A Trick for a Treat (A Wayfair Witches' Cozy Mystery #3)

by A. A. Albright

  It was well after ten by the time we arrived at the Witches’ Graveyard to lay Molly to rest beside her beloved Holly. As my mother lifted her little body into the earth, I heard a horrible sound behind us.

  We all turned to see the ghosts of Holly and Molly, the parrot perched on the singer’s shoulder while they serenaded us with ... interesting lyrics.

  ‘Thank you, Wanda Wayfair

  Thank you to you all

  What would we do without you?

  All dressed for the ball ...’

  It went on for some time. I counted eight verses before I gave up. When the noise finally ended, Holly and Molly gave us sweet little waves, and disappeared in a dramatic puff of smoke.

  ‘Is that normal?’ I asked.

  Melissa shrugged. ‘Celebrity ghosts tend to put in quite a bit of effort on Halloween. They like to make sure they’re not forgotten.’

  Ghosts had already been making their way into town when I first entered the community hall earlier in the evening, but now there were hundreds of them, winding their way along the road with us and drifting into the ball.

  Wolfie couldn’t see them, but he could clearly sense them, and he spent a lot of time snapping at the air. The ghosts seemed to find it more funny than they did frightening. But every time the dog got agitated, Max would stroke behind his ears, or throw a ball, and Wolfie would soon forget he had ever been annoyed.

  As I smacked away the hand of a particularly lecherous old ghost, Lassie nudged me.

  ‘I guess I should be glad that I can’t see ghosts. Or hear them. Judging by the expression on your face.’

  I nodded and linked my arm in hers. ‘Oh boy, yes. Especially seeing as an old guy just pinched my behind, and is now looking at yours and licking his lips. Magic isn’t always the gift it seems.’

  ≈

  The ball was in full swing by the time we arrived. I think every one of us was a little bit embarrassed when our coven received a round of applause, kicked off by Arthur Albright.

  I hadn’t been to one of these events for years, but the crowd was a lot different to what I remembered. A large number of weredogs turned up. Wizards, too. The dayturners were avoiding the dark, no doubt, but I got the feeling that all of the supernaturals classed as others were staking a claim. Anger crackled beneath the surface of the night, and I felt like I was witnessing the beginning of something big.

  The Call of the Wild were on stage when we arrived, but they paused to take part in the whole yay for the Wayfairs moment. Callum was waving at Melissa like a love-sick teenager, and Jasper sauntered forward to the mike just long enough to say, ‘Hey there, gorgeous ladies! Thanks for putting my nutty ex away so I can be here tonight.’ He winked at my mother, and retreated to his own section of the stage.

  They began to play a song called, ‘Witchy Gal Put a Spell on Me.’ As the singer began to belt out the lyrics, I couldn’t help but notice the song was quite catchy. I also couldn’t help but notice that Melissa knew all of the words (despite having told Callum she didn’t like their music), and that her eyes lingered just a moment too long on the singer. He was taller than Callum, and had blond hair and ice-grey eyes. He didn’t seem to play on his werewolf sexiness the way the others did, but somehow he was the most attractive guy on the stage. Not my type, but definitely attractive.

  Rover crossed the room, grabbed my mother, and spun her onto the floor. And get this – she giggled like a teenage girl and danced right into his arms. I couldn’t decide whether it was cute or disturbing. All around me, the others were making their way onto the dancefloor, but I just wasn’t feeling the rhythm. And it had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Will and Mandy were kissing in a corner across the room.

  As two guys approached Melissa and me, I shook my head and said, ‘You go on without me. Think I might just keep an eye on things. Werewolves and weredogs in one room isn’t usually a scenario that ends well.’

  She grabbed my hand. ‘They’ll be fine. It’ll all be fine. Have some fun and let your hair down.’

  My hair already was down – albeit with some pretty jewels Melissa had worked in so it shimmered beneath the light. But here’s the thing about hair – having it down in the literal sense doesn’t make you feel suddenly wild and free. ‘Tell you what, I’ll grab myself a glass of punch, and then I’ll come and join you.’

  Realising it was the best answer she was going to get, Melissa left me and sashayed onto the dance floor.

  The punch was in an enormous crystal pumpkin, and as I ladled it into a glass I took a sniff. It smelled heady, to say the least. I took a cautious sip, and looked around at the hall.

