The Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Box Set Books 1 to 7

by Olivia Swift

  “I think,” Merle said, “and this is just a guess, that if you hold Tomas and stand with Magda, it might make a strong attraction. We can just try things and see what works.”

  They set themselves in a little group near the doors and Merle said to go ahead.

  “I know she is around, just not coming forward.”

  “Great-Grandaunt Irina, this is me, Magda Caraganic. Please come and say hello.” Nothing happened and Magda tried again. “Aunt Irina, I am trying to make the stable into a café. I see your Pushkin in here. Was he a very special cat?”

  “Just keep talking,” Merle instructed. “She is listening and quite close. Keep on telling her things.”

  “Aunt Irina, I have seen your photo in the newspaper. We are so alike that we could be sisters. Please come and see me. Maybe Pushkin will come at the same time.”

  “Sam, can you add something as well?” Merle asked and Sam looked uncertain. Magda squeezed his hand.

  “This is Sam,” she said. “Aunt Irina, he is making the stable come to life again. Can you see what we are doing to the building?”

  “We read about the fire.” Sam found something to say. “That must have been frightening for you.”

  “She’s stepping forward,” Merle said keeping her voice calm.

  “Hello, Aunt Irina. We have another cat here very much like Pushkin. We called him Tomas.”

  “Oh,” Merle said. She does not like that. I can feel that anger in my head. Tell her you will change the name.”

  “I am sorry, Aunt Irina. We can call him Pushkin if you like, in memory of your Pushkin. Pushkin comes into the stable all of the time.”

  “Would you like to have Pushkin back, Aunt Irina?” Merle asked and smiled as she got the feeling in her mind. “Yes she would.” She passed on her answer to the others. “Come forward please. Show yourself, Aunt Irina. We are all friends here.”

  Katie gasped out loud and grabbed at Rula’s arm because they could see and Sam could not, that the shadow of Irina appeared beside the doorway.

  “Thank you, Irina,” Merle went on calmly. “I can see you beside the door. Magda can call for Pushkin.” She looked at Magda who started to call for the cat from long ago. Sam still held the kitten in his hands and was standing very still knowing that the woman’s shape was at his side. Magda called for Pushkin three times and then the cat appeared at her ankles.

  “He’s here, Irina,” Merle said in that very calm voice. “Your beloved cat is beside Magda. Can you see him?” She repeated the line again and was rewarded with Irina moving away from Sam and toward Magda. Magda saw the movement from the corner of her eye and tried to stay calm. There was no real substance there, just the half outline of a person and the feeling that someone was right beside her.

  “I love you, Aunt Irina,” she said. “Please take Pushkin with you and find some peace.”

  “The woman is full of emotions,” Merle said. “She has love for you and the cat, but she is still covering something else that disturbs her. She is confused, lost, frightened, and happy all at the same time. It is hard to sort out.”

  “I feel the same way,” Magda answered. “I know how she feels.” She asked the lady from the past if she could see Pushkin, and Merle smiled and relaxed.

  “She can see him. Will they be able to be together I wonder?” Merle added and everyone held their breath. It seemed like an eternity until Merle said that the two shadows had merged together.

  The half shadow that was Irina Caraganic took her beloved cat and went back toward Sam. Magda felt him stiffen and held his hand.

  “Aunt Irina, Sam and I both love you. We don’t mind if you come back and visit.”

  “The final thought she sent to my mind was a thank you,” Merle said and found something to sit on. “It drains you so much trying to talk in your mind. She’s gone now and so has Pushkin.

  “That was amazing.” Katie voiced what they all felt.

  “Thank you, Merle,” Magda said. “We could not have managed without you.”

  “Let’s hope that it keeps the spirit world happy," Merle answered, “but I think she was troubled by more than just losing the cat.”

  “Branston, did you see your gran and ask about anything she remembered?” Melissa asked and he said sorry but he hadn’t.

  “I’ll take her some violet crème truffles and go tomorrow. She says the violet ones remind her of when she was young.”

