Page 44 of Seven Secret Spellcasters (Kitchen Witch Mysteries #7)

M ia started another batch of cheesecake bites, this recipe with a huckleberry topping, while she thought about Mother Adams’s answer.

She had known what Mia was implying, so somehow, she’d known about Christina’s magical heritage.

As long as she wasn’t a baby whom Abigail had given up, or any of her or Thomas’s siblings, it wasn’t an issue with her marrying Levi.

Besides, Abigail knew about Christina’s heritage. Mia thought she might have suspected a few years ago now, looking at the way she treated Levi’s girlfriend. Abigail had brought both Mia and Christina in as more than her son’s girlfriends. She already treated them like family.

Mia wondered if any of Trent’s past girlfriends had gotten Abigail’s seal of approval that quickly. Moving in together would even up the ante as far as being part of the Majors family. She didn’t like Steve, but right now, Trent didn’t either. Thomas could go hot or cold depending on the day.

She guessed his family was like any other.

Tired of trying to see into her future, she focused instead on Alfred Howard. She needed to follow up on the three names she had gotten from the reservation desk. But if he’d come in early, why not adjust his reservation? Why use an alias?

That was if he even came in early. The thing was, magical sensors usually were spot-on.

They didn’t have human intervention to count or not count an arrival.

That’s why the coven had set them up and had someone who was not on the board monitor and report on who entered the area. It kept everyone honest.

Assuming that Marsha’s count was right, then why did Alfred Howard come into town on Tuesday undercover?

“I can’t believe you’re here cooking.” Abigail came through the back door with a few empty totes in her hands. “I told Finn we needed to get unloaded and start baking, and yet here you are, making light work of the event.”

Mia held up Abigail’s prep list. “You left this out on the table, so I started when I got home. I wanted to get away from a few people.”

Abigail set the totes by the sink. “Okay, I’ll guess Mother Adams and Blake.”

“Close, Mother Adams, Blake, and Jeani.” Mia turned the mixer off and went to the fridge. “She was acting strange at the Halloween party.”

“Mia, she was drunk at the Halloween party. Don’t worry about her, she was never really a part of Trent’s life.

I think she might have had a hand in why he decided to hand off his magic.

He hated the idea that his entire life including who he was to marry was being planned for him by the coven.

Jeani’s nice, but she’s not you.” Abigail hugged Mia, then turned to see Finn coming in.

“Finn, can you finish unloading, then clean the van’s shelves?

Lock it up when you’re done and bring in the keys. I’m going to start baking cakes.”

“Okay. Oh, hi, Mia. We had a lot of deliveries today, and almost everyone wanted us to tell you hi.” Finn put the totes by the ones Abigail had brought in. They’d wash them and then put them away for next week’s deliveries.

Mia met Abigail’s gaze, shrugging.

“You’re a celebrity, my dear. Don’t worry, it will go away.” Abigail patted her shoulder, then went to wash her hands and put on an apron.

“What if it doesn’t?” Mia asked after Finn had gone back outside.

Abigail grabbed a container of sugar from the cabinet and set it on her worktable. “Then we’ll deal with that when it happens. Don’t borrow tomorrow’s problems for today.”

And with that, she turned up the music, and they spent the rest of the day cooking.

At six, Trent poked his head around the kitchen door. “Find a stopping point,” he said as he looked around at the women baking. “We’ve got pizza.”

Mia scratched off an item on Abigail’s list. She’d put the last pan of double-chocolate brownies in the oven.

They needed thirty minutes to bake, then she’d let it cool until tomorrow, when she’d cut them into mini squares and put a chocolate-covered cherry on top of each.

A local chocolate shop made them in their store on Main Street, and they were amazing.

She grabbed all of her dirty bowls and set them in the sink. “I’m ready to eat. I’ll need to come back and get the brownies out of the oven and clean up, but I’m starving.”

Finn was cleaning her station. She’d finished her cookies, and Abigail had stopped her from starting to work on the hot appetizers. “I’m good. I can help tonight if you want. I’m not working at the Lodge until Thursday.”

Abigail collected all their prep sheets. “If we put in another hour after pizza, I think we’ll be in good shape for tomorrow.”

Mia loved Abigail’s organizational process. At first, her changes had bugged her. It was Mia’s Morsels, right? But she had to admit, things ran smoother with Abigail at the helm.

“Finn and I will clean up, and you can do your prep sheet work,” Mia said as they walked out to the reception area, which smelled like pepperoni, tomato sauce, cheese, and fresh bread. There was nothing better than the smell of pizza when you were hungry.

