Page 1 of Night Magic

Chapter 1

“Secrets come back to haunt you,” Krista whispered as she turned the knob to her shop. Funny how some things stick in our minds. Her grandmother had warned her to keep personal matters to only those you deeply trust. Her life had been an open book to her ex-fiancé, and she soon learned how shady he was.

After the prior day’s surprise visit from him her quest for a simple life had shifted. The knot in her stomach tightened as she dropped her keys into her purse. An unwelcome encounter with her ex-fiancé was the last thing she’d expected, and it left her no choice but to contact a lawyer for legal advice. Even if sneaky and underhanded Andy had no supporting arguments, he knew too much about her past, and she didn’t want it to destroy her.I hope the new attorney in town can help me.Tension traveled across her upper back and shoulders. She gave a sigh before stepping inside the building.

Silk and Dreamswas busy on weekends during the summer. Thank goodness for her faithful little town and the tourists. Fear gripped her gut and twisted it. As she flipped the light switch, her mind wandered to the Grand Opening three years ago. With determination to have a productive day, she tried to shake off the image of Andy’s cold eyes and snickering laugh. The reappearance of her former lover had threatened to put a halt to her vision.

From the beginning, her desire was to entice the clients with the captivating aroma of fragrant products, hoping they’d purchase a basketful. As she ran one hand across a glass display case, her heart fluttered in fear of losing everything. She’d created her skincare line with love and all natural ingredients, earning positive reviews as soon as the shop’s ribbon-cutting ceremony had finished.

She reached for the full-length lace apron hanging from a hook on the back of her office door, slipped it on, and counted her blessings. If it weren’t for the tourists who loved her products, she’d most likely have gone out of business a long time ago. They’d kept the place afloat, even with the failing economy.

Floral arrangements, a crystal chandelier, an assortment of vintage items, scented soaps, and the sweet aroma of potpourri helped create a romantic atmosphere. Krista was proud of the décor she’d finished with her supportive and equally creative best friend, Terri. Who needed to spend money on a specialist when she could get ideas off the internet? It took time and patience, but it was well worth it. A sense of triumph swept over her as she inhaled the soothing scent of lavender. Even if it was temporary, her mood had shifted away from the conversation with her ex-fiancé. Gratitude momentarily took the place of anger and fear.

Before turning the sign on the door around to open for the day, she swept her long hair back with a pink floral headband. She checked the pockets on her apron, since she had a habit of slipping her money inside and forgetting about it. As she ran her hands around her hips, she made a mental note to lay off dessert for a while. Curves were a good thing, but she tried to keep from going up and down like a yo-yo. A closet filled with summer clothes, all size eight, needed to fit. She’d purchased a whole new wardrobe since it had been years since she’d treated herself. A recent shopping spree in a top retail shop in North Conway, on their anniversary sale, had taken her budget to the limit, so she had no choice but to refrain from indulgences. She faced a full-length mirror on the back of her office door, sucked her stomach in, and held both hands on her hips.There’s hope.

With the sky crystal clear and the renovation of the strip mall completed, the day held the possibility for great sales. She placed her hand on her necklace and took a slow, cleaning breath. She needed the business, especially now that her old flame had appeared at her doorstep after so many years. How dare he insist she owed him money? He was a blood-sucking jerk who had walked out of her life without a word’s notice and didn’t deserve a dime.

The bills had piled during the winter, but she’d managed to keep the place going with hard work and sacrifice. Some of the other store owners left town during the season, but she couldn’t afford to go anywhere. She picked up a bar of Italian lemon scented soap, inhaled the soothing aroma, and rearranged the assortment of luxury bars. If only she could speak to her grandmother.

Inside her tiny office in the back of the shop, she stopped and glanced over to a collage of family photos. It seemed like only yesterday that the one person who believed in her had passed away. Ten years had gone by in a flash. Since her parents had died in a tragic accident when she was a teenager while driving cross-country, her grandmother was all she had left. Home was a brick cottage that always reminded her of a gingerbread house, and she had hated to sell it in order to start over in the White Mountain region of New Hampshire.

At night, she sometimes had vivid dreams about her grandma. If only for a moment, with the moon shining bright, it brought her comfort. It had seemed like her grandmother was trying to tell her something crucial every time. She’d see her grandma garbed in black with a veil over her face, but when she opened her mouth to speak, Krista always woke up. In her heart, Krista was sure the woman who had sacrificed and loved her unconditionally would be able to get through with whatever message she fought so hard to divulge, in due time.