  Melissa said that she would like to do a bit more digging.

  “Maybe his gran will give us another lead. I wonder why she was unhappy.”

  Magda took the kitten from Sam.

  “So, this is now Pushkin.”

  “She reacted immediately to Tomas. I wonder if that means something, Melissa.” Merle remarked as Magda stowed the cat back in his traveling crate. “We can give it a few days and see if anyone sees her or the cat again.”

  “Come on, Merle,” Branston said. “You need to sit and take it easy.”

  They all went their separate ways and Sam locked the doors. They took the cat, now Pushkin, back to his sisters.

  Sam sank onto a seat and looked decidedly shaken.

  “What is bothering you this much, Sam?” Magda asked and took his hand. “Tell me.” He looked into the distance and thought back to the little event in the café.

  “I can feel that she wants me. It is so strange and I won’t say this to anyone else. It’s not like Loretta. It’s a sort of feeling that she—sounds ridiculous—she dreams about me.”

  “Oh, Sam.” She sat on his knee and put her arms around his neck. “You got dragged into this by doing the building for me. I’m sorry. Maybe Merle has solved it.”

  He shook his head and said that he didn’t think so.

  She pulled him to his feet.

  “Get the truck and follow me back home. You need company tonight.” He smiled and kissed the top of her head.

  “Okay, Boss.”

  Pushkin was settled with his sisters and none the worse for his visit out, and they arrived back at Magda’s to find two Birmans wanting dinner.

  She fed the cats and found some food in the freezer which could be microwaved.

  “Spaghetti bolognese,” she said and handed him a plate and fork, “followed by ice cream. Food always makes you feel better, and you can finish with the pecan and marzipan truffles.”

  “You are a wonder, Magda,” he told her and almost found himself saying that he loved her. He held back and wondered if she would run a mile if he actually said those words. Instead he joked, “I could get used to being waited on hand and foot.”

  “Don’t kid yourself,” she replied. “I suppose it’s not every day you have a run-in with a ghost and its cat. We need to come back to earth and practicalities.”

  “Speaking of which,” he said, “the fittings are arriving tomorrow for the start of your enormous kitchen.”

  “I’ve ordered the tables and chairs.” She showed him the leaflets and added that she had also ordered the display cabinets for the truffles on the counter.

  “The next week should see it almost complete,” he told her.

  “What about a grand opening?” she wondered.

  Decide tomorrow,” he said and pulled her to her feet. It was the most natural thing in the world to wrap his arms around her and feel her respond. “Got something to show you.”

  “I’ve heard that one before,” she joked. Sam took her hand and led her to the bedroom door.

  Then she saw the picture on the bed.

  “You bought it? The original? Katie just said it was sold and never mentioned that it was you.”

  “She was sworn to secrecy.”

  “Oh, Sam. It is a beautiful picture. I will treasure it. Thank you. You can put it up for me in the morning.” She put her arms around his waist. “I notice that with or without the painting, you manage to get into this bedroom quite often.”

  He grinned and for a response picked her up and dropped her on the bed. Crystal and Abigail stalked
away to the sofa in disgust.

  In the morning, Katie arrived early with her cell phone in her hand.

  “What is it?” Magda asked.

  16

  I took a photo last night,” Katie said and held up the screen. The vague outline of a woman was beside Sam.

  “Now I am a bit freaked out,” he admitted.

  “Hard work will get it out of your system,” Magda was brisk and businesslike.

  “She will be gone now, I guess,” Katie added.

  “Go to work. I’ll come over later to see how things are coming along,” Magda told him. He kissed her cheek and left.

  “Is he really freaked out?” Katie queried, and Magda said that he was shaken by what had happened.

  “I’m right though. Hard work does the trick, and we have to work out what we need to make in time for the grand opening.” She paused and put her hands on her hips. “He gave me the picture. You kept that very quiet.”

  “Customer confidentiality.” Katie smiled.

