CHAPTER 24

C HAPTER 24

O n Sunday morning, the Magic Springs Sleuthing Club gathered around Mia's kitchen table. This time Thomas joined the group so there were seven of them. Ten, if you counted the animals—Mr. Darcy, Cerby, and Muffy—sleeping under the table. Dorian was gone. He was in a coven safe house somewhere, learning how to integrate with the golem body Grans had built for him. Mia looked around the crowded table and wondered how her life had become so full after she'd thought she'd lost everything except Grans and Mr. Darcy.

Mia's mother, Theresa, had dropped off her old yearbooks the night before and had stayed to chat about Sherry and Elly. She'd called Melody and offered to handle the legal process of the girl becoming her grandmother's guardian. Brad wasn't pressing charges for his stay in the Sellers' basement, and he'd promised to be more of a father since he now knew he actually had a daughter.

Mia thought Melody might just have all the family she needed right now. She'd stop by next week and see how things were going for the new harvest queen.

Mark Baldwin had Tatiana in custody and had swept her house last night. They'd sent Crissy over to stay with her aunt. And, he reported to Mia, all the circumstantial evidence they'd come up with against Tatiana had been verified when they found an entire project room. She'd kept a listing of all the things she'd done, what the reactions had been, and her next steps. Thomas had been listed as a possible "weak link" in the judging process since he and Abigail had been "having problems."

That morning, as Mia relayed what Mark had found at the house, he'd squeezed Abigail's hand. "I know you thought it was a risk, but she bought the cover story."

"She just never had time to put you in play. I don't think she meant for things to get so out of control, and when the theory of a retribution curse came on the scene, it took over as the way for her to get around everything," Mia added to the story. "She admitted to killing Sherry when Mark questioned her. She said everything else wasn't her fault."

"Did she think there was a statute of limitations on murder?" Levi grabbed another muffin. Mia and Abigail had been up early baking, so there was a lot of food for the breakfast meeting.

"According to her new attorney, she misspoke." Trent handed Levi the butter to spread on the still-warm treat.

"Anyway, it's done. The harvest queen contest is over, and a suspect for Carla's murder and other assorted crimes is now in Mark's jail. Now I can go back to work and just deal with Frank and his games." Mia glanced at her phone when it rang. It was James. "Great. I guess the game-playing has already begun."

She stepped away from the kitchen to answer the call. "James, what's got you up this early on a Sunday?"

"You haven't heard, then. I can't believe it. It's like Christmas in October." James giggled.

Mia tried to rack her brain for something that would make James this happy. "Okay, I give up. What's going on?"

"You know how Frank had to go to corporate this week for an impromptu meeting? Well, he got canned. Fired. He's out of here."

"Are you kidding? What happened?" Mia almost felt bad that Frank's firing was causing such a feeling of joy in both James and herself.

"The lady with the surprise baby shower that wasn't a surprise. Mrs. Davis? She really did have some friends on the hotel board. Apparently, she praised you and me for working around Frank and making the shower happen. According to her, she said Frank was trying to tank it and blame us."

"Which we knew, but who knew the board would be so upset?" Mia sank into a chair. Karma was a bad thing. And Frank had gotten a full cup for his antics.

"She's a really close friend with several members," James repeated. "Anyway, I need to go. I'm getting a pedicure today to celebrate that ‘Ding, dong, the wicked witch is dead.' "

Mia was just about to warn him to be careful of what he asked for since Frank's replacement could be worse, but James had already hung up. She went back into the kitchen and sat next to Trent.

He leaned into her. "Everything okay?"

"Yes. More than okay." She suddenly realized she was starving and picked up her fork.

Christina caught her eye. "Sorry, one more thing before we dig in. Levi and I have an announcement. Actually, a couple of announcements."

The room got really quiet as everyone stared at the two of them.

Christina smiled at Levi. "One, I got the job in Portland. It starts in November, so we'll be taking a trip to find a house to buy next week—unless we have a catering job, of course."

Abigial shook her head. "We're clear except for the normal Monday and Tuesday deliveries."

"Good, then we'll take off on Wednesday." Christina turned toward Levi. "And . . ."

"I've asked Christina Adams to marry me, and she said yes, surprisingly." Levi pulled her close and kissed her head. "We're getting married."

