Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (10 page)

‘People?’ I said.

‘I think it’s the Housewives’ Guild,’ she whispered, even though there was no one around to hear her. ‘Millicent Fry and her cronies.’

‘The one with the hat?’ I was whispering too.

Nell nodded. She pushed her sleeves up and I caught a glimpse of some silvery white scars on her forearms. She saw me look and pulled her jumper down again.

‘I saw Millicent snogging the face off her husband a few weeks ago,’ she said. ‘It was disgusting. And like completely not what she does. I reckon Suky totally had a hand in that.’

I gulped, not sure whether to fess up on Suky’s behalf.

‘Even if Suky didn’t make Millicent fruity, she’s definitely involved,’ Nell continued. ‘She loves a drama. Other people’s misfortunes are her lifeblood.’

I raised my eyebrows. That sounded a bit over the top to me.

‘I know her daughter, Imogen,’ Nell explained.

‘Are you friends?’

‘Have you seen
Mean Girls
?’

‘Ah,’ I understood. ‘Is Imogen one of the Plastics at your school?’

‘Totally,’ Nell said. ‘She’s poisonous. And I reckon her mum is just as bad.’

‘Maybe,’ I said. I made a mental note to watch out for this Millicent and to see if I could find out anything about the Housewives’ Guild. Could those harmless middle-aged women really be the cause of the café’s troubles?

Funnily enough, after such a gloomy chat with Nell, the café got a bit busier. There were a
few groups of walkers wanting lunch, along with some tourists and two elderly women who told me they were on a painting holiday. I told them all about Eva’s husband, Allan, and proudly sent them off in the direction of his studio to have a look at his work.

Chapter 17

Later in the afternoon, the bell jingled and Brent came in.

He strode up to the counter and flashed me his blinding smile.

‘Esme!’ he said. ‘I was hoping to see you – how is Suky? Will she be needing a lift tomorrow?’

Like before, his over-exuberance made me feel sulky and sullen, but I knew he was doing us a big favour, so I plastered a smile on.

‘Her cold isn’t as bad as we thought,’ I said. ‘So she should be fine to go again tomorrow – if you don’t mind.’

Nell appeared at my elbow, her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. I looked at her suspiciously. Did she have a crush on the handsome Yank?

‘That’s very kind of you,’ she said. ‘Isn’t it kind of him, Esme?’

‘It’s very kind,’ I said, worrying I was going to sound sarcastic when I really didn’t mean to be. ‘He’s a very nice man.’

Brent flashed me his smile again.

‘Drop me a text later and let me know when you want me to come get you. Will it be you going with her again?’

‘It will be, actually,’ I said, not sure if that was good or bad.

‘Great,’ Brent said. ‘I was hoping you’d say that.’

We looked at each other awkwardly for a moment.

‘Well, Esme McLeod, I have some work to do,’ he said. ‘Could I trouble you for a herbal tea?’ He pronounced it ‘urbal’.

‘Cake?’ said Nell.

‘I shouldn’t,’ he said. ‘But I will. One of those flapjacks, please.’

He took the plate and went to sit by the window where he got a laptop out of his bag and was soon deep in concentration.

‘He is gorgeous!’ Nell hissed at me as I dumped a chamomile teabag in a pot. ‘He makes
me go a bit funny.’ She gazed adoringly at Brent, who was oblivious to her attention, and typing fast, his fingers flying across the keys.

‘He likes you,’ she said.

I put the pot on a tray and added a mug.

‘No he doesn’t,’ I said. I gave her the tray. ‘You serve him.’

Nell looked aghast at the suggestion.

‘Nooooo,’ she squealed, shoving the tray back at me. ‘I can’t. I’m too flustered. I’ll drop something.’

With an over-exaggerated sigh I took the tray.

‘OK then,’ I said. ‘But you’re missing your chance here.’

Nell laughed and took up position at the end of the counter where she could watch Brent without worrying he might talk to her. I went over to the window and put the tray down on Brent’s table.

He glanced up at me.

‘What’s upstairs?’ he said.

Surprised by his question, I frowned in confusion.

‘Oh sorry,’ he said. ‘I was just wondering. From outside you can see there are windows but there are no stairs in here.’

‘Oh,’ I said, understanding what he meant. ‘There’s a staircase out the back. It’s just junk up there really. Great views across the loch, though.’

He nodded.

‘Must be,’ he said. ‘Must be.’

He bowed his head to his computer again and I crept away.

