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TWENTY-NINE

Thorn got ready.

First, she checked that Walls’s coffee mug was empty.

It was. Without the recipient uttering “I love you,” the New-and-Improved True Love potion would have lasted only a month, but she didn’t want to leave it to chance.

The antidote she’d slipped into his coffee was already working.

Earlier at the door, the potion had made him want to kiss her, but the antidote changed his mind—she’d seen it in his eyes.

By this afternoon, he should be completely out of love with her.

She then cleaned up the cottage. She poured all her potions into the sink. Just in case some silly tourist tried to drink them.

She placed her hat on the table and pinned a note to it that said, “For Charlie.”

Then she wrote a letter to Meg, apologizing that she couldn’t play witch for the Historical Society anymore.

As for Walls, she left him nothing. He’d be just fine.

“Ribbit.”

“Don’t worry, Penny. I haven’t forgotten you.

” She fished the frog out of her enclosure and placed her on the table.

Thorn rested one open palm on the table while her other hand held her pocket open.

“If you want to stay, hop onto my palm and I’ll place you back in there with plenty of dried crickets.

You’ll turn back into a human in two weeks.

But after that, you’ll have to find your own way in this modern world. ”

The frog’s throat vibrated faster. She took two hops toward Thorn’s palm, but then it made a big leap into Thorn’s pocket. “Ribbit!”

Thorn gently patted her pocket. She then turned to Bandit, who had been silently watching her from the rocking chair. “What about you, Bandit? They have better food here.”

Witch. I go. Where. You. Feed me.

“Speaking of feeding, let me feed Pepper and Pumpkin one last time.” She made two big bowls of cat food, emptying the fridge of all cat-suitable foods, and placed them on the porch.

Pepper and Pumpkin came running a few seconds later.

“You two were fine before I came along, so you’ll be fine without me, too. ”

Why are you leaving? Pepper asked.

Thorn smiled sadly. “I’m just not cut out to be a modern witch. Goodbye, Pepper. Goodbye, Pumpkin.”

Goodbye, Thorn.

She went back into the house and lit the fireplace. “Let’s go, Bandit.”

The cat climbed onto her back. Once he was comfortably draped over her shoulder, she summoned Madam Maude.

“It’s good to see you again, Thorn,” the matchmaker said. “I’m sorry for ending our call so abruptly the last time. How’s the twenty-first century?”

“Madam Maude, take me back home.”