“Yes, it’s quite remarkable.” Brandon seemed to catch his stride as they moved into the living room to join Abigail and Grans at the table.
“I’ll go get more cups. We have Christmas Bell and Stocking cookies on the table. Feel free to take one or more.” Abigail stood and headed to the kitchen, but she wasn’t gone long. When she came back, she poured the coffee and handed a cup to both. “Isn’t it amazing?”
Brandon stopped looking around, then realized Abigail was talking about Mia, not the remodel. “Oh, yes, we’re all so proud. It’s been years since an Idaho-born witch tested out at this level.”
“Technically Mia’s not an Idaho-born witch,” Grans remarked as she broke open a cookie.
“What are you talking about, Grans? I was born in Boise.” Mia wondered what game her grandmother was playing with the coven leadership.
“No, you were born in Ontario, Oregon. Your dad had gone on a job interview that didn’t pan out, but he didn’t want to leave your mom alone, so she rode along. What she thought was back pain turned into a two-week-early birth. I had to drive to pick your mom and you up because your dad had to be at work the next Monday. It was quite the mess. But you were worth it.”
“I’ve never heard that story before.” Mia sipped her coffee. “But Brandon and Sabrina didn’t come over this morning to talk about my less-than-illustrious birth. What’s going on with Suzanne Parker’s death? Have you heard anything?”
The look on their faces told Mia they hadn’t thought she would bring it up.
Brandon shook his head. “Sorry, no. The only thing I’ve heard is what’s been on television. The police, of course, wouldn’t know she was part of our organization. I’m sure the National Office has been notified, though. So sad for her to die in such a lovely spot. I cross-country ski often and that trail is stunning.”
“I thought the National Office banned their employees from taking in the scenery or vacation spots when they were on a case,” Abigail said as she took another cookie.
“Oh, well, yes, but you know witches. You can’t tell us what to do. We’re always going off on some broomstick or other.” He laughed at his joke, but no one else did. “Broomstick? Like a tangent?”
“They are not the same thing at all.” Sabrina rolled her eyes and turned to Mia. “The reason we’re here is to ask you again to reconsider joining the coven. We need people like you and with your power. The payments for being a level five are only the beginning. You’ll also receive payment for your participation in monthly events, as well as a salary if you take on a leadership role. And, of course, all your travel expenses would be covered. You’d have your own credit card that the National Office pays in full each month. And those are only the financial benefits. You’d be invited to specialized training in any field of study you want to take on. All we ask is that you sign your name on our coven rolls. We’ll do the ceremony here, of course, and pay you for the use of the academy and the food.”
“That’s a tempting offer, but as I told you at Halloween, I’m still thinking about my membership. It’s been crazy at work with the holidays, and I just need some time to make this decision. Having to retest on such short notice was stressful.” Mia looked up from her coffee. “Do we know who complained to the National Office about my original test? I bet they feel stupid now.”
“Complaints about another witch don’t go through our local leadership,” Brandon lied smoothly. Mia could tell it was a lie because Sabrina’s jaw almost hit the table.
He stood and smiled, jerking Sabrina to stand with him. “Well, we don’t want to take up any more of your time, especially when we barged in so early. Thank youfor the coffee and for considering our request. I’m sure we’ll see you around town.”
After they left, Mia locked the door and went back to the table. “Thoughts?”
“Sabrina knows who complained, or she knows that Brandon does. He got her out of here before she could contradict him.” Grans glanced at her watch. “I’ve got some potions to work on. Can I use your lab?”
“Of course. Do you think I should go to work?” Mia looked at Abigail and Grans.
“Stay home today. If nothing else happens, you can go in tomorrow. I need to refresh your protection spell. It took a beating during your testing.” Grans met Abigail’s gaze, and Mia saw a thought pass between them. She wasn’t going to ask.
“Sounds good. I’m going up to fill in the others and plan my day. I need to check in with the Lodge, anyway. I’ve got a holiday party on Friday that I need to make sure is still on schedule.” She stretched as she stood. “Then I might read a book that doesn’t have anything to do with learning anything. A beach read in December.”
“Everything has to do with learning. It just depends on what you need to learn,” her grandmother said as she headed to the elevator.
As Abigail and Mia headed up to the apartment, Mia stopped Abigail on the stairs at the second-floor landing. “She’s okay, right? Just her arthritis?”
“From what she’s told me, Robert’s giving her a hard time about Dorian being back in her life. She loved him, and it about killed her when she lost him. She made the golem so he’d leave Mr. Darcy and live a fulllife somewhere else. And yet he’s back, digging in that old wound. I don’t know what she’s going to do. Her heart is ripped in two.” Abigail rubbed Mia’s back. “But you’re not the only one who’s there for your grandmother. She has a lot of friends, including me. We’ll get her through this.”
As they finished the climb to the apartment, Mia almost believed Abigail’s words were true.
The apartment was quiet just a few minutes later. Grans was in the potions lab. Damien was on the same floor, working with his remodel crew. Mia had met with Nathan Boyle, and he’d presented a plan not only to update Damien’s rooms into an apartment but also to change several of the second-floor rooms to more of a multipurpose use.
Mia told him what she wanted to do with a cooking school and gave him an idea of what she thought it might look like. He had promised to bring her plans in a few weeks.
Depending on what the allowance from the coven added up to, the funds might help her fix the place up and put away money so she could just run Mia’s Morsels. She needed to take it back from Abigail before she became too comfortable with running the company.
Mia had just curled up with a book and some hot cocoa when something hit the wall in the living room. Technically it hit the wall on the other side, in the library.
The ghosts had something to tell her.
She set down the novel with a sigh, slipping the bookmark back inside, then grabbed the keys to the library off the key rack by the door. Finn liked using the library, but Mia still kept it locked. Finn could come and get the key any time, but at least when she did, Mia knew she was in there. She could make sure the girl got out.