Interrupted Magic Page 10

  “That’s a good idea,” I said.

  He made a sarcastic face, as if to say of course, it was. “Then we can go our separate ways. Publicly,” he added.

  I laughed. “You want to throw me over on Broadway for the whole town to see?”

  He averted his eyes. “No, but I thought we might discuss how to get the information out there.”

  “I hate to burst your bubble, but Dylan and Lisa already know, and Cassandra asked me what was going on yesterday.”

  Kyle scowled. “Which means Lucas knows, too.”

  “As I understand it, you called him.” I took a breath to control my annoyance. “They’re our friends. They won’t spread gossip.”

  “I’m not worried about our friends. Last time the gossips got hold of the information, they made sure to lecture me at every turn.”

  My business was already suffering, had suffered in the past because of those same small-town gossips. Would the news affect his chances of being rehired at the police department? He’d get through this better than I would. The last time Kyle and I had broken up, the gossips had originally sided with me, until he apologized. Then, despite the fact I was the wronged party, they’d turned on me for not forgiving him right away. He was the town’s golden boy.

  “I should get ready for work,” I said. “Let me know what you decide about Daria.”

  “I’m doing this for you, you know.”

  I struggled not to roll my eyes. “Yeah, I know.” I hesitated. Should I tell him about the snafus with my magic? If he didn’t believe in it, telling him wouldn’t matter. He’d call off the attempt to correct things, and I couldn’t leave his future in jeopardy. I hoped whatever issue I had acquired would resolve itself so we could move on with sending the spell back to Daria.

  Kyle shot me a pointed glance and left.

  I retrieved my tomatoes and carried them inside, then checked the workroom once more. Still no open recipe books. When I headed upstairs, Ash trotted alongside me. She stood guard in the bathroom while I showered. Normally, she sat in the windows downstairs while I got ready for work. While I stepped into my jeans and pulled a tunic top over my head, she sat upright on my bed, watching every movement.

  “What’s gotten into you today?” I asked her.

  She rose to her feet, purred and brushed against me. I picked her up and carried her downstairs, stroking her as we went. When I tried to set her on the couch, she seemed reluctant to leave my arms.

  “I need breakfast,” I told her.

  She blinked slowly and leaned over to jump down.

  I brewed a cup of coffee, made a microwave omelet and when I sat at the dining table, Ash leapt into my lap, kneading my legs before she settled.

  She’d always been an affectionate cat, but this was more than her usual. She undoubtedly sensed I was anxious and offered what comfort she could. I was grateful for Ash’s loyalty and companionship.

  We arrived at the shop a few minutes before ten. Yvonne was unlocking the bookstore next door. She was the current president of the downtown business owners’ association, so I took the opportunity to get on her schedule.

  “Hey,” I said. “I need a spot on your next meeting agenda.”

  “Of course, Brynn. Anything I should know about ahead of time?”

  Yvonne would share everything I told her in a heartbeat. If gossip helped Windfall through our last months, if people rallied to keep us in business, it might be worth it. “I know the association has to approve new businesses and has the right of first refusal. Cassandra and I are talking about selling.”

  Yvonne shot a glance at the boutique window. “I have to admit I was concerned when you took her on as a partner, but can’t you make a go of it on your own? Nora managed for all these years.”

  “It isn’t Cassandra’s fault.” I pursed my lips. “And I’m not Nora, something people frequently point out to me.”

  She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “Well, I heard you’ve had some issues with your special orders.”

  So much for people rallying to help us. “The next association meeting is after Labor Day?”

  “Unless you need me to call a special session,” she said.

  Did she think we’d close our doors tomorrow? “At this point, we intend to get through tourist season, at least. We haven’t officially set an end date.”

  “Then you still have time to change your mind.” She opened the door to the bookstore. “You’ll let me know if you need that special meeting?”

  “I’ll do that.”

  I walked into the boutique.

