Chapter 6

Winston

Sunday morning dawned bright and clear. I was already awake, though. I'd gone upstairs and crashed after Willow left, too tired to even try to look at all that cramped, tiny cursive handwriting. I felt bad about it, but it was the start of the new day, and I'd have plenty of time to do so before I saw her again tonight.

After getting a round of muffins out and coffee ready for the really early crowd that came at 6 am, I'd showered and changed. I started setting the café to rights, and putting chairs down, when Charlotte arrived right on time at 5:30.

"You are a miracle worker and my new favorite person."

"What?"

"I have never recovered from such a horrible migraine so quickly. Can I buy whatever that was by the gallon?"

I smiled. "It wouldn't last that long." At the disappointment on her face, I added, "But I could brew you some fresh every week if you need it."

"Oh, thank all the deities of every religion. Thank you. I might pass this science class if I can study without my brain exploding."

She started humming and working on the rest of the chairs. I laughed to myself and went back into the kitchen. There was baking to be done.

The smell of muffins permeated the air, and I was quickly switching out the batches to cool, bake, and store. It was already 8 am, and these might be the last ones I had to whip up that morning. The Sunday morning crowd was much slower than the Saturday one, but more of them lingered. Looking out the door at the case, I saw that most everything was stocked.

There was still time before I needed to start on lunch options, and luckily, Willow hadn't come in yet. She'd said the end of the day, but Tess had been sure she'd come get coffee this morning. Then again, I had no idea when she usually woke up. I let the kitchen door shut quietly behind me, and walked over to the table where the two scans were still sitting.

The handwriting was cramped. The drawings in the corners were stark against the background. Sitting down felt like it might be a bad idea, but I did anyway. My back ached from bending over the counter all morning. There was something vaguely familiar about one recipe, but I couldn't figure out what. Pulling out a notebook from a drawer to the side, I started trying to make out different words or figure out if there were standing names that witches used to use to cover what ingredients they were really using.

An hour passed with little success. I could make out one or two words, but it was slow going. No wonder Willow had wanted some help. How many days did she have left for this?

I got up to stretch and check the case. Opening the kitchen door, I saw Willow ordering coffee.

"Busy morning, I see," Willow said, as she waved at me and the café.

Most of the seats were full. We were doing good business, just like my aunt promised. But I really needed to go through the accounts to fully understand what the profit margin was, what sold best, and what I was even paying my employees.

"Yeah. Late morning?" I asked, looking at the clock on the wall. Almost 11 am.

"About normal." She smiled, and took a sip of her coffee.

"Busy, but I had an hour, and I started working on the scans. Wanna come back here? I can talk while I start on lunch items. You okay out here, Charlotte?"

She held up a thumbs up as another customer came in the door. Willow came around the counter and followed me back.

Willow plopped into the seat she had occupied the night before. When I'd gotten lost in her eyes, as they sparkled in joy at what she had told me. I'd missed a portion of it. Thoughts of kissing her had danced in my head. Then Tess had spoken up. Speaking of…

"Where's Tess? And your bag?"

"Oh, I just came by for coffee this morning. I wasn't going to bug you yet. Tess is out with some of her friends."

"You know it's close to lunch, right?"

The glare she shot me might have killed me, and I instantly knew my error.

"I've been staying up late working every night and then working on the book to boot. Plus, yesterday's work was a bit more physical than I'm used to, I'm sad to say. I was bone tired. I slept through all my alarms, and Tess stopped trying to wake me up too, apparently."

"Sorry, sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I'd have slept in if I could have."

She smiled and waved a hand, taking a sip of her coffee.

Nodding, I made my way across the kitchen for the loaves of bread I had made yesterday morning. I sliced my way through them, getting some ready for toasting, and others for simple sandwich fare. A lot of patrons here were college students. They weren't looking for fancy here. Just filling and easy. And the cheaper, I noticed, the better.

"What are your plans for the day?"