Brent stayed about an hour, then left with yet another beaming smile telling me he couldn’t wait to see Suky and me tomorrow. By the time he went home, there were no customers left, giving me plenty of time to brood over Jamie and how horrible things had been. Eventually, Mum called.

‘Harry’s on her way,’ she said. ‘Shut up early and come home – we’ll have a nice family dinner.’

Brilliant. What a perfect ending to a perfect day. But I couldn’t say no, so Nell and I
cleaned up what little mess there was, switched off the lights and locked up. Then together we walked up the path towards town.

As we approached the road where we’d go our separate ways, Nell clutched my arm.

‘There’s Millicent,’ she said. ‘With Imogen and her brother Bradley.’

I looked over. Millicent was standing at the bus stop – still wearing her tartan hat – with two beautiful blonde teenagers.

‘Are they twins?’ I asked Nell, who was trying very hard to hide behind me.

‘Yep,’ she said. ‘Twice as evil as normal people.’

Given my own mother was a twin, I thought that was a bit unfair, but I didn’t disagree. As we watched, the bus drew up and the twins got on. Millicent waved them off, then began walking towards us.

‘Hello, lassies,’ she said in a cut-glass Home Counties English accent. I stifled a giggle.

‘Hello, Mrs Fry,’ Nell said. ‘This is Esme McLeod.’

‘Och, Esme!’ Millicent said. ‘I’ve heard a lot about you.’

‘And I you,’ I said politely.

‘You must be thrilled to be home,’ she said, rolling her Rs like Mrs Doubtfire. ‘You must miss the Old Country when you’re not here.’

‘Scotland,’ Nell said, helpfully. ‘She means Scotland.’

‘Erm,’ I said. ‘I like London.’

‘But it’s not a patch on here, though, eh?’ She took a deep breath. ‘The air. The scenery. I look on Scotland as my homeland now.’

‘I can see that,’ I said, not sure what to make of her.

‘Now tell me,’ she said companionably. ‘How is Suky doing?’

‘She’s OK,’ I said.

I thought a shadow crossed her face, though it could have just been the brim of her tam o shanter.

‘Give her my love,’ she sang. ‘Awfully nice to meet you, Esme.’

I watched her bustle away towards the B&B then Nell and I collapsed in giggles.

‘She seems harmless,’ I said, unable to think that anyone in a hat like that could be a threat.

Nell snorted. ‘That’s what she wants you to think,’ she said. ‘Just don’t be fooled.’

I wasn’t sure, but I promised Nell I’d keep an eye on her and we said goodnight.

Chapter 18

Wearily I made my way up the hill wondering if Harry was home yet. I had cake crumbs in my hair and coffee down my shirt, and I wanted a chance to get myself together before I saw her. But of course I didn’t get the chance. As I let myself in the front door I heard a burst of laughter from the kitchen. Harry was obviously home and being very entertaining.

I paused at the bottom of the stairs, wondering if I could sneak up and grab a shower before anyone realised I was there. I put my foot on the bottom step.

‘Ez,’ Harry called from the kitchen. Damn her and her aura reading – she’d have known I was there from the second I’d opened the door. ‘Come and have a drink.’

I glanced in the hall mirror, noting my shiny face and messy hair with dismay, then dived into my bag for my hairbrush. Quickly I pulled it through my curls before twisting them up out of the way. I daubed on some lip gloss and pulled Mum’s old jumper off over my head to reveal a fitted T-shirt I’d been wearing as a vest. Slightly better.

I pushed open the kitchen door. Harry was there, leaning against the counter with a glass of wine in her hand. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes a bit too bright. I wondered if she’d been crying – it looked like she might have been, though I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen my cousin shed a tear.

‘Hi, Harry,’ I said. I blew her a kiss from where I stood – easier than giving her one for real, then I hugged Suky, who was sitting at the table drinking fizzy water next to Mum who was drinking the same wine as Harry.

‘You look a bit better,’ I said to Suky. ‘How’s the cold?’

‘Not bad at all,’ she said. ‘Dr B says I can go back to radiotherapy tomorrow – it’s all arranged.’

I shuddered at the mention of Jamie, but tried not to show my discomfort.

‘I’ll text Brent then,’ I said, sitting down too and pulling my phone out of my pocket. Quickly I sent the message, as Eva and Allan piled through the back door waving another bottle of wine.

‘Hello, chuck,’ Eva said, folding Harry into a huge hug. Behind her back, Allan waved the wine bottle at me.

‘Fancy a glass, Ez?’

‘Yes please,’ I said, pushing my chair back.