  “What was that about?” Cassandra asked.

  “I think I just made matters worse.”

  Chapter 18

  The rumor mill found its way to Windfall two hours later.

  “Don’t look now, but Alice is strutting down the sidewalk with purpose,” Cassandra called from her spot in the window. “Since you told Yvonne, I’ll deal with Alice.”

  “Thanks.” I sighed. “You know, even if we sell all of our current inventory, it isn’t going to be enough to pay expenses for October.”

  “Which, unfortunately, reinforces this is the right thing to do.” She rose from behind her sewing machine on in intercept course with the incoming gossip.

  I sat on a stool behind the counter, making a list of things that needed to be addressed before we closed, my unusually clingy cat in my lap.

  Alice zoomed straight to me. “How are you and your young man supposed to live with you both out of work?”

  I wanted to tell her he wasn’t ‘my young man’ anymore, but that would encourage more gossip. “You do know he’s working for Jude Everly,” I pointed out. “Which means he’s employed.”

  She waved off my response. “You know what I mean. Why on earth would you close shop? Are you planning to move to Door County? I suppose that would mean you’d be closer to Nora.” Alice eyed me speculatively, hoping for the inside scoop, no doubt.

  Cassandra cleared her throat. “We’re closing shop because we aren’t able to sustain the business.”

  Alice cast her an impatient look before she refocused on me. “I suppose it’s difficult to be apart as much as you and Kyle are. Is that why you’re closing?”

  “Kyle isn’t involved in this decision,” I replied. “As Cassandra told you, sales are down. They have been since Nora left.”

  “Well, I don’t suppose your little business experiment was the best choice. When Nora was here, she supported the whole town. The two of you are just... the two of you.”

  “Need I remind you the consignors are the ones who pulled out?” Cassandra said. “We didn’t ask them to go.”

  “Of course Kyle is involved in your decision,” Alice went on, ignoring Cassandra.

  I was used to gossip, and I was used to old biddies, but she’d managed to ruffle my feathers. “This is my business. Not Kyle’s. Why would he be involved?”

  “How are the two of you going to live?” she repeated.

  “Were you interested in buying something today?” Cassandra asked sweetly.

  Again, Alice ignored her. “Marriage is a partnership, dearie. What you do is, by default, your husband’s business.”

  “Except they aren’t married,” Cassandra said.

  “And that’s another thing,” Alice began.

  Cassandra took her by the elbow and escorted her to the door. “If you aren’t going to buy, I’m going to have to ask you to make room for the paying customers.” Forget the fact the store was otherwise empty.

  Alice looked over her shoulder, waiting for me to respond. I had nothing to add.

  “At least she doesn’t know we broke up,” I said when Cassandra returned. “Imagine her horror.”

  “We might as well close the doors now if she finds out,” she replied. “The rest of the shop owners are congregating on the sidewalk. Only a matter of time until the next one stops in.”

  “Who needs a council meeting?” I joked.

  The ‘next o
ne’ turned out to be Rhoda Christenson. “Have you told Starr?” she asked. “My daughter is counting on this job, you know.”

  “She’s seasonal help,” I replied. “We’ll be open at least through Labor Day, when Starr goes back to school.”

  She made a show of browsing my products. I’d made more than one special order for Rhoda. Was she hoping we’d stay in business? She hazarded a glance at me, and when she found me watching her, she scowled. “Where will you sell your botanicals?”

  “Most of my sales are online these days, and you can stop by the house if there’s something special you need,” I replied.

  She folded her arms. “I’d heard...” She licked her lips.

  “You’d heard?” I prompted.

  “Some people say you’ve lost your touch. Nora never did. They say the things you’ve mixed lately aren’t working.”

  Another indication our decision to close was the right one. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “I suppose you’ll be okay, what with Jude giving Kyle the work in Door County and all. You know we try to support one another in Hillendale.”

