Lazlo's hand stayed in Phineas's a beat longer than a handshake required. Then he let go.
A small grey tabby appeared at Phineas's ankle, pressed himself once against Phineas's leg, and then sat down, looking up at his warlock with the patient gaze of a happy familiar.
"Quill," he said. He set his hat on the side table. He set his leather case carefully on the rug. And then Phineas Grove folded his long quiet body all the way down to the floor, knees first, then settled cross-legged on the parlor rug and gathered the grey tabby into his lap.
"Hello, my friend," he said. "Hello."
Quill bumped his head once against Phineas's chest and began to purr.
Honey watched. She had not thought, before this morning, that anything in her parents' parlor could still surprise her. Like Edgar, she liked Phineas at once.
A second knock came soon after.
Rhoda set down her coffee. "I'll go."
She crossed the parlor and the hall before anyone could argue, and Honey watched her mother go with the brisk frustrated pace of a woman prepared to use a different tone with the next one.
The parlor held its breath. Until they heard Rhoda say, in an entirely different voice, "Leahnora."
Out on the porch, perfectly composed, her black hair pinned at the crown of her head, a small smile at the corner of her mouth, stood Leahnora Loveridge. Above her, on the iron weathervane atop the FACTS & FIBS roof, a great black raven had just settled and folded his wings. Baval did not look down. Baval was already looking everywhere else.
"Rhoda." Leahnora's voice was happy. She took Rhoda's hands in both of hers. "I came as soon as the third coach went past the square."
"The third." Rhoda rubbed her temples.
"The third, since the first." Leahnora stepped over the threshold with unhurried grace. "We have turned two back already and reseated them at The Conjure House. There will not be more arriving at your door today. I give you my word."
Rhoda's relief came out as a breath she did not try to hide. "Come in. There's coffee."
Leahnora's eyes had already moved past her to the parlor, taking the room in with the slow scan of a gazer who never quite stopped looking. Maeve in the chair by the fire. Phineas on the rug with Quill in his lap. Edgar standing watch by the fireplace. Roam staring out the window, with Honey beside him. And a mystery man on the end of the settee.
Leahnora's gaze touched Lazlo Varga. It paused and she moved on.
"Friends." Leahnora stepped into the room. "Forgive the imposition."
Rhoda touched her elbow. "You will stay as long as you like."
"Then a little while, perhaps. May I?"
"Anywhere. The wing chair across from mine. Edgar will pour."
Rhoda lit up in the presence of her friend. Leahnora crossed the parlor introducing herself to the guests.
"Mr. Varga," she said. "We have not met. Leahnora Loveridge. I am the mayor of this Cauldron Falls. Rhoda has spoken of you many times, with great affection."
Lazlo rose and bowed a perfectly executed gesture. "Madam Mayor. The honor is mine."
"You came in last night, I understand." She lowered herself into the chair.
"On the air. As soon as I heard." He smiled.
"That was very good of you."
Their eyes held for a half-second longer than the exchange required. Then Leahnora moved on, and Lazlo sat back down, and his thumb in his coat pocket found the rabbit's foot and worked it slowly.
Leahnora moved to Phineas on the rug. She did not bend down. "Mr. Grove."
"Madam." Phineas looked up. His face was warm. "Thank you for what your town has been to us thus far."
