Magic & Misfits (Starry Hollow Witches Book 13) by Annabel Chase

Author:Annabel Chase [Chase, Annabel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Palm Press LLC
Published: 2021-01-06T16:00:00+00:00

Betty Hickok’s condo building was located downtown, not far from the colorful row of houses known as the Painted Pixies. There was a large lobby with two elevator banks and I was surprised by the lack of security in a building of this size. I waltzed straight in and rode the elevator to the seventh floor. The door to Betty’s condo was wide open and all I could see were cardboard boxes.

“Don’t lift two at once,” a throaty voice said. She sounded like Lauren Bacall after one too many cigarettes. “That one has my thimble collection.”

I poked my head through the doorway. “Hello?”

A slender woman emerged from behind a tower of boxes. She wore a Starry Hollow T-shirt with sweatpants and a green bandana over her head. Strawberry blond curls peeked out from behind the fabric.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Hi, I’m looking for Betty Hickok.”

“Are you from the moving company? No one is supposed to be here for an inventory check until tomorrow.”

“I’m not from the moving company. My name is Ember Rose. May I come in?”

“Rose?” she repeated. “As in Rose-Muldoon?”

“Just Rose,” I said.

“Can I ask what this is about?” She seemed more distracted than unfriendly.

“It’ll take more than a minute, I’m afraid,” I said. “I’m sorry to barge in. There was no security downstairs so I came right up.”

“No worries. The landlord warded the whole complex to prevent any supernatural shenanigans and seems to think that takes care of security.” She rolled her eyes.

“Shenanigans?” I queried.

“Magic is prohibited inside the building. I can’t even shift in my own living room. It won’t work. I have to wait until I’m outside.”

“Who is it, Mom?” A muscular man appeared, holding two large boxes. He was well over six feet tall with brown eyes and a mess of sandy-colored hair. He grinned when he saw me. “Whatever it is, the answer is yes.”

His mother swatted his arm. “Mind yourself. She’s a Rose,” Betty whispered. “This is my younger son, Beau.”

Beau set down the boxes next to the others and shook my hand.

“I’m sorry to interrupt. I can come back if you’re too busy to talk,” I said.

Betty regarded the boxes with a tired expression. “It’s time for a break anyway. Come in. I’ll pour us a glass of lime fizz.”

“Where are you moving to?” I asked, crossing the threshold.

“Arizona,” Betty said. “My sister lives out there and we’ve decided to buy a house together. We’re both getting older and think it will be nice to keep each other company now that our husbands have passed.”

“She’s leaving her boys behind,” Beau said.

Betty reached up to ruffle his hair. “You’re grown men. You don’t need your mother anymore.”

“Don’t tell me that,” I said. “I want to believe my daughter will always need me.”

Betty seemed to soften toward me at the mention of a daughter. “Oh, how lucky. I wanted girls. Seems the universe had other plans.”

Beau grimaced. “Here we go.”

Betty opened the fridge and retrieved a glass pitcher. “I had pink clothes picked out when I had Jayce.

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