A Call to Charms

by Denise Swanson

  When I stepped back from him and quickly darted behind the candy counter, he cleared his throat and announced, “I’m Ray Halsey. Lucas Furman told me you were finally here.”

  Having swooned at Lucas’s feet upon meeting him, I wondered exactly what the smoking hot rancher had said about me. Faylynn had already mentioned that her cousin had told her about me, and now apparently, Lucas had talked about me to this guy too.

  My fainting like a damsel in distress was a less-than-flattering moment I was trying hard to forget. I could only hope that Lucas wasn’t telling that story all over town.

  Instead of asking Mr. Halsey what Lucas had shared about our encounter, which is what I truly wanted to know, I pasted on my professional saleswoman smile and said, “Welcome to Pandora’s.”

  The man ignored my greeting and marched toward the display case that I’d put between us as if he were on a mission from the president. Or maybe someone even more important like Oprah.

  Coming to an abrupt stop in front of a tray of mocha truffles, he announced, “You’re just in time.”

  For what? I knew some people were chocoholics, but this seemed a bit of an overreaction.

  Covering my confusion, I kept my expression pleasant as I asked, “Would you like a sample?”

  “No.” The guy’s brown eyes flashed with annoyance. “I want you to do something about Oscar.”

  “Oscar?”

  “He’s dying.”

  “That’s terrible.” I glanced to where Inga had been standing, but she’d disappeared. “Have you taken him to the hospital?”

  Mr. Halsey gave me a strange look and said, “How would I take a tree to the hospital?”

  “A tree?” Thank goodness. I mean, it’s sad if a tree dies, but at least it wasn’t a person. “Your tree is dying, and you’re looking for someone to save it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh.” So what the heck was he doing in a candy store?

  We were both silent, staring at each other, then he said, “He protects my farm and makes my crops grow.”

  “Your tree?”

  Was everyone in this town nuts? Taking into consideration the Echo Springians that I’d met so far, my vote was a resounding yes.

  “Uh, huh.”

  I still had no clue as to why he was telling me all this, but never one to mind my own business, I suggested, “Then you need a…” I paused, thinking, “… a tree doctor. They have those, don’t they?”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Mr. Halsey’s ruddy complexion turned an angry purple. “It’s your job to save Oscar, not some gardener.”

  “What are you talking about? My job is to sell candy.” Hoping to get rid of the lunatic, I snatched a chocolate from the display case and thrust it at him. “Here. What you need is a sample.”

  “Okay. If that’s what I need.” He plucked the truffle from the paper cup. “Should I bury it by his trunk or apply it to his bark?”

  Shit! “Neither.” What was up with this guy? “You’re supposed to eat it.”

  Mr. Halsey shrugged, then with a hopeful expression on his face, he popped it into his mouth. Chewing, he asked, “Is that it?”

  “Uh. I guess so.” Then remembering my retail training, I added, “Unless you’d like to make a purchase.”

  He snarled something I didn’t catch and reached across the counter. As his fingers closed over my wrist, an odd, tilting feeling swept over me—almost like motion sickness. The air seemed to become syrupy, and it was if I’d inhaled a trace of chloroform.

  I must have looked like I was going to faint or throw up because Mr. Halsey let go of me and jumped back.

  This time his tone was more respectful, almost pleading. “Just tell me what to do, whatever the cost. I’ll do it. I can’t lose my farm.”

  My wrist still tingled where he had touched me, and I absently rubbed the area with my other hand. Immediately the sensation came over me again, only this time it was much stronger. I felt like I wasn’t solid anymore, almost as if the ‘me’ in me was fading away.

  My eyes were drawn to the white paper candy cup I still held in my palm. There was writing on the bottom, and I squinted to read it. Listen to the Earth’s heartbeat and dance.

  Mr. Halsey was now muttering to himself, and when he reached into his pocket, I was afraid he had a gun, so I hurriedly shoved the wrapper at him. “Look. There’s something printed here.” Trying to distract him, I babbled, “It’s like a fortune cookie.”

