I beamed, hooking my thumbs through the belt loops of my jeans as I looked around. “Thanks! I finally got the last of my shipments in so I can open tomorrow.”

Maria glanced down at the essential oils on the small table, raising her eyebrow in interest. “Mind if I set some things back on layaway? I want to be your first customer.”

I laughed. “You can set aside anything you like. I’ll even give you ten percent off for all your help getting the place in shape.”

Excitedly, Maria looked through the oils, then moved on to the soaps and tiny jars of herbs. She looked back at me briefly before turning to the herbal shampoos. “I actually came to see if you’d like to have dinner with me and Tim. I know you’ve got a lot going on with the shop, but I’d love to have you come tonight or tomorrow night if you can.”

I rubbed a hand along my jaw, considering. “Tonight would probably be better. I’m not sure what the opening is going to be like tomorrow.”

She gave a nod. “It’s settled, then. Do you have any food allergies?”

“Nope. Is there anything I can bring?”

Maria shook her head. “Just yourself! You’re sure it’s all right if I set these things in the back?”

She held out a lavender scented shampoo and conditioner set, some lemon and peppermint essential oils, a curvy diffuser, and some jars of rosemary and thyme.

“Absolutely. I’ll have them packaged and ready when you come in.”

I took the items and stowed them on the counter in the back before coming out again. “You know, I feel so bad about your duster. I didn’t mean to hold it hostage. A friend of mine went missing the day after we cleaned, and it just drove everything else out of my mind.”

Maria’s eyes grew wide. “Someone went missing? Who?”

“Theresa…I can’t remember her last name.”

Maria didn’t say anything for a few moments, a line forming between her eyebrows. Her expression softened, melting into a look of concern. “That’s terrible! I’m so sorry to hear that.”

I tried to keep my expression neutral. The belated sentiment felt a little odd.

As I looked at her, I recalled that Theresa had also worn a stilted expression at the mention of Maria. Did they know each other? I wasn’t sure how long it had been since Theresa left.

“Yeah, it’s unfortunate. It sounds like the police are working on the case, though.”

Maria resumed her smile. “Well, that’s good! I’m sure they’ll find her in no time, then.”

I frowned, thinking about the fact that both Jo and Theresa had told me how useless the Woods Crossing police were. I’d witnessed their ineptitude myself.

“I should get going so I can get dessert prepped. Come by the house at around six-thirty, okay?”

She bustled out into the clear morning. I watched her go for a moment, wondering again whether anything had happened between her and Theresa. They were both really nice people, so why did they seem to dislike each other?

With a shrug, I walked to the back and wrapped up the items Maria had chosen, placing them carefully into a fancy bag.

After putting a few more finishing touches on the shop, I looked around in satisfaction. In addition to the shelves I’d added a few small, round tables covered with white tablecloths and deep green runners for extra display. The hygiene items like hair products and soaps were organized into one area while the crystals and geodes sat in a divided box on one of the countertop displays. The essential oils had a table to themselves, and I’d put the cooking herbs all along the tall, carved shelf at the back.

I was planning on giving a free herbal lip balm and variety pack of cooking herbs to my first twenty customers. I’d spent the previous evening painting posters to put outside the next day, and I really hoped the gimmick would work.

I had just enough time to get home from the shop, get the posters by the door for the next morning, then shower and change for dinner. I wasn’t sure how formal Tim and Maria were, so I went for a mix of jeans and a nice blouse.

When I looked up Maria’s address on my phone, I was pleased to see that Alton Street was within walking distance.

The evening was breezy, but warm, so I struck out at a quarter past six.

Their house sat back from the road a bit, preceded by a half circle driveway covered with a fancy portico. It was a newer house than most in town, with dark brick siding and dark wood shutters. I felt a bit underdressed as I knocked on the large, wood door.

When Maria opened the door in jeans and a sweater, my uncertainty melted away. She invited me into a warmly painted entry, where I took off my shoes.

“Thanks so much for inviting me,” I said. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Maria shook her head as she led the way to a formal dining room. “Tim’s finishing up the chicken while I put the last touches on dessert. Please sit and make yourself at home.”

The table was massive, large enough to seat eight people. A row of four lit candles and a bottle of wine already sat on the pristine white tablecloth, along with gold-edged plates and crystal fluted glasses.

She hurried into the kitchen while I sat awkwardly at the table. I didn’t have to wait long. Tim bustled out, carrying a pan filled with seasoned chicken and asparagus, which he put down onto one of the available potholders. Maria came out a few moments after him with a large pot of mashed potatoes and a basket of steaming sliced bread.

Maria and Tim took their seats opposite me. Tim reached for the bottle of wine while Maria gestured to the food.

“Please help yourself!”

I smiled as I reached for the large fork on the chicken plate. Tim poured a small measure of wine into each glass.

“This looks wonderful, thank you.”

After putting a little of everything on my plate, Tim and Maria served themselves. The chicken was tender and juicy, with a hint of Cajun seasoning. Maria had mixed garlic seasoning and some sort of herbs into the potatoes, which melted in my mouth. I wasn’t sure how Tim didn’t weigh three hundred pounds by now with this kind of cooking every day.

To be honest, he was in pretty trim shape. I could see why Maria had fallen for him. His thick, blond sat in waves on top of his head. The combination of his twinkly blue eyes and dimpled grin would catch any woman’s interest.

Tim looked at me with an interested expression. “So Sage, what do you think of Woods Crossing so far?”

I struggled to chew and swallow so I could answer. “I like it. It’s different to where I grew up, but small-town life is definitely growing on me. How long have you guys lived here?”

Tim scrunched up his eyes, thinking. “About ten years or so, right honey?”

Maria nodded. “Tim’s always been into his family roots.. He came here back then looking for family records or whatever. That’s how we met.

Tim smiled softly at her and put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her in a little closer. In return, Maria gave him a quick peck on the cheek, then blushed as she turned back to me.

“That’s right. She was just out of high school, starting her occult studies and working as an amateur archivist at the local library. I spent a lot of time there at the library doing genealogy research, and we just sort of hit it off.”

Tim chewed thoughtfully as he gazed at Maria. “I’ve always wanted to get back here and make the Blacks prominent in town again. I mean, my family was practically small-town royalty. And then there was the whole witch thing. You’ve got to admit, the Blacks had a lot going for them.”

I froze, my hands stopping halfway through cutting a piece of chicken. Looking up slowly, I saw Tim grinning as he chewed.

“Witch thing?”

Tim nodded. “Turns out, my grandma was a witch. Imagine that!”

I arched an eyebrow. “Who was your grandma?”