  Yes, her brother had hired Kyle when he’d lost his job. They’d rallied for Kyle, and still they’d stopped shopping at the boutique.

  When I didn’t respond, she pursed her lips and dropped her arms. “I wish you the best.”

  “Same to you,” I replied.

  With a parting nod, Rhoda marched out.

  “Lost your touch?” Cassandra asked. “That’s the first I’ve heard.”

  “How did you not hear?” And then I remembered. “Oh. I guess you weren’t in the sandwich shop yesterday when everyone decided to complain.”

  Sally Miller paraded in next. “We have a contract.”

  I eyed her uncertainly, waiting for what came next. “Yes, we do.”

  “Are you intending to honor that?”

  “Of course, I am. Why wouldn’t I?”

  She relaxed. “I suppose it’s only bath products. What about my breakfast spices?”

  “I make most of those items at home. That won’t change.”

  “You’ll need a special business license to sell out of your house,” a second voice said from the doorway—Otis, from the five-and-dime.

  Cassandra folded her arms. “Not for internet sales.”

  “Just telling you what folks are saying,” Otis replied. “So’s you can be prepared at the council meeting.” He turned and left the shop, with Sally Miller close behind.

  “It isn’t enough they’re putting us out of business, now they want to keep me from earning a living from home,” I muttered.

  Cassandra sighed. “You weren’t kidding when you said things were going to get worse.” She glanced out the window. “Uh-oh,” she said.

  “Now what?”

  “Looks like Kyle’s on his way in, but he’s being stopped every couple of steps.”

  I closed my laptop and stroked Ash, preparing for the coming confrontation. “I could always slip out the back door.”

  Cassandra laughed. “Delaying the inevitable?”

  “Why not? We’ve been doing that for the past four months.”

  Kyle managed to extricate himself from the last gossip with a forced smile and pushed into the store. He stopped, one foot inside. “What the hell?”

  “Nice to see you, too,” Cassandra said. “I think I’ll step outside.”

  “Coward,” I teased.

  “Not my fight.” The minute she left the shop, the lady from the bakery rushed toward her on the sidewalk.

  “Something you forgot to tell me?” Kyle asked. “You’re closing the boutique?”

  “You’ve been a bit distant. I didn’t want to burden you,” I said with more than a little sarcasm.

  His features softened and he took a step toward me. “Brynn...”

  I held up my hands. “This doesn’t concern you, Kyle.”

  He stopped. Regrouped. “I’m guessing by the phone calls I’ve been getting you haven’t told them about us, then.”

  “None of their business.”

  “This is going to make me look bad.”

  “How so?”

  “Like I can’t take care of you.”

  I snorted. “Nor should you.”

  “They’re going to think that’s why you’re leaving me.”

  I fisted my hands, trying to control my irritation. “Didn’t we agree to make this my fault? What more do you want from me?”

  “That isn’t how this looks. I’ve failed you, and now your business is failing.”

  “The business failed. Past tense. If it’s anybody’s fault, it’s theirs.” I waved a hand toward the windows. “They all know we depend on each other to support local business. How is that your fault?”

  “Brynn...” He reached for my hand.

  I pulled away, shaking my head.

  “After we broke up last time...”

  “You mean after you cheated on me?” I said, my voice low and controlled.

  “I thought we’d put that behind us.”

  “You’re the one who brought it up. I’ve already suggested you tell them I’m seeing someone else. That the weeks we’re spending apart took their toll and I moved on. That makes me the bad guy, right?”

  “They’ll never believe you,” he said.

  I laughed, at the end of my patience. “Such arrogance.”

  “As I’ve already pointed out, they’re going to know you don’t have time to invest in a relationship,” he said harshly. “Don’t you think they’d notice you with someone else? They’re going to blame me because I’m the one who called off the wedding, and they all know that.”

  I set Ash on her rug in the corner, my hands shaking with anger. I owed this man one thing, and one thing only—to fix the hex I’d brought on him. “What did you find out about Daria?” I asked.

