by Deanna Chase
“Thank fate,” Abby said, a small smile curving her lips. “I brought coffee over this morning, but when you weren’t awake and I found Daisy still in her pajamas playing with the puppy, it was full speed ahead to get her off to school. I forgot all about it. If I don’t get caffeine soon, bad things will happen.”
Noel scoffed. “Please. You’re as perky as ever.”
“Perky?” Abby tossed Noel her jacket. “Since when have I ever been perky? You were the cheerleader.”
“Only because I wanted to show off for Trent Stevens,” she shot back, laughing, but then she winced at the memory. Noel had been all arms and legs in high school and had no business trying to dance in public. “They made me cheer in the back of the formation so no one would see how bad I was.”
Abby snorted. “You weren’t completely awful.”
“Really?” Noel pushed her sleeve up, revealing a faded scar on her forearm. “I got this because I couldn’t remember right from left and ran smack into Shannon’s high kick. I landed on my side and ended up with a broken wrist.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Abby nudged her with her elbow. “Someone should’ve taken your pompoms away.”
Noel scooped up Buffy, took her out, then brought her back in and secured her in the kennel. “I’ll be back soon. Be a good puppy.”
“You got lucky with that one,” Abby said. “Faith didn’t get a wink of sleep last night. She said her puppy peed the bed, chewed a hole in her favorite shirt, and whined half the night. She’s dead on her feet.”
Noel gave Abby a horrified look then glanced back at Buffy. “You’re the best puppy that ever existed. We’ll be back.”
Abby chuckled, and led the way out of the inn and down the street to the town’s coffee shop, Incantation Café.
Hanna Pelsh spotted them and beamed from behind the counter. The morning light streaming through the window illuminated her dark skin, and Noel itched to take more photos of her. Photography was a hobby of Noel’s, and Hanna was her favorite model. “Good morning, ladies.”
“Morning, Hanna,” Noel said. “I need the largest, strongest coffee you have.”
She laughed. “Rough morning?”
“You could say that.” Noel turned to her sister. “Same?”
“Make mine the largest, strongest mocha you can find,” she told Hanna. “I need the sugar.”
Hanna’s eyebrows rose. “Your morning must be a doozy of a day. Weren’t you already in here once this morning?” she asked Abby.
“I was, but unfortunately that round was a bust. You better give us two of those bear claws as well.”
“And a couple of coffee cakes,” Noel added with a somber nod. “It’s one of those days.”
Hanna frowned. “Is it that bad?”
The sisters glanced at each other. Then Noel said, “Yes.”
“It’s not Lincoln, is it?” Hanna asked, referring to their father. Concern radiated from her, and Noel’s heart warmed. Hanna was like family, and it felt good to know she loved Lin just as much as the Townsend sisters did.
Noel turned to Abby, realizing it was the first time in days she’d hadn’t woken up worrying about him. Up until a few weeks ago, Noel had been the one to take him to all of his chemo appointments, the one who knew what potions and medications he was taking. But since Abby had reclaimed her work shed on the Townsend property, she’d taken over. It just made more sense. She was right there, keeping an eye on him. “Dad’s okay, right?”
“Yeah,” she said, “He’s good, actually. Feeling better. The nausea is under control, and he’s not nearly as fatigued.”
“Good.” Hanna beamed. “So today is just normal suckage, then?”
Abby chuckled as she paid for their breakfast. “Pretty much.”
“Have a seat. I’ll bring your drinks and pastries out to you,” Hanna said.
Noel followed her sister to a table in the far corner near the window.
“Sit. Spill your guts,” Abby said, sliding into one of the seats.
“Just like that? You’re not even going to let me savor my coffee first?” Noel sat across from her and rested her chin in her hands.
“Better to rip the Band Aid off, don’t you think?” The sun streamed in the window, basking her little sister in the soft light. She practically glowed with a quiet happiness. If Noel’s camera had been handy, she would’ve snapped some shots right then and there.
