Page 33 of Black and White, Twice the Might

“We really will keep them safe,” Ernest assures us.

“I’ve never cackled round a cauldron before. I might join in, it sounds fun,” Sly says.

“Shoot me your mobile numbers and I’ll update you on times and things,” Ernest says, reaching for his phone, when a customer walks up, smiling.

“We’ll come back and see you when we’ve finished in the tearoom,” I say, ushering the family away, so Ernest can work.

We walk into the tearoom, smiling at Callum and seeing Sal and Justice sat chatting.

“Come and join us,” Sal says, smiling our way.

“We might need another table,” I say, moving one over to join them, the boys moving the chairs.

Before we even sit down, Xander starts with the questions.

“Ernest said you can make healing teas taste nice. Can you teach these two how to make them bearable? If I have to drink another gross tea, I’m likely to throw up all over them.”

I’m not the only one who laughs at that.

“It’s all about intention. The tea is made like normal, but then I ask my magic to make it taste nicer, but keep all of the healing properties.”

“It’s that easy?” Enoch asks in surprise.

Sal nods. “It really is.”

Xander turns and glares at us. “How come you’ve never done that?”

“The whole point of a healing tea is that they taste gross,” I say. I could just say that neither of us has ever given that a thought, but there you go.

Callum walks over and takes our order just as Molly walks in, Miles at her side.

“Your usual, Molly?” Cal asks.

“Please, young Callum. Thanks. Hello friends,” she says, cackling her usual cackle.

“Sit with us, Molly,” Justice says, pulling a chair out for her.

“Thank you, Doctor,” Molly says, sitting down, Miles jumping on her lap.

Enoch leans forward. “Hi Miles.”

Miles stretches over the table and lets Enoch stroke him.

“Thank you, Miles,” Enoch says happily. He looks at Molly. “Ebby and I are spending time with Elaine and Temp this afternoon.”

“You’ll have fun. It will be interesting to see how you get on with the animals,” she replies.

“You can tell us later, Enoch. I have to get back to work,” Justice says, standing up.

“Me too, catch you all later,” Sal says, also standing. “Hey, Cal, can you charge all this to me?” he says, waving his hand at our table.

“Are you sure?” Sly asks.

“Totally,” Sal says happily. “Catch you all later.”

They both leave and we chat to Molly about general things while we finish our refreshments, just as we finish, Elaine and Temp walk into the tearoom and over to us.

“Hey friends,” Temp says. “Enoch, this is Elaine.”