we are successful with our potions. No use remaking the wheel when it’s already been discovered.” Abigail listed off the contents of the bottles one by one. “Next summer I’ll teach you how to dry and store your herbs.”
Grans raised an eyebrow.
“With Mary Alice’s permission, of course.” Abigail hurriedly added as she glanced at her watch. “Oh, I need to run downstairs. We’re Zooming with Christina’s mother about the receptions.”
“Tell Mother Adams I said hi.” Mia grinned. That would probably set off the matriarch of the Adams family, and Mia didn’t even have to be there. Knowing how to push a person’s buttons was an exact science. One that she used with her ex-fiancé’s family often. Well, except Christina. Mia had claimed her as found family as soon as the engagement had been called off.
“I thought you had untied the knots between you and the Adams family,” Grans asked as Abigail hurried out of the room.
“Except when it comes to Christina, I have. I don’t like the way Christina’s mother pushes her around. I thought when Isaac married Jessica, she’d be Mother Adams’s new project. But this wedding to Levi has the woman wound up like a spring, waiting to explode.”
Mia opened a door and found her storeroom already set up, with cleaning supplies even. Grans had outdone herself. “I’ve been practicing the calming spell and focusing on Mother Adams as much as possible. It seems to be making her more anxious. Am I doing it wrong?”
