October 16, Wednesday

THE KITCHEN was alive with the tantalizing aroma of Kelly's latest culinary creation. I sat at the table, watching in awe as she effortlessly plated what looked like a meal straight out of a five-star restaurant.

"Ta-da!" Kelly announced, setting a dish in front of me with a flourish. "Pan-seared duck breast with a cherry reduction, served over roasted root vegetables and wild rice pilaf."

I stared at the plate. "Kelly, this is incredible. Are you sure you're just a groundskeeper and not a secret Michelin-starred chef?"

She laughed. "Really, it's just a hobby. But I'm glad you appreciate it. Dig in!"

I didn't need to be told twice. The first bite was a revelation—tender duck, perfectly crisp skin, the tart sweetness of the cherry sauce balancing everything beautifully.

I moaned. "You've missed your calling. You should be running your own restaurant."

She blushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Maybe someday. For now, I'm just happy to have someone to cook for. My uncle wants only meat and potatoes, no spices."

As we ate, I found myself relaxing for the first time in days. The drama with Sawyer, the curse, Tilda's ominous warnings—it all seemed far away in the warm cocoon of Kelly's company and incredible food.

"So," I said, between bites, "any news from town? I feel like I've been out of the loop lately."

Kelly's eyes lit up. "Oh! I heard Wayne Blakemore is doing much better. They're saying he might come home from the hospital in a couple of days."

"That's wonderful news," I said, genuinely relieved.

Kelly leaned in, curiosity piqued. "Rumor has it that Wayne asked you to read his book. Is it good?"

"It has a lot of promise," I said honestly.

"What's it about?"

I hesitated, remembering Wayne's request for discretion. But surely there was no harm in sharing the general premise. "It's a novel about a witch's feud."

"A witch's feud?" Kelly's eyebrows shot up. "That sounds... specific. Is it based on real people?"

I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. "It could just be Wayne's imagination running wild."

Kelly took a sip of her water, a thoughtful expression on her face. "You know, now that you mention it, I did hear something about Wayne and Rose once."

I perked up, my fork pausing halfway to my mouth. "Oh?"

"Well," Kelly said, lowering her voice conspiratorially, "I heard that Wayne was sweet on Rose. Tried to win her over and all."

"Really?" I said, thinking back to the passionate prose in Wayne's manuscript. "I had no idea."

Kelly nodded. "Apparently, he was devastated when Rose died. Some folks say he was never quite the same after that."

I felt a pang of sympathy for Wayne. Had he poured all that grief and unrequited love into his novel? It would explain the raw emotion that seemed to bleed through every page.

"That's so sad," I murmured. "I wonder if writing the book was his way of processing everything."

"Could be," Kelly agreed. "Sometimes art is the best way to deal with our demons, you know?"

I nodded, thinking of my own writing and how it had become a lifeline in the chaos of the past few months. "I know exactly what you mean."

We lapsed into a comfortable silence, the only sound the gentle clink of cutlery against china. As I savored the last bites of my meal, I found myself reflecting on Wayne's story. How much of his novel was fiction, and how much was pulled from real life? And if it was based on truth, what did that mean for the witchy goings-on in Irving?

"Penny for your thoughts?" Kelly asked, breaking me from my reverie.

I smiled. "Just thinking about how lucky I am to have found a friend—and personal chef—like you in this strange little town."

Kelly beamed, her cheeks flushing with pleasure. "Right back at you. Now, how about some dessert? I made a lavender crème br?lée."

As Kelly bustled around the kitchen, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment of camaraderie. Whatever mysteries and dangers lurked in Irving, at least I had good food and good company to see me through.

Tomorrow's supermoon was fast approaching, and with it, who knew what new challenges would arise?