  He glanced down, then scowled at me. “What are you jabbering about? There’s nothing written there.”

  I checked the cup. The words were still there. Why didn’t he see them? Was this further evidence that he was crazy or was I the one who was insane?

  Elissa’s voice popped into my head, “The candy store has been the conduit by which we provide our assistance. We investigate the complaint, decide what’s required, and give out what’s needed.”

  Suddenly a kink in my mind seemed to smooth out. I stepped from behind the counter and walked directly to a small table near the entrance. Both the man and Inga, who had reappeared as mysteriously as she’d vanished, followed me. Unhesitatingly, I reached for an exquisitely carved wooden music box and handed it to Mr. Halsey.

  He cradled it to his chest, a look of peace on his face.

  Inga prodded me, “Tell him what to do.”

  I immediately said, “Listen to the Earth’s heartbeat and dance.”

  He nodded his expression content. “What do I owe you?”

  “A favor to be named later.” Had that come out of my mouth?

  Mr. Halsey nodded again, scribbled an IOU on the back of a feed bill, and said, “I’ll let you know what happens.”

  “You do that.” I steered him toward the exit, wanting to get rid of him so I could think about what had just happened. “Bye.”

  As I held the door open for him to leave. I noticed Cole Pendergast standing across the street. His expression was unreadable until his intense blue eyes locked onto mine and sent my pulse racing.

  I knew I was staring like a lovesick jack-o'-lantern, but I couldn’t make myself stop. The heat of his gaze swept over me like a tsunami. For the first time, I truly understood the meaning of the words “animal magnetism” and I fought a desperate urge to cross the road and throw myself into his arms.

  The look on his face said he was having similar thoughts. Then suddenly he flashed me a sexy smile, waved, and walked away. A heartbeat later, I realized I had been holding my breath and exhaled. The return of oxygen to my system kick-started my brain. I quickly stepped back inside and firmly closed the door behind.

  I turned, looking around for Inga to ask her what had just happened with the candy and the music box, but she had disappeared again. We needed to have a little talk about that habit of hers. I figured she had returned to the back room, but when I walked back there, it was empty. Somewhat bewildered, but strangely at peace as if I had just finished reading a book with a really satisfying ending, I sank into the desk chair.

  My life had become a revolving door that spits people at me at random times. And evidently, I was supposed to know what to do with those individuals. But how could I figure out which ones to trust, which ones to help, and which ones to guard against?

  Leaning back in my seat, I mulled over the possibility that magic might truly exist and that I possessed it.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Used Karma

  The next morning, I just couldn’t make myself get out of bed. I had a million things to do, but sitting up seemed to be a herculean task that was beyond me.

  After falling back asleep the third or fourth time, it occurred to me that I might be in some kind of shock. In the past week, I’d discovered that I wasn’t who I thought I was, my ex had tried to kill me, not once, but twice, and those two little events weren’t even the most astounding item on my list of what had happened to me.

  Despite a mighty struggle not to accept it, I was beginning to think what Elissa ha
d told me might be true. I could really be the Ravenscraft Shield, and it was possible that I wielded magical power. Which apparently was the norm for my new hometown.

  Pulling the blanket over my head, I snuggled into Aunt Pandora’s super comfortable mattress. If I was sleeping, I could pretend that it wall was just a dream.

  Finally, the need to pee forced me out of bed. Then once I was up and awake, my stomach rumbled loud enough to wake the dead, which considering what I’d been told about Echo Springs was not something I wanted to chance happening. I absolutely refused to see if ghosts were included among the town’s magical citizens.

  After taking care of my most pressing need, I showered, then threw on a pair of yoga pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt. It might be spring, but I still felt cold.

  It was Inga’s day to work at the candy shop and I wasn’t planning to leave the house, so I let my hair dry naturally and didn’t bother with makeup. Normally I straightened my curls and never appear in public without my blush and mascara, but once in a while, it was nice not to mess with any styling products or cosmetics.

