Magical Blessings

by Candace Colt

  “I’m not asking her to the dance, and that’s final.” Beau rose to leave.

  “Ten dollars says you do,” Kristy said.

  Scarlett had scratched non-stop on the pet door, wanting to go out, for eighteen minutes. But who was counting?

  With earbuds firmly shoved into her ears, Abby sat cross-legged on the floor and inventoried at the kitten’s stolen loot. Diverting Scarlett was a lost cause. Maybe she would tire out and stop on her own, eventually. No matter what, Abby was determined not to let the feline out until after Beau had visited. One way or another, they had to find the reason behind Scarlett’s obsession.

  A quick Internet search had somewhat reassured Abby. There were many reports of cats collecting, or stealing, all types of things. Some had sock fetishes. Others, clothing items, or small toys. Some raided hot barbecue grills for burgers or hot dogs.

  Once Abby had sorted through Scarlett’s treasures, she’d determined there wasn’t a clear trend. The cat had eclectic taste, and none of the online cures fit.

  Twenty-two minutes.

  Despite jacking up the music, Abby could still hear Scarlett’s end-of-the-world fit.

  She’d also found online what a four-month-old kitten was in human years. By most estimates, Scarlett was a feisty five-year-old. The same age as Abby’s twin nieces who could be charming one minute, and defiant and wicked the next. Precisely like the feline in the kitchen.

  Twenty-seven minutes.

  While tempted, Abby didn’t dare text Beau. She trusted he would arrive soon and bring a solution. Reaching her limit with the racket, Abby escaped downstairs. There was just enough time before opening to sweep the floor and make sure the shelves were in order. She smiled as she passed the last funky-faced doll, probably lonely now that all her friends had found homes.

  She flipped the sign to ‘open’ and went out on the front porch. Another beautiful day and her hair appreciated the low humidity. Snowbird season was at its highest, and it should be another brisk sales day.

  When Beau’s truck made the turn off Sherwood Boulevard and headed her way, her whole body thrummed. Oh, dear. Let the feeling be nerves. Or else he’d spend all day trying to figure out what had caused the latest power outage.

  Abby felt terrible that Beau was making a service call to check the stairway lights that she’d caused to dim. But if she told him the truth about the curse, what then? Even though this was Cat’s Paw Cove where the unusual could be usual, he’d think she was crazy. There were times she’d thought she jolly might be.

  She met him on the walkway. His hair was wet from a shower, and the light scent of his woodsy aftershave wafted toward her. Frightening feelings of attraction again stirred inside her. She had to watch herself.

  “Morning.” His gaze scanned the power line from the street to the house. “Any more prob—lems?”

  “Not with the lights. But Scarlett’s been a terror.”

  Beau’s deep, sexy laugh set off Abby’s heart rate again. Oh, please, no.

  Beau pointed to the upstairs window where Scarlett pranced back and forth inside on the sill. Her tiny mouth motored a mile a minute.

  “I locked her pet door so she couldn’t get out until you got here. I’m afraid she didn’t take that well.”

  Abby held the front door open for Beau. When his arm accidentally brushed across her chest, she drew back. If she didn’t think fast, she’d shut down the whole Atlantic coastline.

  “Doesn’t look like rain today,” she said as she shut the door behind her.

  He looked adorably bewildered by her change of subject. “Why don’t you wait down here?” he said. “I’ll go talk to Scarlett.”

  Chapter Ten

  Scarlett sat in sphinx pose amidst her stolen goods while Beau surveyed the neatly sorted and stacked items.

  “Lord Almighty, Scarlett. I thought Abby was exaggerating about how much stuff you’ve dragged up here. And I’m guessing you weren’t the one who organized all this into categories.”

  “She’s kinda into that,” the kitten said.

  “I guess you know why I’m up here.”

  “To fix the lights?” the feline asked.

  “That and?”

  “Your glove’s back downstairs in the store,” she said.

  “It moved again? I swear this place is possessed.”

  Scarlett kitty-flopped onto her back and exposed her tummy.

  “That won’t do you any good,” Beau said as he sat on the floor and petted the cat’s belly, anyway.