  “I absolutely love it. You are really good.” The two of them worked on the orders at hand and talked about what would be needed for the café. Magda had a notebook to one side and jotted down what they thought would be best to stock up on. “I’ll make cheesecakes as well to sell by the portion but that will be last minute. The coffee-machine people are providing the glasses and mugs, and I've wondered about making smoothies as well.”

  “We are going to be so busy. You’re right. The ghosts will have to take a back seat.”

  The two girls stopped for a break, and Magda made hot chocolate and decorated the top with cream, marshmallows, sprinkles, sauce, and cocoa powder shaken through a sieve in the shape of a heart.

  “Too pretty to drink,” Katie said but dropped in a straw to enjoy the treat. Magda’s phone rang. Branston’s name appeared on the screen.

  “Morning, Cousin,” Magda said and then listened as he repeated what his gran had told him.

  “I’ve told Melissa so she can look in different places and see what she finds.”

  “Now that is interesting. Thanks, Branston.” She hung up and told Katie that his gran had remembered that her mother talked about the Caraganic family and how the father was really hard on them all. “It was well known at the time apparently, and Irina had found a man she wanted to marry, but the brother had sent him away.”

  “Oh, that is so sad. No wonder she is unhappy. She must have been brokenhearted,” Katie replied and Magda nodded.

  “And why she didn’t want the cat called Tomas,” Magda observed. “If you can manage, I’ll go and tell Sam and see how the work is going.”

  “No problem,” Katie said and went on stirring the chocolate.

  Magda tidied herself up, brushed her hair, and glanced quickly in the mirror.

  “He’s not bothered what you look like,” Katie observed. “He loves you anyway.”

  Magda shook her head.

  “Your artistic fancies are running riot,” she declared but set off with that unexpected somersault that her heart did. She knew the relationship with Sam had changed, and she was still coming to terms with that but the L word? She pushed the thoughts to one side and was grateful she had so many other things to think about.

  The café was a hive of activity. She found Sam helping the plumber in the kitchen as the appliances had started to arrive, and he was finding the right place for everything. The chocolate vat was in place, and Sam was constructing the central work island. The electrician was on a ladder installing spotlights for the work areas, and Declan was installing the storage cupboards. The serving counter was to one side, and Declan told her he would do that last to leave room to get in and out.

  “My oh my. I would never have believed this possible.” She breathed out, looking around. “It will be fantastic.

  “The coffee machine is a beast,” Sam said as he stopped beside her for a breather.

  “But necessary, “ she said. “Katie and I have been working out how many truffles and cheesecakes we have to make for the opening. Thank goodness you thought of her. She is a godsend. I think I’ll ask her to make the leaflets for the publicity, and I will set up a page on Facebook to get people talking about it.”

  “You were right about the action being the thing to do. No ghosts have appeared, and Declan hasn’t seen the cat either.”

  She told him that Branston’s gran had remembered that Tomas was seen as a hard man, and maybe Irina had not been allowed to marry the man she was in love with.

  “We don’t know if that is true or not, but Melissa is trying to find out more if she can.”

  “Tomas, now Pushkin the second, seems none the worse for his adventure,” Sam told her, and she added that she would make a meal for them if he would go and feed the cats when he finished work.

  “Sounds good to me,” he said, and she saw his old relaxed smile again.

  They were surprised by the sound of a voice asking where they wanted the tables. The delivery was early. The men carried them in and stacked them in the new extension.

  “It is all coming together so fast,” Magda declared. The man asked for a signature and left. Magda unwrapped one pile of tables and one pile of chairs to see the effect, and the electrician switched on the spotlights in the extension.

  “Oh, wow.” She did a little happy dance on the new wooden floor.

  “I’m guessing she likes them,” Declan observed.

  “I do. I do. It’s wonderful. When can we have the opening?”

  “We need another week,” Sam told her.