Noel sat back in her chair, really seeing her sister for the first time in years. “You look…”
“Like I need to sleep for a week and spend some time at the salon?” Abby asked with a rueful grin. “I’ve been burning the candle at both ends trying to finish my holiday orders. If I have to make one more batch of lotion this year, I think I’m going to lose it.” Abby was an earth witch who ran a successful business selling magically infused soaps and lotions. Business was booming, and this holiday season had been insanely busy for her. Despite it being the beginning of December, she still had orders to fill… rush orders because the stores had run out. Noel couldn’t have been more proud of her little sister.
“No.” Noel reached across the table and covered her sister’s hand with her own. “You look radiant. Settled. Content. It’s really nice.” She matched her sister’s rueful smile and added, “And really annoying.”
Abby shook her head, appearing both amused and exasperated. “Thanks. I think.”
“That was definitely a compliment,” Noel said as Hanna arrived with their caffeine and pastries.
“Let me know if you need anything else,” Hanna said.
“Thanks.” Abby squeezed her hand briefly, and the pair shared a bittersweet smile.
Noel felt as if she was on the outside looking in. She shouldn’t have. Hanna was her friend as well, but Charlotte, Hanna’s sister, had been Abby’s best friend. They both had deeply loved Charlotte, and the pain they shared for her loss ran deep. Noel had once had a friendship like the one Charlotte and Abby had shared. Or at least she thought she had. Abby had been her best friend, or at least she was right up until she’d fled town and left everyone behind. Their relationship had fallen apart, and it was only now, over a decade later, that they were even trying to put the pieces back together. Noel feared they’d never be as close as they once were.
“Noel,” Abby said, her brows knitted with concern. “What is going on? You look like someone stole your Christmas present.”
Noel let out a huff of laughter. That was kind of how she’d felt watching Hanna and Abby share their moment. But she wasn’t going to tell Abby that. She wasn’t proud of how she felt. It was awful to be jealous of a friendship that was so important to her sister. “I’m just having a bad morning.”
Hanna gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “Boy, I know how that goes. Yesterday, I tripped on the curb on my way in and not only ripped the knees out of my favorite jeans, but I fell in a patch of mud and shattered the screen on my brand-new iPhone. Then to top it off, Georgia called in sick and I was all by myself.” She shook her head. “I was a mess all day. I sure hope a little sugar, caffeine, and some sister time helps your day recover.”
“I’m sure it will,” Noel said, taking a sip of her latte.
After Hanna retreated, Abby took a drink of her mocha, sat back in her chair, and waited. Her gaze was so intense that Noel started to feel uncomfortable.
“What?” she asked her sister.
“Something is seriously off. The Noel I know is never shy about what’s on her mind unless there’s something troubling her. You barely said anything last night except to chastise Dad about the puppy. Today you overslept, something you never do, and you haven’t lectured me once about the fact I’m still wearing my work apron. Come on, what gives?”
Noel took a good look at her sister. Abby was right. Noel wasn’t herself at all. She was usually up by six every morning, always was particular about the way she dressed even when she just wearing jeans, and while she wasn’t always super chatty, she was usually a lot m
ore engaged when she was around her family. She blew out a breath, knowing she had to talk. If she didn’t, she was likely to sink deeper into her personal twilight zone. “Drew took me to Eureka yesterday.”
Abby blinked, then sat up straighter. “Eureka? Why? A date?”
Another huff of laughter escaped Noel’s lips. “Like that would ever happen.”
“He likes you,” Abby said simply.
“Maybe.” Noel tore off a piece of bear claw, but instead of taking a bite, she just set it on the plate and stared pointedly at Abby. “But he’s not interested, so let that one go, would you?”
Abby opened her mouth to say something but seemed to think better of it and just nodded instead. “Okay. I will. Why did he take you to Eureka?”
“Law enforcement found a body. They thought it might be Xavier.”
Abby let out a loud gasp. When two women at another table turned to stare at the sisters, Abby clamped a hand over her mouth and muttered, “Sorry.” She reached out with her other hand, taking Noel’s. “Tell me it wasn’t him.”
