The Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Box Set Books 1 to 7

by Olivia Swift

  The girls were in the café and said they would take turns throughout the day to let the others move around and see people.

  “Did you get any sleep?” Magda asked Katie and then shouted out loud. “No, you didn’t. Wow. Rula look.” She held up Katie’s left hand to display a sparkling diamond ring. Rula flung her arms around the girl and said it was wonderful.

  “Tell us,” Magda demanded. Katie smiled.

  “I don’t want to take away from the art gallery but tomorrow night at Declan’s, we would like you all to come and celebrate.”

  “No problem there. Oh, this is so wonderful. I do love a happy ending.”

  “And a good beginning, I hope,” Sam said and kissed Katie on the cheek. “The official opening is about to start.”

  The art gallery was full of people. Declan took to the little lectern they had put out for Barker and caught their attention.

  “Thank you all for coming to help us open this art gallery and exhibition center. We are lucky enough to have the help and advice of a man well-known in business in this town. Please put your hands together for Mr. Barker Hoffstander.” There was a round of applause and Barker replaced Declan at the microphone. He talked about his delight at being involved and gave a brief history of how the gallery had once been the home of another Mr. Hoffstander.

  He told about how the people from The Chocolate Magic Café had found not one, but two, great granddaughters of that man and he made Rosie and Dana stand up. The attendees clapped. The women were embarrassed. The man went on to tell a few entertaining anecdotes and hoped that the original owner was watching from above and approving of the use of his family home. He ended by declaring The Color Gallery well and truly open. The audience clapped and cheered enthusiastically and then gasped collectively as a shower of buttons fell like stars behind the podium. It was like a very pretty light show and gave the room a magical quality.

  The visitors were offered glasses of sparkling wine and of course, truffles, as well as other snacks. People took glasses and wandered into all parts of the building, drinking, eating and talking to friends. The artist was inundated with questions. Magda asked Barker how he had managed the light display of the buttons.

  He shook his head. “I thought you had done it. It was very pretty.”

  “But if you didn’t arrange it, nobody did,” Magda said and went to look behind the podium. She picked up some shiny buttons that were an exact copy of the ones on the old jacket. Declan, Katie and Sam came to see what she and Barker were inspecting.

  “Nobody admits to making the display,” Magda said. Declan smiled and took one of the buttons.

  “He was here, watching and smiling. Mr. Hoffstander waved and disappeared as the button display was happening.”

  “Oh Lord,” Magda said. “That is a really good sign of things to come.” They took one of the buttons each as a keepsake and went to mingle with the guests.

  Dana and Michael had joined the team selling prints and serving coffee. At the end of the opening day, they were exhausted. Katie sighed and kicked off her shoes.

  Katie was asked if it was possible to have a wedding exhibition and Rula penciled in the week that was asked for. The artist was happy to sell two of his very expensive pictures and Katie had sold six of hers. The artist told her that he would send ten percent of the price of his pictures to the gallery. She was staggered by the amount. The day was another success and they cleared up happily promising to meet at seven.

  “Do you realize how many more truffles we will have to make to build up the stock?”

  They cleared up, locked up and left for their respective homes. Dana and Michael went with Magda and Sam. The cats had decided that Michael was the best person ever and he could not move far from them. Every seat he took, they all piled on as well. He took endless photos of them and said his ginger ones would be very jealous.

  Then Crystal saw that Magda had put her silver button on the shelf. She jumped up and swiped it onto the floor in front of Dana.

  “We know about the buttons, Crystal,” Dana said.

  “And the family connections,” Magda added when the cat went for the photo album.

  The guys fixed dinner by pulling out a large frozen container of stew and making a skillet of cornbread. After they finished eating, all took turns taking showers and getting ready for a relaxing evening at home. Tomorrow would be full of sightseeing and then the party tomorrow evening.

  Declan had a small house just out of town. He had bought it when it was almost a shed and built a beautiful bungalow. He had even made the furniture. Each room was unique. He had four cats and an enclosed terrace for them to exercise and since Katie had been working with him, there was a selection of her artwork almost everywhere.

  Magda noted that the covers and cushions around the cozy place had quite a feminine touch since she had been there last. She sank gratefully into a big, soft seat.

  When everyone had gathered around with drinks and the general chatter had reduced a little, Sam stood up and took his beer. He gave a little talk about his friend and co-worker Declan Coombs. He told jokes about things that had gone wrong over the years and then moved on to Katie. He thanked her for the part her paintings had played in bringing him and Magda together. He was amongst his best friends and they smiled and listened. He looked around and said that Dana and Michael had quickly become part of the group and he knew they were happy to be there to hear what he was about to say.

  He talked a little bit about the new venture that was so much a success due to both Katie and Declan.

  “I am delighted. There are no words to say how pleased I am to say this. Congratulations, Katie and Declan.” He lifted his beer. “To Katie and Declan.”

  The others rose to their feet with drinks raised and echoed his words. Katie and Declan held hands. Their smiles said it all. Everyone was taking a seat again when Magda staggered and sat back down on the armchair. Sam dropped down beside her.