  While I ate my usual breakfast, I pulled out my trusty legal pad and made a list of what I had to do. Reading the estate papers from Uncle Will should have been number one, but every time I picked them up, the tiny print seemed to blur, and I got a headache. Maybe I needed to have my eyes examined for glasses.

  Vowing to go through the pages tonight, I looked over the rest of my tasks.

  1. GO THROUGH AUNT PANDORA’S DESK AND FILE CABINET.

  2. EXAMINE THE CANDY SHOP’S BOOKS.

  3. EXPLORE THE REST OF THE HOUSE.

  Shoot! I had forgotten to ask Uncle Will about the keys to the locked rooms.

  I started to reach into the front pocket of my yoga pants for my cell phone, then stopped. He’d ask about the estate papers, and I was embarrassed to admit they were strewn across the floor in the family room. I’d flung them there after my second or third attempt to make sense out of one of the paragraphs on the first page.

  I brightened. Maybe the missing keys were in Pandora’s desk, and I wouldn’t have to bother my honorary uncle. Or I could always wait another day to tackle the second and third floors.

  Draining the last drop of coffee, I placed my mug in the sink, dusted the English muffin crumbs from my chest, and strolled into the family room. Pandora’s office chair was leather, and I sighed as I sank into the cushiony seat. My aunt definitely knew how to treat herself.

  The desk had three drawers, and the top one held a stack of scratch pads—the type charities mailed out hoping to guilt the recipients into donating—, a three pack of scotch tape, a glue stick, a large box of various colored paperclips, and a calculator bearing the logo of the Echo Springs bank.

  The middle drawer was empty except for a bottle of Remy Martin and two crystal glasses. Did Aunt Pandora regularly share her expensive cognac or was the second glass there for an occasional visitor? I wished that I’d had the chance to meet her.

  It was beyond annoying that when I tried to pull out the third drawer, it wouldn’t budge. Another key I needed to locate. Or I could always find a screwdriver and force it open.

  But before doing anything drastic, I’d go through the mounds of paper that covered every square inch of the desktop. When I pawed through the piles of bills, junk mail, and magazines, I noticed that a lot had dates going back several months and it dawned on me I didn’t know the cause of Pandora’s death. Had she been sick or was something sudden like a fall from a ladder?

  Another question I’d have to add to the ones already buzzing around in my head. I probably need to make a list of those to add to all the other lists currently on the sheets of my legal pad.

  Blowing out a long put-upon sigh, I leaned back and closed my eyes. Before I could take refuge in sleep again, there was a throbbing near my crotch. Either my new cell phone was set to vibrate, or something weird was going on with my body. In view of everything I’d been through, I give even odds for either possibility.

  The phone was still pulsing, and it was starting to feel a little too good, so I dug it out of my pocket, thumbed the icon, and said, “Hello.”

  I was expecting Uncle Will to be on the other end of the line since I hadn’t given this number to anyone else, but instead, an attractive baritone asked, “Alexandria?”

  “Yes.” The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

  “This is Lucas Furman. We met briefly at your welcome party.”

  “Of course.” I mean really, how could I forget fainting at the man’s feet? “Please call me Lexie.”

  “You do seem more like a Lexie.” There was a pause, then he said, “I was wondering if you were free for dinner sometime this week.”

  “I...uh,” I stuttered. “It’s very nice of you to ask, but...”

  If what Elissa had told me was true, it probably wasn’t a good idea to be alone with any of Echo Springs’ citizens. And even if she was a raving lunatic, after my ex’s behavior, dating was not anywhere on my radar. Then there was the whole we should kill her conversation I’d heard or imagined when I passed out.

  “Before you say no,” Lucas interrupted my thoughts. “Would you feel more comfortable if my dad came along? He wasn’t feeling well the day of the party and would like to meet you.”

  “Well...” I wasn’t sure why I didn’t just say no, which would have been the smart move.

  “My father and yours were friends, and he thought you might like to hear some of his memories of Nathanial,” Lucas interjected smoothly.

