Mr. O'Grady's Magic Box (13 page)

"Do you feel the energy?" Mr. O'Grady asked
with a hopeful gleam in his eyes.

The woman shook her head. "No. Nothing."

Mr. O'Grady sighed. "Open the box,
lass."

She opened it and saw her note sitting there
neatly folded into a tiny square. She lifted the note and the paper
crumbled into dust.

Aubrey leaned forward, her eyes widening as
the particles drifted away. Her gaze riveted to Mr. O'Grady who
shook his head in dismay.

"I'm sorry, lass. The faeries perhaps
believe you can find your soul mate by yourself. Or… perhaps you
have found him already and are afraid to admit it. Aye?"

Chloe chewed on her lower lip then nodded.
"Trip didn't want me to come here tonight."

"Trip?" Aubrey couldn't help but wonder who
he was.

Chloe looked at her. "My boyfriend. He asked
me to marry him, but what if he's not the one? I had to be
sure."

"Do you love him?" Mr. O'Grady asked.

The woman sighed then chuckled. "Yeah, I
do."

The crowd clapped as if Chloe had her wish
granted after all. Aubrey supposed in way she had.

Once Chloe returned to her seat, another
name was chosen. Aubrey had to say she was impressed with how the
paper would flutter into dust. Even if the guests didn't get their
wish, they had an impressive magic trick to talk about with their
friends.

She thought the night would prove a bust,
but then Tim Sorenson from Texas came forward. He looked to be in
his early thirties, a little over weight, thinning hair and brown
eyes fringed with dark lashes. He made the wish. A few seconds
later, he jumped as if startled by something.

"I felt a jolt."

She stood up straighter. It's what she had
felt, too. She frowned. Tim Sorenson from Texas wouldn't know
that.

"And… bells, I think?" He sounded
unsure.

"Open the box," Mr. O'Grady told him.

Tim looked at the empty box and turned to
show the others seated at the tables that his note was indeed gone.
All at once, clapping ensued, soft at first then louder until
everyone slapped his or her palms together in unison.

Ian stepped closer to her and whispered.
"Look how pleased they look."

Her gaze swept over the people who traveled
to the inn to be a part of the Spring Enchantment. They were
smiling, genuinely happy.

"Magic comes in many forms, don't you
agree?" Ian's voice, a seductive octave like a caress, whispered
over her, coaxing her to believe.

Chapter Twenty-Three

In the morning, Aubrey dressed and headed
downstairs to the kitchen to meet with Mr. O'Grady and go over a
few more details about the box. The inn was booked, but it couldn't
accommodate everyone who attended last night's event. The inn had a
total of ten rooms, nine were available for the patrons and one
room was for the family to use at their leisure.

Aubrey peeked her head in the kitchen,
pleased to find Mr. O'Grady there. If her senses didn't deceive
her, he'd brewed a fresh pot of coffee. Bless the man.

He turned and gave her a warm smile,
transforming his wrinkled face into the vibrant and charming man he
must have been in his youth. "Miss Jules, how are you doing this
fine morning?"

"I'm doing well, thank you." She wondered
how the man had so much energy. The Spring Enchantment ran late,
but here he stood in the kitchen ready to create meals for the day.
"I hope this is a good time to chat."

"Sure, sure, come in, lass." He turned
toward the counter and poured her a cup of coffee. The fresh
roasted wafted toward her like a sweet temptation she could not
refuse. "There's cream and sugar on the center counter, if it's to
your taste." He poured another cup of the brew for himself, taking
a sip of the dark liquid in its pure form. "I know you be wanting
to chat, but how'd you like to help me prepare blueberry muffins
while you ask your questions?"

She looked over the rim of her coffee cup
and cringed. "I'm not much of a cook. You might end up with
blueberry stones."

He chuckled and waved a hand at her,
dismissing her worries. "No matter. I'll show you. There's really
nothing to it." He placed his coffee mug down on the counter and
went about opening cupboards and pulling out bowls. Next, he opened
the large walk-in pantry looking for the flour and other
ingredients.

The kitchen had plenty of space to bake with
the center counter the focal point of the room. A table for four
stood at one end of the room and the double oven on the other next
to the economy-size refrigerator.