“I had to go ID him,” Noel said, her voice monotone as if she were in a trance. “Drew drove me to this ugly brick building in downtown Eureka. That one-story, dirt-covered, beige building.”
Silence fell between them. Noel stared unseeing out the window, grateful her sister wasn’t pushing her to finish. All she could think about was the moment she’d expected to find Xavier beneath that sheet.
One single tear rolled down her cheek. She didn’t bother to wipe it away as she turned back to Abby and said, “I was so angry when he left. I hated him, Abby. What he did to us… what he’s done to Daisy. Some days, on my worst days, I’ve wished he was dead.”
Abby squeezed her sister’s hand, holding on tight. “I’d say that’s a natural reaction. He hurt you. It doesn’t mean you meant it.”
“I think I did,” Noel choked out. “But I don’t mean it now. I swear I don’t.”
“Of course you don’t.”
Noel was shaking and chilled to the bone when she finally looked her sister in the eyes and said, “It wasn’t him.”
Wood scraped against wood as Abby pushed her chair back. She let out a breath she seemed to have been holding and stood up, pulling Noel to her feet. Noel was momentarily frozen as her sister’s arms came around her.
“You’re okay, Noel,” Abby whispered. “I promise.”
Noel didn’t know if it was the sound of her voice or her sister’s embrace, but suddenly her trance broke, and relief and gratitude rushed through her. Her arms went around Abby, and the pair of them stood there for a long moment just holding on to each other.
“It wasn’t your fault,” Abby said. “None of it was your fault.”
Noel pulled back, putting an arm’s distance between them. “How do you know that?”
“Because I know my sister,” she said with conviction.
Noel wasn’t at all sure that was the case. Abby had been gone for over a decade. But in that moment, she wanted more than anything to believe her. She gave her sister a hint of a smile, and said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, sounding surprised and a little off-kilter. But then she returned the smile and sat back down. “Now, drink your coffee before it gets cold and I have to order round three.”
Chapter 9
Drew couldn’t get Noel out of his mind. It had been three days since he’d taken her to Eureka. Three days that he’d been making phone calls trying to snag a lead on her ex. So far, he’d turned up nothing. The county sheriff’s office had placed the case on the back burner after a domestic altercation had turned into an active manhunt.
He got up from his desk at the station and walked out into the lobby. “Hey, Clarissa, I’m headed down to Incantation Café. Want anything?”
The young redhead stood. “I can go.”
“No, no.” He shook his head. “I can use the walk.”
“Oh. Right.” She sat back down, appearing to be slightly disappointed, but said, “Okay. I’m cool. I’ve got my tea here.”
“You’re sure you don’t want anything?” he asked.
“I’m sure.” Then she patted her stomach. “I was craving one of those salted caramel chocolate tortes from A Spoonful of Magic, but I’d better not. You go. I’ll stick with my granola bar.”
He raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Granola bars are the food industry’s cruelest joke.”
She laughed. “Don’t I know it.” Waving a hand toward the door, she added, “Go on, now. I have reports to file.”
Drew gave her a two-fingered salute and stepped out into the crisp air. It was the first week of December. The scent of damp earth and redwood trees permeated the air. The skies were blanketed with gray. The winds from the night before had died down, and to him the day was glorious, the perfect winter day. He liked the stillness of it. Peaceful, calm, familiar. He shoved his hands in his trouser pockets and automatically turned down the street toward the coffee shop.
Normally when Drew took his walks around town, he stopped to talk to the establishment owners. Ninety-nine percent of the time, all they did was chitchat, but every now and then, he caught wind of suspicious activity that led him to investigate. More than once he’d caught on soon enough that he’d stopped a crime before it even started. Usually those cases were teenagers pushing boundaries, but not always. Sometimes they were more nefarious intentions, such as setting up meth houses or illegal grow houses. Keating Hollow was tucked away just enough so that criminals sometimes decided it was the perfect spot for hiding out. They’d be right except for the fact that Keating Hollow was a community of witches who looked out for their own.
