“Thank you.” I patted her back, then pulled away from her hug. Like her conversations, they always went on just a little too long.
“Oh, Hetty. So glad you came in today,” Mom said from behind the counter to Ms. Bates. “I’m sure you heard my bakery won the Spooktacular Showdown yet again this year.”
I rolled my eyes and went to fill the enchanted teapot with water. Considering we’d figured out how to enchant it to refill cups on its own, you’d think someone would’ve figured out how to get it to refill itself too.
Mom’s voice lowered, but it was still loud enough that anyone in the bakery could hear. “It really isn’t Mrs. Long’s year, is it? First losing the town bake-off a few weeks ago, then the Spooktacular Showdown, and now her niece being part of that horrid murder.” She tsked. “It’s such a shame.”
“It really is. I can’t believe the things that have been happening in town these days. And my niece Jane Fairfax has been quite shocked as well.” Ms. Bates straightened the paper in her hand—the emails she always insisted on printing out and carrying around town to talk about with whomever would listen. “Why in her email this week, she said…”
I tuned out the rest of her weekly Jane Fairfax update as she filled Mom in and slipped into the back to grab the last of the pumpkin spice muffins and cauldron cakes. We still had a few more weeks before they’d be completely out of style, but now that Halloween was over, the town was turning toward Thanksgiving, which meant Christmas was right around the corner. I was going to miss the smells of pumpkin spice and baked apples in the bakery, but at least there were plenty of Christmas goodies to look forward to.
Mary came in bearing a tray of freshly baked croissants, filling the room with their warm, buttery scent just as Mom said, “Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins are engaged.”
“To be married?” I jerked to attention, interrupting their conversation.
Mom glanced at me, one hand on her hip. “Of course to be married, Kitty. What a silly question. What other sort of ‘engaged’ would I be talking about?”
“There’s no way.” I shook my head. It was weird enough that Mr. Collins had proposed to my half-witch,half-fae sister, but even weirder for him to propose to a human.
“It’s true. Mrs. Lucas came into the bakery before closing.” Mom scowled. “She didn’t say it in so many words, but you could just tell that she was bragging about marrying off a daughter before me, so I texted Lizzy to confirm, and she said Charlotte told her herself.”
“But he just proposed to Lizzy a few days ago!” Which was honestly crazy enough considering Lizzy never would’ve been interested, but to turn around and propose to someone else so soon after? What was he thinking? Maybe he was just desperate to get married. Sometimes fae were weird like that.
“I know.” Mom slammed a tray of apple cinnamon rolls onto the counter with a little too much force. “I can’t believe I ever thought he was good enough for my Lizzy.” She huffed and disappeared into the back to get something.
The front door opened, and Riley came in, his usual swagger and grin in place.
I widened my eyes in faux surprise. “A dragon shifter in a witch’s shop. What on earth are you doing here?”
His grin hitched at the corner, and he leaned an elbow on the counter in front of me as I restocked the display case. “For the baked goods, of course. I’ve heard your sugar cookies are to die for.”
I gave him a dirty look.
“Too soon?”
“Just a smidge.” I finished emptying the tray and straightened, giving him a subtle once over. He looked far too good in his cream sweater. I glanced at the grandfather clock against the wall, then peeled off my apron. “Give me a minute to grab my stuff and we can go.” I ducked into the back area and clocked out, then ran up to my room to grab my bag. I glanced around. I’d taken all the Halloween decorations down this morning and put up a few pictures in their places. It was finally time to make my room my own.
I ran back downstairs and gave Dad a quick kiss on the cheek as he sat in his favorite chair, reading. Today was one of his better days.
“Going out?” he asked.
“Yeah, for a bit.”
“Try not to get into too much trouble, Kitty.”
He had no idea. I smiled and said, “No promises.”
I paused by the door, smoothing my hair, putting on lip gloss, and straightening my clothes before entering the bakery again. Mom still wasn’t back in the front—thankfully, or she would’ve made a big deal about Riley’s appearance—and Ms. Bates and Mrs. Bates sat at their usual table, sipping maple teas.
Riley and I walked outside into a gust of chilly wind. I shivered and Riley held out his hand.
“I knew I kept you around for something,” I said as I accepted it.
“Was it this?” Riley pulled me toward him and planted a quick kiss on my lips. “Because don’t think I missed how you put on a little makeup back there.”
I flushed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He kissed my forehead and started down the street. “Right.”