She grabbed a plate and put three slices on it. Trent tossed her a bottle of water, and she sat down with a groan. “You guys are the best.”

Christina dabbed at her eyes.

“Now you’ve done it.” Levi handed her a box of tissues. “My girl has been crying about leaving Magic Springs all day. She’s a wreck.”

Mia took a bite of the pizza and perked up. She’d forgotten to eat lunch. “Your mother thinks I’ll be heartbroken with you out of the boonies. She’s sure you’re going to love Portland much more than Magic Springs.”

“Uh-oh. You had a run-in with Mom today? That must have been when I got the ton of texts from her. I ignored them. She’s not ruining my mood.

I want to celebrate getting engaged to my knight in shining armor without her digging at every choice I made for the party.

Tell me that Jeani did a good job. I asked Mom to hire her for the Boise event. ”

“She did an excellent job,” Mia said between bites. “You’re going to love it. And don’t ask, because I’m not telling you what it looks like. I didn’t even take pictures, but I wanted to. Even your mom was impressed.”

Trent looked over at Mia but didn’t say anything. It was like the guy could read her mind. Well, he could, but she thought she’d blocked him out. He knew she’d been concerned about Jeani and that she didn’t like Mother Adams. As a result, he knew she’d had a stressful afternoon.

“How’s the cooking going? Are you going to need help tomorrow?” Christina asked. “I’ve got a spa day planned with Mom and Jessica, but if you need me in the kitchen, I’ll dump them.”

“You will not.” Abigail shook her head. “Like I told you this morning, you’re not needed. Go have a massage and a facial and get those nails done. You look practically homeless.”

Finn burst into giggles. There was no way Christina looked anything but polished and perfect.

“Oh, don’t you laugh, missy. I have a slot for you at the hair salon at five.

All of you are expected there at that time.

Finn, I left an outfit in your bedroom. Dress, shoes, and the necessary underthings.

I hope you like it.” Christina grabbed another slice of pizza.

“Although, if I don’t stop eating like this, I’m not going to fit into my gown. And it’s designer.”

Mia was wearing another one of Christina’s castoffs.

Before she packed for Portland, she had brought several dresses out of her storage room on the second floor.

Mother Adams had told Christina to get her bedroom cleared out when it became clear she wasn’t coming home to live.

So Mia had let her put her furniture and the ton of boxes filled with clothes and shoes in an empty classroom.

There was still stuff there, but Mia wasn’t going to make Christina pack up everything. She wanted her friend to know she always had a home here in Magic Springs, just in case.

Mia grabbed a fourth slice and ate it a little slower. “Christina, you look amazing. The dress is going to fit like a glove. You have a second one for Friday night?”

“Of course, and so do you and Finn. Thanks for ruining the surprise.” Christina smiled as Finn almost dropped her slice of pizza.

“I get to come on Friday? But I don’t have a car. I work at the Lodge that night.” Finn set the slice on the plate.

“I already talked to James, and you can ride with me and Trent. We’re driving back after the party.”

Trent held up his hand. “Mia always volunteers me to be the designated driver,” he grumbled.

“No need for you kids to come back, Thomas and I will be coming back. Finn can ride with us,” Abigail announced. “Besides, I reserved both couples a room at the Owyhee. We’ll see you Saturday midday. You need to be back for Mary Alice’s party.”

Mia winced. She didn’t want to stay in Boise, especially not at the hotel where she used to work with Isaac, but giving Finn a ride home had been her only excuse. Christina was watching, so she smiled at Abigail. “Oh, what a surprise. Thank you so much.”

After everyone had left and the kitchen was cleaned up, Trent walked her upstairs.

He’d sent Cerby home with Christina and Levi.

Buddy would follow them back to the house.

The two were inseparable. Finn had disappeared into her bedroom as soon as the kitchen was closed up, and Mia had heard the screams of joy when she’d found Christina’s gifts.

“Everyone seemed like they were having fun tonight. How has it been having Levi and Christina staying with you?” Mia asked as she unlocked the apartment door.

Mr. Darcy looked up from where he’d been sleeping and yawned.

But when he saw they were without Cerby, he laid his head down and went back to sleep.

“Interesting. Mostly quiet, but when she starts talking, she doesn’t stop. They’re planning a cruise to Alaska next summer and want us to come along.” He sat on the couch, apparently not ready to leave her yet.