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“Would you stop if they were?” Maggie held up her hand. “Don’t answer that. Let me keep my delusions for a little longer.”
“Speaking of delusions, keep yours,” Harper said, opening the door. “I know Penny’s promised not to dive into us or anyone we care about, but she talked to Lucas, not long but probably long enough to get a read on things. If she’s not worried, you don’t need to be either.”
Maggie studied her sister. “But you never made that promise, did you? And you were in the room when she talked to them.”
“Nah-ah-ah,” Harper wagged her finger back and forth. “I promised not to dive into family members. Anyone else is fair game.”
“And?”
“Take their advice to heart. Sharing this piece of you with Lucas was a brave step, and from Elspeth’s toast, it sounds like you’ve got other wheels in motion you need to follow. Follow them and give Lucas the time he needs to process everything.”
“Got it.” Maggie hugged Harper and gave her an extra squeeze to keep her safe. “If you love someone, set them free.”
“And if they don’t come back, hunt them down and curse them,” Elspeth finished behind her. The sisters exchanged a look before Harper and Elspeth stepped into the hallway.
Elspeth rarely talked about her youth, but someday, some way, they’d find out the why or who behind the mystery. “Focus on your baking,” Elspeth called over her shoulder as she and Harper walked arm-in-arm down the hallway. “And go Tetons!” Elspeth punched the air.
Penny chuckled next to her, saying, “There go two powerful witches, one of whom has a bet riding on the Tetons.”
“And the other wants to see them fail. This won’t end well, will it?” Maggie asked as Penny opened her door.
“It will end as it’s supposed to end, and none of us can influence that. Get some sleep Maggie. You’ve got lots of baking in your future.” Maggie stared at Penny’s decorated door long after she’d heard the deadbolt slide into place. An uneasy feeling settled in her gut as George wound his body around her ankles.
“Do you think Penny or Harper broke their promise and they know what I’m planning?”
If you’re referring to the printouts you left on the counter, that I tested gravity with, and Elspeth picked up and read before passing them to Penny and Harper, then yes. They know what you’re planning.
“Well,” she sighed, picking him up. “That’s three fewer people to tell.”
You’re welcome.
Chapter 27
Maggie sprayed the table with disinfectant and wiped it dry before stacking the chairs on it. Jack was closing by himself tonight and he didn’t want any freeloaders hanging around, which was why she closed a section and started clean-up procedures four hours early. He’d asked her to work the late shift, but she’d declined. She had a date with Lucas. Finally.
They’d kept their promise to Penny to give each other space, but as soon as the Tetons had won their second away game, Lucas had called her from the locker room. The background noise was so loud she’d only caught every third word he’d said, and she didn’t know if he’d heard her. But he’d sounded happy and eager to see her, and that was enough. For now.
The team had two days off. Maggie didn’t know how Lucas planned to spend them, but he’d asked her out tonight. She moved to the next table as she pondered what to wear. “That brown turtleneck dress with your boots,” Elspeth said behind her, causing Maggie to jump and drop the spray bottle.
“Don’t do that. And what are you doing poking in my head?” Maggie hissed.
“I wasn’t poking. You had that panicked look on your face and I made a wild guess.” Elspeth gave her the puppy-dog look and drew a cross over her heart.
“Fine, but a dress is too dressy. I need to be me. I’ll figure something out.”
“Okay, but call me if you need any input.” Elspeth saluted her with the paper cup, and Maggie noticed the older man by the front door eyeing her. He looked to be in his mid-fifties with salt-and-pepper hair and plenty of muscles underneath his expensive-looking suit. Elspeth’s hand was on the door, but she took several steps back and dropped into the chair opposite him, crossing her legs and leaning over the table, as if she had a delicious secret she wanted to share. If Elspeth was her usual charming self, she’d be walking away with the man’s phone number and by tomorrow she’d have plans with him for New Year’s Eve.
“Yo, Maggie,” Jack called from the front.
“You bellowed?” she said, coming around the corner and halting at the glorious bouquet of red roses and white daisies overtaking the front counter. “Oh, my.” She breathed in the scent.
“Yes, oh, you. Make sure you take them with you when you leave tonight. Until then, I plan to hide behind them.” Jack teased. Maggie plucked at the card, her heart in her throat, but it was simply signed L. She tucked it back in the plastic pick and brushed off her disappointment. The red roses meant something, right? Plus, he’d included daisies. No self-respecting florist would willingly add white daisies to red roses unless the bouquet was for a teenager.
“Any chance you would want to stay on for a few days in January and help me deal with stuff?”
“And by help, you mean do it, right?” Maggie asked.
“Busted,” Jack admitted.