  Scarlett twisted her head and gave Beau a big-eyed stare. “Am I in trouble?”

  “You can’t keep stealing things.”

  The kitten rolled upright. “I can’t help it. I see things I like, and I want to bring them back here. I don’t think Theo even knew. Along came Abby, the clean freak, and ruined everything.”

  “You have to stop,” Beau said.

  “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll stop right after you ask Abby out.”

  “Whoa. Hold on here, Short Stuff.” Twice in one day? First Kristy and now Scarlett? “What is this? A town conspiracy?”

  “Word’s out you like her.”

  Cat’s Paw Cove feline wireless network never ceased to amaze.

  “How about you carry a new message back. Beau’s not interested. Got it?”

  “Nope. My way, or not at all,” Scarlett said. “I’ve got my eye on some nifty stuff at The Mercantile up the street. A friend of mine can slip me in through the delivery door.”

  Was he being extorted by a cat? “Scarlett, you could be arrested for premeditated theft.”

  “Are you kidding? What can they do to me?”

  “They might not do anything. Theo, on the other hand, when she gets wind of this, might send you packing.”

  The kitten seemed to quietly consider Beau’s words a moment before initiating an angry shoulder lick. She stopped with her tiny pink tongue sticking out of her mouth.

  After retracting her tongue, she turned a slow gaze to Beau. “It will be worth it. You and Abby were made for each other.”

  Beau’s head reeled. How could a feline know anything about humans being made for each other? He had to come up with a creative way to counter Scarlett’s threat to go on a shoplifting spree.

  “Abby’s waiting downstairs for a report on how I fixed this problem with you, Scarlett.” Beau attempted to look distressed. “It will break her heart to know I failed.”

  Scarlett opened her mouth and contorted her face into a Cheshire grin.

  “Nice try,” the kitten said. “Ask Abby out, and I promise I will work on my addiction. And tell her to stop locking my door. You have till the end of today to keep your end of this bargain.”

  Beau leaned his forehead on the heel of his hand. He could bluff Scarlett into thinking he’d do it, but how long would that last? Or flat out refuse the deal. Or ask the woman out. No matter what, there was no guarantee that Scarlett would keep her word or that Abby would accept.

  He lifted his head and did a double-take. The feline batted a tiny brown felt mouse around the room. Was this toy actually hers, or something else she’d stolen?

  Scarlett picked up the thing in her mouth and plopped it in front of Beau. Suddenly, the ‘toy’ stood on all fours, shook itself, and ran straight for the door leading downstairs.

  Using her tiny girl’s voice, Scarlett said, “So we’re clear, let this be a warning. I mean business, Mr. Sparky.”

  Beau coughed to mask his impending belly laugh. “So, you and Kristy are in cahoots?”

  “I don’t know what that word means.”

  Maybe she didn’t, but Beau was certain that Scarlett and Kristy were up to no good. The mouse thing was over the top hilarious.

  In his career as an electrician, he’d climbed in, under, and through more gross places than he could count. He’d untangled spider webs and relocated bee nests. Grabbed snakes thinking they were electrical cords. Cleaned out rat’s nests. Not much bothered him.

  Scarle
tt’s attempt to release a tiny mouse didn’t amount to much as a scare tactic. Besides, as much as he’d like to ask Abby out on a date, he couldn’t. She’d been kind enough to pretend his stammer was no big deal. Putting her through an entire night with him would torture her.

  Back downstairs, Abby had finished with a customer and eagerly greeted Beau. “You were up there for quite a while. Everything copacetic?”

  “There’s a hitch,” he said.

  Abby scrunched a frown. “How so?”

  He never should have given her the impression he could fix the situation with Scarlett and didn’t relish disappointing her. Abby continued to stare at him with her big green eyes. Her full lips formed the shape of a sweet kiss. He had to look away.

  Then he saw a tiny critter huddled in a corner. “Abby, hand me the broom.”

  “Sure. But why?”

  “Just hand it to me. Nice and easy.”