Chaos erupted with everyone hugging everyone. The pets moved from their spots under the table and now stood by the hallway, watching the humans.

Finally, everyone sat back down.

"Well, isn't this an exciting time for the two of you!" Trent caught Mia's gaze and smiled. "Of course, with you two moving, it puts a huge hole in our sleuthing club."

"And I'll have to hire someone else for the business," Abigail added. She leaned into Mia. "With your help, of course."

"I don't think we can ever replace Christina," Mia said, then wiped the tears off her face. "I knew this day would come, when the little girl I met so many years ago would grow up and start her own life, but I thought it might still be a few years down the road."

Christina reached over and squeezed Mia's hand. "You were too good of a surrogate parent. You made me a good person."

Mia shook her head. "I'm not doing this. No crying allowed on this special Sunday. Why don't we all do dinner at the Lodge to celebrate tonight?"

"Dress-up dinner!" Christina bounced in her seat.

Levi and Trent exchanged glances. Levi suggested, "What about pizza and a game night instead?"

Thomas laughed. "Sorry, boys, this is too special of an occasion. You don't want to hear about this for years to come."

"Now, Thomas, when have I ever—" Abigail started, but then he put a finger on her lips and kissed her.

After he returned to his plate, he looked up at his sons. "See what I mean?"

"Levi, let's go downstairs and call my mom and dad. They're going to be so surprised. And I'm sure they're going to want to talk about dates. Maybe we should plan it for next June? And do we want to do it in Magic Springs? You know Mom's going to want to have it at the Cathedral of Saint John in Boise. It would make for some amazing wedding shots." Christina took Levi's hand and led him out of the kitchen like a lamb to the slaughter.

Abigail took a deep breath. "I hope Christina's mother lives through this wedding, because if she doesn't, I'm going to be at the top of Mark Baldwin's suspect list."

Thomas pulled her into a hug. "We can get through this. Besides"—he looked over at Trent and Mia—"after Levi, we only have one more to dump on an unsuspecting bride."

"Thomas, you're so bad." Abigail stood and picked up his plate. "You need more of Mia's strada. I think you're hangry."

After breakfast, Mia and Trent took Cerby outside for a short walk. Grans had already left with Muffy to start packing up her house. Mia and Trent watched as Christina and Levi pulled out of the parking lot in Levi's Jeep. Trent put his arm around Mia. "Remember when I asked if you thought it would be okay if I asked?"

"Vaguely. A lot has gone on since then." Mia leaned her head again. "Now what? Are you thinking about asking again?"

"Very funny. Anyway, I'm thinking that with the Levi and Christina announcement, we should either plan a double wedding and get it over with or hold off on me asking that question for a while."

Mia groaned. "There is no way I'm doing a wedding with Christina since Mother Adams will be running the show. It's just not happening."

Trent turned her toward him, then leaned down and kissed her. "Okay, then, I'm going to find a perfect time to propose that doesn't involve us doing a joint ceremony. I don't think I could watch Isaac mooning over you without saying something. We don't have to invite that family to our wedding, right?"

"Exactly. Now you're getting my point." She leaned into him. "The chill is starting to hit. I think fall has fallen, and winter is coming."

He rubbed her arms to warm her. "Just be aware, I am going to ask. And soon."

"I hear you." She turned toward the school. The day was a little overcast, and the lights inside made the three-story building look warm and cozy. A place to build a life. A place filled with family, friends, and love. And a lot of food. "And just to warn you, I'm going to say yes. When you ask, that is."

"Then we understand each other," Trent said as they moved toward the front door. "Do you want to watch a movie this afternoon? Something that maybe Cerby would like?"

"We're picking movies based on your dog's interests?" Mia laughed as they closed the front door, leaving the cold air outside.

"Our dog. I thought it might be good practice for when we have to do family-friendly movie nights." He laughed as he headed up the stairs. "You should see your face. You were so into it."

"I was not," Mia cried after him. "I was playing along."

As they made their way upstairs to the apartment on the third floor, Mia felt the joy the school could hold and experience. This was home. And when she moved out, it would be someone else's home. But no matter who lived here, the school would be filled with love.

She'd make sure of it. Mia Malone was a kitchen witch. It was what she did.