Mr. O'Grady deposited the items on the
counter and looked at her, tapping his chin with his forefinger as
he gave her a once over. He shook his head and clicked his tongue.
"We don't want to go and mess up that pretty shirt of yours. No, it
wouldn't do at all." He walked over to the counter and opened the
bottom drawer.

She wore a floral T-shirt of blue roses and
gold. Nothing special. She was about to tell him so when he handed
her an apron embroidered with shamrocks.

"That should do." He nodded, making the
decision for her.

"Thanks." It was a full-length apron and she
slipped it over her head, tying the skirt strings around her waist.
It looked a little girly for Mr. O'Grady. Her fingers slid over the
shamrock, admiring the intricate detail.

"My wife stitched the apron herself."

"It's lovely."

"She was right talented with her hands, my
Mary." For a moment a faraway look entered his gaze, lost in the
memory of his wife.

Ian mentioned his grandmother to Aubrey. She
passed away only a year before his parent's accident.

Mr. O'Grady met her gaze then. The twinkle
was back as he rubbed his hands together. "Now, to begin." He
placed a bowl in front of her. We'll start with sifting the flour,
shall we?"

He showed her how it was done then she gave
it a try. While she followed his instructions, she asked the
questions. "When did you realize the box held magic? I don't mean
the stories your grandfather told you. When did the first person
walk into your inn and you handed the box to him or her for a
wish?"

"That would be the year I turned eighteen.
"Sally Daniels made a wish. She told me she never had the courage
to speak to the man who lived in the apartment next to her."

"Don't tell me the neighbor showed up at
your inn."

"Oh no, but when the young lass returned
home, her neighbor had locked himself out of his apartment. If I
remember right, Ted Barkley was his name. They didn't have those
fancy cell phones you young'uns use today. Ted had to use his legs
and made haste to the hardwood store where the locksmith worked."
As Mr. O'Grady talked, he placed pastel colored cupcake wrappers in
the muffin pan and she stirred the ingredients in the bowl. "Ted
was told the locksmith would come by in an hour. Ted went back to
the apartment building, planning on sitting in the lobby to wait
for him. He arrived at the same time Sally did, and her with an arm
full of groceries, wouldn't you know. Ted being a gentleman, held
open the door and sparked a conversation with her, the first of
many I was told. They're both gone, I'm afraid, but they were
married for over forty years."

Aubrey wondered how many people had made a
wish. Last night, out of the fifty or so people, only one possibly
would have his wish granted. Loretta contacted a few of the couples
from the previous years, but the story Mr. O'Grady told her
happened decades ago. "Just how many people have held the magic box
and called you later to let you know their wish had been
granted?"

He handed her the fresh blueberries and she
poured them into the mix and continued to stir.

"How many? Hmm? I couldn't say exactly.
Before we held the Spring Enchantment, the box attracted the ones
in need and there be quite a few who have walked through the front
door of the inn. I started to keep track after a while, curiosity
getting the better of me. You being a reporter, you probably know a
thing or two about that, aye?" He chuckled.

She gave him a knowing smile. "It can't be
helped."

"I suppose not." His eyes twinkled with
amusement. "I've kept a book. I had the wisher jot down what it was
they hoped for. Only the ones the faeries saw fit to take their
notes of course."

"Of course."

"If it came true, they'd ring me and let me
know."

Aubrey frowned as she digested this. "Not
everyone's note disappears," she said more in thought.

"Well, of course not. Only the ones
deserving of the faeries' magic will have their wish granted." His
gaze leveled on her. "You felt the magic when you held the box, did
you not, Miss Jules?"

"Yes, but—"

He didn't let her finish. "Then you know the
faeries heard you." He reached for his coffee mug and took a sip.
"Some have claimed they've heard the fae folk speak. Was this the
case with you as well?"

"Uh…I don't believe so, but I'm curious,"
she said with a chuckle. "What do the fae folk say?"

"Not so much words, I'm told, but chimes,
like tinkling of bells."

"Hmm." She reached for her coffee mug and
indulged before she continued stirring the ingredients in the bowl.
"The guy from last night mentioned bells."