  Half an hour later, despite more protestations from Melissa, and quite a few from Max, I was still propping up the snack table and nursing my drink. Wolfie came to visit me from time to time, so I could hand him yet another snack. There were lots of peanuts on the table, and this time there was no Molly Golly around to steal them.

  It wasn’t like me to be miserable when there was music, drink and food close to hand. Will and Mandy weren’t even kissing anymore, so that wasn’t the problem. The reason I was acting like a sulky teenager was a little more deep-seated, and a lot more depressing.

  As ghosts danced with their living relatives, and laughed and caught up on things, I kept scanning the room for the ghost of my father. And every time I caught sight of my mother, I could see that, even though she was dancing and smiling, her eyes were searching just as hopefully as mine.

  Close to midnight, Arthur Albright approached. ‘Having a nice time?’

  I fixed a smile on my face. ‘Sure, who wouldn’t be? The hall is beautiful, Arthur. You and your volunteers did an amazing job. I haven’t seen Adeline, though.’

  He shook his head. ‘She’s in an MMA tournament tonight. I see Ronnie’s made it.’ He nodded across the room, to where Ronnie was dancing with a few girlfriends. She was wearing a long black dress with tiny silver stars all over. Even her hair was glittering, and she had changed her biker boots for high heels. ‘I think I might just leave her be. What do you think? I mean, she’s had a busy time of it, hasn’t she? Probably just wants to enjoy herself. Certainly doesn’t want to be annoyed by droves of men asking her to dance.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ I reached out and straightened up his glasses. ‘Maybe every other guy is thinking the same. And as a consequence ... well, poor Ronnie could get a complex, so she could. I think you owe it to her sense of self-esteem to ask her to dance.’

  He reset his glasses, making them crooked all over again. Then he played with his bow tie, making it look untidy too. By the time he was finished fidgeting, he looked like he’d been dragged through a hedge. ‘Well ... I ... y’know ... maybe later.’ He pointed across the room. ‘There’s my granny’s ghost now. She always did like to make an entrance. Better go and dance with her before she gives me a wart somewhere uncomfortable.’

  My eyes rounded. ‘Ghosts can do that?’

  ‘It’s Halloween. Ghosts can do anything they like.’

  I re-straightened his glasses. Hey, I was optimistic. ‘I bet your granny would be only too happy to see you dancing with a pretty young woman. Aren’t you the one who said that grannies never hold a grudge?’

  He un-straightened his glasses and scurried away, saying, ‘Sure. But I wasn’t talking about my granny. See you later.’

  Up on the stage, the band was taking a break. I glanced over at Max and saw his face fall. He’d taken Wolfie here for precisely this reason, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t going to hurt like hell.

  Sure enough, Jasper jumped down off the stage and made his way straight for Max. I finally left the comfort of the snack table, and headed across the floor.

  ‘So,’ said Jasper.

  ‘So,’ said Max.

  Jasper reached for Wolfie’s collar. ‘Well, come on then boy. I’ve bought you a brand new bed. It’s backstage.’

  Wolfie hesitated, looking at Max.

  ‘Holy werewolf balls!’ J
asper tugged at Wolfie’s collar. ‘Come on would you?’

  Lassie skittered forward, standing in front of Jasper and Wolfie. ‘Don’t you want to hear what Wolfie has to say on the matter?’

  Jasper wrinkled his nose. ‘Say? He’s a dog. Who cares what he has to say?’

  Max finally took his hands out of his pockets, and laid them on Wolfie’s head. ‘I care.’

  I hadn’t noticed Emily arriving on the scene, but she was standing next to Max, with her hands on her hips. ‘Max has been great for Wolfie. He’s walked him more in the past few weeks than you’ve walked him in his entire life.’

  Jasper’s eyes lit up. ‘Dollface! How have you been?’

  ‘Oh, I’m perfectly all right. No thanks to you.’ She looked down at Wolfie. ‘Wolfie, do you want to go home with Jasper?’

  Wolfie looked at Jasper, then at Max. ‘Jasper’s got a really nice house. And he buys me lots of toys. And he gets all his girls to take me for walks. And he lets me chase birds. And bats.’

