Page 15 of Magic Blooms
fourteen
Surprisingly, Lorraine wasn’t at home when I arrived back with Joshua. I tried waiting in the kitchen for her return but soon found myself falling asleep at the table.
Deciding I’d need my sleep in order to keep up my strength through tomorrow, I finally gave up and went to bed for the night.
The next morning, I awoke to Lorraine sitting at the end of my bed. Unnerving to say the least.
“Good morning,” she sang. “Would you like some coffee?”
“No!” I practically shouted. No more drinks.
I was sticking purely with water the rest of my stay here.
Though I had to admit, I wouldn't mind the caffeine boost. Funny how the more urgent the situation became, the more tired my body grew. Despite a series of strange, unwelcome dreams and Lorraine’s untimely awakening, I’d slept more here than I ever did back home.
Lorraine chortled. “No coffee. Got it. How about tea? Fresh-squeezed juice? You liked the grits, right? I could make some more, or perhaps you’d like to try French toast. Or, you know what? How about all of it? I’ll just go—”
“Wait,” I interrupted, pulling myself to my feet before she could rush out of the room to make me what sounded like a very complicated breakfast.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, studying her carefully as we stood facing each other.
I couldn’t imagine what was causing her to be so hectic when there weren’t actually any guests at the inn.
As much as I’d have enjoyed eating my way through the day, there was too much that needed to be done.
In fact, if everything went to plan, I could go home tomorrow night.
But first Joshua and I had to finish our investigation and make sure things would be all right for Fox’s End once I left.
Lorraine laughed, then choked on a sob, and finally fell back onto my bed with a sigh.
“Oh, everything’s fine. Just hunky-dory.
I have an empty inn, but that of course doesn’t stop the bills from piling sky-high.
Oh, then there’s the tiny little fact that Elyria’s magical council just called an impromptu meeting for later today.
Say it’s to determine if they’re going to take my business license away.
But that’s no big deal. Phffft. I’m totally fine. Just fine.”
I probably would have understood her desperate outburst a bit better if I hadn’t just woken up. The slang I could at least figure out from context, but that wasn’t the part of her revelation that had me concerned. “The magical council?”
“Oh, I keep forgetting that you’re not actually my niece like we tell everyone.
Seems you’ve become very important to me in a very short stretch of time, but you’re little more than a stranger.
Aren’t you?” She shook her head and laughed, unnerving me more and more with each sentence she spoke.
Forget about my going home in time—if we didn’t solve this murder fast, I was afraid Lorraine might not last through the investigation.
When I said nothing in response, she continued, “The magic police. They’re in charge of keeping our existence a secret from the normals.
They also set up and enforce the governing rules for all magic folk around these parts.
In short, they’re a pain in my behind. But usually they’re a dull pain, one that doesn’t bother me a whole awful lot.
They’ve never had a whole meeting devoted to my business before.
The fact they are now can’t be good.” Her brow furrowed with concern, and her whole body shook.
“But, Lorraine,” I reminded her gently, “you didn’t do anything wrong.”
Another sarcastic laugh escaped her. “Well, I guess that’ll depend on who you ask.
Either way you slice it, though, the fact remains.
A human died while under my care, and she died of magical means.
That makes it my problem. If not specifically my fault.
And because of that, the council can absolutely come swooping in and take away everything I’ve ever worked so hard for. ”
She paused as she stared out into the distance, her mind probably going over all of the terrible possibilities. “Oh, I bet you this whole meeting is Gerry’s doing. The little rat couldn’t help the need to take a bite out of the competition.”
He hadn’t seemed all that competitive and vengeful when I’d met him—unlikable, yes, but bad, not exactly. I also didn’t know him as well as Lorraine did, though. The fact that the whole town probably knew about the murder meant any number of residents could’ve reported her.
“We’ve never really talked about your magic before,” I pointed out, hoping my next question wouldn’t come across as rude. “Do you even have the type of abilities that could have caused Karen’s death?”
“Well, let’s see. Right now, we suspect she was poisoned. And what do I do? Oh, right. I’m an herb alchemist.”
“But you didn’t recognize the plant we found in her room. We had to go to Jasmine for that,” I argued.
“Well, of course I didn’t recognize a poisonous plant!
” Lorraine huffed, clearly having been insulted even though I hadn’t intended to upset her.
“I use my herbs to give my cooking something a little extra special. Nothing more. Nothing less. And certainly nothing poisonous. Is it so wrong to want to give my Yankee visitors a divine culinary experience?”
I shook my head and offered a warm smile. “You’ve certainly given me the dining experience of a lifetime.”
She brightened at this. “I’m pleased to hear that. In fact, let’s go see what we can rustle up for your breakfast.”
I followed her out of my room and down into the kitchen. As long as I could keep her mind from dwelling on all the what-ifs, I might be able to keep her sane until that council meeting happened. There was one thing I needed to say first, however.
“Joshua and I cornered the killer last night, but somehow he still managed to get away. Maybe if we’d been a little faster… a little smarter, we could have some answers. I’m sorry.”
Lorraine scoffed as she went and poured herself a fresh cup of coffee.
It was the last in the pot, which spoke volumes as to how much she’d already consumed before even coming to wake me up.
“What do you have to be sorry about? It’s not like you killed Karen yourself.
Everything you’ve done to help has been a blessing, Polly.
Don’t think for a moment I don’t know how lucky I am to have you through this. ”
She leaned back against the counter. Today her beautiful long gray hair seemed extra frizzy, as though it were an embodiment of her stress. But her loose jeans and flowy silk overcoat managed to look more put together than she obviously was.
I had pulled on another one of the dresses she bought me. We only got three and I remembered the total for the three dresses, underthings, and shoes was forty-eight dollars and sixty-three cents. And as much as I’d love to repay her before I left, I wasn’t sure that would be possible.
However, if Jasmine’s portal ritual didn’t work, I’d have plenty of time to figure out a way to make some money to start repaying her infinite kindness. A possibility I wasn’t looking forward to.
“I’m glad I can help. Now, tell me, there must be something more you need. What can I do to make today easier? To make the outcome of the meeting better?”
Lorraine ran a hand through her hair. “Oh, you don’t need to do anything.
If they’ve called a meeting, it means they’ve already decided what they want to do.
The meeting is just to announce what they’ve already decided.
But there’s no use freaking out about it all day.
I might as well get some stuff done while the inn is empty.
Make the best out of a bad situation and pretend I’ll still have a business to come back to tomorrow. ”
I swallowed back my guilt. I’d done everything I could, but that just wasn’t enough. “There has to be something I can help with.”
“Well, actually yes. But it might not be what you’d expect.”
“I’ll do anything. Just tell me what you need, and I’m on it.” My eagerness to help bubbled inside me. Yes, the day had only just begun and already I’d found a new way to be useful. Nothing made me happier than having a purpose, at least not since landing in this strange new place.
“If my magic could be banned tonight, then I want to use all I’ve got today.”
“Cooking?” I asked with a laugh. So we were back at square one.
“No. Magic, and not mine, either.” Her grin widened. “Yours.”