“A year ago, she approached me and offered a chance to earn extra money on the side. We’d meet up in the afternoons.” She shrugged. “What can I say? A girl has needs.”
“You didn’t make any adjustments to the batch, did you?”
“Of course I didn’t. Creating wolfsbane potion has to be very exact and she can discern if it’s ever not perfect. We’ve had to restart potions that weren’t correct. Her magic could tell.” She fixed me with an imperious look that reminded me of Duchess. “And I’d never mess with a potion once it’s brewed. You think I want to kill someone or ruin my side gig?”
“Is there a potion that could make a person unaware of what happened?”
Lydia blinked. “What?”
“Because Frank said he took it, but the rest of the night is blank.”
Her face grew pale. “N-no, no, that can’t be correct.”
I watched her, sensing I missed something crucial. “What is it?”
She straightened, her eyes flashing. “I think Frank forgot to take the potion, and he started to change. The last thought on his mind was Isabella, so he tracked her down in wolf form, lost control, and bit her.”
That couldn’t be true, but an uncomfortable twist of anxiety gripped my heart. What if Isabellahadbeen the last thing on his mind? If they were in a relationship, that could very well have been the case. “Frank took his potion.”
“And how do you know he’s telling you the truth?” Lydia snapped.
The sound of a bell indicated that someone was at the closed entrance of Cupid’s Confections, stalling our conversation.
“Lydia!” Mom called from upstairs. “Will you answer that?”
She cast me a hard glare before responding. “Got it.”
I gripped her arm. “Lydia—”
“We’re done,” she hissed. “Don’t ask me about this again.” She tore her arm from my grasp and marched for the door.
Her high heels struck the floor with her crisp walk as she strode over to the dial on the wall, flipping it from red to blue. I grabbed the large beach bag with the potion ingredients that sat next to the table. The world shifted,and suddenly we were standing in the much larger kitchen area of Cupid’s Confections.
Lydia left me, entering the shop. “Sorry, we’re not open yet—Pastor Collins?”
What was he doing here? I didn't need to be at my internship for another hour. Hopefully, he wasn’t upset with my work. I hurried to the shop entrance where Lydia was already unlocking it.
The sweet scent of freshly baked treats filled the air even when the store was closed. I rushed past the display of pumpkin-shaped pastries and ghostly cupcakes meant to welcome visitors.
“Good morning.” Collins’s no-nonsense voice came through the door. “May I come in? There is a delicate matter I wish to discuss with your mother.”
Lydia stepped aside, and Collins entered. His eyes glanced around the space, roving over the wooden shelves adorned with small autumn-themed accents like mini broomsticks and tiny skulls, while vintage-style candy corn garlands drape from the counters. I realized this was the first time he’d ever set foot in our store.
“What a charming little shop you have. Is this where you sell your witchy concoctions?”
Lydia raised an eyebrow. “Um, yes?”
Collins sniffed. “Yes, well, it’s quite the homey space. Although not as great as my Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s grand manor.”
“You know this is the shop and that our home is in the back, right?” Lydia said.
I moved out into the darkened store before my sister’s attitude upset my boss. “Hello, Pastor Collins. Is everything okay?”
His gaze fell upon me with a superior air. “Everything is fine, Mary. Shouldn’t you be at the church?”
Oh no. Hewashere about my internship. “You said not to come before 9:00 a.m.”
“So I did.” He looked at his watch and sniffed again. “Then I will see you soon.” He looked between Lydia and me. “Your mother?”