  Tears sprang to Max’s eyes. ‘I know, buddy,’ he said hoarsely. ‘It’s all right. You need to go where you’re happiest.’

  ‘I wasn’t finished,’ said Wolfie. ‘Jasper buys me lots of things, but he doesn’t take me for walks himself. Or cuddle me half as much as you do. Or talk to me the way you do. I love you, Max. But Jasper owns me. I have to go with Jasper.’

  My hand went to my chest. I was close to waterworks, I’m telling you. Even Jasper’s eyes looked a bit wet around the edges.

  ‘I’ll walk you more,’ he said plaintively. ‘I swear I will. And I’ll talk to you more, too. I love you, Wolfie. You know that, right? I mean, I might not always act like it. That’s just the way werewolves are, though. But I feel it, boy. I really do feel it, and if you let me, I’ll spend the rest of our days together showing you.’

  Wolfie looked, once again, from Max to Jasper. ‘I’ll go home with Jasper tonight,’ he said. ‘But only if I can live with Max half of the time.’

  My eyes widened. A weredog and a werewolf sharing custody of an Irish Wolfhound? I had seen a lot since becoming empowered ... but that?

  Jasper cleared his throat and glanced at Max. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘Really?’ Max was getting that excited puppy-dog expression I loved so much. ‘You’d actually consider it?’

  Jasper shrugged. ‘Never loved anyone till Wolfie. I might not have shown it as best I could but ... I’ll do anything to make him happy.’

  Wolfie’s jaw opened into an enormous, drool-soaked smile. ‘I love you, Jasper. I love you, Max. Can we get some cake now?’

  ≈

  With the emotional rollercoaster having reached its conclusion, I returned to the snack table and resumed loitering. A DJ had taken over during the band’s break, and dance music was pumping out of the speakers. The change in tempo didn’t seem to be bothering Melissa. She continued to dance with one handsome guy after another. Max was whirling Lassie (and occasionally Wolfie) about the floor. Will and Mandy were dancing at the centre of it all. She was wearing a primrose-yellow dress that took up half of the floor every time he spun her around. I wish I could say it made her bum look big. But the truth was that Little Miss Perky Nose looked as perfect as ever.

  I was doing my best not to scowl in their direction when Christine, Finn and Gabriel arrived. Finn’s eyes went straight to Lassie. I couldn’t say I blamed him. She looked stunning in a slinky red dress. But he wisely decided that now wasn’t the time, and came over to me with Christine and Gabriel.

  ‘You look amazing,’ Gabriel said breathlessly. ‘Sorry I got here so late – but tomorrow’s show is going to be a big one, so I had a lot to prepare.’

  Finn looked me up and down. ‘You clean up okay, I guess.’

  ‘Gee, thanks.’ I turned to Christine. ‘How did the questioning go?’

  ‘Surprisingly easy,’ she replied. ‘It’s as if they’re proud of what they’ve done. It was frightening, to be honest.’

  ‘I have a meeting with my aunt in the morning,’ said Finn. ‘I’ll be demanding a complete overhaul of the Peacemakers. New staff. My choosing. If she doesn’t go for it ...’

  Christine squeezed his arm. ‘She doesn’t have a choice now. Majella was only too happy to tell us that ninety-nine percent of your force agree with her point of view.’

  Gabriel nodded. ‘Exactly. All I have to do is play that little interview on the news, and your aunt will give you whatever you want. Anyway.’ He turned to look at me. ‘I’m just glad I got here in time to ask you for a dance.’ He held out a hand and bowed low.

  He looked so ridiculously chivalrous that I felt my bad mood begin to slip away. Taking his hand, we wound our way to the middle of the floor. Just as we did, the dance music that had been playing came to an end, and a slow song – one of Holly Golly’s, according to all of the tearful fans on the dance floor – began to play.

  Gabriel shrugged his shoulders. ‘I’m game for a slow dance if you are.’

  As he pulled me close, I felt all eyes looking our way. Seeing as he was the fantasy guy for so many female witches, I imagine I was not the most popular person just then. But once again, Gabriel smelled like cinnamon, so I really didn’t care. I was going to have to ask him what cologne he used, so I could buy him a very big bottle for Winter Solstice.

  As the song came to an end, another slow one began. Gabriel whispered, ‘I’ve been wanting to hold you for a very long time.’