  He stared at me a long moment. “I saw people coming and going from her house, but it seems she was telling the truth when she said she was out of a job.” He frowned. “I suppose we can do whatever you need to do whenever it’s convenient.”

  “I’ll have to call Nora.”

  He scoffed. “You can’t do it by yourself?” More sarcasm.

  My cell phone rang. I checked the display and saw Ian’s name, which sent my stomach whirling like leaves in a warm breeze.

  “I have to take this,” I said. “I’ll call Nora and we’ll arrange something.” I turned away from Kyle and answered the phone.

  “We still on for tonight?” Ian asked.

  My temper eased and I managed a smile. “Yes.”

  “Any clues for me? I don’t suppose you live in a castle. There aren’t that many around here.”

  “I have a triquetra on my chimney,” I told him.

  “I can work with that. You close your shop at six?”

  I wanted to close right now, but tourist season wasn’t over, and there were details to deal with. “Yeah.”

  Screeching tires drew my attention to the window. I ran to the door in time to see Kyle lying in the street.

  Chapter 19

  I rushed out of the boutique, phone in hand.

  “What happened?” Ian asked.

  “I’m not sure. I think Kyle’s been hit by a car.”

  “Who’s Kyle?”

  I stopped, struggling to breathe. Would Ian understand? “Long story short, the man the spell traveled to—the spell I need to reverse.” Could Ian help me? Did he want to?

  How badly was Kyle hurt?

  “I have to go,” I told Ian.

  “I’ll get the long story when I see you tonight?”

  “Yeah.” I slipped my phone into my pocket.

  Kyle was sitting in the street, his head bowed. The car that had apparently hit him had pulled over and the driver stood beside Kyle. “He walked right in front of me. You okay, buddy?”

  Kyle nodded, then his gaze locked with mine. Fear.

  “Dylan’s on his way with the fire station ambulance,” Roxanne Purdy said
.

  “Not going to the hospital.” Kyle pressed his hands to the ground, then jerked his injured shoulder backward. His face screwed into a mask of pain. “I’m not going to spend half my day in the ER for a couple of bruises. He didn’t actually hit me. I walked into a moving car. Nothing feels broken.”

  “I think you should at least get checked out,” she said.

  He shot me a glare and turned to the driver. “It was my fault. I wasn’t looking when I stepped into the street. Lost in thought.”

  The guy looked at Roxanne. “Do I need to do something? Accident report, or something?”

  She escorted him to his car to collect his information.

  Kyle lowered his voice. “We need to fix this.”

  I nodded. “Sooner, rather than later.”

  “How soon can Nora be here?”

  “She’s busy today. I’m not sure she can come before Sunday.” My heart pounded and sweat broke out on my brow. “But we might have another option.”

  He reached for my hand and I helped him to his feet as the ambulance arrived.

  “I’m not going to the hospital,” Kyle said as Dylan approached.

  “You don’t mind if I check you out, do you?” Dylan said.

  “Might as well earn your paycheck, but you won’t be transporting me,” Kyle told him. He nodded toward the store. “Go back inside, Brynn. Excitement’s over. If nothing else, it’ll earn me the sympathy vote.”

  And make me look cold, walking away from him while he was hurt. I swallowed my pride. I had agreed to be the villain in this story. “You sure you’re okay?”

  He nodded and managed a smile. “Nice to know you still care.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Of course, I care.”

  He nodded toward the boutique once more. I frowned, nodded in response, and walked away. Cassandra waited by the door. She squeezed my hand as I passed her.

  Ash sat on the counter, waiting for me. I scooped my cat into my arms and snuggled her, tears in my eyes.

  Within half an hour, the excitement on the street cleared. Another fifteen minutes brought Yvonne into the boutique, where she glowered at me.

  “Dylan said Kyle’s okay, in case you care.”

  The second shoe was dropping. “Of course, I care.”