by Lynn Cahoon
“Aren’t you working tomorrow? If not, you could invite Trent over and he could help you plan the landscaping.” Grans followed her out of the chemistry lab and to the stairs that would take them from the second-floor classrooms to her apartment on the third floor. “Maybe he could devise a plan to block the secret entrance as well. The man seems very versatile.”
Mia slowly climbed the stairs, keeping her pace level so her grandmother wouldn’t hurry to keep up. “Trent’s tried. He says that the house is preventing anyone from closing it off. He thinks there’s a ward on the entrance, but he hasn’t figured it out yet. Do you think someone added in some magical additions when they built the school?”
Her grandmother didn’t answer until she was on the landing in front of the apartment door. There were only three doors on this floor. One to Mia’s apartment. One to a storage room. And one that was locked and Mia couldn’t find the key. Trent thought it led to a widow’s walk on the top of the building. She glanced at the locked door as she unlocked the apartment and waited while Grans stepped in ahead of her. Finally, she sat down in the kitchen and motioned Mia to set her grimoire on the table.
“Are you okay? I can get a contractor in here to install an elevator if the stairs are too much.” Mia set Grans’s grimoire in front of her, then returned her own to its spot on the kitchen bookshelf. The book shared its shelf with Gloria, Mia’s kitchen witch, and a few crystals.
Her grandmother looked up from scanning the book’s pages. “Why on earth would I need an elevator?”
“You didn’t say anything. I thought you were winded.” Mia dropped into the chair near her fridge and wondered if there was any sun tea left.
“I was thinking. You asked me a question and I was trying to remember if I had any notes in the grimoire about spell work done when the school was built. If I remember right the school was built in 1940. My mother might have been part of the construction crew.” She flipped through pages as she talked. “Our family’s magical history is in my grimoire. Someday, since your mother has passed on the opportunity to learn the craft, the history will all move to your book.”
Mia frowned as she looked at her book on the shelf. “Maybe I should have gotten a bigger one. Or you could just will me that book and I can keep it as well as my own. Kind of like volumes.”
Grans shook her head. “It doesn’t work like that. When I pass on, the spells our family of witches has developed over the years will move into your book. My book will die with me. Most witches have their books buried with them, but really, it’s just a shell by the time of the ceremony. The spells will pass as soon as my tie to the earthly plain is broken.”
Mia thought about this new bit of magical family history she hadn’t known. “So what happened to Dorian’s book? Since he’s still here and all.”
“His physical tie has been broken. He’s only here in spirit.” Grans shrugged. “I assume his daughter got the new book delivered to her place in Hollywood. I’m sure she’ll try to use the spells to further her career, which of course will bring it down. I really hope Dorian talked to her about the power she now wields. I tried to talk to her at the funeral but she looked at me like I was a crazy old woman. Can you make me a cup of tea?”
Mia stood and filled the teakettle, putting it on the stove to heat up. “I thought we’d have roasted pork and vegetables tonight. I have some apple pie for dessert.”
“Is Christina joining us?” Grans kept slowly turning pages.
Christina was the only employee of Mia’s Morsels as well as being Mia’s almost sister-in-law and now roommate. Or would you call the sister of the jerk you were engaged to an ex-almost-sister-in-law? Either way, she was turning into an amazing chef, even though Christina’s career goals were focused more on the hospitality side of the business. Besides, she was a good friend.
Mia got out cups and tea bags. She would have her own herbs this year to dry for tea mixtures this summer, as soon as she got the garden planned and planted. There was a lot of work to be done before she’d be sipping a cup of her own brew next fall. “Christina’s returning home this weekend from her birthday trip. She spent the week with her parents and Isaac in Bermuda at their vacation place.”
“When I turned twenty-one, no one sent me on an all-expensive-paid Caribbean trip. We were just adults.” Grans studied a spell in the grimoire, then shook her head and turned the page. “How did school go for her this term? Does she like the business classes?”
“It’s different now. And she’s loving the hospitality program. She’s a natural, but her heart is in event planning. She’s probably going to open her own shop as soon as she gets the degree.” Mia poured the water over the bags and brought the steaming cups to the table. “I’m glad she finally found her passion.”
“I’m surprised she’s still living here with you. I would have thought that she would have gone home to stay with her folks.” This time Grans did glance up, watching Mia’s reaction.
