“Oh, no. I don’t expect anything from them. I wanted you to know I’m here and have no ill feelings toward you or the coven. They don’t need to worry about my intent. Please, tell the Fellowship at the next meeting.”

“Sure. I can do that.” But is she telling the truth?

I knock over the mini iron cauldron a customer left on the counter. It falls practically at Courtney’s feet, but she just stands there staring at the witchy decor.

“Would you mind picking that up for me?” I ask, pointing.

She peers up at me. “I’d rather not. It could have broken, and I don’t want to be accused of damaging it further.”

For fuck’s sake. I dash around the counter and retrieve the witchy item.

“Well, I better get back to work. A colleague and I are trying to finish a grant this weekend.” She ambles toward the entry door.

“Courtney?” I ask with a tilt of my head.

She stops and turns around. “Yes?”

Should I question her about Audrey? “Never mind. Have a great day.”

As the ex-coven witch exits, Jeff enters the store, brushing his taffy brown hair into place. The crisp air has left a pink hue on his skin.

“It’s super windy out today,” he says. “Leaves are blowing everywhere. So much for raking them into the street yesterday.”

“I don’t miss that at all. The pile on the road in front of my house was as tall as me. It took a few days to collect and drag them with a tarp, even with Tyler helping. The back yard was the worst. I wonder how Tanner and Spence are handling the mountain of leaves this year?” I don’t lament selling my old home, but the neighborhood was full of friendly people.

He lets out a hearty laugh. “Great, until Spence jumped into it. He forgot they raked the leaves to the curb. Wasn’t a soft landing.”

“Oh, my gods. Is he OK?” I snort as Jeff continues.

“Yeah. But Tanner told him he questions how he is so accomplished academically but lacks common sense.”

“It’s fantastic you bought the cape cod with red siding across the street, although…” I motion him to lean over the counter and whisper, “You could afford a house like Mitchell Hall.”

He smiles timidly. “Oh, I don’t want to live in an expensive place. I hated growing up in New Jersey at my aunt and uncle’s estate. I’d rather live a frugal life and use my inheritance for good…once they’re declared dead, of course.”

“Who was the blond-haired woman with Mayor Devine?”

“Alys Morgan, one of the new council members. She’s an accountant by day.”

“Right. The residents elected her and two others to replace Mayor Manley’s cronies. I was elated when the town elected them along with Jessica Devine. The council will get so much done now. I haven’t attended meetings since the elections, so I didn’t recognize her. Did you know John Erickson, the other new member, is married to Audrey’s best friend from grad school?”

Jeff’s eyebrows lift. “No. I knew his wife’s first name was Courtney, but I haven’t met her. Are you sure it’s the same woman?”

“Oh, yeah. She just passed you on the way out of the store. I’m surprised you didn’t recognize her.”

His eyes dart toward the door. “Now that you mention it, she looked familiar. But she appeared older. A far cry from the teenage demeanor she had in grad school.”

“Do you think she knows what happened to Audrey?” I ask, biting my lip.

“How could she?” Jeff stuffs his hoodie behind the counter.

“None of the Bearsden Coven witches would have told her, but other covens were at the Delaware Pagan Conference.”

“True. Did she say anything to you about her?”

“No. Nothing. I shouldn’t have brought it up. Sorry.”

“It’s all right, Gwyn.” He lowers his head. “We can’t change the past. You can sweep it under the rug, but the history is still there.”

“I wonder if the new councilman knows his wife is a witch? I understand Mayor Devine hasn’t divulged the secrets of the Seelie Fae children and the portal in the Celestial Gardens to them.”

“Probably not. It’s my understanding they aren’t in the knowing. Courtney must not be practicing witchcraft.”

But I sensed her magic was flourishing. “She said she wasn’t interested in returning to the coven. You may be right.”

“It’s been nice chatting, but I’ve procrastinated long enough. I need to help Shane price tag the new shipments before I take over for you at the cash register.”

“Thank you for letting me leave early. Derek had to fill in for one of his trainers. Ronnie didn’t want to attend her birthing class alone.”

“I’m so excited for her. I hope to have a family one day, too.”

“Is it too soon to ask if you’re seeing anyone new?”

“You’re such a mom, Gwyn, and thank you for asking. I wish my aunt had cared enough to poke her nose into my love life. I’ve been dating the new instructor in the Celtic Studies department.”

“Oh. Dr. Lewis. That’s inviting a built-in family. She has a two-year-old. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

“I am, but he’s a handful. She’s so worn out most of the time. I wish I could help her more, but we’re taking it slow. Both of us are recovering from traumatic relationships.”

That’s for sure. When your last love turns out to be a Celtic vampirish ghoul, you’re likely to approach the next relationship with iron gloves.

“Nothing wrong with taking it slow. I’d be in a different boat if I’d done that before.” But I love the ship I sailed on.

“Give a shout if I lose track of time.”

Jeff rushes to the back to help Shane while I ring up the DUB students’ Halloween costumes. I’m happy my young boss is dating again, but is an older widow with a child the best choice?

Ronnie dances around the room, ringlets of crimson hair bouncing on her shoulders, and I rub her back with a tennis ball during pauses. I expected we’d be sitting on the floor, huffing and blowing.

“This is not what I was expecting,” I say. “When I was pregnant with Tyler, I did breathing exercises while focusing on an object. Richard came with me reluctantly.”

She frowns. “I imagine. Derek hated missing this class. He’s so into it. But Jamal has a terrible fever, and Derek preferred not canceling the training sessions.”

“I was so excited you asked me. This is fun.”

The instructor signals us to dance around the room again and come to another pause. I roll the tennis ball up and down her back.