Chapter 1
It had been
years since I’d been home to Seaglass Cove, probably since Waverly was three
years old about eight years ago. After the divorce a couple of years ago, John,
my ex-husband became deathly ill and passed, so there wasn’t any reason to stay
in Medina, OH any longer.
Fall is my
favorite time of year. I love the sweaters but let’s face it, most of the time
was sweater weather on an island off the coast of Nova Scotia, pumpkin spice
everything and cozy fires.
At ten in the
morning, I had already had been working for three hours on the newest book
cover art I was hired to do. The cover was for a popular YA fantasy author who
Waverly was crazy about-
Well, at least
for now. It was time for coffee. I looked in the mirror. Pumpkin colored sweater,
faded jeans, Ugg boots, and I was good. I pulled my brown hair up into a tight
ponytail, put on light make up and I was ready for a walk on the green.
On my bed lay
Piper, my Jack Russell Terrier. She looked like she was half Dalmatian with all
her black spots on the white coat.
“You want to go
for a walk?” I asked her. She picked her head up, cocked it to the side and
wagged her stubby tail. I guess that was an enthusiastic yes.
I opened my
door. The house had a beautiful hardwood oak floor. In the hall sat Moira, my
mom’s ragdoll cat and like most cats, very judgmental. Piper immediately went
to say hello to Moira but she wasn’t having any of it. Moira hissed, showed her
claws and ran through the wall. Piper gave chase, hit the wall with her head, and
looked confused. Did I forget to mention that our house was magical? It gave me
a little excitement in my stomach every time I saw it.
“Where’s
everyone?” I asked Moira, looking at the wall; I knew she could hear me.
Piper tore down
the steps and I laughed. Moira walked out of the wall halfway down the steps
and continued making her way down, just expecting me to follow. Cats.Sheesh. I
found my sister, Sidney, in the kitchen, a beautiful, warm and cozy room. She
was gathering her things; apparently she was late as usual. She worked as a
librarian; she enjoyed being surrounded by books. My family was Hope Crafters,
when someone say’s ‘I hope that’ we need to grant that hope. There were many
types of crafters in the village I just didn’t know who they were.
“I’m late but
the Mirror is having a special halibut dish tonight you want to go?” she asked.
“The library
isn’t going anywhere and sure,” I answered. I loved my sister.
“I’ve never
opened the library late and I don’t intend on starting,” she replied.
She nodded her
head on the way out the door. I smiled, shaking my head. Somethings never
change. I grabbed my tote, hooked Piper’s leash on and we followed her
retreating form.
In mid-October
off the coast of Nova Scotia it was a bit nippy. I walked with a purpose
towards Voodoo Coffee shop. Piper didn’t pull on her leash but constantly had
her nose to the ground. I took in a deep lungful of the Atlantic Ocean, the
sweet scent of baked goods and something else I couldn’t put a name to. On my
walk people milled across the green some window shopped and others walked their
dogs. Piper, was happier here than back in Ohio.
As we reached
the parking lot for the Magic Mirror restaurant, Piper starting whining and
pulling me so I just followed her. She dragged me towards the open backdoor of
the restaurant, and there on the floor lay Stephen Stewart, the Chef with an
herb box from my mom’s herb farm lying next to him. Piper got close to the door
but didn’t cross the threshold. His eyes were staring at nothing, and he was
fully dressed in his chief uniform. I felt sick and my hands started to shake.
I got my cell
phone out of my tote and dialed the police. It was 10:10, I noted. Why I needed
to know that was beyond me. Sirens broke the silence and Piper sat down next to
me. I squatted down next to her, rubbing her soft ears. The wind picked up and
the sound of snapping twigs and crunching leaves came from behind me as if
someone was walking in the woods. I got the heebie jeebies and Piper gave a
warning bark.
My cousin, Kyle,
was the first officer to show up. Navy cargo pants and pale yellow jacket is
the uniform of our police department. Kyle was a few inches taller than me but
who wasn’t? He gave me a big smile when he saw me.
“Sorry I didn’t
get by to see you before this but no rest for the wicked,” Kyle said, walking
towards the body.