  “Are you okay?”

  She smiled and took his hand.

  “Yes. I am fine.” Then she whispered in his ear. Sam Barnes went rigid for a moment and then he wrapped his arms around his wife. Katie and Declan came over and knelt beside them as well.

  “Tell us all,” Katie said. “Declan and I already worked it out.”

  “You did?” Magda asked. Katie nodded.

  Sam held onto Magda’s hand and looked around at his best friends in the whole world. Merle smiled from across the room and he knew she had figured it out as well.

  “Magda and I are,” he paused, and then a smile like a sunrise spread across his face, “about to be parents!”

  The room broke out into a joyous confusion of noise, congratulations and questions. Katie went and brought the print of the painting of the circle.

  “It really was me?” Magda asked and her friend nodded.

  “Don’t tell me you think it will be a girl?” Sam asked and Merle put her arm around him.

  “And she will have the best dad in the world.”

  “Oh, my Lord,” Sam said and sat down suddenly. It was Magda’s turn to ask if he was alright.

  The party broke up later and Sam and Magda drove Dana and Michael home with them.

  They found Crystal sitting on the photo album in the middle of the floor. Magda picked her up.

  “Thank you, Crystal. I know what you mean now.” She told Sam that she had only had it confirmed that morning with a pregnancy test.

  “I didn’t want to interrupt the new gallery celebration.”

  In the bedroom, Sam wrapped his wife in his arms.

  “Love both of you, Missus Barnes,” he said and kissed the top of her head.

  “We both love you right back. Happy ever after, Sam. Happy ever after.” They climbed into bed and it was not long before four cats managed to join them. Magda went to sleep held in the arms of the man she loved and listening to the sound of four contented cats purring peacefully.

  … not quite THE END …

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  1

  Sam and Magda Barnes arrived back home after the wedding of their good friends Declan and Katie. Declan and Sam worked together in Sam’s architectural and building contractor company. Katie managed the art gallery which their group of friends had purchased and renovated. It had been a superb day! The happy couple was on their way to a week’s honeymoon.

  Magda went into the beautiful extension to the house that Sam had built. Sam’s Aunt Alison, who had attended the wedding, but not the reception, was beside the stroller which held Sam and Magda’s 9-month-old daughter Samantha who was sound asleep.

  “Did you enjoy the reception?” Alison asked.

  “Wonderful,” Magda said and came to sit beside her. “Oh, oh,” she added. “I’m getting that disapproving look from Crystal.”

  Alison laughed and said the cat had been pacing back and forth to the door for quite some time.

  “After all this time she’s still unbelievable,” Magda said as she kicked off her high heels. “Crystal.”

  The cream Birman cat gave her a look of disdain and walked to the baby stroller. Then she looked at Magda and walked stiffly away to go up the spiral staircase which led to the roof terrace.

  “She has appointed herself chief guardian to Samantha. To think I worried that she might be jealous of the baby. I’m in her black books. It will take several treats to make it right again.”

  Alison said the cats and the baby had all been good and she had taken Samantha for a nice walk.

  The other three cats came to climb onto Magda’s knee for a cuddle. She saw Crystal out of the corner of her eye. She was watching but had decided not to join them yet. Crystal’s sister, Abigail was a lovely cream Birman but with darker points than Crystal. “Pushkin and Irina were the other two cats. A mixture of black and white that had been dumped on the doorsteps of Magda’s previous house.

  “Sam, can you bring those cat treats in with you please?” Magda called out to Sam.

  Sam, who had changed into jeans and a sweatshirt, handed over the treat bag.

  Magda smiled and gave one each to the other three cats. They had eaten two more each before Crystal gave in and joined them. “You’re a good girl Crystal. We won’t go out again for a long time.”

  When Alison had heard all the details of the reception, she started to leave for home with many thanks and cuddles.

  “I have Gina as a guest just now and she’s looking after the house today.”

  “Give her my love. We should meet up soon,” Magda added.

  “Oh, I’m so glad for Declan and Katie. The wedding went off so well,” Magda said, as she sat on the sofa and snuggled against her husband, “ but next week will be hard work.”

  “I can’t take time off to help you because I haven’t got Declan at work,” Sam added.

  “Mikey is taking charge of the gallery while Katie is away and we’ll take turns to help him out,” Magda said.

  They made an early start in the morning, leaving the cats still asleep in a heap on the sofa. Sam roared off in his truck to his architect and building office. Magda topped up the bowls for the cats and drove to the café that was still her pride and joy. It was a little more difficult to organize now that Samantha had to be added into the picture. Magda loaded the car and popped the baby into a car seat.

  When she arrived at the Chocolate Magic Café, she opened up the wrought iron gates between Mikey’s hiking shop and the building that had once been a bank. It was now their art gallery and exhibition center. As the alley widened out into the courtyard of the café with its brightly colored tables and chairs her heart gave a little flip. The old stable which had been left to her by her aunt had been made to look like an old mining cabin outside but once the double doors were open, inside it had a gleaming modern kitchen.

