No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells (Mystic Cafe Series) (26 page)

Finally, I came up with a lame plan for escape. “Drive around the block and maybe they’ll leave. You can drop me off at the café and get out of this mess,” I said.

“
Honestly, Elly, I have no idea what’s going on, but I want to apologize. I don’t know these women.” He clutched the steering wheel with both hands.

“
I know. They’re probably fascinated with you because you’re new in town,” I said.

“
I’ve been here for quite some time now. I don’t think that’s it.” He shook his head. “I just need some time to think. I’m so confused that I don’t know up from down.”

We glanced in the truck mirrors every few seconds, looking for any sign of the crazed women as Rory drove around the block. So far, the coast was clear. Would he have to cope with this for the rest of his life? There was no way I’d let him deal with this. I’d demand something be done to reverse the spell. What kind of crazy magic was this, anyway?

As we pulled back in front of the café, all signs of the women were gone. It was as if it was a nightmare and had never happened. By the way the adrenaline flowed through me, I knew it wasn’t a dream.

“
Stop here quick and I’ll jump out. I don’t want you hanging around so they can find you again.” I hopped down from the truck.

“
I’d love to stay and start back where we left off, but I need to get back to work, anyway.”

I nodded. “I understand. I’ll see you later.” I closed the door and waved as he drove off.

His sad puppy dog expression made tears form in my eyes. Later that afternoon, the café would be closed permanently and my chances with Rory gone for good.

****

Tom had said he’d meet me at the café by seven. In reality, he’d showed up at nine. Not that I was in a hurry for what was about to happen, though. Mary Jane had wanted to stay until the very end, but I insisted she go to her night class. Her tear-stained cheeks and red eyes had almost been more than I could handle.

“
I’m sorry,” Tom mumbled. His expression was apologetic.

Did he actually say he was sorry? Did he really utter those words? A lot of good it did me. I appreciated the sentiment, but my world had crumbled around me and no words would ease my pain. Time had run out for Mystic Café and me. I removed Grandma Imelda’s key chain that read
Magic Happens
and handed him the keys. Hot tears threatened to spill down my cheeks.

“
I can call your grandmother.” He turned off the lights and shut the café door.

“
No, I’ll call her.”

“
I’ll need to talk with her anyway.” He stuffed the keys into his front pocket.

“
Please, let me call her first. It’s the least I can do. I don’t want to be a coward. Facing life’s problems is the only way to truly overcome them.”

He nodded. “All right, sure.” He cleared his throat. “Um, we’ll go over the details of the closing tomorrow. Someone will be by in a few days to allow you inside to retrieve your belongings. Since your grandmother left you the place, you’ll have to sell it. I’m not sure of the time frame they’ll give you for that.”

“
I don’t believe this has happened.” I blew out a deep breath and wiped a tear from my cheek. Exasperation filled my chest. What kind of organization closes a business over one spell? “You only gave me forty-eight hours. What could I possibly have done in that amount of time?”

He shifted his feet. “I don’t make the rules, Elly. If I could stop this, I would. I’d give anything to make it not happen.”

I studied my shoes. “You’ve been kind to me and I appreciate that. I didn’t mean to accuse you.”

He lifted my chin with his index finger and wiped the tear from my cheek. “I can’t stand to see a woman cry. You’re killing me here, please stop.”

“
It’s not like I turned on the waterworks purely for your benefit.”

“
Can I give you a ride home? Maybe you shouldn’t be alone at a time like this. Sometimes it helps to have someone around.”

“
I wouldn’t make for very good company right now.” The past few days had been the happiest of my life and, ironically the most stressful. There was nowhere I’d rather be than in the little kitchen of Mystic Café. The smell of the magical spices, mixed with the pancakes, bacon, and biscuits would remain a part of my memories I couldn’t erase. Oh, and the home fries…the spicy potatoes.

I’d discovered too late that Mystic Café was where I belonged. It was the shot of love my heart had needed. Grandma Imelda may not be there in body, but her presence would always be there. The café walls were like her arms, wrapping me in a tight embrace. But it was history now. Somehow, I’d make it through this. I had to, for Grandma Imelda’s sake. Life was never easy and I didn’t want to let this stop me.
But what would happen to the people of Mystic Hollow? Grandma said this town would fall apart without the magic.

He stared for a beat. “If you’re sure?”

I nodded. “I’ll be fine. I just need some time.”

Tom reluctantly placed a huge
Closed
sign on Mystic Café’s door. Without looking back, I hurried to my car and jumped in. My heart ached, my throat was tight, and my eyes stung. I’d never look at pancakes or pies the same again.
And just like that, the café was closed. No magic wand needed.

Chapter T
hirty-Six

A bad sensation started in my throat and moved downward, churning as if circling a drain, before finally settling in my stomach like a block of cement. It was the same feeling I got when, as a teenager, I waited for my parents to return home after they’d left me alone all weekend because I’d promised I was old enough to conduct myself as an adult, but the moment their car was out of sight I invited fifty friends over for a party where said friends proceeded to wreck the house and I had no idea how I’d explain the broken sofa or the ketchup on the ceiling. Yeah, I had that feeling. The phone call to Grandma Imelda had to be made. I’d have to tell her that in spite of being twenty-eight, apparently I wasn’t old enough to conduct myself as an adult...at least not where magic was involved.

Halfway home, I pulled the Mustang over on the side of the road and stared at my phone. I dialed half of Grandma Imelda’s phone number three times before finally getting the nerve to punch in all of the digits and hit send.