"Work on the book at home. And grade. They just turned in a set of papers. I have so many papers to read."

Willow's head laid down on the table as she pretended to sob. I laughed.

"You chose this life."

She looked up and finally raised up enough to drink some coffee.

"I did. And I do love it. It's everything I wanted, even if sometimes you want to hold giant signs up to students that flash in neon and just say ‘Read the directions, damn it.' and then yell ‘Read them again' once they have done it."

"That… is really specific."

"You have no idea. So, what did you find?"

"Two words. Neither much help. Willow, and bark."

"Willow bark was a common ingredient."

"Still is. Though they weren't in the same line. So there's that."

"Hey, that's more than I had. No worries. Work on it when you can, if you are still game. I'll go home and drown in coffee and papers. Ooo, maybe I could just spill coffee all over them and … oh right, it's all digital. That wouldn't get me anywhere, except ruining my laptop. I need more coffee."

Willow looked mournfully into her cup through the tiny hole.

"Didn't you just get that one?"

"Yes, but Charlotte was making me two more. All right, toodles! I'll see you this evening."

Before I could say another word, Willow was out the door.

Irealized I'd wanted her to stay longer.

The rest of the morning and afternoon passed pretty quickly. I had expected more items to disappear at lunch, but we had a few study groups come in and wipe out our cheaper options, more than I prepared for. The soups were nearly gone too. So instead of getting to look over the papers at lunch, I gulped down a protein shake and went back to work.

How did my aunt manage this alone? Could I afford to hire someone? Who cooked while she was gone on vacation?

Around 2 pm, I finally sat down to take a break and eat something real. I was busy enough, I might not be able to look at the papers again until close. Sighing, I shoved a hand through my hair and pondered my options. I could just not restock everything, but then someone might get irate. And I hated to make Charlotte explain that over and over, even though she could just say that we were out of things…

At that moment, the kitchen door swung back open, and in came Tess and Willow. I suddenly felt happier.

"Willow, Tess. What are you doing back so soon?"

"She was screaming at her computer screen and I suggested a break." Tess seemed rather smug about it.

"Ah. Grading not going well?"

"I mean, they actually aren't that bad, for freshmen. Though I've had two or three who clearly didn't read but the first couple of sentences on the instructions. Having some computer issues too. How are things here?"

"Busy. I'm sorry, I haven't had a chance to look at the papers again."

"You are doing me a favor. Don't apologize. I could help with something?"

"How are you at cooking?"

Tess's cackle could probably be heard in the café. I raised an eyebrow.

"I make a mean pbj?" Willow said with a smile.

Looking around, I considered my options.

"You can make sandwiches. Most of them are simply stacking the ingredients, keeping clean hands, and then sealing the bags. I have a lot of it made, like the chicken salad, and then the meats and cheeses you just slap on. We don't want too many at a time, because sometimes they request things off the normal way."

"Noted. Just point me in the right direction."

The tasks went by much quicker, and Willow kept up a steady string of babble about the college and some students going. I hadn't visited my aunt here in a decade, so it was nice to hear about everything going on.

After an hour, the café was fully stocked and ready to go. It was past 1 pm, and I realized that Charlotte's shift was almost over.

"I'll be right back." Leaving Willow and Tess in the kitchen, I walked out the door to find Charlotte talking to Lyzzie.

"Lyzzie, good. How are you today?"

"Fine, Mr. Sullivan. Looks busy."

"Indeed. I may have to find more servers. You done for the day, Charlotte?"

"Yes, sir. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Remember, I'm off Tuesday!"

I'd nearly forgotten. How did Aunt Maggie make it with such few staff members?

Making sure Lyzzie was good to go and had no questions for me, I went back into the kitchen. Willow had the fridge open.

"Can I help you find something?"

She jumped almost a mile in the air. "I just, um, thought there might be muffins."