“I’m not sure but I believe she’s here because she needs connection. Being home would have been miserable for her. Her mother would have pushed her into law or pre-med, something that Christina didn’t want to do.” Mia played with the bag, not letting it steep on its own. “I know she’s not really related to me, but I like playing big sister. And she does a lot for the catering company.”
“You could hire someone with fewer issues.” Grans refocused on the book. “But I understand your concern about the girl. She’s special.”
Mia stood and grabbed her laptop. As she booted it up, she grinned at her grandmother. “Maybe I can find some information about the builders and who was involved in the school planning.”
“How will that help? they’re probably all dead by now.”
She stood and got a notebook out of her desk drawer. “Probably, but maybe you’ll recognize some of the names from the coven. And if they were in the coven, maybe they passed on their spells to someone in the family.”
Grans nodded. “That’s brilliant. I wouldn’t have thought of it.”
“I only just did. Probably because of your explanation on how the family grimoires work. All we have to do is find the witch or witches who were part of the development of the school.” She keyed material into her search engine and went to find the information.
Two hours later, her stomach was growling and she had three names. Charles Silas Miller, Andrew Nathan McDonald, and Horace James Blough.
Her grandmother looked at the names as Mia pulled out the sheet pan where she’d roasted dinner. The roast felt done, but she put a meat thermometer inside just in case. Perfect temperature, she thought as the digital readout blinked.
“I don’t know any of these men. Of course, I was just a little girl when the school was built. I wasn’t even in school yet.” Grans put the laptop and notebook on Mia’s desk, along with her grimoire. “Don’t let me forget this when you drive me home.”
“I won’t. Believe me, I don’t want to deal with the problems.” Mia got plates out and served the meal. After a few bites, she set her fork down and smiled. “I love this kitchen. It’s not as high tech as the one in my house in Boise, but it feels good. The school feels comfortable. Even the places I haven’t had time to clean and organize.”
“I’m glad you feel at home. That’s important to your ability to be happy. You kept too busy in Boise even to breathe, let alone figure out what your heart was telling you.” Grans sipped from her water. “Speaking of your heart, how are you and Trent doing?”
“We’re fine.” Trent was the owner-manager of Majors Grocery and Mia’s boyfriend. He was also a reluctant witch, not like his little brother, who enjoyed magic and its benefits. Mia figured that Levi’s living here was the real reason Christina had stayed in town, but he was a good guy and she didn’t mind having him or his brother over most nights. “He’s been getting some flak from John Louis about selling again. I guess John thinks i
f Majors closes, he can get a bigger grocery to come into town.”
“I can’t believe he isn’t still in jail for what he did to you. Holding a gun on someone just isn’t a joke in my mind.” Grans pursed her lips. She didn’t like talking about John Louis, not at all.
“Apparently it wasn’t loaded and John has friends in the county government. Anyway, he’s supposed to stay away from me, so that’s a win at least. I haven’t seen him since he came back from his trip to Boise when he did his ‘time.’” Mia used air quotes. “He must have some really powerful friends to get just six weeks in the low-security prison section. I heard he was still running his realty business while he was in lockup. I hate to see him actually make money by ripping Majors Grocery out of Magic Springs.”
“That’s not going to happen. Albertson’s already opened a small store in Sun Valley. There’s no way they’d open a second one so close. Besides, all the one in Sun Valley carries is prepared foods and gourmet items. I stopped in for a few items the other day and I couldn’t even find regular flour. Rice flour yes, but not all-purpose.” Grans glanced around the room. “It’s feeling chilly in here. Do you have the heat on?”
“Yes, but only in the apartment.” Mia followed her grandmother’s gaze, hoping she wouldn’t find Dorothy Purcell. The local ghost had expanded her haunting spots from the nursing home and the hospital to the school Mia had bought. She guessed she should feel grateful the ghost liked her enough to visit, but sometimes it wigged her out. Like the whole Mr. Darcy and Dorian thing.
A slight tapping echoed through the apartment.
“What is that?”
Mia got up and walked to the living room. “Mr. Darcy. He’s started pawing at the door when he wants in. I’m not sure if he came up with the idea or if it’s Dorian being polite.”
Her grandmother stirred her tea and looked up when Mia returned from letting Mr. Darcy into the apartment.
“I think it’s time to talk about the history of our family grimoire.” Grans cleared the table of plates. Then she sat back down. “Do you have any whisky, dear? This is going to be a little bit of a shock.”