Just when I thought she wouldn’t pick up, she answered with her usual sweet voice. “I wondered if I was ever going to hear from you. The café hasn’t been too overwhelming, has it?”

I sucked in a deep breath. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Grandma hadn’t even had time to reply before my tears started.

“
Don’t cry. Tell your grandmother what’s bothering you. You know you can tell me anything.”

She thought I could tell her anything, but I wasn’t sure she was prepared for this news.

Letting out a shaky breath, I said,
“There was a problem at the café.”

“
What kind of problem? Was there a fire? Did someone get food poisoning? Did Mr. Atwood claim he fell on the steps again? Don’t believe a word he says. He’s been trying those scams since 1969.”

I swallowed hard. There was no easy way to put this, so I’d have to come out with it. “I gave someone the wrong spell.”

She let out an audible gasp, and a slight sucking in of breath whispered across the line. Fantastic. I’d caused her to have a heart attack. “Grandma Imelda, talk to me. Are you all right?”

“
I’m fine. I’m fine. You just caught me off guard. Who got the spell?”

“
A man. His name is Rory Covington.”

“
Oh.” She paused. “I’ve met him. He’s a handsome fellow, don’t you think?”

“
I suppose he is. But listen, Grandma, Mary Jane accidently set the wrong order in front of him and he ate it. I tried to stop it, but I was too late. The spell was meant for Oscar Harrisburg.”

“
Exactly what type of spell was this?” she asked.

Although cowardly, I was glad I was talking to her on the phone. There was no way I could have looked her in the eye with this kind of news. “It was a love spell…Rory’s ex-girlfriend came back and women in town are going gaga over him.”

“
Oh, no…” Not the words I wanted to hear from my sweet grandmother. “Elly, someone will be by soon to tell you what to do.” Her voice remained calm and steady.

“
Um, that’s the thing, they’ve already been here.”

“
I see.” She knew what was coming next without me having to tell her.

“
They closed the café.” My sobbing started again when the words left my lips.

“
There now, don’t cry. You’re going to make me cry and my mascara will run. I’ll look like a raccoon. If it was meant to be, darlin’, then it will be. I left you in charge and I believe you handled everything appropriately. If it was the café’s time, then there was nothing you could do to stop it.” Her voice held a steely determination.

It was in her character to take this news without as much as a whimper. If only I could learn such a quality.

“
I didn’t tell you when it happened because I thought I could fix it, but I can’t. An investigator came and I had forty-eight hours to reverse the spell, but it wasn’t enough time. I ruined all your hard work. I ruined the magic for Mystic Hollow.” Tears flooded my eyes and
I sobbed. With each blubber that escaped my lips, my chest heaved.

“
Now listen to me, Elly, you have to
get
a hold of yourself. Nothing is worth being this upset over. Life goes on and you make things work. You have many blessings to be thankful for, so when something bad like this happens, remember the good things you’re blessed with, pick your chin up, and carry on.”

I nodded as if she could see me. If only I could talk to her all night. I didn’t want to hang up because then grandma would be left to think about Mystic Café. She needed relaxation. The last thing she needed was to worry about me. Her only focus should have been feeling sand between her toes and watching the sunset.

“
Elly, did Mr. Wibble come to see you?”

Her voice snapped me back to reality. “Um, yes, he was there, too.”

“
Mr. Wibble has been kind to me over the years.” Her tone sweetened.

“
What do you mean? You made mistakes?” I asked.

“
I made a few, but nothing ever serious.”

What she meant was nothing ever as stupid as my mistake.

“
So Mr. Wibble looked the other way? He ignored your mistakes?”

“
Oh, he always came out to investigate. But he covered my fanny. Well, not literally…you know what I mean.” She snorted.

I snickered. “I believe you, Grandma. So that’s why Tom said there was nothing in your file.”

“
I always suspected Mr. Wibble fancied me. But I was married to your grandpa, so he never made a move.”

Why hadn’t Tom done the same for me? Covered for me, I mean, not made a move.

Grandma continued, “Mr. Wibble came to me with the intention of closing the café during the first mishap, but by the time he left, we were friends.”

How many mistakes had she made? Maybe someday she’d share her stories.

“
He seems cranky.”

She chuckled. “He’s a sourpuss, but a softy deep down.”

So she’d made a few mistakes, but they were nothing compared to mine. She didn’t even know the whole story yet. What would happen when I told her the book and spices were missing?

“
There’s one more thing, Grandma.”

She paused, then said, “I’m listening, dear.”

“
Someone broke into the café and took the book and the spices. The organization knows and we’re looking for them. I’m sure they’ll contact you soon.”

“
That doesn’t change what I said. Mystic Café had a good run. The organization has always been fair to me and I know they’ll do what’s best. Everything will work out. Have faith, okay?”

It was hard to have faith but, with her positive thinking, how could I not trust her words? Confidence oozed from her and wrapped around me, forcing me to believe that I had no choice but to make things work.

“
You call me tomorrow, okay?” she said. “If I hear from the organization I’ll call you.”

I sniffled. “Okay. I love you, Grandma.”

“
I love you too, Elly, now you go get some sleep. And tell Rory hello for me.”

She hung up before I could answer. I’d probably never see Rory again. There’d be no chance for me to relay the message. Grandma Imelda had been supportive when I’d made the phone call. But I hadn’t really expected anything less from her. She had always handled negative situations with grace and aplomb. Her help for Mystic Hollow residents had always been unwavering and unrelenting. Of course, she couldn’t say much in between my sobs and sniffling. I’d been mostly incoherent. The memory of Tom locking the door on Mystic Café would haunt me for the rest of my life.