What she wouldn’t give to have her here now. Why couldn’t the sneaky, underhanded con artist, Andy McFarland, just disappear and leave her alone? Hadn’t he hurt her enough?

The memories of her life back home in New Jersey had a special place in her heart, before the breakup. She tucked them aside. She’d had no choice but to leave her former life and start anew. Her view of looking at the world was certainly different, but a community of rigid, narrow-minded people had judged her every move. If you didn’t do as they did, you didn’t fit in, so she rebelled against their lifestyle. She believed in the way her Grandma Angie had raised her. Maybe it was unconventional, but she was happy. How long could she continue to hide from the very thing that ran through her blood?

It wasn’t easy to shake memories of the dark day when she packed up her desk at the school. Bartlett, her new home in New Hampshire, was miles away from her hometown in Central New Jersey, but it was home now. The woods, mountains, laid-back people, and—most of all—the fashion had taken some getting used to. You can’t take a Jersey girl and plop her in the middle of the country without a period of adjustment. She’d love to wiggle her toes in the sand at The Jersey Shore, but for now, that was only possible in her dreams. Money was too tight, and a visit wouldn’t fit in this year.

Lifting a box of French soaps, she sighed and placed them in a small bathtub on a display table. Flashbacks of the day her life changed wouldn’t quit. Her private life was something sacred. Why had she let them get the best of her? A busybody coworker had started the chain of gossip when she got wind of her being a witch, and things changed soon after. The last thing she would do is cause harm to a room filled with five-year-olds. She adored her kindergarten class. It was better to resign than to continue to be watched, judged, and criticized for her choice of lifestyle. Embarrassed and disappointed, she did what she had to do. She’d never hurt a soul, let alone a child. The judgmental board of directors at the private school where she had been employed did nothing but bully people.

Life was peaceful now. She had a group of trusted friends, a business she loved, and self-respect. She’d put a halt to Andy’s lies and stop him from defiling her image this time, somehow. The money from her grandmother’s estate had helped start her business. A small apartment in a historic area was comfortable, but she had believed that by thirty-nine she’d own a home, have money in the bank, a retirement plan, and stability. She still wished for a miracle.

With the sunlight beaming through the storefront, the antique chandelier took on a mystical glow. It helped shift her focus to business. If she’d said ‘no’ more often and taken better care of herself, she might have something to show for her hard work. The money she had lent her ex was history. If she’d only walked away when he begged for a handout. Not anymore! Now he’d have to get a job like a responsible adult. She’d regretted letting two of the sales clerks go, and had spent seven days a week doing the job herself for a month. Thank goodness for Alex, a stock boy from Ireland. Luckily, he was able to accept a summer position.

As a few people strolled into the shop, Krista answered an incoming call. She stepped around to a private area in the back of the store and kept her voice low.

“How’s it going, kiddo?” Terri asked.

“I’m hanging in there.” Krista kept an eye out front.

“I can’t believe Andy surfaced after disappearing while you planned the wedding. I hope you gave it to him good. It seemed like he’d dropped off the face of the earth. He should have.”

“I made an appointment with a lawyer in town. Since Tom Hasting moved his practice, I didn’t have anyone else to turn to. One of my neighbors highly recommended him.” Her hopes high, she fiddled with a pen on her desk.

“Well, get your butt there pronto. I don’t want that loser’s sob story to cause you to weaken. You know how you fall for a man who sheds a tear or two, even if it was an Academy Award performance.”

Happy to have Terri De Angelis, her oldest and dearest friend, nearby since she’d relocated after her divorce, Krista appreciated her support.

“I’m trying to rid myself of the need to take care of others. I’ve got a goal to reach this time.” A stack of books from the library on boosting your business sat on her coffee table at home. She’d recently gone over them in hopes of taking the shop to the next level.

“I want to hear the whole story. How about coming for dinner tonight? I make a mean pesto burger, and I’ll whip up a couple of margaritas.”

“I’d like that. Thanks for being such a good friend.” She heard the sound of the bell at the front door. A few older women had entered the shop. “I have an appointment with the attorney at five, so I’m closing early. I’ll be at your place around six-thirty. Have to run.”

“Great! See you then, and watch your back. I don’t trust that creep Andy.”

****

---