Page 124 of Christmas Magic

“Why didn’t you stop Crow?” Julius asked. “What happened?”

Molly sensed frustration churning within Lucian. “I’ll explain in more detail later,” he said, “but he threatened to harm children.”

Julius’s mouth curled in disgust. “Ah.”

“I had no choice but to let him go.”

Molly met her fiancé’s gaze. “You will defeat him.”

“Yes, I will.” As Lucian stared down at her, his expression softened. He gently kissed her on the lips. “I really am sorry about what happened between us. I want to make things right.”

She winked. “I’m sure I can think of a few suggestions.”

“There are some important matters we must resolve first.” Julius gestured to Cora and Fred, still mesmerized. “We need to resolve this situation, and in a way that doesn’t make the onlookers suspicious. They mustn’t realize they were spellbound or that any time has passed.”

“Ideally, we’ll also stop Cora from pursuing Lucian.” Molly frowned. “If she wasn’t so lonely, especially at Christmastime….”

Lucian’s expression turned thoughtful.

“I know that look,” Molly murmured. “You have an idea?”

“Do we still have that cat saltshaker in the shop?”

“We do, and I found the matching pepper.”

“Perfect.” He glanced at Julius. “Could you hold the enchantment a bit longer, so Molly and I can make a trip to the store?” She listened while her fiancé explained his plan.

“Go,” Julius said. “Don’t be long.”

“Will you please keep an eye on Tim?” Molly asked. The kitten was still tearing around after the packing peanut.

“I don’t know much about kittens,” Julius said stiffly, “but I will give it a go.”

Molly took Lucian’s hand and hurried with him to Black Cat Antiquities. She went to the table where she’d last seen the saltshaker.

Gone.

“What?” Molly hadn’t moved it, and she was pretty sure Julius hadn’t either. “Where could it be?”

“Let’s take a quick look around,” Lucian said.

They searched the main part of the shop, but the saltshaker wasn’t to be found.

Lucian shook his head. “We’ll just have to use the pepper shaker. Where did you say you’d put it?”

“The back room.” She went to fetch it…and froze.

The salt and pepper shakers were side by side on the table.

Lucian walked up beside her.

Molly pointed. “I didn’t put them together. It’s almost as if the saltshaker got here on its own.”

He reached out and picked it up. His brows rose. “I’m detecting magic. It was stronger before, but is waning fast. It’ll be gone in a minute or so.”

“How…?” Her eyes widened. “I was holding the saltshaker the morning you were talking to Cora. The moment you got enchanted, I mean. You don’t think…?”

“That the saltshaker was affected by the love spell? I’d say it was. That’s why the magic’s fading: The enchantment’s been broken.” He ran his thumb over the glossy china. “As I mentioned when we were with Julius, I thought I’d seen this saltshaker before. These salt and pepper shakers are identical to the ones in a photo of Mistletoe Diner that Cora showed me. The ones on her and Fred’s favorite table.”

“Is it possible this is the same pair?”

“Could well be.”

“So, because of the love spell, the saltshaker longed to be with its mate, the pepper shaker, and magically found its way to this room?”

Lucian chuckled. “I’d have to investigate further. They were meant to be a pair, though. A couple.”

“How romantic. Here in our store, they got a second chance to be together.” Molly’s heart warmed, and she linked her fingers through Lucian’s again. “They do say love is the strongest kind of magic.”

He squeezed her hand. “From personal experience, I know it is. Why don’t we go make this a Christmas Cat’s Paw Cove will never forget?”