CHAPTER 6

C HAPTER 6

J ames greeted us as we entered the lobby. He pulled Brad into a bro hug. "Dude, I can't believe you're living here. I didn't think you'd ever leave Tucson."

"I decided I wanted more than hot and hotter for seasons." Brad slapped him on the back. "Oh, do you know Mia Malone?"

"Oh, Brad, you are so out of touch. Mia's our catering director. I'm the one who begged her to take the job last year." James grinned at Mia. "What are you doing back here, slumming?"

"Brad offered to feed me," Mia teased. "Actually, Brad and I knew each other when I was going to high school. He was one of the few people in the group I hung with who I could talk to about a future in food. Everyone else just wanted to get out of Boise and live the magic big city life."

"A life that's not as wonderful as it's made out to be." James glanced at his watch. "I'd stay and chat, but I've got a date tonight."

"I'll be expecting a report tomorrow." Mia was happy for James. Sometimes she didn't know if he fit in with the more conservative human population in Idaho. And since he wasn't magical, his choices were limited.

"Hey, what happened to that girl you were dating? Did she stay in Tucson?" James paused before leaving the group. "I should have asked earlier. I'm a horrible friend."

"You're an amazing friend." Brad shook his head. "I haven't heard from her in years. Sometimes even soulmates break up."

"Now, that's the saddest thing I've ever heard you say." James put his hand over his heart. "I'm less optimistic about my date now."

"Go, have fun. Don't worry about tomorrow." Mia made shooing movements with her hands. "You can never win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket."

"Now, that's why I love you, girl. You're always positive." He grinned at Brad. "Tell Carol to put your dinners on my account. And I'll come to your restaurant sometime next week. I've got some free time now that Mia's business stole our client for the week."

"That's a low blow." Mia laughed, knowing that James was kidding. "So, Frank has wooed you over to the dark side."

"It's funny what a raise in pay will do for your interpretation of events." James hugged her. "And now you know I'm kidding. Frank would never raise my pay. There's my ride. See you tomorrow."

They watched as James almost ran out of the lobby and got into a red Corvette. Mia couldn't see the driver, but she sent a prayer up to the Goddess to keep James safe. She turned back and pointed to the right. "The dining room is over there. Shall we get seated?"

After the waiter had taken their orders and brought them a glass of wine, she considered the man in front of her. "So, you know James. That's a coincidence I didn't see coming."

"My wife was from this area. My ex-wife, although we haven't finalized any legal paperwork. She's been gone for years. At this point, I'd probably have to declare her dead to get the divorce." He sipped his wine. "Brit was amazing, but after she had the third miscarriage, she changed. Maybe it was depression. Maybe something else, but one day, she just disappeared."

"So, do you have other children?" Mia's heart almost broke, hearing the story.

He barked out a laugh. "No. Well, I gave up a daughter for adoption, but that was years ago. I've been too busy building a career—I haven't had time for a family."

Mia leaned back as they brought their dinners. After the waiter had left, she met Brad's gaze. "Is that why you're back here in Idaho? To try to start building a family?"

He stared at her, then nodded. "You don't beat around the bush at all. Do you, Mia?"

She took a bite of her dish. Maple-covered salmon with a wild rice base. So good. James knew how to cook fish. And he'd taught his staff the same process. "If I see something like a giant pothole, I don't let my friends fall into it without at least a warning."

They spent the rest of the evening talking about the past. A past that was easier for Brad to talk about since Mia had never known his life before. Brad had rebuilt his life, just like she had, and now he was happy. Or at least on the path to happy.

* * *

When Mia got back to the apartment, Christina was the only one in the living room. Mr. Darcy ran over to jump on Mia's lap as soon as she sat down. "Hey, big guy. Did you miss me?"

Christina set down her book. "He wasn't the only one. Trent came by to visit."

"Let me guess, he wasn't happy to hear I was out with Brad." Mia leaned her head back on the couch. It wasn't like she hadn't been planning on telling Trent about her dinner. Now it looked like she was hiding something.

"Actually, he just kind of brushed it off. Mia, he knows you. He's not concerned about any other guy." Christina picked up her book again after looking over Mia's shoulder at the hallway to the bedrooms. "Levi's the same way. He trusts me. I think they learned from their parents how destructive jealousy can be."

"Did Thomas show up?"

Christina shook her head. "Abigail was cool about it. She made dinner, insisted that Trent stay, and we had a nice time talking about everything but you or Thomas."

"I hope they're going to be able to fix this." Mia stroked Mr. Darcy's gray fur. At times, he looked like he had stripes, but at night, he looked almost black in color. "Speaking of fixing things, have you heard from Grans? I thought she was days away from the potion that would release Dorian from Mr. Darcy's body?"

"She didn't come by or call me." Christina was now focused on the book. "Of course, she wouldn't. You might ask Abigail. She might still be awake."