Mr. O'Grady eyed her for a long moment
before he spoke again. "Would you like to take a gander at the book
later on? I do believe most wrote of their experience with the box.
Would this help with your article?"

"I would love to have a look." Excitement
bubbled inside over the prospect. The wishers' experiences with the
box would prove interesting, but she would like to find out how
many of the couples stayed together after their claim to have been
touched by magic. She stopped stirring and looked at him. "You said
the ones in need were attracted to the box? You believe the box is
sensitive to a person in emotional duress?" Her love life wasn't
the best right now, but she wouldn't identify it as desperate.

"Not exactly." Mr. O'Grady shook his head.
"As you know the box hums with energy, fae magic if you be
wondering. It's only a theory mind you, but the ones in need see
the box where they may not have noticed it otherwise. You were
drawn to it, were you not?"

She'd been drawn to the curio cabinet. She
hadn't seen the box at first, but then it was there and she
remembered having the urge to touch it. She shook her head, denying
the box drew her for anything other than curiosity. "I was here to
do a story, Mr. O'Grady. It's not the same."

"Mm-hmm, but you made a wish."

She looked at him and lifted a brow. "If I
remember correctly, I believe I had encouragement."

His eyes twinkled with mischief. "Did you
now?" His hand slid the muffin pan in front of her. "You felt the
magic, didn't you?"

"I… Well, I'll admit, I felt something." She
took the spoon and dripped the batter into the paper molds lining
the pan. Mr. O'Grady had already pre-heated the oven. Once she was
done, she placed the pan on one of the oven racks.

Mr. O'Grady set the timer and turned to look
at her. "Any indication your wish will come true?" His gray brows
rose as his gaze leveled on her with interest.

Her lips twitched. "Now, Mr. O'Grady, I
believe you told me the faeries have no sense of time. Maybe I'll
have to wait years before I know."

"They would never let you wait so long as
that. You must keep an open mind. You never know when your soul
mate may walk in the door."

"Granddad, is that coffee I smell?" Ian
waltzed in, but stopped short when he caught sight of Aubrey. Then
his handsome face split into a smile. "Good morning, Aubrey."

"Hello yourself," she said. His grin was
contagious and her lips curved on their own accord. Ian donned a
pair of worn blue jeans, brown and green Guinness T-shirt, and to
give his attire a real California look, he wore a pair of
flip-flops. Her gaze returned to his face. The man was something
incredible to look at with his dark hair still damp from a recent
shower and his face smooth as if he shaved not too long ago. Eyes
were her weakness and Ian's Atlantic blues did her in, especially
when he looked at her as if she were the only one in the room.

Her time with Ian hadn't been nearly enough.
She longed for more, but she didn't dare press her luck. Ian took
time out of his busy schedule to be with her the other day, but she
couldn't hope to monopolize his time again.

"Do you have plans for tonight?" Ian asked,
with something more than polite curiosity.

Maybe it was wishful thinking on her part,
but perhaps Ian wanted more time with her, too. "Uh…nothing but a
date with my computer."

His brow rose high on his forehead as he
chuckled. "Let your keyboard find its own date. I'd love it if
you'd joined Reece and me for dinner."

She should tell him no and put a halt to
whatever was going on here, but she didn't listen to reason. She
wanted to spend more time with him. They'd been cheated by a twist
of fate. Was it so wrong to want to steal some of the time back? It
was only for a few days then she would have to go home to her real
life, but until then… "I'd be delighted."

Ian tilted his head to the side as he
scrutinized her. "You've been doing a little baking, haven't
you?"

"Let me guess, the apron was a dead
giveaway?" She looked down at it and smiled.

"It had me wondering, but no." He strode
over to her and reached for a paper towel at the end of the counter
and tore off a sheet. His hand brushed over her cheek like a
caress. "There's a little flour right here."

Her body warmed and her heart sped up,
making her wonder what power Ian held over her. It was like her
body remembered what it felt like to be held by him and it craved
his touch once more. His hand brushed over her shoulder and his
heated gaze landed on hers, his eyes dark and heavy lidded.
Sweet God, he felt the pull, too.