‘Don’t get up,’ Mum said. ‘You’ve been on your feet all day.’ She waved her hand and the cupboard door flew open and out floated three glasses. One landed in front of me, the others in front of Allan and the chair where Eva was about to sit. Then the cork popped out of the bottle and neatly, the bottle tipped and poured itself into our glasses.

‘Cheers,’ said Eva. She clinked her glass against mine.

‘Cheers,’ I said, far less cheerily.

Harry sat down next to me.

‘Cheer up, misery guts,’ she said. ‘Tell us about this Brent.’

I filled her in on how Suky and I had met him – leaving out the bit about my hopeless attempt at mending the car – and told her he seemed nice, if a bit annoying.

‘He could be the man for you,’ Harry said, winking at me. ‘Sounds perfect.’

I made a face at her.

‘Where’s Natalie?’ I said, suddenly realising Harry’s girlfriend wasn’t part of our family gathering.

‘In America,’ Harry said. ‘She’s got some family stuff on.’

Her face was unreadable but I got the definite impression she didn’t want to talk about Nat. That was weird. They’d been together since Harry did her Masters in the States years ago and, though Natalie wasn’t a witch herself, she was a regular fixture at McLeod family events. More regular than me, in fact.

Sensing an atmosphere, Mum clapped her hands.

‘Who’s hungry?’ she said. Suky made a face – she’d lost her appetite since starting treatment – but Eva, Harry and Allan all agreed they were starving.

‘Shall we get a carry-out?’ I asked. ‘I saw some menus by the front door. Indian? Chinese?’

Harry laughed.

‘Bless you, Ez,’ she said. ‘We can do better than that.’ She waggled her fingers and silvery sparks flew round the kitchen. Even her colours were better than mine, I thought glumly. Everyone’s colours were better than mine actually – my pink sparks were twee and hard to disguise. Harry and Suky’s silvery shimmers could be passed off as a heat haze, Mum’s cloudy grey sparkles often looked like a trick of the light, and Eva’s earthy brown glitter was simply beautiful.

Suddenly the table was full of food – curries smelling delicious, warm scented naans and crispy poppadoms.

‘Well done, Harry,’ Eva cried, pointing over her head with a flourish and making plates appear in front of everyone. There was a real celebratory atmosphere even though the reason we were all together – the fact that Suky had cancer – was not happy and I was like the spectre at the feast. I just couldn’t loosen up enough to enjoy myself properly. I was worried about Jamie and the empty tables in the café, though thanks to Eva and Allen’s presence I felt less awkward around Mum and Harry.

‘I am stuffed,’ said Harry a while later, pushing her plate away. She’d polished off an enormous amount of curry, despite her skinny frame. I didn’t know where she’d put it.

‘Are you OK, Ez?’ Mum said. I had eaten barely anything, pushing my chicken tikka round my plate.

‘Fine,’ I said. ‘I’m just tired.’

Harry looked at me sharply and I pushed all thoughts of Jamie out of my head. I didn’t want her poking around in my thoughts uninvited.

‘How’s the café?’ she said instead. ‘Are you doing OK with your magic?’

‘Not bad,’ I said. ‘I’m rusty though. I’ve been trying to read my spell book but I keep falling asleep.’

Harry waggled her fingers over the dishes and they all rose from the table and stacked themselves in the dishwasher.

Then she leaned across the table and took my hand.

‘I need a project,’ she said. ‘Let me give you a refresher.’

‘Oh no,’ I said. ‘No, no, no.’ The one thing worse than doing magic was doing it under Harry’s guidance.

‘It’s not a bad idea,’ Suky said. ‘It will be nice for you two to spend some time together.’

‘No,’ I said again. I waggled my own fingers in the direction of the wine bottle. It flew across the table and poured a neat, wineglass-amount of liquid right next to where my glass actually was.

As one, Harry, Mum, Suky and Eva looked at the puddle of wine on the table then up at me.

‘Go on,’ Harry said. ‘Please.’

I was wavering. It was certainly true that I needed help with my magic. But if Harry was back then she could be the Third.

‘I’ve got some stuff going on,’ Harry said, her bottom lip quivering. ‘Helping you would really take my mind of it all.’

I looked at her suspiciously, knowing from bitter experience of childhood battles that she could cry on demand, but Mum, Suky and Eva all melted.

‘Go on,’ Mum said. ‘You could do with a bit of a refresher.’

‘Where would we do it?’ I said. ‘There’s not enough room in the house. Magic lessons – especially where I was concerned – really needed space.’