“Do I stay or
can I go?” I asked hoping it was the latter.
“You need to
stay, sorry,” he apologized.
He gave a nod,
walked over to a close stump and sat down. As if Piper didn’t want any part of
the body, she followed close and even tripped me.
“I know; I don’t
want anything of that body either but we have to wait,” I told Piper. She
looked at me and I swear she stuck out her tongue. I shook my head and hoped we
weren’t here too long.
I watched as
more people arrived. A couple of the men put up something that looked like a
tent, so now I didn’t have to look at the body, which was fine by me.
The one thing
that I missed while I lived with my father in Medina was family. My parents
were divorced so I only visited once in a while and then not at all. I had a
life in Ohio and it wasn’t the best. I was lonely.
More sirens were
on their way. The onlookers started showing up from the parking lot where a
female officer was doing her best keep people back. Out of the corner of my eye
I saw a figure. I turned around and about two feet away stood a man, making me
give a little yip of surprise.
“I’m sorry for
startling you,” he said.
He stood about
six foot, with short wavy brown hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore the town
police department uniform and wore it with authority.
“That’s okay,” I
replied, looking at him.
His name tag on
his coat said Chief of Police, and from Kyle I knew his name was Scott
Sullivan. He asked me what I saw, I told him and it wasn’t much.
“Sorry that I
couldn’t tell you more,” I said, standing up and hoping to just escape.
“If I have any
other questions, can I get a hold of you at Nessa’s house?” Chief Sullivan
asked.
“Yeah, we’re
staying there until we find a house of our own,” I answered. My feet were
frozen. I looked down at Piper and she was ready to go.
“Thank you for
answering my questions,” he said, walking back to the tent opening.
Quietly I stood there
observing for a couple more moments. “You ready to go?” I asked Piper. She
woofed, which I took for yes.
Leaves crunched
with every step we took walking away from the scene. I needed coffee now more
than ever. The scent of fresh coffee in the air spurred me on. As we rounded
the side of the building, I plowed into someone. Piper got her leash tangled
around my legs, my arms flailed looking for something to grab onto and I found
it. Someone was steadying me, I peered at the face and my heart thudded in my
chest.
“I’m sorry,” I
stated as I tried to get untangled.
People walked on
the green, so it was like it was just me and him.
“No, it was my
fault. I wasn’t paying attention,” he explained. He stood six foot, lean, yet
you could tell that he worked out. Sandy, short hair and the most beautiful
blue eyes I’d ever seen.
Why was I
noticing this after a rough marriage and divorce? I’d put a wall around my
heart and sworn off of men.
Finally, I got
untangled and just stood there like a deer caught in headlights. “Sorry to bump
into you,” I said again, trying to get around him to the door to the cafe. I
mean really, he stood between me and my coffee.
He turned, going
in the same direction, so when we got to Voodoo Coffee we both grabbed the
handle at the same time. It was like a tingle went right up my arm. I jerked my
hand away, looking at him and the problem was, he was staring at me too. We
stood there until someone from inside tried to get out. We both stepped aside;
I slid past the person coming out and finally made it to the counter.
The walls were
painted a soft butter yellow, complementing the boysenberry purple couch and
two overstuffed chairs. It was an odd combination but it worked. Beautiful
photos of the village hung in silver frames on the walls.
Agnes stood
behind the counter. Her short, gray hair was styled back over her head, her
flawless skin the color of a good tan and her make-up was applied perfectly.
“It is good to
see you and how have you been?” Agnes asked with a twinkle in her eyes.
“I’ve been doing
okay, and you look great,” I said with a smile.
“I’m good. What
can I get for you?” she asked.
“Pumpkin spice
latte to go,” I answered, breathing in the scent of vanilla, pumpkin spice,
apples and the best smell of all- fresh ground coffee beans. Instantly I felt
calmer.
Agnes peered
over the counter and saw Piper. “Can she have a homemade pumpkin dog biscuit?”
“Yes, and
thanks,” I responded, watching her give Piper what I call a cookie. Piper took
it so gently from Agnes’s hand I wondered if it was the same dog I knew. Piper
munched it right down.