"I sold out of my muffins this morning. Though I need to bake some stuff for the evening crowd. Also, eat real food. Have you had real food?"

"I would have thought muffins were real food, unless you were feeding me plastic? Have you had a break? Or eaten real food?" She asked, closing the door. She walked over closer to me, peering at my face.

I smiled and turned my head to look at the counter. "Muffins are real food. They just aren't very nutritious. No, I haven't had a break. Maybe I can do a short one for food."

"You need to eat. You look tired. And what is it going to hurt? You have time."

She bustled me over to the table and got me to sit. I protested, but she was quickly setting a plate with a sandwich and chips on it in front of me, and a glass of water.

"Eat." She stood there glaring at me.

Smelling the food made me realize just how hungry I was. Listening wouldn't hurt anything, so I began eating, watching as Willow went back to bustling around the small kitchen, getting her own food. After a moment, I asked about my aunt.

"So, how long did you know my aunt?"

"Oh, Maggie? I met her years ago here as a student. I loved this coffee shop. We hit it off and became friends. She had great stories and helped me with research in the past. She never once doubted me in what I wanted to do and helped me in so many ways. Maggie was a staunch supporter of how I got into my master's program, too. I cannot believe she didn't warn me she was selling the shop."

"She didn't tell you she was giving up the shop?"

"Oh, she'd mentioned it before, after a vacation here and there, but nothing definite. I was a bit taken aback. Why did she decide to leave so randomly?"

"Not sure. She decided I needed a fresh start, and it was perfect timing. Next thing I knew, I'd agreed to come out here and take over the café, and she was sailing off into the sunset."

"Why did you need a fresh start?"

Willow was standing beside me, her own sandwich in her hands, eating. I looked up at her and thought about answering. But I couldn't. Not yet. I didn't want to talk about it.

"Doesn't matter nearly as much as finding out how my aunt did it all. She barely has any staff!"

"Oh, she always hires new students at the start of the term, but I don't think she ever did this go round. I know Charlotte has been picking up a lot of extra hours. I'm not sure why she hadn't really hired anyone."

I shook my head. "I don't think I can keep the place open with just the few I have. I at least need some people trained for backup."

Willow pulled out the chair next to me and plopped into it.

"Anyway, thanks for making me eat. You were right. I needed it. Now, I must get soups going, some new breads making, and dessert in the ovens. Then we can look at the recipes."

The rest of the afternoon was a blur. I had to go relieve Lyzzie a few times for her breaks, and Willow helped out once or twice during the rush. Otherwise, it was a large streak of baking and creating. I explained things to Willow, and she seemed fascinated by all the different items I could bake without looking at a recipe.

"How do you remember all of these?" She finally asked, as she measured out some chocolate chips based on my directions.

"I always loved baking. And potions. It's the mixing of it all and making something new. I just remember them when I need them."

Willow shook her head, then paused. "I guess it's a lot like remembering all the things I need to teach. When you do it by rote so often, it's just engrained. Even so, there is much that could go wrong here. So many things that go into one recipe."

"Hey, maybe then I'll create something new."

Once I was finally done loading up the case in the storefront, Willow and I sat down at the table. Willow grabbed her laptop and set it out; I looked for my notes.

"Why a grimoire when you can't do magic yourself?"

"Because sometimes those outside it are the first to see its value. I have always loved magic. I've appreciated it since I was little and I was watching Piper perform different spells. There was a time I hated her, because she had something I wanted so badly."

Willow shifted through notes on her laptop, not making eye contact. I started to reach out, but held my hand back. I didn't know her that well. Why did I constantly want to touch her?

"I hated magic when I was little. I was sure that I wanted anything but. My mother was so strict in our practice. I just wanted to play with my friends from school."

"My mom wasn't around much." Willow replied. Then she pulled up a great scan of the first spell.

"I know this still isn't the best, but I used a high res scanner. You can see here that these seem to be different leaves. They might refer to something within the pages themselves. I also think that it will help us figure out some of the more illegible words. Past that, I haven't managed to figure out a lot."