  I couldn’t think of anything equally schmaltzy to say in return, so I buried my head against his shoulder instead. It didn’t feel half bad. In fact, it felt a little too good. His scent was overwhelming, making me want to kiss him with a fervency that took me by surprise. I lifted my head back up again and stopped snuggling him quite so close – because I had no intention of kissing anyone while my mother was in the same room. Ew!

  Across the dancefloor, Max and Lassie were sitting down at a table and eating some food.

  ‘Look,’ I said to Gabriel. ‘Behind Max and Lassie.’

  He relaxed his hold on me and turned to look. Standing behind Max’s and Lassie’s chairs was the same man and woman I had seen in Max’s crinkled photo.

  ‘Who are they?’

  ‘Max’s dad and Lassie’s mam,’ I said, with a tear falling down my cheeks. ‘And Max and Lassie don’t even know that they’re there.’

  Gabriel curled his hands through my hair. ‘It’s so sweet how much you care about Max. Should we go and tell them?’

  I shook my head. ‘Later. I don’t want to interrupt the moment. But y’know, I think I could do with some fresh air.’

  ‘Of course. I’ll go out with you.’

  ‘No.’ I pulled myself out of his grasp. ‘Thanks but ... I just need a minute to myself.’

  ≈

  I practically ran outside, doing my best not to break out into more tears. It was ridiculous. I was happy for Max and Lassie. Deeply. Even if they couldn’t see their loved ones, just to have them close again was amazing.

  ‘Are you okay?’

  I looked over into the corner. Will was sitting on a bench alone, drinking from a bottle of something I could smell from six feet away. I hadn’t noticed he and Mandy leave the dance floor, and now Little Miss Perky Nose was nowhere in sight.

  ‘Better than you, by the looks of it,’ I said, wiping my eyes. ‘Anyway, what do you care?’

  He snorted and took a long drink. ‘I don’t,’ he gasped. ‘I’m just confused. One minute you and Mr Wyrd News are getting romantic on the dancefloor. Next you’re running outside with tears in your eyes. I guess you must have come to your senses and realised he’s the biggest loser on the planet.’ He held the bottle out. ‘Want a drink?’

  For one far too long moment, I actually considered walking over there and parking my big behind on the bench beside him. It took an enormous amount of self-control for me to shake my head and say, ‘No thanks. It smells a bit too strong for me. No wonder you’re maudlin.’

  He shrug
ged as he took a long gulp. ‘I’m not the one crying, darlin’,’ he said with a rasp when he put the bottle back down. ‘Sorry. That was nasty. But y’know, I can’t exactly be nice to you anymore.’

  ‘You can be any way you want to me. You’re the one who chooses to be horrible.’

  He snorted. ‘That’s what you think.’

  I stared at him curiously. ‘What do you mean by that?’

  ‘Nothing.’ He blinked and moved his eyes from mine. ‘I’m drunk. Ignore me.’

  Sure, he was drunk. But it wasn’t just that. I could sense that he was holding something back. I could even see it, in the way he held his body. His hands clutched to the wood of the bench, his knuckles nearly white.

  The urge to sit next to him grew stronger. Far stronger, even, than the urge to kiss Gabriel had been. This new urge felt deeper, warmer. And oddly, it felt safer. I shook my head, irritated by the turn in my thoughts. Safer? Being close to Will Berry was far from safe.

  The most sensible thing I could possibly do was turn myself around and march back into the hall. Because Gabriel was in there, waiting for me. But first, I probably did owe Will a thank you.

  ‘Will, I ... everything was so crazy earlier on that I never got the chance to say thanks. No one was listening to me. And if you hadn’t frozen the waitress, then that poor kid ...’

  He squeezed his eyes shut. ‘I know. It doesn’t bear thinking about.’ He spun around on the bench, opened his eyes and looked at me with a scary intensity. ‘Wanda, I–’

  He paused, as his phone began to ring. It was the theme tune from Mandy’s TV show (yes, I had checked it out, and yes, I would say that it was the most terrible show in the world even if it wasn’t). ‘That’s Mandy,’ he said. ‘Probably wondering where I’ve gotten to. I should answer it.’

  ‘Yeah,’ I agreed. ‘You should. And while you do that, I guess I should head back inside.’