September 16, Monday

THE BARN smelled of dust and old hay as I rummaged through forgotten boxes and rusty tools. I was on a mission to find the dried flowers I'd discovered in the bicycle basket when I first arrived. The final ingredient for my curse was within reach, and yet a part of me hoped I wouldn't find them.

A noise at the barn door made me jump. I turned to see Kelly, the groundskeeper, standing there looking sheepish.

"Ms. Vanguard. I'm so sorry I've been away," she said, wringing her hands. "I know the place must be a mess, but I—"

I held up a hand to stop her. "It's okay, Kelly. I've managed."

As she stepped into the barn, I noticed the abundance of crystal necklaces adorning her neck, clinking together with each movement.

"That's quite a collection," I remarked.

Kelly's hand flew to the crystals. "Just a little protection, you know. Can't be too careful with all the... witchy business going on." She leaned in, lowering her voice. "I heard about the vandalism in the graveyard. Who knows what kind of evil forces are at work?"

I offered a smile. "I'm sure it's not as bad as all that."

Kelly shook her head. "You don't understand. I'm not from here. I came to Irving to look after my aging uncle, and I've always felt like an outsider. Being a devout Christian... well, I worry I might be targeted."

The fear in her eyes was genuine, and I felt a pang of sympathy. "I don't think anyone's targeting you, Kelly."

"Maybe not," she conceded. "But I can't afford to take chances. I need this job, even if it scares me sometimes."

As Kelly spoke, my eyes fell on a familiar shape poking out from behind an old trunk. "Aha!" I exclaimed, pulling out the dried bouquet of coneflowers.

Kelly eyed the flowers suspiciously. "What are those for?"

"Oh, just... decorating," I lied, feeling a twinge of guilt. Wasn't I proving Kelly's fears right?

To change the subject, I said, "Hey, I was about to make lunch. Why don't you join me?"

Kelly's face lit up. "Really? If you like, I could whip up something. I'm a pretty good cook, if I do say so myself."

I smiled. "I never say no to someone else cooking."

Back at the house, I watched in amazement as Kelly transformed my meager pantry supplies into a feast. The kitchen filled with the aroma of herbs and spices I didn't even know I had.

"This is incredible," I said, taking a bite of the most flavorful frittata I'd ever tasted. "Where did you learn to cook like this?"

Kelly beamed. "My grandma taught me. She always said, 'Good food feeds the soul as well as the body.'"

As we ate, Kelly regaled me with stories of her uncle's antics and her adventures in adapting to small-town life. I found myself laughing more than I had in weeks.

As we cleared the dishes, I said, "I'm glad you came back, Kelly. It's nice to have someone to talk to."

She gave me a shy smile. "I'm glad I came back too. Maybe this place isn't so scary after all."

As Kelly left the kitchen to start on the yard work, I felt a warmth in my chest that had nothing to do with the meal. I'd been so focused on curses and mysteries, I'd forgotten how good it felt to simply connect with another person.

I glanced at the dried coneflowers on the counter, then back to Kelly's retreating form. The contrast between her fear of magic and my own dabbling in it struck me anew. Was I really prepared to go down this path?