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Celia was haunting Nora Lang’s house. It was an old sea captain’s home with a view of the ocean and a widow’s walk. Celia had been up in the cupola and on the ancient walkway for the past week, singing and wailing for her long-lost husband.
Bri said, “Kay’s going to make some wind blow, a few windows will rattle as she mumbles gibberish, and Celia’s going to jump off the roof and pretend to be snatched up by something from above.”
“Very dramatic,” said Corinne as she sat in a chair. “That was one of her favorite acts to scare kids. Remember when she jumped off the roof of the high school?”
“That was the time they say she wasn’t wearing underwear, right?” Bri asked.
“Grossly over-exaggerated,” Amelia said. “However, she was wearing a thong, proving her career was not the only thing that was sagging when she died.”
Kay and Amelia smiled as Bri, who was still a young child the last time they’d done any haunting, said, “Fabulous! I wish we could give this town a real Halloween again.”
“If today doesn’t produce results, we will,” Kay said. Considering it was the first week of October, Bri’s plan involving Nancy Edmonds could very well start a rash of false hauntings that would lead up to Halloween. Unless Tucker Eagan surprised her that afternoon by asking her out. She’d certainly keep her mind open to the possibility, but she’d been down this road with him before. When they were in junior high, he’d flirted with her in his shy way, and she’d been sure he was going to take her to the seventh-grade dance. Instead he’d gone solo, and she’d learned from one of his friends that it was because Tucker was afraid of her being a witch.
As an adult, he likely knew that her family wasn’t evil, but she was also well aware of the fear some people had of witches. She was optimistic that he’d come around, though.
Kay glanced down at her phone to check the time and saw she had another fifteen minutes before Tucker was due to arrive. Not wanting to appear too anxious, she stood up. She thought it might look better if she was working when he came. Not that she could get much done with the bakery business she and Corinne owned, but being in their work cottage located in the backyard would provide a distraction from her worries. She said, “I’m going to go check on the orders and make a list of what we need to do when I get back.”
Kay stepped out the back door of the Knight family home and paused to gaze around the yard. The leaves were well on their way to full fall color, and she loved the beauty of it. She knew what she was about to do could backfire, but she trusted that destiny had a plan for her. However, it was Kay’s job to discover what her future was, and she planned to figure out if Tucker was part of it. She inhaled the crisp, cool air and lifted her face to let the sun in the sapphire-blue sky warm it. But reveling in her favorite season couldn’t stop her from worrying because she had a feeling that no matter how well she planned things, there were too many people and spirits involved for things to go smoothly. Her scheme was likely to take on a life of its own.
2
Damon
A black silkcapewhooshedas Damon Hawke swung it with his arm to wrap it around himself, and he chuckled at his reflection. His thick hair was styled short at the sides and fuller at the top making his mischievous green eyes the first thing people noticed about him. Although, the purple-lined black cape would change that, which was the point. Damon had a reputation to uphold and had every intention of satisfying his loyal followers as well as taking his fame to the next level. What was more befitting of the public’s perception of a wizard than a cape?
“Seriously, Damon?”
He turned to his sister Natalie, who was standing in the doorway of his bedroom. She’d taken their naturally golden-brown hair in the blond direction. “That cape makes you look ridiculous.”
He spread his arms to open the luxurious silk draping as he turned toward her. He then swept an arm in and across his mouth. “I’m not dashing?” Pumping his eyebrows, he asked, “Debonair?”
“Dumb. But I’m sure it will work. What’s your latest stunt?”
“This is for the magic show at the fair. But—” He grinned with the satisfaction of a cat with a mouse. “That’s not what I’m excited about. Wait until you hear this.” He paused to make sure his sister was hanging on his words. When she finally shook her head as if to say, ‘tell me,’ he continued. “The Knight witches are exorcizing ghosts on their island.”
Natalie tilted her head in confusion. “Hoax for money?”
Damon huffed. “You’re so cynical. They’re good witches who only scheme for love. This is probably some plan to get one of them a guy.”
Natalie laughed. “And you’re not jaded?”
Damon shrugged realizing his more palatable explanation was just as cynical as hers had been. “Doesn’t matter. Whatdoesmatter is that this is the perfect opportunity for me.”
“To become a ghost hunter? Of non-existent ghosts, I might add.”
“No, dear sister. To add a magical hand to the Knight’s latest endeavor and attract a whole new population of followers.” He brushed his cloak back and tipped his chin up. “I’m going to crack the top one hundred most influential people list one day. You’ll see.”
She scanned his body with a critical gaze. “It won’t be because of that stupid cape. I’m off to work. Need me to get anything on my way home?”
Natalie was a librarian. She also ran the household, which consisted of his father and two more brothers as well as Natalie. She was so wrapped up in taking care of everyone else that Damon often worried she didn’t do enough for herself. He made it a point to find little ways to help her out. “I’m going to the hardware store later today. I’ll get the lightbulbs we need. Is there anything else you can think of? Want me to cook tonight?”
She smiled at him. “Now this is the side of DamonHawkeyou should show your followers. I’d love a break from cooking dinner, thank you.”
“I do show them.” Damon would definitely post on social media about the amazing meal he made, and he’d point out how it was always better than it should be because of his magic. He placed his hand on his chest dramatically. “You don’t read my posts.”
Natalie rolled her eyes. “Why would I? I get the joy of witnessing you every single darn day.”
He grinned. “Lucky you.”