I paid and
stepped aside to wait for my order so others could place theirs. Someone handed
me a steaming paper cup and armed with fresh coffee and breathing in allspice,
ginger and cinnamon, I was on my way back out the door.
“Thanks, Agnes
and have a good day,” I called over my shoulder.
Experience had
taught me to give my coffee a little time to cool down so I wouldn’t scorch my
tongue. The green seemed to be bustling with people carrying pumpkins and long
strands of garland of silk leaves in red and orange, even store owners were
getting into the act. Shop windows were decorated with anything that
represented fall. I’d only been back for only ten days or so, but I could feel
myself tuning into the magic of the village.
I was going to
drop off Piper at home and maybe look around for houses for sale. Strolling
back to my mom’s house, I saw Ms. Coddington- affectionately known by everyone
as Ms. C- walking along greeting people. She was the town’s self-proclaimed
greeter. She was a logical choice. I mean, she does have a background in
theater.
Piper started
pulling, which brought me out of my thoughts. She was quite literally headed
straight for the man that I had plowed into. I veered around him and walked
towards Hocus Pocus Lane. Without incident I opened the gate, we went through,
and I closed it. I let Piper off her leash; she tore around the yard and lay in
the grass, a white butterfly landing on her nose. I was shocked and amazed that
she just lay there and did not try to remove it. I stood there and watched her,
then shook my head. It was the cutest thing.
“Piper, you’re
silly,” I told her as I walked past her to the house. She got up and followed
me.
I opened the
door and Piper pranced to her water bowl. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a
woman in eighteenth century skirts walking into the office. I stood there for a
moment then went to investigate. Standing in the doorway, I looked all around
the room and there was nothing. I mean there wasn’t even a closet to hide in. I
shrugged my shoulders I had to check and make sure Piper had enough water. When
I walked into the kitchen, Piper was nowhere to be found. I just assumed she
went upstairs to my room to lie down on my bed. It was nap time for her.
I threw away my
cup and was ready to head back out. I stopped at the door and looked back. “Be
nice,” I said to the house and left.
Sidney, my
sister, said that there was a house for sale by Prophecy Forest. I intended to
walk a few of the side streets just to look for homes with sale signs. Back
outside, the scent of dry leaves filled the air. The sun warmed my face and
made all the fall colors more magnificent. I started walking looking for homes
for sale; the first one didn’t hit any chords, so I continued. Some people were
out raking leaves, decorating and just enjoying the weather. Some gave a wave
or bobbed a nod. A few faces looked familiar but it had been too long to place
names. I wasn’t used to such friendly people. Back in Medina everyone was in a
big hurry to go about their lives.
At the other end
of Hocus Pocus Lane stood another house and I stopped to study it. From what I
could see it would need a lot of TLC. I took a picture of it with my cell and
moved on. I cut through the field to get to the next street over. Alchemist
Trail was a cul-de-sac. Some of the houses were pink, lavender, and pale
yellow, and I loved all the colors.
The last house
sat on a large lot maybe even a double lot with a fenced in yard and attached
garage. This house called to me. It was a beautiful shade of teal with a purple
door. The sight made me grin. In some traditions a purple door meant that a
witch lived there. Goddess Moon Realty held the listing. Again I pulled out my
cell from my tote, which held everything, and called the number on the sign.
“Goddess Moon
Realty, Abby McKay speaking. How can I help you?”
“Abby it’s
Wyllow.”
“Hi, Nate said
you moved back,” she said.
“Yes, and I’m
looking at a home right now that you have listed and I would like to see it,” I
stated with butterflies in my stomach. I knew this was the house. “I would like
to put a deposit on the house.”
John had left us
a huge amount of money to make sure that we wouldn’t be scraping by.
“Okay, have your
bank call me, I’ll set it up and call you back at this number,” Abby
instructed.
I said a thank
you to the Goddess and decided that I found this house. It was a bit big for
only two but that was okay. I called the bank and gave them my instructions,
then headed towards Bell, Book and Bakery to get a piece of Nate’s Key Lime
Pie, my favorite at the moment.
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