Page 59 of Practically Magic

“Hi! Hi! Hello! Hi there!” I recognize the guy right away. He’s cleaner than the last time I saw him, and his extensive facial hair has been tamed. He takes one look at Laney and breaks into a wide grin. “Girl! It’s you! Bookstore girl! Love you!” He grabs her hand and pulls her toward him, practically lifting her into his arms.

Laney squeals as he puts her down. He’s still holding her tight. “Hi. I’m Laney.”

“Laney!” he repeats, and spins her around. “Love you! Treats?”

And now I’m certain. Mystic Hollow might have had werewolves, but now we have a were-boy. Unfortunately, he used to be Zach’s and Laney’s joint-custody stray dog named Ronald/Fred. Should I tell her the truth? “Um, Laney?”

“You came as Wolverine,” Laney is saying to him as she ignores me. “I love that character. Let me show you where the treats are in the other room.” She looks over at me shyly and mouths, “He’s cute,” as he drags her away, chanting, “Treats! Treats! Treats!”

I think she’ll be okay. After all, she wanted a golden retriever boyfriend. Right?

“Catch!”

I duck barely in time to miss a garden gnome flying just overhead. A gremlin comes from out of nowhere and grabs it, and they begin wrestling in time to the music. The guys just laugh. “Look at that thing! What is it?”

Okay. I definitely need to cast these wards. And they have to work.

My phone buzzes. It’s Mom on the family text chain.

Mom:

Everyone ready? We miss you both but know you’ll do great.

Dad:

Don’t forget to wear your hats and send us pictures. It’s tradition!

The hat! I almost forgot. I rush back into the dining room and go to the armoire to pull out the hatbox with our cartoonishly large witches’ hats stacked inside. Harry’s and mine are both here. I feel a strange pang when I realize Harry has left without hers. She’s a stickler for tradition and, like Mom, she would never do Samhain without it. Something is wrong. I can feel it. But then my phone alarm goes off again, and I know there is no time to second-guess myself. The first spell has to be cast.

I head to the back of the house with the hats to where my parents’ office is. I’ve hidden my supplies in their locked room, which leads to a side door. The first spell is a simple one. I just need to burn some flowers.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this alone,” I say to myself. Sure, this is what I wanted. I told Harry to work separately. I wanted to send my aunts on a cruise. I was excited Mom and Dad would be away so I could have this party. But now, as I am about to do a Samhain spell alone, I realize I miss them.

It doesn’t matter that I’ve got a whole town full of boys, all clamoring for my attention.

“I’m here,” Eleanor says, and immediately I feel cold at the base of my neck.

I spin around and see her standing in the doorway. I wish I could hug her. “You’re back!”

“You and all your gentlemen callers looked as if you needed some privacy.” She gives me a stern look. “Though that many suitors calling on one lady would have been a scandal in my day.”

“I know,” I say, oddly cheered up at the sight of a ghostly relative. “Do you want to do the first part of the spell with me?”

Eleanor smiles sadly. “You miss Harry, don’t you?”

“How’d you know that?” I ask.

“I can just tell. Harriet had the same look when she left the house earlier. You two are lucky to have each other.” She wrings her hands. “I wish I still had my sister to talk to.”

“What happened to her?” I ask. “With the two of you, I mean?”

“We had a terrible row right before I fell ill,” she says. “It’s so long ago, I don’t remember who was at fault, or what the argument was about, but when she came to see me to make amends, I pretended to slumber so she left. Then I died before we could speak.” For once, Eleanor doesn’t look smug or in control—she looks devastated.

“Oh, Eleanor!” I gasp. “Is this why you haven’t moved on? I’m sure your sister would want to see you. You’re being too hard on yourself.”

Eleanor’s lip trembles. “But what if you’re wrong? What if she’s still cross with me?”

“She’s not,” I insist. “Sisters forgive each other.” I stop short, realizing what I just said.