  “Oh.” That put a different spin on things. I definitely wanted to learn more about my dad. “That would be great. How about Wednesday?”

  “Terrific,” Lucas agreed. “Would the diner be okay?” He chuckled. “The only nice restaurant in town is owned by the Pendergasts and Pop isn’t too fond of supporting their business.”

  “Absolutely.” No one had mentioned a feud between the Furmans and the Pendergasts. Another question for my list. “What time should we meet there?”

  “Does six sound good? I’d be happy to pick you up at home,” Lucas offered. “Parking can get a little tight near the diner during the supper rush.”

  “Six is fine, but there isn’t any need to come here.” No way was I getting into a car with anyone until I figured out if someone truly wanted me dead or if I had been hallucinating when I heard that threat. “I can use the spot behind the candy store and walk over.”

  “Sure. I’ll see you Wednesday then.” Lucas said goodbye and hung up.

  Deep in thought, I returned to sorting through the mess on the desktop. I had just tossed away the last of the junk mail and was getting the bills in chronological order when my phone vibrated again.

  This time I checked the display before answering and saw it was Cole Pendergast. I debated letting the call go to voicemail but shrugged and picked up. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to him.

  “Hello.”

  “Alexandria, this is Cole.”

  Hmm. Interesting that unlike Lucas, he didn’t seem to feel the need to remind me how we’d met.

  “Did you get my number from Will?” I’d forgotten to ask Lucas about that.

  “I did.” His smooth tenor deepened. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  “I’m just surprised that he’d share it without asking me first.”

  “Well...” Cole’s voice seemed a lot less assured than before. “Anyway, I was hoping you’d agree to have dinner with me.”

  “I’m afraid that with settling in and working at the candy store, I don’t have time.” I had the same reservations about being alone with him that I had about being alone with Lucas.

  “Would you be more comfortable if my mother joined us? She’d like to meet you.”

  “I see.” He and Lucas seemed to think along the same lines, and I silently chuckled, wondering if they realized that. Or maybe they compared notes. Just because their parents didn’t like each other didn’t mean they weren’t friends.

/>   “Mother was so sorry to have missed your welcome party,” Cole added when I didn’t elaborate.

  Judging from Mrs. Prendergast’s rude behavior at Uncle Will’s office, I wasn’t sure I wanted to meet her. Still, she was around the right age, so she might have information about my father.

  “How sweet of her,” I kept my tone neutral. “How does Saturday work for you and your mom? We could have brunch? Say one o’clock,”

  “That would be fine,” Cole agreed. “We can dine in the private room at my restaurant. We have a world-renowned chef, so I’d love to give him carte blanche for the menu. Do you have any food allergies?”

  “Nope.” I glanced at the time and said, “Then I’ll see you Saturday at one. Bye.” I quickly hung up and dialed Uncle Will.

  He picked up on the first ring and after we dealt with the pleasantries, he said, “Did you get those papers signed? If so, I can pick them up on my way home tonight.”

  “Sorry. No.” My cheeks warmed. He’d been so nice, and I hated to let him down so I joked, “The legalese keeps giving me a headache.”

  “We could make an appointment and I could go over them with you,” he offered.

  “Thank you, but I won’t waste your time like that. I’ll for sure get them signed by tomorrow morning.” I had a graduate degree; surely, I could comprehend some estate documents. “However, I do have a few questions you might be able to answer.”

  “Whatever I can do to help,” he quickly said. “Just name it.”

  “Great. Where are the keys to the upstairs rooms and Pandora’s desk?”

  “Let me think.” Uncle Will was silent then said, “I’m not sure where the original sets are, but I believe Dora kept spares in the freezer. The package should be marked ‘liver’. She hated that stuff and thought most other people did as well.” He chuckled. “Anything else?”

  “Yes.” I nodded although he couldn’t see me. “There are a lot of overdue bills among the mail on top of her desk. How should I handle them?”

  “As executor, I can pay them. Drop them at my office tomorrow when you bring the estate documents by.”