  Abby’s head made a slow circle, her gaze never leaving his. He waved a wordless ‘come on’ as she retrieved the broom that leaned against the wall near the pottery drying shelf. Beau made a ‘shh’ gesture as he took the broom to the corner of the room.

  Beau’s stare-down with the mouse ended when he gingerly swept the broom under a shelf full of pottery, and toward the door.

  Abby threw her hands in the air in a ‘stop’ motion. “What are you doing? Be careful. Those are student pieces on that shelf.”

  “I am careful. Open the front door.” Beau crouched down. “Look,” he said to the mouse. “I don’t plan to hurt you, but if I were you, I’d run like hell out that door.”

  The mouse gave you a salute with his front foot. He dashed past Abby and out the open front door.

  Beau handed the broom back to a gaping-mouthed Abby.

  “What?” he asked.

  Recovering, Abby swallowed. “That mouse understood you.”

  Beau gestured to the second floor. “He’d already been through a lot. He cheated death once and deserves freedom.”

  Shock registered on Abby’s face. Why was she surprised he could talk to a mouse or Scarlett in Cat’s Paw Cove, a town where anything was possible?

  “But you talked to it, and it waved at you,” she said.

  Beau washed and dried his hands at the sink. “It was just a field mouse. Oh, and Scarlett would appreciate it if you’d open her door.” He tossed his paper towel in the trash. “I think we’ve worked out a deal.”

  He turned and was met with Abby’s hundred-watt smile.

  “Beau, do you realized you haven’t stammered at all through this entire mouse-capade?”

  Chapter Eleven

  Beau’s bright smile sliced across his face, a sure sign of genuine joy.

  It had crushed Abby to watch his embarrassment when he’d explained his problem. A minute ago, his words had been smooth and flawless. Either his talk with Scarlett and the mouse had prompted a breakthrough, or Beau no longer thought Abby was beautiful.

  She sat down on a bench behind a potter’s wheel and rubbed her eyes until she saw stars. She’d promised to run the studio until the newlyweds returned. The negative nellies might be right, and once again, she wouldn’t be able to fulfill a commitment.

  But to tell the truth, it was becoming a lot harder. How much more could she take?

  She was babysitting a cat that had the nerve to bargain with humans over her life of crime. Abby was becoming attracted to a man who not only talked to cats but mice too. Her aunt made dolls that somehow conjured love.

  Oh, no! Not again?

  Abby shut her eyes and tipped her head back. Just this once could she avoid the curse?

  A thunderous crack and boom rattled the building. Abby dashed through the shop, making sure nothing had fallen to the floor.

  “That was a transformer,” Beau said over his shoulder as he headed outside, phone in hand. “I’ll check the power company alert system.”

  If it did her any good, Abby would sit down in the middle of the power-free-again shop and cry buckets.

  Once the utilities truck and crew had arrived, Beau started back to the shop but was flagged down by several other people along Bent Tail Boulevard.

  Zane Anderson, the vet from the clinic next door, caught up with Beau first. The manager of The Mercantile stood with him.

  “How long till the power’s back on? I’ve got a full schedule. The clinic smells odd, like an electrical short, so I opened the windows,” Zane said.

  Beau shook his head. “Hard to tell how long. The utility guys told me most of the grid’s out. I’ll be over later to check what’s going on after the power comes back on,” Beau said.

  “At least it’s a nice day.” Zane waved as he returned to the clinic.

  “The Mercantile’s out,” the store manager said. “And the high school’s scrambling to figure out what to do with all the kids. Reminds me of a hurricane.”

  Kristy Wilshire came across the street next. “I heard what you said about it being awhile. The noontime crowd will be mighty mad we’re closed. Our generator will keep the steamers and refrigerators going, but I can’t serve.”

  As Beau was about to confront Kristy about her possible feline tag-team partner, Abby reached Beau’s side. Raising an eyebrow, Kristy sliced her gaze from Beau to Abby.

  “Hi, there, Abby,” Kristy said.

  Beau frowned at his long-time friend: a warning not to say anything.

  “So, Beau, you just happened to be in the neighborhood, huh?” Kristy asked.