"I'll call her in the morning." Mia rubbed between Mr. Darcy's ears. "It's about time that he goes back to being just a cat and a familiar. Last week I caught him using magic to write a note for more cat food and what kind they would prefer."

"I already know that. They like anything with seafood." Christina picked up her ringing phone, then rejected the call. She stood, tucking the book under her arm. "I'm heading to bed."

"Everything okay?" Mia had seen the name on the caller ID. Christina was avoiding Levi. That couldn't be good.

"Fine. I'm just thinking out some things. Hey, Mom needs me tomorrow, so since we aren't starting the contest until Sunday, I'm staying in Boise for a couple of nights." Christina rubbed Mr. Darcy's ears as she walked by. "I've already cleared it with Abigail. I just didn't want you to worry."

"Is your mom okay?" Mia didn't know anything but hospitalization or the plague that would get Christina to stay with her mom for more than a few hours.

"She's fine. Isaac's getting married on Saturday. I'm supposed to watch him and make sure he doesn't make a break for it." Christina paused. "He gave me an invitation for you. Against Mom's wishes. I think she believes you'll stand up in the church and whisk him away."

"Not on your life. Jessica is welcome to your brother. And your mother. And that life, in general." Mia squeezed Christina's arm. "But if you need someone to talk to, just call. Is Levi going with you?"

Fire flashed in Christina's eyes, and too late, Mia realized what the fight was about. But to her credit, Christina held it together as she answered. "Levi's not good at those types of things, so he's declined to attend the wedding."

"Oh." Mia wasn't sure what to say. Levi's presence would have been a safe haven for Christina among her family, who were less than nice to her. The fact that he'd turned down her invite wasn't okay. "Do you want me to talk to Trent?"

Christina pressed her lips together and shook her head. "He pulled me aside tonight when he came over. He offered to talk to Levi, but I told him no. If Levi can't figure out why this is important to me, that's on him."

Mia watched as Christina strolled to her room. Mr. Darcy jumped off Mia's lap and followed her, just making it before she closed the door. With the prank Levi had played a few days ago about the Hawaii trip and now this, he was batting zero for two. Mia hoped he'd figure out what he needed to do before the third strike would make Christina think her mom had been right. That Levi wasn't the one.

For Mother Adams, Christina's mom, it was about the money Levi didn't make as a part-time ski instructor and full-time EMT. Levi valued his time off to ski more than money. Christina had thought he valued her more than anything, but this wasn't a good sign.

"Not your problem, Mia," she said to herself as she walked through the apartment, turning off lights and checking the security system one last time. Mark Baldwin had warned her that she might have more issues at the school before the queen contest was over. The trouble was, she'd thought the problems would come from the outside, not from the friends inside her sacred circle. She'd get over it if Christina and Levi broke up. She just didn't know if Abigail would. She already treated Mia and Christina like they were daughters-in-law rather than just women dating her sons.

She checked the lock on the front door of the apartment and went into her bedroom. She'd draw a hot bath and read until she fell asleep. As she started filling the tub, she saw she had two missed messages. The first was from Brad, thanking her again for a lovely night. The second was from Trent. He asked if she'd had a nice dinner and said he'd call in the morning. She took a chance that he was still up and called him back.

"Hey, I was just thinking about you." Barking came from his side of the connection. "Hold on, I'm letting Cerby out the back. I need to grab the flashlight and make sure he doesn't run into something bigger than he is."

"In that form, everything is bigger than he is." Mia smiled as she sat on the bed. "I hear you came by tonight. How's your mom?"

"You didn't talk to her?"

Mia looked toward the guest room even though she couldn't see through the walls. "She'd already turned in when I came home. I wasn't even that late. Nine at the latest."

"She says that until Dad tells them that he can't do this contest judge thing, she's not going to talk to him." Trent called out to his dog, "Cerby, come back into the light."

Mia smiled. Trent was such a dog parent. He loved that little guy, even as he complained about him. "Well, it looks like I've got company this weekend since Christina is staying in Boise."

"I just hope she comes back," Trent muttered. "I've got to go track down that dog. He loves going back by the woods. I think he put a hole in the fence so he can escape when he wants to go exploring."

"Raising a hellhound is tricky." Mia went to check on her water. The tub was almost filled, but the water needed cooling down a bit. She turned off the hot and let the cold run. "Have a good night. And if you need help . . ."

"I'll track him down. But I'll see you tomorrow morning for breakfast. Mom has already invited me and Levi. She wants to thank us for putting in the walkways." Trent paused. "I'll be at the school all day tomorrow. Will that be a problem?"

"Not for me. I'll be at work. I got a new event for Friday night. I'm going to kill Frank. Just so you know. Please don't rat me out to Baldwin."

Trent laughed. "You won't be the first one on the long list of suspects Baldwin will have if Frank's body shows up in the river."