  She ran a hand over the original doors and then turned the key. Declan had done a wonderful job of restoring them. She stepped onto the original stone floor that Sam had installed when he restored and renovated the stable into the café.

  Flicking on the lights as she went, the baby stroller was propelled to the rear of the huge kitchen and into the little nursery area which Sam had created when the baby arrived. Leaving Samantha sound asleep, she took a cloth to wipe down the outside tables and chairs. The double doors into the gallery had been made to match the ones to the café. Suddenly they opened as Mikey arrived. He had come into the gallery via the front entrance. His wife and Magda’s best friend Rula, came along the alley.

  “I’ve opened the shop and the girls are in there. I’ll stay in the gallery,” Mikey said.

  Rula turned on the chocolate vat and the girls swung into the well-known routine of preparing for customers.

  “Katie really put some time in to help build the stock for the week,” Magda said. “I’ll make a few truffles as and when I can, but we do have a good supply.”

  Magda had built a profitable business with her handmade truffles before she opened the chocolate café and they were still immensely popular. The café had been expanded into a small shop as well. Magda walked through to check all was well. The little colored lanterns were turned on overhead and she took out her phone with the app to start up the model railway.

  The railway which ran overhead in the café had only been meant as a Christmas feature, but they had all fallen in love with it and it certainly gave a unique atmosphere to the place. Not to stop there, Magda had decided to install a model railway outside which had tracks that went into the cellar of the gallery. She would leave it to Mikey to start it up if he wanted it running.

  Rula had the huge coffee and hot chocolate machine working as the first customers started to trickle inside. Magda checked on the baby who was still contently asleep. The sound of the railway, the coffee machine, and sometimes a little background music seemed to soothe her really well. Magda smiled and went to work in the kitchen.

  The arrival of Samantha nine months ago had started Magda thinking about another set of flavors for the truffles. The alcoholic ones were always popular and the old favorites like pecan and marzipan, which was Sam’s special treat, were well known. She had been pondering about old candy flavors from childhood and was making cinder toffee1 to crush into a caramel flavor. She and Rula both tasted the mixture and thought it was too dry.

  “Cola as an ingredient?” Rula suggested and Magda found a bottle to test it out.

  As they were testing again, Magda’s cousin Branston and his wife Merle came to sit at the counter.

  “Cousin Magda, we need some service here!” Branston called out jovially. He was wearing his dude ranch outfit and looked resplendent in a cherry-red shirt with silver metal edges on the collar and cuffs. He had taken off the gigantic Stetson which took up a whole seat to itself.

  “Wonderful day they had,” Merle remarked about the wedding as she sipped her hot chocolate. Hers was a simple cup but Branston’s had cream, marshmallows, grated chocolate, and about three other ingredients.

  “Don’t know how you stay slim,” Magda grumbled as she handed her cousin his enormous confection.

  “Lots of hard work and a lot of horse riding,” he answered.

  “Talking of horse riding,” Rula said and came over to talk. “You know we’ve been pulling the old barn to bits at the house. Mikey really has to learn to ride properly and we have enough land at the back for a couple of horses.” She paused and looked at them.

  “Has anything happened?” Merle asked.

  “There’s a staircase to the upper floor. I guess it was a hayloft. The staircase is very old. Out of the corner of my eye, I could have sworn I saw a cowboy on the stairs. It was a split second and then I told myself it was my imagination.
I never see things like that.”

  “Wow,” Merle said. “That sounds fantastic.”

  “What a pity Declan is away for a week. He would be able to see if there was anything there,” Magda added.

  “We could give it a try and see if I sense anything,” Merle offered.

  “Right on cue, here comes Bart and Mikey,” Rula said and went back to the machine to produce their usual beverages.

  As he took his drink, Mikey said that one of the girls from his hiking shop was working at the cash register in the gallery. Bart, the local newspaper reporter, slid onto his favorite corner stool where he could sit back and see everything that was going on.

  Rula repeated what she thought she had seen in the barn while Magda served customers.

  Magda heard the baby and went to bring Samantha out to see her fans. Merle held out her arms for Samantha and Magda handed her over. Then she told the others about Crystal and how the cat disapproved of her being out all day.

  “That cat is a self-appointed baby protector.”

  “Well at least she’s not giving you messages about things to worry you,” Branston pointed out.

  “Don’t hold your breath. She’ll start again.” Then she said that she would feed Declan’s cats after the café closed if someone would do the morning routine on their way to work. Bart volunteered.

  “How old is this barn?” he asked Rula.

  “The barn is older than the house, but we’ve never really researched it.

  “So, there could have been a cowboy there once upon a time,” Bart suggested.

  “You’re welcome to come over and have a drink, look at the barn, and see what you think. We’d like your advice on corrals and horses anyway,” Mikey said to Merle and Branston. “Nothing fancy like your ranch but how best to set the place up for a couple of horses.”

  “That would be lovely,” Merle said. They all agreed, and Merle said about seven thirty would be fine. Bart added that Gina was staying with Alison for a few days and she could come as well.