Chapter
Three
Mercedes had everything packed up and moved from Tallowfield to Harmony Glen within one day. And she was not sad to see Tallowfield go. It was nice to spend a day alone with Pearl and move into her brother Finn’s old room. The best part was being there to send Pearl off to college.
However, now it was time to earn her keep.
Mercedes tried to get Hetty, Pearl’s mom, to not make her a lunch, but Hetty was pretty insistent. She was the kind of witch who always seemed to want to mother people she cared about. Unlike the pureblood, driven, macabre family Mercedes came from. For the first time in ages, Mercedes felt like she could be herself. Pearl was so lucky she had the best family ever, even if her older brother Finbar was a bit grumpy. Although he seemed to have mellowed out since Margaid came into his life.
She’d met them both at the party, and more officially last night when she was moving in. Finbar had been gruff, barely saying anything to her, but Margaid was this redheaded ball of sunshine and happiness. How those two ever got together was beyond her, but Mercedes could see the absolute tenderness, devotion, and love in Finbar’s sea-green eyes when he glanced over at Margaid. That glashtyn was head over heels smitten.
The kind of love she hoped to experience one day.
She’d been looking but had yet to find it.
There had been an inkling of hope while texting Magnus, and that hadn’t turned out the way she expected at all. Her pulse quickened thinking of all the sexting they’d got up to before meeting.
Mer: Favorite snack?
Mag: Snack? Not sure you want me to say.
Mer: I think I do.
Her cheeks heated and she banished those thoughts away. Even though it had been a while since their disastrous first date, it was hard to move on from that hope of something more. She missed their texts. She missed talking with someone who got her.
“You’ll like this, dear,” Hetty said, breaking through her thoughts. “It was Pearl’s favorite lunch. I make the bread myself.”
“You’re so kind to me, Hetty.” Mercedes hugged her. “You’re a treasure.”
“Have a wonderful first day and…” She trailed off, frowning. “Magnus will be fine.”
“You don’t sound so sure.”
Hetty smiled half-heartedly. “I am.”
“Well, from your lips to you-know-who’s ears.” Mercedes headed outside, full of happiness, hopeful but also nervous for her first day of work at the bed-and-breakfast. At least someone was thinking about her, and she had to admit she was a bit apprehensive as she walked through the sleepy streets of Harmony Glen to the old Victorian home on Pleasant Street. It was imposing, this massive mansion. She’d been told it was the old funeral home and it still sort of had that uneasiness to it. Without a doubt, there were still spirits hanging around, though none of them were malevolent.
At least she didn’t get that vibe.
In fact, the messages she was getting from the other side were telling there that those who still lingered in the old funeral home were excited about the prospect of having guests coming to the bed-and-breakfast. She just hoped they weren’t completely chatty and bothered her while she worked, because that had always been a problem for her.
Witches either saw it as a blessing or a curse to be born with the ability to talk to the dead, or the ones that remained behind. Her family would have used it for something bad and dark. So she never told them. Let them think she was a useless witch. That was fine with her.
Mercedes wasn’t sure how she felt about her power. At first, she loved it, especially dating a particularly handsome soldier ghost when she was a younger woman. It was the kind of relationship that didn’t last forever because of crossing through the veil, but back then, she’d only been looking for fun. How many other people could claim they lost their virginity to a ghost? Not many.
However, beyond Elliott, her ghost ex-boyfriend, spirits could be a bit demanding and a wee bit intrusive at times.
That was the last thing she needed, especially since she was going to have to keep her wits about her to deal with Magnus, who she knew was not exactly thrilled about her working there.
Hopefully, Sven had smoothed things over.
Mercedes stopped in front of the impressive home on Pleasant Street, took a deep breath, and quickly checked to make sure her hair was still neatly braided before she headed up to the front door.
Come on. You’ve got this. You’re not usually this nervous.
With sweaty palms and her heart racing, she knocked on the door, holding her breath as she waited.
Sven greeted her, opening the massive wooden front door. “Welcome to Room with a Tomb dead-and-breakfast. Are you excited?”