"I was thinking something a little more cathartic. Like a million paper cuts with one of those stupid reports I have to produce every week." Mia kicked off her shoes. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."

"It's a date." He paused. "I love you, Mia."

"I love you too." Mia let the silence build between them. Finally, she broke it. "I've got a bath calling my name, and you need to find your dog."

"Already in my pocket. I'll see you in the morning. Sleep well." This time Trent hung up, and Mia plugged her phone into the charger on her nightstand. Her phone was also her alarm clock, so she didn't want it to die and give Frank another reason to yell at her for being late.

She slipped into the water and tried to think of anything but her job and the upcoming events. Both the one at the Lodge and the one here at the school. Just because she wasn't in control of Mia's Morsels right now didn't mean she wouldn't be working the event on her time off.

* * *

The smell of cinnamon woke Mia out of a crazy dream. She was the one marrying Isaac, and Trent was his best man. Christina was at her side as maid of honor, and she kept saying, "I told you that you were my sister."

She pushed the dream away and got ready for the day. First up, an uncomfortable breakfast with the Majors and Christina. Or most of the Majors. Trent had an older brother who lived out of state. And of course, Thomas was at home being stubborn. Mia wondered what caused people to dig their heels in the sand over an issue. She didn't know who was right and who was wrong, but she had to be Team Abigail mostly because she was her friend. And she ran Mia's business.

"I told you we were going to be sisters." Christina's words from Mia's dream came back to her.

Mia wasn't marrying Isaac in any version of this world. But Christina could become a sister-in-law if the girls both married into the Majors family. Of course, that version of the future was becoming less and less a possibility the longer Christina and Levi kept fighting.

Her phone buzzed with a text. It was from Baldwin. "What did your contact at the coven say about Carla?"

Mia pulled on her sweatshirt, then typed an answer. She didn't tell him she'd forgotten her promise, just that she hadn't heard back and would reach out today. She didn't say "again" since that would be a lie.

She quickly found one of the board member's contact information in her phone. Sabrina was responsible for membership, but she could find out what the coven knew about Carla's death. She asked Sabrina to meet her at the Lodge for lunch today.

Surprisingly, the answer came back quickly. How's one?

Perfect , Mia typed. See you then .

Mia looked at her image in the mirror and brushed her hair back into a clip. Sabrina would think the meeting was about joining the coven. That wasn't Mia's fault. She'd never said that.

But her stomach still hurt a bit at the omission.

Abigail and Trent were already in the kitchen drinking coffee and talking. Trent motioned her into a chair, then filled her cup. "Good morning. Why do you look like you just stole your best friend's last dollar?"

"That obvious?" Mia took the cup. "I'm meeting Sabrina today, and she's going to think I want to join the coven."

"So, why are you meeting her?" Abigail put a cinnamon roll in front of Mia with a fork.

Mia took a bite of the roll before answering. "Baldwin asked me to find out if the coven was involved in Carla's death."

"And you think, even if they were, Sabrina would tell you?" Abigail laughed and took a bite of her roll. "Sabrina's been around the block. Make her buy lunch. It will look good on her expense account this month."

"Even if I don't join?" Mia didn't understand the coven politics. And the more Abigail explained, the less she understood.

"Especially if you don't join." Trent gave Cerby a piece of sausage from his plate. "They love a hard sell."

"Have either of you heard anything about Carla's death?" Mia asked as she devoured her roll.

Trent shrugged. "The talk around town is that Carla would do anything to see Kristin win the competition. No one's surprised that she got caught in one of her own traps."

"You think she was setting up death traps with the potion bags?" Mia's eyes widened as she reached for the phone. "Oh, no. Is that why I haven't heard from Grans?"

Abigail gently took the phone from her. "No, she's okay. I talked to her yesterday. But this time, the rumor mill is right. The potion bags did have a curse on them. But it would only be activated by someone who was in or had someone competing in the pageant. This is why I don't want Thomas anywhere near this event. As a judge, he'll be targeted. Just because Carla's gone doesn't mean someone else isn't doing the same things."

"Mom, Dad knows what he's getting into." Trent reached over and squeezed her shoulder. "He says if you have to be at the queen's contest, so does he."

"That's just stupid. He's going to get killed." Abigail shrugged Trent's hand off. "If I have to petition the coven to get him off the judging panel, I will. These women aren't playing around. Carla's death should have proven that."

"Wait, so you're saying Carla died from her own spell?" Mia groaned. How was she going to explain that to Baldwin? Murder by suicide? No, suicide by murder? That was it. But he'd never believe her.

"You all are up and chatty this morning." Christina came in with Mr. Darcy in her arms. He jumped down, and after hissing at Cerby, went to the front door and opened it with Dorian's magic. Christina turned back to the group. "Is there coffee?"