Tess chose that moment to swoop in between us as we were looking at the page. Or well, Willow was looking at the page. I was looking at her.

"Tess!"

"It's okay," I said, waving at Tess. She waved back.

"Willow," Tess said, flying in front of her, "We were supposed to check out the garden today."

Willow waved a hand. "We still have plenty of time for that. Besides, you have your house. You won't freeze this winter."

"That isn't the point, and you know it."

Willow huffed, and I turned a curious face to her.

"We need to go over the garden and grounds before winter hits. Most Pixies hibernate in some area of their own garden during the winter. Tess comes in my house though, and sleeps in what was basically a doll house I fixed up for her. She still needs to stake and reclaim her territory, though. I do it with her, since I don't usually pay them much attention."

"I'd heard that. Pixies aren't fond of most of California, so I haven't seen many. You'd like the sunshine, Tess."

"Sunshine, yes. The heat and ocean? Not so much." Tess landed on the table across from me. "So, are we going?"

Willow looked down across the scans, and then back to Tess. "Give me ten minutes. I can always come back, after all."

Wings beat, and I realized Tess was leaving the room again. I had been going over the items in the recipe, trying to determine if there was much hope in reading them.

"What do you do with the recipes once you have them? Since you can't perform the magic?"

"Well, Piper or one of the other witches have helped me before if I needed it made. Usually there's a description of what it's for in a roundabout way, or I've pieced it together by what the ingredients do. I have many botanist books."

"No luck this time?"

"Not yet. Being able to read the recipe first would be helpful. I thought about asking some of the other witches in the department, but didn't. I mean, they are nice to me, don't get me wrong. But academics can have a dark side, and I didn't want to give anyone leverage. Or have them demand credit."

I nodded, pretending to know what she was talking about.

"So, what credit do I get?"

She shook her head, pensively chewing on the pen she had in her hand. "Your name could go on the acknowledgements? You aren't really going to be writing anything. Or I could put a thank you note in the front?"

"Willow?" I said, a smile on my face, "I don't care. I don't need my name in the book."

She looked up at that, shock apparent on her face. "I'm sure it could benefit the café somehow…"

"Then thank the café for the writing space. Now, come on. We've barely touched this in two days, and I offered to help. Let's use the little time we have now."

Her face paled, and she looked back down at her notes. After a few scrolls on her computer, she handed it over to me.

"Is it this hard to read on the original? I wondered after looking at the scans you gave me last night."

"Worse. I've raised the contrast here. It's so aged. The pages themselves are brittle, and I worry when I handle them. I may have missed something in the scan, so it's worth looking again, but I want to minimize messing with them as much as possible."

"Okay. Let's look then."

The words seemed familiar, even when I couldn't make them out well. Like I'd seen them before. I was sure my mother would be better at this than me… but I didn't want to let her in on this. I wasn't sure what she would do with a new spell, or how she would feel about its future destination.

Looking at the images on the sides, I noticed one leaf seemed to be drawn in very specific detail. There were tiny sprigs in the corner as well.

"Any color on the original?"

"If there was," Willow said, "time has taken it."

"I think there are bees on this, which would indicate honey. And these look like lemons… but there seems to be an emphasis on the plant itself instead of the fruit."

Willow perked up at that. "Really?"

"Yes. I've used both a lot."

The door opened, and Lyzzie hollered, "Could use some help!"

"Be there in just a sec!" I turned to Willow, pointing to the laptop.

"Listen, is it okay for me to write on this? And mark on it? I want to see if color helps."

"Sure. Be my guest. I can make however many new copies you need."

"Come back tomorrow? You can help again."

Willow blew her bangs off her forehead, but nodded. "After classes, sure."

The door opened again, and I hurried out before Lyzzie could ask for more help. The line was out the door.

I really needed to hire more people.