Delia
“Who's ready for eggnog? I found the rum!” A woman wearing a festive turtleneck with long silver hair, and dark-framed glasses waltzed into the common room waving a glass bottle.
Grandma Jean leaned over and whispered, “The only thing enchanted about Susan's eggnog is her heavy hand with the rum. Sip slowly, dear.”
I smothered a grin, grabbed a cinnamon stick from the bowl on the table, and held up my empty glass. All five ladies gathered inside the common room followed suit, and the December meeting of the Spells and Brews Ladies’ Club came to order with the sound of clinking glasses.
Holiday music played from a wireless speaker, and Grandma Jean had prepared savory snacks and trays of cookies, displayed on a red and green tablecloth. A Yule log crackled in the hearth, spitting colorful flames thanks to a few chemical enhancements.
I'd already laid out my plan to the ladies when they’d first arrived, enlisting their help in a matchmaking scheme. All culminating in a strategically placed, mistletoe kiss at their booth. It would be the feature of my “article”, and Simon would be there to capture the perfect group photo.
Throw in a little extra magic from my end, and I was counting on this event to be the catalyst that finally brings Jack and Becky together. With the donated tree, and Jack dating the mayor's daughter, he'd be well on his way to healing his rift with the town. After I tied up a few loose ends, I could sit back and let Simon take over. Becky and Jack would be toasting champagne in the city on New Year’s Day.
Then he'll be in the same zip code. You might run into them holding hands on the street.The invisible elf was back, whispering destruction in my ear.
I gulped down some more eggnog, wincing from all the enchantment. Grandma Jean watched me from her seat on the couch. She was the only one not giddy with the idea for the festival booth. But she'd come around once she saw the plan in action.
“So, Delia. Truth or Dare, except you can only pick truth. What do you think about our resident Scrooge?” Susan asked, giggling as she ladled another round of drinks into our cups.
I grinned and munched on a cookie, thinking about my answer. “Well, frankly, I'm surprised this place isn't haunted by three ghosts. It's too bad. You could run tours to bring in new guests.”
The ladies laughed, raising their cups.
“Maybe we could try to summon some at our next meeting!” Judy, a younger member with a purple streak in her hair and a matching manicure, said. She wriggled her glossy nails. “I'd be happy to lead the seance.”
“I'll put it on the planner,” Grandma Jean replied with a small tremble in her voice. “Though someone else will need to host. I’m afraid this will be our last meeting at the inn.”
“What? No!” All the women chimed in.
“It’s true. Jack and I have agreed to sell at the end of the month. You all know he’s struggled since he came back, and I love my grandson. I won’t force him to be miserable if this isn’t what he wants. We’ll both use some of the proceeds from the sale to start over. I’m sure there’s a charming one-bedroom apartment in town that will suit my needs.”
“But the farm has been in your family for generations,” Susan said.
“Yeah, there’s still hope, Jean. Hold out for a Christmas miracle.”
Grandma Jean met my gaze. “Things will happen exactly as they are meant to be. I have faith in that.”
My throat tightened with emotion. Grandma Jean was counting on me. I couldn’t let her down. But I also couldn’t promise her Jack would keep the farm. Now that Simon was here with his new case, everything was up in the air. Though, maybe a fresh start had always been the intention. Sometimes you have to let go of the past to make way for the future.
Reaching across the sofa, I squeezed her hand. In the short time I’d been in Wood Pine, I’d realized how much I enjoyed the small-town feel, and the sense of family, even a fractured one because I could tell beneath it all, there was happiness here, and love. It was something missing in my life, even as I’d tried to chase my own dreams and find someone to share them with.
In our line of work, we were constantly seeing the effects of miracles, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to experience a little of that magic for myself. Looking around the room, I could see myself in this club, hosting my own witchy meeting surrounded by delicious snacks and good friends. The scariest truth of all was the possibility I was settling for things that looked good on paper, but in reality, were just as thin.
Behind us, the door creaked open, and I heard Jack’s deep voice over the sound of holiday music.
“Ladies, how come my ears are burning?”
Susan laughed and reached for an empty cup. She poured him some of her eggnog, then swayed to the music in his direction. “Darling, we were just enjoying a cocktail while discussing all of your most charming qualities. Please, join us.”
“Liars, all of you. Especially you.” Jack accepted the glass and pointed the cinnamon stick in my direction.
I shrugged and sipped my cocktail. Grandma Jean rose from the sofa and swirled her finger in the air as if she were rounding up a herd of cats. The ladies all looked at each other with shrewd glances. Judy yawned and reached for her purse. Susan downed her eggnog and swayed into the kitchen. The rest of the group followed, leaving the half-filled punch bowl, and what was left of the snacks.
“So much for my charming qualities.” Jack looked over his shoulder, but the group was gone, their voices fading.
“Seriously, I’ve never seen a room clear that fast.”
“You’re still here, though.”