  “Had a service call,” he said.

  Kristy winked. “Oh, that’s right. I forgot. Gotcha. Catch you later.”

  As Kristy walked away, Beau turned to Abby. His heart tugged at her sad face.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I feel awful,” she said. “This was all my fault.”

  “The transformer blew. Unfortunately, there are quite a few old ones in town. It wasn’t a matter of if, but when, this would happen to one of them.” Beau shielded his eyes from the sun and watched the linemen. “At least it’s a clear day.”

  “You don’t understand. I did this,” Abby said.

  “How?”

  “The curse,” she whispered.

  A utility truck lift gate slammed onto the pavement and masked Abby’s words.

  “What? I couldn’t hear you,” Beau said.

  “The curse,” Abby yelled as the street noises silenced. “The damn stinking curse!”

  The linemen aborted their climb up the pole and looked in their direction. Beau gave them a tense smile and a thumbs up. “We’re fine,” he called, then turned to Abby. “I think we should go inside,” he said through a toothy grin.

  In the apartment, Abby bypassed the cat’s stash and sat on the sofa. Beau sat in the recliner across from her.

  She fixed her stare on the unmoving ceiling fan. The blades were in dire need of dusting. Later, there’d be time for housekeeping. The priority now was controlling her stomach’s cartwheels.

  This was the worst episode she’d ever caused. What if she’d said the word out loud?

  With a saint’s patience, poor Beau waited while she gathered her thoughts. How would she even begin to tell this story? What qualified as the starting place? This wasn’t a ‘once upon a time’ fairy tale. She scanned Beau’s handsome face. He deserved to know, but every organ inside her had clamped shut.

  “Abby? Are you up there?”

  Deidra? In all the confusion, Abby had forgotten her aunt had planned to come by and work on more clay faces, but the timing could not have been better.

  “Yes.” Relief sprinkled over Abby.

  Once upstairs, Deidra sat next to her niece. “What’s going on? Most of the stoplights are out, and the deputies are working the intersections.” Deidra sat ramrod straight. After a moment, she spoke in measured words. “Abigail Blessing. You didn’t do what I asked, did you?”

  No, Abby hadn’t made the appointment with Luna Halpern. Even with all Luna’s skill and power, Abby still doubt
ed anyone could reverse the curse.

  Beau cleared his throat. “I think it might be time for that explanation.”

  Abby looked down at her tightly intertwined fingers as she rolled her lips under her teeth. He was right. No sense in dragging this out any longer. It served her right for even considering the slightest possibility of anything serious between them. If she looked at him now, she’d blubber like a baby.

  “Abby?” Beau asked in a soft voice.

  After what she’d tell him, the next thing she’d hear would be Beau racing down the stairs to escape this nuthouse. She inhaled a long breath, then let it, and her words fly.

  “Awitchputacurseonme.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t catch that,” he said.

  “Slow down, Abby, and tell the man the story,” Deidra said.

  Abby explained her dilemma, halting at the point of saying the cursed word. She watched as Beau’s gaze darted from wall to wall, then up to the ceiling as though he was looking for hidden cameras that were recording. If only it were a prank.

  Deidra picked up the story from there. “She has to be careful with the trigger word. Apparently, now just saying it in her mind, and the power goes out, or the lights dim, or some other electrical craziness happens.”

  After a few moments of silence, Beau asked: “You think that was what happened the other day?”

  “Yes, and today, too,” Deidra said.

  Abby wiped tears from her eyes. “All I did was think about your magical dolls and what they do, Aunt Deidra. Nothing more than that. Seconds later, the transformer blew.”

  “Abby, look at me,” Beau said.

  She could melt into those deep blue eyes. At the same time, he seemed a hundred miles away.

  Beau leaned forward in the chair and opened his palms to her. “I grew up here and understand the paranormal world as well as anyone. Heck, I’ve been talking to animals as far back as I can remember. The other day the problem was faulty wiring at the connection to the house. A physical problem, not a metaphysical one. I came by today to look at the fuses again. I’m reasonably sure the problem is the panel.”