Today, though, Drew had other things—other people—on his mind. He crossed the street and walked by the Keating Hollow Inn, peeking in the front window. Noel was at the reception desk, but she was on the phone, rapidly typing something into the computer. He watched as she picked up a mug of coffee, went to take a sip, and frowned when she found the cup empty. She made a face, abandoned the cup, and went back to typing.
Drew smiled to himself and kept on walking. He’d intended to go straight to the café, but when he reached A Spoonful of Magic, the enchanted nutcrackers in the window caught his attention. They were busy decorating witch-shaped cookies with Mrs. Claus outfits and holiday lights. He chuckled. Only in Keating Hollow.
The door swung open, and Shannon stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Officer Baker,” she cooed as she placed a hand on his chest. “Don’t you look handsome this fine December morning.”
The deputy had a strong desire to step back. He’d known Shannon forever. The redheaded beauty had changed a lot since high school. Back then they hadn’t run in the same circles. And from what he remembered, she hadn’t been the nicest person. But she’d matured over the last decade, as they all had, and she’d turned into someone who was kind and generous and someone he found charming… when she wasn’t blatantly coming on to him. He’d made the mistake of taking her out on a date not long ago, and even though he’d made it clear he didn’t think they were a good fit, she seemed determined to change his mind.
“Thank you, Shannon,” he said. “You look lovely as always.”
Her lips curved into a seductive little smile that he was sure worked on every other man on the planet. What was his problem anyway? Shannon was beautiful, smart, and sexy. And available. It would be so much easier if he was just attracted to her. Unfortunately, his mind kept wandering to the woman with the empty coffee cup.
“Thank you,” she said. “Care to come in for some of Miss Maple’s special cocoa? I just made up a fresh batch.”
“Um, I was headed to the café for some coffee. I should probably—”
“Nonsense,” she said, already tugging him inside the chocolate shop. “I’ve got fresh coffee, too. I’ll take care of you.”
There was no doubt about that, Drew thought. But his mind wasn’t working fast enough to gracefully extract himself from her clutches, so he let
her pull him inside. The scent of rich chocolate engulfed him, and his mouth started to water. “This place is dangerous, Shannon,” he said, eyeing the salted caramel chocolate torte Clarissa had mentioned. “Do you and Miss Maple add some sort of addictive ingredient to get us all hooked on this stuff?”
She chuckled. “Only if you think cocoa beans are addictive.”
“No doubt they are if you’ve had your hands on them.”
An amused gleam lit Shannon’s dark gaze. “My hands are magic. Want to test them out sometime?”
Heat crawled up Drew’s neck. He’d really stepped in it that time, hadn’t he? “I think I’ll just get a couple of mochas and a piece of the salted caramel chocolate torte for now.”
“I see.” Her expression clouded with irritation just before she gave him a bright smile. “Two mochas, huh? Got a coffee date?”
“No, just picking up something for a friend.” He took a step back and eyed the cookies in the window, pretending interest so he didn’t have to keep talking to Shannon. He knew from experience she’d just keep flirting and trying to talk her way into a date. It’s how he’d ended up taking her to dinner last month. He wasn’t going to fall for it again.
“Did you want a box of cookies to go with this?” she asked from behind the counter.
Drew glanced over at her. She was standing perfectly still as a ribbon wrapped itself around a festive holiday box beside her. A few feet to the left, two stainless steel frothing pitchers floated in the air while the milk for the mochas was being steamed.
“Sure. A dozen?” he said. He’d leave them with Noel for her guests.
Shannon waved a hand, sending the cookies into a tissue-lined box. She moved to the register, hit a few buttons, and held out her hand for his credit card. While he paid, the mochas finished making themselves and the two boxes flew into a holiday bag. By the time he signed the receipt, his purchases were lined up on the counter.
“Thank you, Shannon. You saved me a trip down to Incantation Café,” he said.
She just shrugged, clearly annoyed by his brushoff. “I’m sure you’ll end up down there later today. You always do.”