  She had one more look and left them to work, bought food for the evening and went to see the potter lady that Katie had mentioned. The woman said she would be happy to take leaflets, and Magda ordered some mugs, plant pot covers, and bowls that displayed daisies and grasses. Then she drove over to Michele at the restaurant and asked if he minded if she took a note of his potted plants.

  “Of course not, my little Magda.” He, too, would take leaflets and told her where to go to order the plants that she needed. She went home to tell all to Katie with a swing in her step.

  “Tomorrow I’ll order the plants for next week, and Sam says that the ground will be solid by then. Apparently, he thinks a desert effect is achieved with what looks like sand but sets really hard and is wheelchair friendly.”

  “I’ve never seen that before,” Katie answered. “How is the kitchen doing?”

  “It will be fabulous. Can I ask you to do the leaflets for the advertising? You could take tomorrow and stay at home to do that.”

  “Oh yes. Give me all the details that you want to go on there.” and the two girls each sat with a coffee and talked about the leaflets. “I would think that you would like something that includes plants, foliage, and maybe a cat?”

  “Spot on. Thanks. I’ll leave it up to you.”

  When Katie had left for the evening, Magda rushed around and popped some food in the oven. She was pulling a brush through her hair when Sam arrived with the three kittens all squished into one cat carrier.

  “Sorry,” he said. “I have to see a client tomorrow, and Declan cannot leave the café because of the sandblasters and doors. Danny and the other men are starting a new job.” He put the crate on the floor and leaned back outside the door to pick up a huge bunch of flowers. “Flowers to soften the deal.” He smiled and she kissed his cheek.

  “Beautiful flowers. Thank you, and I am sure the girls will tell the kittens who is boss. If the worst happens, the girls can stay in the bedroom.” They took the cat crate into the living room and with a "here goes," Magda opened the door. The three kittens looked out cautiously and then came out of the door together. Abigail and Crystal stalked over to see who was in their territory, but after a derisory sniff, they stalked back to the sofa and ignored the newcomers. Magda laughed.

  “Two stuck-up, little snobs, you are,” she said to the cats and picked up Pushkin. “He can stay on afterward anyway.” The kittens explored the room, and they closed the door to
the kitchen as Magda took the meal from the oven.

  Sitting at the table he said he would be away from early morning but back in the early hours of the following day.

  “I might as well drive back through the night. The sandblasting should be done, and Declan will have the external doors in place. Then you will have a watertight and secure café with just the finishing touches to do.”

  “When will the outside surface be walkable?” Magda asked.

  “It is getting done the next day and then we’ll leave it overnight to harden. Then you’re good to go.”

  They took coffee into the living room and found the kittens had made themselves at home.

  Crystal looked at the cell phone on the table and two seconds later it rang.

  “I’m sure she hears it vibrate before it rings,” Magda said as she flicked open the phone and said hello to Melissa.

  “I found some more information for you. You might not need it because everything seems to have settled down but it is interesting.”

  “What have you found?” Magda asked and put it on speakerphone.

  “An article from nineteen thirty or so that reported that the sister of local businessman Tomas Caraganic was attending a meeting accompanied by carpenter Samuel Carter. They went on to speculate that Mr. Carter, who was helping with a charity project, did not see eye to eye with Mr. Caraganic as they argued over some work done. “

  “Oh Lord,” Magda replied. “She really did have issues with her brother.”

  “Caraganic must have had a lot of influence in the town,” Melissa speculated.

  “And the name,” Magda suddenly observed, “Samuel Carter and she sees Sam Barnes in the stable.”

  “Good Lord above,” Sam said. “You think she thought I was him?”

  “Possibly,” Melissa said. “Anyway, it may shed a bit more light on why she was so sad.”

  “Thanks, Melissa,” Magda said and told her the date for the grand opening. “I’ll catch up with Rula and let her know what there is to do.”

  She sat back and Sam looked worried.

  “It’s over, sweetheart. She’s got her beloved Pushkin who was frightened by the fire. There have been no sightings since then.”