Spirited Blend by Kennedy Layne

Author:Kennedy Layne [Layne, Kennedy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Paranormal, Cozy, Mystery, Fiction
ISBN: 9781943420872
Publisher: Kennedy Layne Publishing
Published: 2019-10-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

I spent some of the morning decorating two of the high-top tables that I would use for the big trick or treat extravaganza tonight. One had a long, dark purple tablecloth with a black cat drinking tea while wearing a witch’s hat. I’d also managed to stitch a string of orange lights around the bottom hem for an added effect. This particular table would be used for my spiced pumpkin samples of hot tea for the adults wanting a bit of a warmup while their children went shop to shop collecting mounds of sugar to rot their teeth.

Speaking of something sweet, I’d decorated the second table with a black cloth, white spider webs, and greenish glowing spiders for the candy display. I had a matching large porcelain bowl to hold all the sugary, sweet candies that the little ones would be craving this very night.

“Perfect, Raven! Just perfect,” Beetle exclaimed after he’d reappeared from the back room. His habit of repeating words was very endearing. “You’ve outdone yourself.”

I’d yet to set the tables outside, keeping them just inside the door for easy reach, but at least the trimming had been done. I had an outdoor outlet next to the entrance that I could use to power my tea kettle and the decorations on my tables. All I had left to do was to go home between closing and when trick or treating began in order to change into my witch’s outfit, which freed me up to begin the list of known magical items that could possibly be responsible for the residents seeing their long-lost dead loved ones. I could then compare my list to an inventory of the items sold by the antique store over the past few months with the physical descriptions listed on the sales receipts.

“Thank you, Beetle.”

I was pretty proud of myself for how the displays had turned out, usually not one to go too overboard. Being in a small town like this brought out a bit of a competitive domestic expression in me that I hadn’t even known existed, and I was reveling in the close-knit community that I didn’t have living in the big city.

Glancing at the big clock on the wall behind the counter, I realized that it was already going on eleven-thirty in the morning. Beetle continued to restock the seasonal flavors that were the biggest sellers today, not looking the least bit concerned that my mother had left the shop an hour ago and hadn’t returned since.

“Where did Mom say she was going again?” I asked, hoping to trip up Beetle’s answer. I began cleaning up the fabric glue and extra spiders that I could save for next year. “I was happy to hear that she’s staying for my birthday celebration at the pub.”

“Regina walked down to the bakery to pick us up some bear claws,” Beetle said without hesitation. It was the exact excuse she’d given me when she’d left the shop, only she’d made a right out of the tea shop instead of strolling in the other direction.

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